JACK'S GREAT FIND
For a moment the boys stood still, contemplating the small log
building, which was now but dimly visible. All was silent about it.
There was no sign of life. Was it occupied? Was Jack's father there?
These were questions that flashed through the mind of the two lads as
they stood there in the darkness. Then Jack, with a long-drawn
breath, that showed how great was the strain on him, whispered:
"Let's see if any one is there."
Cautiously they moved forward, stopping every now and then to listen.
But no sound came to them. The cabin remained as dark and as silent
as when they first saw it. Foot by foot they moved nearer, until Jack
was so close he could put out his hand and touch the door. He knocked
loudly, and the echo sounded almost like thunder in the quiet night-
enshrouded valley.
But no answer came, though the boys waited several minutes. Then Jack
pushed on the door. It opened, with a squeaking of hinges that must
have alarmed any occupant, unless deaf. No challenge came, and the
two lads stepped inside.
"Look out where you're going," said Nat. "Hold your hands in front of
you, and feel with your feet. You may tumble down a hole."
Jack did as directed, and, a moment later, his outstretched hand
knocked over something that fell with a crash to the floor.
"What's that?" exclaimed Nat, in a startled whisper.
"Candlestick and candle," replied Jack, as he stooped down and picked
up what he had knocked down. "Matches too," he added, as he found
them scattered over the floor.
An instant later he had struck a light, and in the gleam of the
tallow dip the boys saw they were inside a comfortably furnished
cabin. It consisted of two rooms, one a sort of kitchen and general
sitting apartment, and the other a bedroom, with two bunks against
the wall. There was a rough table, a few chairs and a fireplace.
Cooking utensils scattered about, and the appearance of the bunk
room, showed it had been lately occupied.
"I wonder if my father could have lived here," Jack remarked. "Where
can he have gone to? Perhaps he is dead."
"Must have been some one here recently," said Nat. "That food looks
fresh."
He pointed to some roast beef on the table, and to some slices of
bread.
"It looks good enough to eat," Jack said, "and I'm going to tackle
it, for I'm as hungry as a bear, and cold, too," for the ducking was
beginning to tell on him.
The boys made a rude but satisfactory meal, and, building a fire on
the hearth, with some dry wood in the cabin, they made their clothing
more comfortable. They had just donned their dry garments, when Jack,
looking from the door of the shack, said:
"Hello, it's almost morning. The sun is beginning to rise." There was
a faint light in the east, over the tops of the mountains.
"Yes, and some one is coming up the valley," remarked Nat, as he
peered over Jack's shoulder.
The two boys saw, walking slowly along the trail that led to the
cabin, the dim figure of a man. Over his shoulder he carried a gun,
and, as he approached, he stopped every few feet to listen, the while
regarding the cabin intently. It was growing lighter every minute,
and the boys could see him quite well.
Suddenly, when the man was within a hundred yards of the shack, he
dropped to one knee, and leveled the gun straight at the opened cabin
door:
"Who's there?" he cried. "Speak or I'll fire!"
Jack, who was in the center of the portal, uttered an exclamation. He
caught his breath sharply. Then, as the sun, mounting nearer the
mountain tops, threw more light into the valley, showing clearly the
figure of the crouching man, Jack cried:
"Father! Father! It's me! It's your son Jack!"
He was about to rush toward the figure, which he recognized from his
aunts' description as that of his parent, when the voice of the man
halted him:
"If you come a step nearer I'll fire!" the kneeling one exclaimed.
"I've been fooled too often to have any tricks played on me now. I
know you. You are members of the gang that has been hounding me so
many years. But my time is almost up. Stand back or I'll fire!"
"Father! Father!" cried Jack. "Your time is up now. I have come to
take you back with me!"
"Who is this, who says he is my son?" the man asked, his rifle
trembling. "My son is thousands of miles away from here. You can't
deceive me again."
"But I am your son! Your Jack!" the boy cried, hardly knowing what to
do. "See I have the ring--"
Then he stopped, for he remembered that his ring had been stolen from
him.
"What is that about a ring?" asked the kneeling man.
With a quick motion Jack pulled from his pocket the golden lizard
with the ruby eyes which Mr. Tevis had given him. He threw it toward
his father, and it fell near the man.
"What is that?" the latter asked.
"Look at it," exclaimed Jack. "It will prove who I am. It is from Mr.
Tevis. See, don't you recognize me?"
The old man, still keeping his eyes fixed on the cabin, and his gun
in readiness, rose to his feet and, going forward, picked up the
golden charm. As he caught sight of it he uttered a cry.
At the same time Jack, who had been standing in the shadow of the
door, stepped into the morning light. The man, with a sudden motion,
threw aside his gun. He ran toward Jack, who sprang forward to meet
him. The next moment father and son were locked in each other's arms.
"Jack! Jack!" exclaimed Mr. Ranger. "I was afraid I would never see
you again."
"I'm so glad I've found you at last, father," murmured the boy, while
his eyes filled with tears. Nat suddenly developed a bad cold, and
had to blow his nose so violently that Mr. Ranger's attention was
attracted to him.
"Who's there?" he asked, in startled tones.
"It's only Nat," Jack said. "Come Nat, and see my father. He's the
best prize exhibit I ever had."
There was such an interchange of talk among the three a moment later
that the best stenographer would have found himself at a disadvantage
in taking it down. Jack and Nat told as much as possible of their
trip from the time they started until they escaped by the sluiceway,
and Mr. Ranger told how he had been watching in vain all night at the
end of the trail for the return of old Mr. Lantry. He had done so for
the last few nights, he said, as he was afraid to go far away in the
daytime.
He was much surprised to learn of his partner being pursued by the
bad men, and startled to hear that the scoundrels were so near his
hiding place. He said he had been much startled, on his return from
his night vigil, to see lights inside his cabin.
"But now you must come home with me," said Jack, when there came a
lull in the talk. "The time limit has nearly expired and you will be
safe back in civilization."
"Yes, I guess my long exile has ended," said Mr. Ranger. "At any rate
I must leave here. The rascals may find me at any moment, when they
come down after you."
Jack agreed with his father it would be best to leave the locality.
Mr. Ranger said he could depart from the valley by a little-used
trail, and come out on the one that led to the ranch of Nat's uncle.
It would be slow going, without horses, he said, but they decided to
try it.
Accordingly they began to pack up what few belongings Mr. Ranger
wanted to take away with him. There was a simple camping outfit in
the cabin, and plenty of food, so they would not suffer hunger on
their way.
"I have but a little of the heart-medicine left," said Mr. Ranger. "I
got two or three bad spells the last few days, and had to take
considerable of it. But perhaps I will be all right until we get to a
town, if we go slowly."
At last all was in readiness for the start. Each one bore a small
pack, and Mr. Ranger had his rifle. Jack insisted that his father
take the lightest of the camp stuff, while he and Nat shouldered the
most of it and the food.
With a last look at the cabin, that had sheltered him for the last
few years, Mr. Ranger turned to go. Then he exclaimed:
"I almost forgot my bag of gold."
"Your bag of gold?" asked Jack.
"Yes, it is all I have to show for my stay here. I have managed to
live, and that is all. My partner and I got a little gold from the
washings that came down the flume, but we had to spend most of it to
live. I have only a few ounces left."
He was about to go back into the cabin when a cry from Nat warned
him:
"Some one is coming!" the boy explained.
The next instant a group of horsemen swept forward around a turn in
the trail, straight for the cabin!
"Here come the bad men!" yelled Jack. "Come on father!"