JOE'S SHOTGUN SECURES A SUPPER
One of the fellows with Jim, and whom he addressed as Sim, gathered the
six stolen traps together and held them up laughingly.
"A bully find, fellers; but if I had me way I'd let 'em lie and snooped
the musky out every day. Why it'd be like takin' candy from the baby,
that's what. But Jim there wanted to kerry off the hull bunch," he said,
swinging the traps idly to and fro.
"I wanted ter let him know I allers kep' me word. When he finds 'em gone
I bet yer he knows who's had a hand in it; but he caint prove nothin'. I
kin snap me fingers in his face, an' tell him ter chase hisself. Here,
Bowser, git that fire goin' in a hurry. I'm pretty near starved. The ole
man chased me outen the house last night, an' ther ole woman won't give
me a bite. Reckon I'll hev ter hustle fur meself arter this. Dad's as
mad as hops 'cause he aint hed a chanct ter pick up any stuff on the
beach fur three moons. If it keeps on, him and his gang 'll hev ter do
sumpin different ter make biz good."
Darry did not care to linger any longer.
He wanted those traps and the animals that had been taken from them, and
he meant to have them.
"Why, hello, boys!"
The three young rascals sprang erect when they heard these words, and
their amazement can be imagined at discovering the object of their
recent raid standing there not twenty feet away, holding Joe Peake's old
shotgun carelessly in his hands.
In that moment the real nature of each of them showed itself--Sim Clark
darted into cover and ran away at the top of his speed like the coward
he was, Bowser fell on his knees and wrung his hands, being weak when it
came to a showdown; but Jim Dilks, ruffian as he was, scorned to do
either, and stood his ground, like a wolf brought to bay and showing its
fangs.
"I see you have been so kind as to gather a few traps of mine together.
And as I live if you haven't relieved me of the trouble of fishing for
several rats. Very kind of you, Jim. Now, don't say a word, and just
keep where you are, or by accident something might happen. Guess you
know what shot feels like when it hits. Once ought to be enough, and
this time you're so close it might be serious. Now, listen to me, once
and for all, Jim Dilks, and you Bowser, I'm going right back and set
these traps where I think I'll find more game. You touch a finger to
one of them at your peril. I'll let Hank Squires know all about this
shack here, and what you've been up to. The first trap that is missing
means the whole three of you behind the bars. That's all."
Jim never opened his mouth. He was awed for the time being, and watched
Darry pick up the traps, together with the three muskrats, swing the lot
over his shoulder and walk away.
The boy did not know but what they might attempt to jump upon him yet
and kept on the alert; but when he presently looked back upon hearing a
shout, he found that Jim was only relieving his wounded feelings by
kicking the kneeling Bowser vigorously.
Darry did just as he had said he would.
He went a little further into the marsh, thinking that since so many
feet had been trampling around the bank of the creek the game might have
become shy; but he set the six traps, and even marked the tree nearest
each, so that the location could be easily found by himself or others,
inclined that way.
Such bold tactics would do more to keep Jim and his set from disturbing
the traps than the utmost secrecy.
When Darry went back home, he thought it best not to say anything about
his adventure to Mrs. Peake; but having occasion to go to the village
later in the day he sought out the constable, whom he found cleaning up
his garden patch and burning the refuse.
Old Hank amused him. The fellow was always indulging in mysterious hints
as to what he was going to do some day soon, and doubtless his
intentions were all right, but, as Miss Pepper had truly said, he lacked
the backbone to carry them out.
Old Jim Dilks and his crew of trouble breeders had dominated the
vicinity so long now that it was hard to break away from their sway.
The officer of the law was in his shirt sleeves, so that his fine nickel
badge could not shine upon his manly breast; but as he saw Darry
approach, and scented coming business, he drew his tall figure up as if
in that way he could at least represent the majesty of the law.
Hank had an idea that he possessed an eye that was a terror to
evil-doers, when to tell the truth his gaze was as mild and peaceful as
that of a babe.
"Glad to see you, Darry. Hope there ain't been any more doings up at
your place? I'm laying for the slippery rascals, and hope to have them
dead to rights soon; but you know men in my profession have to go slow.
A mistake is a serious thing in the eye of the law," he said, offering
his hand in a friendly fashion.
"There's nothing wrong up at the house, sir; but I wanted to tell you
something I think you ought to know, in case the time comes when you
might want to find Jim Dilks and his gang and they were not at home,"
began Darry.
The constable quailed a trifle, then grew stern.
"Big Jim or little Jim, which?" he said, anxiously.
"The boy who has tried to make things so warm for me. He and his crowd
have a shack in the swamp, where they camp out from time to time. That's
where you'll find them when wanted."
"Sure that's interesting news, lad. Can you tell me just where to look?"
He heaved a sigh of relief--then there was not any need of immediate
haste, and Hank was a true Southern "cracker," always ready to postpone
action.
"Leave the path along the creek just where it makes that sharp bend. A
fallen tree marks the spot. Head due south until you sight a big live
oak, the only one I noticed. The shack lies under its spreading
branches, Mr. Squires. I thought you ought to know. Besides, I told Jim
and his crowd I meant to inform you."
"What! you saw Jim there, and his crowd with him? I wonder they let you
get out of the swamp without a beating," exclaimed the constable,
surprised, and looking at this newcomer as though he could hardly
believe his senses.
"They knew better. The fact is, sir, I had a shotgun with me. Perhaps
they may have had a recent experience with such a little tool. But no
matter, they let me gather up my traps and the three muskrats taken from
them, and never offered to put out a hand to stop me."
"Traps--muskrats--look here, now I begin to see light, and can give a
guess how it came you were there in that swamp. You followed the rascals
there."
"To tell the truth, I did, for I was determined to get back what they
had taken."
"Bully for you, lad. If you had dropped in on us some time back we might
have had a different class of boys around here by now. You're a
reformer, that's what you are. First you knocks that tyrant Jim down;
then you pepper him with shot after he has fired the pigpen of your new
home, and now you brave him in his own dooryard. That's reforming all
right, and I hope you keep at it until you've reformed the ugly beggar
into the penitentiary. I begin to pluck up hope that soon public spirit
will be so aroused that we can do something right. Would you mind
shaking hands with me again, Darry. It does me good, sure it does."
Of course Darry complied, though he had his doubts as to whether Mr.
Squires would ever have the nerve to connect himself with any movement
looking to the purging of Ashley village of its rough element.
In fact, if anything were ever done he believed such women as Miss
Pepper would be the ones to run the evil-doers out of town, and put up
the bars.
Darry had taken the three animals home, pleased to know that after all
half his traps had found victims on this second day.
He judged from this that he was doing very well, and with a little more
experience could consider himself a full-fledged trapper.
Later in the afternoon he thought of the ducks, and passing out upon the
marsh walked until he discovered several feeding among the wild rice,
when he started to creep up on them with infinite cunning.
Reaching at last a bunch of grass as near as he could hope to go he
waited until two were close together, when he fired his right barrel.
As the remaining mallard started to rise in a clumsy fashion Darry gave
him the benefit of the other barrel.
When Mrs. Peake saw what fine birds he had secured she was loud in her
praise, for their coming meant at least one good meal without cost, and
every cent counted in this little family.
Again Darry busied himself with his pelts.
He was pleased to find how much easier the job seemed after his
experience of the preceding day; and when the skins had been stretched
upon the boards they had a cleaner look that satisfied the eye.
After that he plucked the three ducks for the good woman, saving her a
task she never fancied, and winning her thanks.
Then he looked after the gun, believing that it is wise to always keep
such a weapon in the best of order, since it serves its owner faithfully
when called upon.
"I had some visitors while you were away," announced Mrs. Peake, when
after supper they were seated by the table.
Darry looked up from his work of whittling more stretching boards,
interested at once.