THE RESCUE OF TOMMY BELL
"I wonder who they can be, to hide off in the woods this way," whispered
Bob.
The next instant there floated out from the hut a cry of anguish. It was
the voice of a boy, seemingly in great pain or fear, and the travelers
heard the words:
"Oh don't! Please don't! You are killing me! I don't know! I can't tell
you, for I would if I could! Oh! Oh! Please don't burn me again!"
"It's a gang torturing some one!" almost shouted Ned. "Let's go to the
rescue!"
He would have sprung forward had not Jerry laid a detaining hand on his
arm.
"Wait, Ned," counseled Jerry. "Some one there evidently needs our help,
but we must go with caution. First we must get our guns. We may need
them!"
Once more the appealing cry burst out.
"Quick!" whispered Jerry. "Professor, you and Bob go back for the
rifles, and bring the bulls-eye lantern that has the dark slide to it.
Ned and I will stay here and watch!"
Mr. Snodgrass and Bob lost no time. In less than five minutes they had
rejoined Ned and Jerry.
"Has anything happened?" asked Bob.
"Nothing since," whispered Jerry. "Now we will go forward. Every one
have his gun ready. I will carry the lantern."
Almost as silently as shadows the four figures stole forward, Jerry
showing a cautious gleam now and then to guide them on their way. They
found there was a fairly good path leading up to the hut.
They had covered half the distance when once more the cries of anguish
burst out. This time they were followed by angry shouts, seemingly from
several men, and voices in dispute could be heard.
"One of us had better creep forward and see what is going on inside the
cabin," whispered Jerry. "We must know what sort of enemies we have to
meet."
"I'll go," volunteered Bob.
"Better let me," suggested the professor. "I have had some experience in
stalking animals, and I can probably advance more quietly than you can."
They all saw the reasonableness of this and the scientist started off.
Like a cat he made an advance until he was so close to the hut that he
could peer into the uncurtained window. What he saw made him start back
in terror.
In the room were half a dozen roughly dressed men, all armed, and with
brutal faces. The room was filled with smoke from cigars and pipes, and
cards were scattered over a rough table in the middle of the apartment.
But what attracted the attention of the professor and made his heart
beat fast in anger, was the sight of a small, pale boy, bound with ropes
up against a big stone fireplace, on the hearth of which logs were
burning.
In front of the lad stood one of the largest and strongest of the tough
gang, and in his hand he held a redhot poker, which, as the scientist
watched, he brought close to the bare legs of the terror-stricken lad.
Then came again those heart-rending cries:
"Oh don't! Please don't! I would tell you where he is if I knew! Please
don't burn me again!"
The professor's blood boiled.
"We'll soon put a stop to this horrible work!" he exclaimed to himself
as he glided back to where the boys were and quickly made them
acquainted with what he had seen.
"Come on!" cried Jerry. "We must rescue that boy!"
As softly as they could, the travelers advanced toward the hut. They
found the door and, while the others with rifles in readiness stood in a
semi-circle about it, Jerry made ready to knock and demand admittance.
"If they don't open the door we must burst it in," said the boy. "The
professor and I will look to that, while you and Ned, Bob, must stand
ready to rush in right after us with your guns ready. But don't shoot
unless your life is in danger, and then fire not to kill, but to wound."
There was a minute of hesitation, for they all realized that it was
taking a desperate chance to tackle such a rough gang in the midst of
woods, far from civilization. But the sound of the poor boy's cries
nerved them on as, once more, the pitiful appeal for mercy rang out.
Jerry sprang forward and gave several vigorous blows on the door with
the butt of his gun. All at once silence took the place of the confusion
inside the hut.
"Who's there? What do you want?" asked a gruff voice.
"Open the door! We want that boy!" cried Jerry.
Confused murmurs from within told that the gang had been taken by
surprise.
"I don't know who you are, but whoever you are you had better move on,
if you don't want a bullet through you," called the man who had first
answered the knock. "This is none of your affair."
"Open the door or we'll burst it in!" cried Jerry, knowing the best way
to be successful in the fight was to act quickly and take the men by
surprise.
There was a laugh from within the hut. It was answered by a rending,
crashing splintering sound as Jerry and the professor, using the
stocks of their guns, began a vigorous attack on the portal. The door
was strong enough, but the hinges were not, and, in less than half a
minute the barrier had given way and, with a bound the travelers found
themselves tumbling into the hut.
Instantly confusion reigned. The men shouted hoarsely, and several tried
to reach their guns, which were stacked in one corner.
"Hands up!" commanded Jerry sharply, leveling his gun at the man who
seemed to be the leader.
"Why, they're nothing but boys! Knock 'em out of the way!" cried one of
the gang. At the same time another began creeping up behind Jerry, his
intention being to grab the lad from the back and disarm him.
But Bob saw the movement, and, leveling his rifle at the fellow, told
him to halt.
"I guess you've got the drop on us," growled the man whom Jerry was
covering with the gun. "What's the game anyhow? Are you stage robbers?"
"We want you to stop torturing that boy," cried Jerry.
"Why, that's my kid, and I was only givin' him a taste of the rod
because he wouldn't mind me; 'spare the rod and spoil the child,' is a
good saying, you know."
"Not from you!" snapped the professor. "Is this man your father?" the
scientist asked the bound boy.
"Speak up now! Ain't I your daddy?" put in the leader, scowling at the
boy.
"Tell the truth! Don't let him scare you!" said the professor
reassuredly. "We are in charge here now. Is he your father?"
"No--no--sir," stammered the poor little lad, and then he burst into
tears.
"I thought so!" commented the scientist. "Now you scoundrels clear out
of here before we cause your arrest!"
"You're talkin' mighty high," sneered the leader, "but look out! This
matter is none of your affair, and that boy belongs to us!"
"Take me away! Oh, please take me away! They'll kill me!" sobbed the lad.
There was such a fiery look in the professor's eye as he leveled his gun
at the gang of men that they started back, evidently fearing to be fired
upon.
"Come on!" called one. "We'll get some of the Mexicans and then we'll
see who's runnin' things around here!"
With that the gang sneaked out of the door, leaving the boys and the
professor master of the situation. Their first act was to unbind the
lad, who was almost fainting from pain and fear.
"Are there any more of them?" asked Jerry.
"Yes," said the boy faintly. "There are a lot of half-breed Mexicans in
the gang. They are in a hut about a mile farther up the road, where they
keep a lot of horses on a ranch."
"Then perhaps we'd better get out of here while we have a chance," said
the professor. "We can't fight a score or more. Let's take the boy and
hurry away."
"Come on then," said Jerry. "We'll get back to the auto. I only hope
these men don't discover it and damage the car."
But when an attempt to start was made it was found that the boy, who
said, in response to an inquiry from Ned, that his name was Tommy Bell,
was unable to walk. The ropes bound about his legs had caused the blood
to stagnate in the veins.
"Here!" exclaimed Jerry. "Bob, you and Ned go ahead with the lantern,
and the professor and I will carry Tommy. Step lively now!"
Moving in that order the procession started, and in a few minutes the
travelers were back at the machine, which did not seem to have been
disturbed. There was no sight or sound of the gang.
Tommy was made as comfortable as possible, and then there was a brief
consultation.
"Which way had we better go?" asked Jerry.
"I think it would be best to turn around," said Bob. "We'll run up
against the gang if we go ahead."
"The best road is straight ahead through this woods," spoke Tommy. "If
you take the other your machine will get stuck."
"Then we'll take this one, and trust to luck not to have any trouble
with the gang," decided Jerry, as he cranked up the car.
Just as they started the moon came out from the clouds, for the rain had
ceased, and, though not many of the silver beams shone through the thick
foliage, it was much lighter than it had been. Jerry threw in the gear
and the next instant the car glided forward and shot along the tunnel of
trees, leaving the hut where Tommy Bell had been a prisoner.
"Is the Mexican camp near this main road?" asked the professor of Tommy.
"About three hundred feet in," answered the boy, who was feeling much
better.
"How many men are at it?"
"About one hundred, I guess, from what I heard them say."
"Then I guess we'd better go past it on the fly," muttered Jerry, as he
speeded up the machine until it was skimming along at a fast rate. In a
little while there was a gleam of light through the trees ahead.
"There's the camp!" exclaimed Tommy.
A minute later the travelers were made well aware of it, for, as they
whizzed past in the auto, they heard shouts of anger, mingling with the
sounds of rushing feet, while an occasional pistol shot rang out, the
flash of fire cutting the darkness.
"They saw us," spoke Bob. "Lucky it was pretty dark, or they might have
damaged the auto."
"To say nothing of ourselves," added Ned.