A REVELATION
The professor did not know what to do. He and the boys expected to find
the hut deserted, but, through some cause, the woman had evidently made
a mistake as to the absence of the hermit. Nor did Mr. Snodgrass care to
accept the invitation of the old man and enter the hut, not knowing what
he might find there.
"You must not mind what Kate says," the hermit went on, seeing that his
unexpected visitors hesitated. "She means well, but she exaggerates a
little sometimes."
The professor thought that a rather cool manner in which to reply to
accusation of murder, but, he reflected, if the hermit was as bad as the
woman made him out to be, he would naturally, be rather a bold sort of
person.
The boys, too, were somewhat embarrassed by their position. To come
suddenly upon a man you expect to bind and hand over to the authorities
as a criminal of the worst kind and then to find him calmly inviting
you into his house, is something out of the ordinary. How much longer
the travelers might have stood outside the hut, after the invitation to
enter had been given, will always be a cause for speculation, because,
the next instant something happened.
The professor, who had been glancing from the aged hermit to the hut,
and then back to the old man, suddenly uttered an exclamation, and made
a dive for the door.
"There he goes!" cried the scientist. "There is the one I've been
looking for for nearly a month!" and, a second later, he had disappeared
inside the cabin.
"What's the matter? Is some one after you?" asked the old man hastening
in the footsteps of the scientist, while the boys trailed in behind.
"What do you want?"
"I have it! I have it!" called the professor's voice. "It's a beauty,
and a rare one."
"What does he mean?" asked the hermit, turning to the boys.
"It's a pink-winged dragon fly," cried the professor, coming back at
that point and hearing the question. He had penetrated to the farther
side of the cabin. "I saw the insect on the cabin door," he went on,
explaining to the old man. "Then I saw it go in. I knew it would not
stay long, so the only thing to do was to make a jump for it, without
waiting to explain. I am very glad I got it, for it's worth at least
seven dollars, and perhaps more. I must apologize for running into your
cabin in that hasty manner," the scientist went on, turning to the old
man.
"I guess that was the best way of getting you into it," said the hermit
with a smile, which, the boys admitted, was a very pleasant one for a
murderer. "But now you are here, do not be in a hurry to get out again."
"If you have no objections I will stay until I have put away this
dragon-fly specimen in a case," said the professor, pulling out a small
flat box in which he placed his precious specimens temporarily.
"Let me ask you to supper," went on the old man, seeming to the boys to
be very eager to have them remain. "It is so seldom that I have company
that I appreciate it very much. Stay and have a meal with me."
The boys and the professor hardly knew what answer to make. They did not
want to stay, yet did not care to offend by saying no.
"I'm afraid we might inconvenience you," began Mr. Snodgrass. "You know
what it is when company comes unexpectedly, and the larder is empty."
"Have no fears on that score," replied the old man with a short laugh.
"I have plenty for all of us," and throwing open a cupboard he showed it
well stocked with many victuals.
As no other excuse offered, the travelers could do nothing else but
agree to stay, though Bob said afterwards that he kept his hand on his
revolver, in his outside coat pocket, ready to draw it at a moment's
notice.
So, in a little while, supper was being prepared by the hermit, who
seemed to be quite an expert cook. As he busied himself about the
stove the boys had time to glance over the cabin. The first thing that
impressed them was that the place was well planned for defense.
It was built somewhat like the old block houses the early settlers
constructed, with the upper story projecting over the first, so that the
Indians who besieged the place, could be attacked from above. Then the
lads noted that the sides were pierced with small loop holes, while on
the walls were several rifles, and belts full of cartridges.
"One might think that you were in an enemy's country," observed Mr.
Snodgrass to the hermit, as he took note of the means of defense.
"I have to be on guard," responded the hermit, quickly. "My life is
not safe a moment. I do not know what minute I may be attacked. I am
surrounded by spies on every hand."
"It is a wonder that you let us in then," said Jerry. "How do you know
that we will not betray you?"
"I am too good a reader of human character as shown in the face to fear
anything like that," the old man went on. "I can trust you; I know I
can."
"Who are you in danger from?" asked the professor, wondering what sort
of story the hermit could tell.
"All kinds of bad men," was the answer. "They had me in their power
once, but I got away. I came here because it was a place well hidden
from general observation. I have lived here several years, and you are
the first persons beside poor Kate, that I have been friendly with in
that time."
"Then why do you keep ready to repel an enemy if none has molested you
in that period?" asked Mr. Snodgrass.
"Because there is no telling when the men will attack me," replied the
old man. "There are several who would like to get control of me, but I
think I can prevent it. I will never let them get me into their power
again, as long as I have a shot in the gun."
Supper was ready by this time, and the travelers, not very much
reassured by the talk of the strange old hermit sat down to the rude
table. The food, contrary to their expectation, proved very good.
When the meal was over the hermit began to question the travelers about
their journey and asked why they came to the lake, which, he said, was
seldom if ever visited. They told him how they had unexpectedly found
the sheet of water.
"That generally is the way in this world," said the old man. "If you
look for a thing you never find it, but if you do not, sometimes it
comes to you in the most unexpected manner. I have sought something for
many years, but I have not found it, and my heart will break if I do not
succeed soon."
"What is it you are looking for?" asked Ned, softly, as he saw the
hermit was affected.
"I can not tell you now," was the answer. "Later I may, and perhaps you
can help me in the quest."
"We would be glad to," said the professor. "But I think we must be
going now. It is getting late and we must get back to the automobile.
Besides, I am afraid we will have trouble finding our way through the
woods."
"Have no fear," said the hermit. "I will call Kate and she will take you
back, just as she brought you here."
"But I thought she was--" began Uriah Snodgrass.
"That is only a notion of hers, that I am a murderer," spoke the hermit,
with a smile. "Kate pretends to be very much afraid of me, but she will
come to me when I call her. Probably you are wondering who I am, and
why I live out in these lonely woods. If you care to I will tell you my
story briefly."
They all said they would be glad to listen, so the hermit began by
saying, for reasons of his own, that he would not tell his name.
"I do not want it to be known who I am," he said. "But, as I said, I was
once in the power of a number of bad men. I used to be a prospector,
and made considerable at it, until trouble came. Then I came to this
lonesome place. I had heard the legend of Lost Lake, and the gold
supposed to be on its shores, but I never expected to find this body
of water. However, I did come across it, though I never have found any
gold. I have been here ever since, and that is about three years. I
manage to hunt and fish, and so get enough to live on. Occasionally I go
to the nearest village, and sell a few articles I make out of wood, and
so get a little money."
"I should think you would be very lonesome at times," said Bob.
"I am glad to be alone when I think of all I suffered from those men,"
was the reply.
"Would you mind telling us about the woman?" asked Mr. Snodgrass. "She
seems a queer creature."
"She is," answered the hermit. "She is harmless enough, except when
aroused, and her great trouble is in thinking that I am a murderer."
"What makes her think such a thing?" asked Jerry.
"Because she is slightly crazy," said the hermit. "She was in these
woods when I came here, and, in time we grew to be good friends. It
seems that years ago her whole family was killed by the Indians, she
alone escaping. It turned her brain, and ever since then, she imagines
that nearly all men are murderers. I wonder she has not accused you of
the crime," and the hermit smiled a little.
"She certainly acted queer," admitted the professor, "but I thought it
was because she took you to be--er--"
"Oh, I don't mind having you refer to it," put in the old man. "She
often accuses me of the crime to my face. I humor her, and admit
sometimes that I am a desperate criminal, and that I am going to give
myself up to the authorities. It sort of calms her down."
"What did you mean by saying that she would come whenever you called
her?" asked Jerry. "Is she near by?"
"She stays in a little cabin I built for her, not far off," replied the
hermit. "When I want her to go on an errand for me, for she is very
swift and reliable, I merely blow this horn," and he showed a big conch
hanging on the wall. "I will call her to show you the way back to your
camp when you are ready."
The professor and the boys thought it was about time to leave. They
promised the hermit they would come and see him again, and then the
old man, taking down the horn, unbarred the door, and, stepping out
blew three shrill blasts that reverberated through the woods. It was
just getting dusk, and the echoes, ringing back from the distant hills,
sounded weird in the gathering darkness.
For a few seconds no answer came, then, from far off in the woods
sounded a faint cry.
"Here she comes," said the hermit. "She will take you the shortest way."
In a little while the crackling of the brush could be heard, and, a few
seconds later Kate appeared. She did not seem surprised not to find the
travelers all murdered.
"Will you show them the way back to camp?" asked the old man.
"Yes," said Kate, simply. "Follow me," she added, turning to the boys
and the professor.
They started off after the strange woman, and, at that instant the old
hermit uttered an exclamation.
"Some one is coming!" he cried. "It may be some of my enemies!"
A moment later he turned and fled into the dark woods!