THE HERMIT'S IDENTITY
"Catch him! I want him! Bring him back!" exclaimed the stranger as he
saw the hermit disappearing into the depths of the forest.
"What do you want of him?" asked the professor, not liking the man's
looks.
"What's that your business?" inquired the stranger. "Trot along now, and
don't bother me."
"I'll do nothing of the kind," retorted Mr. Snodgrass. "That old man is
a friend of ours, and we'll see that no harm comes to him."
"Well, I'm going to catch him," replied the rough looking man, "so stand
aside."
He made as if to go in pursuit of the hermit, but Kate, with flashing
eyes and defiant gestures, stood in front of the stranger.
"You let him alone!" she exclaimed. "If you go after him I'll scratch
your eyes out!"
And she looked fierce and strong enough to put her threat into execution
as she stood her ground.
"Mind," she went on, "don't you dare to stir a step after him!"
"So that's the way the land lays, eh?" sneered the fellow. "Well, we'll
see about that."
Putting his finger to his lips he blew a shrill whistle. Hardly had the
echo died away than two more men, more roughly dressed, if possible,
than the first man, made their appearance from behind bushes where they
had evidently been hiding.
"I've found him," said the first man to his companions. "Now these
people want to interfere."
"Knock 'em out of the way," growled one of the late comers.
"Look here!" began Jerry who was beginning to get angry. "If there's any
knocking to be done I guess we can do our share."
"When did you leave home?" asked the first man, with a sneer. "Look out,
young tenderfoot, how you mix up in this matter."
"What right have you to follow this old man?" asked the professor, for
he began to believe the strangers to be some of the enemies of which the
hermit had been fearful.
"That's none of your affair," was the answer. "We want that man and
we're going to have him. He got away from us once, and we're going to
take care it does not happen again. Come on, boys. Let's trail after the
old chap. He can't have gone very far."
The three turned and were about to take after the hermit when Kate, who
had stepped aside, made a sudden spring, and confronted the leader of
the three men.
"Don't you dare go after that poor old man!" she cried. "There! Take
that!"
And before the man could raise his hand in defense Kate gave him a
forceful push. It was followed by a curious happening.
The three men were standing on the very edge of the knoll, upon the
summit of which was the tree where the hermit had been hiding. So steep
was the descent that when Kate shoved the man he toppled over backward.
Right behind him were the other two men, and falling against them, their
leader bowled them down like the remaining pins in a game of skittles.
All three of them went slipping, sprawling, tumbling head over heels
down the steep slope, vainly trying to dig their hands into the earth
and so save themselves.
"There!" exclaimed the woman, as she saw the men roll down. "I guess
they will not defy me again in a hurry!"
"I don't believe they will," observed the professor drily.
In fact the men seemed to have had enough of Kate for, having rolled to
the bottom of the hill, where they arrived somewhat the worse for wear,
they got up, but made no attempt to return. Instead they shuffled off
through the woods, contenting themselves with shaking their fists at the
party on top of the hill.
"What had we better do now?" asked Ned.
"Go back to our camp," spoke Jerry.
"I think perhaps we had," counseled the professor. "I thought the poor
old hermit was merely wandering in his mind when he talked about men
being after him, but, it seems he was right. Now that we have had an
encounter with these men, and incurred their hate, it would be best if
we did not leave our automobile unguarded. There is no telling what will
happen in the next few hours."
"What can we do to save the hermit?" asked Bob.
"Nothing right away, I fear," replied Mr. Snodgrass. "We could not find
him in the night, for it will soon be dark, and I think he can look
after himself better than we can, for the present."
"I think so too," put in Kate, who seemed to have calmed down after her
attack on the men. "We will go back to your camp, and take up the search
to-morrow."
It was getting dusk now, and the travelers made the best speed they
could, following Kate's guidance, back to their shack near the lake.
They found the camp undisturbed and soon were preparing a supper, which
the woman shared. Then she bade them good night, and promised to come in
the morning.
"I guess we had better post a guard to-night," said Jerry, as he and the
others were thinking of turning in. "There may be a lot of those men
after the hermit, and they will not feel any too friendly toward us for
what we have done. What do you say, Professor?"
Uriah Snodgrass thought the scheme a good one, and, lots having been
drawn, the first watch fell to Ned. He got out his rifle, and, having
provided a quantity of wood for the fire, and making the search-light
ready so it could be set going quickly, he prepared to spend part of the
night on guard.
It was rather lonesome, especially as the others soon fell asleep, as
was evidenced by their heavy breathing and an occasional snore. But
Ned knew that perhaps the lives of his comrades might depend on his
vigilance, so he fought against the feeling of dread, as well as the
inclination to sleep, for he was very tired. As the night wore on a
stronger feeling of dread took possession of the lad. He started at
every sound, and the bark of a fox, the howl of a distant wolf, and even
the hooting of an owl was enough to make him jump.
He was very glad, therefore, when his trick was up and Jerry took his
place.
"Did you see or hear anything?" asked Jerry.
"Nary a thing except the wild animals," replied Ned. "There's a regular
menagerie around here, by the sound in the woods."
For several hours Jerry remained on guard. He was wide awake, for the
sleep earlier in the evening had rested him considerably. Part of the
time he sat on a log near the fire, and again, he would get up and pace
back and forth looking around anxiously.
Jerry replenished the fire and then, feeling somewhat chilly, began to
walk rapidly up and down, pacing about ten feet in either direction from
the blaze. Once, when he had gone a little further, and stood near a big
elm tree he fancied he heard a noise among the branches. Glancing up he
was startled by hearing some one utter:
"Hist! Hist!"
"Who's--who's there?" faltered Jerry, for he was taken by surprise.
"Sh! Not so loud! Have they gone?" asked a voice.
"Who?" asked the lad, wondering who was speaking.
"The men who were after me?" was the reply, and then Jerry recognized
the hermit's voice.
"Yes, they have gone. Come down, you are safe now," said Jerry.
There was a scrambling among the branches and soon the white-haired old
man stood on the ground beside the boy. His clothing was torn, and his
beard was matted with briers and brambles. His face and hands were cut,
and he bore the appearance of having raced through the thick underbrush.
"I had a hard time escaping them," said the hermit. "Have you any water?
I have not had a drink in several hours, and my throat is parched."
Jerry ran to the water pail to get the hermit a drink. The noise he made
aroused the others.
"What is it? Are they attacking us?" asked Mr. Snodgrass.
"No, the hermit has come back," replied Jerry. "He was hiding up in a
tree."
The professor hurried out of the shack, and joined the old man, who
seemed very glad to get back among his new friends. He said he had been
wandering around ever since he ran away when the stranger appeared, and,
at last, had determined to try and find the boys' camp.
"Now you are here we will take good care of you, Mr.--er--Mr.--"
stammered the professor, forgetting that the hermit had refused to
disclose his identity. The old man noticed the hesitating tones.
"There is no reason why I should keep my name a secret from you any
longer," he said. "You probably never heard of me, and never will again.
I only desire to remain hidden from my enemies, and I think you are my
friends."
"What is your name?" asked the professor.
"Jackson Bell," was the reply. "I am an old gold miner."
"Jackson Bell," repeated Jerry, wondering if he had heard aright.
"Jackson Bell," repeated the professor. "Where have I heard that name
before?"
"Why you must be Tommy Bell's father," exclaimed Ned.
"What's that!" fairly shouted the hermit. "Do you know Tommy Bell? Have
you seen my dear son? Tell me quickly! Do not keep a poor old man in
suspense," and he seemed greatly agitated.
"I thought I had seen some relative of his somewhere," said the
professor.