THE KIDNAPPING OF JOE AND FRED.
As the days went by Joe kept his club practicing constantly. He also
pitched a great deal, so that his arm might be in perfect condition
when the game with their rivals should come off. He had a new drop
curve which he trusted would prove effective in deceiving the Excelsior
batters.
Si Voup had sent several written communications to the Lakeports. One
was that the game should take place on a certain Saturday, beginning at
exactly three o'clock, and that there should be no postponement unless
it rained heavily.
"I don't see why he sent that," said Fred. "We understood it that way
all along."
"Oh, he wants to appear officious!" grumbled Frank. "Tell him we'll be
there on the minute, and we'll play in any kind of weather he wants,"
and this was done.
A day or two later Link came into the clubroom and announced that Voup
was making some heavy bets on the Excelsiors.
"I don't know where he is getting the money," said he, "but he has got
it and he doesn't seem to be afraid to risk it, either."
"Well, I shan't bet," answered Joe. "I don't believe in it."
That Si Voup was betting was true. Some of the money was his own and
some he borrowed from his friends. Several cautioned him about what
he was doing, but he only smiled quietly and went on as before. Then
several of the other club members began to bet also, until, all told,
the crowd had quite a sum at stake.
"They must think they are going to have a walkover," said Fred. "What
can it mean, Harry?"
"I'm sure I don't know."
"Perhaps he has taken in some professional players on the sly," came
from Matt.
"We'll write to him for his list of players," said Joe, and this was
done. The list came the next day, showing that but one change had been
made, in consequence of Kyle Fenton's resignation. Then Si demanded the
list of Lakeport players and this was likewise forwarded.
"This is going to be the hottest game ever played in this vicinity,"
said Harry. "The Excelsiors are out for blood."
"Well, we'll give them as hard a rub as we can," answered Joe.
On Friday, the day before the game was to come off, Fred told Joe that
he had an errand to do up the lake shore, at a place called Hollow Cove.
"I'd like first-rate to have you come along," he added.
"All right; I'll see if I can get off," returned Joe. "When are you
coming back?"
"Not until this evening," answered Fred.
Permission to go was readily obtained, and the chums set off about
ten o'clock in the morning. They were to obtain their dinners at a
farmhouse on the way.
"We might have gone on our bicycles," said Fred, as they walked along.
"But mine is out of repair."
"And I need a new front tire," came from Joe. "Oh, I'd just as soon
walk," he added. "I've got tired of wheeling."
"Everything is baseball nowadays," laughed Fred. "By the way, have you
noticed how Si Voup and some of those other fellows keep watching us
all the time?"
"Yes, I have noticed that, Fred. They seem to be afraid we'll play some
sort of a trick on them."
"Perhaps they are up to some trick themselves."
"Well, I am going to keep my eyes wide open the minute I get on the
ball field. I am sure we can trust that new umpire and as for the rest,
why we have got to look out for ourselves, that's all."
"Right you are."
"I don't know much about that new player Voup has in Kyle's place, but
to me he doesn't seem any great shakes."
"He may be playing foxy."
"That's true, but when I saw him practicing he appeared to be doing his
best."
So the talk ran on as the two boys journeyed along. It was a fairly
clear day with just a few clouds floating across the sky.
Coming to a large apple orchard they halted long enough to get a number
of apples. At the orchard the road took a sharp turn in the direction
of the lake. Just as they made this turn they beheld several persons
running across the opposite end of the orchard.
"Hullo!" cried Joe. "What are those fellows up to?"
"I give it up," answered Fred. "Maybe they were stealing apples and
thought we were after them."
"They were certainly in a tremendous hurry."
They looked into the orchard, but could see nothing further of the
strangers. Then they moved on until they came to a spot where the
road ran close to the lake shore. It was rather wild and lonely, no
farmhouse being within half a mile.
The two boys were suspecting no attack, and when they were suddenly
seized from behind they were taken completely by surprise. Each was
thrown forward in the grass beside the road, and somebody came down on
them with such force that the wind of each was knocked completely out
of him.
"The ropes, quick!" said a low, rough voice, and before they could do a
thing their hands were bound tightly behind them.
"Wha--what does this mean?" gasped Fred, trying to squirm from under
the party who held him down.
"Shut up!" came the command. "If you don't, you'll get a crack over the
head!"
The voice was rough and unnatural, as if the speaker was trying to
conceal his identity.
"You'll pay for this!" came from Joe. He was wondering if the
assailants belonged to the gang of tramps that had been rounded up
during the game of hare and hounds.
At last the boys were allowed to stand up, and much to their
astonishment they found themselves confronted by a party of three men
or boys, which they could not tell. Each of the three had a big, black
cloth over his head, tied with a string around his neck and with two
holes in front, so that the wearer could see. All were armed with clubs.
"Is this a trick, or what?" demanded Joe, after a pause.
"Shut up!" came in reply, and the speaker brandished his club in such a
savage fashion that Joe felt compelled to step back.
Against their will the two prisoners were marched along the road to
where a path led still further up the lake shore. They were forced to
walk along this path until they reached a perfect wilderness bordering
the lake. Then one of the masked fellows went off, leaving the other
two to remain on guard.
"What do you make of this?" asked Fred, in a low tone.
"I don't know what to make of it," answered Joe, in a whisper. "I
hardly think they are tramps."
"I think I have heard their voices before."
"Will you keep still?" roared one of the captors, and he hit each a
light blow with his club.
"What are you going to do with us?" asked Joe, as bravely as he could.
This question was not answered, and for half an hour the two boys were
compelled to stand where they were, without saying a word to each
other. At the end of that time a low whistle came from up the lake,
which one of the masked fellows immediately answered.
"Now move on!" he commanded, and the whole party pushed through the
brushwood to the water's edge. Here a sloop was in waiting, with the
other masked person in command.
"Get on board, and be quick about it," was the next order received. And
when the two lads hesitated they were pushed in such a fashion that
each came near going into the lake. Seeing there was no help for it,
and that they would be roundly abused if they attempted to thwart the
plans of their captors, they boarded the sloop. The mainsail was at
once hoisted, and the sloop stood up the lake.
The fellow who had brought the sloop in evidently knew how to handle
such a craft and soon the boat was making the best possible use of the
wind. The course was directly towards Pine Island, and Joe and Fred
rightfully guessed that they were bound for that location.
As soon as the craft got within a reasonable distance of the island
those with masks became extremely cautious, and they did not attempt to
make a landing until they were certain nobody was near. Then the sloop
was run into a cove, and the prisoners were forced to go ashore without
delay.
"Now march!" was the next order issued to them.
[Illustration: "Now, march!"]
"Where to?" questioned Joe.
"Straight ahead."
Again it was useless to resist, and they marched on. Each felt like
fighting, but with his hands bound tightly behind him could do nothing.
Around to one side of the hill in the middle of the island was a short
but rather deep gully, which during the winter had been completely
filled with snow. To this gully one of the masked fellows led the
way, the others urging Fred and Joe along with their clubs and with
switches they had cut.
Half way into the gully was a somewhat circular opening, having a large
overhanging rock at the top. Here, beside the big rock, were a number
of long and tough tree roots and some bushes.
"Tie them to the tree roots," said the leader of the crowd, and
despite their protests Joe and Fred were made close prisoners without
delay. Then the three masked fellows withdrew out of hearing for a
consultation among themselves.