Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Hampton decided that before
any further steps were taken, the wisest plan would be for all to get a
good rest. Frank still lay as if in a stupor; Jack looked and confessed
to being shaky; even Bob was tired from the strain of the terrific fight
through which he had gone, coming upon the top of many hours of
exhausting travel. As for the rest, they had done practically three
days' work with little or no rest in the short interval between.
"Altogether," said Mr. Hampton, summing up, "we are in no fit condition
to set out in immediate pursuit of Lupo and the remainder of his men,
nor even to decide wisely as to what to do. It may be that the best plan
would be not to pursue Lupo but to set off at once to try and find
Thorwaldsson. I, for one, am too tired even to think straight. So I vote
that we make camp, set watches and turn in for a good rest. I believe I
could sleep the clock around."
"If you think you can trust me with the first watch, Mr. Hampton,"
muttered Bob, shamefacedly, "I'd like to have it. I'll promise you not
to go to sleep on the job again."
Mr. Hampton slapped the big fellow on the back in kindly fashion, as Bob
leaned forward, seated on the ground beside him.
"Forget it, Bob," he said. "You have nothing with which to reproach
yourself. Certainly you can have the first watch, if you want it. I
expect the rest of us will be only too glad of the opportunity to turn
in at once. As to there being any further danger, however, I very much
doubt it. You boys have given Lupo a terrible blow. With four men killed
and three prisoners, he must be short-handed. If he had only twelve or
fourteen, as we believe, his number now is less than ours. The
consequence is, that I cannot conceive of his attempting again to attack
us here on the island. However, a watch must be kept, so go to it."
Everybody agreeing with this program, Bob took the first watch and the
rest scattered around the camp, under the spruces, and soon were
sleeping soundly. When the time to change watches came, with nothing
alarming having broken the calm, Bob waked MacDonald, and himself turned
in. After that, he did not have even a disturbing dream and was
disturbed by nothing until awakened by being shaken. He looked up and
found Frank bending above him, his face alight with merriment.
"Hey, which of the Seven Sleepers are you?" demanded Frank.
Bob ignored the query, his mind leaping at once to the picture of Frank
as he had last seen him. In his voice was a note of thankfulness at
finding Frank thus carefree, as he said:
"How do you feel, old man?"
"Never better," confessed Frank. "Sleep is certainly the right medicine,
isn't it?"
"Don't I know it!"
Bob yawned luxuriously, and rubbed his eyes.
"Come on, Bob, let's take a plunge in the channel. Just got up myself.
It'll wake us up, make us feel good. Everybody's up now, and Dick fixing
to get breakfast. He and Art and MacDonald are fishing. Mr. Hampton and
Farnum are talking things over. And here comes Jack, just piled out of
the feathers, too. The three of us can have a fine swim."
Bob was agreeable to this proposition, and they set out for the place
where Frank and Jack had gone in for a plunge before. Without referring
to the tragic little mound beneath which lay the bodies of the four
half-breeds shot down by Frank and Jack, the boys, as if by common
consent, lay their course through the trees so as to avoid passing near
it.
The water, as Frank had predicted, was delightfully invigorating, and
refreshed and with the young blood tingling in their veins, after a long
sleep and a good swim, they returned to camp. They brought voracious
appetites with them, but fortunately the fishermen had pulled in a big
haul of beauties, and these, together with flapjacks made by that
skillful chef, Art, and washed down with coffee tasting like none ever
made in city restaurants, the whole having the tang of the outdoors and
woodland smoke for sauce, made a delectable repast.
"Now," said Mr. Hampton, at its conclusion, "now for a discussion of
what's to be done."
Thereupon he set forth the facts of the situation. Lupo with five or six
men at most was still at large. He might have turned back. He might be
in hiding nearby. He might have gone on ahead in search of Thorwaldsson.
In any case, Mr. Hampton declared, he felt it would be a waste of time
to search for him in view of the fact that they had learned Thorwaldsson
was somewhere to the north and east and their primary object was to join
forces with that explorer. He wanted to know what the others had to say.
Farnum, who had been talking matters over with Mr. Hampton, sat silent,
nodding approval. The other was stating his own views. But MacDonald
voiced a protest.
"From your point of view, sir," he said, "I reckon you're right. But am
I to let Lupo escape now that I come so close to gettin' him? And what
am I to do with three prisoners on my hands?"
"I've been turning that phase of the situation over and over," said Mr.
Hampton. "I cannot see that we can afford to diverge in pursuit of Lupo,
now that we have pretty definite information through that fellow, Long
Tom, of Thorwaldsson's presence alive and with some of his men in this
wilderness. I know what a blow it will be to you to give up the chase,
but it can't be helped. You have three prisoners, and can't very well
watch them and pursue Lupo, too. They are criminals, and as a member of
the Mounted you must take them in. We can't leave you to handle them
alone, however, and----"
He paused.
"And what, sir," prompted MacDonald.
"Well, the least we can do, MacDonald, is to leave one of our number
with you. That will enable you to keep guard against surprise, watch
over your prisoners, and wait for the arrival of aid from your Post.
We'll wireless your Captain Jameson full details of all that has
occurred, give him your position here, and then you can wait for
relief."
MacDonald looked thoughtful. He was silent several minutes, while none
spoke, but all watched him expectantly.
"If you won't help me try and round up Lupo, you won't, and that's all
there is to it," he said, finally. "Not as I blame you, neither. You got
your job, to git hold of Thorwaldsson and help him. With only a handful
o' men he may be in trouble, too. Seems natural-like, if whoever is agin
you fellows sent this cutthroat Lupo to cut you off, he'd likely be
after Thorwaldsson, too."
Mr. Hampton nodded.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he said, "that Thorwaldsson may need our
aid."
"Just so," continued MacDonald. "Such bein' the case, your best plan is
to try and find him soon as you can."
"Then you agree to my plan?"
"Not so fast," said MacDonald. "You'll give me a man, hey?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Why--I----"
"Give me this feller," said MacDonald, laying a hand on Bob who sat
beside him. "He's a fighter."
"I couldn't do that, MacDonald. The boys must come with me."
"All right. Only that fight he put up--that was a good one. Kind o'
wished I could have him by me. Well, then, let me have this feller. Kin
see he's used to big woods and river country. He'd make a good Mounty."
This time MacDonald pointed the stem of his pipe at Dick.
"What do you say, Dick?" asked Mr. Hampton. "It's up to you?"
"I'd have to go out with the Mounties to their Post, wouldn't I?
Probably have to winter there."
MacDonald nodded.
"Get you a job on the Force," he said.
Dick's eyes shone. Middle-aged though he was, he was alone in life,
loved the wilderness, and still thrilled to adventure.
"That so?" he asked. "Need men?"
"Always room for a good one."
"All right. It's a go," said Dick.
MacDonald nodded approval, spat in the fire, then turned again to Mr.
Hampton.
"Such being the case," he said, "when you talk to Captain Jameson over
that there contraption, just tell him I'm on my way in."
"What?"
"Sure. Think Dick and me would sit here with three no-account breeds on
our hands and wait for help from four hundred miles away to arrive? No.
We'll take 'em in."
"But two of you, alone, and with three prisoners on your hands!"
"Nothing to that. Once I brought in four single-handed. Never thought of
calling for help except I had luck enough to capture Lupo and more of
his gang."
Mr. Hampton looked astounded. He turned to Dick.
"But how about you, Dick?"
"If MacDonald says so, I'm game."
"Knew you would be," said MacDonald. "That's settled. Now call Captain
Jameson, and let's get goin'. You want to be on your way, and we may as
well be on ours."
"But, MacDonald," said Mr. Hampton, trying one last protest, "suppose
Lupo and the remainder of his gang see you start, and follow and attack
you. What then?"
"Huh." MacDonald's eyes snapped. "Couldn't ask for no better luck. I'd
get a shot at him then."
Farnum interrupted at this stage.
"It's no use trying to stop him and Dick," he said. "I know Dick and I
know these men of the Mounted. They're holy terrors. And the pair of
them will get away with it, too."
Mr. Hampton knew when he was beaten, and abandoned his protests. Captain
Jameson once more was called by wireless, and given a full account of
what had occurred. He approved MacDonald's scheme and promised there
would be a position on the Force for Dick when he arrived.
"Well, Dick," said Mr. Hampton, after all arrangements were made for
departure, and he led him aside, "I've been pleased, indeed, with your
ready help and cheerfulness on the trip. I hate to part company with
you. Here is a check for the full sum I promised you for this Summer's
work. And here in addition is something to remember me by."
Into Dick's unwilling hand he pressed a handsome gold watch which he
himself had worn for some years.
"Oh, Mr. Hampton, this is too good for a rough fellow like me to carry,"
protested Dick.
"Now, now, nonsense," said Mr. Hampton. "Nothing is too good for you,
old man. I want you to keep that to remember me by."
"I don't need the watch for that, sir," said Dick gruffly, sticking it
in his pocket nevertheless.