AT WHISPERING PINE LODGE

BY LAWRENCE J. LESLIE

1919

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE HALT ON THE ADIRONDACK CARRYII. GRIPPED BY A GIANT'S UNSEEN HANDSIII. OBED GRIMES BOBS UPIV. BANDY-LEGS SUSPECTSV. PACKING OVER THE "CARRY"VI. THE LODGE OF MANY WONDERSVII. THE YOUNG MAGICIANVIII. PRODUCTS OF THE FUR FARMIX. LAYING PLANS TO HELP OBEDX. TRAPS FOR NIGHT PROWLERSXI. A TREE THAT BORE STRANGE FRUITXII. THE TAPS ON THE CABIN WALLXIII. OBED LEARNS SOMETHINGXIV. A BIG SURPRISEXV. STEVE'S DREAM COMES TRUEXVI. THE FUR FARMER'S TRIUMPH--CONCLUSION

CHAPTER I

THE HALT ON THE ADIRONDACK CABBY

"Where's Touch-and-Go Steve, fellows?"

"Why, Max, he slipped away with his little steel-jointed fishing-rod assoon as he heard you say we'd stop here over night. And I saw himpicking some fat white grubs out of those old rotten stumps we passed atthe time we rested, an hour back. Huh! just like Slippery Steve to getout of the hard work we've going to have cutting enough brush for makingour shanty shelter tonight; seeing that we didn't fetch our bully oldtent along this trip. He's a nice one, I should say. "

"N-n-never you m-m-mind about Steve, Bandy-legs. He t-t-told me he_knew_ he c-c-could yank a m-m-mess of fine trout out of that c-c-creek, where it looked so s-s-shallow just back there. He's m-m-meaning tow-w-wade in, too, I reckon, and when you s-s-smell the fish c-c-cookingyou'll be s-s-sorry you said what you did. "

"Well, let's get a move on, and start that shanty. I chose this placepartly on account of there being so much brush handy, you see. "

"Sure you did, Max. It takes you to notice things that miss our eyes. Here, let me handle the hatchet, because you see I was such a truthfullittle shaver away back that my folks often regretted they hadn't namedme George Washington. "

"All I c-c-can say then, Bandy-legs, they b-b-builded wiser than theyknew when they j-j-just let it g-g-go at regrets. A f-f-fine GeorgeWashington you'd m-m-make, I'm thinking. "

The boy answering to the peculiar name of "Bandy-legs" laughedgood-naturedly as he began to swing the sharp-edged hatchet, and cutdown some of the required brush which, having camped many times before, he knew was suitable for their requirements. 

Besides this sturdy young chap with the lower limbs that were a littlebowed, and which fact had doubtless suggested such a nickname to hisschoolmates, there were two others busily engaged in gathering thematerial to be used in affording them a rude, but effective shelterduring the coming night. 

The one whom they called Max seemed to be looked upon as a leader, forit is absolutely necessary that in every pack of boys some one takes theinitiative. His whole name was Max Hastings, and on numberless occasionshe had shown an aptitude for "doing things" when the occasion arose, that gained him the respect of his chums. For a complete record of theseachievements the reader is referred to earlier volumes of this series, where between the covers will be found much interesting and instructivereading. 

The third boy of the trio in sight was Toby Jucklin. While Toby wascertainly agile enough when it came to acrobatic stunts, and such thingsas boys are fond of indulging in, his vocal cords often loved to playsad pranks with his manner of speech. As the reader has alreadydiscovered, Toby was fain to stutter in the most agonizing fashion. Whenone of these fits came upon him he would get red in the face, and showthe greatest difficulty in framing certain words. Then all of a sudden, as though taking a grip on himself, Toby would stop short, draw in along breath, give a sharp whistle, and strange to say, start talking asplainly as the next one. 

In time perhaps he would conquer this weakness, which after all is onlycaused by nervousness, and a desire to rattle out words. 

There was a fourth chum also, the Steve spoken of and who had slippedaway with his new steel-jointed bait-rod, and a handful of fat grubs, assoon as he heard Max say they had gone far enough on their way. Steve, being one of those hasty lads who do a thing while many people would beonly figuring it out, had long ago fallen heir to a number of suggestivenicknames, among others "Touch-and-Go Steve, " and "Old Lightning. "

These four lads were a long ways from their home town of Carson, nestledon the Evergreen River, and near which we have seen them in the earlierbooks of this series successfully carry out numerous of theirundertakings. 

In fact they were deep in the wildest part of the famous Adirondacks atthe time we run across them on this particular occasion. There was not atown within many miles, nor for that matter a regular camp where summerguests were entertained. The difficulties to be encountered along this"carry" were so great that ordinary excursionists avoided it severely. Indeed, few fishermen ever invaded these solitudes, although there wereundoubtedly many places where trout of generous size might be picked up. 

All this would make it seem a bit queer that Max and his three chumsshould venture into this section of the wilderness without a guidealong; so perhaps it might be wise to enter upon explanations while theopportunity is open. 

Now these tried and true chums had had strange things happen to thembefore, but they were well agreed that their present undertaking farexceeded everything else that had ever come their way, at least so faras its being a romantic quest was concerned. 

Everything combined to make it seem a page torn from one of thoseold-time fairy books they used to love to read when much younger, andmore gullible. In the first place, it was a wonderful piece of luck thatcame their way, when the School Directors agreed, after the summer washalf over, that the school buildings required considerable alterationsin order to make them sanitary for the coming winter; and really aspecial providence that watches over the fortunes of boys and girls musthave caused the carpenters and masons to go on a protracted strike, sothat when this had been finally settled there was not nearly time enoughleft in which to complete the extensive repairs. 

School had started, and gone along in a rough-and-ready fashion for someweeks; but everybody was "sore" about it. The builders complained thatthey could not accomplish half the work they should, because of theannoyance of having so many children trotting around, and botheringthem. And the teachers were almost distracted on account of the constantpounding together with the presence of rough men, who broke in uponclasses, and forced them to vacate certain rooms because they had to dosomething there. 

And so along about the first of October the School Board wiselyconcluded that a vacation of some two weeks would do far less harm tothe scholars than a continuation of these interruptions. Besides, theteachers on their part threatened to also strike unless relief camepromptly. 

Imagine the delight of such fellows as Max, Bandy-legs, Steve and TobyJucklin, all of whom loved life in the open so much, when they got thechance to further indulge this propensity, especially at the mostglorious time of the whole year, when the nut crop was coming on, thetrees turning red and yellow from the magical touch of Jack Frost's coldfingers, with a tang in the air that made a fellow twice as hungry as heever got in the hot old summer-time. 

And then, as though Fate had determined to make this the most wonderfulof periods in all their checkered careers, a thing happened that seemedjust like one of those old but once much beloved fairy stories. 

Perhaps, by listening to the workers exchanging comments as they gatherthe necessary brush, which later on would be fashioned into a sheltercapable of shedding even a moderate amount of rain, we may be able topick up enough general information to understand the nature of theirmission up into the Adirondacks. 

Bandy-legs was speaking at the time. He had a little fault in the way ofoften showing a disposition to look at the darker side of things; anddoubtless being unusually tired, after a hard day's tramp, with such aheavy pack on his back, had something to do with his spirit ofcomplaining on the present occasion. 

"Well, all I can say, fellows, " he remarked, as he carried an armful ofthe stuff he had been gathering to the spot where Max had alreadycommenced to erect the sides of the squatty shelter by driving stakesinto the ground, "is that I hope we haven't come all the way up here ona reg'lar fool's errand. It'd cost Mrs. Hopewell a pretty good sum, andbe a real disappointment to her, if after all we didn't find thatgood-for-nothing nephew of hers, Roland Chase. Honest to goodness now, I'm a little inclined to believe he'll be leading us a wild-goose Chase, if you want my opinion. "

"Oh! l-l-let up, c-c-can't you, Bandy-legs!" spluttered the indignantToby, pausing for a minute to wipe the beads of perspiration from hisbrow, and regain his breath in the bargain. "You're g-g-getting to be aregular old g-g-granny, that's what, with all your d-d-dismalp-p-prophesies. Tell me, d-d-did we _ever_ f-f-fail yet in anything weundertook? C-c-course we haven't. Right in the start we found all thoseb-b-bully p-p-pearls in those mussels we g-g-gathered in the BigSunflower River, and laid away a n-n-nice n-n-nest-egg in bank for thecrowd. Sure we'll f-f-find Roland Chase; we've just g-g-got to, that'sall. "

"All I want to say about it, boys, " observed Max, "is that I admire thegrit of the boy. They told us he was something of a dude, didn't they, and that his rich uncle was afraid he'd never amount to much anyhow; sowhat did he do but make a most _extraordinary_ will; at least, everybodywho's heard about that proviso says so. I heard Judge Perkins say thoughhe guessed the old man knew boys better than most folks, and had takena wise course to prove whether this Roland had any snap in him or not. "

"Well, he was left just two thousand dollars cash down, " saidBandy-legs, in a thoughtful manner, as though reviewing the singularcircumstance, "and if at the end of two years he could show that he haddoubled that amount, besides earning his own living, why he was to comeinto two-thirds of his uncle's fortune. Some of our Carson people whoknow folks over in Sagamore where the uncle lived tell whopping bigstories about the size of that fortune. I heard one man say he reckonedit was as much as two hundred thousand dollars, in all. "

"The funny part of it is, " resumed Max, shaking his head in a way ratherodd for him, "that immediately after Roland received his two thousand incash he disappeared from the scene. That was almost two years ago; andfrom that day nobody in Sagamore has ever had a peep at him. The fact ishe might almost be dead. Once his other aunt, Mrs. Hopewell, who livesnow in Carson, had a few lines from Roland. He simply said he was aliveand well, and that he had hopes of seeing her again one of these finedays. "

"Yes, that's r-r-right, " burst out Toby, in a disgusted tone, "but not ap-peep did he give about what he was d-d-doing, or if he meant to showup and c-c-claim his f-f-fine f-f-fortune. And all she could make outwas that the p-p-postmark on the l-l-letter was Piedmont, N. Y. , whichon looking up we f-f-found was away up here in the h-h-heart of the oldAdirondacks. "

"Well, " said Max, still working industriously away, "Mrs. Hopewell isgetting very much concerned about Roland. Somehow she seemed to fancythe boy, though no one else thought he'd ever amount to anything, because he used to like to wander around in the woods all the while, orgo fishing, instead of studying. But I guess those people hadn't everbeen boys themselves; and all of us can appreciate this liking for theopen that Roland showed. "

"And so, " pursued Bandy-legs after the fashion of a story-teller whohad-reached a crisis in his tale, "she asked Max here if he wouldn't bewilling to undertake a trip to the mountains with several of his goodchums, meaning us, fellows, to try and locate the missing Roland, andbring back some encouraging news; for the good old soul is in great fearthat the second year will soon be finished, and unless Roland is able toshow four thousand dollars in cash, most of the estate will go to hisolder cousin, Frederick. Mrs. Hopewell dislikes this chap very much, because she says he is a bad man, who drinks, and gambles, and does allsorts of things old ladies detest. Well, we took her up in a jiffy assoon as we heard the glorious news about school being closed for twoweeks; and as she foots all the bills, we're bound to have a jolly timeof it, even if we don't run across Roland; and I think that is likelooking for a needle in a haystack. "

That was a pretty long speech for even Bandy-legs to make, and yet itcovered considerable of the ground, and explained just how it came thatMax and his three comrades chanced to be so far away from the home town. 

The boys were just about to turn their attention once more to the workthat had been undertaken when all of them suddenly stopped and listened. 

"That was Steve yelling then, I reckon, " snapped the owner of the bowedlegs, "but honest Injun, I didn't make out what he said. Mebbe now hestruck a whopper of a trout, and was giving one of his whoops. You allknow how excited Steve does get if anything out of the way happens. "

"L-l-listen!" cried Toby Jncklin, jumping to his feet. "D-d-didn't itsound like he was yelpin' help?"

"Just what it seemed like to me!" exclaimed Max. "Something may havehappened to Steve, because he's always getting himself in trouble. Comealong, fellows, and we'll soon find out. There, he's whooping it upagain. "

And this time every one of the trio of running boys could plainly detectsomething approaching agony in the thrilling cry of "Help, oh! hurry up, fellows! Help!"

CHAPTER II

GRIPPED BY A GIANT'S UNSEEN HANDS

That Max, Bandy-legs and Toby all kept their wits about them wasmanifest. Their actions had made this clear enough, for each of the triobefore starting "on the jump, " as Bandy-legs described it, had made sureto pick up something that, according to his mind, was apt to be needed. Max, for instance, had snatched a rope that hung from a broken branch ofthe tree, and which one of the boys had fetched along simply because "arope often comes in mighty handy for lots of things besides a hangingbee. " On his part Toby had stooped down and possessed himself of thecamp hatchet; if it proved that Steve was being attacked by a bobcat hefancied he could make pretty good use of such a tool in an emergency. Bandy-legs, true to his hunter instinct, made out to secure the only gunwhich had been brought with them on the trip. 

As they ran wildly in the direction from whence those appeals forassistance still came, louder than ever, every fellow was straining hisvision to be the first to discover what it could be that was causingSteve to let out such alarming whoops. 

They did not have very far to go before suddenly all of them discoveredthe object of their solicitude. He seemed to be standing nearlywaist-deep in the stream, and still holding on to his tough little steelrod. 

"Oh! shucks!" gasped Bandy-legs, almost out of breath from his violentexertions, "he's only struck a mud turtle, or something like that, andwants us to come and see. It's a burning shame to give us all such ascare over a measly turtle. "

"B-b-bet you it's a w-w-woppin' b-b-big fish!" ejaculated Toby. 

"Keep on running!" snapped Max. "He needs help, and in a hurry, too!"

This sort of talk amazed both the others. So far as they could see Stevestood there quite alone. They looked again but could see no savageanimal attacking their comrade; nor was there any vast disturbance inthe water, as though some marine monster might be trying to drag himdown; besides, such things as alligators or sharks were utterly unknownup here in the Adirondacks. 

"But, Max, he's all right, as far as I can see, " expostulatedBandy-legs, in reality unwilling to keep up that violent exertion justto please some silly whim on the part of the fisherman, who, like asnot, would give them the laugh after they came up puffing and blowinglike porpoises. 

"Look again, " snapped Max. "Don't you see how deep he's in? Prettynearly up to his waist, isn't he?"

"That's all right, " said Bandy-legs, "but if the silly has gone andwaded deeper than he meant to, why don't he just turn around and walkout again?"

"Because he can't!" Max told him, still running. 

"Hey! w-w-what's hindering him!" stammered Toby, thrilled by this newmystery that had so suddenly dawned upon them. 

"The sand's got too tight a grip on him, " cried Max, "and he's sinkingdeeper all the time!"

"Oh! thunder, it's quicksand, then!" exploded Bandy-legs. 

Having now the key to the enigma explaining Steve's strange action, aswell as his queer antics while floundering about out there in the littlestream, both boys could easily see that May evidently spoke the truth. So those envious Spanish courtiers found it easy to balance an egg onend, after Columbus showed them how to do the trick. 

In another half minute they arrived on the shore of the little stream. Steve out there, with the shallow water coming now up almost to hiswaist, greeted their arrival with a sickly grin. 

"Sorry to bother you, boys, " he said, "but seems like I've gone and gotinto a nasty pickle. Please yank me out of this, won't you?"

Impetuous Bandy-legs was about to instantly start forward when Maxgripped him by the arm. 

"Don't be foolish, Bandy-legs, " he told the other, severely. "You'd onlyget yourself in the same boat, if you stood there and tried to dragSteve out; and two would be harder to take care of than one. "

"But say, don't be _too_ slow about starting something, will you?"urged Steve, once again looking nervous. "Why, I'm sinking right along, I tell you. Every time I try to get one foot up t' other goes down threeinches further, because I have to bear all my weight on it. This is nolaughing matter, boys. I'll be swallowed up before your eyes soon if youdon't get busy. Max, you ought to know how to extricate a fellow fromthe quicksand!"

"There are lots of ways in which it can be done, " the other told him, meanwhile measuring distances with his eye, as though he already had aplan in mind. "If when you first discovered that you were sinking youhad thrown yourself sideways, and started to crawl or roll, regardlessof how wet you got, you might have made it, for in that way you'd havepresented more of your body to the action of the sand. Then a mattresscould be made from branches, weeds or any old thing, that would bear theweight of one or two of us. But I've got even a better scheme than thatto work. "

"Please hurry!" pleaded the imprisoned boy. 

"Keep cool, Steve, " advised Max, "because there's positively no danger, now that we're on deck. "

"But tell me what you mean to do, Max?" continued Steve. 

"Make use of this rope, which you see I just happened to fetch along, "explained the other, holding up the article in question. "It's going tosave time, too, because one of us would have had to run back to camp, and that must mean delay. You're deep enough in as it is, I guess. "

"A whole lot deeper than is pleasant, I tell you, " Steve instantlyadded. "Why, at the rate it's sucking me down I guess in less'n aquarter of an hour the water would be up to my chin. And then, oh!fellows, just imagine how I'd feel when it began to cover my mouth. You're not going away, I hope, Max?"

This last almost frantic cry was caused by a movement on the part of theone on whom poor Steve's hopes most depended. 

"I'm going to shin up this big tree that sends a limb out right overyour head, don't you see, Steve?" Max told him, reassuringly. "Once Iget above you and we'll make good use of this rope of mine. The limbwill act as a lever, and when the boys get to pulling at the other endof the rope you've just _got_ to come out, that's all there is aboutit. "

"Hurrah! that's the ticket!" shouted Bandy-legs, seeing the game now forthe first time. "Steve, you're as good as landed. Bless that old rope, it's already proved worth its weight in gold. " Steve watched operationsanxiously. Despite the positive assurance conveyed in these words fromhis chums, the terrible grip of that clinging sand made him cold withapprehension. He imagined all sorts of things, from the rope breakingunder the sudden and terrible strain, to his arms being drawn from theirsockets in the battle between the tenacious sand and the muscularability of the two boys ashore. 

When Max managed to reach a point directly above the one in peril, straddling the friendly limb as only a nimble boy could do, he quicklyfashioned a slip-noose at one end of the rope. This he lowered untilSteve could snatch it, which he did with all the eagerness shown by thedrowning man who clutches at a straw. 

"Fix the noose under your arms, Steve, " directed the master ofceremonies, calmly enough, though possibly Max was more excited than hechose to let the other see, "and get the knot around so it will beexactly in front. Then, when I give the word for the boys to commenceheaving, you work both legs as hard as ever you can. It's going to help, more or less, you know. I can't do much up here, in the way of pulling, for I'd lose my balance; but make up your mind we're meaning to yank youout of that in a jiffy, Steve. "

"Oh! I hope so, Max, I surely hope so!"

Everything was soon ready. Steve had complied with the directions, andnow awaited the issue with all the fortitude he could command. Afterwards perhaps Steve might sometime or other even laugh, as heremembered how scared he was; but just then, with the difficulty stillunadjusted, it was not at all humorous. 

"Ready, everybody?" called out Max. 

Receiving an affirmative reply from three pairs of lips, he went on tosay:

"Then get busy, pulling! Make it a steady haul, and no jerks, or you'llhurt Steve more than is necessary. Steady there, Bandy-legs, no hurry, remember--just a regular increasing pull! Good enough, boys!"

Steve had obeyed instructions, and by the way he worked both feet assoon as he felt the strain one might think he was practicing swimminglessons. It must have given him more or less physical pain to feel theterrible drag of the rope under his arms, but he shut his teeth hardtogether, and kept back a groan. 

"Now rest a bit, Toby and Bandy-legs!" called out Max. "How about it, Steve--you moved some, didn't you?"

"Yes yes, quite a little, Max!" cried the other. "Please get busy againright away. I'm sick of staying in this old quicksand!"

He still clung tenaciously to his steel fishing rod, as though he meantthat it should share his fate. Once more the team ashore started in. Nowtheir task seemed lighter, as though, having succeeded in dragging theirchum up several inches, with his whole weight now suspended by the rope, the job was going to be finished in short order. 

Soon Steve, crowing joyously, was drawn completely out of the water. Hegave this a last suggestive kick and then dangled there in midair, spinning around like a teetotum. 

"Hand me your rod, Steve, " commanded Max. "Then use your arms and pullyourself up on the limb. After that you can easily hunch along like Ido, and get to the main trunk. It's all over but the shouting, Steve;and you can consider yourself pretty lucky to get off as easily as youdo, with a pair of wet trousers. "

"I'm thankful enough, Max, you can make sure of that, " said the other, carrying out the suggestion, and thus freeing both hands for the task ofmounting to the friendly limb. 

Before long he had reached the ground, where his three chums eachgravely shook hands with him. Steve was already getting back his nerve, that had been under a severe strain. 

"But anyway I did have bully good luck pulling out fat trout, boys, " hetold them. "You can pick up a dozen along this side of the stream. Factis, it was such splendid fun that I just stood too long in one place, catching them and tossing the beauties ashore; and so when I tried tomove, why, I couldn't to save my life. It felt like a giant had grippedboth feet, and was holding me down. The more I tried the worse it got. Whee! I would have been pretty badly scared if no one was near by, I ownup to that. "

Perhaps the others mentally considered that as it was, Steve had lookeda "good deal concerned" at the time of their arrival; but not wishing toharrow his feelings any further just then they kept this to themselves;though Bandy-legs did give Toby a suggestive wink, to which the otherreplied in like kind. 

It was found upon gathering the trophies of Steve's skill as an anglerthat they had quite enough for a meal; consequently Steve announced thathe guessed he needn't start in again with rod and hook and grub. 

All of them were soon busily engaged in fixing up the camp. Since theyhad thought it best not to try and fetch a heavy tent along with themthey knew it would be necessary to construct some such brush shantyshelter every night unless they could find a convenient ledge underwhich a camp could be made. But all of these boys had often slept underthe stars, with the heavens for a canopy overhead, so that they did notfeel at all worried over the circumstance. 

As the sun sank lower and lower toward the horizon the camp began toassume a comfortable air. The brush shelter had been finished, andpronounced equal to any they had ever built before. It might not provewholly rain-proof, but as for keeping off the dew, and protecting themagainst the chilly night air, it offered them "all the comforts ofhome, " as Steve put it. 

Then supper was started, a fire having been built after the mostapproved method in vogue among guides and hunters of long experience. Indeed, Max and his companions were far from being green to the ways ofthe woods. They had learned heaps through their many campingexperiences; and some time before a visit to an old trapper hadinitiated them into dozens of secrets of the craft that would never beforgotten. [1]

Again the talk was of the strange mission that had brought them up tothe Adirondacks. Bandy-legs could not seem to get over his belief thatthey were bound to have all their trouble for their pains. 

"What sort of a clue have we got to work on for a starter, fellows, tellme?" he went on to say, just as they were starting in to enjoy thesupper that had been supervised by a trio of eager cooks, all as hungryas boys could well be, and continue to exist. "All we know is that whenthis boy, Roland Chase, left Sagamere, almost two years back, he was asickly, white-faced chap, and with only one decent trait about him, which was his love for outdoors; though up to then it had been mostly a_yearning_, because they wouldn't let him get away from the house muchon account of his delicate constitution. Well, we're looking for somesuch chap; but up to now we haven't got on his track. "

[1] "With Trapper Jim in the North Woods. "

"But hold on, Bandy-legs, " expostulated Steve, "you forget that we didhear about a boy that answered that description, though nobody seemed toknow his name. He was sometimes seen in the company of a half-drunkenold guide named Shanks somewhere around Mount Tom district. And nowwe've come up this way in the hope of crossing his trail. Not that I'vegot much expectation myself that we'll be sure to find this same;Roland, who turns out to be a sort of will-o'-the-wisp to us; but sincehis old aunt was so kind as to finance this expedition, why we're boundto do all we can to make it a blooming success, that's what. "

"Well, " commented Max, who seemed to be the most confident one of thequartette, "remember, if we fail to make connections it'll be the firsttime on record that we've really been stumped. I don't believe inhard-luck stories. As a rule success comes only to those who deserve it. And we've still got most of that two weeks' vacation ahead of us, tohunt around for Roland Chase. "

Somehow Max always seemed to say things calculated to make his chumsfeel more satisfied. It is a mighty good thing to have a real optimistin camp, especially when the weather gets bad, and everything else seemsto go wrong. Even Bandy-legs took on a more cheerful air, and brightenedup after hearing Max say this. They had more or less reason to feelproud of the record they had made in the past, so far as accomplishingthings went. And the people around Carson would be apt to tell any oneinquiring about Max and his cronies that they had actually done severalexceedingly smart things, and were boys far above the average. 

The supper was voted a huge success, and never had fish been fried amore delicious brown than those in the pan. Perhaps Steve entertained aprivate opinion of his own, to the effect that never had a higher pricebeen paid for a mess of fish than he offered up when he found himselfmade a prisoner of the unseen giant residing under the quicksands; butall the same, Steve devoured his share of the fish as smartly as thenext one. He doubtless felt that he deserved having a feast, after hisadventure in supplying the materials. 

They were almost through eating, and feeling particularly wellsatisfied, as is usually the case, when the appetite has been taken careof, when Toby Jucklin was seen to be staring straight ahead. 

"What ails you, Toby?" demanded Steve, discovering the mysteriousactions of the other. "Think you see a ghost; or was it a 'coon whiskedpast, smelling our fine spread here? Speak up, can't you, and tell us?"

Toby managed to find his tongue, and as usual when excited made quite amess of his explanation. 

"W-w-why, y-y-you s-s-see, I--t-that is, there's s-s-somebody--oh! lookfor yourselves and you'll understand quicker'n I c'n tell you!"

Sometimes Toby seemed to become so provoked with his ungovernable vocalorgans that he would get angry, and wind up by speaking as plainly asthe next one. 

But before then Max, and perhaps the other pair in the bargain, haddiscovered a figure advancing slowly toward them. Eagerly Bandy-legsstared. Perhaps he began to already entertain a wild hope that thenewcomer would prove to be the very boy whom they had come so far tofind; but if this were so he must have almost immediately discovered hismistake, for the other was a sun-burned and wind-tanned lad, sturdilybuilt, and apparently the son of some woods guide; for he carried a gun, and was dressed in rough though serviceable khaki trousers and blueflannel shirt. 

Chapter III

OBED GRIMES BOBS UP

"Howdy, strangers!" said the other, as he slowly approached the spotwhere Max and his three chums still sat around the fire, feasting ontheir spread. "I happened to see yer blaze, and guessed I'd drop in tosee who yah might be. 'Taint often anybody comes up this way, though tobe sure thar was two gentlemen fishin' hereabouts last summer. "

Somehow Max liked his manner of speech. He also thought he could detectsomething like a love for humor in those sparkling eyes. 

"Sit down, and have a bite with us, won't you?" he remarked, making asuggestive movement with his hand, as though calling attention to thefact that there was still plenty of room on the log which he and TobyJucklin had occupied in common. "Sorry the trout's given out, but we'vegot plenty of other grub, and be sure you're welcome. "

The sturdy woods boy was looking them over. Bandy-legs, suspicious asusual, rather took umbrage at this action. He eyed the newcomer asthough not yet quite willing to echo the warm invitation accorded him byMax. But Steve was already getting an extra tin-cup for coffee; andfortunately there still remained an abundant supply of the amber fluidin the capacious pot. 

Apparently the newcomer had determined that it would be prudent for himto comply with the invitation thus cordially given. So he sat down andmade himself at home. Up there in the woods there exists a genuinehospitality that never hesitates to extend the right hand of fellowshipto any straggler who chances to enter the camp. There seems to besomething in the healthy ozone of the wilderness that makes all mencomrades for the time being. The latchstring is always out in camp; andnever does an appeal for help go disregarded. 

Max proceeded to immediately introduce himself and his three chums byname. He of course mentioned the fact that they came from a town namedCarson, situated far away from that region; but then of course the woodsboy could never have heard of such a place before. Still, his eyebrowsarched, and he seemed to once again observe his entertainers with freshinterest; but then when Max Hastings chose to exert himself to make afavorable impression every one fell under his spell. 

And when Bandy-legs, Toby and Steve noticed that Max did not think fitto say a single word about the queer mission which had brought them tothe mountains they too concluded that it would be just as well not to betoo hasty about telling all their business to a stranger. A little lateron, perhaps, when they came to become better acquainted with the other, they might ply him with questions in order to find out if he chanced toknow such a weakly looking fellow as Roland Chase. 

Of course after that it was up to the other to tell them whom he was. Hedid not have any hesitation, from which Steve concluded there could beno reason for keeping his identity a secret. 

"Course I got a name, too, even if it ain't _quite_ so scrumptuous asyours. But Obed Grimes suits me just as well, and it ain't never kept mefrom eatin' three square meals a day--when I could get 'em, " he toldthem, soberly, though that odd little gleam in his eyes mystified Maxsomewhat. 

"I suppose you live around this section, then, Obed?" he remarked, as hecleaned out the frying-pan that had contained the ham and eggs--thelatter having been carried all the way from the last small village theypassed through, and which supply would doubtless be the last they mightenjoy for a long time to come. 

"Oh! yes, thar's a plenty of Grimeses up this way, " the other replied, promptly. "Fact is, the Grimeses are a big family, all told. Thar'sGrandad Grimes to start with, and he's going on ninety now; then there'sUncle Hiram, Uncle Silas, Uncle Job, Uncle Sephus, Uncle _Nicodemus_, and a whole lot more; besides Aunt Rebecca, Aunt Sophia, Aunt Hetebel, and--glory to goodness, I could sit here for ten minutes and string outthe names of the grimeses there are in the mountains; but say I'm_awful_ hungry, and you'll excuse me if I get busy with this fine grub. The other names will keep till next time, I reckon. "

"Whew! it must feel funny to belong to such a big family, " remarkedSteve, who did not happen to have any close relatives himself. 

"Oh! shucks! none of 'em ever bother about _me_ any, " said the boy, aswell as he could with his mouth stuffed of the ham and bread, which hepresently washed down with a copious draught of hot coffee. "They justknow that Obed he c'n take good care o' hisself. "

Bandy-legs began to show a rising interest in the other. His suspicionswere beginning to give way under the genial ways of the said Obed. Thatsmile on the dusky face of the visitor in the camp had commenced to getits work in. By degrees perhaps Bandy-legs might even come to like ObedGrimes; though, truth to tell, he had always despised that last name, for a boy answering to it had once treated Bandy-legs in a mosthumiliating fashion, and this still rankled in his memory, althoughyears had fled since the occurrence. 

"Do you mean from that, Obed, " he went on to remark "that you're allalone up here in the woods near old Mount Tom? Haven't you any of theother Grimeses along with you?"

The boy shook his head in the negative, and grinned again. Max wastrying to study him, and he found the task one well worthy of his bestefforts. In the beginning he determined that Obed was no ordinary chap, but possessed of sterling characteristics. He waited for theconversation to get further along, confident that the other had asurprise up his sleeve which he might condescend to share with them, after he had become fully satisfied they were to be trusted, and that hecould look upon them in the light of friends. 

"Nary a Grimes 'cept me inside o' twenty miles o' here, and that's afact, " he assured Bandy-legs, after finishing his drinking. "Fact is, most o' the family don't know jest where I'm at; and say, between us, Iain't a carin' about tellin' 'em. "

That looked a bit singular, Bandy-legs thought. His suspicions returnedagain, though with diminished force; for somehow he could not look intothat frank and even merry face of the woods boy and actually believe hewas "off-color" in any way. 

"But what do you do with yourself all alone, I'd like to know?" burstout impetuous Steve. "Are you making a living playing at guide forparties of tourists, or fishermen and hunters? And, say, you don't meanto tell me you stay all alone up in this wilderness right through thewinter?"

Obed Grimes nodded his head cheerfully. 

"I ain't got any choice in the matter, yuh see, " he told them, mysteriously; "just _got_ to stay. Why, it would bust the hull businessto smash if I 'lowed myself to skip out, even for a week or two. I'mtied down to it, that's right. "

Bandy-legs exchanged a significant look Toby Jucklin. He scratched hishead with the air of one who found himself up against a hard, knottyproblem. Apparently, if the stranger in camp was trying to mystify them, he had already succeeded in tangling up the wits of Bandy-legs completely. 

Max continued to sit there and take it all in. There was no need of hissaying anything so long as the other fellows had embarked on the task ofdrawing Obed out and learning just what he was doing to keep himmarooned up there summer and winter, like a regular old recluse, orwoodchuck. 

"But there must be heaps and heaps of snow here winters, " suggestedSteve; "and I'd think you'd find it pretty hard getting about. "

"Oh! not so bad when you have snow-shoes" Obed told him, with a shrug ofhis shoulders, and another attack on the contents of his tin panninkin. 

"'Course not, " Steve hastened to say, as though he had guessed that thiswould be the answer. "But when the law is on the deer and partridges itmust be hard to keep to a regular diet of trout. I c'n stand them for awhile; but in the end I'd get sick of the smell of 'em cooking. "

"Oh! I have plenty of good grub along, " chuckled Obed. "I was on my wayhome at the time I glimpsed your fire; and bein' full o' wonderconcernin' who could be around these diggings right now I crept up tospy on ye. But say, soon's I glimpsed your crowd, and saw that you wasonly a bunch o' boys, why I felt easier, 'cause I knew then you couldn'tmean to bother me any. "

Now that sounded queer again, Bandy-legs thought. Why should any onetake the trouble to "bother" Obed Grimes, unless, indeed, he had beendoing something that he hadn't ought to, and hence expected to bevisited sooner or later by emissaries of the law, possibly in the shapeof angry game wardens?

All sorts of strange thoughts flashed through that active brain of theboy with the bowed legs. He wondered whether Obed could be a desperateyoung criminal. Had his family, those excellent Grimes of whom he hadspoken in such proud accents, cast him out as altogether beyond hope?Bandy-legs could hardly think this when he looked again into that face, and caught the gleam of those merry orbs. No, Obed might be a _peculiar_sort of fellow, but really there did not seem to be much of guile in hismake-up; if it turned out to be so, then he, Bandy-legs, was ready tocall himself a mighty poor reader of character. 

So he, too, relapsed into temporary silence and let Steve carry on theinterrogations; which the said Steve considered himself very wellqualified to do since he aspired in his secret soul to some fine daystudy to be a lawyer. 

"But why should anybody want to bother you, Obed?" he asked. "To hearyou talk in that way a fellow would think you had a lot of enemieshanging around, trying the best they knew how to give you trouble. "

"Well, I ain't had any mix-up ever since I've been here, " admitted theother, with a slight frown crossing his face; "but lately I got wind o'some news that's worried me a heap. Fact is, I'm afraid I'm goin' to beright smart bothered with a bunch o' thieves who'd like to _steal_ myoutfit from me!"

Steve fairly gasped. He could not make head or tail of what the otherwas so deliberately telling him. Max, listening, and watching thatexpressive face of Obed, secretly believed the newcomer was purposelydrawing Steve on, meaning to surprise him when finally he chose toexplain it all. So Max did not attempt to interfere, but let things goon as they were doing, satisfied that the answer to the conundrum wouldsoon come. 

"Steal your outfit from you?" echoed Steve, when he could catch hisbreath; "do you mean that you're carrying on some sort of business, then, up here in the woods?"

"Reckon that's about right, Steve, " Obed replied, and his familiar useof the other's name could be easily explained by that spirit of "freemasonry" that exists among all boys. "I've got a business, which lookslike it was goin' to pan out right decent, and make me some money in thebargain. That's why they're meanin' to rob me, I guess; anyhow, ithinges on that same thing. And I thought you might be that crowd first, but I soon saw I was mistaken, and that you'd be my friend. "

"But what sort of business is it you're in, Obed?" asked Steve, boldly. 

"Me? Oh! I'm only a farmer, " confessed the other, chuckling as he spoke. 

"A farmer!" echoed Steve, looking blank; "but how could anybody stealyour ground away, or carry off your crops, I'd like to know?"

"Why, yuh don't jest understand, Steve. I ain't no regular hayseed. I'ma fur farmer, you see; and you could carry my crop of fox pelts awayeasy enough on your own back!"

CHAPTER IV

BANDY-LEGS SUSPECTS

Max Hastings smiled. He at the same time drew a breath of relief, satisfied to know that his first impression of the sturdy looking youngchap was confirmed, and convinced that the said Obed Grimes must be theright sort of fellow. 

Steve and Bandy-legs fairly gasped, as though they had received a realshock. At the same time the eyes of the former glistened withnewly-awakened interest. 

"A fur farmer, do you say, Obed? And raising foxes for the market, areyou?" he burst out with, delightedly. "Now, I've read a heap about thatsort of thing in the papers and magazines, but I never thought I'dactually run across anybody that had the nerve and confidence to go intoit as a business. And you say you're making good, are you, Obed? That'sfine!"

"I've turned my 'tention to raisin' real black foxes, first thing, "explained the other, with a touch of genuine pride in his manner, Maxcould easily see; "and if the try turns out as profitable as I reckonshe promises to be, why, then, I'm figgerin' on tryin' to raise mink andmarten and sech other furs as fetch top-notch prices. "

"Then I guess you must have trapped all sorts of wild animals beforenow, Obed?" suggested Steve, eagerly, "so you know their habits to afraction; because, of course, only one who is posted in that directioncould ever hope to make a success of a fur farm. "

Obed grinned and nodded his head. 

"Oh! I reckon I'm up a little bit in all sech things, " he said airilyenough. "And after all, it ain't so _very_ hard to raise foxes. I wasafraid fust off it might be what they told me, that blacks ain't to berelied on to breed true to strain, but shucks! I've got some cubs thatare dandies. Wait till you see 'em, boys. "

That sounded as though, sooner or later, Obed meant to have them visithis fur farm, and see with their own eyes what he had been doing. Bandy-legs, skeptical once more, told himself he only hoped the wholething might not turn out to be a myth, and that the said Obed himselfprove to be a deception and a fraud. 

"I understand that the pelts of black foxes are worth a whole lot ofmoney, " remarked Steve; "fact is, we know that to be so, because we oncehad such a skin given to us by a man who made a business of trapping. "

"It all depends on the quality of the pelt, " explained Obed. "Some ain'tworth as much as three hundred dollars, because they've got defects, yuhsee. Then again a real fine skin has fetched as much as thirty-sixhundred dollars in London markets. "

Evidently, Obed was well posted, at any rate, whether he really hadsuch a fur farm of his own or not, Bandy-legs concluded. And then heagain allowed himself to give imagination free rein, and for a timeeven looked on Obed as the essence of truth, doubly distilled. 

Sitting there by the fire, which one of he boys replenished every littlewhile, Obed told them many very interesting things connected with thatstrange farm of his. All this in his odd vernacular which Max tried toget the hang of, in order to judge whether it signified that the countryboy lacked an education or not. He continued to be more or lessmystified, however, though concluding that Obed was just one of thosecustomary country boys often run across on farms who take especialdelight in joking and playing little tricks which they considerhumorous. 

"But he isn't at all bad, I'll stake everything on that" Max also toldhimself, as he sat and listened to the really interesting descriptionsgiven by the other of his successes, and first failures along thedifficult line of breeding foxes in captivity, with scores of thingsagainst him, which had to be overcome. 

An hour passed by in this manner. When Max saw their visitor showingsigns as if he meant to leave them, he took a hand in the conversation, which up to then had been almost wholly monopolized by Bandy-legs, Steveand the woods boy. 

"It's very kind of you to invite us over to inspect this wonderfullittle fur farm of yours, Obed, " he went on to say; "but you'll have togive us directions how we can get there, unless you mean to accept ouroffer of a blanket by the fire here tonight, when we could go along withyou in the morning. "

Obed looked sober. 

"I'd like to stay longer with you, boys, " he hastened to say, as thoughhe really meant it, "but I ought tuh be gettin' back home. Thar's someduties waitin' for me to look after. And then I ain't quite easy in mymind 'bout them two fellers that's up here in the woods. They ain'tmeanin' to do any shootin', even if they have got Lem Scott along as aguide, and he the meanest skunk in the hull county, lots o' folks dosay, and a poacher in the bargain that the wardens are layin' to grabone o' these fine days. Now I'll jest up and tell yuh how to get to myplace. It's as easy as water runnin' down-hill. "

He entered into explicit directions, and Max pinned them in his memory. In fact, Obed simply told them to follow the stream up three miles untilthey came to a bunch of seven birch trees on the right-hand bank. Therethey were to pick up a trail they would find, follow it half a mile, andat that they would see a cabin under the hemlocks and pines, which wouldbe his humble home woods. 

"We've got it all down pat, Obed, " said Steve, "and like as not you'llsee the bunch of us trailing along there some time tomorrow morning. I've always been crazy to see a fur farm, after reading so much aboutthem, and you bet I don't mean to let this chance slip by me. "

Max now thought it time to make a few inquiries himself. He wanted toask Obed whether he had ever run across a boy by the name of RolandChase, a sickly looking chap in the bargain. It might possible to pickup a clue in this way; and they had reached a point where they could notafford to let any opportunity for acquiring information get past them. 

In order to pursue this course, however, Max realized that it would benecessary to enter into some sort of explanation concerning the natureof the peculiar errand that had tempted them to come to the Adirondacks. 

"I want to ask you a question or two, Obed, " he began, "but first of allI ought to tell you what brings us here. "

Accordingly, Max proceeded to explain how the school had be closed fortwo or more weeks in early October, and what a singular thing came aboutto tempt them into taking an outing. He was watching the woods boy atthe time he first mentioned Mrs. Hopewell, and spoke the name of RolandChase; but if the other gave any unusual signs of interest, Max failedto catch the same. Still, Obed was listening with all his might, and itseemed as though the unusual story of the inheritance that was to begiven to the said Roland in case he made good, interested him. 

Max in this manner explained just why he and his three chums hadaccepted the generous offer of the elderly lady, so deeply concernedover the welfare of her nephew Boland, that she was ready to spendalmost any reasonable sum in order to at least learn that the poor boywas alive, and in fairly decent health. 

They had been told to assure him, in case they ever managed to locatethe elusive Roland, that he should not worry because of not being ableto comply with the absurd conditions of Uncle Jerry's ridiculous will;because she had enough of this world's goods for both, and she meant toleave it all to him, Roland; so she begged him to come back to her, andlive his own life again, even though he had spent the last penny of histwo-thousand-dollar legacy, and was as poor as Job's turkey. 

All this made an interesting story, and must have amused the woods boymore or less, because Max knew how to put considerable pathos in it. Obed sat there shading his eyes with his hand to keep the glow of thefire from dazzling him. Occasionally he would interrupt to ask somenatural question, which made Max think he was taking a fair amount ofinterest in the account. 

"What I wanted to ask you, " concluded Max, "was whether you'd everhappened to run across this same Roland Chase in the mountains. We heardabout a fellow answering his description who was seen in company with adissipated guide named Shanks. I thought perhaps you might help us out, Obed. "

Obed looked him straight in the face. 

"So far as I knows on, Max, " he went on to say, seriously, "I ain'tnever met any feller like yuh say face to face. About that man Shanks, Iknow he's said to be a tough un. I saw him some months back down atSawyer's Forks, and by hokey! now that you mention it, thar _was_ asickly lookin' young feller along with him then; but say, his name wasBob Jenks, or somethin' like that, and not Roland Chase. "

"Oh! well, so far as that goes, " said Max, "he may have changed hisname. Some people think nothing of sailing under false colors; and if itturns out that Roland has taken up with such a disreputable character asthis drunken guide seems to be, I don't wonder at him wanting to hidehis identity. So you think you must be going home, do you, Obed?"

"Yep, " the other observed, gaining his feet. "And I wanter to thank allo' ye for givin' me sech a pleasant evenin'. I ain't had sech a goodtime this long while back. But then the Grimeses all are 'customed toroughin' it. Granddad used to be away all by hisself for as much as twoyears, trappin' up in Canada. It's in the blood, I reckon. Now, yuh meanto drop in, and visit me, don't ye? I'll be expectin' yuh, and havesomething to eat awarmin', though course I ain't a good cook like youfellers, as has had so much experience. So long, boys!"

He waved them a cheerful goodbye, once more smiled at each in turn, whirled on his heel, and was gone, seeming to vanish in the shadows ofthe nearby woods like "a wisp of smoke when the wind strikes it, " asSteve remarked. 

After the departure of their guest, it was only natural that he shouldbe the subject of conversation about the fire as the four chums laythere taking things easy. 

"Max, honest to goodness now, " Bandy-legs remarked, "do you really takeany stock in that fairy story he told us about an imaginary fur farm? Itstruck me Obed is givin to yarnin' just for the love of it. All thatstuff about his relatives may have been true, and again only nonsense. It's my opinion there isn't any Granddad Grimes, or Uncle Hiram, Nicodemus and so forth. He grinned like everything when he was reelingthose names off so slick. Yes, he was stringing us, I bet you. "

"W-w-why, " burst out Toby just then, "who wouldn't have to s-s-snickerwhen he had a w-w-whole lot of relations with such f-f-funny names! It'dmake me grin from ear to ear every time I h-h-happened to think of 'em. You're the greatest hand to s-s-suspect anybody I ever s-s-saw, Bandy-legs. Now, I want you to k-k-know that I think Obed thes-s-straight g-g-goods, and I'm taking a heap of s-s-stock in seeingthat bully f-f-fur f-f-farm of his tomorrow; ain't you, Max?"

"Certainly I am, " replied the other, without a second's hesitation. "Inthe first place, Bandy-legs, you must understand that nobody could talkso interestingly on a subject unless he knew a lot about it. He told usa dozen things about fur farming that I never heard before. "

"Huh! and perhaps nobody else ever heard of them either, Max, " gruntedthe far from satisfied Bandy-legs. 

"Nothing will ever satisfy him except he sees those kit foxes with hisown eyes, " asserted Steve, almost indignantly, "handles them with hisown paws, and asks every little critter whether he really belongs toObed Grimes. Bandy-legs is the worst Doubting Thomas going, when the fitcomes on him. "

Even this sort of talk did not convince the objector. 

"Say what you will, fellows, " Bandy-legs went on, stubbornly, "there's awheen of queer things connected with this same Obed Grimes, and I won'ttake that back till he shows us his wonderful old farm, where he raisesblack foxes for the fur market. Stop and think how mysteriously hepopped in on us, will you? Why, he as much as owned up that he had beenspying on us for a long time. If Toby here hadn't discovered himpeeking, and pointed that way, chances are he wouldn't have shown up atall. Now, what made him snoop around our camp like that?"

"Say, didn't he explain all that just as straight as a die?" objectedSteve, who seemed to have conceived quite a fancy for Obed Grimes, thewoods boy. "He told us he had reason to fear some unscrupulous fellowswere hanging around this region and meaning to steal his pets when theygot half a chance. That was why he wanted to watch, and make sure wedidn't belong to the same crowd. "

"Oh! yes, a likely story, too, " continued Bandy-legs, with a sneer. "Whyshould anybody want to rob a poor boy who was trying to earn his livingby farming, even if it was furs he raised instead of grain or hogs orstock?"

"Why, you poor ninny, the reason is as plain as the nose on your face, Bandy-legs, and that's not invisible by a big sight. When a black foxpelt will fetch a thousand dollars, more or less, and can't well betraced once it gets mixed with other pelts, it stands to reason that anythief would want to steal it. As to your doubting that there are anyother people up in this section, you seem to forget, Bandy-legs, thataround noon today we sighted a plain smoke some miles away, which weopined must have been made by some advance hunters, waiting for the lawto be off deer. Well, why couldn't it have been the people Obed says hefears, who made that smoke? Now, for my part, I believe every word ObedGrimes said. He's the straight goods every time, and you can see it inhis eye, for he looks you direct in the face. "

Thereupon, Bandy-legs, as though realizing that he had raised a hornet'snest about his ears, deemed it the part of discretion to shrug hisshoulders after the manner of one who, "convinced against his will is ofthe same opinion still. "

"We'll let the subject drop, Steve, " he said, hastily. "It ain't worthquarreling over. The proof of the pudding is in the eating of it; andtomorrow we'll _know_ what's what. But remember, if it turns out thatwe've been bamboozled, don't blame me, because I've warned you all. "

"If we had a chill from every warning you've sprung on us, Bandy-legs, "Steve told him, witheringly, "why, say, we'd have gone all to pieceslong before now. You're a regular old bad-weather prognosticator, that'swhat you are. "

"That's right, get to calling names. It's a habit with people who knowthey are in the wrong, " grumbled Bandy-legs; but, nevertheless, he "drewwithin his shell, " and said nothing further about Obed Grimes or hissuspicions concerning the same. 

CHAPTER V

PACKING OVER THE "CARRY"

Later on the conversation began to lag. Steve was noticed drowsilynodding his head in a suggestive way; and then after a sudden start hewould look around aggressively, as if to remark: "who said I wassleepy?" but within three minutes he would be at it again. 

In fact all of the boys were really tired out. The day's tramp had beena difficult one, even for fellows accustomed to such things; and thoseregular Adirondack packs, with a band crossing the forehead in the usualway, had seemed doubly heavy before they decided to stop for the night. 

Of course there were sounds to be heard all around them, but"familiarity breeds contempt, " and from Max down they were allaccustomed to hearing similar noises whenever they spent nights in theopen. The owl would whinny or hoot according to his species; the loonsend forth his agonizing and weird shriek from some distant lake; a foxmight bark sharply and fretfully, or two quarrelsome 'coons dispute overa bit of food they had discovered--all this went with the campingbusiness, and indeed it would have seemed odd to those boys had theusual accompaniment been missing. 

"Well, what's the use of our staying up longer?" Max finally announcedin an authoritative fashion, after Steve had almost jerked his neck awryfor about the seventh time, with one of those spasmodic movements. "Ourblankets are calling to us, boys; let's turn in. "

There was no negative vote recorded, for every one seemed ready to callit a day, and quit. Max took it upon himself to look after the fire. Plenty of wood had been gathered to last until morning, and then some;for, as the night air was beginning to feel pretty sharp, it wasconcluded to keep the fire going. 

"I'll look out for that part, " said Max. "I generally wake up just somany times during the night when I'm in camp, and it's no trouble for meto crawl out and toss another stick on the fire. So forget it, fellows, will you?"

Apparently the others took him at his word, for not another sign of anyof them was seen while night lasted. Once they snuggled down in theirwarm comfortable blankets, they must have become "dead to the world, " asSteve aptly termed it. 

Several times while the night held sway a figure would crawl noiselesslyout of the crude brush shanty shelter, and place another lot of woodupon the dwindling fire, thus keeping it going for another spell ofseveral hours. Of course this was Max, who really liked to take anobservation concerning the state of the weather, note the changedpositions of the heavenly bodies, so that he could figure on thepassage of time; and then once more creep into the folds of his blanketto again fall into a deep sleep. 

So the night passed. 

Nothing occurred to disturb its serenity. The little four-footed woodsfolks doubtless prowled all around the boys' camp, eyeing the glimmeringfire with wonder and distrust, for it could not be a familiar sight toany of them, since mankind seldom visited this inaccessible region sofar removed from the track of ordinary travel. Some of the more daringamong them, venturesome 'coons or 'possums perhaps, may even haveinvaded the precincts of the charmed circle, searching with their keenlittle noses for traces of castaway food; but, if so, their presence didnot disturb the sleepers within that shelter. 

So morning came on apace, and presently from the brush shanty one afteranother of the fellows came creeping forth, to stretch and yawn andfinally hasten their dressing, for the frosty air nipped fingers andtoes quite lustily. 

They were in no particular hurry, and breakfast therefore was undertakenin the best of humor, with plenty of time given to its preparation. Everybody seemed to be in the best of humors, and his good sleep musthave smoothed even the spirit of the fretful Bandy-legs, for he nolonger grumbled or found fault. Perhaps, as so frequently happened, hewas secretly ashamed of having shown such a suspicious andargumentative disposition on the preceding evening, and meant to makeamends for it by an unusually cheery manner. 

It was determined to "break camp" soon after the matin meal had beencomfortably dispatched. This did not promise to be an extraordinaryfeat, since they were trying to go light-handed on this expedition, anddid not have many of their ordinary "traps" along, from a tent down tocertain cooking utensils that had been deemed too heavy for "toting"mile after mile into the wilderness. 

It makes a whole lot of difference just how fellows mean to go, whenlaying out the impedimenta for a trip. If a wagon or a boat isavailable, all sorts of things may as well be taken along, so as toinsure the maximum of comfort; but when it is known in the beginningthat all they are meaning to use must be packed every mile of the way onthe back of the campers, then it is high time to cut down the list tothe last fraction, so far as weight and bulk are concerned. 

Max and his chums had reduced this down to a real science. For instance, having a comfortable balance at the bank, thanks to their thrift in thepast, [2] money did not enter into their calculations at all. Consequently, they had purchased a complete little outfit of aluminumcooking vessels that nested within each other and weighed next tonothing, while offering all the advantages of ordinary granite ware. Other campers' comforts, too, had been secured, so that they evencarried a certain amount of condensed food in the shape of milk powder;evaporated eggs that could be used to make excellent omelets in case ofnecessity; and even soup in double cans, with a layer of unslacked limebetween, which, by the addition of a little water to the lime could beheated up beautifully without the aid of a fire. 

[2] "In camp on the Big Sunflower. "

When all of them started in to get busy, things quickly assumed aconcentrated condition. Each article had its regular place where itwould take up the least possible space. Why, by now every fellow hadfound out just how to do up his pack so that no sharp and uncomfortableedges would cut into his back; and when this condition has been reached, it means that the last word in packing has been learned. 

Max himself saw to it that the fire was effectually "killed" before theyquitted the scene of their night encampment. This he did by throwingwater on the hissing embers until it was quite dead. If every party thatspends a night in the wilderness took the same pains to put out theirfire on leaving, many a magnificent stretch of timber would be sparedfrom the ravages of a forest fire, that leaves only blackened treetrunks behind, and ruins thousands of acres of wooded land every year. 

Although a fire may die down, and seem to have little life in it, thereis no absolute surety unless water be used, that a rising wind may notfan the embers into renewed activity, until a dangerous spark is carriedinto some nest of dead leaves near by, and so the fire starts thatman-power can seldom control. 

"Three miles, he said, up this stream, " observed Bandy-legs, as theystarted gaily forth, Max in the lead, and Toby bringing up the rear. 

"And as no doubt the said stream meanders considerably in its course, that might mean only half the distance as the crow flies, " remarked theleader, turning once more to look back toward the deserted camp, afterthe fashion of a carpenter who considers it wise to measure his post_once again_ before applying the saw, because after the deed is done theparts can never be put together again; but everything seemed still, andnot the faintest whisp of smoke crept lazily upward from the latecamp-fire. 

They walked along for a short distance, and then upon crossing a littlerise, in order to skirt a bad section of marshy ground, it wasdiscovered that they had a good chance to look backward. A rather prettyview rewarded their efforts, and as all the boys appreciated Nature inher fall dress, they stood for a minute drinking this in. 

"You can follow the course of the stream for quite a distance, notice?"remarked Bandy-legs. "And I even see the place where we yanked Stevehere out of that sand. "

Steve frowned as he looked, and Max could see that he had gone a littlewhite. The memory of his harrowed feelings on that occasion would staywith Steve for quite some time, and produce an unpleasant sensationevery time it came before his mental vision. 

Max also saw him shut his teeth very hard together, and was close enoughto even catch a word or two the boy muttered savagely to himself. 

"Never again!"

From that Max could judge the lesson had been impressed on Steve's mindindelibly; and that as long as he lived he would be careful how heentered an unknown stream when fishing; and especially how he became soengrossed in his sport as to stand a length of time in one spot, withoutworking his feet up and down so as to make sure they were free fromclinging sand. 

They chatted from time to time as they proceeded, and of course allsorts of subjects cropped up to be discussed. Sometimes there was alittle good-natured dispute concerning something or other, for boys havedifferent minds, and are apt to view things from various angles; but astime passed they made such good progress that Max presently announcedhis belief they must presently glimpse the seven birch trees mentionedby Obed Grimes, as marking the place where they were to quit the bank ofthe stream. 

At the time they stopped to look backward Max had scanned the countrybehind them, looking for some trace of another camp smoke, but seeingfond of "working his way, " and often slipped out of things when hecould manage it--some fellows always do get hold of the smaller end ofthe log that is being carried, as if by instinct; though it would behardly fair to call them shirkers. 

They rested for something like ten minutes. Then Max started up. 

"Here's the trail Obed told us about, " he observed, pointing down at hisfeet as though he had been looking about him while recuperating afterthat three mile carry. "And I guess we might as well be going on. Forone I'm beginning to feel quite curious to see that lodge of his underthe pines and hemlocks, as well as learn what he is doing with his foxfarm. "

Bandy-legs opened his mouth, and then considered it better not to voicethe question he had on the tip of his tongue, for he shut his jaws tighttogether again, and did not speak; Max noticing this, it caused him tosmile in quiet satisfaction. That was a very disagreeable habit ofBandy-legs, always questioning things, and wanting double proof beforehe would put the stamp of his approval on them; and Max kept hoping thatin the process of time it could be broken up. 

It was not difficult to follow the trail, even though at times thisproved to be rather faint and undecided; at least it turned out to be aneasy task with the four chums, simply because they were accustomed tosuch things. A greenhorn might have lost the track many times, and madea none. He had in mind the story told by Obed concerning the presencein the vicinity of another party, and his suspicions concerning theirbase intentions. Apparently Max must have believed what the woods boysaid, even though he could see no sign of a camp that morning. 

"I've got an idea the seven birches are just over yonder, boys!"announced Steve, who possessed good eyesight. "Twice now I've glimpsedsomething white among the thickets of undergrowth; and you can see thatthe creek is beginning to swing around so as to lead us in thatdirection. "

"G-g-guess you're about r-r-right, Steve!" declared Toby Jucklin, instantly; "to t-t-tell you the t-t-truth, I've been squinting that samep-p-patch of white myself q-q-quite some little time now. "

It turned out to be just as Steve had prophesied. They soon discovered abunch of birches growing from the stump of a larger tree that had longago fallen under the ax of a woodsman. 

"There are seven, all right--count 'em!" announced Steve with a vein ofexultation in his voice, just as though by right of discovery thosebirches really belonged to him. 

"Let's call a little rest before we tackle the last round, " beggedBandy-legs, as they arrived alongside the landmark mentioned by Obed;and without waiting for the others to assent he dropped his pack, andthrew himself down on an especially inviting bit of moss, heaving agreat sigh of relief; for be it known, Bandy-legs was not especially"mountain out of a mole-hill, " as Steve aptly put it, when referring tothe matter. 

Soon they were casting eager glances ahead, under the impression thatthey must certainly be drawing near the object of their search. EvenBandy-legs had by now apparently arrived at the belief that Obed was"straight, " and that he really did have some sort of home in thissecluded region. The directions had turned out to be exact, from thethree-mile tramp along the stream and the "seven birches, count 'em"; tothe winding trail that led from that point deeper into the woods. 

"Looky there, isn't that some sort of high wire fence?" demanded Steve, suddenly. 

"And, say, I got a plain whiff of sweet hickory wood smoke then, believeme, " added Bandy-legs, in some excitement, and evidently forgetting thatnot long before he had been skeptical regarding the existence of anylodge or fox farm. 

"Well, there's the answer right before you, " laughed Max; and as theystared in the direction their leader was pointing, the balance of thelittle party saw what seemed to be the "cutest" little cabin fashionedfrom sawn logs, and nestling in a happy fashion directly under theclustering pines and hemlocks, that hung over it most protectingly, asthough with the intention of keeping the winter snows from weighing downthe sloping roof. 

At one end was a chimney made of slabs of wood, with the chinks filledin with mud that, in the process of time, aided by the heat of the fire, had become as hard as cement or adamant; and from this there curledwreaths of lazily ascending blue smoke, the source of that delightfulodor that had drifted to Bandy-legs's nostrils. 

CHAPTER VI

THE LODGE OF MANY WONDERS

"There's Obed right now, waving at us from the doorway of his cabin, "announced Steve, even as they looked at the picture made by the littlelog structure nestling so cozily under the dark foliage of the resinoustrees that never lost their green look, even when snow covered themountains to the depth of several feet. 

They hurried forward to join the owner of the woods lodge, who hadevidently expected them to put in an appearance about this time of day, figuring just when they would break camp, and how long it would takethem to make the "carry. "

He shook hands with each of his new-found friends in turn, and warmly, too. Even Bandy-legs seemed to feel that his unworthy suspicions of theother could have no foundation, to judge from the hearty way in which hegreeted Obed. 

Max was quick to see that Obed looked pleased at their coming. He alsowondered why the other seemed to raise his eyebrows now and then, andsmile as though certain thoughts he entertained were quite amusing. But, then, seeing what a lonely life the young fur farmer must be leading, sofar away from his kind, and wrapped up in his singular calling, afterall, it was not so queer that he should act in this way, upon havingvisitors, and boys of his own age, in the bargain. 

They were ushered inside the lodge, and here another surprise greetedthem. Max in particular was astonished to find that the small buildingcontained so much in the way of comforts. If he had thought of thematter at all, he probably expected to find just an ordinary shack, suchas nine boys in ten would be contented with building, and that Obed wasputting up with all sorts of discomforts. 

The contrary proved to be the truth, for there were numerous things insight to cause a visitor to express surprise. Why, Obed even used_aluminum cooking utensils_ equal to theirs, though not meant forcamping particularly; there were several rocking chairs, and one bigfireside chair that looked mighty inviting indeed, as it flanked thebroad hearth where Obed had a blaze going. 

The kitchen lay at the back, and actually had a wood stove in it, capable of baking bread or biscuits on occasion. Water, too, had beenpiped to the cabin from some spring farther up the rise; though, in thedead of winter a supply must of necessity be obtained from some othersource since this would be frozen up. 

These things, and many others along the same line, caused Max to surveyObed with a new source of wonder. Who was this remarkable boy, and howon earth did he come to possess such a magical lodge up here in theunpeopled wilderness? Why, a rich man could hardly have surroundedhimself with more in the way of comforts; and yet, according to hislanguage, and his account of himself, Obed was only an ordinary child ofthe woods, one of the very numerous Grimes tribe, many of whom doubtlessgained their living by serving as guides in season. 

Max, after staring around him in due wonder and admiration, turned againto Obed. He could see that the other was observing them with that merrytwinkle in his eyes? and evidently expecting his guests to expressamazement at finding so wonderful a habitation where they hadanticipated so little. 

"Its just splendid, that's the only word I can find to express myfeelings, Obed, " Max hastened to say, at which the other laughed aloud. 

"Course, now, you-all are awonderin' jest how a poor woods boy like me'd ever git hold o' such a clever cabin, " he went on to say; "butshucks! that's an easy one to explain. Yuh see, it was built by a manwho had plenty o' money and poor health. He thought he could get well bystayin' here, and so he fixed her up to beat the band. That big chair heloved to sit in when the fire was agoin'. But jest as he got fixed sonice his wife sent for him to come back home; and, say, he had to go. So, havin' no use for his place here, he turned it over tuh me for asong, I c'n show yuh the bill o' sale. Yuh see, I got to know Mr. Coombsright well, for he was interested in my ijee o' startin' a fur farm. Well, he's dead now. I often think when I'm sittin' here enjoyin' whathe built that somehow his spirit must be a hoverin' around, cause hecertainly _did_ love this place a heap. "

The explanation entirely satisfied Max, though of course that skeptic ofa Bandy-legs had to let his eyebrows go up in an arch as he listened;but then Bandy-legs would doubt anything that savored of the uncommon. Max simply frowned at him and paid no more attention to his manner. 

"You were certainly mighty lucky to fall heir to such a lovely littlehome as this, Obed, " Steve was saying, with a streak of envy in hisvoice. "Say, I'd just be tickled half to death now if I could spend amonth up here with you. There must be plenty of game around, I reckon;and it'd be a real delight to keep house in a little palace like this. But how are you going to tuck us away for the night, Obed, if I might beso bold as to ask, seeing that as yet we haven't had an invite to stayover?"

"Oh! that's easily managed, " replied the other, with, another of hisqueer laughs. "You haven't begun to see all the wonders o' this lodge. Mr. Coombs amused himself for a whole summer havin' it built. He put aheap o' his own ijees into the same, too. Yuh see, he used to be a seacaptain once on a time, and that gave him the notion to have tables thatfolded against the wall so as tuh take mighty little room. Then seem' ashow he might expect to have company some time or other, look how hefixed the bunks along the walls. "

With that Obed turned a button that none of them had thus far noticed, fastened on the wall Immediately a section slipped down exposing acavity beyond that proved to be a regular sleeping bunk, fully capableof "housing" any ordinary person. It was plain to be seen that his seaeducation had given Mr. Coombs the idea carried out in this remarkablefashion. 

"Beats anything I ever struck!" admitted the admiring Steve, as hepushed forward to peep inside the cavity that seemed to offer such acomfortable bed. 

"But hardly big enough for the whole bunch of us, I'm afraid, Obed, "urged Bandy-legs, with the idea, of course, of drawing the other out. 

"This is one bunk, " said Obed, calmly, "there are three jest like italong the two walls, makin' four in all. So yuh see it's jest like Mr. Coombs, he figgered on my having you-all stop over with me some fineday. Then I c'n make up a bed on that 'ere couch, which is softer 'n anyo' the bunks. _He_ used to sleep, on it all the time, did Mr. Coombs. "

"Well, I must say this is a revelation to me, " admitted Max, his faceshowing how pleased he felt. "And you were lucky, as Steve here justsaid, to fall in with such a fine man as Mr. Coombs, at the time youstarted your fur farm. I suppose it was the interest he took in it thatmade him hand over this cabin, when he learned that his plans forstaying here could never be carried out. "

"Why, yes, mostly that, " agreed Obed, turning a little red. "P'raps Iought to tell yuh that I chanced to do Mr. Coombs a little favor when wefirst met. Yuh see, I happened to come on him in the woods. He'd startedout to find a certain kind o' sapling that he wanted right bad to use;and not bein' used to findin' his way around, he jest naturally gotlost. But that wasn't the wust o' it. In using his ax to chop down asapling he kim across, what did he do but cut his foot, and it wasbleeding like fun when I ketched his shouts, and kim up. Course, I soonfixed that foot, and since he was only a little dried-up speck o' a manI managed to tote him on my back most ways home here. He chose to thinkI'd done him a _great_ favor, and after that he was always sayin' hemeant to repay me some day. Well, he certainly did when he turns overthis here neat contraption at a price that was dirt cheap, and which I'dbe ashamed to mention to yuh. That's how it come I got this cabin. "

How simple the explanation was after all, and how Bandy-legs must feelhis cheeks burn with shame at the thought of having suspected this sameObed of trying to deceive them. Max could easily picture the ex-seacaptain seated in that capacious fireside chair with the tufted cushion, and perhaps smoking his long-stemmed pipe with the air of a man whobelieved he had found what he had long sought, peace and comfortcombined, only to have a summons come that he dared not disobey. 

"Make yourselves to hum, " said Obed, cheerily. "Here, drop the packsover in this corner. If later on so be yuh want to git anything out o'the same it'll be easy done. And seein' as I've got dinner started, Iguess we wont take a turn around the farm till it's been stowed away. "

Although, of course, all of the boys were eager to see what a fur farmlooked like, where those wonderful black foxes that brought such, a bigprice in the London markets were being bred in captivity, none of themobjected to sitting down and taking a rest. Bandy-legs and Steve inparticular made a bolt for the big chair, though the latter was tooquick for his competitor, and managed to ensconce himself within itscapacious embrace before Bandy-legs arrived. 

"Start earlier next time, Bandy-legs!" crowed the proud possessor of thecoveted seat, as he spread himself so as to occupy it all. "But afterI've tried it out I'll vacate, because I expect to get busy in thatbully little kitchen, and help friend Obed sling the grub for dinner. "

So Bandy-legs had to content himself with a seat on the couch. He mighthave been observed sniffing the air with avidity, however, as though hehad caught some enticing odor stealing out of the oven of the cookstove, that was not unlike fresh bread being well browned; and there wasnothing Bandy-legs loved better than the crust part of a freshbaking--he always had a compact with the cook at home to save him the"run-over" portions, which he looked upon as a prize well worth having. 

Soon Obed left them there in the larger room and vanished within thekitchen. It was a challenge to Steve which he could not long resist. Bandy-legs kept watching him glance toward the connecting doors. Hiswhole manner was that of a boy who, although making no sound, might be"sicking" one dog on another. No sooner had Steve left the capaciousfireside chair than Bandy-legs slipped into it; and after that he wasnot meaning' to be dislodged until the summons came to gather about thetable to discuss the midday meal. Bandy-legs liked eating as well as thenext one; but he loved his ease more, and was well content to have someother fellow do the hard work of getting the meal ready; his time wouldcome when he had to "work his jaws" in disposing of his portion of thespread. 

The more Max looked about him the greater his wonder became. All mannerof thoughts surged through that active mind of his. He had alreadyconceived the greatest sort of secret admiration for the extraordinarywoods boy, even before he had glimpsed that remarkable fur farm whichthe other was successfully running. Plainly, then, this same Obed Grimeswas bound to be a credit to his family; and all those people bearing thestrange names given by Obed would some day find cause to feel proud ofhaving such an enterprising relative. 

Obed proved to be a pretty good cook, despite the humility with which hehad remarked that of course he could not expect to compete on even termswith fellows who had had so many better opportunities to acquire the"knack" of things, than had come his way. 

The bread was as fine as any Bandy-legs had ever eaten in his own home, where a high-priced cook held sway over the kitchen. There was also ameat pie that seemed delicious, both as to crust and contents, whenopened; though Obed in-formed them that it was made of canned beef, andeven displayed the recent tin jacket, with its telltale label, asconfirmation to his assertion. 

"Yuh see, boys, " he remarked, laughingly, "I don't want yuh to think I'dpoach a deer in the close season, and palm it off as mountain mutton, like they do at some o' the big hotels up here in the Adirondacks, I'mtold. Course I do shoot a deer once in a while in season; and lots o'pa'tridges, they bein' so tame yuh c'n knock them over as they sit onthe lower limb o' a tree after flushin'. I ketch wheens o' trout, too, from time to time; but I give yuh my word I never yet killed anythingwhen the law was on it, never!"

When Obed said a thing in his emphatic way, he was to be relied on, Maxthought. The woods boy could look very sober at times, though, as arule, there was that merry gleam in his eye that told how much he loveda joke. 

Altogether they had a delightful meal, and what was even better, therewas an abundance to give every one three bountiful helpings, which factpleased Bandy-legs and Steve in particular. The former, on passing hisplate--for they actually had such articles at this wonderful lodge underthe pines--for the third help, excused himself by remarking aside:

"It's queer what a _terrible_ appetite toting a pack a few miles over acarry gives a fellow. Now, at home I'm generally satisfied with oneportion, but once let me get into the harness, and I seem to have no endof _capacity_. Say, I'd eat you out of house and home, Obed, if I stayedvery long at your ranch. "

"No danger o' that, I guess, Bandy-legs, " replied the other, for he hadof course taken quite naturally to calling these new friends by theircustomary names, just as boys always do get on quick terms offamiliarity. "Last time I went to town I laid in quite a wheen o' stuff. Then there's always the crick to git trout outen; and in a short timeyou could shoot pa'tridges without breakin' the game laws. So don't letthat worry yuh any. I'm on'y too tickled to have some fellers around. Itdoes git kinder lonely here, sometimes, I own up. "

"Whew! I should think it would, Obed, " said Steve, lost in admirationfor the amazing nerve displayed by the woods boy in remaining all byhimself, winter and summer, seldom, if ever, seeing a human face, andapparently devoting all his energies to making his fur farm experimentturn out to be a success. "Nothing would tempt me to stick it out here awhole winter. Why, I'd die of the blues, and let the black foxes go tothe dickens, while I made break for the nearest town, so I could hearthe sound of a human voice. "

Obed looked at him gravely, and heaved a sigh. 

"Yep, I feels that ways, too, sometimes, Steve, " he said presently; "andlet me tell yuh the temptation is nigh more'n I c'n stand; but I jestshuts my teeth together, and tells myself that I started in to do thisjob, and I'm agoin' to stick it out or know the reason why. Then I gitmy second wind agin' and it's all right. Once I used to give in righteasy, but I'm broke now o' that bad habit, I guess. "

CHAPTER VII

THE YOUNG MAGICIAN

The more Max listened to Obed talk on the one subject that seemed to behis pet hobby, that of raising valuable fur-bearing animals for themarket, the deeper grew his conviction that the woods boy was well worthstudying. 

He might talk after the manner of an uneducated boy, but Max knew thatthis could not be the case. Even though the main lot of numerous"Grimeses" were following the humble occupation of guides amidst theextensive stretches of the Adirondacks, and possibly many of them wouldbe found to be boors, save along the line of woodcraft, Obed had managedto pick up considerable knowledge, somehow or other. 

When trying to explain how this idea of successfully raising "silver"black foxes took such a main grip on his imagination, he brought out abatch of clippings which he had managed to get hold of in some manner, Max could not even guess how. 

Some of these were fantastic in their revelations, while others wereauthentic interviews with parties who for years had been secretlyengaged in the business of fur farming. This was away up on PrinceEdward Island beyond Nova Scotia, said to be the place best situatedgeographically for the purpose, as these animals require a severeclimate in order that their pelt assumes its richest and heaviest crop. A black fox farm started down in Florida would not produce furs worthoffering for sale. 

Max was intensely interested with one account in particular connectedwith the extensive pioneer silver fox ranch. He even asked the privilegeof copying the same for future reference, because he knew thatstatements he might make later on would be skeptically received by manypeople who had never dreamed that any species of furs were so valuablethat young pups could be worth more than their weight in gold. 

That the boy reader of this story may also stock up with informationthat will better enable him to understand what enterprising Obed Grimeswas trying to do on a small scale, I am tempted to give the main itemsin this newspaper article, every word of which is said to be literallytrue. 

Since this account was first printed some years ago, other farms alongsimilar lines have been started away up near Calgary, in the CanadianProvince of Alberta, and are said to be doing excellently, one ranchnear Midnapore reporting a start with twelve pair, and the pack nowcounting thirty-seven in all. 

But here is the main part of the clipping, well worth reading:

There is something novel about a ranch which consists of spacescovering 150 feet of ground. Chappell, now president of the SydneyChamber of Commerce, Nova Scotia, owns seventy pairs of silver blackfoxes, and his ranch is split up into small inclosures of that size, covered with wire on four sides, the wire being buried four feet underground, attached to a concrete base, and turned in several feet. Thesilver black fox tries to root its way to freedom, and this is the waythe breeder prevents his escape. 

When the foxes mate we also mate a pair of black cats of the ordinarydomestic variety. As soon as the young are born, we take the fox pupsaway from the mother fox, and the kittens away from the mother cat, andmake the cat foster-mother to the fox cubs. In this way we are able torear a more domesticated breed of foxes. 

For twenty years this business of raising foxes of the silver blackspecies was really kept under cover, because of its great possibilitiesfor making big money. With the last four or five years the business hasbecome organized, and today many millions of dollars are invested in it. 

The last lot of animals slaughtered was in 1910. There were forty-threepelts sent to London at that time. They brought as high as $3, 800, theaverage fetching $1, 500. Silver black fox is the rarest fur utilized byman. The Russian sable, otter, and South Sea seal are practicallyeliminated for commercial purposes, due to international laws whichprohibit the killing of these animals for the next ten or fifteen years, so as to give them a chance to increase. 

Only 800 pairs of live foxes were placed on sale last year. Fewer than50 of that number were killed and their fur sold. The rest went forbreeding purposes, because fur farms are starting up in many favorableplaces. The men who raise silver foxes on Prince Edward Island know thegame. They started in it as boys many years ago. 

"In the provinces of Prince Edward, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, menand women interested in breeding foxes have been made wealthy. They werepoor people ten years ago. Today they live in town houses, own their ownautomobiles, and yet continue to give the strictest attention to all thedetails connected with their singular farming industry. "

Obed was extremely modest in what he told concerning his own smallbeginning. Max, having also read in one of the clippings that a pair ofgilt-edged silver black foxes were worth all the way up to $30, 000, was, of course, doubly curious to learn whether those with which Obed startedcould be the genuine article, and if so, how had he managed to obtainthem. 

It seemed to be only a game in which rich persons could enter. Obedunderstood just what must be passing in the mind of the other, and atthe first opportunity he hastened to explain. 

"I was just chock full o' this business, " he went on to say, "when Iran across Mr. Coombs. Yuh remember I told yuh about how that cameabout, and that he seemed to think I'd saved his life. " Well, he and mekept house together here for some months, and then one day thar come thebiggest surprise I ever had. He fetched a crate along up from town in awagon he hired; and say, inside the same was the finest pair o' silverblacks I ever saw. Then some more wagons begun to show up fetchin' rollsof wire netting, and bags o' cement to make concrete with. Mr. Coombshad gone into the fur raisin' business for keeps, and I was to have aninterest in the game. He had an agreement all written out that both o'us signed before a justice, which fixed things up. Half the proceeds o'the fur farm was to come to me, while I stayed here to look afterthings. 

"Well, sir, we worked like fun to git the stockade built 'cording toform; and our mated pair o' foxes planted in the same. Since then I'vefixed three more enclosures, ready for an increase o' stock. Mr. Coombs, he called this the Lone Lodge Black Fox Farm, and I guess the name willstick even after I get to selling off some o' the product. "

It was simply wonderful, all of the eager listeners thought. Max couldhardly believe his ears, and yet so far as he could make out Obed seemedin dead earnest. Besides, he had the documents to prove the truth of hisstory, he said, which he would spread before them a little later on. 

As for that skeptic, Bandy-legs, he rolled his eyes up many times whilelistening, and seemed to be swallowing it with considerable difficulty. Toby and Steve never questioned the veracity of the narrator; they weresimply amazed at the immensity of the enterprise that had sprung upalmost like a mushroom, over night. Millions on millions of dollarsinvested in artificial fur farming, and the general public utterly inthe dark concerning the facts until recently, when its scope could nolonger be concealed, like a light hidden under a bushel. 

"And now that you've kinder got an idea of what a big fur farm might belike, " the singular woods boy went on to say, rising as he spoke, "s'pose yuh meander out and take a look at my humble beginnin'. I surelyhope yuh won't run down my efforts, 'cause o' course things ain't got torunnin' full swing yet. But the cubs are nigh big enough to be taken tomarket. "

"How many have you got, Obed?" asked Max, following the other out of thecabin. 

"One pair nearly grown, and another just two months old. I've beenmighty lucky in not losing a single pup so far, " came the reply overObed's shoulder; and he might be pardoned for putting just a mite ofpride in his tones, for he had accomplished something worth while for anew beginner at the business. 

"But if you expect to keep in this line, " said Bandy-legs quickly, asthough he voiced a suspicion that kept cropping up in his mind, "why doyou want to dispose of that first pair of pups?"

Obed laughed good-naturedly. 

"I'll tell yuh, Bandy-legs, " he said, confidentially. "In the firstplace breeders like to change their stock, so as to bring new blood intothe pens. Then again, why, I happens to need the money that's comin' tome for my share. A fellow has got to live up here in the mountains, andgrub costs a wheen o' hard cash, 'specially when yuh got a goodappetite, which seems to fit me all right. But if I get what I'm hopin'for it'll be all right, and I reckons thar'll come some years before welet more foxes get away from this same farm. "

So he took them to where he had his main enclosure, in which the boysfound the parent foxes. They may have become somewhat accustomed toseeing Obed, and hearing the sound of his coaxing voice, for even themost timid of wild animals in the process of time comes to recognize theone who supplies their wants along the line of daily food. But possiblyBandy-legs or Steve chanced to laugh, or speak out loud, for the oldfoxes took the alarm; and it was only after constant efforts on the partof Obed, with his familiar call to dinner, that caused them to showthemselves at all. 

They were certainly beauties. Max wondered more than ever at the nerveof Obed in trying to start a silver black fox farm in this section, withno one save himself apparently in charge. He feared that the enterprisewould be doomed to certain disaster. The smart woods boy might besuccessful in raising a crop of valuable youngsters in the fox line; butsooner or later some unscrupulous men, guides out of a job perhaps, andloaded with strong drink, would try to make a secret raid on hispreserves, and clean him out in a single night. Fox pelts worththousands of dollars must tempt some men beyond their fears, or power ofresistance. 

Max made up his mind he would talk about this with Obed before he left. He wondered at the short-sighted policy of the executor of Mr. Coombs'estate in allowing so much money to be tied up in this property withoutproper safeguards. If it was intended to continue the fox farm now thatit gave all evidences of possible success surely the boy should have anassistant, some strong woodsman who could by his presence and readinessto do battle awe any intended transgressors. 

They next visited the enclosure where the two pair of little foxesplayed and slept and ate their fill, daily increasing in size and value. They were also timid, though in due time Obed managed to get them toshow themselves; for hunger is a powerful inducement, and the smell offavorite food a lure difficult to resist. 

"Of course, " explained the young fur farmer, while they were watchingthe inmates of the second enclosure, "I don't have black cats up hereyet to carry out them directions exactly; but I'm aiming to do thatalso pretty soon. Yep, and after this set o' pups has been sold, if theyfetch all I count on, I'm goin' to have a talk with the lawyer thatlooks after Mr. Coombs' estate. He promised to come up and see whatcould be done about extendin' the farm. And then I guess it's goin' tobe time to hire a helper, seein' I can't do everything by myself. "

"That was just what I meant to speak to you about, Obed!" exclaimed Max. "You oughtn't to try to stay here another winter all by yourself. Besides, some unscrupulous men might raid your enclosures while you wereoff hunting, or fishing, and break up your business. It isn't safe, Obed; and I know from what you said before about suspecting strangerswere around here right now, that you're getting anxious yourself. "

The boy drew a long breath, and nodded his head. Into his eyes crept alook quite the opposite of that merry gleam usually nestling there. Yes, plainly Obed _was_ worried over something; and Max believed he had puthis finger directly on the sore spot when he spoke of a possible raid onthe fur product of the singular farm. 

"Can you find just such a reliable man as you want, Obed?" asked Steve. 

"That part ain't so hard, " he was told. "Fact is I've got him more'nhalf engaged a'ready. His name is Jerry Stocks, and he's a woods guide. Been a heap interested in this game ever since we started up. Fact is, Jerry has done a heap o' things for me from time to time, 'cause yuhsee I couldn't work it all. He lives 'bout 'leven miles off that ways. We've fixed a way to signal to each other by flyin' a little white flagfrom two low peaks. When I want Jerry I run my flag up, and if he'shome, why the next day, or mebbe sooner, he shows up. But shucks! thatwouldn't keep me from losin' my stock if there was a real raid. "

He went on talking further, and the boys picked up considerable morevaluable information, for Obed was apparently well posted on thesubject, which had occupied his thoughts night and day. 

So he told them that perhaps, if all went well, he might take up acompanion industry, being nothing more nor less than trying to raisemink or otter in captivity. 

"'Course I know it isn't done to any great extent yet, " he explained, "but that's no reason there shouldn't be some ready money picked up inthe business. It wouldn't pay anything like the foxes, and for thatreason I'd go slow about it. Oh! I've got a heap o' ways for gettin' theready cash to keep up my share o' the expenses o' the farm here. I'vefound two bee trees, and sent the honey to market too. Got nigh twentydollars for the honey. Then I dig ginseng roots times when there'snothing else to do. Come over with me and see my frog pond. Lastshipment o' big fat saddles brought me a neat little wad o' money, andthey don't cost me a cent, if yuh want to know it. "

The four boys looked at each other in increased wonderment. What mannerof chap was this same Obed, to be able to wrest a living from abounteous Nature in the clever way he did? Steve in particular was loudin his praise. 

"Why, Obed, old fellow, " he burst out with, "you're just the same kindof an enterprising chap Max here has always been. Why, it was his grandidea about there being mussels aplenty in the Big Sunflower down our waythat started us into making a try for fresh-water pearls in the river. We found 'em, too, some thousands of dollars' worth, of them; and whenthe news leaked out, whee! the farmers, all around, had a tough timegetting their harvests home, because every hand was treading for musselsin the creeks and small rivers for thirty miles around Carson. Why, Ibet you it'd be as hard to find a fresh-water clam down our way now as aneedle in a haystack; they're all cleaned out. You see, Max here hadread about pearls being found out in Indiana and other places, and thatgave him the big idea; just like you got set on the fur farm business byreading about it. "

They duly inspected the marsh where Obed hunted his big greenback frogswhen he thought the crop warranted a thinning out. 

"They're always in demand down New York ways, whar they fetch a dollar apound for the saddles, " he explained; "and let me tell yuh it doesn'ttake a great many o' them to weigh that much. I've got some granddaddybouncers here that'd make you stare to see 'em; but they don't show upmuch at this time o' day. "

"And how do you get them by the wholesale when you want to market any?"asked Steve. "I've shot many a one with a small Flobert rifle; or elsecaught them with a piece of red flannel fixed on a small hook, attachedby a short cord to a stout pole. "

"Well, men in the regular frog-raising business couldn't go about it asslow as that, " said the other, "though I have shot a few o' the big unsthat way, 'cause they was too tricky to be grabbed with my hand net. Ifyou stay with me a spell we'll get more'n one mess o' frog legs, if yuhlikes them. "

Bandy-legs was seen to work his lips as though his month fairly wateredat the pleasing prospect; for those who are fond of the dish say thatfrogs' legs are more delicate than the best spring chicken, with just alittle taste of fish about them that rather adds to the piquancy. 

Having by this time exhausted about all the sights of the wonderful farmthe boys headed back again toward the cabin. Max could not but noticethat Obed showed signs of uneasiness while away, and cast frequentglances in the direction where under those whispering pines and the darkgreen hemlocks his lone lodge stood. 

Therefore Max was not very much surprised when, as he and Obed strolledalong in the rear of the other three, who were chatting, and arguingabout certain matters, the young fur farmer pressed his armconfidentially, and went on to say:

"I'd like to tell yuh something, Max, 'cause I own up it's gettin' on mynerves. I thought nothin' could bother me any, but now that the time isso close at hand when I mean tuh sell that pair o' grown pups, and getthe money I need so bad, why, things look kinder different. Fact is, Max, " he went on, allowing his voice to sink into a mysterious stagewhisper, "somebody was lookin' around in my cabin while I was down atyour camp last evenin'. I know this because things was more or lessupset; and I reckon my comin' back scared the man away, whoever he mayhave been!"

CHAPTER VIII

PRODUCTS OF THE FUR FARM

"That looks bad, Obed, " Max hastened to say, feeling a perceptiblethrill at the very thought of being on hand to assist this enterprisingboy defend his property, which he had made so valuable, through his ownefforts in most part. "I saw a smoke last evening, too, which must havebeen made by a camp-fire. I wondered if there were deer hunters up hereso early; or if some men might be after your foxes. Of course that ideaonly came to me after you had told us about your enterprise, and howvaluable the pelts were. "

"It's mighty tough, " avowed Obed, between his set teeth, "to be so nighsuccess, and then face failure. I've been tempted to signal for Jerry tocome over and help me stand guard a spell. Yuh see, I ought to be on myway to town with that pair o' nearly-grown young blacks. I know whar Ic'n get more for 'em alive than for their pelts if I took the time tocure the same, which I don't want to do. Oh! I've just _got_ to sell'em, and that's all thar is about it. I've dreamed about the day I'd getthat check, and show--er, that lawyer managin' Mr. Coombs' estate thatall I told him was true. Once I have the proof that thar's big money inraisin' silver blacks, he's promised to do anything in reason I ask. "

Max made up his mind on the spot. 

"Look here, Obed, " was the way he talked, for Max always believed thatit was good policy to "hit the nail directly on the head;" especiallywhen the subject was of considerable importance, "what's to hinder yougoing off with that pair of live blacks, and disposing of them, whilethe four of us stay here and run your fur farm for you? It would onlytake a few days, and we've got the time to spare. Of course you'd haveto trust us to the limit, to leave things in our charge; but we'd surelybe pleased to help you out. And depend on it, nobody would steal any ofthe other inmates of the pens while we were on deck. We've got only onegun along, but that is a repeating Marlin, always to be depended on todo its work. "

The woods boy was visibly affected by hearing Max say this. He reachedfor the other's hand and squeezed it almost fiercely. 

"Oh! it's kind of you to say that, Max!" he exclaimed, as though thewords sprang directly from his heart. "And d'ye know I'm tempted to takeyou at your word. For I _must_ get those pups delivered as I promised. Everything depends on that deal. The man saw them three months ago, andwe made a bargain. I was to deliver the pups to him by the time firstsnow flew; and it's due any day now, you know. "

A singular thing had happened, and Max, while deeply interested in whatObed was saying, could not help but notice that for once the woods boyhad spoken without a sign of the rude dialect which up to then hadmarked his manner of speech. This further aroused the curiosity of Max, who to himself was saying:

"I hit the mark when I guessed Obed was smarter than he let on, andcould talk just as well as the next fellow when he chose. He's justfallen into speaking that way through his association with these roughpeople up here, his own folks likely enough. Or else he likes to pullthe wool over our eyes, just for a joke. "

Aloud Max continued to reassure the other. 

"Then consider it as good as settled, Obed, " he said, "that we'll hangaround here a short while. If you think best you can get that Jerry tocome over, and keep his finger on the pulse. Perhaps it might be wise, too, because he'd know just what to do in case there was any troubleamong the foxes left in the pens; and it is all new to us, remember. "

"Yuh've relieved my mind a heap, Max, sure yuh have, " Obed told him, again relapsing into the vernacular that is usually a part of a woodsguide's language. "And tonight I'll set the traps I've got fixed. Mebbeif so be trespassers come a skulkin' around they might git a littlesurprise. But I'll show yuh what I'm mentionin' later on. Jest now Ion'y want to tell yuh I'm mighty glad I dropped into yer camp lastevenin' 'stead o' slippin' away, like I fust thought o' doin'. "

"But you don't want me to look on this matter as a secret, do you, Obed?"

The other started, Max thought, and looked quickly at him. 

"Now what might yuh be meanin' by that, Max?" he presently asked, a bitanxiously. 

"Oh! I only wanted to have your permission to tell my three chums whatyou've been saying to me, " explained Max. "Of course I know what theiranswer will be when I put it up to them. We've really come here on whatBandy-legs calls a wild goose hunt, for there isn't one chance in tenthat we'll ever be able to find Roland Chase; so our time is reallypretty much our own, to do with as we will. And Obed, all of us havetaken such a big interest in your enterprise up here, that we'll be onlytoo happy to lend you a helping hand. You are so near success now thatit'd be a shame if you fell down through no fault of your own. "

"That's what I keep tellin' myself too, Max, don't you know!" exclaimedthe now excited Obed. "I've hugged that hope close to my heart monthafter month, and now when I c'n almost whiff the success I've prayed forit'd nearly kill me to lose everything. Oh! I jest wants a couple ofweeks at the most, and then I'll show 'em, yes, I will. They all saidI'd make a dead failure out o' my fur farm; but yuh c'n see it's comin'along right smart. "

When they reached the cabin the boys threw themselves down on the softyielding turf near-by to "loaf" as Bandy-legs properly expressed it; andsurely he could do this as well as any boy who ever drew breath. 

Max took occasion to tell the others what he and Obed had been talkingabout. All of them were deeply interested. They looked angrily at eachother when Max explained how the woods boy had found traces of someintruder who had actually entered his lone cabin while he, Obed, wasaway in their company; also telling how the other strongly suspectedthat a dastardly plot had been hatched, looking to the robbing of thepens connected with the silver fox fur farm. 

Obed was inside doing something at the time, and so Max felt that hecould talk freely. He meant that his three chums should know everythingin the beginning, before he called on them to decide whether they wouldstay over a few days, and guard the property, while Obed was marketinghis first proceeds in a distant city; for the pups were really toovaluable to be trusted to the tender mercies of an express company, Obedthought. 

"I don't exactly understand how Obed knows that there _is_ a conspiracyhatched up against him, to complete the ruination of his enterprise, "continued Max; "but he seems to think some party has a deep grudgeagainst him. It may be we'll know more about this later on; but for thepresent I've promised Obed I'd put up a proposition to you. "

"Then let's hear it, Max!" exclaimed Touch-and-Go Steve, "though Ireckon we c'n all give a pretty close guess at what's coming. "

"Why, Obed wants to get away with that pair of grown pups, so he candeliver them to the man he's bargained with; and I've proposed that westay here a few days, and guard his property while he's off. Is thereany objection to that plan? I told him I expected I could count on mychums to stick by me. "

"I should say you could, Max, " chuckled Bandy-legs. "Why, I'm fairlycounting on depopulating that big frog marsh while we're hanging aroundthis section. And say, Steve here could keep us supplied with troutgalore, if only he fished from the bank, and didn't wade in. "

Both the others were equally prompt to agree. Indeed Toby "fell all overhimself, " as Steve termed it, in his eagerness to give assent; and couldonly recover after coming to an abrupt halt, taking one of his customarybig breaths, and then giving a sharp whistle, after which he finishedwhat he was saying as nicely as anything. 

And that settled it, just as Max had been confident would be the case;for he knew his chums too well to believe they would be willing to letsuch a brave fight be lost when the goal seemed so near. Obed Grimes hadproved to be a fellow after their own hearts, and they found themselvesdeeply interested in his fortunes. 

So when the woods boy came out again--Max suspected that he hadpurposely withdrawn from the scene in order not to embarrass them whilemaking their decision--he was told how they all felt. And Obed wentaround shaking hands, with the tears in his eyes. Plainly he had hiswhole heart wrapped up in the successful outcome of this odd venture;and when the clouds began to loom up overhead this proffered assistanceon the part of the four chums was gratefully received. 

"This is mighty nice o' yuh, boys, " he kept telling them, as thoughreally at a loss for appropriate words best calculated to express thestate of his feelings; "and I ain't goin' to ever forget it, either. NowI feel that I c'n start out right away, the day after tomorrow, anddeliver them pups to Mr. Sheckard. Say, mebbe I won't be a proud boywhen he hands me that big check, and I know that I've won out againstall odds!"

His eyes glowed at the very thought, and Max was more than glad he andhis comrades had the chance to render so resolute a chap slightassistance. For it would really be a pleasure for them to stay there atthat wonderful little lodge under the whispering pines, and keep housewhile Obed was away. Then, too, Jerry would be on hand, ready with hisadvice and knowledge, so as to do the proper thing. As to any rashprowler stealing the valuable foxes, day or night, well, they would seeto it a constant watch was kept, and that the gun was always ready toblock any nasty little game like that. 

Later on, Max amused himself lolling in Mr. Coombs' big fireside chair, which he had moved near one of the windows. He had run across a numberof books on a shelf, and was engaged in looking them over, though hardlybothering to actually read. Nevertheless, he seemed to be quite curiousconcerning them, and when Obed chanced to come in, Max naturally askedconcerning the volumes. 

"Oh! yuh see, some o' them belong to me, " the woods boy remarked, without hesitation, "and t'others they were left here by Mr. Coombs. Hewas a great reader; and besides, he'd traveled all over the known world. Yuh remember I said he was a sea captain, and that he made his fortunecarryin' cargoes from the Far East to England and America. Sometime I'lltell yuh a few of the queer adventures he had in foreign countries. They've got lots o' thrills about 'em, too. "

"Just so, " ventured Max, casually, "and I once heard some people talkingabout a Mr. Coombs who had been a great traveler. Now I wonder if itcould have been the same party. Was his first name Robert?"

"Oh! no, _my_ Mr. Coombs' name was Jared, " replied the other, promptly. 

"Then, of course, it could not have been the same, " added Max, smilingas though he had attained the object of his questioning; "but thesimilarity in names, and the fact that both men had traveledconsiderably, made me think it might, be so. "

He once more dipped into the book he was holding, although watching Obedslily over the top of the volume. And when the woods boy had passedoutside again, Max Hastings might have been seen to hurriedly turn backto the blank pages at the front of the book, scan several initials thatwere plainly written there, and then nod his head mysteriously, with asmile that gradually crept across his whole face; just as thoughsomething pleased him, which, for the time being, he chose to keep tohimself. 

CHAPTER IX

LAYING PLANS TO HELP OBED

It was only natural that Steve, always headstrong and impulsive, shouldbe eager to find out what kind of plan might be arranged looking tokeeping watch and ward over the fur farm during the nights to come. Hehad been impressed with the signs of anxiety which Obed plainlybetrayed, when speaking of his belief concerning some sort of plot beinghatched up against his peace of mind, and which would bring about theultimate ruination of his unique and intensely interesting undertaking. 

To Steve, the idea of a miserable rascal sneaking up in the night todestroy all that poor hardworking Obed had built up after many moons, was simply terrible. The more he considered it the greater became hissecret anger; and of course this meant that his liking for the boy furfarmer grew in proportion. 

During the afternoon, as the shadows began to lengthen perceptibly, Steve found occasion to broach the subject to his three chums. Max hadcome out of the cabin; evidently he had tired of looking over the books, which might do very well to pass away a long evening, or a rainy daywhen time dragged, but could not chain him down long when the sun wasshining, the breeze rustling through the many-colored leaves still onthe trees, and with all Nature beckoning. 

So Steve crooked his finger toward Bandy-legs and Toby, lounging nearby; and being in a humor themselves for any sort of thing, the pairhastened to join him. And Max, upon being pounced upon by the balance ofthe crowd, looked askance, knowing that something was in the wind. 

"Strikes me, fellows, " commenced Steve, "that We ought to be figuring onwhat we expect to do tonight. "

"Huh! as for me, " quickly responded Bandy-legs, "I'm expecting to do myshare about slingin' together a dandy spread, with some of the fine grubwe fetched along. This mountain air is something terrible when it comesto toning up _jaded appetites_. I feel as if I had a vacuum down aboutmy middle all the time. I'm beginning to be alarmed about my condition. If it keeps on it's going to mean bankruptcy for my folks, that's all. "

"About me, now, " added Toby Jucklin, briskly, "I'm hoping to g-g-get ab-b-bully g-g-good sleep tonight; unless Max fixes it so we have tot-t-take t-t-turns standing sentry duty. "

Steve looked disgusted. 

"Oh! rats! I didn't mean anything like that, and you both know it, " hetold the two grinning chums. "What I was referring to was on the pointof duty. We've agreed to stand back of our new friend, Obed, and see toit that he isn't robbed of the proceeds of his industry by unscrupulousscoundrels; and we've got to make good!"

"Hear! hear!" ejaculated Toby, pretending to clap his hands in applause. 

"Steve, you're exhausting all the big words in the dictionary, with yourhigh-flown language, " warned Bandy-legs in mock severity. "But I getyour meaning, all the same, and I also agree with your noble sentiments. Sure we're expecting to stand up for Obed and his pets; and we'relikewise intending to make it hot for any old terrapin who comescreeping around here with the idea of making way with the wearers ofthat expensive fur. How about it, Max?"

"That's a settled thing, " readily replied the one appealed to, and whoseopinion, it was plain to be seen, would swing things one way or another, since the other fellows were in the habit of looking up to Max as theirleader. "We can fix it up in regular orthodox style, each fellow havingtwo hours on duty, and the rest of the night for sleep. Does that strikeyou as about right?"

"Well, " remarked Steve, proudly, "it won't be the first occasion whenthis bunch has had to stand guard, not by a long sight. I can look backand see many a night when we had to keep an anchor to windward, or elselose something we prized a heap. Ever since we dug up all those musselsin the Big Sunflower, and found dandy pearls inside some of them, itseems to me we've had occasion from time to time to be envied by otherpeople, and had to keep watch so we wouldn't be robbed. Oh! standingsentry is an old trick with us!"

"For my p-p-part, " remarked Toby, yawning as he spoke, "I'd much ratherthink up some g-g-good s-s-scheme that would ease the s-s-strain, andallow us to s-s-sleep through the entire night. "

"Please explain what you mean by saying that, Toby, " demanded Steve;"you do get off the most mysterious communications sometimes, and muddleus all up. "

"But there isn't anything q-q-queer about this, Steve, " protested Toby. "All of you know I've been a g-g-great h-h-hand to make m-m-machinerytake the place of h-h-hand power. What's the need of our s-s-stayingawake p-p-part of the night, even, if by cudgeling our brains wec-c-could think up some g-g-good s-s-scheme that would answer the samepurpose?"

"I can see _you_ cudgeling your poor brains, all right, Toby, " sneeredSteve, who apparently did not take a great deal of stock in the other'sability for conceiving clever ideas: "and a pretty mess you'd make ofit, in the bargain. Take it from me, they're cudgeled enough as it is. "

"That will do for you, Steve, " said Max. "I understand just what Tobymeans, and it's along the right line too. This is the age of progress, and up-to-date people don't want to depend on the old-time methods thatwere good enough for their grandfathers. Toby thinks one of us mightsuggest a scheme whereby we could guard the fox farm, and at the sametime obtain our full quota of sleep. In other words, rig up a dummy tostand our trick as sentry. Isn't that it, Toby?"

"J-j-just what I had in my mind, Max, " snapped Toby; "and any sillyc-c-could easy see that. "

"Sure, and the wise ones had to be told, " chirped Steve, jauntily. "Butnever mind arguing, Toby; it's all right, and I'm only joking. I get theidea; and now, has any one a scheme on tap that would apply to thecase?"

Toby scratched his head as though he considered that, having been thefirst to make the suggestion, it was up to him to say something, nomatter how. 

"Well, there's the spring-gun trap, you know, " he remarked, without oncestuttering, which fact proved that he was deliberately taking his timeabout answering. 

"What sort of arrangement do you call that, I'd like to know!" askedSteve. 

"S-s-say, you a hunter, and never heard about the s-s-spring-gun trap?"exclaimed Toby, scornfully. "Well, I'll try to explain, if you give me alittle t-t-time, and don't r-r-rush me too much. You see, a gun isf-f-fastened to the ground, and aiming along a certain avenue that theintended thief has just g-g-got to use in c-c-coming up to the b-b-bait. Then a c-c-cord is s-s-strung so the thief p-p-presses against thes-s-same, just like Max here fixes his c-c-camera nights, when he wantsto s-s-snap off a skunk or a 'coon by flashlight. Well, the g-g-gun goesoff, and f-f-fills Mister Thief with number twelve birdshot. When youhear the c-c-crash, and his howls, why, you just s-s-saunter out andf-f-fetch in the s-s-spoils. There, do you understand about thes-s-spring-gun trap now, Steve?"

"Oh! I knew all that before, only you mixed me up by giving it thatname, " the other hastily replied. "But it strikes me that'd be a prettyrough deal for us to play. It might answer if the thief were an animal, but a human being is different. "

"All the same, " retorted Toby, savagely, "he's a t-t-thief, and outsidethe p-p-pale of the law. "

"Just so, " Steve went on, and Max was surprised at his moderation, because, as a rule, Steve had always been the most reckless one of thecrowd; "but suppose now we found that we'd done more than we calculatedon, Toby? A charge of small birdshot starts out on its errand a wholelot like a bullet. It doesn't commence to scatter till it gets just sofar away from the muzzle of the gun; depending on the size of the bore, and the way the barrel is choked. I've known a charge of shot to tear ahole right through a board when fired at close range. At a distance itwould only have scattered out, and peppered the whole fence. And, Toby, we might feel rather bad if we found we'd killed a man, even if he was athief!"

Toby did not answer to that fling. The truth of the matter was heshivered at the gruesome picture Steve's words drew before his mentalvision; for Toby was not at all bloodthirsty. 

Max now took a hand in the conversation. 

"Listen, fellows, " he went on to say, "it strikes me that when we setabout discussing this matter, we ought to remember that there's one chapwho's considerably more interested in the outcome than any of us canever be. "

"'Course you mean Obed when you say that, Max?" ventured Bandy-legs. 

"He's the one, " the other admitted. "And we ought to invite him to joinus in figuring out our plans. Now, it may be Obed will have a scheme ofhis own that'd knock any we might think up all silly. I'll call himover, and tell him what we're trying to arrange. "

It happened that just then Obed was passing on his way to the cabin. Hehad been working somewhere amidst his enclosures, perhaps making certainpreparations for insuring the safety of his valuable furry pets, shoulda descent on the farm come about during the hours of darkness. 

Obed hastened to join them. His questioning look influenced Max toexplain without hesitation; and the woods boy smiled broadly when heheard how his new-found friends were already taking so decided aninterest in his fortunes. 

"Now, it might be, " he started to say, again looking serious, "that allthis fuss ain't worth the candle, and that nothin' 's going to happen;but I believe in shuttin' the door _before_ the hoss is stolen; it's toolate afterwards. I haven't got the time right now to tell yuh jest how Ilearned that my foxes was agoin' tuh be in danger; somebody I knew wroteme a letter, and warned me, which'll have tuh be enuff jest now tuhexplain. Since I got that same, three days back, I've been figgerin' onhow I could fix up a trap tuh ketch any two-legged varmint that chancedtuh come sneakin' around here of a night. Well, I got one er two tricksrigged up that might fill the bill. "

"Of course you mean to show them to us, Obed?" Steve burst out with;"for if you didn't, and we were left in charge here, one of us mightfall into the pit, and get knocked out, which would be tough luck, I'mthinking. "

"Oh! I meant to show you, Steve, " asserted the fur farmer, quickly. "Andif so be yuh'll come along with me right now, we'll take a look at thecontraptions, which, of course, yuh understand, are only meant fornight-times, and tuh help out when Jerry wouldn't be around for me tosorter lean on. "

Being boys who did things themselves, it was only natural that the fourchums should feel a decided interest in what Obed had just said. EvenMax showed an eagerness to go forth and examine the said traps. He couldspeculate as to what their character might turn out to be, but thisonly added a little more spice to the occasion. 

So when Obed turned and started off, with a beckoning finger thatenticed them to follow his lead, none of the quartette held back. 

CHAPTER X

TRAPS FOB NIGHT PROWLERS

"Yuh see, " remarked Obed, turning around as they drew near the firstenclosure, where the parent foxes were confined behind the wire fencing, "I've just been adding a few finishing touches tuh this here trapscheme. I got a little idea while I was alookin' the ground over, andreckoned I could fix it up so there'd be a heap right good chance that afeller creeping around here o' a night would step into the contraption. I'll show yuh how I 'ranged it. "

With that he led the way along a plain trail that seemed to be theeasiest route up to the enclosure. Three times out of four a stranger, prowling around with meagre light to guide him, would be apt to followthat beaten track; and this was evidently what the shrewd Obed wascounting on. 

"Well, it's this way my little scheme is agoin' to work, " he explained, after reaching a certain point. "See this rope--I throw it across a limbo' this tree. Yuh notice that it's got an easy runnin' slip-noose at theend, don't yuh? That I'm fixing right here, where there's a good chancethe thief will put his foot in it as he takes this step I'm showingyou. "

He proved that he was right, and indeed it was really a difficultthing, after Obed had placed the noose just as he wanted it, close tothe ground, and on little wooden crotches he had arranged there for thepurpose, for any one to step across without getting his foot entangledin the rope. 

"Well, let's reckon, then, he does get caught in the noose, and jerks ittight around his ankle, " continued Obed, very much interested himself inwhat he was saying, and as Max quickly noticed, even neglecting to speakas he usually did, although he had shown this odd trait before. "Whathappens? I'll show you how it's going to work out, if everything runs asI've planned. "

Accordingly, he picked up a heavy piece of wood that chanced to be lyingclose by, and which doubtless Obed had used before in order to test theaccuracy of his figuring. This he inserted in the noose, and then gaveit a hunch that not only tightened the rope but carried out the furtherpurpose of the inventor. 

Instantly things began to happen. The boys heard a queer rattling soundnear by, and immediately the wooden "dummy" was jerked out of Obed'shands, to be drawn up until it struck against the limb of the tree fullyten feet above. Steve gave a whoop. 

"My stars! but that worked like a charm, Obed, let me tell you. Greasedlightning could hardly be quicker than the way you've arranged yourtrap. And what was all that rattling sound about? What's holding on tothe other end of the rope, which pulled the log up on the run? I want toknow, even if I ain't from Missouri. "

The woods boy laughed as though quite pleased because his trap hadworked well enough to call forth such words of praise from these newfriends. 

"Come over and see, " he simply said. 

They followed the line of rope, now taut, and resembling a huge "fiddlestring, " as Bandy-legs remarked, testing it as he passed along. It ledthem to the brow of an abrupt little descent, a sheer drop of perhapstwenty feet. Down this slope they followed the rope with their eyes andthen discovered it was attached to a large and heavy barrel that couldalmost be called a hogshead, evidently something which had been used asa crate to convey a portion of the previous owner of the cabin'scrockery ware thither when he moved up from town. 

As the boys were no simpletons, they readily grasped the essentialqualities of Obed's little scheme. It may have been original with him;and then again possibly he had borrowed the same from some book he hadread; but, nevertheless, it struck them as pretty clever. 

Not content with the heaviness of the big barrel, he had placed a numberof stones inside so as to add to the swiftness of its flight down thatdeclivity, once it was released. The rope acted as "starter, " and uponbeing jerked, as must be the case, should any one get a foot caught inthe noose, it released a stake that kept the heavy barrel poised thereat the top of the descent. The consequence was that it would plungedownward almost as though making a sheer drop; the noose tighteningabout the leg or legs of the unhappy wight who had sprung the trap, hewould be jerked off his feet and hauled up, head downward, to danglethere in midair, as helpless as a babe. 

"Set it again, and let me try the trick, please, Obed, " pleaded Steve, who seemed to be particularly charmed with the arrangement. 

"I will if yuh help me git the barrel back up the hill again, " repliedthe other. "Workin' all by myself I've had tuh take the rocks out eachtime before I could push the old thing back again tuh the top, 'causeshe's some heavy, believe me. "

Steve, yes, and both Bandy-legs and Toby also, hastened to comply withthis reasonable request; and between them all the heavy barrel wasslowly pushed up again until the stake held it poised there on the topof the sharp declivity. 

Max stood and watched operations, not that he was unwilling to lend ahand also if necessary; but just then he wanted to observe Obed, anddraw certain conclusions in which he, Max, seemed to take considerableinterest. 

Then Steve was given the wooden "dummy" which had worked so like acharm, and instructed how to manage it, so that it would take the placeof a man's lower extremities. Steve did so well that he, too, by alittle jerk displaced the delicately arranged "trigger" as Obed calledthe stake, and caused the barrel to pitch furiously down the steepslope. 

Steve had not been quite quick enough to snatch his hands away, afterworking the trick. The consequence was that when the billet of wood wasplucked from his grasp with such swiftness, and drawn instantly aloft, Steve staggered, and might have fallen only that Obed clutched hold ofhim. 

"Wow! did you see that?" gasped Steve, staring upwards at the dangling"dummy" as though he could easily imagine it a kicking, squirming humanfigure. "And say, it worked as fine as silk, didn't it? Obed, you'vedone yourself proud with this little game. If that thief ever gets afoot in your slip-noose his goose will be cooked, that's as plain asdirt. "

He actually seemed to be very proud of the fact that he had acted asmaster of ceremonies, and set the trap off so successfully. Nothingwould do but that Bandy-legs and Toby Jucklin in addition should begiven the same distinction; so twice more was the barrel rolled up theslope, and on both occasions it worked to a charm. 

"It seems to be next door to perfect, for a fact, " asserted Max, uponbeing appealed to for his opinion; but he did not seem to "hanker" aftertrying it out on his own account. 

Finally the weighted barrel was again pushed up to its appointedposition and held there with the stake. When the proper time came, itwould be easy for the inventor to arrange the slip-noose, and set thetrap. 

"What, is there anything more to be shown?" asked Steve, when Obed askedthem to follow him a little further. 

A few minutes later and they were gravely examining an odd arrangementwhich consisted for the most part of a very heavy log. Steve looked itover critically, and then ventured to give his opinion:

"Looks a whole lot like a deadfall trap, such as they use in most placesto get bears in, " he went on to say. 

Obed chuckled as though pleased at the answer to his look of inquiry. 

"Just what it is built on the pattern of, Steve, if yuh want to knowit, " he admitted. "The only difference is that in the regular deadfallthe log comes down and smashes the poor bear by its sheer weight. Now, I've tried to rig _my_ trap up so it'll simply make a prisoner o' thecreeper. I'll show yuh just how it works. I've got a dummy here, too, that I use to test things. Yuh see there's always just a little chanceit might go wrong; and I don't want to get caught, and made a prisoner, with nobody around to let me loose. "

With that he demonstrated his idea. The trap was sprung just as he meantit should be, and if the dummy had really been a man, he would havefound himself caught tightly in the log trap, with but a poor chance ofever getting out again, unless external assistance came along. 

"Any more tricks like these two up your sleeve, Obed?" asked Steve, after they had further examined the deadfall, and Max had pronounced itskillfully constructed. 

"Well, I'm afraid I reached the end o' my rope when I hatched up thissecond idea, Steve, " the other remarked, in a sort of apologetic tone. "Of course I might think up a few more if I reckoned it'd be necessary. But I've got a hunch that one o' the lot is agoin' tuh grab that thief, providin' he does come around here. Besides, when yuh git right down tobrass tacks, thar isn't as much danger o' my bein' robbed in thenight-time, as in the day. "

"And why not, Obed?" further asked Steve; "I'd think that was the verytime you'd feel scariest, when it was dark, and you couldn't see ifanybody was prowling around the farm. "

"Stop an' think how foxes have holes in the ground, into which they c'nburrow when scared the least mite, " explained Obed, readily, "and yuh'llsee how hard it'd be for a stranger to lay hands on them. Now, in thedaytime, if they came along, with me away from the place, a man with arifle could knock over my pets as easy as turnin' his hand. But, all thesame, I've fixed my traps. For one thing I'd like to find out jest whothe thief is. "

Max noticed what emphasis he put on that last remark. He could see thecustomary twinkle in Obed's eyes give way to a sterner look; as thoughhe had brooded more or less over this same subject. And Max himselfnodded his head as though he might in a measure understand just how Obedfelt. 

So they returned to the house. Bandy-legs at least rejoiced because withall those clever contraptions set, and waiting to give the intendedthief a warm reception, it did seem as though there would be hardly anynecessity for them to waste their precious time in sitting up andkeeping watch, when they would be so much better off enjoying "balmysleep, " as he called it; and all sleep was along that order, accordingto the mind of Bandy-legs. 

Max and Steve trailed along well in the rear. This may have simplyhappened, but Steve twice stopped the other, and pointed out somethinghe wished Max to see; so possibly the delay was intentional on his part. At least, he presently made a remark that would make it seem so. 

"It certainly looks as if Obed was a pretty ingenious maker of snares, that's sure, Max?" Steve was saying, significantly. 

"That's right, he is, Steve, and we must give him great credit for it, even if his traps fail to catch a thief in the act. "

"I was just thinking, Max, " pursued the other, meditatively, "that it'sevident this same Obed must have inherited that strain from a long lineof trapper ancestors or progenitors; wouldn't you think so, too?"

Max looked at his companion queerly, and smiled as he made reply. 

"You may be right, Steve, of course, but it strikes me Obed has anoriginal streak of genius all his own, which doesn't have to depend onany inherited trait. Things are not _always_ what they seem in thisworld, you know. "

"Lookey here, Max, you've struck a scent which you don't think best toshare with your boon companions, that's as plain to me as two and twomake four. You've come to think a little the same way as Bandy-legs, perhaps, and suspect Obed of being more than he lets on? Is that it, Max? Do you really believe he's playing some sly trick on us? Is thatyarn about Mr. Coombs all moonshine? Does this fur farm belong to somecompany, that Obed is working for? I wish you'd tell me what you've gotin your mind, Max. "

"I expect to a little later on, Steve, never fear, " he was assured. "I'mnot more than half certain even now that it can be so, and I never liketo make a mess of things. Besides, you know, it wouldn't be just fair toObed to have us all suspecting him of playing tricks. Just go on asyou've been doing. Take my word for it, this new friend we've made isall to the good, and will never turn out to be the wrong sort offellow. "

He started on after saying this, and Steve followed, looking very muchpuzzled, and shaking his head as though he could not catch the rightidea. Shortly afterwards, however, Steve had apparently forgotten hisnewly awakened suspicions, for he was entering into the generalconversation as heartily as ever. Still, Max noticed, with amusement, that from time to time Steve would follow Obed hungrily with his eyes, and on such occasions that double line of wrinkles, expressive ofbewilderment, might again be seen upon the boy's forehead. 

Toby and Bandy-legs were only too glad to take the preparation of supperinto their hands completely. They felt a certain amount of pride intheir culinary skill, and wished to show their host the full list oftheir accomplishments as camp cooks. Besides, they believed that amongtheir abundant stores they carried a number of things which Obed failedto possess; and of course a new dish was apt to be a pleasant surpriseto the woods boy. 

The supper thus concocted and carried out was certainly a genuinetriumph. Steve openly congratulated the two efficient cooks on their"masterly skill"; though Max laughingly warned the others to "beware ofthe Greeks bearing gifts, " for there might be a base motive hidingbehind all that glib praise. Steve protested that he meant every word ofit; but then it was well known that Steve hated to do any cookinghimself, and hence was fain to laud the efforts of others in that line, doubtless in the hope of encouraging them to "keep right on doing it. "

After the bountiful meal had been enjoyed, and every one declared thatit would be utterly impossible to eat another single bite, for fear ofthe consequences, they spent a very enjoyable evening alongside the firethat burned on the hearth, at one end of the cabin. 

Obed, as he had promised, told them some of the strange things he hadheard from the old sea captain, who, during his life on the Seven Seas, had met with many most remarkable adventures well worth repeating. 

Obed addressed them in his own language, and Max often smiled as thoughsome of the quaint expressions used by the young narrator amused him;though perhaps there may have been still another reason for his quietchuckling. Steve caught him at it several times, and eyed the other inperplexity, as though he suspected Max of adding secretly to his fund ofknowledge, which thus far he obstinately declined to share with hismates. 

Later on, when they began to feel sleepy, Obed said he would go out andmake sure his traps were set right. Max offered to keep him company, andtogether they sauntered forth, to be followed with a wistful look fromthe envious Steve, who was muttering to himself:

"I wish I knew what Max has got in that mind of his right now. I'm deadcertain he's figuring out some sort of thing that's going to give therest of us a big surprise, when he sees fit to spring it on us; but forthe life of me I can't guess what it can be. Oh! shucks! what's the useof bothering any more about it? If it turns out worth while, Max willtell us in good time; and if he's on the wrong scent, why, he'll justdrop the game, and no harm done. "

After a while the others came in again, saying both traps were set, andthere did not seem to be any need of their losing sleep on account ofpossible unwelcome visitors. Obed showed how the concealed bunks couldbe made ready, and, all of them were loud in their expressions ofsatisfaction over having such comfortable lodgings for the night. Theymentally blessed the memory of the said Mr. Coombs, whose forethoughtand inventive ingenuity had planned all these wonderful adjuncts of thelittle forest lodge. 

In due time they crept into their several berths just as if aboard ship;and after that several of the fellows did not know a single thing untilthey were rudely aroused, perhaps some hours later on. The last thingSteve remembered hearing as he rolled himself up in his blanket was thecrackle of the fire, the mournful sighing of the wind through the topsof the whispering pines, and then the distant call of an owl to itsmate. 

He awoke with a suddenness that caused him to sit up, and consequentlycrack his head against the boards above his bunk. The blow almostknocked Steve back again as he had been before, and must have hurtconsiderably; but he ignored this fact just then, because from withoutthere were coming loud yells of fright in a man's voice. 

CHAPTER XI

A TREE THAT BORE STRANGE FRUIT

"Max--Obed, we've got something!" almost shrieked Steve, as he nowtumbled out of his odd bunk very much after the fashion of a dislodgedlog, landing with a bump on the floor. 

And Steve was not alone in his circus stunt, for several other fellowswere making a hasty and undignified exit at the same time, Bandy-legsand Toby Jucklin, for instance. Max somehow managed to get on his feetwithout so much scrambling; and as for Obed, as he had been sleeping onthe cot closer to the fire, they could already see him hastily pullingon some clothes. 

"Get dressed, and in a hurry!" cried Max, suiting his actions to thewords. 

"Oh! listen to him whoop it up, will you?" exclaimed Bandy-legs, asthose loud calls still smote the night air, and in a way that coveredthe whole gamut of human utterance. 

Toby wanted to say something, too, but though his jaws worked, noaudible sound came forth to explain the agitated state of his mind. Theyhad luckily prepared for such a sudden call, and had their outer clotheshandy, so that in an incredibly brief space of time all of the boysmanaged to get something on. 

Then Steve snatched up his Marlin gun. Obed had already done the samewith his rifle, so that when the latter flung wide the door and theytrooped forth, they were in a condition to do battle if necessary, andat least strike terror into the heart of any skulking marauder. 

Max, wise general that he was, had thought of something very essentialto their success. This was nothing more or less than a lantern. They hadbeen thoughtful enough to fetch one along, a clever little contraptionthat took only a small amount of room, and yet afforded considerablelight. Besides, Obed possessed a lantern of the ordinary type, togetherwith a plentiful supply of oil, looking to the long winter evenings whenhe might want to read in order to pass away some of the spare time, thatpromised to drag heavily on his hands. 

So they poured forth. The cries still continued, and as vociferous asever. Indeed, if anything, there was a wilder strain to them now, asthough the fellow who gave utterance to the shouts might be gettingsorely alarmed at his strange condition, and feared the worst. 

There was no trouble about deciding which way to go. Even if they didnot have Obed to serve as guide, and pilot the expedition, they couldeasily have followed the loud notes of alarm. 

Everybody was more or less excited, from Obed down to Max himself, andsmall wonder when the fact of their being aroused in the dead of thenight by this fierce racket is taken into consideration. 

Hastening in this manner toward the spot where the first trap had beenset, they speedily discovered that the overhanging tree bore strangefruit. Something grotesque was swinging violently back and forth. It wasa human figure, but hardly recognizable as such, on account of the factthat it now hung head downward, with one leg firmly gripped by thetenacious slip-noose, and the other, together with a pair of wildlyflung arms, cutting all sorts of eccentric circles through the air. 

Never in all their varied experiences had Max and his three comradeslooked on a more remarkable spectacle than the one by which they werenow greeted. The man's face could not be plainly seen on account of hiscoat sagging down partly over his head, so they could not immediatelytell what he looked like; but he certainly possessed a bull-like voicethat, properly trained for opera use might have won him a fair amount offame and money, for it was more than usually lusty. 

He seemed to divine the fact that those in the cabin must have rushedout in answer to his shouts. Perhaps he detected the light they carriedwith them; or it might be Steve's loud cries caught his strained hearingat such times as his own breath temporarily failed him. 

"Help me, somebody, why don't yuh? I'm strangling to death, I tell yuh. All the blood's running to my head! I'm seeing a million stars already, and I'll _die_ if yuh don't cut me down. Hurry! hurry, please do, somebody!"

Obed looked to Max to say what ought to be done, for already he seemedto have come under the magical sway of the other's leadership. 

"Take hold of him, and tie his hands behind his back before you think tolet him down!" was the sensible advice given by Max. 

Thereupon Obed instantly produced some heavy cord and startedoperations. While the boy deftly worked, the man continued to plead, trying to claw at him also; but Obed managed to get his job completednotwithstanding the interruptions. He was at the same time telling theunfortunate man to keep quiet, and he would be let down presently. 

Steve stood by, gun in hand. He was casting uneasy looks around asthough suspecting that if the fellow had companions near by, as seemedlikely, and they should, recovering from, their alarm attempt hisrescue, it might be his duty to stand them off one and collectively. 

Bandy-legs and Toby sprang to where the man dangled. Max was already atthe side of Obed. 

"All ready, Obed?" he was heard to say. 

"I've spliced his hands up in good style, Max, " came the reply. 

"Good enough. Now, Toby and Bandy-legs, take hold of him, and lift whenI give you the word. I'll slip the rope off his ankle, and you turn himright side up. Now, go to it, both of you--yo-heave-o!"

It was quickly done, and the man, upon finding himself placed once moreon his feet, staggered; indeed, he was so "groggy" after his recentstrange experience at swimming in thin air, that only for the supportingarm of Max he would have fallen flat. 

The latter allowed him to stagger backward until he leaned against thebody of the tree under which the novel man-trap had been arranged. Hewas breathing hard, but seemed to be recovering from his panic; at leasthis cries had utterly ceased, which was one good thing. 

So Max flashed the light into his face, while Obed leaned forward andeagerly stared hard at him. They saw rough lineaments, seamed andhardened by exposure to the elements; but of course the face was that ofan utter stranger to Max. As for Obed, he was heard to give a _sigh_ ofdisappointment, as though he too had failed to recognize any one whom hehad reason to know. 

The man by now seemed to have recovered in part. He was looking at theboys in a peculiar way; Max could not decide on the spur of the momentwhether it was wonder or shrewdness that he saw there as the predominanttrait of the man's features. But at any rate, since he had recovered hisbreath to some extent, he should be capable of speaking, and explaininghow it came about he found himself in such a predicament. 

"Well, who are you, anyway?" demanded Max, throwing as much sternnessinto his voice as he could. "Give an account of yourself, and tell uswhy you were creeping about here like a thief in the night?"

"What! me a thief?" shrilled the man, as though, again excited by thevery idea of such a base accusation; "I never had that name, youngfeller. Them that knows Jake Storms say he's an honest man, if everthere was one. I'm only a guide, and a trapper, but nobody ever yetcaught me thievin' or poachin', I'd have yuh know. "

"Where's your home, Jake Storms?" continued Max. 

"If yuh mean whar do I hang out, it's this way, " explained the other. "Last summer I was up at Paul Smith's place, workin' for the hotel. Iheard some tall stories about the country around old Mount Tom, how fullof fur animals it was, and so I made up my mind to spend the winterhereabouts. I built me a cabin away up on the other side of themountain, and was agoin' to start settin' my traps when I got word thata gentleman wanted me to come down to Lathrop and git him. Yuh see, hisdoctor advised that he spend the winter in the mountains, and he thoughtof me, beca'se we'd been in the woods a heap of times in past years. SoI was headin' for Lathrop by a trail I'd run across that took around themountain, and meanin' to keep on as long as I could durin' the night, when all at once something flew up and hit me ker-slap! Say, I thoughtit was an earthquake, sure I did. And then I found myself hangin' upsidedown, with all the blood runnin' into my head. What's it mean, youngfellers; I give yuh my word I don't get the hang o' it at all. "

Max was not surprised to hear the man speak in this fashion. He hadalready made up his mind, after that one good look at the other's face, the prisoner of the barrel trap was a pretty "slick article, " as Stevewould have expressed it. And caught in the act, as he had been, it wasto be expected that the fellow would have some kind of reasonable storyto spin, in order to explain his presence there. 

All the same, Max did not give the yarn the least credence. Somethingtold him the other was deliberately lying, and the fluency with which hedelivered that remarkable story announced the self-named Jake Storms anaccomplished fakir, if ever there was one. 

So Max, while not wishing to deliberately tell the man to his face thathe was a prevaricator, set about catching him in a little trap. Theothers had also heard the explanation given, and were listening, withpuzzled looks on their faces; at least Bandy-legs and Steve and Tobywere, but Obed was shaking his head energetically, as though he put nofaith in fairy tales; especially when coming from such unworthy lips. 

"You said you were all alone, didn't you?" demanded Max. 

"Why, yes, 'course I was, " spluttered the other, uneasily eying thespeaker, who was holding his light so that it shone directly on Jake'sstill flushed face. 

"Then what did you shout so loud for, if you didn't expect any one tocome to your assistance?" continued Max. 

"Oh! say, yuh see, 'course I knowed thar was _somebody_ around. I'd justdiscovered signs of a camp, and sniffed smoke. But before I had half achance to make out what it meant, why something grabbed me by the leg, and threw me up like I was agoin' over the treetops. Who wouldn't ayelled, tell me? I own up I was rattled like everything. Anybody wouldbe, wouldn't they? I couldn't understand it all; and right now I'm stillagropin' in the dark. What struck me, and why does ye set such traps inthe trail over on this side o' Mount Tom? Ain't the woods free foranybody to walk in? What have I ever done to any o' yuh to be treatedlike this, and have my head nigh jerked from my body. Tell me that, sonny?"

Max did not answer his question. While the explanation might seem to befairly plausible, he felt positive the man was telling a downright lie;and Max believed he knew an easy way to prove it. 

"Watch him, Obed, Steve!" he said to those who were alongside. 

"Never fear about that, Max, " snapped out Steve; "I've got him coveredwith my gun, and if he tries any slick game his name will be Dennis, and not Jake. Hear that, Mr. Fur Thief, do you? Well, mind how youtempt me to let fly with a charge of birdshot. I've got a quick temper, and a quicker finger in the bargain; so settle back where you are. "

The man muttered between his set teeth. He was evidently feeling farfrom comfortable, because something told him these wideawake lads wouldnot be so easily hoodwinked as he had fancied. 

He was watching the movements of Max Hastings, who had dropped to hishands and knees, and seemed to be holding his little lantern so that thelight would show him the nature of the ground. Truth to tell, Max andObed, when last at the trap, had taken the pains to smooth the groundover, thus obliterating all previous footprints. This was done from adouble object; it would conceal the fact that work had been carried onin that particular spot, in case sharp eyes were on the alert; and alsogave a clear field for observation, as was happening just then. 

Max quickly found what he was looking for. 

"Come here, Obed, " he remarked, quietly, and as the other eagerly bentover, Max went on to say: "You can see that here's another footprint, and quite different from the one made by his heavier boots. So he _did_have at least one companion along, perhaps two, for all we know. Andthat stamps his story a yarn made out of whole cloth. He came here, justas you expected, to rob you of your foxes. Killing them wouldn't havefilled the bill so well, unless they made off with the pelts in thebargain. How about it, Obed?"

"Every word you say is true, Max, " breathed the other, indignantly. 

"Then we'll certainly not let him go free, that's a dead sureproposition, " ventured Max, decidedly, and in a voice that he meantshould reach the prisoner. 

"Glad to hear you settle it that way, boys, " remarked Steve, who hadkept one eye on the prisoner and the other in the direction of hismates. "Shall I march him over to the cabin right away?"

Max gave a look around. He wondered where that other man could be justthen, and whether he was watching them from some neighboring covert, having by degrees recovered from the near panic into which he had beenthrown at the time his companion was snatched away from his side somysteriously, amidst a tremendous din, caused by the shouts of theseized man, and the rattling of the stones inside the rolling barrel. 

But he could see nothing. The little lantern only covered a certainamount of space with its meagre illumination, and much that was evilmight lurk beyond the radius of its lighted circle. 

"Yes, we'll change our base, and go back to the cabin, " Max said aloud;"keep the guns ready for business, and if an attack is made shootstraight!"

Of course this admonition was delivered in a loud tone, mostly to warnthe unseen party, who might be hovering near; but both gun-bearers gaveevidence of meaning to profit by the advice. 

CHAPTER XII

THE TAPS ON THE CABIN WALL

Once more they were inside the cabin. Obed was looking at the man againas though he believed the other was possessed of certain informationwhich he hoped to obtain in turn. Max, too, was observing all thesethings with considerable interest, if the smile that appeared on hisface from time to time signified anything. But he was studying Obed evenmore than he seemed to pay attention to the man they had found turnedupside down in the tree. 

"Well, one of your clever traps worked like a charm, Obed, " Steve wassaying, and doubtless meaning to compliment the fur farmer. "But nowthat they know we're on to their being around, it's hardly likely we'llcatch another victim tonight. All the same something ought to be done toprotect the fox pack. "

"That's easily arranged, " remarked Max, "we'll follow out the plan wetalked over. Two had better stand guard at a time, and for severalhours. They can be relieved by another couple, and in this way thebalance of the night will be passed over. Those on duty are to carry theguns; and with orders to challenge any moving thing that comes along. "

The man had made no resistance when ordered to fall in line andaccompany his captors to the cabin under the pines. Once inside, he hadglanced casually around, but Max noticed that he did not seem greatlyinterested. From this he guessed that perhaps the other may have seenthe interior of the lodge before; Max remembered Obed telling them thatsome one had certainly been prowling about in his cabin at the time hewas away, though evidently frightened off by his return before having achance to do any damage. 

"He isn't looking at these things, so strange to an ordinary cabin inthe woods, for the first time, " was what Max was telling himself; andconsequently his heart hardened toward the fellow. 

Having previously arranged all about signals that could be given in caseof necessity, there was now little more to be said. Of course Steve hadto be counted on as one of the pair to be first placed on duty; he wouldhave been mortally offended had Max failed to honor him with thisexhibition of trust. Then Bandy-legs offered to share his vigil, andSteve eagerly accepted the proposal. 

"Take Obed's gun, Bandy-legs, " said Max; "and remember what I told youabout using it. Shoot low, so as to fill their legs full of lead, if youhave to fire at all. And listen to our shouts as we join you, for wedon't want a warm reception from our friends. Get that, both of you?"

Steve and his fellow sentry admitted that they understood what theirdirections were to be. Then they went out. The man had been intentlywatching all these things as though deeply interested. Since Max hadfound the second series of footprints, and thus proved the falsity ofhis claim of being alone, Jake Storms, so-called woods guide and trapperof fur-bearing animals, had relapsed into a sullen silence. 

Of course he knew that the game for him was up, so far as attempting todeceive these wide-awake boys was concerned. Max wondered what thoughtswere teeming through the brain of the man, as he sat there on the benchbefore the fire and listened to what passed between his captors. As forObed, he cast many eager looks in the direction of the big fellow, andfrom the expression on his face Max believed he must be slowly making uphis mind toward some move. 

Therefore he was not much surprised to finally see the woods boy sitdown alongside the man, who turned an inquiring face toward him. Therewas also a tightening of the muscles around his mouth, just as though hesuspected he was about to be put to a severe test, and would have togather his wits in order not to make a false move. 

"Look here, Jake Storms, as you say your name is, " commenced Obed, oncemore either forgetting to speak in his usual woods dialect, or notthinking it worth while to bother with it any longer, "I want to makeyou a proposition. Do you understand what a nice pickle you've gotyourself into by prowling around my fur farm, and evidently trying tosteal my silver black foxes? If we take you down to the nearestAdirondack town it means you'll likely enough, be sent up as a thief. How would you like that, tell me?"

"Huh! guess Jake Storms' got a reputation that'd kerry him through, allright, sonny, " muttered the big man, but Max could see that he squirmeduneasily; likewise Obed must have guessed the truth also, as his nextremarks proved. 

"A reputation may be one way or the other, Jake Storms, if that isreally your name, which I doubt very much. Perhaps some people might beglad to see you again. For one I don't believe for a single minute thatyou're a trapper, or that you ever worked for Paul Smith, who knows thekind of men he has around his hotel too well to hire a thief. I'm assure as I draw breath that you came here to steal my blacks. Yes, andthat you were _hired_ to do this by another party. What was the sum ofmoney he promised you, Jake, if you were successful; and is he aroundhere with you?"

The man made no reply, though various expressive changes took place inthe looks on his face. So Obed, after waiting several minutes to hearwhat the other might choose to say, went on. 

"I said before that if we take you down to Lathrop you'll be locked up, and when court is in session placed on trial, charged with attemptedrobbery. Your picture will be taken, and sent broadcast to every city, so if you're wanted for anything big, the authorities will know justwhere to find you. That may not be pleasant for you to hear, Jake, butit's what I mean to have done. There's only one way you can escape it. Do you want to hear what that way is?"

"Yuh're away off the track, young feller, " blurted the man, obstinatelyshaking his head in a contrary way, "I ain't done nawthin' to make measkeered o' the law officers. Jake Storms is my name, all right, too, and I'm meanin' to trap over on the Cranberry Creek section. And I'm onmy way down to Lathrop right now to meet a Mr. Jasper, who'll vouch formy character, sure he will. But go ahead, and say what yuh meant to, boy. It won't do me any harm to hear it, I reckons. "

"This is the chance you'll have to get scot free, and the only chance, "said Obed solemnly. "Tell me who hired you to rob my fur farm, and notleave a single black in the burrows, and I'll let you go free. Will youtake my offer, or risk a prison sentence, Jake?"

The man hesitated. That alone was enough to convince Max that he wasguilty; for undoubtedly he must be weighing in the balance Obed's offer, with the possibility of making his escape through the assistance ofcompanions. 

"Ain't got nawthin' to say, boy, " he finally growled, as though makingup his mind. Obed started up, and hastening over to a desk at one endof the room he hurriedly searched through a drawer until he found whathe was looking for; after which he again sat down beside the man withthe tied hands. 

It was a photograph which he held up before the prisoner, and Max couldsee it was a man's face on the card. 

"Look at that, Jake Storms, and tell me, did _he_ put it into your headto come up here and clean my enclosures out, so as to rob me of the workof nearly two years?"

The man started when he allowed his eyes to fall upon the face on thecard; but recovering his nerve instantly, he laughed harshly andhurriedly snapped:

"I tell yuh, it's on the wrong track yuh are, boy. " Why, I never seteyes on such a person as that thar. He's a utter stranger to me, and Idon't know him from Adam. And I want to warn yuh that I'll turn aroundand have the law on yuh for playin' such a low-down trick on an honestman, just passin' along through the woods, and never thinkin' no harm toa single soul. I demands that yuh turn me loose to go my way. The woodsare free as the air to everybody; that's the law. Further than that Iain't got nawthin' to say. 

Obed was plainly chagrined, as Max could see. He evidently hoped toobtain some valuable information from this man; but it seemed Jake stillclung to the hope that he might obtain his freedom without betrayingsecrets. 

Max, taking advantage of Obed's absent-mindedness for a minute or so, managed to lean slightly forward and obtain a good look at thephotograph. It was that of a young man, perhaps thirty years of age. Maxwas struck with the fact that the photograph certainly bore some littleresemblance to Obed himself; and one could easily believe they must berelated in some way; which, according to Obed's former recital of hiswidely flung family, would make the other a Grimes also. 

The woods boy looked at the man several times, as though wonderingwhether it would pay to make any further offer as an inducement to theother to betray the confidence of his employer. But either Obed did nothave the ready cash to offer a bribe, or else he deemed it not worthwhile, after the fellow had shown such a stubborn disposition; forpresently he gave a sigh, and went back to return the photograph to thelittle desk, once doubtless Mr. Coombs' property. 

Toby was nodding before the fire, and really paying very littleattention to what was going on. In fact, he meant to crawl into his bunkshortly, so as to get a little more sleep before being called upon totake his turn outside as sentry. Toby not having had his suspicionsconcerning Obed aroused at any time, failed to take the same interest inthe matter that Steve, for instance, would have done, had he beenpresent. 

"I hope yuh don't mean to make me set here on this bench all night withmy hands tied behind me so cruel like?" remarked the man presently, applying his words directly toward Max, as though he, too, had long agodiscovered how that energetic young chap seemed to be the "boss of theranch. "

"Why, no, we don't mean to be at all cruel, " returned the other. "Here'san extra blanket you can have. I'll lay it out for you on the floor, andyou can drop down just when you please. But don't expect that we'remeaning to unfasten your wrists, Jake. We know a thing or two, and we'reexpecting to take you down to Lathrop tomorrow, to land you behind thebars. You've had your chance to squeal and get off scot-free; I doubt ifanother comes your way. "

He did just as he said, spreading the blanket so the man could manage toroll over, and cover himself with its folds. This Jake presentlyaccomplished. Max also noticed how he lay with his feet against theouter wall of the lodge and wondered at it, though without any clearidea that this had any positive significance. But time was to tell. 

Toby had crept into his "cell, " which was what Bandy-legs had dubbed theseveral bunks, built in the walls of the lodge so as to conserve room, and not be in the way during the daytime. Max, on his part, did not meanto follow suit. He thought it would hardly pay to try and snatch anhour's restless sleep when so much was going on around them. And, then, besides, he did not trust the prisoner wholly; believing it would bejust as well to keep an eye on him. 

Outside, all seemed as usual. It was long after midnight now, and if onelistened carefully he could catch the customary noises of the woods atsuch a time, from the soft crooning of the breeze as it sighed throughthe pine tops, to the occasional note of some night-bird calling to itsmate, or the plaintive voice of a hungry young coon waiting impatientlythe return of its foraging mother. 

Obed had thrown himself down on the cot, but Max knew he did not expectto lose himself in slumber. Several times he saw the woods boy raise hishead and look in the direction of the sprawling figure of the man underthe spare blanket. Obed was undoubtedly thinking still of ways wherebyhe might force a confession from the lips of the stubborn man;apparently he seemed to be intensely interested in discovering whetherthere was a power behind this raid on his enterprise. Max, rememberingsome things he had heard, began to believe he could see light in thedarkness now; and from the way in which he chuckled to himself everylittle while, it might be judged that his thoughts were agreeable, onthe whole. 

Surely a whole hour and more must have passed since Steve and Bandy-legsstarted out to assume their duty as guards over the fox farm. Thus farnothing had been heard from the videttes, who were undoubtedly carryingout their orders to the best of their ability. 

Max suddenly became aware that certain low sounds came to his ears. Atfirst he thought some branch of a tree must be tapping the low eaves ofthe cabin being stirred to and fro by the breeze. As he listenedfurther, however, it struck Max that there was a strange continuityabout the sounds; they seemed to come in little fragments, with a briefhush between. 

The boy was instantly reminded of certain experiences he himself had hadin using a telegraph key while sending a message over the wires orlistening to the sounder rattle off one from some distant point. Rudeand uncouth though the dots and dashes were, Max quickly found that hecould make out a positive word; and it was the significant one of"free!"

Gently he managed to turn his head in the direction of the spot wherethe man had lain down. He still seemed to be sprawled there under theblanket. A movement caught the eye of Max, and he saw Obed holding up afinger at him in mute warning. Thrilled by a sense of impending tragedy, perhaps, Max watched the woods boy slowly but constantly making towardhim. Obed moved with the noiseless nature of a black snake creeping overthe ground; his footfalls were so light that even a trained ear couldnot have detected them. He kept on toward Max until soon he had managedto reach the other's side. 

Still those plain taps continued to sound in regular rotation, firstcoming from the outside, and then closer. Max believed the man on thefloor was making use of his shoe to send a message calling for help; andthat some unknown party outside was giving him words of hope. 

But Obed had now gained his side, and meant to whisper something in hisear, so Max prepared to pay full attention. At the same time he glancedtoward the door apprehensively, and was pleased to discover that, justas he believed had been the case, the bar was in position, so that entrycould not be made by any enemy from without. 

CHAPTER XIII

OBED LEARNS SOMETHING

"There's something brooding, " Obed whispered the first thing; and thencontinued by saying: "What are those queer little taps, Max? I'm sure hehas something to do with them. "

"He's tapping the toe of his boot against the wall to send a message, "explained the other. "They are using the telegraphic code. I read theone word 'free. ' So, you see, there's some one outside the cabin, andthey're hatching up a scheme to get him loose. "

Obed grew very much excited. He looked toward the door as thoughinclined to immediately issue forth and investigate. Max thought thehope of capturing another prisoner was the lure that tempted him on. 

"But what could have happened to Steve and Bandy-legs?" whispered thewoods boy, as though suddenly remembering the pair supposed to bestanding guard out there. 

"Nothing has happened to them, depend on it, " replied Max; "but thisfellow must have been slippery enough to get by them, and reach thecabin, that's all. "

"Oh! don't you think we might manage it, some way or other?" beggedObed. 

Vague though his question may have been, Max had no difficulty whateverin understanding what he meant. His own thoughts were already ranging inthe same quarter, and he could supply all the missing words. Obed washoping that by suddenly issuing forth they might take the creeper bysurprise, and effect his capture; such a possibility apparently gave thewoods boy considerable pleasure even in the anticipation. 

Max glanced again towards the door. They could creep noiselessly over inthat direction while the man on the floor and his friend withoutcontinued their singular exchange of signals, remove the bar from itsplace, and opening the door dash out to take the stooping fellow bysurprise. 

But then three would be better than two in such an adventure. There wasToby Jucklin, a stout fellow, and usually well primed for anything thatsmacked of excitement and peril; he must be awakened, and enlisted inthe game. 

So Max held up a warning finger, and stooping low again whispered:

"I'll get Toby; wait by the door for us! Don't dream of going out untilwe join you!"

With that he silently slipped over to the opening in the wall occupiedby the sleeping Toby Jucklin. The latter was easily aroused, and whenMax whispered a word of caution in his ear, he knew enough not to cryout; though of course the blood must have started bounding like madthrough his arteries. 

Indeed, it was a most singular thing to be aroused from sound sleep bybeing told that danger hovered over their heads, and that it would benecessary for the three of them to sally forth so as to surprise theenemy at work. 

Toby was game, however. His vocal cords might play tricks with himfrequently, and give him heaps of trouble, but when it was a matter ofaction, Toby "took nobody's dust, " as he often boasted. 

Obed had meanwhile managed to creep over to the door, where heimpatiently awaited the coming of the other two. The strange tappingsounds continued, and evidently the man lying there under the blankethad become so deeply interested in what he was trying to communicate orreceive, that, so far, he had failed to discover there was any movementin the cabin. 

Of course, all of the boys were quivering with half-suppressedexcitement, though grimly determined to put their plan into operation. Obed had already reached up and taken hold of the bar, so as to be readyto remove it when joined by his companions. 

"Keep the bar, " whispered Max; "it will make a fine club, Obed!"

"Say when, Max, " came back from the tightly compressed lips of the woodsboy, whose eyes could be seen glittering eagerly in the firelight. 

"Open up!" Max told him. 

Perhaps the door may have made some creaking sound on being drawn back;either that, or else the man chanced to free his head from the mufflingfolds of the blanket just then, and discovered what was going on. Hegave a shout of warning, and the three boys shot through the opening atthe same instant. 

Max led the way. He had carefully noted the location of the sounds, andjudged that the interloper must be somewhere close to the wall whereJake Storms lay; so it was in that direction he leaped. 

The stars wore shining brightly above. Besides this a certain amount oflight managed to come through that small window of the lodge, and helpto partially dispel the gloom without. 

"There he is!" cried Obed, as they turned the corner, and discovered afigure in the act of scrambling erect. 

Pell-mell the trio rushed at the unknown who just managed to gain afooting when he found himself furiously beset. There was a tremendousstruggle. The man seemed savage at the thought of being caught, andstruck furious blows. Toby at one time managed to cling to the other'sback for a brief moment, but was dislodged by a clever fling that senthim crashing against a tree, and made him grunt like a hog that receivesa jolt. 

One thing certain, Max could easily see that the party they wereattacking must be something of an athlete, from the way in which hefought. It is not easy to resist the assault of three enemies at once, since they may attack from as many directions, and confuse his defense;still the way this man struck out, dodged, tore himself free from theirclinging hands, and conducted himself in general surprised Max very muchindeed. 

This kept up for almost two full minutes, with varying fortunes. Sometimes it appeared as though they were getting the upper hand of theunknown, and then by a furious effort he would break free again, only tobe once more clutched. 

In the midst of the fracas, loud shouts close at hand told that Steveand Bandy-legs, having heard the row, were rushing hurriedly to thespot, astonished beyond measure at the racket. 

The man must have heard their cries, and the fact that his enemies wereabout to receive reinforcements seemed to give him the strength ofdesperation, for he suddenly tore himself free from Max, leaving hiscoat in the hands of the boy. 

"Oh! he's gone!" gasped Obed, almost entirely out of breath because ofhis recent tremendous exertions. 

For a fact, the man had vanished almost as though the ground had openedand swallowed him up. Even astute Max hardly knew which way to look forhim. Then came the other pair rushing up, and demanding to know what allthe row was about. 

As soon as he could recover his breath, Max tried to explain. He had torepeat it twice, however, before Bandy-legs could grasp the astoundingfact that some one had actually been carrying on a telegraphicconversation with their prisoner, tapping on the wall of the cabin tospell out the words. 

"Say, you're stringing us, I expect, boys!" exploded the doubter; "itsounds just like a fairy story to me. But then there _was_ some onehere, because we glimpsed him disappearing like a falling star. I wantedto give him a shot, but I remembered what Max here said about shootingwhen in doubt; and we didn't just know but what it might be one of you. "

"But, Max, he got away after all!" continued the disappointed Obed, asthough to his mind that event overshadowed all others; "and I did wantto find out if it was any one I knew. I believe it was, on my soul, forat college he always had the reputation of being an all-round athlete. "

"Huh!" grunted Toby, rubbing his head ruefully as he came up, andlimping in the bargain, "t-t-that was him, all r-r-right then, Obed. Idon't know the f-f-fellow's n-n-name, but I've g-g-got his trade-mark onmy c-c-cheek, every k-k-knuckle of his fist. Huh! he's an athlete, everytime!"

"But don't tell me our prisoner skipped out!" cried Steve, in soredismay. 

"Not that we know of, unless he's gone since we dashed from the cabin, "Max informed him. "And as we can't accomplish anything standing here, suppose we adjourn to the inside again. Toby will want a littlesoothing salve on his bruises; and I've got a sore hand myself, where Istruck him harder than I meant to on the back of his head. "

"It's too bad, too bad!" mourned Obed, following the others toward theopen door. "Such a splendid chance may not come again; and I'd like toknow, I certainly would. "

When they entered the cabin, the first thing all of them did was to lookeagerly to see if the man still lay there, Upon finding that he had nottried to escape during all the excitement, possibly being afraid he befired on, they felt relieved. 

"Anyhow, we've still got him safe and sound, " declared Steve, exultantly. 

"And he may make up his mind to tell yet, " remarked Obed, picking upfresh hope, "when he finds that I mean all I said, and that he's on theroad to prison. "

The man glowered at them, though apparently he seemed fairly wellpleased to find that they had not succeeded in capturing his ally. Maxawaited developments. He was satisfied with the way things were going, and deep down in his heart believed the thrilling announcement he wasstoring up with which to startle his three chums would not now be longdelayed. 

"I s'pose we ought to go out again, and resume our watch, " suggestedSteve, after a short time had elapsed. "It's too soon for a change; andafter all that excitement none of us feel a bit sleepy. "

"As for me, " ventured Bandy-legs, "I'm that wide awake I feel as if Inever could go to sleep again while we're up here in the mountains, where such queer things keep on happening right along. "

"S-s-say, I'm s-s-sorry for Obed, " ventured Toby, who it seems had heardthe lament of the woods boy, and could sympathize with him. "He hadh-h-hoped to g-g-get a pointer by g-g-grabbing that streak ofg-g-greased lightning; but after all, the fellow was too much for thewhole b-b-bunch of us. "

"But it's made me feel pretty sure now, " said Obed brightening upperceptibly, "that I know who's to blame for all this trouble. I had ahint about it before, you remember I told you, boys; and while he kepthis face hidden pretty much all the time he fought, I surely heard himsay something that struck me as familiar. He wasn't a stranger, I'mcertain of that. "

"Well, " said Max, quietly, "perhaps there may be a way to prove that. "

"Please tell me how, Max!" pleaded Obed, eagerly. 

"The mysterious stranger managed to get away, " chuckled the other, "buthe wasn't so clever about taking all his wardrobe along with him, youremember. "

"Oh! his coat!" cried Obed, in thrilling accents. 

"I hung on to that like a leech, " now laughed Max. "Of course I shouldhave been smart enough to keep my fingers on the man inside, but he hada slick way of just slipping out of the coat. First thing I knew he wasgone, leaving me holding the bag, as they say. Want to take a look atthat article, don't you, Obed? Sometimes men have a fashion of keepingletters and documents in their coat pockets; and between us I believeyou'll find something like that here. "

With these words, the speaker took up the coat he had torn from the backof the unknown, and tossed it carelessly toward Obed. 

The woods boy snatched at the garment eagerly. Newly aroused hope couldbe seen upon his face. Everybody watched to see what the outcome mightturn out to be. Steve and Bandy-legs, ready to withdraw from the circle, and resume their outside vigil, stayed their departure for a briefperiod in order to satisfy their curiosity. Even the so-called JakeStorms had his fishy eyes fixed on Obed, as though it mattered somethingto him whether the latter learned the answer to the conundrum, or wasobliged to let it pass by unsolved. 

So Obed upon receiving the coat, proceeded to ram an eager hand into thepockets, one after another. When he reached an inside one, he found abonanza, just as Max had anticipated. There were some papers there, aswell as a bill book. Bending down nearer the fire, so that he might thebetter see, Obed glued his eyes on his find. A few seconds passed. Thefire crackled as it began to eat into the fresh fuel that had beentossed to the red embers upon the incoming of the party. Toby gruntedonce or twice, and continued to ruefully rub the side of his head, hisright arm, one of his thighs, and, in fact, as much of his entire personas he could conveniently cover in a short space of time. 

Then Obed was heard to give a low exclamation. His whole manner was asingular mixture of satisfaction and anger. Evidently, he hadaccomplished his set purpose, and the result had aroused conflictingemotions within his breast. 

"Well, have you found out who the man is, Obed?" asked Steve, unable tocurb his burning curiosity. 

"Yes, there's no longer any question about it, " returned the other, bitterly, "for here are letters addressed to him. I may even take theprivilege of reading them tomorrow, for in that way I can perhapsdiscover some evidence that will force him to stop this ugly business. Oh! the meanness of Robert to strike this cowardly blow at me, his owncousin! He's a disgrace to the whole family. "

"Pity the poor Grimeses!" exclaimed Max, looking straight at Obed, withsuch a queer expression on his face that presently the woods boy couldnot keep from bursting into a laugh. 

"Max, you're on to me; I can see!" he cried, rushing up to the other andholding out his hand eagerly. "I've guessed for some time that you hadyour suspicions, and now I know it's so. "

And Max, too, threw back his head to indulge in a good laugh; whileSteve, Toby and Bandy-legs, with months agape, and eyes that were asround as saucers, simply gathered around' and stared at the two who wereshaking hands. 

"Hey! what's all this about, I want to know?" spluttered Steve; just asthough he meant to say that no one had any business to have secrets fromthe rest; "looky here, Obed, since when did you forget that Grimes woodslingo you've been giving us right along! I'm beginning to smell a rat, that's what I am!"

CHAPTER XIV

A BIG SURPRISE

Evidently, Steve was commencing to get on the scent of the explanationof the mystery; but as for Toby and Bandy-legs, they found themselves upagainst a blank wall, for aught they could see. 

Instead of trying to explain, Obed turned to Max, saying meekly:

"You tell them, please, Wax; it's only your due, after solving thepuzzle as nearly as you have. I saw you turn back to that book again, and scan my initials in the front. That was why you asked me If Mr. Coombs' first name had been Robert, when it was not. But it's all right, and I'm satisfied I had my peek of fun out of it, let me tell you. Nowintroduce me to your chums, Max. "

"With the greatest of pleasure, " laughed the other, as he took hold ofObed, and waving in a ceremonious fashion with the other hand, hecontinued: "Friends, Toby and Bandy-legs, allow me to present some oneto you whom you'll be delighted to know--_this is Roland Chase_!"

Bandy-legs stood as if riveted to the spot, staring, and holding hisvery breath through astonishment. Toby Jucklin wanted to express hisamazement, and also his ecstatic delight, over the wonderful outcome oftheir mission; but alack and alas! as so often happened with Toby, while the spirit was willing the flesh was lamentably weak, and he couldnot make a sound except a sort of spluttering gasp, while his eyesblinked, and his face grew rosy red. 

Still laughing, the so-called Grimes' boy proceeded to grip hands withhis guests. He acted as though it might be a simon-pure introduction; asit certainly was, in one sense. 

"I'm ashamed of the way I bamboozled you fine fellows, and that's thehonest truth, " he started to say. But on the impulse of the moment Ithought of that Obed Grimes name; and once I gave it to you I had tofollow up with the lingo. I guess I got balled up more than once, forMax soon discovered that I didn't always speak as a true Grimes should, and that gave him his clue. Yes, I'm the same Roland you started out tofind, just to please my dear old aunt, bless her heart. I was planningto surprise them all by appearing in town with my five thousand dollars, after I'd sold the fox cubs, and then claiming my share of uncle'sestate. I guess it's all getting plain enough to you now, eh, fellows?

Bandy-legs could speak at last. 

"Why, it's as plain as the nose on my face, Obed--I beg pardon, Roland;and I can never forgive myself for being so easily taken in and donefor. So you thought to invest your two thousand dollars in starting asilver-black fox farm, did you? Well, it was a daring venture, and Ihardly think you would have made the game if you hadn't been luckyenough to meet up with that splendid Mr. Coombs. "

"That's a certainty, Bandy-legs, " admitted the other, who apparently wasnot at all given to boasting over his achievements; "yes, I was in greatluck to be able to do Mr. Coombs a favor, and win him for a friend. Seewhat he's done for me. But all the same, I invested my money in thisbusiness, and according to our partnership agreement, I am to haveone-half the proceeds of any sales, so there can be no slip of the law, to beat me out of my inheritance; if only I can get those precious pupsto the man who's engaged them. "

"And this rascal you called Robert--is he the elder cousin who wouldprofit by your failure to win out?' asked Max, although he alreadyunderstood that this must be true. "

The expressive face of their new friend clouded immediately. 

"I'm sorry to say that it's so, Max, " he admitted. "Those envelopes ofthe letters I found in his coat gave it away. The temptation was toogreat for Robert, who always showed considerable jealousy, because ouruncle rather favored me. And so when he learned in some fashion, I'msure I don't know how, that I was in a fair way of carrying out theprovisions of uncle's will, he must have determined to try and spoil myplans. "

"Oh! the cur!" snapped the indignant Steve, now seeing the depravity ofthe miserable plotter in full. "I'm glad that some of you managed togive him a few good licks before he broke away. And I'll regret it tothe last day of my life that I didn't get a chance to show him. "

"And b-b-believe me!" exclaimed Toby, with a violent effort, "he's goingto carry the scratches I g-g-gave him on his f-f-face for a w-w-while. If I'd known that he was Roland's c-c-cousin I'd have dug a h-h-heapd-d-deeper, too!"

"I'm only hoping, " Roland, as we must call him after this, since hedropped the Grimes family when he admitted his identity, said, "thiswill teach him a lesson, and that he'll leave me alone from now on. ButRobert is a terribly persistent fellow, and I'm afraid his failure mayonly spur him on to trying again. "

"Never mind, Roland, " said Steve, dwelling almost affectionately on thename, now that he knew the one who claimed it, "we're going to standback of you through thick and thin. If those fox pups don't eventuallyget to their prospective purchaser, we'll have to know the reason why. Isn't that so, fellows?"

"My sentiments exactly, " said Max, promptly. 

"Me, too!" exclaimed Toby. 

"Ditto here!" added Bandy-legs. 

"I want to say this, " observed Roland with a suspicious moisture in hisfine eyes, "it was the luckiest hour of my life when I ran across thisbunch of royal good fellows. Why, only for you I'd as like as not havebeen _ruined_; because alone and single-handed I never could have stoodout against two clever and unscrupulous schemers. And I'll never forgetit as long as I draw breath. "

"There'll be some people mighty sorry, though, I bet you, " Bandy-legshastened to add, as he looked roguishly at Roland; "by which I meanthose poor Grimeses, who have lost tonight the brightest star in thewhole big Grimes constellation. Why, I can just picture how they'll allmourn--Uncle Hiram, Uncle Silas, Uncle Nicodemus, and all those otheruncles and aunts, with old Granddaddy Grimes weeping harder than any ofthe rest over the bereavement; for Obed is no longer in the flesh!"

The comical way in which Bandy-legs said this caused a general laugh;why, even the wondering prisoner on the floor, who, of course, couldhardly understand the joke, had to grin at the humorous expression onthe boy's face. 

"Oh! I guess they'll be able to stand it, if I can, " ventured Roland, "Please don't bear me any malice, fellows, for having my little joke. You see I used to be quite a hand for such things; but living all aloneup here didn't give me much of an opportunity to try any pranks; and soI was just aching for a turn. It didn't do any harm, and afforded mesome fun, so please forget it. "

"But, Roland, none of that story you told us about your good friend, Mr. Coombs, was made up, of course?" asked Steve. 

"That was every word of it true, " came the quick answer. "Oh! he wasthe finest old gentleman you ever heard about. I grew very fond of him;and when I received word in a letter from his housekeeper that he haddied, shortly after his wife went, it broke me all up. I moped aroundhere for a whole week, and came near throwing the entire job up. Then Iremembered how he had always put such confidence in everything Iattempted; and so I just shut my teeth tighter together, and said I'd gothrough with it or know the reason why. And I have, for I'm on the pointof success; if only that Robert doesn't upset the fat in the fire at thelast hour. "

"Well, he won't, you can just depend on that, " said Bandy-legs, almostfiercely. "Here are four standbys who are booked to gather around, andsee that you get the fox pups to market. Next time Robert comes where heisn't wanted, he may get a broken head, or something just as bad; fornow we know his ugly game, we're not apt to be over particular how hardwe hit. "

All of which must have been very comforting to the boy who had takensuch a big load upon his young shoulders, in the effort to show what hewas made of. After all, perhaps the eccentric uncle who left such astrange provision in his will knew human nature better than most peopledo; for he had picked out the very thing calculated to spur a chap likeRoland to do his best. 

"Well, " remarked Max, "since we've cast off the numerous Grimes tribe, and discovered the one we were in search of, and as the hour is gettingfearfully late, suppose we postpone further talk until morning. Thereremain a few hours to be utilized in sleep. Steve, you and Bandy-legshaven't filled out your time as sentries yet; suppose you hold foranother hour, and then turn it over to me. "

"Just as you say, Max, " replied the other. "I meant to propose thatanyway, for the alarm broke out in the middle of our watch. Secretly, I'd like Mr. Robert to take his courage in both fists and sneak backthis way, bent on further mischief. Do you ask me why! Well, I'd delightto make use of my scatter-gun, and let him have a mess of number tenshot at, say sixty yards. They'd pepper him good and plenty at thatdistance, without actually endangering his miserable life. "

Max, knowing the energetic nature of the speaker, warned him againstbeing too prompt at using his gun. 

"Better go slow about that, Steve, " he remarked. "Many a fellow has beenshot by mistake. Every season dozens fall victims to hunters who seesomething moving, and blaze away recklessly. It might be one of us, forall you'd know. So don't think of firing without giving our signal. "

Steve solemnly promised to remember. He knew the danger of handlingfirearms in a reckless fashion, and was not likely to offend. Sopresently, with Bandy-legs in tow, he went forth to resume theirinterrupted vigil. 

Max and Roland sat there by the resurrected fire for a short timeexchanging remarks. The prisoner lay on the floor and, as far as theycould tell, seemed to have given up all hope of a rescue, for his heavybreathing was that of one whom sleep had overtaken. 

Finally, Max pointed toward Toby, who could be seen lying on his back inhis bunk, and evidently enjoying a fine time in dreamland. 

"We'd do well to imitate his example, Roland, " he remarked. "And as alast word I want to tell you again how delighted we all are over findingyou; not only that, but discovering that you've been busy all thesemonths. Your aunt is worrying her head off about you. The last words shesaid were: 'If only you do find, the boy, and he's made a mess of hisattempt to win his inheritance, tell him Aunt Sarah has a place in herheart for him, and that if only he'll come back he can be her boy forkeeps, because I find that I've grown to love him as my own. '"

Roland appeared to be deeply affected when he heard this, for he winkedviolently a good many times, and then, smiling, managed to say:

"You don't know how happy you make me when you tell that, Max; for she'sa dear old soul, and I certainly do care for her a great deal. But itpleases me also to know I've made good, and that I can hold up my headwhen I show those trustees what I've done. The Chase family needn'tblush just yet on account of Roland, though it ought to for Robert'smean actions. "

So they, too, sought their beds, such as these were, and tried to forgetall else in sweet sleep. 

Max had a peculiar habit. Almost any boy can acquire it through muchpractice, and sometimes it comes in very handy. He was able to impressit upon his mind that he wanted to awaken at about a certain time. Oncein a long while this might fail him; but nine times out of ten he couldhit it in a most surprising manner. Many persons have proved thisperfectly feasible; and although Max began it as an experiment of thecontrol of mind over matter, it had long since passed that stage, andbecome a regular habit with him. 

Accordingly, in just an hour after Steve and Bandy-legs had gone forthagain, Max was out of his bunk, and arousing Toby, who got up ratherloth to abandon his good bed and pleasant dreams. Still, he made nocomplaint, unless his frequent yawns could be counted as such, buttrotted at the heels of Max when the other started forth. 

The night remained calm. High overhead the gentle breeze still sighedamong the pines, and whispered secrets as it passed through the fragrantgreen needles with their attendant cones. 

Max took a single glance aloft at the star-studded heavens, and thistold him pretty close on the hour; for in addition to many other ways ofthe forest nomad and believer in woodcraft, Max had mastered thepositions of the planets, so that it was always possible for him togauge the passage of time when the night granted him a survey of theconstellations above. 

When he and Bandy-legs had advanced a certain distance Max stopped andimitated the call of a screech-owl, so like the whinny of a horse. Itended up with a peculiar twist, and it was this that would tell any ofthe other fellows the sound was intended for a signal, and did notproceed from the real bird itself. 

An answer quickly came. Then a couple of dim forms hove in sight, beingSteve and his fellow vidette, ready to hand over the guns to theirsuccessors, and seek the shelter of the cabin for a little rest. 

"Listen, Max, " said Steve, while this exchange was taking place, "there's something queer out yonder aways; and I want you to try andmake out what it can mean. "

"How is that?" demanded the other. 

"Why, every little while we thought we could hear a distant strange crylike somebody in pain. Of course it might come from a night-bird that wedon't happen to be acquainted with; but it's been worrying us a heap. I'm afraid, though, the wind has shifted latterly, because we didn'tseem to catch it so well. "

Max hardly knew what to think of what Steve had told him; nevertheless, he promised the other he and Toby would listen for all they were worth, and see if they might have any better success in recognizing the strangesounds. 

But the minutes drifted along, and at no time were they able to catchanything out of the common; so, finally, they decided that either itmust have been a night-bird that had flown away, or else that change inthe wind had kept the sounds from coming to their ears. 

CHAPTER XV

STEVE'S DREAM COMES TRUE

"Did you hear anything, Max?"

That was the very first thing Steve asked on the following morning, whenhe poked his head out of his "hole in the wall" like a shrewd oldtortoise looking around to learn if the coast were clear. 

"We listened from time to time, " explained Max, "but were never surethat we heard any strange sound. It seems that you must have beenimpressed with it considerably, Steve, to have it on your mind so?"

"I was, Max, and I am right now, " admitted the other, frankly. "Listento me, while the rest are busy getting breakfast ready over at thefire, ", and his voice sank to a confidential whisper. "I had a dream. Itwasn't so queer that it should come to me, after all that's happened. Idreamed that we came on that bad cousin of Roland's, Robert Chase. He'dfallen over a precipice, and was dying there on the rocks. Oh! it washorribly real, Max, and I woke up shivering. He was sorry, too, becausehe had been so wicked, and was asking Roland to please forgive him. And, Max, I've been wondering whether that dream mightn't have come to me tolet us know we might do a good deed if we walked out that way thismorning, you and me, saying nothing to the rest of the boys. "

Max was struck by the thought that Steve must have had a pretty vividdream to make him so tender-hearted. At the same time, he felt in accordwith the sentiments so aptly expressed by the other. 

"Steve, I'll go you there, " he hastened to say. "It can do no harm, andmay be a fine thing. Are you sure you know the direction fairly well?"

"Yes, because I was sharp enough to make a note of it last night, Max. You see, at the time the wind was coming in a lazy sort of way right outof the west. Later on it swung around to the northwest, which makes itso sharp this morning. "

"Good for you, Steve, " the other told him. "Then we'll head direct intothe west, and cover the ground for, say a mile, coming back over anotherroute. We can call out now and then, so if any one heard us they mightanswer. But you'd better hurry and get your duds on, because, unless I'mmistaken, Bandy-legs is meaning to sing out that breakfast's ready. Andyou know the last to the feast is penalized when the supply runs short. "

"No danger of that happening when Bandy-legs has anything to do with thecooking, " chuckled Steve, confidently; which remark proved how wellthose four chums knew one another's weak points. 

Of course at breakfast most of the conversation had to do with Rolandand his valiant attempt to "make good. " He told his new friends manythings that interested them exceedingly, and which were connected withhis struggle. Their questions also brought them quite a fund ofinformation concerning the habits of foxes, and how those who aim toraise the valuable animals for the great London fur market, go about thebusiness. 

"As for me, " said Bandy-legs, who had been doing considerable thinkingwhile all this talk went on, "I mean to try and hunt up a few of thosebouncer frogs Roland here says inhabit his marsh. Of course I know thatat this time of year they're deep down in the mud, and meaning to liethere till spring thaws 'em out; but it may be I can scare up just amess. I'm awfully fond of frogs' legs, you may remember, boys. "

They all wished him luck. Steve advised him to borrow a spade from theowner of the woods cabin, for he might have to dig deep. Bandy-legs, however, only grinned and showed no signs of a change of mind; for oncehe set his heart on a thing and he was apt to keep everlastingly at ituntil the realization, that it was quite hopeless, would compel him tothrow up the sponge, which Bandy-legs always did with a bad grace. 

So breakfast was finally finished, and the boys separated. True to hispromise the would-be frog hunter set out valiantly on his errand, urgedby his love for a dainty dish. Toby had agreed to assist Roland lookafter his fox brood, for there were many things he did not yetunderstand concerning their care, and which he earnestly wished to know. 

This arrangement quite suited Steve and Max, for it left them free tosaunter forth. They announced their intention of taking a little lookaround. Steve, of course, picked up his gun before starting, saying:

"You never know when you may want a shooting iron up in the woods. Theremight be an old wildcat prowling around these diggings, which would takea dislike to the shape of my face, so he'd attack us. And I'm homelyenough as it is right now, without inviting a cat to make the map ofIreland over my phiz. "

He and Max showed no signs of being in any unusual hurry as they leftthe cabin. They started directly toward the west; and once out of sightof those left behind, Steve quickened his pace a bit; at least he"chirked up" and began to show more animation. 

"A mile, you said, Max, didn't you!" he asked. 

"Why, yes, that ought to fully cover the distance, " came the reply. "Ishouldn't think you could have caught any ordinary sound even as far asthat. Still, when the night is calm, it is wonderful how far even agroan will carry. The atmosphere seems to be in a peculiar condition atsuch times, and acts as a splendid medium for conveying sounds. "

They looked to the right and to the left as they advanced. Nothingescaped the eyes of those two chums, accustomed to the "Great Outdoors"as they were, and having long ago graduated in a knowledge of woodcraft. 

Some little time passed thus. They had so far seen and heard nothingcalculated to impress them, though Steve was just as sure the sounds hecaught on the preceding night must have been a human voice crying out inanguish. Doubtless that vivid dream was also making quite an impressionon the mind of the boy; for Max found him unusually docile andthoughtful. 

They had now gone considerably over half a mile. Max felt that if anydiscovery was going to be made, it must come very soon. He raised hisvoice occasionally, and gave a half shout; after which both of themwould stand still and strain their hearing in hopes of catching someanswering hail. 

Squirrels barked at the intruders of their nut domain; blue jaysscreamed harshly as they flitted from limb to limb among adjacent trees;crows sent forth many noisy caws from atop of some neighboring pine, watching those moving figures suspiciously the while; and once a deersuddenly leaped across the trail, with a flip of its short tail, tospeedily vanish amidst the colored foliage of some bushes. 

This last event caused Steve to give a real yell, he was so startled. Hardly had he done this than he gripped the sleeve of his comrade. 

"Did you hear that. Max? Was it an echo to my whoop; or did somebodyreally call out in a weak voice! Anyway, it seemed to come from rightover there, " and he pointed confidently as he spoke. 

Max himself was of the same opinion, for he felt almost certain that ahuman voice had tried to attract their attention, though possibly theperson giving utterance to the cry was so weak that he could not makemuch effort. 

They changed their course a little, and headed directly toward theregion whence Steve had pointed so positively. When Max held the otherup presently and called again, all doubt was removed. 

"Here, this way! I'm in pretty bad shape, I guess. Don't leave me, please, whoever you are. I'll pay you a hundred dollars to get me out ofthis scrape!"

Evidently, the speaker, whom Max decided must be Robert Chase, and noother, supposed the persons approaching, and whose voices he had heard, must be woods guides who might consider themselves fortunate indeed toearn such a royal sum so easily. 

Two minutes afterwards and the boys found him. He must have fallen intothe hole while hurrying through the forest, after breaking away from thegrip of the boys at the cabin. He had been severely cut by a sharpflint-like rock, and lost considerable blood, which weakened him sothat, as he afterwards confessed to them, he must have swooned away, and lain there for hours unaware of his perilous condition. 

The two boys soon managed to get the young man up on level ground. Asoften happened, it was Max who conceived the easiest way of doing this. To lift a dead weight of a hundred and fifty pounds is no light task, and so he started to break away one side of the pit, thus raising thebottom of the interior until they were able to simply _carry_ Robert outof the hole. 

Steve was loud in his expressions of admiration. 

"Whoever else would have thought up such a clever piece of business, Max, but you?" he went on to say, as they rested after their effort. "Why, if it'd been me in charge now, I reckon I'd have gone to all sortsof trouble rigging up some sort of block-and-tackle, so as to hoist himup; but you just knock down a part of the wall, and there you are, asneat as wax. Wherever did you learn that trick, I want to know, Max?"

"You'll laugh if I tell you, " chuckled the other. "One day in readingabout how some musty old professors are digging out all sorts of weightytreasures belonging to bygone days over in. Egypt, I chanced to learnhow a certain Arab contracted to excavate a big stone weighing ever somany tons, and which the learned savant could not see how they were evergoing to get out of the deep hole. Well, that Arab just kept filling upthe hole, and lifting the stone inch by inch. When he finished therewas no hole, but the great rock stood on level ground. And that, Steve, they say is old-time mechanical engineering, which has never been beatenin these modern days. The Pyramids were built in that simple way. Humanlives and labor counted for little in those old times. "

"All I can say is, Max, it takes you to apply whatever you read toworking out your own problems. But however are we going to get this manback to the cabin! Must we build a litter and carry him?"

Robert seemed to be suffering from something more than physical anguish. A tortured mind can stab even more keenly than painful bodily wounds. Lying there and facing possible death, Robert Chase had evidently seen agreat light. He beckoned to the boys to bend over him, and then in aweak voice went on to say:

"I don't know just how badly I'm hurt, young fellows, but I do know thatI'm done with this miserable business. I've got just what I deserve, andit may be the best thing that ever happened to me. During the time I layhere and had my senses, I've made up my mind to ask my cousin Roland toforgive me, and let me make amends for the evil I've tried to do. I knownow that it doesn't pay in the long run, for I've come near losing allmy self-respect. Yes, get me to the camp, if you can. I want to face themusic, and have it over with. Something seems to tell me that the boyisn't the one to hold a grudge against a chap who's been punishedalready for doing an evil deed. "

That sort of talk pleased Max immensely. He saw that Robert Chase musthave been having a terrible conflict between his better nature and theinsatiate craving for wealth; and now that a wise Providence had steppedin to nip all his plots in the bud, why things began to look very brightall around. 

It was found that with one of the boys on either side, Robert couldmanage to walk fairly well, although they often had to stop and let himrest. 

It took them a full two hours to get back to the cabin, where theirarrival created considerable excitement. At the moment, Roland was outsomewhere attending to his pets, and so the injured man was made ascomfortable as possible by Toby and Bandy-legs, the latter of whom hadjust come in carrying a pretty fair mess of frogs' legs all dressed forthe frying-pan. 

Then when Roland came along, to be told what had happened, and how hiscousin was anxious to see him alone, he looked actually pleased at thequeer turn affairs had taken. He went in and was with Robert for quite along time. They must have had a good heart-to-heart talk, for whenRoland appeared again, he was smiling broadly, and hastened to say:

"We've not only patched up a truce, boys, but made an enduring covenant. After this there's not going to be any war in the Chase family; and nowthat Robert has humbled himself to confess his wrong-doing, I believewe're going to be the best of friends. I've promised him, without hisasking it, that I'll never tell a single soul about what happened uphere. You must agree to the same thing, for my sake. I feel sure you'llall like Robert, when you get to know him. "

"Who can tell, " muttered Toby, as if to himself; "in time we might eveng-g-get _familiar_ with him. Stranger things than that have happened. Ionly hope he won't hold a g-g-grudge against me when he sees the mark ofall my f-f-fingernails down his face. "

"Just now, Toby, he isn't in a mood to bear anybody a grudge, " Rolandwent on to say; "for he believes he didn't get half that he merited. Butafter all it's come out a thousand per cent better than I ever dreamedit would. And when I start off with my pair of grown cubs I needn't beafraid of any one waylaying me on the road. "

"All the same, " observed Steve, raising his heavy eyebrows suggestively, "we'll see to it that you have plenty of company on the way. Since theobject of our trip up here into the heart of the Adirondacks has beenfulfilled, I rather reckon we'll be wanting to go along with you, to seethe fox pups handed over, and that lovely check received. Afterwards wecan all start for Carson, where you and your good old aunt may have afamily reunion all to yourselves; unless you see fit to invite UncleSephus, Uncle Nicodemus, Uncle Job, or some of those old worthies tojoin with you, so as to make things hum. "

They all laughed at Steve's humorous remark. 

"B-b-but what's to be d-d-done with this p-p-pretty thing?" demandedToby, pointing as he spoke to their prisoner, who was sitting outsidethe door, having one of his ankles held fast with a trailing rope, sothat he could not run away, even if tempted to do so; which, consideringhis helpless condition, with both hands tied behind his back, he washardly in the humor to do. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE FUR FARMER'S TRIUMPH--CONCLUSION

While all this talk was going on, the man had of course listened. Whathe had just heard Roland say about forgiving his scheming cousin musthave encouraged the fellow more or less; for surely if they meant to letthe chief conspirator go scot-free, it would hardly be fitting to takeit out on the poor hired tool. 

"I hope you include me in that general amnesty order, young fellows, " henow hastened to say, with a wishful look on his face. "Since the fat isin the fire I'm ready to tell anything you want of me. Course my nameisn't Jake Storms; though it isn't necessary for me to inform you whatit might be, because that doesn't concern anybody around here. I neededmoney pretty badly, and the gent tempted me beyond my limit, so I agreedto help him steal the fox cubs. I was to have all they'd fetch whensold, and so I came along. But if you just cut these cords, and tell meto clear out, I'll vamose the ranch instanter. "

Max nodded his head in the affirmative. 

"You might as well make an early start, " he remarked, drily. "Sincethings have turned out the way they have, we couldn't make any use ofyou. But before you go, understand one thing, my friend. "

"What might that be, young fellow?" asked the other, though looking verymuch pleased at hearing he would be set free. 

"Don't get it into your head that it's going to be an easy snap to comeback here and rob this fox farm. You'd be a fool to try it for manyreasons. In the first place, silver blacks are so few in number that anyone selling a cub or a pelt can be tracked, and made to prove ownership. There's also an association forming that will insure these costlyanimals, and chase a thief across the continent until they eventuallyget him; just as the bankers' association does. Understand that?"

"Oh! don't bother about me, " the man hastened to tell them. "I'm throughwith this sort of risky game. I can make a living at something thatbrings in easier returns; only set me free and I'll never come back hereagain, never, on your life. "

"There'll be a guard here while we're gone, " continued Max, sternly, "aman who can hit a silver quarter with his rifle as far as he can see itthrough the telescopic globe sight. It wouldn't be safe for prowlers toshow up here. Besides, they could never find the foxes, hidden deep downin their burrows, during the night time. Steve, set him free, please. "

The boys felt that they could afford to be magnanimous, since things hadtaken such a glorious turn in their favor. So they not only gave theso-called Jake Storms his liberty but filled his pockets with such foodas would serve him until he came to a town. Roland was seen talking withhim just before he left, and Max felt sure the boy must have thrust somemoney into the man's hand, for the fellow acted as though greatlyconfused, and shook his head while walking hastily away, as though thekindness of those boys quite overwhelmed, him. 

Roland continued his work of making his cousin thoroughly ashamed of hisrecent mean actions. He waited on the injured man as though Robert hadalways been one of his best friends. If ever a fellow "heaped coals offire on the head of his enemy, " Roland Chase certainly did during thethree days they continued to linger at the lodge under the pines. 

Meanwhile, the signal had been set for Jerry Stocks to come over, andwhen he arrived, he turned out to be very much the kind of a man theboys expected to see, a homely specimen of a woodsman, honest as the daywas long, and "filled to the brim, " as Steve aptly expressed it, with anaccurate knowledge of all such things as may prove of value to one whoroams the wilderness. 

He was to be left in charge during the absence of the young fur farmer. Roland had long ago won the sincere admiration of the rugged woodsman, who stood ready to do anything to show his regard. Besides, he would bewell paid for all his trouble, and his family might even come over tovisit him occasionally. 

During the balance of their stay under the sheltering roof of thewonderful little lodge under the whispering pines, the boys made use ofevery hour in order to enjoy their limited holiday. Since success hadcrowned their efforts to find the missing one, they were in constanthigh spirits. It always produces a feeling of exultation to know thatthe goal has been attained for which a start was made; and the fourchums were only human. 

They certainly had a great time of it, visiting all sorts of strangenooks under the guidance of either Roland or Jerry. Max found a numberof opportunities to add to his interesting collection of flashlightpictures. He made a specialty of the fox farm, and with the assistanceof the young owner, managed to snap off the timid occupants of theenclosures in the act of feeding, as well as under various other equallyinstructive conditions; all of which would give a pretty good idea ofhow progressive fur farmers manage their outfit. 

The wounded man grew better, so that when it was time for them to leave, he could take his part in the procession; though the others declined tolet him burden himself with any of the duffle, since he was still weak. 

Max had been studying Robert, and reached the conclusion that the youngman was heartily ashamed of his miserable plotting. He hoped it wouldbe a good lesson calculated to serve Robert the rest of his life; and ifthis turned out to be so, then that stumble of his, unfortunate as itmay have seemed to him at the time, was the best thing that had everhappened to him. 

The two marketable fox pups were placed securely in the cage that hadbeen secured for this very purpose by Roland when last in the city. Itweighed very little, and could be easily transported like an ordinarypack on the back. Roland himself meant to carry it, but of course theothers insisted on "spelling" him from time to time. 

Really, when the fateful morning hour came, and they turned back to givea last fond look at the little lodge under the green pines, Max and histhree chums were conscious of a strange feeling of keen regret aroundthe region of their hearts; which proved how the woods home of Rolandhad grown upon them. 

"I certainly do hope those pictures will turn out to be daisies, Max. "Steve was heard to say, most earnestly; "because I'll take a heap ofsatisfaction in recalling many of the pleasant things that have happenedto us up here, where the breeze is always telling tales to the pinetops;and it's nice to be able to see what your mind is centered on. "

"But look here, " said Roland, delighted to hear Steve talk in thatstrain; "you mustn't think that even if I do succeed to that jollylittle fortune left by my real uncle, and not one of the Grimeses, thatI'm meaning to drop this fox farm business. By now it's got a deep holdon me, and I'm more bent than ever on making it a big success. Yes, andI'm also counting on you fellows paying me another visit some othertime, the sooner the better. "

They assured him it would please them beyond measure to contemplatespending part of their next summer vacation with him, when they couldinvestigate still further the many delightful mysteries of theAdirondack wilderness. 

So the lovely nook was lost sight of, and for some little time a silenceseemed to fall upon all the members of the group, as they continued totrudge along the trail that eventually would fetch them to a road, andafter that to a village. 

Of course our story nears its end, now that we have seen Max and hischums accomplish the object of their search. They meant to continuealong in the company of Roland, and see that the pair of beautifulglossy silver black fox pups were safely delivered to the purchaser, whointended to start a fur farm of his own in some other part of thecountry, possibly away up in the Canadian Northwest, and had taken agreat fancy for the particular strain of animal Roland was propagating. 

In due time they arrived at the city where this rich gentleman lived. Hehad, it appeared, seen and admired the fox pups while fishing in theneighborhood of the fur farm, and made a contract with Roland for thedelivery of the pair at a certain time, binding the bargain with a cashpayment. 

It all turned out as planned, and when the boy received the balance ofthe stipulated amount in a handsome check he felt that he had a right tofeel proud of his accomplishment. 

Robert had long before then took his leave, and in doing so he squeezedthe hand of his younger cousin, and assuring Roland that he meant to seemore of him in the future. So far as Max could observe, the man appearedto have turned over a new leaf, and from that time forward was likely toshow what was really in him besides his former desire to loaf and spendmoney. 

And so in the fullness of time, the five boys turned up in Carson, wherea certain good woman whom Roland claimed as his aunt was wonderfullywell pleased to find his arms about her wrinkled neck, and his boyishkiss pressed upon her cheek. She assured Roland the first thing, thatthere was no need of his worrying about the future, because she haddetermined to make him her heir, regardless of whether he ever came intothe money left under such exacting conditions by his deceased uncle. 

Naturally, Roland was proud to tell his aunt that while he appreciatedher fresh interest in his career, and would be only too glad to respondto her affection, at the same time she must know he had not made afailure, and that even now he was about to call upon the trustees ofthe will, to show them he had faithfully carried out all the provisionsupon the fulfillment of which his legacy depended. 

It all came out as planned; indeed, those same old trustees of theestate, living in another town, had the greatest surprise of their liveswhen that troop of boys called upon them, and the whole story was told;for of course Max and the other trio eagerly snapped at Roland's warminvitation to accompany him on this momentous occasion, so as to witnesshis crowning triumph, and add their testimony, if needed, as witnessesto the successful outcome of his plans. 

Roland had taken pains to gather all necessary documents showing how heinvested the greater part of his two thousand dollars, and how he was todraw half the proceeds on any sales. He also had the contract for thedelivery of the first of the silver black fox pups, and after could, inaddition, show the fat check covering that particular sale. 

Everything had been looked after to a fraction. The old men found itdifficult to believe what at first to their minds seemed so like a fairystory: but in the end they had to admit that Roland Chase had fullycomplied with every one of the conditions imposed on him in the strangewill of his uncle; and as the time limit had not yet expired, he wasfully entitled to his legacy, which in due time was paid over to him. 

After that, Roland again departed for the wonderful "farm, " where themost valuable crop ever heard of was being grown successfully. The otherlads heard from him frequently during the winter months, and there wasno discouraging report forthcoming. He now had Jerry with him constantlyas his assistant, the guide having built a cabin near the farm, where heinstalled his family. It was nicer for Roland, too, since there wereseveral children; and he could spend many an evening sociably, havingtaken up a phonograph with him, together with a fine supply of all sortsof records suitable for amusing a mixed company. 

Max often allowed his thoughts to bridge the many miles that separatedCarson from that lodge in the wilderness; and it required no magician'swand to enable him to see in his mind's eye the delightful surroundingsthat made the strange fur farm a possible El Dorado, where Fortune wasliable to knock on the door and demand entrance. 

It is with more or less regret that the writer finds he has reached thepoint where he must say goodbye; and he only does so with theunderstanding that just as soon as further stirring events worthnarrating come to pass, it will be his pleasure, as well as duty, toplace them between the covers of another book in this series. 

THE END

+THE OBLONG BOX. +

 * * * * *

Some years ago, I engaged passage from Charleston, S. C. , to the city ofNew York, in the fine packet-ship Independence, Captain Hardy. We wereto sail on the fifteenth of the month (June), weather permitting; and, on the fourteenth, I went on board to arrange some matters in mystateroom. 

I found that we were to have a great many passengers, including a morethan usual number of ladies. On the list were several of myacquaintances; and among other names, I was rejoiced to see that of Mr. Cornelius Wyatt, a young artist, for whom I entertained feelings of warmfriendship. He had been with me a fellow-student at C----University, where we were very much together. He had the ordinary temperament ofgenius, and was a compound of misanthropy, sensibility, and enthusiasm. To these qualities he united the warmest and truest heart which everbeat in a human bosom. 

I observed that his name was carded upon _three_ staterooms; and, uponagain referring to the list of passengers, I found that he had engagedpassage for himself, wife, and two sisters--his own. The staterooms weresufficiently roomy, and each had two berths, one above the other. Theseberths, to be sure, were so exceedingly narrow as to be insufficient formore than one person; still, I could not comprehend why there were_three_ staterooms for these four persons. I was, just at this epoch, inone of those moody frames of mind which make a man abnormallyinquisitive about trifles: and I confess, with shame, that I busiedmyself in a variety of ill-bred and preposterous conjectures about thismatter of the supernumerary stateroom. It was no business of mine, to besure; but with none the less pertinacity did I occupy myself in attemptsto resolve the enigma. At last! I had not arrived at it before. "It isa servant, of course, " I said; "what a fool I am, not sooner to havethought of so obvious a solution!" And then I again repaired to thelist--but here I saw distinctly that _no_ servant was to come with theparty; although, in fact, it had been the original design to bringone--for the words "and servant" had been first written and thenoverscored. "Oh, extra baggage to be sure, " I now said tomyself--"something he wishes not to be put in the hold--something to bekept under his own eye--ah, I have it--a painting or so--and this iswhat he has been bargaining about with Ficolino, the Italian Jew. " Thisidea satisfied me, and I dismissed my curiosity for the nonce. 

Wyatt's two sisters I knew very well, and most amiable and clever girlsthey were. His wife he had newly married, and I had never yet seen her. He had often talked about her in my presence, however, and in his usualstyle of enthusiasm. He described her as of surpassing beauty, wit, andaccomplishment. I was, therefore, quite anxious to make heracquaintance. 

On the day in which I visited the ship (the fourteenth), Wyatt and aparty were also to visit it--so the captain informed me--and I waited onboard an hour longer than I had designed, in hope of being presented tothe bride; but then an apology came. "Mr. W. Was a little indisposed, and would decline coming on board until to-morrow, at the hour ofsailing. "

The morrow having arrived, I was going from my hotel to the wharf, whenCaptain Hardy met me and said that "owing circumstances" (a stupid butconvenient phrase), "he rather thought the Independence would not sailfor a day or two, and that when all was ready, he would send up and letme know. " This I thought strange, for there was a stiff southerlybreeze; but as "the circumstances" were not forthcoming, although Ipumped for them with much perseverance, I had nothing to do but toreturn home and digest my impatience at leisure. 

I did not receive the expected message from the captain for nearly aweek. It came at length, however, and I immediately went on board. Theship was crowded with passengers, and everything was in the bustleattendant upon making sail. Wyatt's party arrived in about ten minutesafter myself. There were the two sisters, the bride, and the artist--thelatter in one of his customary fits of moody misanthropy. I was toowell used to these, however, to pay them any special attention. He didnot even introduce me to his wife, this courtesy devolving, per force, upon his sister Marian, a very sweet and intelligent girl, who, in a fewhurried words, made us acquainted. 

Mrs. Wyatt had been closely veiled; and when she raised her veil, inacknowledging my bow, I confess that I was very profoundly astonished. Ishould have been much more so, however, had not long experience advisedme not to trust, with too implicit a reliance, the enthusiasticdescriptions of my friend, the artist, when indulging in comments uponthe loveliness of woman. When beauty was the theme, I well knew withwhat facility he soared into the regions of the purely ideal. 

The truth is, I could not help regarding Mrs. Wyatt as a decidedlyplain-looking woman. If not positively ugly, she was not, I think, veryfar from it. She was dressed, however, in exquisite taste--and then Ihad no doubt that she had captivated my friend's heart by the moreenduring graces of the intellect and soul. She said very few words, andpassed at once into her stateroom with Mr. W. 

My old inquisitiveness now returned. There was _no_ servant--_that_ wasa settled point. I looked, therefore, for the extra baggage. After somedelay, a cart arrived at the wharf, with an oblong pine box, which waseverything that seemed to be expected. Immediately upon its arrival wemade sail, and in a short time were safely over the bar and standing outto sea. 

The box in question was, as I say, oblong. It was about six feet inlength by two and a half in breadth; I observed it attentively, and liketo be precise. Now this shape was _peculiar_; and no sooner had I seenit, than I took credit to myself for the accuracy of my guessing. I hadreached the conclusion, it will be remembered, that the extra baggage ofmy friend, the artist, would prove to be pictures, or at least apicture; for I knew he had been for several weeks in conference withNicolino; and now here was a box which, from its shape, _could_ possiblycontain nothing in the world but a copy of Leonardo's "Last Supper;" anda copy of this very "Last Supper, " done by Rubini the younger atFlorence, I had known, for some time, to be in the possession ofNicolino. This point, therefore. I considered as sufficiently settled. Ichuckled excessively when I thought of my acumen. It was the first timeI ever known Wyatt to keep from me any of his artistical secrets; buthere he evidently intended to steal a march upon me, and smuggle a finepicture to New York, under my very nose; expecting me to know nothing ofthe matter. I resolved to quiz him _well_, now and hereafter. 

One thing, however, annoyed me not a little. The box did _not_ go intothe extra stateroom. It was deposited in Wyatt's own; and there, too, itremained, occupying nearly the whole of the floor--no doubt to theexceeding discomfort of the artist and his wife;--this the moreespecially as the tar or paint with which it was lettered in sprawlingcapitals, emitted a strong, disagreeable, and, to _my_ fancy, apeculiarly disgusting odor. On the lid were painted the words--"_Mrs. Adelaide Curtis, Albany, New York. Charge of Cornelius Wyatt, Esq. Thisside up. To be handled with care. "_

Now, I was aware that Mrs. Adelaide Curtis, of Albany, was the artist'swife's mother; but then I looked upon the whole address as amystification, intended especially for myself. I made up my mind, ofcourse, that the box and contents would never get farther north than thestudio of my misanthropic friend, in Chambers Street, New York. 

For the first three or four days we had fine weather, although the windwas dead ahead; having chopped round to the northward, immediately uponour losing sight of the coast. The passengers were, consequently, inhigh spirits, and disposed to be social. I _must_ except, however, Wyattand his sisters, who behaved stiffly, and, I could not help thinking, uncourteously to the rest of the party. _Wyatt's_ conduct I did not somuch regard. He was gloomy, even beyond his usual habit--in fact he was_morose_--but in him I was prepared for eccentricity. For the sisters, however, I could make no excuse. They secluded themselves in theirstaterooms during the greater part of the passage, and absolutelyrefused, although I repeatedly urged them, to hold communication withany person on board. 

Mrs. Wyatt herself was far more agreeable. That is to say, she was_chatty_; and to be chatty is no slight recommendation at sea. Shebecame _excessively_ intimate with most of the ladies; and, to myprofound astonishment, evinced no equivocal disposition to coquet withthe men. She amused us all very much. I say "_amused_"--and scarcelyknow how to explain myself. The truth is, I soon found that Mrs. W. Wasfar oftener laughed _at_ than _with_. The gentlemen said little abouther; but the ladies, in a little while, pronounced her a "good-heartedthing, rather indifferent-looking, totally uneducated, and decidedlyvulgar. " The great wonder was, how Wyatt had been entrapped into such amatch. Wealth was the general solution--but this I knew to be nosolution at all; for Wyatt had told me that she neither brought him adollar nor had any expectations from any source whatever. "He hadmarried, " he said, "for love, and for love only; and his bride was farmore than worthy of his love. " When I thought of these expressions, onthe part of my friend, I confess that I felt indescribably puzzled. Could it be possible that he was taking leave of his senses? What elsecould I think? _He_, so refined, so intellectual, so fastidious, with soexquisite a perception of the faulty, and so keen an appreciation of thebeautiful! To be sure, the lady seemed especially fond of_him_--particularly so in his absence--when, she made herself ridiculousby frequent quotations of what had been said by her "beloved husband, Mr. Wyatt. " The word "husband" seemed forever--to use one of her owndelicate expressions--forever "on the tip of her tongue. " In themeantime, it was observed by all on board, that he avoided _her_ in themost pointed manner, and, for the most part, shut himself up alone inhis state-room, where, in fact, he might have been said to livealtogether, leaving his wife at full liberty to amuse herself as shethought best, in the public society of the main cabin. 

My conclusion, from what I saw and heard, was, that the artist, by someunaccountable freak of fate, or perhaps in some fit of enthusiastic andfanciful passion, had been induced to unite himself with a personaltogether beneath him, and that the natural result, entire and speedydisgust, had ensued. I pitied him from the bottom of my heart--but couldnot, for that reason, quite forgive his incommunicativeness in thematter of the "Last Supper. " For this I resolved to have my revenge. 

One day he came upon deck, and, taking his arm as had been my wont, Isauntered with him backward and forward. His gloom, however (which Iconsidered quite natural under the circumstances), seemed entirelyunabated. He said little, and that moodily, and with evident effort. Iventured a jest or two, and he made a sickening attempt at a smile. Poorfellow! as I thought of _his wife_, I wondered that he could have heartto put on even the semblance of mirth. At last I ventured a home-thrust. I determined to commence a series of covert insinuations, or innuendoes, about the oblong box--just to let him perceive, gradually that I was_not_ altogether the butt, or victim, of his little bit of pleasantmystification. My first observation was by way of opening a maskedbattery. I said something about the "peculiar shape of _that_ box;" and, as I spoke the words, I smiled knowingly, winked, and touched him gentlywith my fore-finger in the ribs. 

The manner in which Wyatt received this harmless pleasantry convincedme, at once, that he was mad. At first he stared at me as if he found itimpossible to comprehend the witticism of my remark; but as its pointseemed slowly to make its way into his brain, his eyes, in the sameproportion, seemed protruding from their sockets. Then he grew veryred--then hideously pale--then, as if highly amused with what I hadinsinuated, he began a loud and boisterous laugh, which, to myastonishment, he kept up, with gradually increasing vigor, for tenminutes or more. In conclusion he fell flat and heavily upon the deck. When I ran to uplift him, to all appearance he was _dead_. 

I called assistance, and, with much difficulty, we brought him tohimself. Upon reviving he spoke incoherently for some time. At length webled him and put him to bed. The next morning he was quite recovered, sofar as regarded his mere bodily health. Of his mind I say nothing, ofcourse. I avoided him during the rest of the passage, by advice of thecaptain, who seemed to coincide with me altogether in my views of hisinsanity, but cautioned me to say nothing on this head to any person onboard. 

Several circumstances occurred immediately after this fit of Wyatt'swhich contributed to heighten the curiosity with which I was alreadypossessed. Among other things, this: I had been nervous--drank too muchstrong green tea, and slept ill at night--in fact, for two nights Icould not be properly said to sleep at all. Now, my stateroom openedinto the main cabin, or dining-room, as did those of all the single menon board. Wyatt's three rooms were in the after-cabin, which wasseparated from the main one by a slight sliding door, never locked evenat night. As we were almost constantly on a wind, and the breeze was nota little stiff, the ship heeled to leeward very considerably; andwhenever her starboard side was to leeward, the sliding door between thecabins slid open, and so remained, nobody taking the trouble to get upand shut it. But my berth was in such a position, that when my ownstateroom door was open, as well as the sliding door in question (and myown door was _always_ open on account of the heat), I could see intothe after-cabin quite distinctly, and just at that portion of it, too, where were situated the staterooms of Mr. Wyatt. Well, during two nights(_not_ consecutive) while I lay awake, I clearly saw Mrs. W. , abouteleven o'clock each night, steal cautiously from the stateroom of Mr. W. , and enter the extra room, where she remained until daybreak, whenshe was called by her husband and went back. That they were virtuallyseparated was clear. They had separate apartments--no doubt incontemplation of a more permanent divorce; and here, after all, Ithought, was the mystery of the extra stateroom. 

There was another circumstance, too, which interested me much. Duringthe two wakeful nights in question, and immediately after thedisappearance of Mrs. Wyatt into the extra stateroom, I was attracted bycertain singular, cautious, subdued noises in that of her husband. Afterlistening to them for some time, with thoughtful attention, I at lengthsucceeded perfectly in translating their import. They were soundsoccasioned by the artist in prying open the oblong box, by means of achisel and mallet--the latter being muffled, or deadened, by some softwoollen or cotton substance in which its head was enveloped. 

In this manner I fancied I could distinguish the precise moment when hefairly disengaged the lid--also, that I could determine when he removedit altogether, and when he deposited it upon the lower berth in hisroom; this latter point I knew, for example, by certain slight tapswhich the lid made in striking against the wooden edges of the berth, ashe endeavored to lay it down _very_ gently--there being no room for iton the floor. After this there was a dead stillness, and I heard nothingmore, upon either occasion, until nearly daybreak; unless, perhaps, Imay mention a low sobbing, or murmuring sound, so very much suppressedas to be nearly inaudible--if, indeed, the whole of this latter noisewere not rather produced by my own imagination. I say it seemed to_resemble_ sobbing or sighing--but, of course, it could not have beeneither. I rather think it was a ringing in my own ears. Mr. Wyatt, nodoubt, according to custom, was merely giving the rein to one of hishobbies--indulging in one of his fits of artistic enthusiasm. He hadopened his oblong box, in order to feast his eyes on the pictorialtreasure within. There was nothing in this, however, to make him _sob_. I repeat therefore, that it must have been simply a freak of my ownfancy, distempered by good Captain Hardy's green tea. Just before dawn, on each of the two nights of which I speak, I distinctly heard Mr. Wyattreplace the lid upon the oblong box, and force the nails into their oldplaces, by means of the muffled mallet. Having done this, he issued fromhis stateroom, fully dressed, and proceeded to call Mrs. W. From hers. 

We had been at sea seven days, and were now off Cape Hatteras, whenthere came a tremendously heavy blow from the southwest. We were, in ameasure, prepared for it, however, as the weather had been holding outthreats for some time. Everything was made snug, alow and aloft; and asthe wind steadily freshened, we lay to, at length, under spanker andforetopsail, both double-reefed. 

In this trim, we rode safely enough for forty-eight hours--the shipproving herself an excellent sea boat, in many respects, and shipping nowater of any consequence. At the end of this period, however, the galehad freshened into a hurricane, and our after-sail split into ribbons, bringing us so much in the trough of the water that we shipped severalprodigious seas, one immediately after the other. By this accident welost three men overboard with the caboose, and nearly the whole of thelarboard bulwarks. Scarcely had we recovered our senses, before theforetopsail went into shreds when we got up a storm stay-sail, and withthis did pretty well for some hours, the ship heading the sea much moresteadily than before. 

The gale still held on, however, and we saw no signs of its abating. Therigging was found to be ill-fitted, and greatly strained; and on thethird day of the blow, about five in the afternoon, our mizzen-mast, ina heavy lurch to windward, went by the board. For an hour or more, wetried in vain to get rid of it, on account of the prodigious rolling ofthe ship, and, before we had succeeded, the carpenter came aft andannounced four feet water in the hold. To add to our dilemma, we foundthe pumps choked and nearly useless. 

All was now confusion and despair--but an effort was made to lighten theship by throwing overboard as much of her cargo as could be reached, andby cutting away the two masts that remained. This we at lastaccomplished--but we were still unable to do anything at the pumps; and, in the meantime, the leak gained on us very fast. 

At sundown, the gale had sensibly diminished, in and, as the sea wentdown with it, we still entertained faint hopes of saving ourselves inthe boats. At eight P. M. The clouds broke away to windward, and we hadthe advantage of a full moon--a piece of good fortune which servedwonderfully to cheer our drooping spirits. 

After incredible labor we succeeded, at length, in getting the long-boatover the side without material accident, and into this we crowded thewhole of the crew and most of the passengers. This party made offimmediately, and, after undergoing much suffering, finally arrived, insafety, at Ocracoke Inlet, on the third day after the wreck. 

Fourteen passengers, with the Captain, remained on board, resolving totrust their fortunes to the jolly-boat at the stern. "We lowered itwithout difficulty, although it was only by a miracle that we preventedit from swamping as it touched the water. It contained, when afloat, thecaptain and his wife, Mr. Wyatt and party, a Mexican officer, wife, fourchildren, and myself, with a negro valet. "

We had no room, of course, for anything except a few positivelynecessary instruments, some provision, and the clothes upon our backs. No one had thought of even attempting to save anything more. What musthave been the astonishment of all then, when, having proceeded a fewfathoms from the ship, Mr. Wyatt stood up in the stern-sheets, andcoolly demanded of Captain Hardy that the boat should be put back forthe purpose of taking in his oblong box!

"Sit down, Mr. Wyatt, " replied the Captain, somewhat sternly, "you willcapsize us if you do not sit quite still. Our gunwale is almost in thewater now. "

"The box!" vociferated Mr. Wyatt, still standing--"the box, I say!Captain Hardy, you cannot, you _will_ not refuse me. Its weight will bebut a trifle--it is nothing--mere nothing. By the mother who boreyou--for the love of Heaven--by your hope of salvation, I _implore_ youto put back for the box!"

The Captain, for a moment, seemed touched by the earnest appeal of theartist, but he regained his stern composure, and merely said:

"Mr. Wyatt you are _mad_. I cannot listen to you. Sitdown, I say, or youwill swamp the boat. Stay--hold him--seize him! he is about to springoverboard! There--I knew it--he is over!"

As the Captain said this, Mr. Wyatt, in fact, sprang from the boat, and, as we were yet in the lee of the wreck, succeeded, by almostsuperhuman exertion, in getting hold of a rope which hung from thefore-chains. In another moment he was on board, and rushing franticallydown into the cabin. 

In the meantime, we had been swept astern of the ship, and being quiteout of her lee, were at the mercy of the tremendous sea which was stillrunning. We made a determined effort to put back, but our little boatwas like a feather in the breath of the tempest. We saw at a glance thatthe doom of the unfortunate artist was sealed. 

As our distance from the wreck rapidly increased, the madman (for assuch only could we regard him) was seen to emerge from thecompanion-way, up which, by dint of a strength that appeared gigantic, he dragged, bodily, the oblong box. While we gazed in the extremity ofastonishment, he passed, rapidly, several turns of a three-inch rope, first around the box and then around his body. In another instant bothbody and box ware in the sea--disappearing suddenly, at once andforever. 

We lingered awhile sadly upon our oars, with our eyes riveted upon thespot. At length we pulled away. The silence remained unbroken for anhour. Finally, I hazarded a remark. 

"Did you observe, Captain, how suddenly they sank? Was not that anexceedingly singular thing? I confess that I entertained some feeblehope of his final deliverance, when I saw him lash himself to the box, and commit himself to the sea. "

"They sank as a matter of course, " replied the Captain, "and that like ashot. They will soon rise again, however--_but not till the saltmelts_. "

"The salt!" I ejaculated. 

"Hush!" said the Captain, pointing to the wife and sisters of thedeceased. "We must talk of these things at some more appropriate time. "

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We suffered much, and made a narrow escape; but fortune befriended _us_, as well as our mates in the long boat. We landed, in fine, more deadthan alive, after four days of intense distress, upon the beach oppositeRoanoke Island. We remained there a week, were not ill-treated by thewreckers, and at length obtained a passage to New York. 

About a month after the loss of the Independence, I happened to meetCaptain Hardy in Broadway. Our conversation turned, naturally, upon thedisaster, and especially upon the sad fate of poor Wyatt. I thus learnedthe following particulars. 

The artist had engaged passage for himself, wife, two sisters, and aservant. His wife was, indeed, as she had been represented, a mostlovely and most accomplished woman. On the morning of the fourteenth ofJune (the day in which I first visited the ship), the lady suddenlysickened and died. The young husband was frantic with grief--butcircumstances imperatively forbade the deferring his voyage to New York. It was necessary to take to her mother the corpse of his adored wife, and on the other hand, the universal prejudice which would prevent hisdoing so openly, was well known. Nine-tenths of the passengers wouldhave abandoned the ship rather than take passage with the dead body. 

In this dilemma, Captain Hardy arranged that the corpse, being firstpartially embalmed, and packed, with a large quantity of salt, in a boxof suitable dimensions, should be conveyed on board as merchandise. Nothing was to be said of the lady's decease; and, as it was wellunderstood that Mr. Wyatt had engaged passage for his wife, it becamenecessary that some person should personate her during the voyage. Thisthe deceased's lady's maid was easily prevailed on to do. The extrastate-room, originally engaged for this girl during her mistress' life, was now merely retained. In this state-room the pseudo-wife slept, ofcourse, every night. In the daytime she performed, to the best of herability, the part of her mistress--whose person, it had been carefullyascertained, was unknown to any of the passengers on board. 

My own mistakes arose, naturally enough, through too careless, tooinquisitive, and too impulsive a temperament. But of late, it is a rarething that I sleep soundly at night. There is a countenance which hauntsme, turn as I will. There is an hysterical laugh which will forever ringwithin my ears.