Chapter X: Frank Tries to Figure It Out

Frank was sorely perplexed. He felt sure that Jerry must have fallen into the hands of some enemies while he was busily engaged in examining the second Indian mound. Perhaps it might be that he had even heard the low cry of his chum when the others seized upon him, but in his ignorance had supposed it to be the call of a bird in the brush.

He tried to read the signs the best he could.

"There's that same small footprint, showing that the two tramps have been here. Were they watching for us, or did we just happen to drop in upon some favorite hiding-place of theirs? They saw a chance to get my pard while I was away with the gun. And now what will they do with him?"

So he pondered as he stood there looking around at the dense foliage that gave no hint as to where these lawless characters could have taken poor Jerry.

Frank searched high and low as the minutes passed, but without any success. He saw the coming of night with uneasiness.

"This is a nice pickle for me. Trying to warn the others, and I fall into the pit myself the first one. But they wouldn't dare hurt Jerry. We haven't done them any harm. What they really want, I imagine, consists of our guns and food. Then they could hold out for a long campaign in the woods, and snap their fingers at the sheriff and his posse. Like as not, in the morning they'll try to open communications with us and offer Jerry in exchange for our things."

The thought gave him pain. Never before had he known just how much he thought of the missing boy.

Then he remembered that he had two other chums.

"They'll be worried too. Perhaps I'd better be getting back to camp to relieve their distress of mind. It will be all right in the morning, no doubt. And there's always a chance that Jerry may be able to give the rascals the slip. He can duck first-class when he wants to, whether it's playing hockey or prisoner's base."

Getting what small consolation he could out of this, Frank now set about heading for the camp. He had ventured far into the interior of the island, and only for the fact that the stars were shining brightly above, he might have further mixed matters up by getting thoroughly lost himself.

There were times when he found it all he could do to push his way through the dense vegetation which obstructed his passage on every side.

But having taken his bearings, he knew he was slowly but surely drawing nearer the point where their camp lay. The bluff stood up against the star-bedecked sky at such times as he found a clear spot and could catch a view.

Frank happened to have an unusually large supply of matches with him. He always carried some when in the woods, but that morning he had taken up quite a bunch from the receptacle Jerry had made to hold them near the entrance to their tent.

Consequently he was able to strike one every little while when some peculiarly knotty problem presented itself for solution.

It was while standing in a little glade that he ignited one of the matches in order to glance at his watch, more than anything else. His attention was immediately attracted toward something on the ground.

"The ashes of a fire, without a doubt. That proves the presence of human beings on the island; and I guess an escaped lunatic would never be guilty of making a fire. Oh! those two hoboes are here, all right. If I could only get word to Mr. Dodd now, he would surround the island, and capture them easily. But if they hurt my chum they'll pay dear for it," he muttered.

The ashes were stone cold, as he discovered upon placing his hand upon them, Indian style. Perhaps a red native of the North Woods could have even told just how long it had been since fire lingered among the dead embers; but it was more than the boy was able to do.

Again he pushed forward. Rounding the bluff, he now headed straight for the camp.

Perhaps he found himself entertaining a desolate hope that, after all, Jerry might have played a little trick on him, running off, and making camp while he lingered. Frank knew about the old game of "holding the bag," where boys coax a green comrade to go out into the dark woods far from home, and leave him holding a sack over the end of a hollow log while they pretend to scare up the rabbits or other game, but in reality go home; but he did not think Jerry would play such a lark when things looked so serious around them.

He wondered why he did not see something of the fire.

Surely nothing could have happened to the two in camp? That would be worse and worse, for it was bad enough to think of Jerry in the hands of those rascally hoboes, without adding to the horror.

Now he was crawling up near the place under the shelter of the bluff, craning his neck eagerly for some sign of the boys. At first he could not see them. The fire was burning low, and that was a sign he did not like.

Frank began to feel a cold sensation creep over him. It was beginning to seem so sinister and awe-inspiring that he was deeply impressed.

Then he caught the low buzz of voices, and, listening, was cheered to recognize the tones of Will as he made his boast.

When that sudden amazing flash came, Frank crouched there as if transformed into a pillar of salt, like Lot's wife. For the life of him he could not understand what had happened. He thought he heard a scuffling sound on the other side of the camp, but was not sure. Then Will spoke up, his voice quivering with alarm:

"Oh! what was that, Bluff? Did any one shoot, or was it lightning? I didn't hear the thunder, did you?"

"Hang the luck, that gave me a bad start, as sure as you live. And to think, after all, it was only that beastly old flash you arranged to make some animal take a photograph of himself! A few times like that and we'll both be fit to go over to the Merrick Asylum, that's what."

"My camera set for a flashlight picture? Why, of course! How silly for me to be startled! But I should have remembered it in a few seconds, anyhow. Thank you for reminding me of it. And it worked, you notice, Bluff. You laughed at the idea, but I guess I've got the 'coon's picture, all right," laughed Will, hysterically.

"What's that over on the other side, yonder? I would swear I saw something moving there. Listen, and tell me if you can hear him breathing before I let go!" exclaimed Bluff, excitedly.

"Hold on there, Bluff, don't you dare fire! It's me, and I'm hiding behind this tree for fear of being punctured by a load of shot!" called a voice.

Will gave vent to a gurgle of delight, and seemed to try to hug himself.

"Thank goodness, it's Frank. They've returned at last to a cold supper. Welcome home, boys. We've been looking for you this long while," he said.

"Why, he's alone!" exclaimed Bluff, in surprise.

"Yes, and I've got some bad news for you, fellows," said Frank, coming up.

"About Jerry?" demanded Bluff.

"Yes, he's gone!" continued the newcomer, dejectedly.

"Gone!" echoed Bluff.

"Goodness gracious! what's happened?" ejaculated Will, clutching hold of the newcomer's sleeve, as though his knees suddenly grew weak.

"Disappeared, and I'm seriously afraid that those miserable hoboes have caught him," declared Frank.

"Caught him--but they're not cannibals--they couldn't eat poor Jerry!" came from the bewildered Will, at which Bluff gave a contemptuous laugh.

"Why, of course not, silly. Frank means they've caught Jerry, intending to make him valuable some way; ain't that it, Frank?" he said.

"Just what I mean. They may try to dicker with us for some provisions. I rather guess they're some shy in that line. Or, it may be they want us to clear out. Any way you fix it the thing has a bad look, and promises to break up our pleasant little outing."

"It's a beastly shame. I'd just like to get hold of those tramps. Wouldn't they be headed for the lock-up in Centerville in a hurry!" growled Bluff.

Frank looked at him seriously as if contemplating some move.

"Well," said he presently, "I don't know but what it will come to it that you can have a hand in their removal."

"What d'ye mean?" demanded the other, instantly.

"It may be that between now and morning I'll ask you to make a little journey."

"Looking up the hoboes?" asked Will, aghast.

"Well, hardly. This trip would be by water, and in a canoe," replied Frank.

"Oh! I catch on, all right. You think some one ought to go back to town and let the sheriff know that his game can be found here on Wildcat Island?" said Bluff.

"Just so, but please lower your voice; there's no telling who may be hiding in the bushes around here. Those hoboes want something we've got, and they mean to have it if possible. Perhaps it may be food, and, again, I've thought, they may envy us the possession of guns."

"Well, I think the idea is a good one; somebody ought to go," pursued Bluff.

"Then it ought to be you. Who can paddle a canoe better than you, Bluff? Besides, Frank is needed here on the island. Something might come up that neither you nor I could settle," remarked Will.

"I suppose so. Let me know what you decide, Frank, and you'll find me willing," continued Bluff.

For answer the other simply squeezed his hand. He was considerably worried over the mysterious absence of Jerry, and realized that the game they were playing was a much more serious one than any that had as yet claimed their attention. These disreputable rascals were desperate; they had done something calculated to send them to the penitentiary for a term of years, and would try their best to avoid punishment.

"There's one thing good, Bluff, if you do go: you won't have to paddle along in the dark," said Will, presently.

The others glanced toward the east, where the light of the moon was just beginning to appear along the horizon.

Even as they stood there and talked in low tones the silvery face of the moon pushed up into view. Being some days past her full, she was shorn of a portion of her circuit; but still promised a flood of light during the balance of the night.

Somehow even this circumstance seemed to give the boys new encouragement.

"Things never look quite so bad when you can see what's what," was Will's way of mentioning this circumstance.

"Suppose you come and sit down, Frank. Both of us are just dying to hear all about what happened to you and Jerry," said Bluff, presently.

"There's precious little to tell, but what there is you shall hear, boys. I'm ashamed to say that it was while I was a little ways off, examining some curious mounds, made perhaps by the old Indians, that this thing happened to our chum. But let's sit down here, and I'll tell you all about it."

In a low tone he started to detail the few things that had marked the circuitous journey of himself and Jerry, while the others hung upon every word, anxious to hear the thrilling denouement where he found the comrade who had shared his adventures, missing.

Just as he reached this point, and they were all worked up over it, Bluff gave a sudden jump. On the spur of the moment Frank supposed he had become so nervous over the description that he could no longer sit still. He was therefore astounded to hear his chum cry out:

"Looky there, boys! As sure as you live, some miserable reptile is getting away with the canoe I used in fishing, and left pulled up on the beach!"