CHAPTER XXXVII.
FRANK'S MERCY.
The forenoon passed, and the afternoon was well advanced, but stillSocato the Seminole did not return.
But late in the afternoon a boat and a number of canoes appeared. In theboat was Leslie Gage and the two sailors, Black Tom and Bowsprit. Thecanoes were filled with Indians.
"Great shnakes av Ireland!" cried Barney Mulloy, amazed. "Phwat th'dickens does this mane, Oi dunno?"
"It means trouble," said Frank, quickly. "Have the rifles ready, and beprepared for hot work."
"Indians!" gurgled Professor Scotch. "We're all dead and scalped!"
"Those must be Seminoles," said Frank. "It is scarcely likely that theyare very dangerous."
The boat containing the three white persons ran boldly up to the shore,and Leslie Gage landed. Advancing a short distance toward the hut, thedoor of which was securely closed, he cried:
"Hello in there!"
"Talk with him, Barney," Frank swiftly directed. "The fellow does notknow I am alive, and I do not wish him to know it just now."
So Barney returned:
"Hello, yersilf, an' see how ye loike it."
"You people are in a bad trap," declared Gage, with a threatening air."Look," and he motioned toward the water, where the canoes containingthe Indians were lying, "these are my backers. There are twenty of them,and I have but to say the word to have them attack this hut and tear itto the ground."
"Well, Oi dunno about thot," coolly retorted the Irish lad. "We moighthave something to say in thot case. It's arrumed we are, an' we know howto use our goons, me foine birrud."
"If you were to fire a shot at one of these Indians it would mean thedeath of you all."
"Is thot so? Well, we are arrumed with Winchester repeaters, an' itmoight make the death av thim all av we began shootin'."
"They do not look very dangerous," said Frank. "I'll wager somethingGage has hired the fellows to come here and make a show in order toscare us into submitting. The chances are the Indians will not fight atall."
"You're not fools," said Gage, "and you will not do anything that meansthe same as signing your death warrant. If you will come to reason,we'll have no trouble. We want that girl, Miss Bellwood, and we willhave her. If you do not----"
He stopped suddenly, for there was a great shouting from the Indians.
"The phantom! the phantom!" they cried, in tones that betokened thegreatest terror.
Then they took to flight, paddling as if their very lives depended onit.
At the same time, the mysterious white canoe, still apparently withoutan occupant, was seen coming swiftly toward them, gliding lightly overthe water in a most unaccountable manner.
Exclamations of astonishment broke from the two sailors, and Leslie Gagestared at the singular craft in profound astonishment.
When the attention of the crowd was on the remarkable sight, Frankunfastened the door and before Gage was aware of it, our hero was rightupon him.
"You are my prisoner, Gage!" Frank shouted, pointing a revolver at thefellow. "Surrender!"
Gage saw the boy he believed he had destroyed, uttered a wild shriek,threw up his hands, and fell in a senseless heap to the ground.
Frank swiftly lifted the fellow, and then ran into the cabin with him,placing him on the couch.
The two sailors did not pursue. In fact, they seemed almost as badlyscared as the Indians, and they got away in their boat, rowing as if fortheir very lives, soon passing from sight.
"Well, begobs!" exclaimed Barney Mulloy; "this is phwat Oi call aragion av wonders. It's ivery doay and almost ivery hour somethinghappens to astonish ye."
Gage was made secure, so he could not get away when he recovered fromthe swoon into which he seemed to have fallen.
A short time after, Socato was seen returning, but he was alone in hiscanoe.
"He has not found my father--my poor father!" cried Elsie, in distress."Those terrible men will kill my father!"
"Wait!" advised Frank. "Let's hear what he has to say. I have greatconfidence in Socato."
"The bad white men leave their captive alone," said Socato, "and Ishould have set him free, but the great white phantom came, and then thewhite captive disappeared."
"What's that?" cried Frank, in astonishment. "Make it plain, Socato.Whom do you mean by the great white phantom?"
"The one who owns the canoe that goes alone--the one who built thishouse and lives here sometimes. Every one fears him. My people say he isa phantom, for he can appear and disappear as he likes, and he commandsthe powers of light and darkness. Socato knew that the bad white man hadhired a hunting party of my people to come here and appear before thehouse to frighten you, but he knew you would not be frightened, and thebad men could not get my people to aid them in a fight. Socato also knewthat the great white phantom sent his canoe to scare my people away, buthe does not know what the great white phantom has done with the man whowas a prisoner."
"Well, it is possible the great white phantom will explain a few thingswe do not understand," said Frank, "for here he comes in his canoe."
"And father--my father is with him in the canoe!" screamed ElsieBellwood, in delight.
It was true. The white canoe was approaching, still gliding noiselesslyover the water, without any apparent power of propulsion, and in it wereseated two men. One had a long white beard and a profusion of whitehair. He was dressed entirely in white, and sat in the stern of thecanoe. The other was Captain Justin Bellwood, quite unharmed, andlooking very much at his ease.
The little party flocked to the shore to greet the captain, who wavedhis hand and called reassuringly to Elsie. As soon as the canoe touchedand came to a rest, he stepped out and clasped his daughter in his arms,saying, fervently:
"Heaven be thanked! we have come through many dangers, and we are freeat last! Neither of us has been harmed, and we will soon be out of thisfearful swamp."
The man with the white hair and beard stepped ashore and stood regardingthe girl intently, paying no heed to the others. Captain Bellwood turnedto him, saying:
"William, this is my daughter, of whom I told you. Elsie, this is yourUncle William, who disappeared many years ago, and has never been heardfrom since till he set me free to-day, after I was abandoned by thosewretches who dragged us here."
"My uncle?" cried the girl, wonderingly. "How can that be? You saidUncle William was dead."
"And so I believed, but he still lives. Professor Scotch, I think we hadthe pleasure of meeting in Fardale. Permit me to introduce you toWilliam Bellwood, one of the most celebrated electricians livingto-day."
As he said this, Captain Bellwood made a swift motion which his brotherdid not see. He touched his forehead, and the signal signified thatWilliam Bellwood was not right in his mind. This the professor saw wastrue when he shook hands with the man, for there was the light ofmadness in the eyes of the hermit.
"My brother," continued Captain Bellwood, "has explained that he camehere to these wilds to continue his study of electricity alone andundisturbed. He took means to keep other people from bothering him. Thiscanoe, which contains a lower compartment and a hidden propeller, drivenby electricity, was his invention. He has arrangements whereby he canuse a powerful search-light at night, and----"
"That search-light came near being the death of me," said Frank. "Heturned it on me last night just in time to show me to my enemy."
"He has many other contrivances," Captain Bellwood went on. "He hasexplained that, by means of electricity, he can make his canoe orhimself glow with a white light in the darkest night."
"Begorra! we've seen him glow!" shouted Barney.
"And he also states that he has wires connecting various batteries inyonder hut, so that he can frighten away superstitious hunters whootherwise might take possession of the hut and give him trouble."
"Whoop!" shouted Barney. "Thot ixplains th' foire-allarum an' th' powerthot throwed me inther th' middle av th' flure! Oi nivver hearrud th'bate av it!"
/> "It is wonderful, wonderful!" gasped Professor Scotch.
At this moment, a series of wild shrieks came from the hut, startlingthem all.
"It is Gage," said Frank. "He seems to be badly frightened."
They hurried toward the hut, Frank leading. Gage was still on the couch,and he shrieked still louder when he saw Frank; an expression of thegreatest terror coming to his face.
"Take him away! Take him away!" screamed the wretched fellow. "He isdead! I killed him! Don't let him touch me!"
Then he began to rave incoherently, sometimes frothing at the mouth.
"He is mad!" cried Professor Scotch.
"It is retribution!" came solemnly from Frank's lips.
Two days later a party of eight persons emerged from the wilds of thegreat Dismal Swamp and reached a small settlement. They were FrankMerriwell, Barney Mulloy, Professor Scotch, Leslie Gage, CaptainBellwood and his brother William, Socato the Seminole, and last, but farfrom least, Elsie Bellwood.
"What shall be done with Gage?" asked Professor Scotch.
"He shall be given shelter and medical treatment," declared Frank; "andI will see that all the bills are paid."
"Thot's the only thing Oi have against ye, me b'y. Ye wur always lettingup on yer inemies at Fardale, an' ye shtill kape on doin' av it."
"If I continue to do so, I shall have nothing to trouble my conscience."
Frank did take care of Gage and see that he was given the best medicalaid that money could procure, and, as a result, the fellow was savedfrom a madhouse, for he finally recovered. He seemed to appreciate themercy shown him by his enemy, for he wrote a letter to Frank that wasfilled with entreaties for forgiveness and promised to try to lead adifferent life in the future.
"That," said Frank, "is my reward for being merciful to an enemy."
If Jack Jaggers did not perish in the Everglades, he disappeared. BenBowsprit and Black Tom also vanished, and it is possible that they lefttheir bones in the great Dismal Swamp.
William Bellwood, so long a hermit in the wilds of Florida, seemed gladto leave that region.