CHAPTER XIV.
THE WOODS BY THE RIVER.
There was a wait on a siding, a little way out of town, for another carfrom Grand Rapids to pass on the single track of the trolley system.Five minutes were lost, and Ferral fretted and fumed.
"Take it easy, son," said Harris soothingly. "We're on the way, youknow, and a little wait like this isn't going to make much of adifference."
"It might, matey," answered Ferral. "A whole lot can happen in fiveminutes."
At last the car got under headway again and rushed over the remainingdistance.
"I'd better get off alone," suggested Dennison, just as the carbegan slowing up for the platform. "If Brady has anyone watching theplatform, the fellow won't know but that I'm Ochiltree, or some onesent by Ochiltree and Harper. The rest of you go on a little way, getoff, and double back. Show your badge to the conductor, Harris, andhe'll let you off anywhere."
This was a good idea, and Dennison deserved credit for thinking of itat the last moment. The success of the whole plan might depend upon theruse.
Dennison debarked on the platform, and, when the car pulled out, thosestill aboard saw him stepping off the planks and pushing into thetimber that grew close up to the stopping place.
Matt and Ferral, as the car went on, saw the broken oak at the endof the platform. It was a plain enough landmark and not easily to bepassed or mistaken.
"Harper is playing square with us, matey," remarked Ferral, pointing tothe tree.
"It looks that way, Dick," agreed Matt.
"Here's where we get back our air ship," jubilated Ferral. "Sink me,though, but the loss of that flugee gave me a scare."
"We haven't got it back yet, old chap."
"I know that, but I feel in my bones that we're going to. I----"
Just then the car began to slow down. Harris had got out of his seat,with the other officer, and had gone back to the conductor. Evidentlythe badges worn by the two men had caused him to slow down the expresscar for a halt in defiance of rules.
The boys, heeding a call from Harris, got up and ran back along theaisle. They jumped off, after the two officers, and the car resumed itscourse to Grand Rapids. But there was a mighty curious conductor on therear platform. As long as the car remained in sight of the four who haddebarked, he looked back and wondered what was up.
"We'll go back quietly," said Harris. "The river is just over there,and the woods lie between it and the trolley line. We'll get to theriver bank and follow it back. That ought to bring us out close tothe place where the Hawk landed. Follow me, Twitchell," he added tothe other officer, "and you boys," he finished, "come along behindTwitchell. Quiet's the word."
Harris darted into the timber, which bordered the track closely. Theunderbrush had evidently been cleaned out, so that the timber had theappearance of a grove. On one of the trees, near the track, Matt saw abig white sign bearing the words, "Lots for Sale."
The river, as it proved, was hardly more than a stone's throw from thetrolley track. Turning along its bank, Harris led the way back towardthe vicinity of the broken oak and the platform.
They all knew they had not far to go, but they were startled at thesuddenness with which Harris turned on them before they had followedthe river bank for more than two or three minutes.
"I can see the Hawk," whispered Harris. "She's just ahead. And Brady isthere--and Dennison, too. They're talking. I can't see Pete or Whipple,and those rascals may be laying low to carry out some black plan ofBrady's--but we'll see about that. Come along, and keep behind thetrees as much as you can."
As Harris turned about, he drew his revolver. Twitchell likewise gotout a weapon. Then the party separated, and each advanced from tree totree.
It was not long before Matt and Ferral, who were advancing near eachother, were able to get a good look at their air ship.
The Hawk had descended in a cleared space hard by the river, and seemedto be in good condition. She was moored to the ground with two ropes atthe front and rear of the car, the ropes being tied to trees.
Coming a little closer, the boys were able to see Brady and Dennison.
Brady had his coat off and his shirt sleeves rolled up. He was holdinga heavy wrench in his hand and had evidently been working with themotor when Dennison presented himself. The two men were talking, andMatt and Ferral were able to hear what passed between them.
"What did you say your name was?" inquired Brady, evidently distrustful.
"Gammon," answered Dennison. "I'm a pal o' Ochiltree's."
"Where's Harper?"
"He stayed behind at Ochiltree's house."
"Why was that? I told Harper to come and to bring Ochiltree with him."
"I'll tell ye the why of it, Brady. Ye see, the perlice are watchin'Ochiltree good and hard, an' if he was seen comin' here with Harper,the two of 'em might be follered. Ochiltree got word ter me ter comean' put the situation up to you, an' to tell ye that he an' Harper 'u'dbe along when it got dark, as it wasn't safe ter come in broad day."
"I see," muttered Brady, studying Dennison with his gimlet eyes.
"Harper said ye had two more men with ye," went on Dennison, playinghis game easily and evidently edging closer for a chance to lay hold ofBrady and make him a prisoner. "Where are they?"
"They're off watching the platform. I reckon they'll be along in aminute. Prob'ly they followed you, and----"
At that precise moment, Pete and Whipple broke out of the timber. Theycame up directly behind Dennison and laid hands on him before he couldmake a move to defend himself.
"What you doing?" yelled Brady, leaping forward.
"Grabbing an officer," said Whipple, with an oath. "His name's Gammon,all right, an' the talk he was givin' ye, Brady, was pure gammon, an'nothin' else."
"How's that?"
Brady's voice, as he put the question, was hard and metallic, and hemeasured Dennison with glistening eyes.
"Why," explained Whipple, "when he got off'n the keer we seen some'un else through a winder. I'm a sinner if it wasn't Matt King. Now,whatever was King doin' on that keer? By rights, he ort ter hev gotshuffled out o' the game, across the lake in that balloon house. Buthe didn't, an' here he is, travelin' on the same keer with a feller assays his name is Gammon, an' that he comes from Ochiltree."
Dennison, as he was held helpless in the hands of Pete and Whipple, wasstudying the timber covertly, but none the less anxiously.
"What have you got to say for yourself?" cried Brady, advancingthreateningly upon Dennison.
Matt and Ferral had been wondering why Harris and Twitchell had notshown themselves. Unable to hold back any longer, the boys dashedforward.
The noise they made drew the instant attention of Brady, Whipple andPete.
"There's King now!" yelled Pete.
In a twinkling, Brady dropped the wrench and drew a revolver.
A sharp, incisive note echoed through the woods and across the river.Matt felt the wind of the bullet as it passed his face.
"Look out, matey!" bellowed Ferral. "Duck for a tree! You're not armed,and can't take any chances. He's going to shoot again."
But it was not necessary for Matt to get behind a tree. Before Bradycould fire another shot in his direction, Harris and Twitchell rushedupon the scene.
"Drop your guns!" cried Harris sternly. "Stand right where you are!You're our prisoners!"
Brady, however, was made of sterner stuff. A prison cell was yawning toreceive him, and he knew it.
Whipple and Pete, astounded by this sudden demonstration, pausedundecided. Their fingers relaxed, and Dennison leaped away from them.
"Treachery!" roared Brady; "Harper has sold us out! Fight for it, boys!"
Dennison, being nearer Brady than any of the rest, jumped for him.He tried to draw his revolver, but it stuck in his pocket. Bradyhad leveled his weapon at point-blank range, and only Motor Matt'squickness, at that moment, saved the officer's life.
Matt, watching the fight breathlessly, had instinctively picked up a
stone. Now, seeing Dennison's danger, he hurled the stone at Brady withall his strength.
The missile sped true, struck Brady's arm with terrific force andcaused the revolver to drop. With wild yells, Harris and Twitchellrushed forward to capture Brady and his two men.
But Pete and Whipple, not knowing the extent of the forces againstthem, thought best to trust their liberty to their heels. Whirlingaround, they darted into the timber, leaping from tree to tree as theyran in order to screen themselves from any bullets that might be sentafter them.
The bullets came fast and thick, but evidently without doing anydamage, for Whipple and Pete did not slacken pace.
Brady, swearing like a pirate, turned on Dennison like a madman,grabbed him about the waist and, with a tremendous display of strength,held the officer in front of him. Still swearing, he began backing intothe timber, with the intention of making his escape as Pete and Whipplehad done.
Seeing that he would be likely to effect his purpose, Matt and Ferraldoubled around behind him and suddenly hurled themselves upon him fromthe rear.
Brady fought like a tiger. Matt could not have believed that one manpossessed so much strength. Dennison, whose temper was fiercely arousedby the turn events had taken, jerked loose from Brady and turned tohelp the boys.
Harris and Twitchell, seeing that Brady was as good as captured, tookafter Pete and Whipple.