CHAPTER XVIII. JUMBO EARNS $500.00--AND LOSES IT.
"Guess you do want us, but not exactly in the same sense as you mean,"retorted Rob with a chuckle.
"What do you mean, boy?" asked one of the men sharply, as several othersof the revenue officers--as Rob had guessed them to be--came up.
"I mean that we've got the whole gang you were after bottled up in atunnel under this trap door," rejoined Rob breezily.
"Yas sah, Misto Arm-ob-de-Law," grinned Jumbo, "ah reckin no coon up atree was eber moh completely obfusticated dan dose same chill'uns."
"What does all this mean?" asked another of the group, a gray-moustachedman of stern appearance, "this boy is either one of the gang or he hasbeen reading dime novels."
"Nebber read a bit ob dat classification ob literachoor in mah life,"snorted Jumbo indignantly, "ef yo' alls don' want dese men we gotobfusticated under hay'ah, why we jes' gits off dis yar trap door an'lits dem skeedaddle."
"Who's that you're sitting on, nigger?" demanded the gray moustached man,who seemed to be in authority.
"Why, dis am a genelman what answers to de ufoinious name ob Black Bart,"grinned Jumbo amiably, "an' ah's not a nigger, ah's a 'spectable----"
"Do be quiet, Jumbo," exclaimed Rob, as the inevitable protest came intoevidence. "The case is just this, gentlemen," he continued. "I am a BoyScout. This man is attached to our camp. We wandered away and got lost."
Rob did not tell all that happened, for he foresaw that such a proceduremight lead to questions which would bring out the fact of their treasurehunt.
"I see that you wear a Scout uniform now," said the gray-moustached man.
"Yes, and Boy Scouts don't lie," put in another man, "my sons are both inthe organization."
"What troop?" asked Rob.
"The Curlews of Patchogue."
"Why, we've met them in water games at Patchogue," exclaimed Rob, "myname is Rob Blake."
"And mine's Sam Taylor," said the man, advancing, "glad to meet you, RobBlake, I've heard of you. This lad is all right," he said, turning to theleader. "I'll vouch for him."
"All right," rejoined the gray-moustached revenue officer, "but we can'tbe too careful. Well, Rob Blake, what's your story? Go ahead."
"As I said, we lost our way," went on Rob. "We stumbled on that hut. Wewere tired and faint, and for pay this man, on whom Jumbo is sitting,took us in. I awoke in time to overhear a plot to rob us. We escaped andwhile hiding in the brush--not just knowing who you were, friend or foe,we saw that trap-door open and nailed that man--Black Bart. At leastJumbo did."
"Then it looks as if Jumbo gets five hundred dollars reward for thecapture of Black Bart, and more may be in store. You say that the restare in that passage?"
"Yes."
"Some of you fellows tie Black Bart," ordered the leader.
When this was done, the sullen prisoner not uttering a word, the order toopen the trap-door was issued.
"No monkey tricks, you fellows," warned the revenue officer, as it swungback, "we'll take stern measures with you."
One by one the occupants of the hut crawled out and were promptly madeprisoners. They were almost exhausted, and could not have put up a fighthad they been so inclined.
"Glad to get out," said the blonde-bearded man as he submitted to beinghandcuffed, "it was hot enough in thar to roast potatoes."
"So you got scorched by the same fire you intended should destroy us,"said the chief revenue officer dryly.
"Young man," he went on, turning to Rob, "I shall bring this bit of workto the attention of the government. In the meantime, I may tell you, thatbesides the five hundred dollars offered for Black Bart's capture, therewas a reward of two thousand dollars for the apprehension of the gang asa whole. I shall see that you and your companion get it."
"But--but----" stammered Rob, "you had all the trouble and risk----"
"Hush, Marse Rob! don' be talkin' dat way. Dey may take dat reward awayag'in," whispered Jumbo, whose eyes had been rolling gleefully. He couldhardly credit his good fortune.
"We're paid for our work," said the revenue man briefly, "I'm not sayingthat we always get much credit for the risks we take. Half the time theydon't even mention our raids in the papers. But we do our duty to UncleSam and that's enough."
Soon after, a search having been made of the ruins of the hut, therevenue men set out with their prisoners for the lake, where they had aboat and two small bateaus. Rob and Jumbo accompanied them. Jumbo walkedlike one in a trance. He saw money fairly hanging to the trees.
"What will you do with all that money, Jumbo?" asked Rob amusedly as theystrode along. Under the skilled leadership of the revenue men the path tothe lake was a simple matter to find.
"Ah reckon's ah'll buy a 'mobile, Marse Rob, an' a pair ob patent lebbershoes--dem shiny kind, an' some yaller globes (gloves) an'--an' what'slef' ober ah'll jes' spend foolishly."
"If I were you I'd put some of it in a savings bank," advised Rob,smiling at the black's enumeration of his wants. "You get interest there,too, you know."
"Wha' good dem safety banks, Marse Rob? Dey calls dem safety but dey'splum dangerous. Fus' ting yo' know dey bus' up. Ah had a cousin downsouth. Some colored men dey start a bank down dere. Mah cousin he puts infive dollars reposit. 'Bout a munf afterward he done go to draw it outand what you think dat no-good black-trash what run de bank tole him?"
"I don't know, I'm sure, Jumbo," answered Rob.
"Why, dey said de interest jes' nacherally done eat dat fibe dollars up!"
As Rob was still laughing over Jumbo's tragic tale there came a suddenshout from ahead.
Then a pistol shot split the darkness. It was followed by another andanother. They proceeded from the knot of revenue men who, with theirprisoners, were a short distance in advance.
"Gollyumptions! Wha's de mattah now?" exclaimed Jumbo, sprinting forward.
A dark form flashed by him and vanished, knocking Jumbo flat. Behind thefleeing form came running the revenue men.
"It's Black Bart! He's escaped!" cried one.
Rob joined the chase. But although they could hear crashing of branchesahead, the pursuit had to be given over after a while. In the woods heknew so well the revenues were no match for the wily Black Bart. Withdowncast faces they returned to where the other prisoners, guarded by twoof the officers, had been left.
"I'd rather have lost the whole boiling than let Black Bart slip throughmy fingers," bemoaned the leader, "wonder how he did it?"
"Here's how," struck in one of the officers, holding up a strand of rope,"he slipped through the knots."
"Serves me right for taking chances with such an old fox," muttered theleader, self-reproachfully.
"Anyhow we got the rest of them," said the man who had recognized Rob,"better luck next time."
"Dere ain't agoin' ter be no next time," muttered Jumbo disconsolately,"dat five hundred dollars and dat gas wagon I was a-gwine ter buy habtaken de wings ob de mawning!"
The lake was reached shortly before dawn. True to their promise, therevenue men put Rob and Jumbo ashore at the Boy Scouts' camp. Theamazement and delight their arrival caused can be better imagined thanset down here. Anyhow, for a long time nothing but confused fusillades ofquestions and scattered answers could be heard. Much hand-shaking,back-slapping and shouting also ensued. It was a joyous reunion. Only onething marred it. The canoes were still missing, and without them theycould not proceed.