CHAPTER XIV
AT THE FORT
"Bessie King!" he exclaimed amazed. "What on earth are you doing here?And where is Trenwith?"
"I don't know," said Bessie. She felt safe and for a moment she was onthe verge of collapsing completely. But then she remembered that not herown fate alone, but that of the others whom she loved and who had beenso good to her depended upon her. And, in a few quick words, she toldthe story of the accident to the _Columbia_, with the treachery of BillyTrenwith, and the subsequent appearance of Holmes and his men.
"There you are, gentlemen!" said Jamieson, turning to the little groupof men in uniform, who, tremendously interested, had listened intentlyto all that Bessie had said. "You laughed at me--you insisted that thesort of thing I told you about wasn't possible--that it simply couldn'thappen in this country, and in this time. What do you think now?"
"I guess it's one on us," said one of the officers, with a reluctantlaugh. "But, really, Jamieson, you can't blame us much, can you? It'spretty incredible, even now."
"I'm bothered about Trenwith, though," said Charlie. "Something has gonewrong."
"Miss Mercer is perfectly sure that he is in league with Mr. Holmes,"said Bessie. "Do you think that's so, Mr. Jamieson?"
"I hope not," said Charlie, soberly. "I've found out one thing latelythough, Bessie;--that when there is money involved, you can never tellwhat is going to happen."
"Did you know we were here--how did you find out?"
"No questions just now! It's time something was being done. Tell me, canyou take me to this house, and show me how to get in?"
"Yes, I think I can find my way back through the woods."
"No need of that," said one of the officers. "There's a road that leadsright to that place. What's Holmes doing there, anyhow? It isn't hisplace. It belongs to some people who bought it a little while ago."
"Yes, a Mr. and Mrs. Richards," said Charlie. "But from what Bessie heresays, he seems to be doing about as he likes with it. Well, I don't wantto waste any more time. Do you suppose I can see Colonel Hart?"
"You can unless your eyesight is failing," said the Colonel, appearingin the doorway. He had heard the question, and came forward smiling, hishand outstretched. "How are you, Jamieson? What can I do for you?"
"A great deal, if you will, Colonel," said Charlie. "I'd like to speakto you privately for a minute, if I may--"
"Shabby business--that's what I call it," said one of the youngofficers. "He knows we're wild to know what's going on, and there hegoes off with the old man to tell him about it where we can't hear."
Then one of them happened to think that Bessie might be in need ofrefreshment after her exciting experiences, and they waited on her as ifshe had been a princess. By the time she had been able to convince themthat she wanted nothing more, Jamieson and the Colonel returned.
"All right, my boy," the colonel was saying. "I'll attend to it, and doas you wish. Maybe it isn't strictly according to the regulations, but Idon't believe anyone will ever file charges against me. Depend upon me.You're starting now?"
"Yes," said Jamieson. "Come along, Bessie. We're going back to thehouse."
"I'm ready," said Bessie, simply.
"You're not afraid?"
"Not as long as you're there. I don't believe Mr. Holmes can do anythingwhile you're around."
"Well, I hope he can't, Bessie. But when they had managed to get away asyou did to-night, a whole lot of girls wouldn't be in a hurry to runinto the same danger again."
"I wouldn't be very happy about getting away myself unless Zara escaped,too, Mr. Jamieson. And I'm afraid of Mr. Holmes--I don't know what hemight do if he were angry enough. I wouldn't be sure that Dolly and MissEleanor were safe with him."
"Well, they are, Bessie. Of course, what I'm planning may go wrong, butI feel pretty confident that we are going to give Mr. Holmes thesurprise of his life this night."
They walked on steadily through the darkness, the going of course, beingmuch easier than Bessie had found it in her flight, since she now had agood road under her feet instead of the stumpy wood path, full oftwisted roots and unexpected bumps.
And at last a light showed through the trees to one side of the road,and Bessie stopped.
"That's the place, I'm pretty sure," she said. "I can tell for certainif we turn in, but I'm sure I didn't pass another house."
So they went in, and a minute's examination enabled Bessie to recognizethe grounds. She had had plenty of time to study them earlier in thenight, when she had crouched behind the rose bushes, expecting to bediscovered and dragged out every time one of the searchers passed nearher.
"I wish I knew about Trenwith," said Charlie, anxiously. "That is onepart of this night's work that puzzles me. I don't understand it at all,and it worries me."
"He went off with Mr. Holmes after we got inside the house," saidBessie. "But I didn't see him again after that. He wasn't with Mr.Holmes in the big hall again, after I had got away. I'm sure of that."
"What are you going to do now?" asked Bessie.
"I'm not certain. I'd like very much to know where the other girls are.We ought to be all together."
"Perhaps I can find out," said Bessie. "You stay here, and I'll slipalong toward the house. If Dolly's awake, I can find out where she is."
"All right. But if you see anyone else, or if anyone interferes withyou, call me right away."
Bessie promised that she would, and then she slipped away, and a momentlater found herself in front of the house.
"I'll try this side last," she said to herself. "I don't believe they'dput them in front--more likely they'd put them on the east side, becausethat only looks out over the garden, and there'd be less chance of theirseeing anyone who was coming."
So, moving stealthily and as silently as a cat, she went around to thatside of the house, and a moment later the strange, mournful call of awhip-poor-will sounded in the still night air. It was repeated two orthree times, but there was no answer. Then Bessie changed her callslightly.
At first she had imitated the bird perfectly. But this time there was afalse note in the call--just the slightest degree off the true pitch ofthe bird's note. Most people would not have known the difference, but toa trained ear that slight imperfection would be enough to reveal thefact that it was a human throat that was responsible, and not a bird's.And the trick served its turn, for there was an instant answer. A windowwas opened above Bessie, very gently, and she saw Dolly's head peeringdown over the ivy that grew up the wall.
"Wait there!" she whispered. "Get dressed, all three of you! Mr.Jamieson is here--not far away. I'm going to tell him where you are."
She marked the location of the window carefully, and then, sure that shewould remember it when she returned, went back to Jamieson.
"Did you locate them? Good work!" he said. "All right. Go back now andtell them to make a rope of their sheets--good and strong. I saw whereyou were standing, and, if they lower that, I don't think we will haveany trouble getting up to their window. I want to be inside thathouse--and I don't want Holmes to know I'm there until I'm ready." Hechuckled. "He thinks I'm back in the city. I want him to have a realsurprise when he finally does see me."
Bessie slipped back then and told Dolly what to do, and in a few minutesthe rope of sheets came down, rustling against the ivy. Bessie made thesignal she had agreed on with Jamieson at once--a repetition of thebird's call, and he joined her. Then he picked her up and started herclimbing up the wall, with the aid of the rope and the ivy.
For a girl as used to climbing trees as Bessie, it was a task of nogreat difficulty, and in a minute she was safely inside the room, andhad turned to watch Jamieson following her. His greater weight made histask more difficult, and twice those above had all they could do torepress screams of terror, for the ivy gave way, and he seemed certainto fall.
But he was a trained athlete, and a skillful climber as well, and,difficult as the ascent proved to be for him, he managed it, andclambered over the
sill of the window and into the room, breathless butsmiling and triumphant.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're here, Charlie!" said Eleanor. "There is someonewe can trust, after all, isn't there?"
"Oh, sure!" he said. "Don't you take on, Nell, and don't ask a lot ofquestions now. It'll be daylight pretty soon--and, believe me, when thelight comes, there's going to be considerable excitement around theseparts."
"But why did you bring Bessie back here? How did she find you?"
He raised his hand with a warning gesture, and smiled.
"Remember, Nell, no questions!" he said. "All we can do just now is towait."
Wait they did--and in silence, save for an occasional whisper.
"That man Holmes has a woman guarding us," whispered Eleanor. "She isjust outside the door in the hall--sleeping there. The idea is to keepus from leaving these rooms. Evidently they never thought of our goingby the window. We did think of it, but we couldn't see any use in it,because we felt we wouldn't know where to go on this island, even if wegot outside the grounds."
"That's what he counted on, I guess," answered Charlie. "I'm glad youstayed. Cheer up, Nell! You're going to have a package of assortedsurprises before you're very much older!"
To the five of them, practically imprisoned, it seemed as if daylightwould never come. But at last a faint brightness showed through thewindow, and gradually the objects in the room became more distinct. And,with the coming of the light, there came also sounds of life in thehouse. The voices of men sounded from the garden, and Charlie smiled.
"They'll begin wondering about that rope and the footprints under thiswindow pretty soon," he said. "And I guess none of them will be exactlyanxious to tell Holmes, either."
He was right, for in a few moments excited voices echoed from below, andthen there was an argument.
"Well, he's got to be told," said one man. "It's your job, Bill."
"Suppose you do it yourself."
Apparently, they finally agreed to go together. And five minutes laterthere was a commotion outside the door.
"Here's where I take cover!" whispered Charlie, with a grin. And, justbefore the door was opened, and Holmes burst in, his face livid withanger, the lawyer hid himself behind a closet door.
Holmes stared at the sight of the four girls standing there, fullydressed, his jaw dropping.
"So you're all here?" he said, an expression of relief graduallysucceeding his consternation. "Found you couldn't get away, eh, Bessie?Why didn't you come to the front door instead of climbing in that way?We'd have let you in all right." He laughed, harshly.
"Well, I've had about all the trouble you're going to give me," he said."Silas Weeks will be here to take care of you pretty soon, my girl, andnow that he's got you in the state where you belong, I guess you won'tget away again very soon."
"What state do you think this island is in?" asked Charlie Jamieson,appearing suddenly from his hiding-place.
Holmes staggered back. For a moment he seemed speechless. Then he foundhis tongue.
"What are you doing here? How did you get into my house?" he snarled."I'll have you arrested as a burglar."
"Ah, no, you won't," said Charlie, pleasantly. "But I'm going to haveyou arrested--for kidnapping. Answer my question--do you think this isin the state where the courts have put Bessie in charge of Silas Weeks?"
"Certainly it is," said Holmes, blustering.
"You ought to keep up with the news better, Mr. Holmes. The UnitedStates Government has bought this island for military purposes. It's aFederal reservation now, and the writ of the state courts has no valuewhatever. Even the land this house stands on belongs to the governmentnow--it was taken by condemnation proceedings."
Eleanor gave a glad cry at the good news. At last she understood thetrap into which Holmes had fallen.
"Look outside--look through the window!" said Jamieson.
Holmes rushed to the window, and his teeth showed in a snarl at what hesaw.
"You can't get away, you see," said Jamieson. "There isn't any sentimentabout those soldiers. They'd shoot you if you tried to run through them.I'd advise you to take things easily. There'll be a United Statesmarshall to take you in charge pretty soon. He's on his way from RockHaven now. He'll probably come on the same boat that brings SilasWeeks--and some other people you are not expecting."
Holmes slumped into a chair. Defeat was written in his features. But hepulled himself together presently.
"You've got the upper hand right now," he said. "But what good does itdo you? I'm the only one who knows the truth, and the reason for allthis. They won't do anything to me--they can't prove any kidnappingcharge. The boat was disabled--I entertained these girls over night whenthey were stranded here."
"We'll see about that," said Jamieson, quietly. "And I may know morethan you think. I've been finding out a few things since the talk I hadwith Jake Hoover in Bay City yesterday. Did you know that he wasarrested the day before yesterday at Plum Beach?"
Evidently Holmes had not known it. The news was a fresh shock to him.But he was determined not to admit defeat.
"Much good he'll do you!" he said. "He doesn't know anything--even if hethinks he does."