CHAPTER XVIII.
HAMP'S PERIL.
Neither Brick nor his companions expected to overtake Kyle Sgarwick.They knew that what Thomson said was true. The thief was many hoursahead, and possessed an intricate knowledge of the wilderness.
"I'll have to let the watch go," said Brick, in a resigned tone. "Ihated to lose it, because it was a present from my father."
"We may recover it at some pawnshop in Bangor, when we go back," repliedJerry.
This cheered Brick up a little, and the conversation turned on brightertopics. For mile after mile the boys tramped steadily down theMallowgash. The air was bitterly cold, but not sufficient to freeze thedashing current and tumbling waves.
"We ought to be near Chesumcook," said Hamp, at length.
"We are," replied Jerry. "The logging camp is a good four miles behindus. Pretty soon we'll get a view of the lake."
"And what then?" asked Brick.
"Well, I guess the best plan will be to get across the Mallowgash, andpush up this side of Chesumcook until we strike a good camping-place."
"That's just the thing," assented Hamp. "Come on. Let's walk faster."
Accordingly the boys quickened their pace. The roaring of the near-bystream drowned the slight crunching of the snowshoes and sleds.
At length they reached a bit of a clearing that faced the Mallowgash.Here they paused, startled and pleased by the strange sight that mettheir gaze.
In the center of the stream was a submerged tree, drifted there by somepowerful flood. Only its upper limbs projected from the water. Caught inthese was a partly sunken boat. Its bottom had evidently been impaled onone of the sharp, spiky branches. In the precarious and slantingfront-end of the craft stood Kyle Sparwick.
The rascal was naked, and in one hand he held his clothes, rolledtightly into a pack. His back was toward the boys, and for half a minutethey watched him in silence.
"Serves the rascal right," muttered Hamp. "He must have struck therehours ago. He couldn't get the boat loose, and now he's going to wade."
"I don't envy him," whispered Jerry. "He'll nearly freeze to death."
"I wish I had my watch and money," replied Brick; "but I don't see anyway to get them."
Just then Sparwick stepped from the boat onto the submerged trunk of thetree. He shivered like a leaf, but without hesitation he lowered himselfinto the icy water. It came almost to his neck. Holding his clotheshigh overhead, he waded slowly toward the opposite shore.
"Stop, you thief!" shouted Brick, with all his might.
Sparwick nearly lost his balance. He recovered himself, and turned hishead. His eyes snapped with fear and danger when he saw the boys. Jerrylifted his rifle, and leveled it across the stream.
"We want that stolen property," he yelled. "I've got the drop on you.Wade over to this shore as quick as you can."
Sparwick stood still. He tried to speak, but his teeth chattered toomuch. Then he did a bold and venturesome thing. He flung his clothessafely beyond the heavy fringe of bushes that skirted the opposite bankof the stream. The next instant he vanished before the eyes of theamazed boys. He had dived clear under water.
"Watch for him!" yelled Jerry.
"Pepper him when he comes up," cried Brick, excitedly.
For half a minute there was silence. The boys eagerly scanned theopposite shore. Then, thirty feet diagonally down stream, somethingwhite slipped out of the water, and dodged like a flash into the bushes.
"What beastly luck!" cried Jerry. "I never dreamed of his coming up awaydown there. He's out of reach now."
"And we can't get across," moaned Brick. "Good-by to the watch. I wish Ihad fired when I had the chance."
"Hold on!" suddenly cried Hamp. "We've got a show yet."
He ran swiftly down stream to a point some twenty feet below, andopposite to the place where Sparwick had left the water.
Jerry and Brick followed at a slower pace, wondering what was in thewind. They understood as soon as they caught up with Hamp. Here theMallowgash abruptly widened. It was frozen hard from shore to shore withthe exception of a six-foot channel in midstream. Through this the waterpoured with a swift, steady rush.
"Don't be a fool," expostulated Jerry. "You'll throw your life away."
"The watch ain't worth the risk," added Brick. "Let it go."
"Don't worry about me," cried Hamp. "That's an easy jump. Don't youfellows try to follow me, though."
Before his companions could prevent him, he dashed forward, rifle inhand. He sped swiftly over the first stretch of ice. With an agile leap,he cleared the gap of rushing water, and landed on firm ice beyond.
Suddenly Sparwick crashed through the fringe of bushes. He was attiredonly in a red flannel shirt. His face was blue with cold, and his beardwas a frozen mass of icicles. He glared at the daring lad, and uttered ahoarse cry. In one hand he held a great clod of frozen snow. He drew itback and let fly.
The whole thing was so sudden that Hamp did not have time to lift or usehis rifle. The heavy missile struck him forcibly on the breast. Hereeled to one side and slipped on the smooth ice. With a piercing cry,he plunged into the swift water.
Sparwick instantly vanished behind the bushes. Well for him that he didso. Had he lingered but a moment Brick or Jerry would have shot him intheir wrath.
Finding the ruffian out of reach, the two boys turned their eyesanxiously on the open channel.
Hamp's head and shoulders bobbed to the surface half-a-dozen feet belowwhere he had fallen in. He still retained his hold on the rifle. He madea gallant struggle for life, and succeeded in reaching the rim of icenearest his companions. He threw the rifle forward, and clung tight.
"Help! help!" he cried. "I'm nearly played out, boys. I'll have to letgo."
But Brick and Jerry were prompt to the rescue. With great strides theycrossed the ice, and soon had Hamp safely beside them. They dragged himover to the bank, and dropped him in a clump of bushes. He was blue andspeechless with cold.
"Bring the sleds here, Brick," cried Jerry. "Quick, while I make a fire.Hamp must have dry clothes and blankets right away."
Brick dashed off at full speed. When he returned, a moment later, Jerryhad heaped up a pile of brush and twigs. Hamp was taking off hisdripping clothes as fast as his numbed fingers would allow.
Just as Jerry scraped a match, a crunching noise was heard back from thestream. It grew nearer and louder. The boys stopped their occupations,and glanced in the direction of the sound. A moment later the bushesparted and two men emerged.
The foremost was an old acquaintance, Mr. Silas Raikes. His companionwas a sinister-looking fellow, with a heavy black beard and mustache.Both were armed with rifles, and a well-packed hand-sled trailed behindthem.
"Hullo!" exclaimed Raikes, in a tone of the utmost surprise. "We meetagain, my young friends. This is an unexpected pleasure. Not taking abath on such a morning as this, I hope."
"Hamp was compelled to take one," replied Jerry.
He briefly related the stirring events of the past twenty-four hours,beginning with the start from the far side of Moosehead Lake. Meanwhilethe fire blazed up merrily, and Hamp got himself into dry clothes andblankets.
"You've had a tough time of it, boys!" commented Silas Raikes. "I'm gladto find that you weathered the storm all right. And so you're bound inour direction? I had no idea you intended traveling to Chesumcook."
"That's what we told you the night you were at our camp," replied Jerry.
"Then I forgot all about it," admitted Raikes. "You see, I've got a badmemory."
"Are you still prospecting?" asked Brick.
"Not in this weather," was the reply. "We're taking a sort of aroundabout way home."
"We feared you were lost in the storm," said Jerry. "After it was overwe hunted the neighborhood for your camp."
"And didn't find it, eh?" laughed Raikes. "No wonder, lads. We had asnug nest among the rocks, two miles or more from the lake. But
pardonme. I quite forgot to introduce my friend, of whom I spoke to youbefore. This is Joe Bogle, from Augusta, Maine. We've been partners formany a year."
The black-bearded man had been scrutinizing the lads--and Brick inparticular--with keen attention. Now he stepped forward, and nodded inresponse to the introduction.
"I'm glad to meet any friends of my partner," he said, in a low, oilyvoice.
A surprised and puzzled look appeared on Brick's face. He staredintently at Mr. Joe Bogle.
"Haven't I met you before?" he exclaimed.