CHAPTER XXXI.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
It was an hour after dawn when Sparwick returned to the cabin. Bogle wasup preparing breakfast. The boys lay on the bed with wide-open eyes.They were delighted to see that Sparwick had come back alone, but theirexultation was quickly changed to deepest sorrow, when the story ofJerry's sad accident was told.
They pleaded with their captors to have Jerry's body recovered--arequest that was firmly refused. After breakfast Bogle and Sparwick helda long and earnest discussion. Then, much to the amazement of the boys,they began to prepare for a journey.
"Where are you going?" Brick ventured to ask.
"None of your business," Bogle replied. "You'll know in good time."
"Come on! Lively, now," added Sparwick.
"I guess they're afraid that trapper will find poor Jerry and maketrouble," Brick whispered to his companion, as they passed out of thedoor. "So they are going to hunt a safer hiding-place."
"That's about it," assented Hamp.
There was no chance to say more. A sled was given to each lad, and theydropped into line behind Bogle, who assumed the lead with a rifle overhis shoulder.
In the rear came Sparwick, dragging the third sled and keeping awatchful eye on the prisoners.
All morning the little party tramped steadily to the east. At noon theystopped long enough for a lunch. Then they pushed on, through scenery ofthe most lonely and rugged description, until three o'clock in theafternoon.
A deep valley now lay before them. It was densely covered with trees andundergrowth. After traversing it for half a mile, Bogle turned towardthe base of the hill. He pushed through a strip of heavy timber andhuge, scattered bowlders.
A moment later the weary travelers were at their destination.
The Rock House was aptly named. It was a sunken depression in the baseof the mountain--a sort of cave with an open front.
In a short time the place presented a cozy and cheerful appearance. Theluggage was unpacked, and the red flames danced in the stone fireplace.Sparwick brought in a dozen loads of pine boughs and made a soft bed.
It was long past dark when supper was ready. In spite of their grief theboys were very hungry. They enjoyed the meal. Then Bogle ordered them tobed.
"You needn't think of escape," he said. "This place is harder to find orget away from than the cabin in the swamp. Make the best of things, andin good time you'll be free."
He strolled back to the fire and, lighting his pipe, sat down besideSparwick.
The boys felt too wretched and heartbroken to sleep. In tearful whispersthey talked about Jerry.
"I can hardly believe that he is dead," said Brick. "He was an awfullygood fellow."
"No better ever lived," replied Hamp. "He was murdered, Brick. Sparwickdrove him over that cliff. I'll never rest until both these scoundrelsare caught and punished."
"Nor I," added Brick. "We'll devote our lives to it. It won't seem longnow until we are free."
"But it takes a good while to go to New York and back from here," saidHamp. "Anyhow, will Raikes know where to find us now?"
"They must have left a message for him at the cabin," replied Brick; "orperhaps it was all arranged beforehand."
At this point Bogle and Sparwick came over to bed, and the conversationended abruptly.
We must now return to the events of the previous night.
After shooting sixty feet downward from the top of the precipice, Jerryplunged into the bushy branches of a pine tree that jutted outward froma crevice in the wall of rock. He stuck for an instant, and then slippedthrough. He fell a farther distance of thirty feet, and landed inanother pine tree.
This time the branches held him tight, and there he remained in a stateof unconsciousness until daybreak.
About that time Jack Mowry, the trapper, happened along, in search of abrace of partridges for breakfast. Fortunately he glanced up and saw thelad.
The angle of the cliff was not so sharp at the base. It offered plentyof footholds. The trapper clambered up for ten feet. He reached the treeand succeeded in extricating Jerry, and getting him safely to theground.
The trapper carried Jerry tenderly to his camp, which was less than halfa mile distant--a cozy bark shanty in a wind-sheltered nook of theforest.
Mowry was one of nature's own physicians, and knew just what to do.After satisfying himself that no bones were broken, he rubbed Jerryvigorously from head to foot, and dressed his bruises and scratches.Then he rolled him in blankets and dosed him with hot drinks.
This wise treatment undoubtedly saved the lad's life, but it did notentirely counteract the effects of his fall and exposure to the bittercold. He struggled out of his stupor to a sort of semi-consciousness. Hetalked in a rambling and incoherent manner, and tossed restlessly in afever.
For two days he remained in this condition. Mowry tended him faithfullyand constantly, never leaving his side for a moment.
On the third morning Jerry opened his eyes with a clear mind. He waspuzzled to find himself in such surroundings. He remembered all that hadhappened up to the time of his fall. He listened with wonder to Mowry'sexplanation. He was startled to find out how much time had elapsed.Then, in an eager voice, he told the whole story from beginning to end.
The trapper was vastly indignant to learn of the rascality of his oldassociates.
"Of course I'll help you, lad," he declared. "I knowed suthin' was wrongwhen I run across the cabin, an' they didn't even ask me in ter warm mybones. An' that was me you heard outside that night. I was tryin' terdiskiver the mystery. I reckon I didn't git back until arter you fell,else I'd a' heard you screech. You see, I took a roundabout way so as tohide my tracks."
"Then we must act at once," replied Jerry. "If we don't, we won't savethe money. Raikes may return from New York any day."
"Time enough, lad," assured Mowry. "The rascals think you're dead, an'they won't dream of leavin' the cabin. If you take keer of yourselfter-day, you'll be able ter tramp down to Kingman an' organize a party."
Jerry insisted that he was as well as ever, and wanted to get up. But aneffort satisfied him that this was out of the question. So he submittedto the inevitable as patiently as possible.
Mowry fed him on nourishing meat and broth during the day, and byevening all traces of fever had left him.
A hasty breakfast was eaten in the morning, and the camp was put inorder. Then Mowry and Jerry started on their long tramp. The trappertook a hand-sled with him, and whenever the level ground permitted, hegave the lad a lift. Thus the journey was robbed of half itsfatigue, and Jerry was comparatively fresh when the settlement wasreached late in the afternoon.
Kingman was a straggling bit of a place on the Canadian PacificRailroad. The inhabitants were bluff, honest folk, and Mowry happilyknew most of them. He accepted the proffered hospitality of the stationagent for himself and companion.
The news quickly spread through the village, and by the next morning aparty of armed men were ready to start for the cabin in the swamp. Jerryreluctantly consented to stay behind. He had to admit that he was not infit condition to make the long tramp.
"Thar's one thing you'd better do while we're gone," said Mowry."Telegraph to this here lawyer in New York ter have Silas Raikesarrested. It may save a heap of trouble."
The station agent favored this suggestion. But, unluckily, Jerry hadforgotten the name and address. He finally concluded that the former wasGlenwood. So, while Mowry and his companions were heading northwardthrough the woods, a message sped southward over the wires, addressedsimply, "Mr. Glenwood, New York."
It read as follows:
"Don't make any deal with the man from Maine who demands $15,000. Have him arrested at once. Particulars later. Answer."
The name of the station agent was attached. But noon brought no answer;nor yet evening. A second message was dispatched, and a third atmidnight.
Morning came, and still there was no reply.
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Jerry waited impatiently about the telegraph tower at the station. Thenhe went to dinner. As he and the agent were rising from the table, theoperator arrived with a yellow paper. It contained the following replyfrom New York:
"Can't find the man. Lots of Glenwoods in the city. No lawyers of thatname."