CHAPTER XXXV.
A PERILOUS RIDE.
When dawn came, Brick and Hamp were in a miserable plight. They werehalf frozen, and nearly famished. It was impossible to tell the pointsof the compass.
"Only so we don't wander back the way we came," said Hamp; "becauseSparwick may have recovered his senses by this time."
"I know," replied Brick. "That's why it wouldn't be safe to shoot a birdor something for breakfast. I don't think we're anywhere near the RockHouse, though."
"The only thing we can do is to push on," said Hamp. "We may get anoutlook from that hill yonder."
The hill was a quarter of a mile distant, but when the boys reached itthey found no guiding clew within sight.
"I more than half believe we've been traveling south all the time," saidBrick.
"So do I," replied Hamp, "and if that's the case, we're sure to reachcivilization sooner or later."
The boys struck through the woods. They were so tired that they stoppedfrequently to rest during the morning. The sled, too, proved to be aburden; but they held on to it.
Finally they reached a plateau, obstructed with heavy timber, scrub androcks. Pushing across it, they emerged into a glare of light on thebrow of a mountain side.
As far as the boys could see, was a rolling, wintry landscape of woodsand hills. At a possible distance of eight or ten miles several wreathsof brownish smoke were stamped faintly against the horizon.
"Look," exclaimed Hamp. "That must be Kingman or Wytopitlock. I'm sureof it. We're on the right track, old fellow."
"With a big tramp ahead of us," added Brick. "I'm so tired I could dropright down and go to sleep. Say, wouldn't this slope make an eleganttoboggan slide?"
"Well, I should say so," replied Hamp, in a tone of great enthusiasm.
The boys were right--at least, as far as appearances went. From somenatural cause the mountain side was bare of timber and rocks. Its smoothsurface of crusted snow fell at a steep but regular angle, and seemed tobe unbroken until it was merged with the timber of the bottom of thevalley.
As the boys looked, the same idea took root in the mind of each.
"Do you think it would be safe to shoot down on the sled?" asked Brick,doubtfully. "It would save an awfully long walk."
There was a moment of silence and hesitation. Then all choice wassummarily taken out of the lads' hands. The heard a snapping of twigsbehind them, and, when they wheeled around to look, there stood KyleSparwick. A rifle was strapped over his shoulder, but he made noattempt to use it.
"I've got you ag'in," he cried, harshly. "Up with your arms, now. I'ma-goin' ter tie them, an' then we'll start for the meetin'-place. It waspurty smart of you lads ter travel in the right direction."
Sparwick enjoyed the consternation of the lads. He watched them withkeen satisfaction. The certain prospect of the ransom money made himmore lenient and good-humored than he would have been under othercircumstances.
"Well," he said, finally. "Are you goin' ter lift your arms?"
It was just then that Hamp remembered the sled, and the long slope offrozen snow. No thought of danger entered into his calculations now.Like a flash, he jerked the sled forward to the verge of the descent.
"Jump on, Brick!" he yelled. "Jump, quick!"
The command was hardly spoken when Brick threw himself flat on the longsled, and clung tightly to the sides. Hamp dropped instantly on top ofhis companion. There was ample space for them, since the amount ofluggage was small.
Just as Sparwick uttered an angry yell, Hamp sent the sled forward by ashove of his foot. The fore end scraped on a hidden chunk of rock thathalf checked it for an instant. The delay was brief but fatal.
Sparwick dashed forward with a tremendous stride. He grabbed at thesled, but missed it. Then he made a desperate spring, and landed on topof the lads.
The next instant there was a wild, giddy rush--a roaring of wind and asprinkling of fine snow. The sled, freighted with its living burden, wasdashing like a meteor down the mountain side!
It was almost a miracle that the top-heavy sled did not upset. Had thecourse been less smooth and even, it must have done so at the start.
"Hold tight, lads," shouted Sparwick. "If we upset, we'll be smashed terpieces."
The sled plunged on in its mad, careening course. Now it was two-thirdsdown the mountain.
Suddenly Hamp uttered a startled cry, and Brick chimed in lustily.Through the flying cloud of fine snow tossed up by the runners, bothlads had made a frightful discovery. Just ahead was a chasm of unknowndepth--a treacherously-projecting knob on the slope of the mountain. Thewhite blanket of snow had kept its existence hid until now.
"Scrape your feet," yelled Hamp. "Swing the sled to one side. Quick!quick!"
He meant Sparwick, but the latter had no time to carry out the order.The sled whizzed to the verge of the abyss. It shot into the air, turnedover, and plunged downward through twenty or more feet of space!
Happily there was a deep drift at the bottom, and the crust on top of itwas none too hard. The sled struck on its fore-runners, and went throughlike a rocket.
Brick landed near by on his side, and Hamp took a header a few feetbeyond. Both lads were immersed in powdery snow beneath the surface.Sparwick fared better. He landed squarely on his feet, and the broadsurface of his snowshoes saved him from sinking more than a few inches.
Sparwick dragged the sled out of the snowy depths. Then he rescued theboys, one at a time. They had not sustained even a scratch. They made noresistance, knowing that it would be useless. Sparwick bound their armsbehind them, and ordered them to go slowly down the remaining briefstretch of the mountain side. He followed with the sled.
"That there ride saved a heap of time," he said, mockingly. "It ain'tfur now to the meetin'-place. I reckon we'll git thar long aboutsunset."
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CONCLUSION.
Tom Fordham proved as good as his word. After apprising the stationagent at Kingman of the situation by telegram, he took Jerry uptown tohis home.
An early supper was served the boys, and then they hurried off to theGrand Central Depot.
It was nearly noon on Friday when the lads arrived at Kingman. Theyfound a large crowd assembled to meet them, among whom were Jack Mowryand the station agent.
They went at once to the latter's house, and after briefly telling theirown story, they were amazed to learn that absolutely no clew of any sorthad been discovered.
"Most of the party that was scourin' the woods hev come back," saidMowry. "They was in an' out through every part of the woods, but allter no purpus. It's mighty queer what them rascals hes done with thelads."
"And how about Raikes and Mr. Glendale?" asked Jerry.
"Not a trace of them has been seen," replied the agent, "though wehave kept a careful watch on the trains and made inquiries in variousdirections. If they left New York at the time your telegram stated, theymust have reached this part of the country a good two days ago--evenbefore we were on the watch for them."
"Perhaps they got off at some other station than Kingman," suggestedTom.
"Quite likely," asserted the agent. "In that case, we have missed them.It looks very much as though the rascals were going to collar all thatmoney and get scot-free."
His opinion was reluctantly shared by the others. It was a doleful crowdthat sat around the hot stove, vainly pondering what could be done.
But at three o'clock the situation took an unexpected and pleasing turn.A tall, bearded man, clad in a hunter's garb, rushed noisily into thehouse with two companions.
"Hullo, Ike Carter," exclaimed the agent. "What's up?"
"A good deal, I reckon," replied the other. "I jist heard that you an'Mowry are lookin' fur Silas Raikes. I seen him this mornin' in HiramBobb's tavern at Wytopitlock. His mustache was shaved off, but I knowedhim all ther same. He was with a swell-lookin' cuss with a beard an
'shiny black togs----"
"That was Mr. Glendale," interrupted Tom, rising eagerly to his feet.
At first the news caused great excitement, and it was some time beforeit could be allayed. Then wise counsels prevailed, and the agent'scarefully concocted scheme was adopted.
"There are enough of us here to arrest Raikes without any trouble," hesaid. "We won't say anything about it outside, but we'll just go quietlyto the station, and take the first train to Wytopitlock. It goes intwenty minutes."
This programme was carried out. The party of seven managed to reach thestation and board the train without attracting much attention.Wytopitlock was even a less important place than Kingman. It boastedhalf-a-dozen houses, a store and a tavern. The latter was nearly aquarter of a mile from the station, and stood on the edge of thewilderness. Here bad news awaited the party.
"The men you're inquirin' fur hev been here mor'n two days," said HiramBobb, "at least one of them has. Arter dinner they started into thewoods. They said they was goin' huntin'. Thar's somethin' queer aboutit, though. I heard them whisperin' this mornin', an' one, he says tot'other, 'we must git thar by sundown. The place is a big rock aboutthree miles up the valley.'"
Jerry and Tom exchanged meaning glances with the men.
"I know whar that rock is," exclaimed Mowry, "an' I understand the hullthing. Thar's ter be a meetin' at sunset, an' the lad an' the money willchange hands."
"And the sun will set in a little less than half an hour," cried theagent. "We've got just about time enough to reach the place."
"What's all this rumpus about, anyway?" gasped Hiram Bobb, with bulgingeyes.
The situation was quickly explained to him. He volunteered to accompanythe party, and the offer was accepted.
"I hope thar won't be no shootin' needed," said Mowry, "but it's alittle unsartin, seein' as thar'll likely be three of the rascals at themeetin'-place instid of one."
A little later the party were advancing softly, and in single file,through the woods. They went swiftly up the trough of the deep andgloomy valley, Mowry leading the way with unerring knowledge.
At last Mowry paused, and waited until his companions had gatheredaround him. He pointed with one hand to a ledge of rock and bushes thatwas visible some thirty feet ahead, and stretched two-thirds of the wayacross the trough of the valley.
"We must git behind that without makin' any noise," he said. "Yonder isthe big rock, an' a sort of a clearing roundabout. We'll be able tersee right into it."
Mowry led the party on with extra caution. The increased roar of thetorrent drowned their soft tread. Even before they reached the line ofrocks they detected voices ahead. Tom and Jerry gained the point ofvantage at the same time with Mowry. They cautiously parted the bushesand peered through. The sight that instantly met their eyes well repaidJerry for all his trouble and suffering in the past.
The fast-fading light showed a group of figures standing at the base ofthe towering bowlder. They were five in number, Mr. Glendale, Raikes,Sparwick, and Brick and Hamp.
The lawyer had just taken a bulky packet from his pocket, and wasunrolling the brown paper in which it was wrapped.
"Git ready, men," whispered Mowry. "Here goes."
Then quickly the ambushed party broke from cover. The scene thatfollowed baffles adequate description. With half-a-dozen weapons trainedupon them, Raikes and Sparwick had no alternative but to submit tocapture. This they did very ungracefully, and with a choice selection ofoaths.
Mr. Glendale dropped the packet of banknotes to the ground--where it waspromptly grabbed by Mowry--and shook hands with Tom in a very eagermanner. As for Jerry, it may be imagined how his appearance affectedBrick and Hamp, who at first thought him a ghost. Then they embracedhim, and cried for very joy. In fact, there was vast excitement allaround, and everybody was happy but the two baffled villains. Mr.Glendale and the four lads found themselves a little apart from theothers. The lawyer took Jerry and Hamp by the hand.
"My brave boys," he said. "I am heartily glad to meet you, and to thankyou in the name of his parents for the service you have done Brick. Youhave saved the money as well, and that, I can assure you, is a greatload off my mind. I felt that Brick's life depended on the payment ofthe ransom.
"Brick," he added, "I hope that this will be a lesson to you. You haveseen and experienced the bitter fruits of running away."
"It will, Mr. Glendale," Brick declared, earnestly. "I assure you itwill."
Here the discussion ended, for Mowry and his companions were ready tostart back. It was a dreary journey for Sparwick and Raikes. When thetavern was reached, they were pinioned, and placed in a room understrong guard.
Hiram Bobb's resources were taxed to their utmost to provide for all hisguests that night. But he managed to acquit himself with credit. Therapid eating of the supper that he provided was ample proof of itsgoodness.
Then everybody assembled in the big front room, with its sand-paperedfloor, and tall, old clock in the corner. Mr. Glendale told his story,and Jerry told his, and then came Brick, and Hamp, and Tom, andMowry--in short, everybody had a say, except the fettered rascals in theroom overhead.
And here the story may very fittingly end--that is, after a few wordshave been said about the principal actors therein.
The first thing Mr. Glendale did the next morning was to hand aroundbanknotes to the men who had aided in the capture of Raikes andSparwick. He also reimbursed Mowry in full for the money he had advancedto Jerry.
A search party went back to the Rock House that day, but they failed tofind any trace of Joe Bogle. He must have come to his senses, andreleased himself in some way. He has not been heard of since, and issupposed to be in Canada.
Raikes and Sparwick were duly tried, and convicted, and put behind stonewalls for a term of years. Of course, the affair gained wide publicity,and when Jerry and Hamp returned to Bangor they were objects of someattention.
Mr. Glendale stopped there for a day or two on his way back to NewYork, with Tom and Brick. He went to see Jerry's parents and Hamp'smother, and also made inquiries concerning the lads from reliableoutside sources. Several weeks later each received a check for onethousand dollars, "as a testimonial of Mr. Larkin's gratitude." Thistimely gift restored both families from poverty to affluence.
Jerry and Hamp frequently hear from Tom and Brick, and the latter aretalking of coming up to Maine for a summer camping trip. But beforethat, the Bangor lads expect to pay a visit to New York, of which cityJerry is accustomed to speak in proud and familiar terms.
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THE FRANK MERRIWELL SERIES
No modern series of tales for boys and youth has met with anything likethe cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank MerriwellStories, published exclusively in Street & Smith's Tip Top Weekly, apublication which has today a circulation larger than that of allsimilar publications combined.
There must be a reason for this, and there is. Frank Merriwell, asportraited by the author, is a jolly, whole-souled, honest, courageousAmerican lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys.
He has no bad habits, and his manliness includes the idea that it is notnecessary a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. FrankMerriwell's example is a shining light for every ambitious lad tofollow.
There is sometunes, with parents, a prejudice against all forms of boys'literature in novel style.
We earnest ask all parents to examine the Tip Top, confident that theywill comment it to their boys as suitable and profitable to read.
Issued weekly. Sold by all newsdealers 5 Cents a copy
STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York
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Transcriber's Notes
1. This text appeared under several titles: as "The Camp in the Snow; or, The Plucky Hunters of the Maine Woods" - Go
od News No. 194-205, 20 Jan-7 Apr., 1894 as "The Camp in the Snow; or, Besieged by Danger" - New York: Street and Smith (Medal Library No. 182), 1902 - Philadelphia: David McKay, 1902 - New York: Street and Smith (Adventure Library No. 96), 1928. 2. This etext derived from 1902 Street and Smith edition. 3. Table of Contents was not present in original edition. 4. Punctuation has been normalized to contemporary standards. 5. Corrections to the text: p. 46: stunnning -> stunning (a stunning blow) p. 72: exent -> extent (to their fullest extent) p. 107: zig-zig -> zig-zag (followed a zig-zag course) p. 131: foosteps -> footsteps (heard crunching footsteps) p. 224: thinkinig -> thinking (thinking about poor Jerry) p. 225: Raines -> Raikes (Raikes on the other)
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