CHAPTER VIII.
MR. RAIKES. OF PORTLAND.
The catastrophe was one of appalling swiftness. Brick and Hamp couldscarcely realize what had happened. The hole that had swallowed Jerry upyawned at their very feet.
It was less than two feet in diameter, and its edges were jagged. Thesurface of the deep, blue water went swirling around and around, asthough an under-current existed. Doubtless there was one, and it hadsucked Jerry far down. He did not reappear, though the boys strainedtheir eyes on the fatal spot. The seconds went by--twenty--half aminute.
Hamp uttered a groan of agony.
"Jerry, Jerry!" he cried aloud.
"Look out!" exclaimed Brick, as he dragged him back. "You'll go in, too.It's all up with poor Jerry. There's no hope--not an atom."
His voice quavered and broke; he dashed a tear from his eye. Hamp wascrying, too. Loud sobs burst from his bosom. Just then the strangerreached the spot. He had seen the accident from a distance.
"Which one was it?" he demanded. "Which one? Tell me his name, quick."
It was a strange request, and he spoke in eager, excited tones. But theboys were too much concerned to notice such a trifle.
"It--it was Jerry," sobbed Hamp.
"Jerry who?"
"Jerry--Jerry Brenton."
"Brenton? Ah!"
The man's voice and manner showed intense relief.
"Poor fellow," he added. "Nothing can be done to help him. The water isdeep, and he must have been carried far under the ice. Where is thecatamount--the author of all the mischief?"
This was a heartless question, and the boys were too indignant to reply.At such a moment they would have cared little for a dozen catamounts.
"Oh! oh!" moaned Hamp. "Poor Jerry! What shall we do? What shall we do?"
So complete and hopeless was their despair that what followed seemed atfirst like a dream. They heard a crackling sound, and then a plaintivecry. It was really Jerry's voice, calling faintly for help from adistance.
Brick was the first to notice a dark blot some twenty feet out on theice. He rushed toward it with a yell of delight, followed by Hamp andthe stranger.
The dark blot was Jerry's head and shoulders. The rim of broken icefitted close to his armpits, and his outstretched hands were clutchingat the glossy surface.
"Help! help!" he cried, in a weak and quavering voice. "I'm going underagain, fellows."
"No, you ain't," shouted Hamp. "We'll save you. Hold on a minute."
"Don't go too near by yourself," warned Jerry. "The ice will break."
"That's so," cried Brick, giving one hand to Hamp. The stranger, inturn, took hold of Brick, and thus a triply-strong line was formed. Hampwent forward on his knees until he was able to grasp one of Jerry'shands.
All pulled together. It was a time of terrible suspense. Twice Jerry wasalmost out of water, and twice the edge of the ice crumbled, letting himslip back.
Fortunately Hamp did not break through. He bravely withstood the strain,and, at last, a mighty effort pulled Jerry out beside him, and he wasdragged to a place of safety.
Hamp rubbed his arm.
"I thought the muscles were going to crack," he said. "It was an awfulstrain. But I would have lost both arms sooner than see you drown,Jerry."
"Better get the lad back to the campfire at once," suggested thestranger.
This was good advice, for Jerry was simply speechless with cold. Hisface and hands were blue, and he shivered like a leaf as he stood withdripping clothes.
Hamp and Brick took Jerry between them, and away they sped for camp. Thestranger followed, and he was close behind the others when they reachedthe fire. The boys now saw him clearly, for the first time, as he stoodin the light of the flames.
The man was about thirty years old, with brown hair and a slight,yellowish mustache. His face was good-humored and rather prepossessing.He wore gray trousers, and a short, but heavy, overcoat was buttoned upto his throat.
"You've got dry clothes for the lad?" he asked.
"Yes; each of us has an extra suit," replied Hamp.
He and Brick bustled in and out of the cabin, and in a brief time theyhad Jerry attired in dry garments. His lips were still blue, and heshivered as though he had a chill. The boys wrapped him in blankets, andmade him sit close up to the fire. Then they heaped on quantities ofwood, until the roaring flames were leaping high.
The stranger took a small flask from his pocket and wrenched a metal cupfrom the end. Into the latter he poured a few drops of a reddish liquor.
"Drink this, lad," he said, handing the cup to Jerry, who drained ithastily and made a wry face.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Brandy, and prime stuff, at that. It's thirty years old."
Jerry shivered to think what the stuff would have tasted like had itbeen twice as old.
It was just what he needed, however, and in a short time the shiveringceased, and the color came back to his cheeks.
"How do you feel now?" asked Hamp.
"Splendid. It's awfully snug and warm under these blankets. I'll bet youfellows were scared when I went through the ice."
"Well, I should say so," replied Brick. "We never expected to see youagain. How did you get to that hole, anyhow?"
"It was presence of mind did that," declared Jerry. "You see, as soonas I broke through, a sort of an under-current sucked me deep down andto one side. I opened my eyes and began to swim. I came up with a bump,and then I knew I was clear under the ice. I saw a gray streak away offin front of me. I knew it must be the light shining through anair-hole, and swam for it. Then I went up head first, and you fellowsknow the rest. My rifle is at the bottom of the lake, though."
"We've got guns enough without it," replied Hamp. "Don't worry aboutthat. You can be mighty glad that you're not beside the rifle, Jerry."
"It was, indeed, a most marvelous escape," said the stranger. "Had thisbrave lad been drowned, I should have put the blame upon myself. It wasto save me from the catamount that you lads ventured out on the lake."
"I only wish we had killed the brute," grumbled Jerry.
"Yes, it is unfortunate that he got away," admitted the stranger. "But Iforget that I have not yet introduced myself. I hope you will overlookmy carelessness. My name is Silas Raikes, and I hail from Portland,Maine. I am camping a mile or two from here with a friend. His name isJoe Bogle, and he belongs in Augusta. We are out on a little prospectingexpedition."
The boys nodded.
"Some hours ago we were attacked by wolves, but managed to drive themoff. When we heard shots a little later, we knew that there must beother campers near by, and that they were in peril. So I left Joe toguard camp, and came to your assistance. But, as it so happened, thetables were turned, and I was the one to need help. My rifle wasuseless from a fall in the snow, and the catamount very nearly capturedme."
"Then we are square all round," said Brick, laughingly. "We're muchobliged to you for your good intentions, all the same. If you had come alittle sooner, you would have seen some lively times."
He went on to describe in a graphic manner the thrilling events of thenight. Mr. Raikes took a keen interest in the tale, and overwhelmed theboys with praise.
"I should be glad to know such brave lads more intimately," he said."Let me see. Have I forgotten your names already?"
"I guess you never knew them," replied Hamp, with outspoken candor. "Myname is Foster, and over there is Jerry Brenton. We are both fromBangor. This fellow is Brick Larkins, and he lives in New York."
"Jim Larkins," corrected Brick, with a roguish look at Hamp.
"Larkins, Larkins," repeated Mr. Raikes, as he thoughtfully rubbed hisforehead. "Where have I heard that name? Ah, yes. Surely you are norelative of John Larkins, the wealthy contractor of Lexington avenue,New York?"
"His son, that's all," replied Brick. "Do you know him?"
"I have met him in a business way. And so you are his son? Well, I amglad to
make your acquaintance. Your object is hunting, I presume?"
"We started out with that intention," replied Brick, "but so far thewolves and the catamounts and the deer have been hunting us."
The boys laughed, and Mr. Raikes joined in heartily. He took a cigarfrom Ins pocket and lighted it with a glowing ember.