CHAPTER XIX
A PLOT FOILED
"Wait until I speak to them," replied Mr. Snodgrass, preparing todescend to the lower deck. "I must not lose a chance to get thatbutterfly."
He was soon in conversation with the colored men, who explained theyhad heard of the scientist's object from one of their number who hadcome from the village where the travelers had last stopped, and wherethe professor had talked of the butterfly.
"I hope he doesn't allow himself to be persuaded to accompany thosemen," said Mr. Seabury to the three boys. "I believe they would killhim for what valuables he carried, once they got him off in the swamp."
"Are they as bad as that?" asked Ned.
"They are worse than the Seminole Indians," declared Mr. Seabury. "Iwould sooner trust one of the latter than a negro of the everglades."
"I hope the professor doesn't go," remarked Rose. "I like him so much.He's just like a very old friend of mine who was a teacher in thecollege I attended."
"Mr. Snodgrass is his own master," said Mr. Seabury. "We can onlyadvise him."
At that moment the scientist came back on the upper deck.
"I'm on the right track," he declared, his eyes shining withexcitement. "Those colored men know just where the butterfly has itshaunts. I'm going with them. It is only a day's journey."
"We'll go along in the motor boat as far as possible," said Jerry.
"No, no!" objected Mr. Snodgrass. "We have to go into the swamp whereonly a canoe can be used. Besides, the puffing of the boat's enginemight frighten the butterfly. I must go alone with these men. They arehonest I'm sure. They will make a camp for the night and they say theyhave food enough for me also."
"Of course you know your own business," said Mr. Seabury, "but Iwouldn't trust them, professor."
"Oh, I'm sure they will not harm me," the scientist replied. "Besides,I have nothing they could steal. I have promised to pay them well ifthey bring me to the place where I can get my prize butterfly."
"Where is the place?" asked Jerry.
"It lies to the east of the lake we discovered," replied the scientist."I must start at once. Those butterflies are scarce and I can't affordto take any chances on losing one."
In spite of the dangers that Mr. Seabury and his daughters hinted at,and the objections the boys raised, the professor was determined toaccompany the colored men. Mr. Seabury went below and took a look atthe negroes. He had to admit that they were good-natured appearingenough, with broad grins on their shining, black faces and a mannerwhich seemed to preclude any desire to do any one an injury.
"Since you have to start from Butterfly Lake why not go with us asfar as there in the motor boat," proposed Ned. "The men can follow intheir canoe, or we'll tow them. Then we can make a permanent camp, andyou'll know where to head for when you get ready to come back with yourbutterfly."
This seemed a good idea to the professor and he agreed to it. Thecolored men made no objection, but, on the other hand, seemed to favorthe proposition, which made Mr. Seabury all the more suspicious.
"I believe those negroes are up to some trick," he said to hisdaughters as their visitors prepared to leave. "I can't say what it is,but I'm very suspicious. I don't believe those black men know anythingabout the butterfly."
"What can we do, father?" asked Rose.
"Nothing, I'm afraid. Yet I'll be on the watch. The _Wanderer_ is nota fast boat, but I think I'll keep it near the entrance to ButterflyLake for a few days. I may be able to render some assistance to theprofessor."
When good-byes had been said, and assurances given on the part ofMr. Snodgrass and the boys that they would see their friends of thehouseboat again, the _Dartaway_, towing the canoe with the threenegroes, was headed for the stream of water that connected the twolakes.
A good place for a camp was found near a small stream that flowedthrough the everglades, and up which watercourse the negroes said theyproposed taking the professor in the canoe to search for the butterfly.
"We'll be waiting here for you," remarked Jerry, as the scientist gothis butterfly-catching accessories together.
"No telling when I'll be back," answered Uriah Snodgrass. "I'm going toget that prize insect, and it may take longer than these men think."
"Oh, yo'll git yo' butterfly," said one of the negroes with a broadgrin. "We knows whar dere's lots ob 'em."
"Hadn't you better wait until morning?" suggested Ned. "It's well alongin the afternoon now, and you can make an early start to-morrow."
But the professor would hear of no delay. He had often spent many hoursin the open while searching for curiosities of nature, and a night inthe everglades did not alarm him. The negroes said they would findsome sort of shelter, and, having packed up some food, the scientistannounced he was ready.
With mingled feelings the boys watched their friend go off in the canoewith the colored men. They were disturbed by a vague uneasiness, butnone of them could tell what it was.
"Well," remarked Ned, when a turn of the sluggish swamp stream hid thecanoe from sight, "we've no time to lose. We must make camp before itgets dark."
Willing hands made light work of setting up the tent and moving intoit blankets and bed clothing for the night. The _Dartaway_ was mooredin a little cove, and after supper Bob and Ned took their guns and setout for a shot at some loons, of which there were many about the lake.Jerry carried his rifle, hoping to get a chance at an alligator.
The boys followed the edge of the lake, keeping watch for anything inthe way of game. They saw several loons, but the queer, big birds wereso far away that a shot was impossible. As Bob walked along, a littlein advance, he came to a sudden stop behind a clump of bushes.
"Easy!" he exclaimed in a whisper. "I see one!"
He took careful aim and pulled the trigger. When the smoke had clearedaway the three chums looked eagerly over the water where, a secondbefore, a big bird had been seen.
"You've blown him to pieces!" exclaimed Ned.
"Missed him altogether," said Jerry with a smile. "Loons, you know,dive at the flash of the gun, and they're under water before the shotgets anywhere near them."
An instant later the big bird bobbed up from the water, some distanceaway from the spot where Bob had fired at it.
"There he is!" cried Ned.
He took a quick shot, but it seemed to be only fun for the bird, thatinstantly dived under the water again.
"Why don't you play fair!" exclaimed Bob in disgust. "I never saw sucha bird."
"That's the only protection it's got against guns," said Jerry. "Youcan't blame it. You'd do the same. Besides, what good are they afteryou shoot 'em? You can't eat 'em."
"Sour grapes!" remarked Ned with a laugh. "But I guess you're right,Jerry. We can't hit 'em, at any rate."
They walked on for some distance farther and then, as it was gettingdusk, returned to camp.
"I don't believe I'll have to have any one sing me to sleep to-night,"said Bob as he prepared for bed. "I'm dead tired. How about you, Ned?"
"I guess I can get along without a dose of soothing syrup."
"I was thinking we'd better stand watch," remarked Jerry.
"Why?" asked Ned.
"To tell you the truth I don't like the idea of those colored men beingin this neighborhood. Where there are three I think there are sure tobe more. Of course they may be harmless enough, but I have an idea theyare desperate men, and our camp and boat offers quite a temptation tothem."
"Oh, I don't believe they'll bother us," said Bob. "Let's get whatsleep we can. Leave a lantern where we can light it in a hurry if wehear any suspicious noises."
Ned sided with Bob, and Jerry, somewhat against his will, gave in tothem. However, he determined to stay awake as long as he could. He alsoarranged some fishing lines about the camp so that if any intruderscame in they would trip on them and bring down a collection of pots andpans which he arranged to fall at the slightest disturbance.
"That will do for a burglar alarm," he said.
Jerry's intention of remaining awake was well meant, but natureasserted herself and he was soon slumbering as soundly as his chums.
It was well that Jerry had set his burglar alarm, or, otherwise thesleep-locked eyes of the boys never would have detected the stealthyapproach of several dark figures that stole around the camp aboutmidnight. They were figures that crept closer and closer with silentfootsteps, figures that whispered now and then among themselves, and,had any one been listening, they would have easily recognized thewhispers as those of negro voices.
But the fish lines did not sleep. They did their duty and, when one ofthe men caught his foot in a cord, and brought down, with a resoundingclatter and crash, a pile of tins, the three boys awoke with a start.
"Quick! The guns!" cried Jerry.
He struck a match and lighted a lantern which was ready at hand, nolights having been left burning because they attracted mosquitoes andother insects.
Bob and Ned grabbed their rifles. An instant later the gleam of alantern shone out, and disclosed several negroes about the _Dartaway_.Some were in the craft and others appeared to be shoving her off thebank on which her keel rested.
"They're stealing our boat!" yelled Bob.
An instant later he fired, purposely aiming over the heads of theintruders. Ned followed his example. There was a yell of terror fromthe black men and, with one accord they seemed to disappear from sight.Jerry ran out with the lantern.
"I think we foiled their plot," he remarked, as he saw that the boatwas still in place, though on the point of floating away.