CHAPTER XXVI
CORA'S BRAVE RESOLVE
When the girls heard Cora's remark, that the approaching motor boatmight contain the boys, Lottie said:
"Oh, we're all right now!" and she sighed in relief.
"How much you depend on them!" observed Belle, in a low voice. "Whenyou've been with us a little longer you'll learn that we can do almostas well by ourselves."
"But I am glad the boys have arrived," agreed Cora. "I never was sopleased to know that they were on hand."
But a moment later, as they saw the forms of four men leaving themotor boat, which had been made fast to the dock, Cora shrank back, atthe same time whispering a warning.
"Girls, something is wrong! Those aren't the boys. Quick, get out ofsight!"
She pulled Bess behind a row of bushes, and the others followedsilently. They had started down to the beach from the cabin, butfortunately managed to conceal themselves in time. The men, walking upthe little slope toward the cabin, had not seen them.
Trembling with nervousness, Cora and her chums awaited the new turn ofevents. That it would come soon seemed likely, for the men appearedbent on something. They had made fast their boat, and came up theslope openly, as though their errand was the most innocent in theworld. The light still glowed in the cabin.
"Oh, Cora!" gasped Marita. "Suppose they do----do something!"
"Which is very likely they will do," replied Cora. "But don't talk--Iwant to watch."
From behind the screen of bushes Cora watched the men coming forward.The moon still gave a good light, though it was declining in the west.
"Is he there?" Cora heard one of the men ask.
"He seems to be--there's a light going, anyhow," was the answer. "I'drather found him in bed, but we can't have all we want."
"Oh, where are the boys!" cried Bess, frantically. "Why don't theycome?"
"I don't know," answered Cora. "Surely they should have been here. Butthere must be a good reason why they are not. Jack wouldn't disappointus."
"Why don't you include Walter and the others?" asked Belle.
"Of course you know I meant them," Cora retorted. "I can't understandit--really I can't."
"Perhaps they are in hiding," ventured Lottie.
"They'd have been out before this, if they were," declared Cora.
There came a sudden knock. It was one of the men striking on the doorof Denny's cabin. From their hiding place in the bushes the girlsheard it plainly.
"Listen!" whispered Cora.
They heard the voice of the old fisherman call:
"Who's there? What do you want at this time of night?"
"We've come to see you," was answered in tones Cora recognized asthose of the young man who had raced with her.
"What about?" inquired Denny. "I have no fish to sell."
"And we don't want fish," was the retort. "Come, Shane, open yourdoor. We want to talk to you. It's important, and there may besomething in it for you."
"Yes--trouble, more or less. I can't see anything else," was thegrumbling response. "Wait a minute."
Cora looked over the bushes. She could see the men grouped in front ofthe cabin door. Then she saw it open, and a broad beam of light shootout.
"Come in," invited Denny, and the plotters entered.
"Now's our chance!" exclaimed Cora, her heart beating rapidly. "Wemust see what those men do. We may have to give evidence."
"Oh, dear!" sighed Marita. "I never could do it. I'd faint, sure."
"Do what?" asked Cora.
"Give evidence."
"Don't worry. You won't have to do anything hard, dear," was thegentle answer, as Cora slipped her arm about the timid girl.
"Oh, I'll do anything you girls do," was the quick answer. "I want tohelp."
"And we want your help," whispered Bess. "But, Cora, can't we gocloser? We ought to look in and see what happens."
"Brave Bess!" murmured Lottie. "You are certainly coming on finely."
The plotters were now inside the cabin, so that it was safe for thegirls to advance. This they did until they were once more in aposition where they could look in the window of the cabin.
They saw a strange sight. Old Denny Shane, brave and rugged,confronted the four men who had called on him. In one hand he graspedthe red oar, while the other rested on the back of the chair fromwhich he had risen.
"Well, Mr. Shane," said the man Cora knew as Bruce. "We come to seeyou on business."
"What kind?" asked the old man, and the girls could see him lookaround as though seeking help or a means of escape. But there was nofear in his eyes. Only defiance.
"We might as well get to business at once," said one of the men,sharply. That was Kelly.
"That's right," agreed Moran. "Make him an offer. If he doesn't wantto take it then we'll talk another kind of talk. And be quick aboutit."
"I want no business with you!" cried Denny, sharply. "Why do you comehere bothering me?"
"You know why!" exclaimed Bruce. "You are concerned in the Lewis landmatter. You can testify as to who owns it."
"Well, supposin' I can?" asked the old man, defiantly. "What is thatto you?"
"Lots to us, and it may mean a great deal to you, also!" snapped outKelly. "You may have some papers, too."
"I may," returned Denny, "but you'll not get 'em."
Cora and the others, listening, knew that Denny would only be too gladif he did have the documents in question. But the girls had heard himlamenting that he did not know where they were.
Why did he now let the men think he did know? It was a puzzle to thegirls.
"Not get them, eh?" cried Bruce. "That's to be seen. Now look here,Shane. We came here to do business, and we're going to do it. By fairmeans if we can, if not----"
He paused suggestively.
"Ah! I know you and your breed!" cried the old fisherman. "By fairmeans or foul! But try it on! I'm not afraid of you."
He stepped back a pace, the better to defend himself in case he hadto. The red oar was still in his firm hands.
"Now wait a minute," put in Moran. "We'll try the fair means first.What do you say to that? Show him the bills."
With a quick gesture Bruce drew out a roll of greenbacks.
"Here you go, Shane!" he exclaimed. "There's a cool hundred here, andit's yours if you testify that the Widow Lewis has no claim on theland. And she hasn't any claim that she can prove. All we want you totestify to is that her husband's father sold the land some time beforehis death. We'll do the rest."
"But he didn't sell it!" cried Denny. "It was his on his dyin' day,and it belongs to his son's widder and daughter now. That's the law,an' you know it."
"She can't prove that the land is hers," sneered Kelly.
"Maybe she can," returned Denny, quietly.
"Well, she can't unless you tell what you know," broke in Bruce."We've found out that much. Now the factory wants that land, and it'sgoing to get it. Here, I'll make it a hundred and fifty if you do aswe want you to."
"An' testify to a lie?" cried Denny.
"It wouldn't be exactly a lie. Besides, we're willing to pay the widowa small sum."
"Not what the land's worth. That's valuable property," insisted Denny,"and it will keep her in her old age if she manages right. Be off withyou! I'll stick to the Widder Lewis, so I will. Be off!" and hemotioned them to the door. "You wouldn't have got this close if ithadn't been that my dog was dead. Be off!"
"Not so fast," Cora and her chums heard Bruce say. "We haven't saidall we intend to."
"Oh, I'm sure something will happen now," quavered Bess.
"Hush," cautioned Cora. "We must do something!"
"Do something?" questioned Marita. "Oh, why don't the boys come?"
Cora and her chums were close to the cabin now. They could look in thedoor, and through the uncurtained window, and see plainly all thatwent on. They could also hear plainly, for the men and old Denny spokeloudly. And, as yet, the girls had not been noticed.
"Now, look
here!" said Bruce, and there was a snarl in his voice."This is our last offer, Shane. Either you take the hundred and fiftydollars, and testify the way we want you to, or we'll find means tomake you, and you won't get the money. And I'll say this, that we'lltreat the Widow Lewis as fair as we can."
"Which won't be fair at all!" burst out Denny. "Not at all!"
"Well, what's your answer?" cried Kelly. "We can't stay here allnight. Give him the money, Bruce. When he feels it he'll hate to letit go."
Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise of Cora and thegirls the fisherman took them. Was he going to betray Freda and hermother?
The next instant they knew Denny for the brave-souled man he was.
"That's me answer!" he cried, throwing the bills in the face of Bruce."Take your evil money and get out. I'll stick to the widder!"
For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then, with an angry exclamation,Bruce started forward.
"Come, girls," said Cora, "we've got to go to the aid of Denny. Forsome reason the boys aren't here. We've got to save him!" and withthis brave resolve she moved toward the cabin.