CHAPTER XXI
TRAPPED IN A MOUNTAIN CABIN
As they neared the cabin they proceeded with more caution. They didnot know if there were others in the building, though Tad did notbelieve such to be the case. At the rear of the place bushes grewclose to the side of the building, so the boys chose this way ofapproaching the cabin.
"This is a pretty serious thing, intruding upon a man's home,"whispered Tad. "But I think we are justified in doing so."
They had reached the building. Tad placed an ear against the side,but not a sound could he catch from within.
"I don't believe there is anyone at home," remarked the lad quietly."I'm going to take a peep."
Creeping along one side of the cabin he reached a window andattempted to peer in. A sheet of brown wrapping paper had beensecured over the window so as to shut off all view from the outside.But Tad, not yet at the end of his resources, decided upon a boldmove. First making sure that no one was about, the lad walked boldlyaround to the front, nodding to his companion to follow.
Tad rapped on the door. There was no reply. He knocked harder.Under his heavy raps the door swung open a little way, Butler at thesame time stepping back. He thought someone had opened the door, butquickly saw that he had done that himself.
The boy pushed the door wide open, gazed in through the opening, thenstepped in. It was not an uncommon thing in the mountains for atraveler to enter another's cabin. Both boys knew that. Had theynot done the same thing in the Rockies, and had not mountaineershelped themselves to the camp of the Pony Rider Boys on more than oneoccasion? Nothing ever had been thought of it, but somehow Tad Butlerfelt some misgivings about his present undertaking.
He stepped in, glancing about him inquiringly. There was little todistinguish Stillman's home from other mountain cabins they hadvisited. The shotgun that they had seen the man use was hanging onthe wall. The dishes from breakfast were still on the bare dealtable, as was a lamp with a smoked chimney. Chunks of rock wereheaped in a corner.
The fireplace was a huge affair. It was built of rough rocks, laidup almost like a staircase, extending half way across the end of thecabin. In one corner was a heap of logs sawed to length, togetherwith a great pile of dry kindling wood. Stillman was well preparedfor wet or winter weather, though there were not enough blankets insight to protect a man in very cold weather. A bed of boughs servedfor a sleeping place.
Tad stooped over and pried up a loose board in the floor. He foundthere, in a small hole that had been excavated, another heap of rockssimilar to those found in the cabin itself.
"It is my opinion that these are samples of ore," reflected the boy."Do you know, I believe it is some shrewd game along this line thatStillman is playing."
The boys examined the place for the better part of an hour, finallysitting down to discuss what they had discovered and trying to get atthe real secret of their discoveries.
All at once they realized that the day was drawing to a close. Thesun had gone down some time since. Twilight fell suddenly. Theyalso realized that they were hungry and that it was high time theywere starting back to camp, which they would not now be able to reachuntil long after dark. Tad reasoned that they were a good threemiles or more from the camp. The others surely would be worryingabout them.
"They'll have a fine time finding us if they start to look for us,"jeered Ned.
"Yes, I reckon they will," answered Butler with a broad grin. "Theynever would look for us in this place. Let's be off. First thing weknow, we won't know--" Tad paused sharply, bending his head in alistening attitude.
All at once he sprang to the door, and opening it a crack peered out.He closed the door softly and bounded back, a worried look on hisface.
"What is it?" whispered Ned.
"Someone is coming."
"Hurry! Run for it, then!" urged Ned.
"Too late. He is almost here."
Ned groaned.
"The fireplace," cried Tad in a low, tense voice. "Climb up!There's plenty of room. Get up as far as you can. This is a finefix we have got into. Be quiet and have your nerve with you. Go on!"
Tad gave his companion a push towards the broad fireplace. Rectormade a leap for it, and peered up into the dark chimney.
"Go on, go on!" urged Tad, giving Rector another push.
Ned disappeared up the chimney, and Tad squirmed in under the archand was up, following his companion with the agility of a squirrel.Butler had barely drawn his feet up when he heard the door of thecabin open and close with a slam. The intruder put his gun down witha bump plainly heard by both boys. A moment later a faint light wasseen below them. The newcomer had lighted the lamp.
The boys had been up the chimney but a few moments when they heardthe man go to the door where, after listening briefly, he uttered awhistle. An answering whistle, sounding far away to the boys upthere, came almost instantly. Then a few minutes later a second mancame tramping into the cabin.
"You're late, Joe," announced a voice that the lads recognized asbelonging to Jay Stillman.
"Yes, I couldn't get away from Beach."
"That's Joe Batts," muttered Tad. "A precious pair of rascals, as weshall find out if we are discovered."
"Is he going to bring the other man out soon?"
"Yes. He and Beach will be along in the morning."
"Think Beach is on the level?"
"No, of course he isn't. But he doesn't dare play foxy with us.Besides, it's money in his pocket to play square. He doesn't knowwhere the plant is."
"What's the matter with his having a plant of his own?"
Batts laughed.
"I reckon he doesn't know enough about the game to try that," heanswered with a harsh laugh.
"He'd better not," growled Stillman.
"Got everything fixed?"
"Yes. I planted a new patch of yellow daisies this afternoon,"answered Jay, whereat a series of chuckles drifted up the chimney,causing Tad to wonder what the men meant by "yellow daisies." Thereseemed no explanation of the term.
"I'm going to sneeze," whispered Rector.
"Don't you dare," commanded Tad in alarm.
"I've breathed in enough soot to clog a smoke stack."
"Hold your nose."
"Seen anything of that Pony Rider outfit?" asked Stillman.
"They've connected with Dunkan's crowd," replied Joe Batts.
"They have? I tell you we made a mistake in letting them get in soclose. They've got to be driven out. We have too much at stake.First, here is the claim we salted down today, then there is theother thing. Between the two we are in to make a big fortune. I'mto meet Bates the day after tomorrow and get our pay for the work weare doing up at the other place."
"About that Pony crowd, and the other bunch. We've got to get rid ofthem and right smart. They are too nosey," declared Batts.
"What are we going to do, shoot them down and get strung up for it?Not for mine. We'll put them out of business in some other way. Iwould have done it last night, but--"
"But what?" questioned Batts.
"I opened the way. I got that critter all right."
"The dog?"
"Yes."
"They'll raise a row about that," warned Batts.
"No they won't. They'll think he fell over. Oh, I looked after thatall right. There's only one thing to be done, get our money for theclaim we salted, and the wad for the other work we are doing, andclear out."
"What about Hans?"
"I ain't bothering about him. Let him fight his own battles. Wehave played this game for several months now and have a tidy sum putaway where it will be safe. First thing we know the government willget wise, and then it will be all up with us for the next twentyyears if not worse."
"Got anything for Hans tonight?" questioned Batts.
"Yes. I'm going to take it over to him later. He doesn't have tosend it out until midnight. Tomorrow night Smoky Griffin won't be inuntil one o'clock with the stuff.
It's coming in another way, butthe critters won't get wise to it, even if they have doped out theother system, which there's evidence that they are on track of.Those Pony Boys have got to be run out of these mountains before wedo anything else, and they've got to go right away."
"That's easy," declared Batts confidently.
Stillman shoved back his chair, and, gathering a bundle of dry wood,placed it in the fireplace, first having stuffed an old newspaper in.Tad groaned inwardly. He knew what was coming. Stillman touched amatch to the heap in the fireplace. A faint crackling sound wasborne to the ears of the two Pony Rider Boys, and a wave of heatrolled up to them.
"Oh, help! This settles it!" moaned Ned Rector.
Then came a cloud of white, suffocating smoke. Ned let go a terrificsneeze. The sneeze jolted him loose, his feet slipped from the ledge,and he went sliding down on top of his companion, uttering a yell ashe felt Tad giving way beneath him.