The Ranger Boys Outwit the Timber Thieves Part 18

d.i.c.k thought that dinner would be brought to him, but none came, and he figured that perhaps there were too many watchers who would be inquisitive if they saw cooked food being carried to the storehouse.

Perhaps Garry and Phil were on the watch. This gave d.i.c.k a thrill, for if his thoughts were true it meant that they had not been trapped in any way.

Frequently he unscrewed the face of his watch and felt the hands to note the time. He resolved that his first step when he got back to civilization would be to buy a watch that had a radium dial so he could tell time in the dark.

d.i.c.k had no idea but that he would get out, for he was one whose courage did not fail. Then, too, he trusted in the cleverness of his companions to get him out of the sc.r.a.pe.

He was squatting on the floor Hindu fas.h.i.+on, about eleven o'clock, thinking that he would soon lie down and try to get some sleep, when the trap was opened, and Barrows' voice bade him come up the ladder.

He obeyed only too gladly, for the darkness and the chill of the cellar were beginning to get his nerve. In the storehouse he found that Barrows was accompanied by the LeBlanc brothers. This made any chance of a rough and tumble fight with the manager and possible dash for freedom out of the question.

"Now there will be no fooling on your part, but you will sit down at this case here and write a note to your friends telling them that you have been captured by LeBlanc and are being held for ransom. That will please them, eh, Jean?"

LeBlanc gave a wolfish grin. "At least it make them hurry to rescue their friend. They do not like me, those boys, any more than I like them."

"Suppose I refuse to write that note, what then?" demanded d.i.c.k.

"Why, I think we will let LeBlanc handle that end of it," said Barrows.

Jean LeBlanc's face wore a diabolic smile as he took from his mouth the big-bowled pipe that he was smoking.

"Once I saw an Indian torture a man to get from him a secret," he said.

"It was oh, so easy. All that he did was to thrust the man's fingers, one by one, into the pipe bowl, and after the fifth finger, the man gave in."

d.i.c.k shuddered in spite of himself. He had heard of this Indian method of torture, and knew that LeBlanc was not only capable of doing it, but would take a fiendish pleasure in the operation.

"Then if that fails, which I doubt, I give you warning that your chums will be seized on some pretext and sent out seemingly to jail with LeBlanc as their guard, and once away from the camp, will be given to him to do as he pleases," said Barrows. "Now do you think you will write that letter?"

d.i.c.k had resolved on submitting to the torture before writing the letter, but this last threat made him change his mind. He could afford to take no chances with the safety, and perhaps the lives, of his chums, by refusing to write. In the meantime his mind was busy trying to conjure up some way of warning them that it was a trap.

He took the sc.r.a.p of paper that was offered to him, and began to write.

As the letter drew near its close, he hastily constructed the cryptogram which our readers are already aware of.

Barrows took the note and read it carefully, turning it over to see that there was not other writing on the back, and scanning it for some sign of warning. d.i.c.k was afraid that he would decipher the simple code, but was relieved when Barrows crumpled the note to give it the appearance of having been carried some few hours, and then put it in his pocket.

He was ordered back into the cellar, and there was nothing to do but obey. The trap was closed and he heard the rolling of barrels, then all was still.

d.i.c.k wondered what plot was in the wind, but was unable to puzzle it out. He finally decided that it was only another private scheme of Barrows to get money, and a thousand dollars would be a pretty good haul.

He gave up trying to solve the riddle, and lying on the floor stared into the darkness.

There was one chance in a thousand that one of them might come alone in the morning to bring him food, and he resolved to climb up the ladder the moment he heard footsteps above him, and with his pocket knife try to fight his way to freedom.

With this comforting thought, he dropped off to sleep.

Following the writing of the note, Barrows slipped back to his office and told LeBlanc to make one attempt to seize the boys, then if that failed, they would use their ruse to attract them from the camp.

How this attempt succeeded has already been told, and all LeBlanc got for his pains was a smash on the hand where Phil's clubbed rifle had hit him.

He hastened back cursing, and told Barrows of the failure, and after being upbraided was told to go to the rendezvous where the capture of the boys was to be made.

Barrows then went to the cookhouse, where the unkempt individual that was to act as bearer was waiting, and gave him his final instructions.

"Now," said the vindictive manager, "we shall see who wins, a pack of mere children, or Gene Barrows!"

CHAPTER XV

MISERY CAMP

Now let us return to Garry and Phil, whom we left struggling in the hands of their captors. Only one voice did they recognize in the orders that were given, but this was enough to let them know that they were in the worst kind of trouble. It was the voice of LeBlanc.

"Phil, that's LeBlanc's voice or I'm crazy," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Garry.

"Absolutement, ma frien's. It is LeBlanc. Once again I have you, and I think this time you do not go until we have settled several old scores that I have mark up against you."

As he spoke, several men took hold of the boys even more roughly, and in a few moments their hands had been bound tightly behind their backs.

LeBlanc gave the order to march, and the strange procession wended its way through the woods. It was almost pitch dark, but they seemed to be following a well defined trail, and the leader was sure of every step.

An unknown man grasped the arm of each boy and guided them so that they would not b.u.mp into a tree, and at the same time prevented a chance of escape.

The boys took things philosophically, for there was nothing that could be done with so many odds against them, and the darkness would have hindered any chance of flight. They knew that they could not take more than a dozen steps without smas.h.i.+ng into the trees, and would soon be captured. They resolved, the same train of thought running through the minds of both of the captives, to wait for daylight before sizing matters up.

LeBlanc kept hurrying the men along, and they covered nearly a half a dozen miles before a halt was called. Now the first flush of day was appearing in the sky, and soon there would be light enough for them to see in what manner of hands they had fallen.

When dawn finally broke, both boys looked in amazement at the strange figures that the light of day revealed.

LeBlanc, of course, they recognized at once, and they had half expected to see his brother. But all the others,-there were half a dozen not counting the halfbreed,-were total strangers. The men were for the most part large and swarthy, unkempt of hair and ragged as to clothes. Their garments were torn and dirty, and here and there was a raggedly sewn patch where the clothes threatened to give way entirely.

They were taciturn men, and said little or nothing to each other, and when they did, it was in a low tone. They paid absolutely no attention to any order of LeBlanc, always turning to one of their number for confirmation.

This man, evidently the leader, was a perfect giant of a man. He stood, so the boys judged, at least six feet four inches, and was correspondingly large of frame.

His face, what could be seen of it, for he wore a black, flowing, tangled beard, was tanned by the sun, as one who lived entirely in the open. His followers evidently respected, or at least feared him, for whenever he gave an order, they sprang to do his bidding.

Garry and Phil wondered who they were and what their business was,-whether they were hunters or what.

A fire was built and a meagre breakfast made. Phil and Garry were glad of the food, for they were both hungry and tired. The eating done, evident preparations were made to continue the march. Both boys were cruelly tired. They had pa.s.sed a strenuous day and night, and now they wanted to sleep. But this was evidently not to be.

They were slightly surprised also when they learned from the conversation that LeBlanc was not to continue to the destination of the others.

"Now, King, you will take these boys to Misery Camp, and keep them until you hear from those who have given you instructions. They will let you know what to do, and you will be ver' careful not to let them make the conge, to get away, for then you will have me, Jean LeBlanc, to deal with."

"I'll keep my bargain, fer the fact that I give my word, an' a King allers keeps his word; but never think that I fear ye, Frenchman, fer I fear no man livin'!"

LeBlanc kept silence, and took his way back to the camp, while the weary march forward was resumed. Short rests were given at long intervals and the boys were thankful for the scant few minutes that were allowed.