The Ranger Boys Outwit the Timber Thieves Part 21

Bewilderment spread over the faces of the boys.

It was not d.i.c.k who entered the cabin, but Art Howells!

CHAPTER XVII

A GOOD DEED REWARDED

The dumbfounded boys could only stare at Howells.

"Where did you come from and where is d.i.c.k?" cried Garry, when he had recovered his voice sufficiently to speak.

"If you will untie my hands first, I will feel better and be able to think. My wrists are all raw from trying to work the ropes off, but the man that tied me up knew his business too well," said Howells.

Since the boys' belongings had been restored them by King, they had their knives, and it was a small matter to cut the bonds.

"Now what do you mean by d.i.c.k being with me?" asked Howells.

"Why, d.i.c.k has been a prisoner at the camp, and we were given to understand that he was to be brought here to join us. We were prisoners here ourselves; fell into a foolish trap because we were too sure of ourselves. Fortunately, because of a good turn that we were able to do, we have been set free by the squatter chief," answered Garry.

"What do you mean free, with an armed guard outside the door?" demanded Art. "I should say you were pretty closely kept in confinement."

"That is only a ruse so the suspicion of whoever brought any prisoner here would not be raised. As soon as he goes we will be free to do what we please. Now how did you come to be captured?" went on Garry.

"Oh, I made a fool blunder too. I wanted to see you chaps to tell you that a lot of lumber was being s.h.i.+pped from a place called Harrison.

It's about five miles away from Dutton Lake, so that seems to show that the lake figures in the stealing of the timber. I crawled into camp one night and went to your shack, and walked in expecting to find you sleeping there. Instead I ran right into the arms of a couple of huskies who had me overpowered before I knew what was going on. I found out in a few minutes that the pair were LeBlanc and that precious scoundrel that tried to do me up that night you chaps appeared so providentially on the scene."

"Did Barrows say anything about what had been going on in the camp, or drop any word that would give us a hint as to his plans?" put in Phil.

"No, he was very closemouthed. There was a swarthy chap with him, who from your description I take to be Jean LeBlanc. All that was said was that I should be taken to a place called Misery Camp. From the looks of this place I judge that is where I am now. What have you run into, a squatter camp?"

"Yes, you've hit the nail on the head."

Garry was about to speak further, when the door opened and the squatter chief came in.

"That fellow is gone, and you kin come out any time you want," was the welcome news that he brought. The three followed him into the sunlight and then decided that a start should be made for the lumber camp at once.

"That is, unless you are too tired to start now, Art," said Garry.

"Oh, I'm feeling fit as a fiddle. I don't know that I'd care to walk all the way back, but we can save time by going part of the way," remarked Art cheerfully.

The packs were brought out and soon all was ready for the return trip.

They were surprised at the appearance of King with his rifle, and feared for a moment that he had thought better of allowing them to go and was going to make them prisoners again.

"Just decided that I'll go with you fellows. If there's goin't to be fightin', and I think there is, I want to be in it. Besides, you won't be safe wanderin' around through strange country alone. I'll see that you get where you want to go in safety, and mebbe you'll find that a little bit of extra help won't come in amiss? Do you want me to come?"

concluded King.

The light of battle was in the old man's eyes, and Garry at once decided that he might prove a valuable ally in case trouble arose and welcomed him to come with them.

"We'll take a little different way back, so we won't be liable to run into any of that gang from the camp. We'll go until you fellows get tired, then eat, and you can roll in while I watch for you."

This was what they wanted to do, and so they agreed to follow his advice entirely on the return trip.

"What about some of the men coming to your place to see if we are all right, or if they bring d.i.c.k with them, what then?" questioned Garry.

"In case any o' them come here from now on, they'll get a treat they won't like. I told my men to seize anyone who came, and if the fat boy comes, he is to be guided to a place where me and my men know, and then he can join us," answered King.

The squatter seemed to have covered everything necessary, and off started the quartet. King led them on a roundabout trail, and they walked until darkness fell, when Howells declared that he would like to rest.

For fear of possible detection by some prowler from the camp, no fire was built, and a cold bite was eaten. King refused to let any of the others do any work, and himself gathered enough boughs for them all to sleep on. Garry insisted that when King had watched for a while, he waken either himself or Phil, and they could provide a relief for a while. King protested that he was able to watch the entire night, but Garry reminded him that on the coming day there might be strenuous work, and he would not want to be handicapped by fatigue. This finally made the old man agree to waken Garry at midnight and let him stand a watch.

True to his word, King shook Garry about midnight.

"Don't believe there's any real need o' watchin', everything been quiet so far; but there's nothin' like bein' on the safe side."

Garry looked to see that his rifle was loaded and ready, then took a seat under a tree where he could be comfortable and yet hear anything.

King laid down on the ground, scorning the boughs, and was fast asleep in a moment.

After about two hours Garry began to feel drowsy, and rather than run the risk of dropping off to sleep, he woke Phil, who had had a good sleep and was able to stand sentry for the rest of the night.

After they had eaten in the morning, the old man asked what the next step was.

Garry had been thinking it over as they ate, and so he asked King if he knew the region around Kanamo Lake. King answered that he knew every inch of the territory in that part of the state, and so it was decided that he lead them by a roundabout route to the lake sh.o.r.e. Here they could hide out in a safe place, and after dark could portage the canoe across the timberland to Dutton Lake. Garry was determined to try and catch the thieves at work that night. Then plans could be made for a raid on the camp and the rescue of d.i.c.k could be effected.

It was almost nightfall when they reached the lake sh.o.r.e, and they thought best to turn in for a while before making for the spot where they had concealed the canoe.

To return now to d.i.c.k, who had been left all this time in the cellar.

Food was brought to him on occasion, but always by two or three in company, and he had no opportunity of trying to fight his way from the cellar. Once when the cook and cookee came, he attempted to bribe them to let him escape, but they turned a deaf ear to his words.

Back at the office, Barrows was having a council with his henchmen.

These consisted of the two LeBlancs, the cookee and the boss sawyer.

"Things are beginning to get too brisk here, so we'll make a good cleanup and light out," said Barrows. "I didn't expect when we started this thing that there would be all the trouble that has since come upon us. We've all done enough now to land us in prison, what with this kidnapping and everything. Catching Howells around here was what has made me suspicious. There's no telling what he has done on the outside.

He may have written to Boone and told him what was going on, and that would sure spill the beans, for Boone would probably order me off the place and give me my walking papers. Then we would be all done. What I propose is this: We have already cut a good bit of timber and that has been sawed, thanks to the saw I had hidden in the storehouse. We would have wasted time, as usual, waiting for another, but this suits my ends better. All this timber has been left on the tote road, and tonight we'll make a number of trips and clean it up. Tomorrow night we'll make a grand cleanup and then fire the sawmill and wreck the machinery and light out. By the time they have things ready to fix up, Boone will be too late to keep his contracts and my work will have been done," Barrows concluded as he rubbed his hands in evil satisfaction over his treachery.

"And the boys?" inquired Jean LeBlanc softly.

"I know what's on your mind, LeBlanc. Ugh, I'd hate to have you for an enemy. I suppose you want to stick a knife in them and put them out of the way."

"That would be safest. They know too much," answered the halfbreed.

"Well, I have a better plan than that. You remember we wrote a letter to decoy them away and mentioned a ransom. What's to prevent us from really getting one from old man Boone? We could stick him up for a big sum, and that would be clear profit aside from what the Carson people are paying us. King will keep them till we arrange things and then we could free them. After that, LeBlanc, you can do what you like; it will be out of my hands then. Now we'll start for the lake. Will the boat be there at the usual time?" and he turned to the boss sawyer.

"Usual time," laconically answered the man.