The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island Part 38

"Thank you," laughed John. "I'll try to heed your advice, kind sir."

Abruptly, however, both boys halted and neither made any effort to depart while they both were listening intently to sounds which they heard outside the building.

"Pull back the slide! Pull back the slide!" whispered Fred, now plainly alarmed. "The j.a.p is coming and he's got those two big dogs with him, too. I don't know what will happen to us now."

CHAPTER XXVI CONCLUSION

"Did he see you?" inquired John, who was now as keenly excited as his friend.

"I don't know. The only thing we can do is to wait and see what happens."

The slide had been left open an inch or more and through the open s.p.a.ce both boys in their excitement watched the little j.a.panese as he drew near. The Great Danes were romping about the place evidently enjoying their freedom. They were still free when the j.a.panese turned and entered the house. When he had closed the door behind him the three dogs, for now the one that had not accompanied the j.a.panese joined his mates, ran about the place as full of life and kindness in their somewhat awkward activities as a clumsy puppy.

Relieved that the j.a.panese had not come at once to the barn the two boys were still anxious, for they were aware that Mr. b.u.t.ton was yet in the house. Indeed, as the time slowly pa.s.sed, the excitement of the boys steadily increased.

"There comes Rufus," whispered John at last.

"It's time for us to leave," said Fred, after he had convinced himself that the peculiar helper of Mr. Halsey was indeed coming to the barn.

"It's time for us to go above."

Instantly Fred ran to the low ladder and swiftly made his way to the loft, an example which John speedily followed. John still held the box which he had discovered in the meal and when both boys had found a hiding place in the loft they peered through a knot hole in the floor and watched Rufus as he seated himself in the little cart.

The interest of the boys became still more intense when after a few minutes had pa.s.sed Mr. Halsey himself came into the barn and closed the door after he had entered.

"You're right on time to-day, Rufus," said Mr. Halsey.

"Be I?" replied Rufus, apparently not strongly elated by the compliment.

"Yes, you are, and I'm going to give you that box to take to Mackinac."

"What else are you going to give me?"

"You'll get all you deserve, Rufus, if you'll do just what I tell you."

"That's what I've heard you say before."

"Well, you hear me say it now," said Mr. Halsey sternly. "You do your part and you need not fear that I shall not do mine."

"What is it you want me to do?"

"I have told you. I want you to take your motor-boat and carry that little box to Mackinac. You mustn't let anybody see it, for it is valuable and much of what you will get from me depends upon how successful you are in keeping everybody away from that box, and delivering it safely just where I tell you. I'm writing out the directions," he added, as drawing a blank card from his pocket he hastily wrote upon the back and then handed it to the ungainly man who apparently was still not strongly impressed by the words he had heard.

As soon as this had been done Mr. Halsey advanced to the piano box and lifting the cover thrust his hand into the meal.

The boys were unable to see the expression which came over his face, but in their imagination they were both confident they knew how startling his appearance was. They were still able to see Rufus in his seat in the cart and the alarm which he quickly manifested was connected directly with the failure of his employer to find the object for which he was seeking.

"Where's that box?" demanded Mr. Halsey, turning and approaching the cart.

"I don't know nothing about the box," grumbled Rufus. "All I do is take your boxes over to Mackinac or down to Western Duck Island. You promised to give me ten dollars a day and I've spent ten days for you this summer and you have paid me just twelve dollars and a half."

"If you'll find this box for me I will give you fifty dollars," declared Mr. Halsey. His excitement was plainly manifest in his voice and John trembled slightly as he a.s.sured himself that the box he had found was still safely in his possession.

"Rufus," said Mr. Halsey sharply, "have you got that box?"

"No."

"Do you know where it is?"

"No."

"Do you know what is in it?"

"Something good, I suppose, but I don't know what it is."

"Rufus," said Mr. Halsey again after a brief silence, "I want you to give up that box."

"I tell you I ain't got your box."

"You give me that box or I shall set the dogs on you."

Instantly the smuggler ran to the door to carry out his threat. He whistled shrilly and in response to his call the three huge dogs came bounding into the barn.

"I'll give you one more chance," said Mr. Halsey turning again to Rufus.

"You give me that box or get it and I'll give you fifty dollars. If you don't do it, then we'll see what you can do against the dogs."

"I don't know nothing about your box," whined Rufus. It was plain now that he was alarmed, but no one knew better than the waiting boys how truthful his statement was.

And then an almost unaccountable event followed. Angered by the persistent refusal of Rufus, Mr. Halsey turned sharply and said to the dogs, "Bite him! Bite him!"

A wild yell from Rufus followed when the three huge dogs at once leaped upon him. They were, however, possessed with the spirit of play and not one of them did the trembling man any harm. In his terror Rufus had slipped from his seat and when he tried to leap to the floor he fell in a heap. A series of wild yells followed when the Great Danes came sniffing about him, apparently puzzled by all the commotion.

Nor did they respond to the repeated demands of Mr. Halsey to attack the prostrate man.

The screams of Rufus, however, had been heard in the house and now Mr.

b.u.t.ton and the j.a.panese were seen running swiftly toward the barn. At the same time the excitement of the dogs increased and there were loud barkings and yelpings as they ran and leaped about the place.

The little j.a.panese, however, as soon as he entered the barn threw back his head and emitted another of his wild, hoa.r.s.e laughs.

"What's the joke?" demanded Mr. Halsey angrily as he turned upon his servant.

Again the j.a.panese laughed, and ignoring the question called to the dogs, every one of which instantly obeyed his call. Both Fred and John were convinced that if the j.a.panese should order the dogs to attack any one his word instantly would be obeyed.

Meanwhile the manner of Rufus again quickly changed. a.s.sured that he was safe from an attack, the look of cunning again appeared in his little red eyes and when the three men departed from the barn there was a swagger in his walk as he led the way to the house.

As soon as the boys were convinced that the men had withdrawn, they quickly descended the ladder and ran out into the yard.