The Mark On The Door Part 16

184 The Hardy boys did not know what to think of Tremmer's extraordinary proposal. At first they felt the man was just hluffing, and bargaining for his own safety. On second thought, however, they saw that Tremmer could not hope to win release by a bluff alone. He would have to make good, otherwise Vin-cenzo would follow him.

"If you know where Fenton Hardy is," cried Vincenzo, "produce him. If you send him here you won't be followed. If you fail, I'll hound you to your death! And I'll brand these innocent countrymen of yours. These Hardy boys!"

Tremmer spoke to some of the natives. Three of them struck out into the bush along the river bank, and a few minutes later appeared on a high level, making their way up the opposite wall of the canon. Then Tremmer himself, accompanied by another native, set out behind them.

"Remember!" shouted Vincenzo. "If Hardy isn't in this camp within an hour I'll be on your trail."

As the boys watched Tremmer slowly make his way up the canon wall their hearts sank.

They had found the missing witness, only to lose him again. Their mission had failed completely.

Their own plight was worse than it had ever 185 been, for it was certain that if Fenton Hardy should not appear Vincenzo would wreak vengeance as he had threatened. Moreover, it was impossible now for the lads to try to escape. They must wait in case their father should come. Every chance to foil Vincenzo had been cut off.

"Every chance but one," said Frank to himself.

Then he whispered his idea to Joe and the latter shook his head in agreement.

Together they looked around for Yaqui, who during the talk had become separated from them. While Pedro was addressing the men on the opposite sh.o.r.e, evidently exhorting them to return to his leaders.h.i.+p, the Hardy boys found their Indian guide.

"Yaqui," said Frank, "we mustn't lose Tremmer. My brother and I do not dare leave here because our father may come."

"Do you think," asked Joe excitedly, "that you could slip away and follow Tremmer?"

The Indian glanced around and nodded. The boys grasped his hands in thankful appreciation. As he moved off, Frank gave him a final instruction which Joe could not hear.

The latter knew, however, that his brother was very much like his father, and never missed an opportunity to work out a problem down to the slightest detail.

186 A moment later Yaqui mixed un.o.btrusively with the few men nearby. Then the Hardy boys saw him make his way slowly and quietly down the river bank. He vanished around a bend in the stream.

Shortly thereafter they saw a head appear above the surface of the water some distance down the stream. The Indian was swimming across the river. If any of the natives saw him they did not cry out, perhaps thinking that it was one of their own number deserting from Vincenzo's ranks. Frank and Joe saw a sleek brown body emerge from the water and vanish swiftly into the undergrowth. Yaqui was. on Elmer Tremmer's trail.

Vincenzo was not successful in persuading the deserters to return. In spite of all his arguments the natives decided to wait a while. They wanted to know if Tremmer would keep his word and send the white man back to Vincenzo.

"Take those boys to the cave," snarled Vincenzo suddenly. He was in a bad temper.

"See that they're well guarded. If Tremmer doesn't keep his promise I'll make them suffer for it."

It was then that the outlaw noted the absence of Yaqui.

"Where's that other fellow?" he demanded. "Where's the Indian?"

CHAPTER XXH.

THE HOUR OF SUSPENSE.

the guards looked around blankly for Yaqui. Vincenzo was furious.

"He escaped! Right under your noses! Look for him. Bring him back."

The natives scattered and made a great pre-tense of conducting an industrious search for the fugitive, yet they had not the faintest idea where to look. Frank and Joe were hastily bundled off to their cave, where an armed guard took his place in front of the entrance.

"I'll bet Tremmer won't get very far out of Yaqui's sight," said Joe after a time.

"Do you think Tremmer really knows where Dad is?" ventured Frank.

"If he does, it will be easy enough for him to send our father straight into a trap. He'U tell him where we are, and when he comes for us Vincenzo will be here to capture him."

"And in the meantime Tremmer will be legging it away to goodness knows where."

"Was Tremmer lying? That is the question," said Joe anxiously.

187.

188 "He didn't have enough imagination to think np a story like that," Frank decided. "That's why I believe there is something to his claim that he knows Dad's whereabouts."

"Vincenzo gave him an hour. He didn't say he would need more time. If Dad is in this part of the country at all he can't be far away."

A little dog just then came scampering up to the mouth of the cave, nosed suspiciously about the feet of the guard, and poked an inquisitive head into the entrance. It was a Mexican hairless, of the same breed as the dog Vincenzo had given the boarding house keeper in Bayport.

"We promised we'd try to get Mrs. Smith another dog," said Joe, trying to appear calm, although his spirits were in a turmoil.

He whistled softly, and the little animal ventured inside. It was very shy, however, and when Joe tried to pat its head the dog drew back quickly.

"I'd like to collar that pup and take it home with me," Joe said.

"If we ever get there," Frank reminded him mournfully.

His brother crept toward the animal, but it suddenly retreated and began capering around the cave entrance, barking furiously. Again and again Joe tried to coax it back.

Finally 189 he conquered its fears, and the dog crept forward again until Joe was able to scratch its head. A moment later it licked the boy's face and snuggled up in his arms.

"Well, young fellow," said the eager boy, "if I ever get back to Bayport once more, you'll come with me."

"Its owner may have something to say about that," Frank observed.

Just then a shadow crossed the entrance to the cave. The boys looked up to see a girl peering in at them. She was a dark-skinned, gypsy-like young creature with big eyes.

"Pepita!" she cried when she saw the dog. "Pepita!"

"Your dog?" asked Joe, disappointed.

The girl nodded. The guard looked on with interest.

As the young woman came closer Frank and Joe noted something that horrified them. In the center of the girl's forehead, plainly visible, was an ugly mark.

It was a brand-the symbol P which they had seen before-burned into her fles.h.!.+

The Mexican maid was trying as best she could to coax the pup to come to her, but the independent little animal seemed to prefer to stay with its new friends.

"Look here," cried Frank. "How did you get that mark on your forehead?"

190 The girl was puzzled. She did not understand. Frank leaned forward and lightly touched the branded symbol. A look of terror crossed her face. She glanced over her shoulder as if fearful of being overheard.

"Eet was Pedro," she whispered.

"He branded you!" Joe exclaimed in horror.

Although she did not understand his words she gathered their meaning. The girl nodded elowly.

"Pedro-not please wit' me," she answered.

Then she shrugged and gestured toward the mark again.

"He branded you because he was angry with you?" Joe asked.

The girl nodded her head vigorously. Then she called to the dog again, trying to coax it away from the boys.

"So that's the sort of fellow Pedro Vincenzo is," muttered Frank indignantly.

The boys knew then that Pedro's promise to brand them if Tremmer did not keep his bargain was no empty threat.

By signs with his hands Joe tried to make the girl understand that he would like to keep the dog.

"I'll buy him from you," he said. Then his face fell. "I forgot. The bandits took all our money."

The girl spoke sharply to the dog in Spanish.

191 The animal reluctantly moved toward her. Joe suddenly thought of the strange bracelet he had discovered on the floor of the other cave. He took it from his pocket and held it out to the girl, at the same time pointing at the dog.

The girl exclaimed with delight when she saw the piece of jewelry. She reached for it shyly, slipped it over her arm, and gazed at it with s.h.i.+ning eyes. Again Joe pointed to the dog, making signs to indicate that he wished to make an exchange.

The girl understood. She did not try to coax the animal to come to her any more.

Admiring the bracelet, she withdrew from the cave and slipped away.

"Come back, pup," said Joe to the dog. "You belong to us now."

The animal was quite willing. He seemed to understand and frisked about the boys, barking happily as if to show his appreciation.

"All we have to worry about now," Frank remarked, "is how we are going to get him back to Bayport."

Even the antics of the dog, however, could not relieve the suspense they were enduring.

If their father should not appear in the camp by the end of the hour, Vincenzo would certainly wreak vengeance upon them. And if lie did did appear, what then? Fenton Hardy appear, what then? Fenton Hardy 192 would be unable to aid them, and the torture of the Fire Ceremony might be carried out just the same.

Frank looked at his wrist watch.

"Fifteen minutes," he said quietly.

The brand they had seen on the girl's forehead told them that they could expect no mercy from their captor. Pedro Vincenzo was cruel and relentless. He would carry out his threat.

Frank got up and went over to the mouth of the cave. Some of the natives were coming back from the other side of the river, and as they arrived he could hear Vincenzo arguing with them.

Suddenly a great shout went up.

One of the tribesmen ran up to Vincenzo and grasped him by the arm, at the same time pointing to the wall of the canon that rose high from the opposite bank of the stream. Frank gasped.

At the top of a narrow trail, meandering up the side of the wall, he saw three figures.

Two of them were natives. The other one was a white man!

Was the latter Fenton Hardy?

Frank could not distinguish the form very plainly at that distance.

"Joe!" he called. "Come here, quick!"

Joe leaped up and ran to his brother's sidef the dog leaping gaily at his heels.

193 Vincenzo and the natives were silent. They were watching the three figures beginning the difficult descent down the steep wall of the canon.

"It's Dad!" exclaimed Joe.

"I'm not sure yet. Perhaps it's Tremmer, coming back."

"No, he isn't dressed like Tremmer."

Suspense gripped the lads as they watched the three men slowly making their way down a trail. Even when the trio finally reached the base of the cliff, the boys were unable to learn for certain if the newcomer was really Fenton Hardy.

The three men got into one of the dugout canoes and began to paddle across the stream. From the actions of the deserters, who immediately made preparations to return, the boys were convinced now that Tremmer had somehow kept his promise.

At last the canoe reached sh.o.r.e, and one of the natives leaped out. He was followed by a white man. Joe and Frank uttered a simultaneous groan of despair.

"Dad, oh, Dad!"

It was indeed Fenton Hardy!

How had Tremmer learned of the detective's whereabouts? How had he lured Mr. Hardy so easily into Pedro Vincenzo's trap?

As the boys watched closely, they could see 194 Pedro step forward. He gave a curt order to the natives at his side.

Instantly those strong men flung themselves on the detective and pinioned his arms behind his back.