Frederick Gordon

“ He said it in such a comical manner that Sammy, hurt as his feelings had been, could not stand out against his chums any longer. A smile came over his face, and then Bob and Frank laughed too.
"All right, Sammy," declared Frank. "We believe you. Tell us about the hermit. Maybe we can go up there and see him."
"And about the ghost, too," added Bob.
"There isn't any ghost that I know of," cried Sammy, quickly, "and I didn't mention any."
"Bob means the hermit," said Frank quickly, winking at his chum to show that he must not speak of that subject again. "Tell us about the hermit, Sammy." ”

“ Yours! You give it back to me, Jed Burr! If you don't, I'll go home. I won't go to school at all."
"Do it, then," shouted Jed. "See here," seizing the little fellow, and shaking him hard, "you blab one word, and I won't let a fellow in the crowd play with you, or even speak to you."
"See here, Jed Burr, you drop that," cried Bob, stepping into view and pulling Ned away from the grasp of the bully. ”

“ Claxton laughed outright.
"The only trouble I have with them," he said, "is that sometimes the men get to teasing and browbeating Tom Lee and I have to stop it for the sake of fair play."
"I thought some of them were highbinders," said Sammy, feebly.
"I suppose there are some of that kind," assented Mr. Claxton with a careless nod; "but they stick pretty closely to the big cities, like Sacramento and San Francisco, and we never have to worry about them out here."
"I suppose you have rattlesnakes out here?" said Bob.
Mr. Claxton's face grew grave.
"More than we want," he said. ”

“ For a moment, in spite of Sammy's warning, neither of his chums was able to move. Nor, for that matter, was Sammy either. As snakes are said to charm birds by looking at them steadily, so the sight of the old hermit, if such he was, seemed to charm the three boys into standing still there in the snow on the shore of Pine Island.
It was rather a scary scene, with dusk falling, amid a silence that was more startling than noise would have been. The old man rose up from the snow-covered bushes, seeming to tower more than six feet in height. He looked steadily at the boys. ”

“ Sammy was disappointed. There was no sign that any human being had ever made his home in the cave. Sammy had hoped to find an old bed or stool or blanket to hold up his theory. But there was absolutely nothing of the kind.
"Robber's cave, is it?" joked Bob.
"Gold and diamonds," grinned Frank.
"You fellows make me tired," said Sammy, put on the defensive. "Do you think I can have these things made to order? What do you boobs expect, anyway?" he snorted wrathfully. "Here you have a kidnapping, a chase by cowboys, a lynching and a big cave all in one day, and you're not satisfied yet." ”

“ In this way, Bob had gained quite a little on the men. Once they rested, near a little clump of shrubbery just beyond the schoolhouse. The man Bob believed to be the tramp went ahead, as if seeing if the road was clear. The other man sat down on one of the satchels, and the boy got quite near to him.
"It's the man I saw in the hide-out!" whispered Bob to himself. "It's the man with the green shade over his eye! Now I am sure these men are the fellows who broke into the jewelry store." ”

“ Now I'm going to make you a nice hot cup of tea. Will you boys have something to eat?" she asked.
Sammy and his chums looked at one another and their faces got rather red.
"If—if you please," said Sammy, "I'm not allowed to have strong tea."
"Me either!" added Frank and Bob.
"Bless your hearts! I didn't mean tea!" laughed Mrs. Handee. "It is not good for growing boys, unless it's very, very weak, and then it isn't tea. I meant to give you some bread and jam. Do you think you could eat it?" ”

“ Then it was that graver affairs than mere eating pressed upon Sammy. He fastened his eyes upon the two men and kept them there without blinking.
"What are you staring at, Sammy?" asked George.
"He looks like a cat watching at a mousehole," remarked Bob.
"I bet he's working up another mystery," mocked Frank. "I know the signs."
"Never you mind," said Sammy, impressively. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
"That's something new for Sammy, then," gibed Frank. "Most of the time he thinks he knows but he doesn't." ”

“ What Bob tried to do now was to get the attention of the animal away from the children. He gave the red cape a fling right into the face of the animal. It fell at one side. The bull eyed it and made a dash for it.
"Good! they're safe!" cried Bob, as he saw Minnie and Benny pass through the open doorway of the schoolhouse. They fairly fell over the threshold in their wild haste and fear.
The bull drove its head down at the cape. Then the animal stamped it to fragments in the soft sod. Then with a frightful bellow it started for Bob.
"It's a run, and a fast one," thought Bob. ”

“ But none of them felt that they were safe. They didn't know but what the snake at any moment might wind its way up the supports on which the bunks were built. They could feel their hair rising on their heads with horror.
Now that the candle was extinguished, the whole bunk-house was in perfect darkness. They listened fearfully. Every thing was still as the grave except for the sibilant hiss and angry rattle that came to their ears as the enraged reptile ranged around the room, seeking some means of escape. ”

“ Of course there is!" insisted Sammy. "Did you ever know of a hermit where there wasn't treasure? That's what hermits are for—to guard a treasure."
"Well, maybe," said Bob, slowly. "Anyhow if there was treasure on the island, I wouldn't want to hunt for it if that terrible old man was guarding it."
"I would," spoke Sammy, bravely. "Maybe he doesn't look so scary by daytime. I'm coming up again."
"I'm not!" exclaimed Bob. But none of the boys knew how soon they would again visit Pine Island, nor what strange adventures they would have there. ”

“ Bob noticed that one of the captives was Jed Burr.
"What are you going to do with us?" asked Jed.
"Douse him in the lake!" cried one urgent voice.
"No, roll him down the bluff," said another.
"We'll do better than that," replied Dave. "Here, tie their arms behind them," he ordered, as several pieces of rope were brought to him.
"Hold on," said Jed. "Fun's fun, you know."
"Yes, you spoiled ours just now, so we're going to have some fresh fun," laughed Dave.
Jed tried to fight off his captors, but the crowd found it easy to bind him and his companion. ”

“ THE CAPTURE—CONCLUSION
"The mischief!" cried Bob.
"Schoolhouse burning up!" echoed Sammy. "That's big news."
"Come on, fellows!" ordered Frank, making a rush down the road.
"Don't wait for me," said Tom. "I'm too fat to run fast."
"Say, I don't see any blaze," spoke Bob.
"No, but look—everybody is putting for the schoolhouse!" cried Sammy.
This was true. In the dim dusk they could see men, women and children rushing in the direction of the schoolhouse. They could hear the man who had told the news, and others, shouting nearer to the center of the village. ”

“ Before the boys could defend themselves, or make a stand, the furious old man rushed at them. With extended hands he pushed Bob over the cliff into the deep bank of snow below.
"Look out!" yelled Frank, as he saw his chum disappear.
"Hey! What are you doing that for?" demanded Sammy.
"I'll show you! I'll teach you to follow me!" snarled the old hermit. "Down you go! All of you!"
He pushed Frank over the cliff also, the boy struggling to keep his balance. But over he went, head first.
"Don't you dare touch me!" cried Sammy, getting ready to defend himself. ”

“ Running through a cave of course. Robbers choose just that kind of place——"
"Oh, forget it, Sammy," broke in Bob with a tired expression. "You're thinking of nothing all the time but robbers and mysteries."
"And if he ever saw a robber," added Frank, "he'd run hard to get away from him."
"Of course I would," admitted Sammy. "And so would you, too. But they can't hang around their caves all the time, and we might keep watch and slide in when there was nobody there. There's no telling what we might find."
"Well, we won't count the money just yet anyway," said Bob with a grin. ”

“ They looked at each other for an instant and then by common consent they looked toward the window of the room where Bob had been put to bed.
"Don't you think you saw that curtain move?" asked Sammy.
"It looked like that," agreed Frank. "But, of course, it might have been the wind."
"Wind nothing!" retorted Sammy, scornfully. "The wind that moved that curtain is named Bob Bouncer."
"Let's go in and rough house him," suggested Frank.
"We surely will," replied Sammy. "A fellow that isn't too sick to shoot a putty blower isn't too sick to have a pillow bounced on his head. Come along." ”

“ Before school was out that afternoon the white flakes began coming lazily down, and the children, looking from the windows, felt merry at the prospect of a storm. Snow is so different from rain. Almost everyone is happy and jolly when it snows, but miserable when it rains.
"Say, it's going to be a good storm all right!" cried Sammy, as he and his chums came out of school when lessons were over for the day. "It's three inches deep now, and falling fast."
"Yes, we'll have to get out our snow-shoes if it keeps on," laughed Bob, as he slyly dropped some snow down Frank's neck. ”

“ The boys gathered excitedly about their leader.
"See here, Dave," cried Sammy, "this is the work of 'The Blues!'"
"Of course it is," said Frank.
"Let's capture them," shouted Bob.
"Yes, it's pretty near time to go home, anyway," agreed Dave. "Keep together, fellows. If we catch any of them, we'll put them through a course of sprouts."
"Hear them! hear them!" yelled Sammy.
Derisive cries floated down to the beach. This nettled some of the boys. All of them were glad of a chance for new fun and excitement.
"Divide, fellows," ordered Dave.
"Yes, surround the enemy!" cried Sammy. ”

“ Frank, and even Sammy, had still cherished a sneaking hope that their parents might look on the gun question a little more favorably than Bob's parents had, but they soon found out that they were mistaken. Both families cried out in horror at the idea, and it began to look as though the Indians and outlaws were safe as far as the boys were concerned.
"There's no use," said Sammy, shaking his head mournfully when he met his chums the next morning. "Our only chance will be to pick up some guns after we get out there." ”

“ The boys advanced farther into the room. A nearer view of the strange tubes, with the glass in the ends, showed the latter to be large and bulging, like the lens of a bull's-eye lantern, or an automobile lamp. ”

“ Some kind-hearted people always gave her work or shelter.
Bob held his breath, for it was quite startling to see Mary waving the scissors. Her eyes looked wild, and she was not in one of her quiet moods, that was certain.
"I've been here hiding in the storeroom since before school," began Mary, with a sly laugh.
"Why, what for?" asked Miss Williams.
"To wait for you."
"For me, Mary?" said the teacher, as calmly as she could.
"Yes, ma'am. You see, I expect my little child home to-night. You know, she has been away at school for nearly four years." ”

“ There was plenty of water and fresh towels and for the next few minutes there was a vigorous splashing and rubbing as the Fairview boys removed the dust of travel.
"Don't they seem nice, kind people?" said Sammy, between rubs. "They make you feel right away as though you'd known them for a long time."
"Mother said we'd feel at home the minute we got here," answered George.
"She thinks there's nobody like Mr. and Mrs. Claxton," put in Frank.
"It certainly looks as if we were going to have a dandy time here," prophesied Bob. ”

“ He had been building a little dam, and he looked reckless and unhappy.
"Teacher wants you, Ned," said Bob.
"I don't want to see teacher," spoke Ned, in a sullen way.
"You've got to."
"What for?"
"She'll tell you."
"I won't go," declared the little fellow, starting to wade deeper into the water.
"No, you don't," said Bob, quickly, catching hold of Ned's arm. "See here, don't be a gump. The artist who boards down at your house is up at the schoolhouse with the teacher."
"Oh, is he?" cried Ned, brightening up. "I'll go, then, Bob." ”

“ So Sammy tossed the three straps, fastened together as they were, to Jed, who caught them. The next moment, holding firmly to one end, Jed swung the other to Hank. Hank grasped it and carefully began to pull himself forward so he could reach the edge of the ice-boat. A very little help, from a person on a solid place, will allow a person in the water to lift himself up. The water buoys him, so to speak. You boys who have been in swimming know that if you keep low in the water you can support yourself by merely placing one finger on the edge of a pier or a boat. ”

“ The exclamations tumbled over one another as they came from the lips of the delighted boys.
"Maybe we'll find some treasure out there," ventured Sammy, who was always looking for some mystery. "A deserted gold mine or something like that."
"Why should any one desert a gold mine?" asked Bob.
"That's a thing people usually stick to instead of running away from," added Frank.
"The man who owned it might die, mightn't he?" defended Sammy, stoutly. "Or Indians might have come upon him in the night and driven him away." ”

“ Jed did not reply, but with his party swung off on the cross-road.
"They're up to something," said Frank.
"I wonder what it is?" asked Sammy.
"Something to spoil our fun, I'm sure," spoke Tom. "It's just like them."
"I think they're going to run for it when they get out of sight," said Dick. "They are aiming to make a cross cut and reach the flats first." ”

“ To begin with, I think you already know my three heroes—Sammy Brown, Bob Bouncer and Frank Haven. Though I have named him last in this case, Frank was generally the leader in anything he and his two chums did. Bob and Sammy thought there was no one in the world like Frank.
Sammy was rather more quiet, and his mother said more thoughtful, but if this was so, it was only because Sammy was always thinking up something to do. He was quite a reader, and liked stories of mystery, and buried treasure. He was always sure that some day he would find a hidden store of gold, or make some big discovery. ”

“ Claxton?" asked George.
"We'll bring you home a great big mess of fish for supper," said Bob, coaxingly.
"I know there are lots of bullheads and catfish there," remarked Sammy, "and I shouldn't wonder, too, if there were perch and pickerel."
"You boys have got such a wheedling way with you that I can't refuse you anything," laughed Mrs. Claxton. "I guess it will be all right for you to go, but you must be sure to get home before dark. I'll have Tom put up a nice lunch for you." ”

“ Men took the place of the boys and crowded them out of service, but they had done their part.
"What's that, now?" spoke Bob, as, rounding the building, they came to the little addition to the main school building, used as a storeroom.
"Why," shouted Sammy, "there's some one inside!"
"It looks so," spoke Frank, in wonder. Bang, clatter, crash!—the rear window of the storeroom was smashed out from inside. A man leaped into view. He must have been sleeping in the place, and the fire must have started between the storeroom and the schoolhouse door. ”

“ HELPING THE HERMIT
Mr. Jessup, with his dog floundering in the snow ahead of him, came toward the boys, who were still stuck in the snowbank, though slowly getting out of it.
"What's the matter?" cried the hunter. "What happened to you? You ought not to go in a place like that!"
"We couldn't help it!" exclaimed Sammy, with a laugh. "We were pushed in!"
"Pushed in?" exclaimed Mr. Jessup. "What in the world do you mean, Sammy?"
"Help us out, and we'll tell you," suggested Frank. "We're tired out trying to wade through the deep snow."
"I guess that's right," admitted Mr. Jessup. ”

“ I had another good look at it while he was standing under the tree with the rope around his neck, and I'm surer now than I was before that he was one of the men we saw on the train with that infernal machine."
"How do you know that it was an infernal machine?"
"I don't just know," admitted Sammy. "But a man who's bad enough to kidnap a girl and run off with her is bad enough to blow folks up!"
"I don't care how bad he was," replied George. "It doesn't seem right to hang him without letting him have a lawyer or a trial and giving him his chance." ”

“ Jed Burr and his crowd thought it was funny to see the old man flounder around.
"Buffer!" cried one of them.
"Hey, want a back-stop?" echoed another.
"He's smashed something," spoke a third.
"Seems to be his watch," reported the first speaker.
"You're in a fix, Bob, this time, sure," said Sammy.
"I'm sorry it's Mr. Dolby," replied Bob. "He doesn't like any of us any too well."
Silas Dolby was a miserly old man who had few friends in Fairview, and he was tight-fisted, cross, and too shrewd to please honest people.
Bob, Frank and Sammy were "down in his bad books," as the saying goes. ”

“ You're always on the lookout for something odd."
Sammy was a little put out by the attention he had drawn to himself. But for all of that, he was not going to back down.
"Well," he said, "I only thought that if queer things had been going on around your camp, Mr. Jessup, maybe the person who had been taking your things would be hiding in here."
"So you're sure it's a person, and not a ghost; eh?" asked the hunter, with a smile.
"I don't believe in ghosts," delared Sammy.
"Good boy! Neither do I. But I'm sorry I can't agree with you that the mystery is in this old mansion." ”

“ And I can see a lot of fun that we can get out of this cave, too. What's the matter with our making it a kind of headquarters while we're on the ranch? It's as dry as a bone and maybe Mrs. Claxton will let us bring blankets and grub out here and stay over night once in a while. Think of sleeping in a cave. What do you think the boys in Fairview would say to that?"
"It'll make them crazy when they hear of it," said Frank, complacently.
"You bet it will," agreed Bob.
"And we can have a big fire outside the cave, and one of us will keep watch while the others sleep," put in Sammy. ”

“ THE SPELLING CONTEST
Tom Chubb was smiling all over his face at getting such a warm welcome from Bob and his friends.
"Say, fellows," he spoke, "I don't pretend to know much, but I stick to a chum."
"Good for you!" cried Sammy.
"There's a fellow you don't want to let stick to you," spoke Bob.
He pointed to Jed Burr, who was up to his usual trick of meddling with the affairs of others. Two little fellows were tossing a croquet ball to each other. Jed stood about half way between them, jumping up in the air, and trying to stop the ball.
"No, I don't like his looks one bit," said Tom. ”

“ But now, Uncle, the boiling spring is yours, and you needn't worry any more."
"How can it be hot water in the Winter time?" asked Bob.
"Well, that's one of the mysteries of Nature," said the former hermit. "I suppose the waters must come from deep down in the earth, and the wise men tell us that inside the earth are raging fires. I don't know about that, but I do know my medical spring will cure rheumatism. And I guess now, everything is explained."
"No, not everything," said Sammy quickly. ”

“ They were starting to run when Sammy called a halt.
"Wait a minute, fellows," he said. "I'm just as crazy to get near that fire as you are. But how do we know who those people are? What are they doing out here in the open? They may be outlaws or robbers for all we know."
"I don't care if they are," said Bob, desperately. "They can rob me of all I've got if they'll only let me get warm by their fire."
But George had been somewhat impressed by what Sammy had said and he stopped them.
"It won't do any harm to be careful," he said. "My father says it is always better to be safe than sorry. ”

“ Frank joined them, and the three lads for a moment stood looking in wonder down the slanting road.
"It's a runaway automobile," cried Sammy.
"And a boy in it," added Frank.
"Whew I there's a tumble," shouted Bob, dancing up and down in a state of great excitement. Not fifty feet away from them, near a vacant house, an automobile was coming towards them. A boy in its front seat seemed to have been trying to turn around. When Bob and his chums first caught sight of the machine, they saw that this boy was trying to stop it, but he did not seem to know how to go about the task. ”