L. P. Wyman

“ He at once began a thorough search for footprints. For a long time he searched and finally, just as he was about to give up in despair, he found what had escaped his notice in the darkness of the night.
The broken twig would undoubtedly have escaped a less keen vision but old Kemertok, Bob’s Indian friend, had trained him well to read the signs of the forest and but little escaped his eye.
“They’re slick all right,” he said to himself. “There’s no doubt but that they went this way but the big question is, did they leave a trail plain enough for me to follow. ”

“ But fear sprang to his heart when, a moment later, he heard the low whine of a small cub.
“She’ll get me if I don’t get her at the first shot,” he thought gripping his revolver. “And it’ll be in a minute, too,” he muttered as he heard the bear now but a few feet away. “Oh, for a bit of light!”
He waited until he knew that the bear was almost near enough for him to touch with his hand and was about to pull the trigger and trust to luck when something hit him a blow on the side of the head and he felt himself falling through what seemed miles of space then came oblivion. ”

“ But to hit that place in the intense darkness was he knew a thousand to one shot. Unless very hungry or with cubs a bear will rarely attack a man and knowing this Bob hoped that the bear would let him alone. ”

“ Bob said as he finished rolling his pack.
“I suppose we might as well keep along the border,” Jack suggested.
“I don’t know of anything better.”
“Even if we find nothing more exciting than log cabins which vanish while you wait,” Jack laughed.
They were about to start when a slight sound a little to their right caught Bob’s ear.
“Somebody or something is coming this way,” he whispered holding up his hand for silence.
“Mebby it’s that log cabin,” Jack chuckled.
“Let’s get back in those bushes and hide. It may be someone we wouldn’t care to see.” ”

“ Jack replied quickly as though there were no other course. “That’s what we are here for, isn’t it?”
“Good boy. I thought you’d say that. Now, Jack, I really think that this is the most serious thing we’ve ever been up against and we’ve simply got to be careful and take no unnecessary chances. We must not get caught. But we’d better get started or he’ll get so far away that we’ll lose him. We’ve got to skirt the top here and keep in the woods. It would never do to show ourselves on that open space.”
“Think we’ll be able to trail him?”
“I hope so but it’ll be no cinch. I wish Kemertok was here. ”

“ But, although he kept a man on watch until dark, nothing happened except that they learned that there were five men in the cabin.
“My, what a man that big fellow is,” Captain Jim said to Bob as he returned shortly before supper time from standing his watch. “What did you say his name is?”
“I don’t know his right name but they call him Big Tiny.”
“Big Tiny. What a contradiction of terms. But it’s just like some of these fellows up in this part of the world to give him a name like that.”
“Yes, a very fat man is pretty sure to be called ‘slim’ and a slim man ‘fatty’,” Bob agreed. ”

“ At the risk of banging full tilt into the trees they increased their pace, and after a short time were rejoiced to note that the sounds of the chase were growing fainter and soon they died out altogether.
“Guess they’ve either given it up or have taken the wrong direction,” Bob said as he paused for a moment.
“You mean the right direction for us,” Jack corrected.
“You win,” Bob laughed, “but we better keep a going for a while longer before we slack up. The greater the distance we put between them and us the safer I’ll feel.” ”

“ Taking his blanket he went a short distance through the woods and at the foot of a big spruce he rolled it about him, and after a brief but fervent prayer for his missing brother, he closed his eyes. But for a long time sleep refused to come. That his brother was in the power of ruthless and desperate men he felt certain.
“That fellow who was making the noise must have been acting as a decoy to get me away so that they could sneak up on Jack,” he thought. “And I sure fell into their trap beautifully all right.” ”

“ His prediction was made good almost immediately.
“That may be a real owl,” Jack declared as the last hoot boomed through the forest, “but if a loon should hear that punk imitation he’d bury his head beneath the waves for shame.” ”

“ Bob declared, and Jack agreed heartily. “How soon can you start?”
“We’ll go tomorrow, won’t we, Bob?” Jack replied eagerly.
“I don’t see why not. We can get ready in an hour or two, I guess,” Bob answered.
“That’ll be fine,” the officer assured them. “Now I have already arranged things so that you can always get in touch with me with as little delay as possible. You see, I took it for granted that you would go in for it,” he smiled. “Here is an address and a telephone number. There will always be someone there night and day who will know where I am and how to reach me.” ”

“ They were men of the most desperate character and, knowing that a long term in prison at hard labor awaited them, they would be sure to take advantage of the first opportunity that offered the least chance of escape. As the Captain had said they must take their medicine.
But the Captain was by no means cruel and he set a slow pace in order to make it as easy for them as possible without taking a chance. That night they camped beside a brook and Bob caught a good mess of trout for supper much to the delight of all even including the prisoners. ”

“ Bob cautioned as he started off toward the south.
Although the forest was, at this point, fairly free of underbrush, the trees grew very close together, and in the intense darkness, their progress was slow.
“It’ll hinder them more than it will us,” Bob chuckled as he dodged just in time to avoid hitting a big spruce.
“Look! They’re just over to the right,” Jack whispered as he saw a flash of light through the trees. ”

“ THE POCKET RADIO SAVES BOB’S LIFE. Bob fully realized that he was in a bad fix but it was not until darkness came that the thought occurred to him that he might not get out of the scrape alive. He had been in tight places before but never had he felt so entirely helpless and alone. To make matters worse a swarm of mosquitoes began to besiege him and he was kept busy slapping first one place and then another. ”

“ Tell Jane we are bringing a big mess of trout,” Jack replied.
“Well there’s a man here to see you. Says his name is Jim Carson and he’s a revenue officer.”
“Jim Carson! He’s the man who was hunting the moonshiners up on Mount Bigelow last summer,” Jack declared. “What does he want?”
“Wants to see you, and he’s in a hurry so you’d better get a hustle.”
“Hustle is our middle name when Jim’s after us,” Jack laughed. “Tell him we’ll try to make it by eleven o’clock.”
“What do you suppose Jim wants?” Jack asked turning to Bob who was standing close by listening to the conversation. ”

“ The former gave the hoot of an owl and a moment later the signal was answered by the whip-poor-will.
“He’s getting that bird down a bit better. Guess he’s had his whistle tuned. If I hadn’t heard it before I’d let it pass for the real thing,” Jack declared after the men had returned to the cabin.
“I wonder why they seem so scared of showing themselves.”
“I was thinking that very thing myself,” Bob replied. “I doubt if there is a human being except us and their crowd within twenty miles of here. Still they may know a lot that we don’t.” ”

“ It is indeed fortunate that the future is hidden from us. Had the two boys known what was in store for them it is doubtful if they would have returned to their home in the village in as high spirits.
Edna Golden, two years younger than Jack, readily agreed to help her big brothers. Indeed she was always interested in whatever they were doing and, as Jack often remarked, “she was a splendid pal.”
“If nothing happens we’ll call you at five o’clock,” Bob said as he stood by the side of his motor cycle in front of the house. ”

“ Bob asked. “You remember Jack saw it the first time up near Moosehead Lake.”
“Now you’re asking something.”
“Haven’t you any idea?”
“Nary a one.”
“And I don’t suppose it will do any good to ask those men.”
“Not a bit. They can keep a secret all right when they want to.”
“Well, I’m a Yankee and can make a guess although it probably is pretty far fetched,” Bob said.
“Let’s hear it. Your guesses have been pretty good so far this trip.”
“Well, I figure it something like this. You know most of the half-breeds up here and the French too for that matter are very superstitious. ”

“ It was just beginning to get light when a tap on the door brought them quickly out of bed and into their clothes. They found the two captains all ready for the breakfast which Captain Jim had arranged for the night before. The cars were waiting outside by the time they had finished and introductions were made all around.
“Captain Jim’s sure got a fine bunch of men,” Bob whispered to Jack.
“They do look as though they could give a good account of themselves in a fight,” Jack replied. “I wish we could all go together.” ”

“ The five smugglers watched him while he circled the field a couple of times mounting higher and higher. Then, as he disappeared in a bank of clouds they turned back toward the cabin.
At that moment Captain Jim spoke.
“We’ve got every one of you covered. Throw up your hands and the first man who moves will get shot.”
As his voice rang out the five men turned quickly and as they saw the rifle barrels peeping out from the bushes every man’s hands shot above his head.
“That’s right. Keep them there,” the Captain ordered as he stepped out into the open. “Now quick. Bob, get the word to Jack.” ”

“ The blazing plane had set fire to some underbrush but fortunately it was not dry enough to do more than smoulder. They quickly beat out all that remained of the fire and then turned their attention to the plane.
“She’s sure one wreck,” Captain Brice said as he surveyed it “I wonder what has become of the man.”
Just then Jack, who was standing on the opposite side saw a foot sticking out from beneath one of the twisted wings. ”

“ Jack said.
“Right, and the all important question is whether it’s someone hunting or were those shots signals.”
“It’s closed season for hunting,” Jack reminded him.
“I know, but I have an idea that that don’t bother the natives up here a whole lot. I guess they hunt about when they’ve a mind to law or no law.”
“Well, I guess we can’t afford to take a chance and find out. Our best bet is to keep out of sight all we can.”
“You said it.”
By this time they were ready to start. No more shots were heard as they struck off toward the west traveling slowly so as to favor Bob’s leg. ”

“ Bob continued, much pleased at the captain’s praise, “Jack’s plan is to get a fast plane with a good driver and have him all ready somewhere near here. Then we can go up there and watch for that fellow. Of course one of us will stay with the machine with one of these phones and the other will guide you and your men, taking the other phone. Then when he is about to start we can call and tell the driver and he can get after him. As soon as the plane is out of sight you can arrest the men and, if the man with your plane is successful, you’ll get the whole gang.” ”

“ Pierre and Tiny didn’t seem to pay very much attention to him.”
“That may have been a plant.”
“Mebby.”
“Anyway it’s a cinch that neither Pierre or that there Tiny, as you call him, is the leader. There’s someone with more brains behind all this. It takes brains and a lot of them to outwit Uncle Sam as long as this gang have done it, and I don’t believe either of those fellows can qualify.”
“I believe you. They run more to muscle than to grey matter. But some of these half-breeds are pretty shrewd at that.” ”

“ Jack laughed. “But your deducting listens pretty good at that.”
“The more I think about it the more I’m convinced that he’s the boss. It don’t seem reasonable that a man such as you described would be mixed up in this sort of thing in any role except the leading part. Can you imagine an American taking orders from a couple of breeds?”
“Does sound kinder fishy but I’ve known some white men to get pretty low and so have you.”
“That’s true too, but just the same I’ve got a hunch.” ”

“ It was now nearly ten o’clock at night and they had been hard at work since early morning in an endeavor to bring their labors to an end before going to bed.
“There, she’s fixed,” Jack declared, with a sigh of relief as he placed a small soldering iron in its place over the work bench.
“Good. Now you take your set up to the bedroom and we’ll give it a try out. If it only works, it’ll be the best thing we’ve ever done, Jack boy,” and Bob threw his arms about his brother’s neck and gave him a hearty hug. ”