William Murray Graydon

“ Certainly they were much better off than Brick in his cold and narrow closet.
The little party rose at the first streak of dawn. While Jerry prepared breakfast, Hamp and Sparwick took a lantern and went deep into the cavern. With a sharp hunting knife they carved off as much bear’s meat as they thought they could carry. Several of the steaks were fried for breakfast, and the rest were packed on the sleds.
In little more than an hour after daybreak the party were on the march. Through slushy snow and a drizzle of raw, misty rain, they tramped back to the clearing. ”

“ The ravenous scavengers of the forest were out on a night hunt for food.
“Yes, it is wolves,” muttered Hamp. “We ought never to have crossed the lake. The bitter weather has driven the pack down from Canada. Those brutes we saw yesterday were part of it.”
“Now they’re headed this way,” declared Jerry. “They must have attacked the camp of those two men, and been driven off. That’s what the shooting meant.”
“Can’t we climb trees?” Brick asked.
“If we do the catamount will likely climb after us,” replied Jerry. “Keep cool, fellows. A wolf is a born coward, and hates powder. ”

“ Straight ahead the trail wound narrowly between two steep walls of rock and timber.
Crack! the angry spit of a rifle echoed among the rocks. The ball whistled close over the heads of the lads. They instantly dropped down among the bushes, fearing another shot.
“Let’s all fire at once,” whispered Hamp.
“No, hold on,” cautioned Jerry. “The rascal is safe behind the rocks.”
The next instant a deep, growling voice floated down the ravine.
“Keep back, you chaps. The first one as comes a step nearer will get a bullet through him.” ”

“ Taken forcibly and unawares, Sparwick toppled over on his side. He struggled hard for a few seconds, then the stupefying drug did its work, and he lay still, with quivering limbs.
Brick flung the handkerchief across the cave.
“Will they come to life again?” he asked, huskily.
“Of course,” replied Hamp. “Don’t worry. Chloroform never kills. But we must pull out of here right away. We’ll save that fifteen thousand, Brick, if we can only get back to civilization without being caught.”
“We’ll do our best,” replied Brick. “I can imagine Raikes and my guardian waiting for us to-morrow night.” ”

“ Brick obeyed. From the threshold the prospect was dreary and dismal. No snow was falling, but it lay deep on the bit of clearing. Overhead was the murky, gray sky; in front the tangled thickets of the marsh.
“I want to tell you where you are,” resumed Bogle. “This cabin is in the biggest and loneliest swamp in the State of Maine. Raikes and I built it two years ago. No one ever comes near the locality. The swamp is regarded as inaccessible. Your friends would not find you, if they searched for ten years. Even if you escaped, you could never get put of the swamp. ”

“ Shall I try a shot?”
“Better let me,” replied Jerry. “I think I see a chance. Keep back a little.”
The boys moved aside, and Jerry poked his rifle through the hole. The hammer clicked. Then there was an anxious pause of half a minute.
“What’s wrong?” whispered Hamp.
“Can’t get a shot,” was the reply. “The brute has dropped lower, and won’t stir. Wait a bit,” Jerry added, as he withdrew the weapon. “You fellows are going to see the liveliest sight of your lives. Here come the wolves, and the catamount is growling like fury. He doesn’t intend to let himself be robbed of that venison.” ”

“ After dinner Brick and Hamp chopped holes through the ice, and caught a number of fat pickerel. Jerry took his gun, and trudged into the woods. He returned with a brace of spruce partridges.
Toward evening the wind shifted to the east, and it grew even colder. The boys put an extra layer of boughs on the cabin floor, and got all their blankets out. The only comfortable part was around the fire.
Just before supper a bird flew out of the forest and over the camp. It alighted in some bushes near the verge of the jutting headland. Jerry snatched his gun, and hurried after it across the ice. ”

“ Hamp cried. “Help! help!”
The lad’s situation was truly critical. Jerry was some yards away. Moreover, there was something wrong with the hammer of his gun. But Brick made himself ready in time. He slipped a few feet to one side, and lifted his rifle. A brief hesitation, then the trigger fell.
Bang! The shrill report echoed across the lake and through the forest. The buck staggered. His forelegs gave way. With a gasping moan he toppled over, and his life-blood stained the ice.
No words can tell the delight of the young hunters. They cheered until they were fairly hoarse. ”

“ The boys ran back to the cabin, where each grabbed a rifle. Then they sped down the ravine and out on the slippery ice. The strange, unearthly noise was twice repeated before they were twenty feet from land.
“It sounds like a college yell, only a good deal worse,” declared Brick.
“I’ll bet I know what it is,” replied Hamp. “The man has no rifle, and he’s trying to scare the catamount off by screeching at it. I’ve heard of old trappers doing that.”
“And it often succeeds, too,” said Jerry. “There, the fellow is calling for help again.” ”

“ An idea flashed into Jerry’s mind. He brought the rifle, and reached up with it, standing on tiptoe. He was not tall enough, so he gave the weapon to Sparwick. The latter was barely able to poke the sleds, but he could not budge them an inch. They were evidently wedged tightly across the hole. Their great weight held them there as though in a vise.
Sparwick dashed the weapon from him.
“It’s no use,” he cried. “I might as well try to move a mountain. A year’s poking won’t bring them sleds down.” ”

“ At last something occurred that made his heart leap for joy. The slab of bark struck a hard obstacle. Hamp tore eagerly at the snow with both hands. Yes, he had found the fireplace. One by one he lifted the charred embers of wood. Here was the half-consumed log that had ceased to burn when the storm opened. So far the tunnel was just what he had aimed to make it.
In a short time Hamp cleared the space round about him, and flattened the snow down solidly. He was tempted to push straight ahead for the storehouse, but a prudent second thought caused him to abandon the rash design. ”

“ Jerry admitted, reluctantly. “It must have come across the ice. There’s just one thing about it, fellows. If we expect to have any peace we’ve got to kill the creature.”
“That’s easier said than done,” replied Hamp. “I wish I had taken careful aim when I had the chance. Now the measly varmint will lurk around here all night, and keep us from sleeping.”
“We’ll do our best to put him to sleep with a bullet,” declared Jerry. “Keep a stiff upper lip, Brick. We’ve got long odds on our side.”
“I’m not afraid,” Brick protested, stoutly. “I can kill a catamount as easy as a deer if I get the chance.” ”

“ With a savage exclamation, Bogle sprang forward. But before he could reach the lad, Raikes slipped between the two.
“Hold on, Joe,” he pleaded. “You’re going about it the wrong way. Violence won’t do any good. Try persuasion.”
“Persuasion be hanged,” growled Bogle. “I’ll bring the obstinate young fool to terms mighty quick. Stand aside, Silas.”
But Raikes did not move. He held his ground, and kept his angry companion at arm’s length.
“Better take my advice, lad,” he said, turning to Brick. “I’m peaceably inclined, and I don’t want to see you hurt. ”

“ Their hearts beat loudly and rapidly.
“I don’t hear anything,” whispered Hamp. “Do you?”
“Not a sound,” replied Jerry. “Wait a second. I’ll settle the matter.”
He pulled out his metal box of matches and scraped one. As the light flared up, the lads glanced anxiously around them.
They saw at once that they were in an underground cavern. To right and left stretched a gloomy passage, ten feet wide. The sides and roof were of jagged, slimy rock, dripping with moisture.
Deep footsteps crossed the snow and led into the yawning blackness to the right. ”

“ From the house came gruff voices and an occasional peal of boisterous laughter.
“We’ve stumbled on a logging camp,” exclaimed Jerry. “That thieving rascal must be inside.”
“He may be one of them,” suggested Hamp. “What are we going to do about it?”
“First of all, we’ll take a peep,” replied Jerry. “I don’t believe the thief belongs here. If he does, we’ll get square treatment, though. Loggers are mostly honest fellows, if they are a bit rough. Come on.” ”

“ By cracky! we’ve blundered. There’s been only one man ahead of us.”
“How can that be?” exclaimed Hamp. “We didn’t see any marks branching off.”
He was startled by his companion’s assertion. He tried to stop, but, unluckily, one foot slipped. He came forcibly down on the snow-crust in a sitting posture.
With a yell of dismay he shot down the slope and plunged through the fringe of bushes. A brief glimpse showed what was below—a circular depression of glistening snow screwing downward like a funnel, until it ended in a jagged black hole of extreme narrowness. ”

“ I’ll never get out alone. Help me, quick.”
“I can’t do it,” replied Brick. “I’ll only get in myself. Anyway, I would be a fool to put myself in your power. You’ve murdered the man that tried to help me, and you ought to hang for it.”
Bogle swore a terrible oath, and his eyes flashed a bitter hatred at the lad. Again and again he struggled furiously to escape from the oozy quagmire. His body sank lower and lower, until the surface of the bog was almost level with his armpits. ”

“ With a smile that showed his white teeth, he strode down the street of Maine’s most thriving port and lumber town. He entered the Penobscot House, a block and a half from the depot.
He gave his luggage to a bellboy, and wrote his name on the register:
“Brick Larkins, New York City.”
The clerk looked at the inscription and smiled.
“Done it again, have I?” exclaimed the lad. “Brick is only a nickname. Shall I write it James?”
“Let it stand,” replied the amused clerk. “Will you have supper, Mr. Larkins?” ”

“ With his own rifle, he knocked the other’s weapon upward, and it was discharged harmlessly in the air.
With a savage oath, Raikes sprang at his antagonist. They exchanged a round of heavy blows. Sparwick’s weapon was dashed from his hand. Raikes had nothing left but the shattered stock. Both grappled, and rolled over in the snow.
Jerry and Hamp looked on with suppressed excitement and anxiety. They saw no opportunity of interfering; nor was their aid needed. Sparwick was far more powerful than his opponent. Raikes made a desperate fight, and quickly exhausted his wind and strength. ”

“ Its long, lithe body performed countless revolutions.
“Hurrah!” cried Brick, in great excitement. “This beats the old Roman shows. Do you think the catamount will be killed?”
“Not likely,” replied Jerry, “but he’ll lose the meat. There are too many against him.”
“That’s so,” exclaimed Hamp. “Look, fellows, look!”
Just then the catamount leaped clear over his circle of tormentors. With a screech of baffled fury he bounded into the bushy limbs of a tall pine tree. He made his way into an adjoining tree, and then vanished.
Three wolves lay struggling in their death agonies on the snow. ”

“ To him, a snowstorm suggested only the pleasing excitement of winter sports.
“We are all right as long as the wind don’t change,” responded Jerry, “but if it does—then good-by to the cabin. The snow itself is not as deep as it looks. The wind blowing over the bank makes a sort of an eddy behind it, and all this snow in the ravine has drifted. It will keep on drifting, too—higher and higher.”
“We’ll find a way to pull through,” said Hamp, confidently. “I don’t believe the wind is going to change.”
“It may sheer to the east,” suggested Brick. ”

“ Brick instantly reversed his rifle, and hit the brute a stunnning blow. The head vanished, and Hamp nervously examined his arm.
“Not a scratch,” he muttered. “You hit him just in time, Brick. Now I’ll pay the brute for his daring.”
He poked his shotgun out, and fired both barrels. Jerry joined in with a rattling fusillade.
“That hit something,” he shouted. “Half a dozen of the varmints were scratching at the sled. I thought it would give way.”
“We’ll beat them off yet,” gasped Brick. “Aren’t they savage, though? They don’t mind the fire a bit. Hullo! there’s a paw sticking through. Take that.” ”

“ Bogle glanced at Raikes, and in that glance was a subtle meaning, known only to the two. In a contest of wits and cunning, Sparwick was immeasurably their inferior.
“Your greediness will spoil the whole game,” growled Bogle. “It’s flying mighty high to ask ten thousand dollars. If we make it fifteen thousand, this lawyer will likely pitch us overboard and appeal to the police.”
“The one amount would be paid as quickly as t’other,” replied Sparwick. “To a man as well off as John Larkins is reckoned to be, five thousand dollars ain’t anything. ”

“ Yes, Sparwick was right. Behind the camp, and to the north of the spruce thicket, two sounds rose clearly on the crisp air, the slight patter of snowshoes and the rustling and snapping of bushes. The unknown traveler seemed to be heading directly toward the camp.
“It ain’t a crowd of three,” whispered Sparwick. “There’s only one, from the sound. He don’t know we’re here, I reckon.”
“Mebbe it’s Brick,” replied Jerry. “He might have escaped.”
“Mebbe it ain’t,” observed Sparwick. “Nothin’ like bein’ on the safe side. Drop behind that log, you fellers, an’ have your weapons ready.” ”

“ Brick had the glasses—a long-range pair purchased at Bangor. Each took a turn at them.
“Hullo, those things are only men,” said Brick, in a tone of relief. “I was afraid they were wild animals.”
“They are odd-looking chaps for this neighborhood,” replied Jerry. “They ain’t dressed like trappers or hunters. They have guns, though, and there’s a hand-sled trailing behind them.”
“I wish we could make out their faces,” said Hamp. “They’ve come across the lake, just as we did.” ”

“ He tore loose from Raikes, and pulled the hammer of the rifle back. He took hasty aim at Brick, who gave himself up for dead. Then Raikes snatched the barrel of the weapon, and knocked it upward. The two men struggled for its possession, swaying backward and forward. Raikes was comparatively cool. Bogle was insane with passion. The latter slipped and came to his knees, dragging Raikes after him.
“Let go!” he cried, with a violent oath.
“No,” refused Raikes. “You shan’t murder the lad. You don’t know what you are doing, Joe.” ”

“ Now the strip of open suddenly faded into a gloomy pine forest that grew to the water’s edge. The boys stumbled from side to side among the trees, and presently came out of the forest into open ground. Some distance ahead a ray of yellow light was visible.
110“At last!” muttered Hamp. “We have run the rascal down.”
“Yes; there’s his campfire,” said Brick. “I hope he’s sound asleep.”
“Not too fast, you fellows,” whispered Jerry. “That light is too steady for a fire. But we’ll investigate and make sure.” ”

“ Hamp cautiously lit it, and it was instantly seen that the thief had turned down the valley.
“We’re still on the right track, anyhow,” said Jerry. “We can’t well miss the rascal, either. He’ll stick to the stream until he finds a place to cross.”
“He won’t find one very soon,” declared Hamp. “This is the Mallowgash Creek, if I’m not mistaken. It flows into Chesumcook, and it’s broad and deep all the way. It’s too swift to freeze.”
“I don’t see a speck of light ahead,” said Brick, as he glanced down the valley. “The thief must be still traveling.” ”