There could be no question but that the man was coming for the sole and only purpose of paying them a visit, and Jet was quite confident he had grown suspicious he and his companion were being followed.
The boy's first thought was to edge farther into the shanty, in order to prevent his face from being seen so plainly; but he did not dare make very much of a move lest the man should be aware of his purpose.
"He knows what we're here for," Jim whispered, in a tone of fear.
"Don't let him see you think it. Act as if we wasn't talking of anything but hunting and fishing. Remember he'll kill us, if he knows the truth."
This was sufficient to drive away what little self-possession Jim had left, and he stood stupidly staring at the visitor until Jet said sharply:
"Pick up that hatchet and begin to cut wood; we haven't enough to last over night."
Jim would have obeyed almost any order at that moment. He was so dazed with fear as not to know what he was about, and mechanically he began to do as he was bidden.
Bob advanced leisurely, looked carelessly around at the boat, the stack of provisions and the weapons, after which he asked, much as if it was really a matter of no concern to him:
"Come up here on a hunting trip, eh?"
"More for fishing than anything else," Jet replied, keeping his face in the shadow as much as possible.
"Is this a good place for that kind of sport?"
"We haven't had a chance to find out yet; but my chum caught four from the shore just after we landed."
"Do you live anywhere around here?"
"I'm from Plattsburgh; but Jim lives at the village of Saranac Lake."
"Then he ought to be acquainted with the best fishing grounds."
"He thinks he is, and wanted me to keep on into the upper lake; but after that long carry I thought I'd had enough of such work, and so we've hauled up here a while."
"Going to stay long?"
"I don't reckon we can be away more'n a week."
"Do many of the visitors stop on this lake?" Bob asked, as he turned to Jim, and Jet took advantage of the opportunity to move farther inside the shanty.
"No, sir, they mostly keep farther on. This place has been fished over so much that there's no fun for the city chaps what wanter catch big fellows."
Under Jet's example Jim was rapidly recovering his presence of mind, and since the visitor did not immediately set about killing them, he dared to look him in the face.
This answer seemed to please Bob, and Jet could readily understand why.
He gazed around once more, and then started back, much to the relief of his hosts.
Jim attempted to say something a moment afterward, but Jet interrupted him by crying loudly:
"Don't you think we'd better try to fix this camp up a little more before night?"
"Why, she's good enough," Jim replied, in surprise, as he came to the front of the hut, which gave Jet the opportunity to whisper:
"Don't you dare to say a word about him yet a while. There's no knowing how near he may be."
It was fully a quarter of an hour before the small guide ventured to speak again, and then Jet had seen both the men on the shore in front of their hut.
"You can talk now," he said, as he rose to his feet; "but in the future be mighty careful where those fellows are before opening your mouth about them. What were you going to say?"
"I don't know now; you frightened it out of my head. I swow! but I thought he'd come over to raise the very old Harry with us."
"It wasn't pleasant to see him so near; but now I'm glad he made the visit, for I don't think he suspects anything, and won't have a reason to prowl around. We must spend a good deal of time fishing tomorrow."
"Why don't you send word for them fellers to come up an' nab him?"
"Perhaps we will to-morrow, if they are still here; but you must remember that it isn't yet certain they'll stay very long, and by the time the officers arrived both might be out of the way."
"Of course, you've got the management of this job; but, if it was in my hands, I'd want to have it over as soon as I could."
"So do I; but at the same time it won't do to make a mistake. How long would it take you to walk back to the village, if I rowed you to the falls?"
"Pretty nigh one whole day."
"Would you go up there and send a telegram?"
"Couldn't you come to?"
"No, because they might leave while we were gone."
"Then I s'pose I'd have to do it," Jim replied; but it could readily be seen that he did not care for such a job.
Without saying anything to his companion, Jet decided that if the men should be in this camp on the morning of the second day he would send Jim to the village, and take the chances of their concluding to make a change of location.
Surely Bob would not think of starting off that night, therefore the amateur detective felt it was safe for him to take all the rest he needed, and, after a hearty supper, he and Jim turned in.
The sun was an hour high in the heavens when the boys awakened next morning.
As a matter of course the first thought of both was regarding the game they were watching, and their gaze was at once directed toward the other camp.
Both men could be seen lounging around the fire, and Jet said in a tone of relief:
"It's all right so far. If they are there to-morrow you shall go back."
Jim made no protest unless one might have been read in the expression of his face.
This second day in the woods was spent in a lazy fashion by the occupants of both camps.
It was nearly noon before Jim and his companion were ready to go out fishing, and then the sport was so dull that they did not remain very long.
Half a dozen medium-sized fish was the only result of their labor, and these the guide proposed to roast, because, as he explained, it would save the trouble of cleaning them.
He set about the task in the most approved backwoods style, and succeeded in bringing forth a most acceptable dish.
After this meal the boys did nothing, save watch their neighbors, and when night came Jet began to discuss the details of the return trip, for he was now confident the men were permanently located.
"Go right to the telegraph office as soon as you get home," he said to Jim, "and if the operator asks who sent the message say it was some one you met in the woods who hired you to bring it."
"S'posen he won't take it?"
"There's no danger of that. I'll give you the money, and he'll be bound to do as you say."
"You'll have to stay here all night alone, for, of course, I can't get back the same day."
"I shan't mind it, except that I may be lonesome; but I mustn't think of such a thing now."
Jim brought up various reasons why it would be better both should go; but Jet would not listen to them, and when they laid down to sleep it was understood that the guide would start at an early hour.
Next morning shortly after sunrise Bob and Sam were seen cooking breakfast, and Jet wrote the following message to Harvey:
"Come at once to Saranac lake, and hire a boat to Round Lake. I will watch for you."
When this had been done the amateur detective suddenly realized that if both he and Jim should set out in the craft and but one returned, it might arouse suspicion, therefore he said to the guide:
"It won't pay to run any risks, and you'll have to walk the whole distance. Here's money enough so you can buy anything you think we may need."
He handed Jim three dollars, and that young gentleman was so delighted at having such an amount to spend as he saw fit that all objections to the journey were forgotten.
"Go up along fast as possible; you can take your time coming back," Jet said, as his companion, shouldering the muzzle-loader, was ready to set out, "and don't delay sending that message."
"I'll fix things in great shape," was the confident reply, and then the small guide disappeared amid the foliage.
During the next hour Jet bustled around considerably more than was necessary, in order to make it appear as if both he and Jim were there, and as a means of causing the time to pass more quickly, attempted to cook an elaborate dinner.
This was a failure, however, owing to his lack of skill, and he dined on boiled potatoes, which were not particularly palatable, owing to the fact that they had been thoroughly scorched.
The men appeared to be well contented with their camp. They lounged around near the shore, but without showing any desire to fish, and otherwise behaved as if determined to remain.
When night came Jet felt more than lonely. The night noises of the forest almost frightened him, and only by piling the fire high with wood could he keep his courage screwed to the "sticking point."
He had not slept more than half an hour, and was promising himself a long nap after the sun rose; but when the day dawned he had something more serious to think about.
He watched Bob and Sam as they prepared breakfast, and then, much to his surprise and sorrow, saw them launch the boat, packing into her all their belongings.
"Jimminy! They're going to leave, and I've sent that telegram just at the wrong time. Now, what's to be done?"
There could be no question but that the men were intending to break camp, and, uncertain as to what he should do, Jet watched until all the camp equipage had been stowed on board the craft.
Then they pushed off, rowing leisurely down the lake, and again Jet asked himself what should be done.
To pursue them in the boat, no matter how far in the rear he might keep himself, would simply be to tell the men he intended to watch them, and, unfamiliar as he was with the country or woodcraft, it seemed both foolish and dangerous to follow on land.
Not until those he so ardently wished to keep in sight had rowed fully a mile away did he arrive at any decision, and then he said to himself:
"There's no other way out of it. I must go on, and take the chances. I only hope when Jim comes back he won't be such a fool as to pull down the lake in search of me, for they'd be certain to see him."
Filling his pockets with cartridges, and wrapping in a paper a small stock of provisions, he set off, only to come back a moment later and write on a piece torn from a paste board box:
"I have had to go down the lake. Wait here for me."
This he fastened to a tree where Jim would be most likely to see it immediately on his arrival, and then he started for the second time.
When Jet set out, the boat containing the men was a long distance in advance heading directly toward the lower end of the lake where were a number of small islands.
At first it had seemed a simple thing to follow a craft by keeping close to the edge of the water; but in a short time he learned the difference to his cost.
For a certain distance Jet could walk through the fringe of bushes growing at the water's edge, enabled to see the boat and its occupants distinctly, and then a bit of marsh or small stream would force him to a detour of a mile or more.
"At this rate, I'm making about three times the distance they have to," he said, as he staggered across a shallow water-course so laden with the provisions, and the gun that he could not hold the branches back from his face, and thus received many a severe blow. "Most likely the next time I get to the edge of the lake they will be behind one of those islands, and then what's to be done?"
The catastrophe he feared did not occur quite as soon as he feared, although it came finally.
Twice more he saw the little craft, Sam rowing and Bob steering, and then she had disappeared.
By this time he was so near the outlet of the lake that it was impossible to say whether the men had crossed over into Upper Saranac, or were making camp near by.
During half an hour Jet sat concealed by the bushes where he could have a full view of the water, and no sign of life met his anxious gaze.
The only benefit derived from this halt was that he had lightened the bundle of provisions by making a hearty meal from a portion of its contents, and enjoyed the repose.
"There's no question but that they have either gone into camp on one of the islands, or kept on through the stream," he said, as he rose to his feet; "but I declare I don't know which way to turn."
He finally decided to walk to the outlet, scanning the shores of the island as he passed, and, failing in seeing any signs there, continue on until nightfall.
He tramped steadily for an hour without finding that for which he sought, and by this time was at the carry with the gloom of night settling rapidly around him.
Added to the desolateness of the situation was the sorrow caused by the belief that he had lost the trail at the very time when allowing Harvey to believe the men were where they could be arrested without difficulty.
"If I hadn't sent that telegram," he thought, mournfully, "Jim would have been here to help keep them in sight, or, if we lost them entirely as I have done, he'd have some sort of an idea where they went to."
The thought of the small guide gave him a new idea.
"I'll go back to our camp, if it takes all night," he said, resolutely, turning his face in the direction he believed it was located. "We can come down in the boat and find out whether they stopped on one of the islands."
Now he walked rapidly, in order to cover as much ground as possible before it grew so dark as to shut out surrounding objects from view.
Weary as he was, and owing to the broken ground, his progress was exceedingly slow, and night had fully shut her black curtain down before he reached the edge of the lake.
Then he was forced to proceed at a snail's pace, lest he inadvertantly walked into one of the small streams; but he continued manfully on until it was no longer possible to take another step.
Now came the alarming knowledge that he was lost.
Had he been going in the right direction he should have reached the lake before sunset, and it could not then be less than nine o'clock.
He was no longer able to find the stream which had served him as guide, and stretched himself on the ground at the foot of a gigantic tree feeling as if it made but little difference whether he ever arose again or not.
In utter despair he remained silent and motionless until slumber came to his relief, and he remained wrapped in blissful unconsciousness for several hours.
When he awoke it was yet dark, and he was benumbed with the chill which came from the damp earth.
"There's no need of freezing to death, if I am lost," he said to himself. "Things are so bad now that they can't be much worse, and I may as well make the best of a bad bargain."
By feeling carefully around he succeeded in getting together a small quantity of decaying wood, and this he lighted after some difficulty.
"It's lucky I had to cook dinner to-day, or I shouldn't have had a match." he said, grimly, as he sat about gathering more fuel.
In a short time he had a cheerful blaze, and the warmth, which was so grateful, served to revive his courage.
Slowly the hours passed.
Now and then he fell into a light slumber, but only for a few moments at a time, and it seemed as if forty hours must have elapsed before the sun lightened the sky again.
Toasting some of the crackers on the coals, and refreshing himself with water from a tiny stream, he made ready to continue his search.
Now he took his bearings carefully, with the sun as a guide, and, knowing the lake must lie to the west, pushed straight across the wilderness.
One, two, three hours, and then his heart was made glad by a glimpse of the water.
Never had anything looked as beautiful as did the lake at that moment.
He ran to the bank, and looked out through the bushes.
He was nearly opposite the islands, at the exact spot where the trail was lost on the previous afternoon.
To reach the camp it would be necessary to travel the greater portion of the day, and the important question was as to whether Jim would remain quietly there until he returned.
"There's no use thinking about it; I've got to take the chances," he said, resolutely to himself, and the weary march was resumed.
More than once before the journey came to an end was he tempted to give himself up to the rest he so sadly needed; but the thought that he might be forced to spend another night in the woods alone without a shelter, prevented him from giving way.
The last of the provisions were eaten for dinner.
A halt of half an hour was indulged in, and then he trudged forward once more, traveling a trifle more easily since one of his hands was now free.
It was late in the afternoon when he finally arrived within sight of the encampment; but there were no signs of Jim.
Before reaching the shanty he shouted loudly, receiving no reply, save the mocking echoes.
Now he ran the short distance remaining, and looked around eagerly.
Everything was apparently as he had left them. The notice was still fastened to the trunk of the tree.
The store of provisions was untouched, and he went to the water's edge.
The boat had not been launched, and this in itself was sufficient to show the small guide had not returned.
It was time he arrived, even supposing he remained over night at his home, as had been intimated, and the only reason for delay which he could imagine was that the young gentleman's parents refused to let him continue the hunting trip.
If that had been the case it seemed strange he did not come back to let Jet know he could no longer act as guide and assistant detective.
Thoroughly disheartened Jet threw himself on the ground near the front of the shanty, trying to decide what he could do; when the sound as of some person forcing his way through the underbrush caused a look of joy to come over his face.
An instant later it was replaced by one of disappointment.
Instead of seeing Jim as he had hoped, a very disreputable-looking stranger came from the direction of the upper carry, approaching Jet with a careless "Howdy?"
"Good afternoon," Jet responded.
"Out here on a fishin' trip, eh?"
"Yes, something of that sort."
"Been 'round long?"
"A few days."
"I reckon you don't want to hire a good guide, who can beat any one in this section cooking, eh?"
"No, and I haven't got the money if I did want to."
"I'd go mighty cheap seein's how business is dull."
Jet shook his head.
"Well, there's no harm done. I don't reckon you'd kick agin givin' a feller a bite, eh?"
"Help yourself; the provisions are under the boat."
The stranger proceeded to overhaul the outfit in the most matter-of-fact way possible, even grumbling because certain articles he evidently expected were not to be found.
"How would it do, if I got up a dinner for both of us?" he finally asked.
"All right, go ahead."
It made very little difference to Jet what the fellow did so long as he left him free to think the matter over, and he paid no attention to his movements.
After an hour had passed the stranger invited Jet to "fill up" from his own stock of provisions, and as he accepted the invitation the boy discovered that whatever this man might think of his abilities, he was certainly a very poor cook.
"I'd a-done better if you'd had more stuff," he said, half-apologetically, and then he began an attack on the food which speedily emptied the dishes.
The visitor made no move toward clearing away the cooking utensils; but leaving them where they were last used, proceeded to fill his pipe.
Then he stretched himself out inside the shanty, and took, as he said, "solid enjoyment."
"I allow there's no reason why I can't stay here till morning, eh?"
Much as Jet disliked the proposed companionship, he could not well refuse the request, therefore he gave consent with rather an ill-will.
"Seen anybody else huntin' 'round here?" the fellow asked, after a pause.
"There were two men camping down there a bit, but they left yesterday."
"When did they come?"
"Three or four days ago."
"Do you know where they went?"
Jet fervently wished he did; but he simply answered "no."
The visitor appeared deeply interested in these men; but his host showed such a disinclination to talk that he finally relapsed into silence.
Jet soon fell asleep, and was so tired that he did not awaken again until an hour or more after sunrise.
To his delight the stranger was no longer, there.
He glanced around leisurely, and to his surprise found that more than the man had disappeared.
The boat, his gun, the store of provisions, and even the pot and frying-pan had taken their departure.
"The thief!" he cried, leaping to his feet, and then a thought which was little less than an inspiration came to him.
"He is one of Bob's gang. That is why he wanted to know so much when I spoke of two men. Jabe probably told him where Bob and Sam were bound for, and he came here hunting them."
The idea that he had been tricked by one of the gang he was hoping to run down seemed particularly humiliating, and during at least five minutes Jet stood silent and motionless gazing across the lake.
Then anger took the place of bewilderment, and he managed to say some very vigorous things which might have excited the ire of the gentleman who claimed to be such a skillful cook had he been there to hear.
Scolding doesn't as a rule, make any material difference in a fellow's situation, and this Jet came to understand when he was forced to cease from sheer lack of breath.
"What a fool I'm making of myself!" he exclaimed. "The idea of standing here raving when I ought to be trying to mend matters."
It was difficult, however, when he began to reflect, to decide upon his course.
Should he go toward the town in search of Jim, and also to hire another boat?
That would involve the loss of two days, during which time the officer for whom he had telegraphed might arrive, and, failing to find him, go down the lake on a wild goose chase.
To attempt to search for the men, alone and on foot, seemed the height of folly, and while he stood near the water's edge deliberating upon the question of whether he could replenish his stock of provisions without paying a visit to the settlement, the rustling of the bushes proclaimed an arrival.
Jet looked around, half expecting to see his seedy friend of the previous evening come back to tell him it was all a joke, when the small guide Jim stepped into view.
He was evidently in the best of spirits, and gazed at Jet as if wondering why he was not welcomed more warmly.
"I've made two dollars, though I ain't got 'em yet, since I've been gone," he said, as he threw on the ground in front of the shanty a well-filled bag, "an' now there's as much grub in camp as will last us for a month, providin' we do a little cookin'."
"What made you stay so long?"
"Why, you see, it was to earn the two dollars I was tellin' about. I met a feller the other side of the carry what was askin' if I'd seen two men 'round here fishin', an' we had a real sociable talk——"
"Was that when you were going up to the village?" Jet interrupted.
"Of course."
"And the fellow had black whiskers on his chin, and said he was a guide and cook."
"That's the very one. Have you seen him?"
"I will tell you after your story is finished."
"Well we had a right nice time together. I gave him part of my lunch, an' then he wanted me to come back with him; but I told him I'd got to get to the telegraph office——"
"Did you let him know what you were going there for?" Jet asked, excitedly.
"Of course not, though he tried mighty hard to find out. He was lookin' for a party what's coming through the carry in a day or two, an' has got a job with 'em at four dollars a day. He said they was over to Pine Pond, an' promised to give me two dollars, if I'd see if I could find 'em."
"Why didn't he go?" Jet asked, in a peculiar tone.
"'Cause he didn't know the way."
"Funny kind of a guide not to be better acquainted than a boy who never attempted anything of the kind."
"Well, you see, the most of his work has been done 'round Raquette Lake way."
"So you went over to the pond for him?"
"Yes, it wouldn't take me so very much longer, an' it was earnin' two dollars mighty easy."
"But what about the telegram?"
"Oh, that's all right. He offered to carry it to the village for me, an' to pay the charges out of his own pocket, though it was to be taken from what he owed me when I got back."
"And you gave it to him?" Jet asked, his face growing very pale.
"Yes, it would get there jest the same, an' I'd be helpin' buy the grub," Jim replied, in a matter-of-fact tone, wholly unconscious of the black looks Jet was bestowing upon him. "I couldn't find anybody 'round the pond, an' I reckon the party must have come that very day, for when I got back to the village the man wasn't there; but I'll have the money when he finishes the job."
"Did you ask the telegraph operator if the message had been sent?"
"No; what was the use of that so long as he'd promised to fix everything? But say," Jim cried, suddenly, as he looked toward the water's edge, "where's the boat?"
"Your friend, the Raquette Lake guide borrowed her this morning."
"So he's been here, eh? Did he say anything about meetin' me?"
"Not a word," Jet replied, grimly. "I guess he was too busy getting ready to leave, for he had to pack all our provisions, my gun and the other things which were lying around into the boat."
"What do you mean?" Jim cried, as he gazed about him and failed to see any of their outfit.
"I reckon he's gone to Raquette Lake with the two fellows who were camping over on the point."
"Have they skipped?" and now Jim's eyes were opened very wide.
"Went yesterday morning bag and baggage."
"What'll we do when the officer comes to arrest 'em?"
"See here, Jim, are you so stupid as not to know what has happened?"
"Why don't you tell me?" the guide screamed.
"Because you have been giving me the story. The very jolly fellow you met was a friend of the men I came here to watch; he talked with you long enough to find out that the telegram you were carrying concerned them in some way, and cooked up the yarn about Pine Pond, in order to get hold of it. Then he came down to hunt me, stole the things to prevent our following him, and skipped on to look for his pals."
Jim gazed at his friend with dilated eyes while this explanation was being made, and when Jet concluded, he said in a half-whisper:
"Then I'm to blame for all that has happened?"
"There's no question but you have been the means of informing those fellows what we are here for," was the gloomy reply.
"Do you know where they have gone?"
Jet told of his fruitless journey, and when he concluded, Jim said decidedly:
"They didn't go into the upper lake, if they want to keep out of sight. I'll bet they've landed on Dollar Island."
"Which is that?"
"The one nearest the outlet. It's a good place to camp, and from it they can keep track of everybody coming or going. Suppose that fellow who said he was a guide hasn't found 'em yet?"
"Well, what then?"
"We might catch him before the others find out about the telegram message."
"He has a boat, and we haven't."
"But he's bound to land somewhere, and I know of a trail down this side, which would take us to the outlet in short order. It isn't more'n two miles."
"Are you willing to go and take the chances? Remember if Bob and Sam have learned what we are here for it will likely be a case of life or death with us."
"See here, Dave, I've spoiled all your plans without meanin' to do wrong, an' now I'm ready to take any risks if things can be straightened out. You've got a revolver, eh?"
"Yes."
"Then let's see what can be done."
Jim was thoroughly excited now, and his determination to rectify the error put new life into Jet.
He sprang to his feet at once; reloaded his weapon lest the cartridges should have been dampened during the night in the woods, and while he was thus occupied Jim packed the provisions into a more convenient shape for carrying.
When all was ready, and but a few seconds had been spent in these preparations, Jim led the way to a well defined trail a hundred yards or so from the shore of the lake, saying as he did so:
"It's queer you didn't find this when you were lost."
"I shouldn't have noticed it if I'd come across it, because the most of the tramping was done after dark, and in the morning I thought only of finding the lake."
"We shall see it two or three times before coming to the outlet."
The boys walked at their best pace, Jet carrying Jim's gun, and the latter with the greater portion of the provisions slung over his shoulder.
At the end of a quarter of an hour the trail brought them to the edge of the lake, and they looked out over the water eagerly, but without seeing any signs of life.
Again their way wound through the woods, and when the journey was a trifle more than two-thirds finished they were within sight of the water once more.
"Unless that fellow has made straight for the upper lake, he ought to be 'round here somewhere, so we'd better not show ourselves," Jim suggested, as he crept cautiously down to the fringe of bushes bordering the banks.
The boys were now where they could see between the cluster of islands to the opposite shore, and after gazing for some time in silence, Jet said, as he pointed directly across the lake:
"Isn't that a line of smoke over there?"
"It is, an' I'll bet our man has made camp to watch for his chums. Let's go over!"
It seemed to be a sort of forlorn hope; but the chances were well worth taking in view of the possible result, and Jet replied:
"Go ahead; but we must keep a good watch of the shores in case that should not be the fellow we are searching for."
Jim hardly needed this caution. Since having done so much harm he was careful to a fault, and many times before reaching the outlet did he run to the edge of the wood to search with his eyes the borders of the lake.
Each time he reported that no one was in sight, and always concluded the information with the assurance:
"I'm certain the two men are on Dollar Island."
The outlet was reached and crossed at the expense of a wetting; but the boys thought nothing of that; it was too trifling a matter to be considered at such a time.
From this on there was no trail to follow, and Jim led the way as near the water's edge as possible.
Finally the moment came when they were so near the thin curl of blue smoke that the utmost care was necessary lest a noise should give token of their approach.
Jim crept through the bushes in the most approved manner of alleged Indian hunters, and when they had thus traveled a couple of hundred yards, he motioned for Jet to look as he parted the foliage in front of him.
There on the shore was the boat which had been stolen, and farther up, near a hastily constructed shelter of branches, sat the man who had promised to send the telegram for the small guide.
The man was sitting in front of a small fire, over which he had evidently been cooking, for the frying-pan was close at hand, and the odor of bacon could be distinguished in the air.
Most likely he had just finished his morning meal, and was now solacing himself with a pipe.
The stolen gun had been leaned against a tree close by the hut, and about a half a dozen yards from its new possessor, but on the opposite side from where the boys were crouching.
"What are you goin' to do?" Jim whispered.
"We've got to get hold of him somehow, and by that means prevent Bob and Sam from knowing what we are about."
Jim nodded to show that he agreed fully in this assertion.
"I don't s'pose you'd dare to shoot him."
"Of course not; that would be murder."
"Then how is it to be fixed?"
Jet studied the situation for several minutes, and whispered:
"We must manage to creep around on the other side, and get hold of the gun first. Then I'll cover him with my revolver, and you must do the same with the other weapon. When he sees that both of us have got the drop on him, I reckon there won't be much trouble in keeping him quiet."
Jim did not stop to argue the matter.
According to his opinion the sooner the job was finished, the better, and he started off at right angles with the camp, Jet following him.
The boys moved so slowly and cautiously that not so much as a leaf was disturbed, and the man by the fire heard nothing to arouse his suspicions.
Jim made a needlessly long detour.
Many times before it was ended Jet felt convinced that the guide had made a mistake, and once he stopped the boy to say so; but the latter replied, in the tone of a fellow who knows perfectly well where he is:
"We're all right. The camp is just over there, and I want to come in sight of the lake once more before turning toward it."
Twenty minutes later Jim pointed ahead with a gesture of triumph.
Jet could see dimly through the foliage the outlines of the hut; but the trees hid the man from view.
Now the progress was even more slow and cautious. It seemed at times as if Jim hardly moved, so afraid was he of making a noise; but the advance was certain, and finally he stopped, motioning for Jet to come beside him.
The two were hardly more than a dozen feet from the weapon, and about the same distance farther away was the man they hoped to make prisoner.
His pipe had gone out, his head was sunk on his breast, and there was every indication of his having fallen asleep.
"Can you get the gun?" Jet whispered.
Jim nodded his head.
"Then creep up to it. I'll have the revolver ready, and jump in if he awakens. In case he's still asleep we'll go toward him until he opens his eyes. Start now," and Jet drew his weapon.
The boys advanced side by side until Jim grasped the gun, and then Jet motioned for him to rise to his feet, he setting the example.
They stepped forward softly, each with his weapon leveled at the half-reclining man, who did not so much as move until the boys were close upon him.
Then he lazily opened his eyes, and turned his head ever so slightly.
"Throw up your hands; but don't make the slightest noise, or I'll shoot you as I would a dog!" Jet said, sternly.
The fellow obeyed the first order with alacrity as he saw the muzzles of the weapons within a few inches of his head, and said in a careless tone:
"I reckon you didn't care about lendin' me your outfit."
"That's just the size of it, and there is other business to be settled."
By this time the prisoner had caught a glimpse of Jim's face, and he added with a smile:
"Come to collect that two dollars, eh?"
"We mustn't stand here chinning," Jet said, as he pressed the muzzle of the revolver to the back of the man's head. "Look around for something to tie him with, Jim, and be quick about it."
"What are you up to now?" the fellow growled.
"It won't take long to find out, and I shall be forced to waste this cartridge if you make any row."
"I thought I was behavin' myself in proper shape."
"So you are just at present; but I am ready for any change of plans, and want you to understand fully how little it would take to induce me to send a bullet into your worthless head."
This was sufficient to silence the prisoner.
"I can't find anything but the boat's painter," Jim cried. "Shall we use that?"
"Yes, and be quick about it."
The rope was soon detached from the craft, and, as Jim approached with it, Jet said to the man:
"Now put your hands behind you."
This order was obeyed without a murmur, and the small guide began to tie them securely.
The painter was of sufficient length to serve as bonds for the fellow's legs also, and when he was thus trussed up Jet began fashioning a gag from a piece of pine wood.
Having had this instrument of torture applied to himself on two occasions, he was well prepared to put it on in a proper fashion, although the prisoner begged abjectly to be spared the indignity.
"We have got to take care of ourselves, and I wouldn't trust to your oath if you should swear from now till Christmas."
When it was impossible for the fellow to move or speak, Jet made a thorough search of his clothing, and succeeded in finding, among several unimportant things, the telegram Jim had supposed was sent many hours ago.
"It hasn't been a bad forenoon's work," the amateur detective said, as he wiped the perspiration from his face, for the mental anxiety of the past few hours had caused the big drops to flow down his cheeks as the heat of the sun never could have done.
"What are we going to do with him?"
"Take him back to the camp, of course. It won't pay to let him out of our sight until the officers take charge of affairs."
Before making preparations for the return, Jet scanned closely the shores of the islands, which were situated nearer the opposite side of the lake, hoping to discover some signs of Bob and Sam; but in this he was disappointed.
Nothing in the shape of a boat could be seen, and he said to the small guide:
"I'm afraid they have gone into the other lake."
"It doesn't seem reasonable, and I shan't believe it until we have searched over all those islands."
"How can we do that now we've got this fellow to look out for."
"That's what you must figger out; I'm willin' to carry out whatever you say."
"Of course the first thing is to get back to the camp. Do you suppose we can load that fellow into the boat so in case the men are where our movements may be seen they won't suspect it is a human being."
"Cover him over with a lot of pine boughs."
"That's the idea. Come on; we have no time to lose, for we must do something toward finding the others before night."
Jim hastily gathered an armful of branches and threw them over the prisoner, completely concealing his form, and then the boys carried him to the boat much as if he had been nothing more than a log of wood.
The fellow was laid in the bottom of the craft, and around him were packed the goods he had stolen from the camp.
"It will load the old boat down pretty heavy; but there's no wind blowing, an' we shan't have a very hard pull back," Jim said, as he took his place at the oars, leaving Jet to push off.
It was not much past noon when the start was effected, and the boys had the supreme satisfaction of knowing that the most important of their human game had not been warned of what was being done.
"Say, how would it do to move our camp down opposite Dollar Island after dark?" Jim asked, when they were some distance from the shore. "We could then take the chances of running over to search the place, and wouldn't have so far to go."
"We'll try it," Jet replied, as he steered the boat away from the islands.
When the two arrived at the camp the prisoner was carried into the shanty, and there so covered with boughs and blankets that any one passing would not have had any suspicion a human being was concealed in the vicinity.
A hearty dinner was next on the programme, and then arrangements were made for moving camp.
Jim thought they would not be warranted in building a shanty at the proposed halting-place, unless loose brush could be found, since the noise of an axe might betray their whereabouts, and he also decided against a fire.
"I'll cook up a lot of stuff this afternoon," he said, "and then we must get along with cold grub. Can't you catch some fish while I'm working over there?"
Jet rowed the boat a short distance out into the lake, and soon had all he could do to attend to his line, so rapidly did the finny denizens of the water attack the bait.
He brought ashore as many as would serve them for food during the next three days, and the small guide cooked every one.
All this work was not completed until after nightfall, and Jim was eager to be off.
"It is so dark that they can't see us now," he said, "and after the moon rises things will be different."
"We'll feed the prisoner, for I reckon he needs something by this time."
Jet removed the gag, while Jim stood over the fellow with a cocked revolver, and a plentiful supply of fish, bacon, and water was put in his mouth, after which he was "bottled up" again, as the guide expressed it.
The craft was loaded as before; but this time Jet took the oars, because Jim was so well acquainted with the lake that he was needed at the helm.
"Be careful not to run too near the islands," the amateur detective said, as he made ready for work, "and after we start not a word must be spoken, for sound travels farther on the water than the land."
"Don't pull too hard, and be careful about splashing with the oars."
"Shove off, I'm ready."
During the next hour nothing was said. The little boat moved silently through the waters, and at the end of this time Jet could see the loom of the islands on the right.
They were near the proposed camping-place, and every precaution should be observed.
Suddenly Jim leaned forward, touched his companion on the arm, and pointed to the right.
A light as from a camp-fire could be seen among the trees, and the small guide whispered triumphantly:
"I told you they were there."
"Then we must contrive to get hold of one or both in the morning. It won't pay to wait for the officers."