"Well, it's mighty funny Tom and Sam don't come up."
It was Dick who spoke. He stood in the shelter of a number of walnut trees, and close at hand was John Barrow.
The pair had missed the others ten minutes before, and were now waiting impatiently for their reappearance.
"It can't be as how they missed the trail in this snow," said John Barrow soberly. "Let us shout for 'em."
They set up a shout, and waited impatiently for an answer. But none came, and they called again.
"We had better go back for them," said Dick, his face full of a troubled look. "I wouldn't have them get lost in this snowstorm for the world."
It was decided to leave the sled where it was, and soon they were hurrying along the back trail. But the snow and wind were against them, and they made slow progress.
"It will not be necessary to relate all the particulars of the next three hours. In vain they looked for Tom and Sam. Not a trace of the missing lads could be discovered.
"This the worst yet!" groaned Dick, as he came to a halt, all out of breath. "I thought, all along, that they were keeping close behind us!"
"I told them to do so," returned the guide.
They had fired several shots, but the reports had failed, as we know, to reach the ears of the missing Rovers. They were now at their wits' end regarding what to do next.
"I'd give a hundred dollars rather than have this happen," went on Dick. "Why, they'll starve to death if they really get lost!"
"Oh, aint you mistaken there, Dick? They have the other sled, remember; and each o' 'em has a gun for to bring down any game as is wanted."
"That's true, and it's one comfort. But there is no telling when they reach civilization again. Why, this forest is about as bad as some places in the far West."
"I believe you there, lad. Well, they've got to make the best o' it. I reckon they'll strike out for the river and come up that to Bear Pond, over the rocks an' rapids an' all."
Supper time found the pair on the river again, four miles below Bear Pond. It was decided that they should camp at that spot for the night.
"We'll build a big camp-fire and keep it a-going," said Dick. "Perhaps they will see it."
"That's an idee," returned John Barrow, and before doing anything else the camp-fire was started, in an open spot along the river bank. Dick saw to it that it blazed up merrily, and kept piling on all the dry brushwood he could find, until the flames shot up fully twenty feet into the air, making the surroundings as bright as day.
For supper they cooked another of the wild turkeys, but it must be confessed that Dick had little appetite for eating. John Barrow noticed it, and he did his best to cheer up the youth.
"Don't worry too much, lad," he said. "Take my word on it, they'll turn up by morning, sure. You've said yourself they've been through putty tryin' times, in Africa and out West."
On the way to the river John Barrow had brought down several rabbits and some birds, and these were hung up on the low branches of a nearby tree. They proceeded to make themselves comfortable under this tree, cutting down some cedar branches for a flooring, and banking up some other branches and some snow to keep off the wind.
"I don't think I'll go to sleep," said Dick. "I'm going to keep the fire piled high, so that it will light up as it's doing now."
"Then I'll turn in right away," answered the guide. "It's eight o'clock. You call me at two, and that will be givin' you a fair nap afore daybreak." And so it was agreed.
It did not take John Barrow long to settle himself, and soon he was snoring as peacefully as though lying in his bed at home. Sitting down close to the fire, Dick gave himself up to his thoughts.
And what numerous thoughts they were—of home and of school, of his brothers, and of the Baxters and their other enemies, and of all that had happened since they had first started to go to Putnam Hall. And then he thought of the Lanings and of the Stanhopes, and lingered long over the mental picture of sweet Dora and of what she had last said to him.
"She's just an all-right girl," he said to himself. "Heaven bless her and keep her from any further trouble!"
When the fire showed signs of burning low he arose and piled on more brushwood. There was hardly enough at hand to suit him, and, ax in hand, he started back from the river, to cut more.
He was within fifteen feet of some dense bushes when of a sudden he came to a halt, as he saw a pair of gleaming eyes glaring at him. As soon as he noticed the eyes they disappeared.
"A wild animal," he thought. "Can it be a wolf?"
Retracing his steps to the fire, he caught up his gun and waited. But the animal did not appear, nor did Dick hear any sound save the murmur of the wind through the snow-clad trees.
The youth wondered if he ought to awaken the guide, but finally resolved to let John Barrow sleep. "I ought to be able to take care of one wolf," he reasoned. "I've taken care of worse than that in my time."
Gun in hand, he advanced upon the bushes once more. He expected to see a wolf slink away at any moment, but no beast came to view, and, after walking completely around the growth, he laid down the gun and went to work vigorously with the ax.
Bush after bush was brought down in rapid succession, until in ten minutes Dick calculated he had cut sufficient to last the camp-fire for the rest of the night. Then he lowered the ax and caught up a large bush, to drag it close to the blaze.
As he turned around he met a sight that, for the instant, chilled him to the backbone. There, between the blaze and the tree under which John Barrow was sleeping, crouched a wildcat, a large, fierce-looking creature, with fire-shot eyes and a stubby tail which was moving noiselessly from side by side, as the creature prepared itself to make a leap.
"Gracious! he's going to attack Mr. Barrow!" thought Dick, but even as this flashed over his mind the wildcat made a leap into the tree, close to where hung the game the guide had brought down some hours before.
"Thank goodness, he's only after the meat," thought Dick, and the chill he had experienced passed away. Then, struck with a new idea, he leaped for his gun.
Several twigs of the tree were in the way of getting a good aim, and he had to circle around to the other side before he could get another good view of the wildcat. In the meantime the beast had grabbed up the wild turkey that was left, and clutching it tight in its mouth, started to drop to the snow-covered ground.
Bang! went the gun and the charge of heavy shot took the wildcat in the left flank, making a bad, but not a fatal, wound. The beast dropped the wild turkey and let out a fearful snarl of rage. Then it saw Dick, gave another snarl, and leaped toward the youth.
The gun was double-barreled, and once more Dick let drive. But he was not overly cool, and the charge merely nipped the beast in its left front leg. It continued to come on, and as it did so Dick commenced to retreat.
"Hi! what's up?" came from John Barrow, and throwing aside his blanket, he leaped to his feet.
"A wildcat!" ejaculated Dick. "Quick! Shoot him!"
"By gosh!" muttered the guide, and blinking in the bright light of the fire, he reached for his rifle, which he had brought along in addition to his shotgun.
By this time the wildcat was close to Dick, and now, watching its opportunity, it leaped upon the youth, trying to bury its claws in Dick's shoulder.
Hardly knowing what to do, Dick brought around the gun barrel and poked it into the open mouth of the wildcat. With a gurgle of pain the beast fell back, but quickly gathered itself for another leap.
"Back!" shouted John Barrow. "Back, and let me git a shot at the critter!"
Dick was perfectly willing to retreat, and started to do so. But the wildcat was too quick for him, and in a twinkle youth and beast were down on the ground together, and the wildcat was trying to reach the boy's throat with its cruel fangs!
It was indeed a moment of supreme peril, and Dick felt very much as if his last moment on earth had come. He put out his hands mechanically and grabbed the wildcat by the throat, but his grip was poor and the beast shook itself clear with ease.
It was now that John Barrow showed himself to be a master of quick resources. To fire his rifle at the wildcat would have meant taking the risk of hitting Dick, and this the guide thought too perilous. Leaping to the fire, he caught up a long, burning brand and rushed at the beast with this.
To have a part of the fire thrust directly into its eyes was more than the beast had bargained for, and as soon as it felt the flame it gave a cry of alarm and fell back. As it did this Dick leaped to his feet and sprang several feet away.
John Barrow was now free to shoot, and hurling the firebrand at the wildcat, he caught up his rifle and blazed away in short order. The wildcat had turned to retreat, but the guide was too
Illustration: DICK AND THE WILDCAT.—P. 152 Rover Boys and the Mountains.
quick for it, and down went the beast with a shot through its head. It gave a shudder or two, and then stretched out, dead.
"Is he—he dead?" panted Dick, when he felt able to speak.
"Reckon so," responded John Barrow. "But I'll make sure." And catching up a club, he aimed a blow which crushed the animal's skull.
"That was a narrow escape," went on Dick. "If you hadn't come to my aid, I'm afraid he would have done me up." And he shivered from head to foot.
"You want to be careful how you attack wildcats around here, lad. It aint likely they'll tech you, if you don't tech them. But if you do, why, look out, that's all."
"Do you think he would have sneaked off with the turkey? I was thinking first he would attack you."
"Reckon he was after the game, and nuthin' more, Dick. He must have been powerful hungry, or he wouldn't have come so close to us. He's a putty big fellow," went on the guide, as he dragged the carcass closer to the firelight.
The fire was burning low, and Dick lost no time in heaping on some of the newly cut brushwood, and then he reloaded and the guide did the same.
"Might have a mate around," suggested John Barrow. "We had better keep our eyes peeled, or we may be surprised. Wonder what time it is?"
By consulting a watch they found it was just midnight. After the excitement Dick felt quite sleepy, and inside of half an hour he followed the guide's advice and laid down to rest—not under the tree, however, but as close to the camp-fire as safety permitted.
Dick had requested John Barrow to call him in three hours, so that the guide might get a little more sleep, but the youth was allowed to slumber until he aroused of his own accord, just as day was breaking.
"Hullo, I've slept all night!" he exclaimed, leaping up with something of a hurt look. "Why didn't you call me?"
"I thought as how you needed the rest," was the answer from the guide.
"Aren't you sleepy?"
"Not very. A sleep early in the night generally does me more good nor hours o' it later on."
"You haven't seen or heard anything of Tom or Sam?"
"Nary sight or sound, lad. It's too bad, but don't worry too much."
"They couldn't have seen the firelight," returned Dick, with a sorry shake of his head. "It beats all where they went to, doesn't it?"
"I've been a-thinking that maybe they went on ahead, Dick."
"Ahead? That they somehow passed us?"
"Yes; while we were lookin' for 'em. They may be up at B'ar Pond now, waitin' for us."
"Do you advise going up there?"
"We might as well. We can put up a post here, with a message for 'em—in case they do come this way."
"That's an idea, and we can put up other posts, too. Then, if they strike our trail, they'll be sure to go straight in following us." And Dick's face brightened a bit.
John Barrow was already preparing breakfast, and he agreed with Dick to leave some cooked meat in a cloth tied to the top of the pole the youth erected not far from the fire. On the cloth they pinned a note, telling of the direction to Bear Pond, and asking Tom and Sam to follow and fire two shots, a minute apart, as a signal.
It was a clear day and the sun, shining over the mountain tops, made the snow and ice glitter like pearls and diamonds. There was no wind, so the journey toward Bear Pond was far from unpleasant. They moved slowly, dragging the sled behind them, and searching to the right and the left for some trace of the missing Rovers.
"I don't believe they came up here," said Dick after half the distance to the pond had been covered, "I don't see the least trace of any human being, although I've seen the footprints of several wild animals."
"The wind might have covered the tracks during the night," was John Barrow's hopeful response.
"I'd rather lose the treasure, even if it is worth thousands, than have anything happen to Sam and Tom."
Just before noon they came to a point in the river where it divided into several branches.
"We'll stop here and put up another sign pole," said the guide. "Remember what I said? All these streams run into the pond and into Perch River. Now, which one you want, at tudder end, I don't know."
"Which is the largest branch?"
"Can't say, exactly. This one an' the one yonder are about the same size, and that one aint much smaller."
"Well, which do you suppose was the largest years ago?"
"Can't say that neither, although that one yonder might have been, by the looks o' the banks."
"Then let us start on that one. And if that fails us, we can then try the others."
They skated to the stream in question and erected a pole in the middle of the ice, upon which a second note was posted. Having gone to the trouble of chopping a hole for the pole, John Barrow suggested they might try their hand at fishing.
"Might as well stay here a while," he said. "If they are behind us, they may catch up."
Dick was willing, and soon a line was baited and let down into the hole. It was in the water only a few seconds when the guide felt a bite and drew up a fine fish, weighing at least half a pound.
Dick was anxious to try it, and took the line from John Barrow's hands. He was equally successful, and in a short while they had seven fish to their credit, weighing from a quarter to three-quarters of a pound apiece.
"I'm going to tie a fish to the top of the pole," said Dick. "They may be hungry when they get here, especially if they miss the pole at our last camping place."
"They won't want to eat raw fish, lad."
"No, and I'm going to put a few matches in a paper and tie it to the fish, so they can cook it, if they wish."
Dick's idea was followed out, and once more they went on, up a narrow stream which had many a turn among the cedar brakes and hemlocks which lined either side. Rocks were likewise numerous, and the lad came to the conclusion that locating the treasure was going to be no easy task.
"It's rather desolate," he remarked. "I wonder what ever possessed that old Goupert to come here?"
"It's not so desolate in the summer time, Dick. But I reckon Goupert was a mighty odd stick, as it was."
At last they rounded a turn in the stream and came in sight of Bear Pond, a long and wide stretch of water located in the very midst of two tall mountains. The pond was covered with thick ice, and the snow lay upon it in long drifts and ridges. The ice was blackish and almost as hard as flint.
"We may as well go into camp near the mouth of this stream," said Dick. "For from this spot we'll make our first hunt for the treasure."
"I hope with all my heart that you find it, lad. But if you don't, don't be too disappointed."
"I want to find Sam and Tom first. I shan't hunt for the treasure until I know of them."
"That's right. We'll go on a hunt this afternoon, jest as soon as we've had some of these fish broiled for dinner."
If there was one thing which John Barrow could do to perfection, it was to broil fish, and the meal he set before Dick half an hour later was so appetizing the lad could not help enjoy it, in spite of his anxiety over his brothers' prolonged absence. The fish was as sweet as a nut, and both lingered some time over the meal, until all that had been broiled were gone.
"And now to find Tom and Sam," said Dick, at last, as he leaped up from the log upon which he had been sitting. "What shall we do with our things?"
"Here is a hole in the rocks," answered the guide. "We'll hide them there and cover them with stones. I don't think anything will disturb the things between now and nightfall."
The stores were placed in the cache and carefully covered, so that the wild animals might not get at them, and then they saw to it that their firearms were ready for use. A minute later they were off, on the hunt for Tom and Sam.
It is high time that we return to Tom and Sam, and learn how the two Rover boys were faring in their unequal contest with Dan Baxter and his followers.
As we know, it was Baxter himself who attacked Sam, while big Bill Harney threw Tom to the ground. Jasper Grinder went to Baxter's assistance, while Lemuel Husty ran to aid Harney.
"Let go of him!" cried Sam, and managed to hit Baxter a glancing blow on the cheek.
"I'll not let go yet," answered Baxter, and bore the youngest Rover to the earth. Over and over they rolled in the snow, until Grinder caught Sam by the legs and held him still.
"That's right, Grinder, hold him!" panted Dan Baxter. "Don't let him get up!"
But Sam was not yet subdued, and getting one foot clear at last, he kicked Jasper Grinder in the ear.
"Oh! oh! my ear!" screamed the former teacher. "He has kicked my ear off. You scamp, take that!" And letting out with his foot, he gave Sam a vigorous kick on the side. At the same time Baxter struck the boy in the head with a stick he had been carrying, and then Sam suddenly lost consciousness.
In the meantime Tom was having a similar struggle with Harney and Husty. But the boy, though strong, was no match for the two men, and they soon pinned him to the ground and held him there as in a vise, while he was nearly choked by the big guide, who had clutched him by the throat.
"Let—let go—my—throat!" Tom managed to gasp.
"Will you keep quiet?" demanded Harney.
"Yes—yes."
"All right, mind you do." And then the guide released his hold, but continued to sit as he was, astride of poor Tom's chest.
"Have you got him?" came from Dan Baxter.
"Yes," returned the big guide.
"All right; then hold him."
"I will."
Leaving Sam to be watched by Jasper Grinder, Baxter ran over to one of the sleds and procured a long rope.
"Now then, Tom Rover, get up," he said sourly.
Tom was glad to arise.
"What are you going to do with me?" he questioned.
"You'll see fast enough."
"Going to try your old tricks of making me a prisoner, I suppose."
"You're a prisoner already."
"Thank you, for nothing," returned Tom, as coolly as he could.
"Don't you get impudent, Tom Rover. If you try it on, you'll get more than you bargain for, let me tell you that."
"You always were a first-class bully, Baxter. You like to tackle little boys, or else somebody who is helpless."
"Shut up! I won't listen to you, now!" roared Baxter, and grabbing Tom's hands he forced them back and bound them together. Then the ropes was passed around Tom's waist, so that he could not move his hands to the front.
By the time this work was accomplished Sam was regaining consciousness. He gave a moan of pain, and then sat up in bewilderment.
"Who—what's happened?" he stammered. Then he looked around. "Oh! I remember now!"
He was very unsteady when he got on his feet, and it was Tom who made the first move toward him.
"Too bad, Sam. They are a set of brutes."
"Don't call me a brute Rover," growled Jasper Grinder. "Neither you nor your brother have all you deserve."
Sam was bound with a rope, and then both prisoners were told to walk over to the fire. This they did, and were left in charge of Husty and Jasper Grinder, while Baxter went off a distance, in company with big Bill Harney.
"Well, what do you want to do with 'em?" demanded Harney, when he and the bully were out of hearing of the others, "'Pears to me you've taken the law in yer own hands."
"I'm glad I've caught them," returned Dan Baxter. "They may help us to find what I am after."
"Think they've got a better map nor yours?"
"They may have."
"Supposing that brother comes up, with John Barrow? They may make it hot for us."
"That's what I want to ask you about, Harney. Isn't there some place around here where we might hide the prisoners? A cave, or something like that?"
The big guide scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"There's a tolerable place about quarter of a mile from here—the old B'ars' Hole, we use ter call it."
"Of course we don't want to run up against any bears," said Baxter, with a show of nervousness.
At this the big guide let out a rough laugh.
"Aint got no use fer them critters, eh?"
"I have not."
"'Taint likely there are any b'ars around. Me an Jim Wister cleaned out the hole last spring—got three on 'em. No new b'ars will take that hole yet awhile."
"Then we had better make tracks for it at once—before Dick Rover and the man who is with him get on our trail."
They walked back to the camp-fire and, calling Jasper Grinder and Lemuel Husty aside, Baxter explained the situation. A talk, lasting several minutes, followed.
"Now then, you come with us," said Dan Baxter to the Rovers. "And see to it that you don't try to get away."
"Where do you want us to go?" asked Tom.
"We are going to try to find your brother," was the bully's smooth reply.
"Humph! Do you expect us to believe that?"
"You can suit yourself, Tom Rover. But, just the same, you'll come along."
"And if we refuse?" put in Sam.
"I'll hammer you into submission."
"By jinks! but you always were a cheerful brute, Baxter," cried Sam.
"Shut up and come along," growled the bully.
Feeling it would be folly to resist, the two Rovers moved off with the party. The big guide led the way and the others followed.
"You may as well earn your salt," observed Baxter. "Here, take hold and pull one of the sleds."
He placed the rope in their hands and compelled them to haul the load, which they did unwillingly enough.
Curious as it may seem, none of the Baxter party had given a thought to the sled which Sam and Tom had had with them, and this had been left under the bushes at the spot where Husty had discovered the Rovers.
At first Tom and Sam had thought to speak about the matter, but they finally decided it would be better to run the risk of losing that portion of the outfit entirely than to place it in the hands of their enemy.
The way was rough, and it was only with the greatest of difficulty that they could drag the sleds along. But less than half an hour brought them to the spot which Bill Harney had in mind—a grand and wild place, where the mountain appeared to split in two for a distance of several hundred feet. Here there was a gorge fifty or sixty feet deep, partly choked with small scrub cedars.
"There's the hole," said Harney, advancing into the gorge and pointing with his hand.
"Better go ahead and see if it is free of bears or other wild animals," suggested Dan Baxter, as he came to a halt.
Rifle in hand the guide went into the opening, and made a thorough examination of the surroundings.
"Aint been no b'ars nor nothin' else here," he declared. "You can come right in."
The opening on one side of the gully was an irregular one, and beyond this was a large cave having several chambers. All was pitch dark in the inner chambers, and they lit some brushwood to give them light. Then a regular fire was started, which did much toward making the surroundings warmer and more cheerful.
Dan Baxter and his friends were hungry, and lost no time in preparing a meal. Tom and Sam were led to one side of an inner chamber, and the rope fastened to their hands was bound tightly to the protruding roots of a tree.
"Now, don't you attempt to escape," said Baxter. "If you do—well, you'll wish you hadn't, that's all."
And then he rejoined his companions in the outer chamber, leaving poor Tom and Sam to their misery.
"Well, Tom, this looks as if we had put our foot into it," was Sam's comment, delivered in a whisper.
"Don't despair, Sam," said his brother cheerfully. "We have been in worse holes, remember, and always managed to escape with a whole skin."
"That's true, but I don't see how we are going to get away now. I suppose somebody will stand on guard all the time."
"Perhaps Dick and Mr. Barrow will come to the rescue."
"If they can find the way. The wind and snow will cover the trail pretty well."
"There's no use of crying over the affair. If we can break away, I'll be for doing so."
"So will I."
"Hi, you stop your talking in there!" shouted Dan Baxter. "Plotting to run away, I reckon. It won't do you any good. If you try it, somebody will get a dose of buckshot in the leg."
"You don't mean to say you're going to stop our talking," said Tom, in indignation.
"That's just what I do mean to say. Now stop—or go hungry."
As the Rovers did not wish to starve, they relapsed into silence. A meal was being prepared by the Baxter party, and the appetizing odors floated into the inner chamber, where Tom and Sam sniffed them eagerly, for the walk and the bracing air had given them an appetite.
"Smells good, don't it?" remarked Dan Baxter, as he came in, fire-brand in hand, and confronted Tom.
"What, the cave?" asked Tom carelessly.
"No, the grub."
"Oh, you are cooking something, aren't you?"
"You know well enough that we are."
"Well, I can't stop you, Baxter, so cook away."
"Don't you want something to eat?"
"To be sure we do," put in Sam. "Nobody wants to go hungry."
"Perhaps you'll have to go hungry," said Dan Baxter significantly.
"It would be just like you to starve us, Baxter!" burst out Tom. "I know you are as mean as they make them."
"No compliments, please. I know my business, Tom Rover; and let me say I am in this game to win."
"I don't see what that has to do with our eating."
"You will see presently. I know all about what brought you here."
"And we know what brought you here," put in Sam.
"I suppose you fellows have a map, or something like it," went on Baxter, after a pause, during which he gazed curiously first at Tom and then at the youngest Rover.
"A map of what?" demanded Tom.
"A map whereby to find that treasure."
"If we have a map we'll take good care to keep it to ourselves," came from Sam, before he had taken time to think twice.
"Ha! then you have a map!" And now Dan Baxter's eyes brightened. "Where is it?"
"I didn't say so."
"I'll search you," said the bully, and at once proceeded to turn out one pocket after another. Of course the map, being in Dick's possession, was not found.
"You got it hidden," said Baxter sourly. "Tell we where it is, or you shall have nothing to eat."
"Will you give us a good meal if we do tell you?" demanded Tom promptly.
"Yes."
"Honor bright?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, Dick has the only map we possess." And Tom grinned, while Sam had all he could do to keep from laughing outright.
Instantly Dan Baxter's face grew dark, and he drew back his hand as if to strike Tom.
"You're a fresh one!" he burst out. "Are you telling me the truth?"
"I am. He has the map, and I reckon he'll keep it. Now, if it's all the same to you, we'll take that meal. Eh, Sam?"
"I'm hungry enough."
"I shan't give you a mouthful!" roared Baxter. "You can't play any game on me."
"That shows what your promise is worth, Baxter," returned Tom. "I didn't expect much else, though, for I know you thoroughly. Still, we told you nothing but the truth."
With a face full of hatred Dan Baxter turned on his heel and left them. Presently they heard him sit down with the others, and all began to eat the food that had been cooking.
"I must say we didn't gain much," observed Tom gloomily. "I suppose I ought to have humored him, in order to get something. But I despise him so I can't help pitching into him."
"I wouldn't humor him—I'd starve first!" returned Sam earnestly. "I am glad we weren't carrying the map."
"So am I glad. Rather than give it to him, I would have chewed it up and swallowed it."
Half an hour went by, during which both boys said but little, each being busy trying to concoct some scheme by which they might escape. They heard the others talking in low voices, but were unable to catch what was said.
Presently Jasper Grinder came in, bringing with him a small portion of food and a kettle of water. Setting the things on a rock, he untied one hand of each of the boys, that they might eat and drink.
"This is a fine meal," said Tom sarcastically.
"It is more than you deserve," replied the former teacher of Putnam Hall.
"You always were a hard one, Grinder."
"Mr. Grinder, if you please," said the man pointedly.
"And if I don't please to call you Mister?"
"Then you will get nothing more from me."
"Do you know that you are playing a high game here, keeping us prisoners?" asked Sam.
"What we are doing is our business." Jasper Grinder paused for a moment. "I want you to tell me something of that treasure for which you are seeking," he went on.
"What do you want to know?" asked Tom.
"What is the treasure worth?"
"We can't tell that until it is found."
"You are quite sure it has never been removed?"
"How can we be sure, when we don't know anything about it."
"Baxter says your brother Dick has a map."
"Hasn't Baxter a map, too?" questioned Sam.
"Something of a map, yes, but it is not very complete."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Tom quickly.
"But Baxter claims the treasure for himself."
"Really?" said Sam sarcastically. "Well, let him claim what he pleases. If we find it, it will belong to us—don't forget that."
Again there was a pause. Jasper Grinder looked anxiously toward the outer cave, to see if Baxter or the guide were watching him. But the two were talking earnestly between themselves.
"I have a plan," began the former teacher of Putnam Hall, in a low voice, "a plan to aid you."
"What plan?" demanded Tom.
"Hush! not so loud—or they may hear you. I presume you know what sort of a fellow Baxter is?"
"Well, rather," said Sam dryly.
"He is planning to do you a great deal of harm. Now I think I can save you."
"Then save us," said Tom. "Or untie us, and we will save ourselves."
"You can't save yourselves. Baxter is strong, and that guide is a giant in strength."
"What do you propose?"
"I'm coming to that. But you must make me a promise first."
"What promise?"
"That half that treasure shall be mine when it is found."
"Half!" cried Tom and Sam together.
"Yes."
"We can't promise that," went on Tom.
"You don't want much," was Sam's comment.
"Isn't it worth something to be saved from Baxter's clutches? I overheard him tell the guide what troubles he had had with you in the past, and how you had been the means of sending his father to prison, and all that. Why, he would put you out of the way forever, if he could."
"And will you stand by, Jasper Grinder, and see that done?" asked Tom.
"No! no! But—but—he is his own master. Promise what I wish, and I will help you."
"We can't promise you half the treasure," said Tom flatly. "But if you will really help us, we'll promise that you shall lose nothing by the transaction."
At this instant Dan Baxter leaped to his feet and ran for his gun, while Bill Harney and Lemuel Husty did the same.
"Come out here, Grinder!" shouted the bully. "Somebody or some wild animal is around!"
"Somebody is coming!" ejaculated Sam. "I hope it is Dick, with Mr. Barrow!"
"So do I," returned Tom.
Without saying a word more, Jasper Grinder ran from the inner cave and joined Baxter and the guide. His face was pale, and he was evidently much disturbed.
Soon Baxter and his party were outside, and the Rover boys heard them moving up and down the gully. Several minutes passed, and then came a gunshot, followed by another.
"I hope they are not firing on Dick or Mr. Barrow," said Sam, with something of a shudder.
"I guess not," returned his brother. "If they were, we'd probably hear shots in return."
An hour went by, and then Dan Baxter and the others came back, the guide carrying several rabbits and a large fox. The rabbits were skinned and kept for eating, and the fox was skinned and the carcass thrown away.
Tom and Sam had expected Jasper Grinder to return to them, but if the former teacher desired to do this, he was prevented by Dan Baxter, who kept his companions close by him, around the fire.
Slowly the time went by until darkness was upon them. The fire was kept up, but Baxter screened it as much as possible, so that the glare might not penetrate to the forest beyond the gully and prove a beacon to guide Dick and John Barrow to the spot.
The boys were tired out, and soon Sam sank to sleep, with his hands still tied to the tree roots. Tom tried to keep awake, but half an hour later he, too, was in dreamland.
When the Rovers awoke it was not yet morning. All was dark around them, for the fire had burnt low. Sam roused up first, with a severe pain in his wrists and ankles, where his bonds were cutting him.
"Oh, my wrists!" he groaned, and his voice caused Tom to start.
"Is that you, Sam?"
"Yes. My wrists are almost cut in two!"
"The same here. I've slept like a rock, too."
"Is it morning yet?"
"I'm sure I don't know."
"What's going on in there?" came from Dan Baxter, as he leaped to his feet and caught up a gun.
"We are suffering from cuts of the ropes," said Tom. "It was an outrage to compel us to sleep in this fashion, tied up like mummies!"
"Oh, shut up!" growled Baxter, and then began to poke the fire. Soon it was blazing as readily as before, and then the light found its way into the inner cave, so that Sam and Tom could see each other once more.
Breakfast for the two prisoners was a slim affair of crackers, rabbits' bones, and water. Tom asked for coffee, but Baxter would not give it to them.
"You'll get no luxuries from me," growled the bully. "Be thankful that you aren't being starved."
While they were eating, Baxter and his companions held a low, but animated, conversation. "We'll try it, anyway," Tom heard Baxter say, and that was all the Rovers heard. As soon as the meal was finished the party took up some of their traps and their firearms.
"Now, then, we are going out for a while," said Dan Baxter, coming up to the prisoners. "Take my advice and don't try to escape in the meantime. If you do, and we catch you, it will go hard with you; let me tell you that!"
"Are you going to leave us tied up?" questioned Tom dubiously.
"Certainly."
"Some wild animal may come in here and chew us up."
"We'll leave the fire burning—that will keep 'em away," returned the bully.
He would say no more, and in a few minutes he and his companions were gone and the Rover boys were left to themselves.
"Now what?" asked Sam, after all had been silent for at least ten minutes.
"Don't ask me," replied Tom disconsolately. "We're in a pickle, and no mistake. Are your hands as tight as ever?"
"Yes, and my wrists hurt so I feel like screaming with pain."
"Baxter is a brute, if ever there was one. However, I think I can get my left hand free," went on Tom suddenly.
"Good, Tom! Do so by all means."
Tom worked away with vigor. The pain was intense, but he bore it manfully. At last his hand was free.
"Hurrah! so far so good!" he cried lowly. "Now for the other hand."
But this was not so easy, for the knots were hard ones and broke his finger nails dread-fully.
"If only I could get at them with my teeth," he observed, "I'd soon chew them apart."
But he could not bend around, and so had to content himself with working away as before. Soon his fingers grew numb and he had to desist.
"Too bad, but I can't make it!" he groaned.
"Wait a while and give your fingers a rest," returned Sam.
He had begun work on his own fetters, but try his best could make no material progress. The ropes had cut through the skin in two places and from these spots the blood was flowing freely.
Two hours went by, and to the boys it seemed an age. Tom had tried his best to free himself, and now the cords were gradually loosening up.
"I've got it at last!" he cried presently. "Just wait." And a little later the bonds dropped to the ground. But the work had caused his finger tips to bleed.
With his hands free, Tom set to work free his feet, and this was not so difficult, although it also took time. Both boys were now hungry once more, and reckoned that it was well past the noon hour.
"I'll set you free, and then we'll look around for something to eat," said Tom.
"Hadn't we better get out as soon as we can?" asked his brother. "Remember, they may come back at any moment, and we are no match for them."
"It will take but a minute to pick up something, if it's around, Sam. Besides, we have got to have something in our stomachs before we set off to hunt up Dick and Mr. Barrow."
As soon as Sam was freed they ran to the outer cave. Here, on some tree-roots overhead, hung a number of traps, including a knapsack containing crackers and cheese, and close by it was a portion of rabbit, left over from the morning repast.
"Just what we want!" cried Tom. "Now, if we only had a gun——"
He broke off short, as a crashing outside greeted their ears. The noise continued several seconds, then ceased abruptly.
"What do you suppose that was?" questioned Sam. "It can't be our enemies returning."
"No, I think it was some wild animal—perhaps a wildcat."
Both looked around for some weapon with which to defend themselves, and Sam caught sight of a double-barreled shotgun standing in a corner of the cave. He ran for this, and as he did so the crashing outside was continued.
"I see something under the brushwood!" whispered Tom, peeping out. "Something big and black."
"It's a bear!" cried Sam, a minute later. "A black bear! And he is coming this way!"
Both boys were astonished and bewildered, for they had not been looking for such a big beast as this. Sam clutched the shotgun tightly, while Tom ran to the fire and picked up the biggest brand he could hold.
The bear advanced to the center of the gully and looked up and down suspiciously. Then he sniffed the air.
"He smells the carcass of the fox that lies outside," whispered Tom.
"Well, he must smell us, too, Tom. It's a wonder he doesn't run. Mr. Barrow said bears up here were generally shy."
"I reckon he is pretty hungry. Here he comes for the fox meat now."
Tom was right. The bear was advancing with great care, sniffing the snow-covered ground at every step. Once or twice he raised his head, as if preparing to run at the first sign of alarm.
"I'd like to bring him down!" whispered Sam.
"You can't do it with the shotgun, Sam. Be quiet! We can be thankful if he takes the fox meat and leaves us alone."
At last the bear reached the carcass. The two boys expected he would snatch it up instantly and run away, but they were mistaken. The bear sniffed it from end to end, and walked all around it.
"He's afraid of a trap, or something like that," whispered Tom. "They are pretty cute."
At last the bear seemed satisfied, and he took the carcass up in his mouth and started to walk off with it. But, instead of turning up or down the gully, he came closer to the cave!
"My gracious, he's coming this way!" cried Sam. "Look out, Tom!"
His voice was so loud that the black bear heard it plainly. The beast immediately dropped the fox meat and stood up on his hind legs. Then he gave a roar of disappointment; thinking, probably, that the boys had set a bait to catch him.
"He don't like the situation," began Tom, when he gave a yell and clutched his brother by the arm. And small wonder, for with rapid strides the black bear was making for them, as though to chew them both up!