Messenger No. 48 Part 36

The driver of the vehicle which Jet had hired did not seem disposed to push his sorry-looking horse to his utmost speed, and the boy experienced no slight amount of mental anxiety through fear that the men would escape him.

Once they entered the woods without his having some idea of their course, the chase would be well-nigh hopeless.

His small guide commenced the process of becoming acquainted by asking Jet's name.

"David Small," was the prompt reply. "What's your's?"

"Jim Crosby."

Then Jet was obliged to explain considerably more about himself; he said he lived in Albany, sold news papers there, and, having laid by a little money, concluded to see what the Adirondack region looked like.

"If you don't have to go back too soon, I'll show you the whole place,"

Jim replied, with an air of profound wisdom such as one might have expected from the oldest inhabitant in the vicinity.

Then the small guide went on to explain where he proposed to take his friend and patron, and before his recital was finished the wagon stopped at the lake side.

Here everything was in a state of seeming confusion. Sportsmen and tourists were setting out for their respective destinations; but Jet had no thought for any, save the two he had followed so far.

"You hire a boat, and I'll stay here," he said to Jim, who hurried away, leaving him where he could see all who left the sh.o.r.e by the water-way.

Again fortune favored him.

Bob and Sam had just concluded their arrangements for a craft, and were loading it not more than twenty yards away.

Before Jim returned they had started alone.

These two who thought more of hiding themselves than of hunting or fis.h.i.+ng, did not need a guide.

Jet kept his eyes fixed on them as they rowed leisurely down the lake, and when Jim returned, he said:

"See here, can't we keep about half a mile behind those fellows?"

"What do you want to do that for? They won't know where to find the best sport."

"I've got a particular reason for wanting to see where they stop, an'

will make it worth your while."

"Oh, that's all right, I don't want to be paid for anything of the kind! Come on an' help me put this stuff aboard before they get around the point."

Jet was so eager to be off that he did most of the work himself, and Jim promised to take the first trick at the oars.

"Don't pull very fast; I only want to keep them in sight," Jet explained, as he shoved the light craft off and leaped into the stern-sheets.

"You steer, and tell me when we're coming too near, for I can't keep lookin' around. Say, what game are you up to?"

"I don't understand you."

"I reckon you know what I mean. Why do you wanter keep on the track of that boat?"

"I just had an idea, that's all. They are going without a guide, and I'd like to see how they'll come out."

"There's plenty of them kind of fellers who think they can save money by workin' it alone; but they don't travel very far. What's your other reason?"

Unquestionably Jim was suspicious, and Jet began to study the question of how much he could tell him, for it would soon be necessary to make some more definite explanation.

While he was thus trying to decide, the small guide continued to ply him with questions, until he came to the conclusion that the best plan would be to give a portion of the story, otherwise, in case he met the men, Jim might ask them to solve the riddle.

"If you'll cross your throat never to tell a living person till we get out of the woods again, I'll let you into the secret, and what's more, I'll agree to give you twenty dollars, if this job is finished up right."

"Twenty dollars!" the boy repeated, in surprise. "What do you want me to do?" and he turned to look at the boat.

"Nothing just at present but row slowly without turning around. Will you agree not to tell anybody?"

"Of course, an' I'd do a good deal more'n that to earn so much money."

"Then here it is, and if you breathe a single word I wouldn't wonder if you got into jail. I've been hired to watch them fellows till officers can get here and arrest them."

"Then you're a reg'lar detective," Jim cried, breathlessly.

"Hold your tongue, or everybody on the lake will hear you. I ain't anything of the kind. Didn't I say I'd only been hired to watch them so's to let the officers know where they stop?"

"What have they been doing?"

"I don't reckon it's very much; but somebody in Albany seems to think it'll pay to catch them."

"Why didn't the constables come with you?"

"Because n.o.body but me knew they'd started for this place. It the men make a camp we can send back word; but if they have the least little idea that we're on their trail there'll be a mighty good chance of our getting our throats cut."

"I'll be still as a fish; but I do wish I knew more about 'em."

"If they are arrested you can find out the whole story."

This promise seemed to satisfy Jim, and he rowed on in silence, probably fancying he was doing some skillful piece of detective work, which might be spoiled by so much as the splas.h.i.+ng of the oars.

An hour later the men were taking matters so leisurely that it was necessary the boys should make a pretense of landing in order to remain behind, otherwise their evident loitering would have caused suspicion.

Jet explained this to his companion, and the latter proposed that they utilize the time by cooking dinner.

The boat was run ash.o.r.e, and Jim soon proved that he was a valuable a.s.sistant in the woods by preparing a hot lunch, which to Jet was decidedly palatable.

By the time the meal was ended the men were a couple of miles in advance, and the boys resumed the chase, with Jim still at the oars.

"I'll bet you they are bound for the falls," the guide said, shortly after the second start. "If that's so we'll have to make a carry, an'

that can't be done between now and sunset."

"What's a carry?"

"A place where you have to lug your boat for a while, an' it's no fun I'll tell you."