CHAPTER XV
chicken thieves
next morning, although the boys kept a *harp lookout, there was no sign of the marauder.
"We're not going to let him spoil our holiday," declared Frank. "If he decides to come back for his notebook we'll be ready for him, but we don't have to sit around waiting."
"What say we go back and call on Amos GriceT" suggested Joe. "He may be able to tell us some more about Elroy Jefferson and the stamp collection."
"Good idea!" declared Biff. "I'd like to meet the old chap."
Chet said nothing. He was already struggling into his coat. The prospect of a jaunt in the ice-boats appealed to the boys strongly, for it was a bright, sunny morning and the air was keen.
In a short time, the lads were ready, and went scrambling down the slope toward the little cove where the ice-boats were sheltered. Chet, who was anxious to learn how to manage the craft, seated himself at the tiller fif
3iff's boat.
li*
Chicken Thieves 119
"Guess I'd better take out some insurance, if you're going to steer," said Biff.
"Don't worry about me, my lad," Chet advised. "Hang on to your cap, for you're in for a swift ride, with plenty of fancy twists and curves."
The Hardy boys got into their own boat, the sails flapped in the wind, then filled out, and the boats sped out of the cove into the open bay.
Chet soon found that steering was not the simple thing it had seemed. He was in difficulties before he was more than a few hundred yards away from the island. Then, essaying a sharp turn, he almost upset the boat.
Frank and Joe could see Biff remonstrating with him, but Chet evidently refused to give up the tiller.
"He means to learn how!" laughed Frank. "I'll bet Biff is sweating. He's afraid Chet will wreck the boat."
"I'm just as glad Ito-not riding with them, myself," returned Joe.
At that moment they saw the other boat veer sharply around. The sails bellied in the stiff breeze and the ice-boat came plunging across the bay toward them.
"What's the matter nowT" exclaimed Frank, "Is he trying to run us down?"
The boat boomed on, without changing its
120 The Mystery of Cabin Island
course. They had a glimpse of Biff Hooper standing up and waving his arms wildly.
"Guess we had better get out of the way." Frank, who was at the tiller, swung the boat to leeward, and at the same instant the other craft changed its course and was still heading directly down upon them.
Then, to their astonishment, the oncoming boat swerved again, this time with such violence that Biff Hooper lost his balance, staggered, and tumbled out on to the ice. Chet, the amateur, was left alone at the tiller of an iceboat which was out of his control.
Then ensued a weird game of tag. Chet's boat was at the mercy of the shifting winds. It dodged to and fro, plunged from side to side. No one could tell where it was going next. Most of the time, it seemed to be plunging directly at the Hardy boys' boat, and Frank was kept busy steering out of the way.
Once it seemed that a collision was inevitable. The runaway boat swung sharply about, seemed to gather speed as the wind caught it, and then came on with a rush. Frank desperately tried to maneuver his craft out of its course. The other boat was rushing down on
J\imr
"Jump!" shouted Joe. "Stay where you are!" Frank yelled. There Vr&s still a chance. He bore down on the tiller.
Chicken Thieves 22i
jfihe ice-boat swung into the wind just as tht other craft went flashing past. They could see Chet, a look of comical fear and amazement on his face, frantically trying to get the boat under uontrol.
Out on the open ice, Biff had scrambled to bis feet and was madly pursuing the fleeing craft. Chet managed to get the boat back against the wind, it turned wildly and raced directly at Biff. Then Biff turned and fled He might have been run down had he not leaped to one side just in time. As the boat was speeding past he watched his chance and jumped.
Biff clambered over the side and crawled over Chet, who gladly moved over to allow him to take the tiller. In a few moments the boat slackened speed. Shortly afterward, Biff had Ibe situation well in hand, turned the boat about, and drove alongside the Hardy boys.
"Are you satisfied?" said Biff, glaring at Chet
"Must have been something wrong with the steering gear," Chet explained weakly.
"Steering gear, nothing!" snorted Biff ** Something wrong with the fellow who was steering, that's all. After this, I'll take charge mf the boat myself."
"You're welcome. I've had plenty,**
'* Thank goodness!"
122 The Mystery of Cabin Island
"What was the big idea?" shouted Frank "Trying to wreck us all, Chet?"
"No harm done. We'd better forget it," muttered Chet sheepishly. "I can't seem to get the hang of this steering business. I'd rather be just a passenger, anyway."
"That suits everybody," growled Biff, "When I go out ice-boating I don't care to spend half of my time chasing the boat."
Joe snickered. The recollection of Biff slipping and sliding across the ice in pursuit of the runaway craft, and then slipping and sliding with the boat in pursuit of him, appealed to Joe's sense of humor. That snicker was like a match touched to gunpowder, for Frank also laughed, then Chet, and finally Biff himself had to grin. So, in high good humor again, the lads got back into the boats and resumed their journey toward the village.
They reached the little place about ten o'clock and made their way up through the Bnow to Amos Grice's store, where they found the proprietor sitting beside the stove, munching crackers from the barrel, just as they had last seen him.
"Howdy, boys!" he greeted them. "Com© to pay me a call! Sit down and make yourselves at home. Help yourselves to the crackers. I keep 'em here to sell, but somehow it seems I never sell anya although the barrel
Chicken Thieves 123
keeps gettin' empty all the tune just the I've been always intendin* to put a cover on that there barrel but I just can't seem to get around to it."
"We found our supplies, Mr. Grice," Frank told him.
"You found 'em, eh? "Where were they?"
"Somebody had hidden them on us, as & joke."
"Just this mornin* I was thinkin' about yoK lads," said Amos Grice. "There's been a couple of thieves around here, too, and I was wonderin' if it was the same ones that swiped your supplies."
"Thieves!" exclaimed Chet.
"Yep. They paid me a visit last night. Stole a lot of my chickens."
The boys looked at one another. Amos Grice laughed. "Not the kind of thieves you're thinkin' about," he remarked. "These ain't two-legged thieves. Four-legged ones. They mighty near cleaned out my hen-house. Seven fine fat chickens I lost."
"Foxes?" ventured Joe.
Amos Grice nodded.
"Foxes! A couple of 'em raided the hen roost last night and made off with seven chick* ens and 1 never even caught a sight of 'em at it If I only had time to leave the store I'd certainly set out after 'em. Still, they may
124 The Mystery of Cabin Island
come back, and if they do they'll find me settin* up waitin' for 'em with a shotgun."
"Perhaps they have a den just outside the village," Biff said.
"I know they have. I ain't the first man to Jose chickens here this winter."
"Did they leave any tracks?" asked Frank.
"Plenty of 'em. Come with me and I'll show you."
Amos Grice led the way out of the store toward the hen-house in the back yard. A few chickens, the only ones remaining of the flock, were pecking at some grain. The old storekeeper showed the boys two distinct trails in the snow, leading away from the hen-Louse, up toward the hill at the back of the store.
"That's the way they went," he saicf. "With my chickens. I tell you, I had a mighty good mind to close up the store and start after 'em right away. I'd like to get a shot at the rascals."
"Joe and I have a couple of small rifles down In the ice-boats," Frank said. "Perhaps we could try our hand at shooting the foxes."
'' Good idea!'' approved Chet. '' I wish I had a rifle."
"You can have mine," declared Amos Grice. *'! have a couple of guns up in the store that I'll let you have. And if you can drill them two foxes I'll be mighty grateful to you."
Chicken Thieves 125
The Hardy boys and their chums were at once enthusiastic over the idea of a fox-hunt. Amos Grice provided Chet and Biff with rifles while Frank and Joe hastened to get their own weapons. Amos Grice even insisted on lending them his dog.
"If there's any foxes within five miles, that dog will dig 'em out," he said. "Only be sure and not shoot my dog."
""We'll be careful," promised the boys
"Just follow those tracks in the snow and you'll come right to the den, I'll bet a cookie,^ declared the old man.
" Let's go!" shouted Joe. «' We '11 bring bach your foxes, Mr. Grice."
"Sure will," added Chet jubilantly.
The boys started off through the deep snow following the double trail up the hillside.
The dog was a lanky, mournful looking brute who seemed too lazy, as Chet expressed it, "to wag his own tail," but he lived up to his master's recommendation. The moment the boya started following the trail, the dog seemed to have a new interest in life, and he plodded ort ahead, sniffing at the trail left by the marauding foxes.
The snow was deep but the boys thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of the chase.
"We didn't expect to blunder into a fox-hunt when we left the cabin this morning, did we!'*
326 The Mystery of Cabin Island
said Joe, when the village was out of sight b& Mnd them.
"I'll say we didn't," returned his brother* *'This beats ice-boating all hollow."
"It will, if Chet will keep from pointing that gun in my direction," said Biff. "He has al« ffeady tried to kill me once this morning."
Chet, blushing, reversed the weapon, which ie had been carrying in a highly dangerous position, with the barrel pointing toward the other members of the party.
They went down into a gully extending several hundred yards to the west, following the tracks that led along the bottom of the ravine, then turned sharply up the slope again toward a thicket of trees. Here and there they could see flecks of blood on the snow.
"That's from the chickens," Frank said, as they strode along.
Suddenly the dog became very active. Reaching the top of the slope, he plunged along in a swift run and soon disappeared among the trees. Then they heard him howling with ex citement.
"He's found them!" shouted Chet.
The boys hastened on. When they overtook the dog they found him frantically raising clouds of snow as he dug among some rocks in the depth of the thicket. He had found the den.
Chicken Thieves
The boys knew little or nothing about the habits of foxes, but they reflected that the dog would be scarcely making such a clamor unless the animals were at home. They waited, rifles in readiness.
"Shoot 'em when they come out!" advised Biff, capering about.
The dog suddenly disappeared into the mouth of the den. The lads heard a yelp of pain, and the dog emerged again, his tail be= tween his legs. He scuttled betvreen their legs end headed down the home trail, howling. A moment later he was lost from view.
The lads looked at one another blankly.
"What happened to him?" demanded Biff.
"One of the foxes must have bitten him,'* Joe said.
A shout from Chet interrupted him.
"Look!"
He was pointing over among the trees. The boys saw a tawny object flash against the snow, then another. The foxes had emerged from their den by the back entrance, evidently alarmed by the intrusion of the dog, and were fleeing for their lives back toward the ravine.
Chet flung his rifle to his shoulder. He was trembling with excitement, but he managed to aim at the foremost fox, and pressed the trigger.
There was only a dull click!
328 The Mystery of Cabin Island
Chet had forgotten to load the weapon.
The others were too excited to notice his discomfiture. They were running about wildly, each seeking a good view of the fugitives. Frank and Biff, noticing the direction the foxes were taking, went plunging through the snow, back toward the rim of the ravine, with the intention of heading the animals off.
Frank tripped over a hidden tree-trunk and went sprawling headlong. He lost his rifle, and while he was searching for it Biff passed him and ran on toward the gully. Chet and Joe, in the meantime, were heading toward the gully in the opposite direction.
Biff emerged at the top of the slope. He looked down into the gully, just as Frank came racing up.
"See them?" demanded Frank.
"Not yet. They must have doubled back."
The boys looked down into the gully. The enow was white and unbroken. Suddenly, at the far end of the gully they saw a movement among the bushes. A moment later, a fox came streaking out of the thicket, followed by its H?.ate. The animals did not see the lads watching at the top of the slope.
"Take your time, Biff," advised Frank, as he raised the rifle to his shoulder.
The foxes were hampered by the deep snow, but even at that they were racing down the
Chicken Thieves 129
gully so quickly that the boys had to take swift aim.
Bang!
Biff's rifle spoke. The lead fox stopped short, whirled in his tracks and darted back. The other animal did likewise. But Frank's aim was more accurate.
Bang!
The lead fox dropped into the snow, threshed about for a moment and lay still.
The other animal raced madly away, seeking cover. But by this time Biff had ejected the empty shell and had taken aim again. He pressed the trigger, sighting at the fleeing fox.
This time his aim was sure. The animal leaped high in the air, turned completely over and fell motionless in the snow.
"We got 'em!" yelled Biff joyfully. He began scrambling down the slope, anxious to inspect the prize. Frank followed him. At the bottom of the gully they came upon the dead animals, lying only a fey yards apart. Each had been killed almost instantly.
'' Amos Grice won't lose any more hens after this," declared Frank, with satisfaction.
"Just got them in the nick of time!" said Biff. "In another two seconds they would have been back among the trees and we'd have never seen them again."
Chet and Joe, attracted by the sounds of the
130 The Mystery of Cabin Island
shots, now appeared at the top of the slope. They were astonished when they found that the hunt was already ended and that Frank and Biff had slain the marauders.
"You're lucky, that's all," said Chet sol-'emnly. "Just lucky. It was just by chance that the foxes headed this way instead of going down toward where we were waiting for them."
"Well, we had our rifles loaded," said Biff pointedly.
This silenced Chet, as he did not care to etart any discussion concerning his failure to load the rifle when he started out on a foxhunt.
The boys started back toward the village, carrying the dead bodies of the four-legged chicken thieves with them. When Amos Grice saw them enter the store he was almost speechless with amazement.
"Back already?" h .- exclaimed. "What did you do to that dog (f mine ? He come back here howlin' his head off and he went and hid under the woodshed and I ain't been able to get him out."
"He found the foxes," explained Frank gravely.
"One of them nipped his nose," added Joe.
"And why are you lads back so soon? Can't catch foxes by just goin' out for half an hour
Chicken Thieves 131
or so," declared Amos, wagging his head. '' It's an all-day job, often."
"Come on outside," invited Chet proudly, as though he had been personally responsible for the success of the hunt.
Amos Grice went outside and when he saw the two foxes lying in the snow, he rubbed his spectacles, as though he thought his eyes were playing him false.
"I wouldn't have believed it!" he said, at last. "I wouldn't have believed it! And yet I can see 'em lyin' there, with my own eyes. If this don't beat the Dutch!"
"We were just lucky enough to catch them at home," explained Frank.
"And smart enough to shoot 'em on the run," declared Amos Grice. "It takes some ehootin' to get a fox, lads, for they're mighty tricky rascals. "Well, now I can sleep in peace at night and I'll know that my chickens are safe. I can sure breathe easier now that I know them two thieves are through with chicken stealing."
He took the boys back to the store and, by way of showing his gratitude, insisted on filling their pockets with crackers and apples.
"You're welcome at my store any time, lads," he told them. "If ever you need any more supplies, come right to me and-and I'll 'em to you at wholesale price."
132 The Mystery of Cabin Island
Seeing that this, to Amos Grice, was the height of generosity, the boys thanked him warmly.
"We've had a rare good morning," declared Frank, "and we're much obliged to you, Mr. Grice, for telling us about the foxes. We wouldn't have missed that chase for anything."
"I'm more'n obliged to you," said the old man.
"I guess we'd better be getting back to the island. It's lunch time now," said Chet.
Before they left, the boys cut the brushes from the two foxes and when they returned to Cabin Island that afternoon they placed the prizes in a place of honor above the fireplace.
CHAPTER XVI the chimney
in spite of Joe Hardy's predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island. No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys ex» amined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background. But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank. Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
"Can't you figure it out?" asked Joe.
"It beats me," said Frank, flinging down his pencil. "Once in a while I think I'm on the right track, then something always happens and I find I'm farther away than ever."
"Let the cipher look after itself. Something ·will turn up, I'm sure," put in Chet.
"But if we could only find the message of th<r-
133
134 The Mystery of Cabin Island
cipher, we wouldn't have to wait for something to turn up."
Chet looked at the message again. He shook his head.
"It's too much for me. Don't let it spoil your holiday, Frank."
"You know what I'm like when there's a mystery in the wind. And this is one of the most mysterious puzzles we've ever tackled."
"We'll get to the bottom of it yet. I'm sure of that. Just wait. Something will turn up," said Joe.
The next day, the boys were outdoors from morning until night, skimming over the surface of the bay in their ice-boats, skating on an improvised rink down by the shore, and enjoying themselves on the ski slide. Frank, for the time being, seemed to have dismissed the mystery of the notebook from his mind. That evening, as the boys sat in front of the fireplace, the Sparewell case was not even mentioned. It was a windy, stormy night and the cabin creaked in the gale.
"Must be a good, strong chimney to hold up in a wind like that," remarked Chet.
"Why shouldn't it?" said Biff. "It's made of solid stone."
"I know; but the wind gets a terrific sweep when it hits this island. That chimney isn't so new, either."
T
The Chimney 13S|
"Stone chimneys will last a hundred years/9 scoffed Joe.
Chet pointed to the big fireplace.
"This one won't. Look. You can see where it is cracked already."
The boys inspected the chimney. They saw that Chet had noticed something that none of them had observed before. There was a distinct crack across the surface of the stone near the ceiling.
"It doesn't look any too secure at that," remarked Frank. "A crack like that might easily cause a fire."
"It sure could!" exclaimed Biff.
"I don't worry about fire so much as the danger that the chimney might come tumbling down in a high wind," Chet said. "If there is one crack like that, there may be others, highet up. And if the chimney ever gave way-wow I"
"We would certainly have a nice little shower of stone," Biff said. "Well, why go looking for trouble? Wait until it happens."
Chet insisted that he was not looking for trouble, but that he was merely pointing out1 what might happen. Just then there was a particularly violent gust of wind. The cabin shook. The chimney was staunch.
"I think it's good for a few years yet," Joe said. '' Why worry ?''
Their conversation about the chimney, how-
136 The Mystery of Cabin Island
ever, was to be recalled to the boys very forcibly later on.
The next day it was Joe's turn to remain at the cabin as "chief cook and bottle-washer." The others went out in one of the ice-boats and made a trip as far as the village. They did not stop at the little place, being in no mind to incur any of Amos Grice 's long-winded conversation, and turned about, sending the fleet little boat swooping down into the wind. They were about a quarter of a mile from the cabin and just debating the advisability of making a trip down into the cove when they heard a sound that aroused them to a high pitch of excitement.
Crack!
Sharp and clear, the sound carried through the winter air.
"The rifle!" exclaimed Frank.
"Somebody down at the rocks!"
Frank swung the boat around toward the island. The wind, however, was against them and he could make little speed. He was obliged to tack about for some time, while the others speculated impatiently on the reason for Joe's signal.
"Just when we need speed, the wind is against us!" groaned Biff.
"Perhaps the fellow will clear out before we can get back."
The Chimney 137
"Not if I know it," said Frank grimly. "We'll come around on the other side of the island, and if he is making a getaway we can head him off."
The boat seemed to labor slowly forward at a snail's pace. Anxiously, the boys peered toward the island.
They could see no one.
"Perhaps the shot didn't scare him away," said Chet hopefully.
They circled around until at last they had a full view of the side of the island on which the stolen supplies had been hidden. The ice was bare. The hillside was bleak. There was no sign of any human being.
The boys brought their craft around until they were close to the rocks. They could see footprints in the snow.
"There was somebody here, all right," said Frank, in excitement.
"I wonder if it was Hanleigh!"
"We'll mighty soon find out."
They brought the boat inshore and took in the sails. Then they scrambled out, made their way up over the rocks, and examined the footprints. They did not lead up toward the cabin, but instead they led along the shore around the bend.
"Follow him!" said Chet.
"Not yet," Frank advised. "I think we'd
138 The Mystery of Cabin Island
better go up to the cabin first and find out ·what Joe knows about it. Perhaps he recognized the fellow and saw where he went.''
They ploughed through the snow up to the top of the slope. They found Joe awaiting them in the door of the cabin.
"Did you see him?" shouted Frank.
"Just caught a glimpse of him," returned Joe, as the boys came running up to him. "I happened to look out the window and caught eight of somebody down among the rocks."
"Who was he!"
"I don't know. His back was turned to me, and he was crouching over. He was looking for that notebook, all right. I waited for a while, but I still couldn't get a good look at him, so I went and got the rifle. By the time I got back to the window he was gone."
"Before you fired the signal shot?"
"Yes. I could hardly believe my eyes. He Just seemed to disappear into thin air. Well, I didn't lose any time firing the shot, I can tell you. I could see your boat away up the bay."
"The wind was against us," said Frank. "We tried to get here quickly, but we didn't have any luck."
"He's still on the island," said Joe quickly. "I'm pretty sure of that."
"Wonder how he got here," remarked Chet.
The Chimney 139
There isn't any other ice-boat around, that we saw."
"Probably walked over from the mainland," Frank remarked. "Well, I guess we had better explore a bit and see if we can't get a sight of him. You're sure you didn't recognize him, Joe?"
"No. I couldn't say if the man was Han-leigh or not. I didn't get a good look at him at all."
"We'll get a good look at him," growled Biff. "And mighty soon, too."
"I suggest that two of us take the north side of the island and the other two take the south," said Joe.
Frank shook his head.
"Some one must stay here," he decided. *'We don't want to run the risk of losing our supplies again. If this fellow managed to draw us far enough away from the cabin, there's no telling what damage he might do. Joe, I think you had better stay here. If you see the mail coming this way, fire another shot, and we'll come a-running."
"Good idea!" approved Chet. "I think we all ought to separate. Each go in a different direction. If we catch sight of him, whistle!"
Frank quickly directed the search. Joe was to stay at the cabin, Chet was to go to the
J.40 The Mystery of Cabin Island
northern side of the island, Biff was to explore the south. Frank himself was to cut through the trees in the center of the island, emerging on the other side.
They separated.
Frank ploughed through the snow, heading toward the heavy growth of trees at the top of Cabin Island. He soon reached a point from where he could get a good view of the entire island. He could see Biff and Chet industriously exploring the shore lines.
A little distance away, in the snow beneath the trees, he caught sight of a line of fresh footprints.
He picked up the trail at once, and followed the marks in the snow.
They led him in and out among the trees, then veered and seemed to be directed toward the rocks.
"What am I thinking off" said Frank, to himself. "I'm not following the man's trail at all. I'm going back on it."
He turned, and retraced his steps, after a while reaching the place where he had first found the footprints. He went on from there, deeper into the thicket, proceeding cautiously.
At last he stood still for a moment, listening. Then he slipped in behind a tree.
He heard a crackle of branches. Some one
The Chimney 141
was moving about among the trees, only a few yards ahead.
Frank peeped out.
He saw a dark figure emerge from behind a clump of evergreens. The man stepped out, looked cautiously about, then moved up the slope in the direction of the cabin.
"Hanleigh!" said Frank, under his breath.
Frank Hardy's first impulse was to whistle, in order to bring the others to his assistance. Then he paused.
What did Hanleigh want? What did he plan to do?
CHAPTER XVH the escape
frank was so close to the man that he recognized him readily. He knew now that Hanleigh was the man who had stolen their supplies and hidden them, evidently to get the boys to leave the island. He knew that Hanleigh was the man who had lost the mysterious Sparewell notebook. He wanted to know more. If he raised the alarm now, the man would simply refuse to talk.
Frank waited until the fellow had vanished among the trees. Then he turned and made his way toward the cabin by a short-cut. He wanted to reach the place first and warn Joe, so that they could better observe the man's actions without raising an immediate alarm.
"If he thinks we don't see him, he may give himself away," Frank reasoned.
He reached the cabin unobserved. Hanleigh had not yet emerged from the trees.
Frank found Joe standing at the window, looking down toward the rocks.
"I saw him! He's coming this way."
"Who is he?" demanded Joe eagerly.
"Hanleigh."
ta
The Escape 143
"I thought so all along. Is he coming here?"
"I think so. Look, Joe-here's my plan. I think he intends to come here. He imagines we're all out hunting for him. Let's hide and find out what he wants."
"How about Chet and Biff?"
"They're away down at the far ends of the island. We can capture Hanleigh any time we want."
"Where shall we hide?"
They looked around hastily. If Hanleigh came to the cabin, they knew the man would probably search the place high and low for the notebook which was his probable objective in returning to the island.
"We'll have to stay outside. No use running any risks. We'd better hide in the bushes until we see him come in here. Then we can creep up and watch him through the back window," Frank decided.
They left the cabin and ran across to a heavy clump of bushes only a few yards away. There they crouched, waiting.
For a while, nothing happened. Then they heard a snapping and crackling of branches far over to one side. In a few moments, Hanleigh came into view. He looked cautiously from side to side, then advanced swiftly toward the door of the cabin. There was a smile of satisfaction, upon his swarthy face. It was
144 The Mystery of Cabin Island
quite evident that he believed the lads had departed to search for him. Swiftly, he stepped into the cabin.
Frank and Joe came out of their hiding place. They sped quickly over to the window and peeped inside.
Hanleigh had paused uncertainly in the middle of the room. He was looking at the fireplace. He stepped toward it, then apparently changed his mind, for he paused, shook his head, and turned toward the kitchen. They heard him rummaging about there for a few minutes, and in a little while he returned.
That he was searching for something, soon became evident. He went over to the beds and flung blankets, pillows and even mattresses on the floor. With an expression of disgust, he began going through the boys' packsacks.
"If he's looking for the notebook he might as well quit now,'' whispered Frank.
"Where is it?"
"In my pocket."
Hanleigh made a thorough search of the cabin. He rummaged through the bureau and the desk, and as his search went on, with no success, he apparently lost his temper for he flung things on the floor and stamped angrily about.
"Let's rush him before he wrecks the cabin,v whispered Joe.
The Escape 145
But Frank restrained his brother.
"Wait!"
Hanleigh came over toward the window.
The boys ducked out of sight. They could hear the man talking to himself. They listened, and they heard him mutter:
"Well, they won't be able to read that cipher, anyway, so I guess it's all right."
Frank and Joe nudged one another. Hanleigh was certainly searching for the Spare-well notebook. The man went away from the window. They heard a crash as, in a fit of vicious temper, the man swept off a few of the little ornaments some one had placed above the fireplace.
"If he's going to start smashing things, I guess we'd better take a hand," remarked Frank.
The boys stole around the side of the cabin. Then they stepped suddenly across the threshold.
With an exclamation of surprise, Hanleigh swung around, facing them.
"Good day, Mr. Hanleigh," said Frank. "I see that you have decided to pay us a little call."
The man said nothing. He merely glared at the boys. They could see that he was estimating his chances of escape, but they barred the doorwa*"-
146 The Mystery of Cabin Island
"Why don't you wait until we're all at home?" asked Joe.
"You boys have no right here, anyway," growled the intruder.
"Did you ask Mr. Jefferson about it?" inquired Frank sweetly.
"I came back here to look for something I lost the other day."
"What other day? The day you came and stole all our supplies?"
"I don't know anything about ycur supplies. I mean the day I was here when you fellows first arrived."
"Haven't you been here since?"
"No."
"I'm pretty sure you have, Mr. Hanleigh. What was the idea of hiding our food supplies ?''
"I don't know anything about your food supplies, I tell you!" shouted the man, in exasperation. "I haven't been here since the last time you saw me.''
"Well, I suppose we'll have to take your word for it," said Frank, with a shrug. "Although I don't believe you for a minute. What was it you lost? Perhaps we can help you."
"My pocketbook," growled Hanleigh, aftei a moment's silence.
"Your pocketbook? Was there much money in it?"
The Escape 147
"About fifty dollars. You don't blame me for coming back to look for it, do you?" sneered Hanleigh.
"Not at all. Where did you lose it?"
"I don't know. Somewhere on the island."
"Not down among the rocks, by chance?"
"I wasn't down there."
"Are you sure it wasn't a notebook?" asked Frank quietly.
The shot told. Hanleigh's fists clenched.
"No, it wasn't a notebook," he said thickly.
"Well, if it wasn't a notebook, I guess we can't help you. Quite sure, you didn't lose a notebook?"
"I don't know anything about a notebook."
"That's too bad. If it had been a notebook you lost, instead of a pocketbook, we'd be able to help you. We did find a notebook and we have been wondering whom it belonged to."
"What kind of notebook?"
"Why should you ask?" said Frank. "If you didn't lose one, you shouldn't be concerned. I think you 'd better sit down, Mr. Han-ieigh. We have a few things to talk over with you before we turn you over to the police."
Hanleigh went pale.
"The police?" he gasped.
"Why, of course. You don't suppose we're going to let you get away with this, do you? You have no right here, you are trespassing;
148 The Mystery of Cabin Island
on the island, you break into our cabin and go through all our belongings, just like a common burglar. What did you expect?"
"You won't turn me over to the police," declared Hanleigh.
"No?"
Hanleigh advanced toward them.
"Get out of my way!" he ordered.
The boys stood their ground.
"Just a minute," said Frank. "We have rifles here. If you try to make a getaway, we won't be afraid to shoot.''
Hanleigh hesitated.
"That's just a bluff," he said weakly.
"Try it, and see."
"I'll try it!" roared Hanleigh.
He made a sudden lunge. Frank reached out to seize him and grabbed the man's arm. But Hanleigh shook himself free, plunged forward and collided with Joe. The boys were taken by surprise. Joe struggled desperately, but Han-ieigh was a grown man and much stronger. He sent Joe reeling back against the wall.
Frank flung himself upon the man and tried to trip him up.
Hanleigh struck out viciously with his fist. It caught Frank full in the face. He was obliged to relinquish his hold. Before he knew it, Hanleigh had dashed toward the door. The
The Escape 149
man leaped across the threshold and out into the snow.
Frank recovered himself quickly. He ran toward the wall and took down the little rifle, Joe, in the meantime, raced out of the cabin k\ pursuit of the fugitive.
"Stop, or I'll shoot I" Frank shouted.
But the man evidently realized that Franfc would not make use of the rifle. He turned and shook his fist in their direction. With a yell of' defiance, he disappeared among the trees.
Frank raised the rifle and fired two shots into the air. His aim was partly to frighten Han-leigh and partly to warn Chet and Biff.
Joe turned.
Pursuit was futile. The heavy snow hampered his footsteps.
"No use chasing him I" shouted Frank *'Perhaps Chet and Biff will catch him. It doesn't matter. We know that he is the fellow who had the notebook, and that's the maw thing."