Otis James
Down the Slope
CHAPTER XXVI
TURNING THE TABLES
The constant straining caused Fred to perspire freely, and after many vain efforts he succeeded in catching the rope which was around his wrists, under the point of a projecting limb of the tree.
Now he had a purchase, and by a mighty effort at the moment when Gus made a more than usually vicious lunge, slipped one of his hands from the bonds, thanks to the perspiration which moistened the strands.
He did not take immediate advantage of his freedom. It was essential to await a favorable opportunity, and this came when Gus knelt before him for the purpose of pricking the apparently helpless boy with the blade of his knife.
Fred could not arise; but he flung both arms around his tormentor's neck, hugging him so close as to prevent the latter from using his hands.
For an instant his surprise was so great that he remained motionless; but before Fred could take any advantage of his inactivity Gus recovered from the shock to exert all his strength, and began to free himself.
Under ordinary circumstances Fred would have been no match for his captor; but now the knowledge of what was to be gained lent him great energy, and he clung to him with desperation.
"Let go, or I'll stab you with this knife," Gus shouted; but Fred was too careful of his wind to make any reply.
Over and over they rolled, one trying to use his weapon, while the other did his best to prevent it, and but for an accident the battle might have been continued until the smaller boy was exhausted.
It was not possible to control the direction of their bodies, and suddenly both were precipitated into the stream.
Fred was a good swimmer, while his adversary knew but little of the art, and he succeeded in holding Gus' head under water until he was nearly strangled.
The tables were now turned.
It only remained for Fred to drag the half-unconscious boy to the shore, and there transfer the rope from one pair of legs to the other.
When Gus again had a clear idea of matters he was securely tied, and Fred had put into his own pocket the package of money which Sam was accused of stealing.
To pack in small compass the remaining store of provisions, cut a stout stick, and place the hatchet in a belt improvised from a piece of the rope, occupied but a few moments, and then Fred said, sternly:
"I'm going to slacken up on your legs a bit, so's you can walk, and now it's your turn to step out lively."
"When Tim comes back you shall pay for this."
"I intend to be a long distance from here before that time arrives."
"He can catch you."
"To do it he'll have to be smarter than I think he is."
"Wait an' see."
"That's just what I don't propose doin'. I understand your purpose now; you're trying to keep me here as long as possible. Get up."
"I won't an' you can't make me."
Fred struck the prisoner several severe blows; but he did not so much as cry out.
"I'll beat you black and blue, if you don't stand up and walk."
"Pound away, I can bear a good deal of that rather than go to jail."
Again Fred used the stick; but in vain. Gus shut his teeth firmly, and took the punishment with a stoicism worthy a better cause.
It was important that no time should be lost. Tim might find a boat and return to the camp before going to the town.
Fred stood still in perplexity for an instant, and then throwing aside the stick raised Gus in his arms.
It was a heavy burden; but he staggered on with all possible speed.
As soon as Gus began to understand that he might be carried away despite his refusal to walk, he set up a series of the most terrific yells, and Fred was forced to come to a halt.
"I'll soon put an end to that kind of fun," he said, angrily, while whittling a piece of soft wood. "With this in your mouth there won't be much screaming."
Now Gus began to fancy he might be finally beaten, and then tried new tactics.
"See here, all you want is the money, an' now you've got it I'll agree that neither Tim nor me'll chase or try in any way to catch you, if I'm left here. There's no need even to take off the ropes; but let me stay where he'll see me."
Fred shook his head.
"I need you quite as much as I do the money, and I am bound to take you along."
"What good will it do to have me put in jail?"
"It'll be the means of freeing a better fellow than you ever dared to be."
"I'll kill you some day."
"Possibly, but that don't let you out of this scrape."
By this time Fred had the gag ready, and a stout pressure on the prisoner's cheeks caused him to open his mouth.
The wood was thrust between Gus' teeth, and Fred tied his handkerchief over it to prevent it from slipping.
"Now when you're willing to walk I'll take that out," he said. "Once in every few minutes, when we have to stop to rest I'll look at your eyes. If you wink, it means you're ready to do as I say."
Gus glared at him savagely; but was careful to keep his eyes wide open.
Again Fred shouldered his burden, realizing, meanwhile that he could never reach Farley's if his prisoner remained obstinate.
When an hundred yards had been traversed he was forced to rest.
Gus' eyes stared at him.
A second and a third time was this repeated. At each interval the distance was shorter, and Fred knew he could not travel much farther.
"If he don't give in pretty soon I shall," he muttered to himself as he threw his burden to the ground for the third time.
To his great relief Gus winked violently when Fred pulled the handkerchief down to gain a view of his eyes and the gag was removed without loss of time.
"Will you agree to walk now?" he asked.
"Yes, yes; it wouldn't take a feller long to stifle with that thing in his mouth."
"I don't care what happens so long as I get you to Farley's."
Once more Gus tried to beg off; but Fred would not listen.
"Walk fast," he said, "and if you don't do your best, in goes the gag again."
There was no necessity of emphasizing the demand. The prisoner moved with alacrity; but his captor was by no means certain as to which was the proper course.
Tim had made so many turns in his flight that Fred's ideas regarding the points of the compass were very hazy.
Both the boys were suffering from lack of water, and no halt was made until two or three hours past noon, when they were at the edge of a swamp.
Quenching their thirst with the ill-tasting liquid, they lay down on the ground to rest, and did not continue their journey for some time.
"Why not stay here all night?" Gus asked.
"Because we haven't traveled far enough yet."
"But I can't hold out much longer, no matter how hard I try."
"You'll have to go as far as I do."
"Wait till mornin', an' then I'll walk twice as fast to make up for the time spent now."
"We must get in another hour's tramp before sunset," Fred replied, determinedly, and although Gus pleaded very hard the decision was not changed.
But little was accomplished during the last portion of the traveling. Both were thoroughly tired, and when the shadows of night shrouded the recesses of the forest in gloom the welcome word was given.
"Here's a little stream, and we'd better stop here, there's a chance for a drink."
"It's about time," Gus added, sulkily as he threw himself on the ground.
Fred divided half of the food into two portions; but did not dare to loosen the prisoner's arms sufficiently to admit of his eating unaided.
"I'll feed you first, and then take my share," he said, and Gus devoured the food ravenously, after which he quenched his thirst, when Fred bound him securely to a tree.
The prisoner slept soundly; but to his captor the night was the longest he had ever known. He did not dare give himself wholly up to slumber lest Tim should be on their track, and attempt to effect a rescue, while the fear that the money might be lost, this time beyond recovery, rendered him very nervous.
"It's going to be tough lines before we get to Farley's," he said to himself; "but I ought to hold out if for no other reason than to clear Sam beyond a doubt."
When the morning finally came Fred fed Gus again; both took large drinks of water, and their journey was resumed.
Now Gus neither begged nor made comments. He marched just ahead of his captor in a sullen manner, as if having decided upon a certain course of action, and Fred remained continually on the alert, fearing lest he meditated an attack.
At noon the two halted, and while eating the last of the provisions, knowing that after this they must go hungry until arriving at a settlement, Fred fancied he heard a noise as of someone approaching.
His first thought was that Tim had succeeded in following their trail, and he hurriedly made ready a gag to prevent an alarm from being given.
Gus heard the same noise, and before Fred could prevent him he began to shout loudly for help.
It was several seconds before the outcries could be checked, and then the mischief had been done.
The noise of a heavy body forcing its way through the underbrush sounded more clearly, and Fred sprang to his feet, hatchet in hand, ready to defend himself to the utmost.
Gus looked triumphant, and again shouted loudly; but the expression of his eye was changed to despair as the stranger burst through the foliage.
"Why Joe! Joe!" Fred cried, as he leaped forward and caught Brace by the hands. "How did you happen to get here just when you were most needed?"
"I reckon I'd gone right past without knowin' you was anywhere near, if it hadn't been for your wild yells."
"It was Gus who did that," Fred replied, glancing with a smile toward the discomfited prisoner. "He thought as I did, that it was Tim."
"Do you mean his partner?"
"Yes."
"Have you got the best of both?"
In the fewest words possible Fred explained how the capture had been made, and Joe actually leaped for joy when the stolen money was displayed.
CHAPTER XXVII
AN UNLOOKED-FOR DENIAL
"You've done a big thing, my boy," Brace said, approvingly, when Fred's story was concluded, "an' it won't be long before we can bring Sam back to Farley's with not so much as a suspicion against him. Besides that, we own the land that'll make all hands rich."
"How did you do it?"
Joe gave him all the details, and concluding with the interview between himself and Mr. Wright, said:
"I didn't leave that night as I decided on; but went back to see poor Bill, an' your mother insisted I stay till mornin'. The sun wasn't up when I started out, an' a mighty blind hunt it proved to be till the first camp was struck. That kinder livened me a bit; but I couldn't get onto the trail, an' from then till Gus yelled I hadn't any idea which way to go."
"How far do you suppose we are from Farley's?"
"I reckon it'll take smart walkin' for the rest of this day, an' the best part of to-morrow before we see the works."
"And the provisions I took from Tim and Gus are all gone."
"I've got enough for supper, if we don't eat too hearty, and the balance of the time we can suck our thumbs."
"Then we'd better make another start. It must be three o'clock."
"Do you know the straight cut?"
"I'm not even certain we're heading right."
"By keeping on the high land we are bound to come out somewhere near Farley's or Blacktown."
When the journey was continued Gus took good care to give his captors no trouble, for he understood that Joe would show but little mercy, if there was any attempt to cause delay.
At a reasonably rapid pace the three marched until darkness forced a halt, and then the small amount of provisions Brace had brought was consumed without satisfying the hunger of either member of the party.
Gus was tied between his captors, where he could stretch himself at full length, and the night passed quietly. There was no longer any fear Tim could effect a rescue, even though he might be near at hand, and Fred enjoyed a most refreshing rest.
What all hoped would prove to be the last day's journey was begun without breakfast, and the advance was by no means rapid.
At ten o'clock Fred declared he could go no farther without a rest, and the party sought shelter from the sun under a wide spreading tree, where a view could be had of a depression in the land for some distance ahead.
Joe and Fred were facing this open stretch, and had but just begun to discuss the subject which was ever uppermost in their minds – the coal vein – when a figure carrying a heavy burden emerged from the thicket on the lower side, evidently bent on ascending the mountain.
"Now, what can that fellow be doing?" Joe asked, as he arose to his feet. "It's a boy, an' we'd be in big luck if it should turn out to be that precious Tim."
"But it isn't; he wears a cap, and this one has a hat. It looks something like – Why it is! It's Skip!"
"Skip?" Joe repeated in amazement. "What's he doin' out here, an' with such a load?"
"In order to answer that question I shall have to ask him," and Fred shouted the boy's name.
Skip started as if alarmed at being summoned, and then, waving his hat in triumph, he came toward the party at his best pace.
"I knew I'd find you if I hunted long enough," he exclaimed as he came within speaking distance, and added when he finally reached the tree and threw down the burden. "It's mighty heavy, an' I thought one spell yesterday I'd have to give up the job. Reckon you're glad to get it, eh?"
"What have you there?"
"Grub, of course. When Joe didn't turn up, an' there was no sign of Fred, I figured that you'd both want somethin' to eat, so took out my wages in what was handiest to eat. Mrs. Byram said I'd never find you, but it wouldn't do any harm to try, so here we are."
"Did you spend your money to buy us food?" Fred asked.
"Why not? It'll take a good deal more'n that to straighten things between us, an' I'd like to get the 'count squared some time."
"You've done it already, Skip. It was you who first put us on the track of the thieves, and now you've helped the cause along wonderfully, for it has been a good while since I had all I could eat."
"Well, fill yourself up right now. There's no need to hurry, for you can't get to Farley's to-night, an' – Hello, Gus! Got through with your trip so soon?"
"You'll wish I hadn't before this thing is ended," was the surly reply, and then the prisoner turned his back on the ex-chief of the regulators.
Quite naturally Skip was eager to hear the result of the chase, and while Joe and Fred were eating they gave him the full particulars.
"Do you know the way home?" Brace asked when the story was told.
"Of course. I've been out here half a dozen times. Was you calculatin' to keep straight ahead?"
"Yes."
"Then you'd gone six miles the other side of Farley's."
"If that is the case, it's lucky you found us. Let's make another start; now I've filled up it seems possible to travel without stopping again until we are at mother's door."
With a guide and provisions in plenty, the long tramp yet to be endured seemed but a trifling affair, and the party, with the single exception of Gus, were in the best of spirits.
The night was spent near a small water course in the valley, and at three o'clock all hands entered the company's store at Farley's.
Both Mr. Wright and the cashier were in the building, and they listened in undisguised astonishment as Joe told the story of the capture.
"Here is the money, except what they have spent," Fred said when Joe concluded the recital, and he handed the package to the superintendent.
An examination showed that but fifty-three dollars were missing, and then Mr. Wright turned to Gus, who was wearing a look of mingled indignation and innocence.
"How did you get this money from Thorpe?"
"Who is he, sir?"
"The boy who was bringing it from the bank."
"I never saw him."
"Then how did you get these notes?"
"I never had 'em sir."
"Why, I took them out of his pocket," Fred cried, in surprise.
"Explain yourself," Mr. Wright said to the prisoner.
"Me an' Tim Sanger was goin' to camp out on the mountains while work was slack," Gus began with an air of truthfulness. "We had a shanty built, an' Tim went off fishin' when this feller," here he pointed to the astonished Fred, "jumped in on me. I'd seen him in Blacktown, so didn't think anything was out of the way till he knocked me down."
"Why did he strike you?"
"That's jest what I don't know. He tied me all up like this, an' I had to do as he said till we met Joe Brace. Then I heard one of 'em say to the other: 'This will get Sam out of the scrape, for we can say Gus Dobson had the money what was stole, in his pocket.' That's all I know about it, an' I never saw them bills till this very minute."
"It was a good scheme for Sam to give up the money in this way when he found the case was so dead against him," the cashier said in a low tone, as if speaking to himself; but he took care that Mr. Wright should hear distinctly.
"What do you mean?" Joe cried fiercely.
"Nothing, nothing, I must have been thinking aloud."
"You intended we should hear every word," the miner added, excitedly.
"Be quiet, Brace, while we get the facts of this strange story," Mr. Wright said, sharply.
"You have got the facts already sir. I told you before I left town that this fellow was one of the thieves."
"That doesn't prove anything," the cashier replied, with a malicious smile.
"I'll prove more than that to you, if you dare show your nose out doors."
"Either leave the office, Brace, or hold your tongue," and now the superintendent spoke in an angry tone.
"Fred, what have you got to say in answer to this boy's story?"
"Not a word, sir. What Joe has told you is true, and if it ain't believed you can serve the warrant which was issued for me, as soon as you please."
"He can't say anything," Gus added, triumphantly. "If Tim was here he could tell you jest why we left Blacktown; but, of course, he don't know about the job this feller is try in' to put up on me."
"Where is Tim?"
"I dunno. He'll likely come home when he can't find me."
"Are you willing to stay here until he returns?"
"Sure; there ain't any reason why I'd want to run off, if you tell my folks where I am."
Joe could contain himself no longer.
"Do you mean to put his word agin ours?" he cried fiercely.
"Why not?" the cashier asked, softly. "It looks to me very much as if his having been brought here was an outrage."
"If you speak to me agin I'll spoil the whole of your face, you cur! After arestin' a boy for meetin' with an accident in doin' what you oughter done, an' gettin' out warrants for others what couldn't have had a hand in the matter, it's easy to see why you want to believe this little villain's story. When the truth is known you understand blessed well that the town will be too hot to hold you."
"That will do," Mr. Wright cried, sternly. "I shall have no such language used here. Leave this moment, Brace, and when you are more calm we'll discuss the matter."
Joe looked in silence first at the cashier, and then at the superintendent, after which he said to Fred and Skip:
"Come, lads, this is no place for us. We've saved the company's money, an' now are likely to be treated as we were for standin' by 'em at the time of the riot."
With this reminder he walked out of the building followed by both the boys.
CHAPTER XXVIII
OPINIONS
The three who had entered the store in such high spirits left it in a maze of bewilderment and anger.
That Gus could concoct so plausible a story was none the less astonishing than that Mr. Wright should give it credence, so far as to refrain from ordering the boy's immediate arrest.
Joe was so enraged that during the walk to Fred's home he did nothing but inveigh in the strongest terms against the company, and more especially these two of its servants who had insulted both himself and Fred by refusing to believe their united statements.
"I'll pound that cashier 'till he can't say beans," he cried, shaking his fist in impotent rage.
"What good will that do? People won't believe our story any quicker because of it."
"I'll be satisfied, an' that's enough."
"Don't make such threats," Fred said, imploringly. "If he hears of them it will only give him a chance to make trouble for you."
"I'll not only make 'em; but carry out every one. It won't take much more talk to coax me into servin' Wright the same way."
Several of the miner's acquaintances hailed him as he passed; but his heart was so full of anger that he paid not the slightest attention, and Fred felt a sense of most profound relief when they were inside the house, where the wild threats could not be heard by those who might report them at the store.
After the greetings with Mrs. Byram the travelers went to the chamber where Bill lay helpless, his fractured limb bound in splints and bandages.
Here the different stories were told again, and the invalid's astonishment was not less than that of his companions.
"It don't hardly seem reasonable," he muttered, after a long pause. "I reckon the best thing would be for you an' Fred to see the lawyer right away. There's no knowin' what kind of a scrape may grow out of this."
"It'll do jest as well if we go in the mornin' on the first train," Joe replied. "After the tramp we've had it comes kinder natural to hanker for a bed."
"I s'pose it would be tough; but don't waste any time to-morrow."
"Wright can't do much between now an' then, so rest easy, mate. They won't be able to take the land from us, an' in another year we'll be among the big-bugs ourselves."
"Are you sure the trade can't be backed out of?"
"I've left everything with the lawyer, and he'll fix matters about right."
Bill closed his eyes as if in thought; Fred went down stairs to talk with his mother, and Skip took his departure, Joe saying as he accompanied him to the door:
"We won't forget what you've done, lad, an' before long us four – that's countin' Sam – will be in condition to pay off our scores."
"I'll have all I want when the fellers I buried in the mine promise to forget what's been done."
"Then you can rest easy, for the matter was settled yesterday when you brought the grub."
After Skip left Joe went out to see his friends, and an hour later he returned in a perfect rage.
"That villain of a cashier has taken good care to tell his side of the story," he exclaimed, bursting into the invalid's room, "an' more'n half the men I've seen believe we got the money from Sam to stick the robbery on that thievin' Gus. Mr. Wright has taken the boy up to his house, an' is pettin' him like a prince, I s'pose, to square off for what we did to him. Why, even Donovan says old man Dobson oughter prosecute us for the outrage, as he calls it."
"I can't believe it!" Bill cried, trying in vain to rise to a sitting posture.
"I'm tellin' the truth, all the same. There's a big excitement in town, an' I wouldn't be surprised if Fred was arrested in the mornin', spite of what he's done."
"Don't the folks know what kind of a boy that Dobson feller is?"
"I reckon they do; but the cashier keeps talkin' about destroyin' one feller's character to help another, an' the blind fools here swallow all he says."
"What makes him so down on our crowd?"
"'Cause he had no business to make the arrests, an' if it was proved Gus an' Tim stole it, he'd be in a bad mess with all hands."
"Look here, Joe" – and Bill spoke very earnestly – "it don't make any difference how tired you an' Fred are, you must go to Blacktown this very night. That lawyer will tell us jest what oughter be done, an' we've got to fight this thing tooth an' nail, now all hands are agin us."
Joe realized that this was good advice, and went at once to confer with Mrs. Byram and Fred.
The result of this last interview was that an hour after midnight the miner and the boy left the house quietly, and walked at a rapid pace directly across the mountain.
"This is pretty tough, lad," Joe said, when they were some distance from the town. "It seems as if I'd done nothin' but tramp for the last month."
"I won't grumble if this matter is straightened out finally, but just now it looks as though all hands would have been better off to let things go as they might."
"Don't get downhearted. When our mine is open you can afford to laugh at this little fracas."
Although Joe spoke so cheerily he was far from feeling comfortable in mind, as was apparent when they visited the lawyer's house at a very early hour next morning.
The mental anxiety could be plainly read on his face as he waited to receive the legal opinion after telling his story.
"I don't think you need fear any serious trouble, although matters may be very disagreeable for a while," that gentleman said. "It will be well for us to make complaint against the Dobson boy, and by causing his arrest be certain of having him here when he is wanted. I will attend to it at once."
"How much money do you want?"
"We won't speak of that now. When I do business for a firm as rich as yours, I am not afraid of losing my fees."
"It would be hard to find any poorer concern."
"There's where you make a mistake, Mr. Brace. Your title is clear; an expert, whom I sent, reports that there can be no question as to the presence of coal in large quantities, and I shall be only too glad to purchase stock when the company is formed."
"Do you mean the whole of that?" Joe asked, his eyes glistening with delight.
"To prove it I will advance on your joint note any reasonable amount of money which may be needed. In fact, I think it would be a good idea to give Mr. Wright a hint of your discovery, when I'm quite sure he'd view this whole affair in a different light."
"We'll keep the secret a while longer. I'd rather get out of the scrape before folks know what we've found, an' then settle old scores. Now, Fred, s'pose we go to see Sam?"
"I'll walk to the jail with you, and you can wait until I have despatched an officer to Farley's for the Dobson boy."
The fact that Lawyer Hunter had come with the visitors insured them every facility for seeing their friend, and the three met in the turnkey's room with the knowledge that they might be together the entire day.
Poor Sam looked forlorn, indeed, when he entered the apartment. It had been so long since his friend's last visit that he fancied they were deserting him.
His appearance changed decidedly when they explained the reason for their absence, and two hours were spent in giving a detailed account of all that had happened since his departure from Farley's.
Then, forgetting the present troubles, the three talked of the day when they would be mine owners instead of laborers, and built so many air castles that neither heeded the passage of time until Mr. Hunter returned with the information that an officer had visited Farley's only to find the superintendent looking anxiously for Gus.
"It seems that Mr. Wright took the boy home last night, and, believing in his protestations of innocence despite your testimony, left him unguarded. As might have been expected, he took advantage of this credulity to make his escape, and now I fancy it will be many days before he re-visits this part of the country."
"Then all we have done goes for nothing," Fred said, mournfully.
"In that you are very greatly mistaken. Thorpe will be acquitted beyond a doubt, and it is not likely Mr. Wright dare press any charge against you at present. I shall go with you to Farley's, after Sam is released on bail, and guarantee matters will be set right."
"Am I to go out?" Sam asked in surprise.
"As soon as it can be arranged. Your friends are to accompany me, and the matter can be accomplished very quickly."
Fred was amazed at the ease with which all this was done. He and Joe went before a magistrate, and repeated under oath the story they had told so often; two friends of Mr. Hunter's signed a paper to which the other's names had already been affixed, and, ten minutes later, Sam was with them, looking radiantly happy at being in the open air once more.
It was too late to return home, unless Joe and Fred were willing to take another tramp across the mountain, and all three went to the hotel, where they formed a very jolly party.
On the first train next morning the partners, accompanied by Mr. Hunter, arrived at Farley's, and found public sentiment greatly changed. The flight of Gus had caused very many to believe he really was the guilty party, although no one could guess how he gained possession of the money, and the walk to Mrs. Byram's was something like an ovation.
