CHAPTER XXIV
A LETTER COMES
Nobody had come through the passage into the cave save Bilby and theboatman. Chess stood where he could keep half an eye, at least, upon theopening, and although the passage was filled with shadow he was quitesure there was nobody lurking there who was friendly to the law-breakers.
"Just step around behind those two men and see if they are armed, MissRuth, will you?" went on Copley. "Take 'em from behind. Don't get in linewith my pistol. For if I begin to shoot, somebody is bound to get hit.Keep your hands up, you fellows!" and he gestured toward the Chinamen.
Even the two of their number who had been half-overcome with the fumes ofopium had come to attention when Chess produced his pistol. The Chinamenhuddled together at one side. The boatman and Bilby were opposite thedoorway of the tunnel. Ruth promptly obeyed Chess and went around behindthe last-named two of the enemy.
Ruth hesitated a moment in the dusk there at the opening of the passage.She hated to touch either Bilby or the other man. But probably both ofthem were armed, and for the sake of safety their weapons must be takenfrom them.
While she hesitated she heard a faint rustle in the passage. Then camethe softest possible whisper:
"Ss-st!"
Ruth jumped and glanced over her shoulder. Was it friend or enemy whoevidently tried to attract her attention by this sibilant sound?
A figure moved in the gloom. Before she could cry any warning to Copleyan arm was put firmly about her and Ruth was almost lifted to one side.She saw the gleam of a weapon in the other hand of her neighbor, and thepoint of this weapon was dug suddenly into the broad back of the gruffboatman who was Bilby's companion.
"Don't get nervous, 'Lasses," came in Tom Cameron's voice. "We're allfriends here. Ah! A nice automatic pistol from our friend, Mr. Bilby.Just so. Here, Nell!"
But it was Ruth's hand that took the captured weapon, although Helenstood at her side squeezing her other hand and whispering:
"My goodness, Ruthie, what a perfectly glorious experience! Are those thereal smugglers?"
"I shouldn't wonder," replied her friend. Then she accepted the revolverextracted from the hip pocket of the boatman by Tom Cameron. "Where isthe King of the Pipes?"
"Taking the air. We heard the talk below here through the hollow tree. Doyou know," whispered Helen, "that old beech is a regular chimney. And wesaw the boat come here. Then we grabbed the King of the Pipes outside."
"Tom did not hurt him, I hope?" murmured Ruth.
"Not a bit of it. In fact, the queer old fellow said he was willing toabdicate in Tom's favor, and now, I suppose, Tommy-boy is King of thePipes," and Helen, the irrepressible, grinned.
The two ex-army men, however, took the matter quite seriously. Tomdisarmed the Chinamen as well as the white men. And to search and disarma squirming Oriental, they found not easy work.
"But I disarmed enough Fritzies in Europe to learn my job pretty well.How's the weather, Sergeant?"
"All right here, Captain Cameron," said Copley seriously.
"Then I'll back out with this bunch of junk. Here's a pair of brassknuckles in the bunch. I'll use 'em on any of these fellows who try torun. We'll keep 'em hived up here till the police come. One fellow canhold 'em. Unless they try to climb up that hollow beech tree."
"No fear," said Copley. "Get the girls out first."
Tom had already loaded both Ruth and Helen down with the loot from themalefactors' pockets. He motioned to the girls to leave the cavern.
"Hold on! Hold on!" Bilby cried. "I beg of you, don't leave me with thesemen. I only happen to be here by chance--"
"A bad chance for you, then," said Chess Copley. "Don't listen to him,Captain Cameron."
"No, don't listen to him," said Ruth severely. "I know he is worse thanthe others. Why, Tom! he is the man who has made us all that troubleabout Wonota and my picture."
"Sure," agreed Tom. "I know the snake. Go ahead, girls. Chess and I willfollow you. And one of us will be right in this passage all the time," headded, addressing the two white men. "Don't make any mistake. We'll shootif you try to come out until you are told to."
The girls were already feeling their way through the darkness of thetunnel. At the turn Ruth kicked something, and, stooping, secured Chess'electric torch. She pressed the switch and the illumination allowed thetwo young men to overtake them with more certainty, Chess backing outwith his pistol trained on the opening into the cavern.
When once the four friends were around the turn and out of hearing of theprisoners, Tom Cameron began to chuckle.
"This is no laughing matter!" exclaimed his sister. "I am so excited Idon't know what to do."
"Keep right on," said Ruth. "I want to get home just as soon as I can. Idon't believe I shall care hereafter to leave the island until we arethrough with the picture and can go back to the Red Mill. What are youlaughing about, Tom Cameron?"
"I don't know how 'Lasses is fixed," said the amused Tom. "But my pistolisn't loaded. It is my old service automatic and needs repairing,anyway."
"Don't fret, Cameron. Mine is loaded all right," said Chess grimly.
"Then you stay and guard the cave," said Tom.
"You bet you! You couldn't get me away from here until you have sent forthe sheriff and he comes for the gang. I believe we have done a goodnight's work."
"Oh, you were wonderful!" Helen burst out. "And Ruth says they knockedyou down and hurt you."
"I shall get over that all right," returned Chess quietly.
But when they were out of the passage and on the open shore Heleninsisted upon fussing around Chessleigh, bathing the lump on his head,and otherwise "mothering" him in a way that secretly delighted Ruth. Tomlooked at his sister in some amazement.
"What do you know about that?" he whispered to Ruth. "She was as sore athim as she could be an hour ago."
"You don't know your own sister very well, Tom," retorted Ruth.
"Humph!" ejaculated Tom Cameron. "Perhaps we fellows don't understand anygirl very well."
But Ruth was not to be led into any discussion of that topic then. It wasagreed that she and Helen and Tom should hurry back to the motion picturecamp at once.
"The King of the Pipes won't bite you," Tom said to Chess. "Only don'tlet him go back into the cave. Those fellows might do him some harm. Andthe sheriff will want him for a witness against the gang. He is not socrazy as he makes out to be."
The night's adventures were by no means completed, for Ruth and Helencould not go to bed after they reached the bungalow until they knew howit all turned out. Mr. Hammond had returned before them, and Willie andTom started at once for Chippewa Bay in the _Gem_.
The capture of Bilby in connection with the smugglers and Chinese runnersdelighted the motion picture producer.
"That will settle the controversy, I believe," Mr. Hammond said to thetwo girls. "Bilby's attempt to annoy us must fall through now. We willget Totantora and Wonota back from Canada and finish the pictureproperly. But, believe me! I have had all the experience I want withfreak stars. The expense and trouble I have been put to regarding Wonotahas taught me a lesson. I'd sell my contract with Wonota to-morrow--orafter the picture is done--for a song."
Ruth looked at him steadily for a moment.
"Do you mean that, Mr. Hammond?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, I do."
Helen laughed. "I guess Ruth is thinking of singing that song. Ruthbelieves in Wonota."
"If I could carry the tune," her chum said, more lightly. "We'll talk ofthat later, Mr. Hammond."
"Oh, I would give you first chance, Miss Ruth," said the producer. "Bythe way," and he turned to his desk. "I brought mail from the town. Hereare several letters for you, Miss Ruth, and one for Miss Cameron."
The girls began to open their letters as soon as they reached their room.But it was Helen's single epistle that created the most excitement.
"It's from Carrie Perrin," she said to Ruth. Then, in a moment, sheuttered a cry that drew Ruth's full att
ention. "Listen to this! What doyou know about this, Ruth?"
"What is it, my dear?" asked her chum, in her usual composed manner.
"Just think of that!" cried Helen, in tears. "And I have treated him sohatefully. He'll never forgive me in this world, I suppose. It is aboutChess," she sobbed, and handed her chum the letter.
Ruth Fielding on the St. Lawrence; Or, The Queer Old Man of the Thousand Islands Page 24
