by Kirk Munroe
CHAPTER XIV
A VAIN EFFORT TO RECOVER STOLEN PROPERTY
Leaping ashore the moment his skiff grated on the beach, Peverilstepped directly up to the old man and said:
"I do not know who you are, sir, nor what claim you make to ownershipin those logs. I do know, however, that they bear the private mark ofthe White Pine Mining Company, and formed part of a raft recentlywrecked on this coast. Having been sent here expressly to secure thisproperty, I am determined to use every endeavor to carry out myinstructions. Such being the case, I trust that you will not interferewith the performance of my duty."
"I shall, though," answered the old man, gruffly. "I have need of thistimber, and consider that I have a just claim to it, seeing that itwas cast up by the sea on my land. I have also expended a great amountof labor in bringing it to this place; so that if I had no other claimI have one for salvage."
"Which will doubtless be allowed when presented in proper form,"replied Peveril. "In the meantime I am ordered to take possession ofall logs that I may find bearing the W. P. mark."
"Supposing I forbid you to do so?"
"I am also authorized to use force, if necessary, to carry out myinstructions."
"That sounds very much like a threat, my young friend; but I declineto be frightened by it, and still forbid you to touch those logs."
Joe Pintaud had followed his young leader ashore, and stood closebeside him during the foregoing interview, while the Bohemians stillremained in the skiff. Now, without deigning any further reply to theold man, Peveril, in a low tone, ordered the Canadian to providehimself and the others with poles, and, if possible, shove the raftoff from shore, adding that he would join in their efforts the momenthe had cast loose its moorings.
As Joe started to obey these instructions, Peveril ran to the fartherof two ropes holding the raft and unfastened it. While he did this theold man stood without remonstrance, but with a cynical smile on histhin lips.
Finding himself uninterrupted, Peveril fancied that no resistance wasto be offered, after all, and, with the carelessness of confidence,stooped to cast off the remaining line. The next instant a nervousshove from behind sent him headforemost into the lake. Just then therecame a rush of feet, and as Peveril, half-choked by his sudden bath inthe icy water, rose to the surface and attempted to regain the bank hewas seized by half a dozen pair of brawny hands belonging to as manywild-looking men who had been summoned from beyond the ridge.
In another minute the young wrecker was lying in the bottom of his ownskiff, and it was being towed out to sea by a second boat manned bytwo lusty foreigners. In its stern-sheets sat the old man holding acocked revolver, from which he threatened to put a bullet throughPeveril's head if he lifted it above the gunwale.
Under the circumstances the latter, though raging at his suddendiscomfiture, deemed it best to lie still and await, with whatpatience he might, the result of his misadventure.
So he was towed for a long distance, and when his skiff finally seemedto have lost motion and be drifting, he ventured to lift his head.Before he could see over the side there came the sharp report of apistol, a bullet whistled close above him, and he was ordered toremain quiet until he received permission to sit up.
Peveril obeyed, and for nearly half an hour longer lay motionless.Then his craft struck bottom, and he sprang up in alarm. He was alone,and his skiff was bumping against a black ledge that he recognized asthe one lying at the foot of the mysterious cliff. Not a boat was tobe seen, but on the rocks close at hand lay the oars that had beentaken from his skiff when he was thrown into it. They were not lyingtogether, but at some distance apart, as though flung there, butwhether from a boat or from some other direction he could not tell. Atany rate, he was thankful to have them, and at once began to plan howhe should use them in connection with his regained liberty.
At first his indignation at his recent treatment suggested that he rowback and attempt, at least, to recover his men; but a moment'sreflection showed the folly of such a scheme. Not only would he againbe confronted by an overpowering number of opponents, but it wasprobable that his men were even then on their way overland to LaughingFish, for he did not believe the old man would dare hold themprisoners. At any rate, it would be best to rejoin them beforeplanning to gain possession of the logs in the basin, upon which hewas still determined.
Although the young man did not know it, he was keenly watched duringthese moments of indecision by a pair of bright eyes that peered downfrom the cliff above him. When he shiveringly re-entered his skiff theeyes were hastily withdrawn lest he should look up. A little later ayoung girl of slight figure, clad in a dark gown, stepped out from thecliff, as from behind a curtain, and, half concealed by the stuntedcedar, watched him curiously until he was lost to view.
"He is ever so different from an ordinary miner," she soliloquized,"and looks as though he might be interesting. I wonder if I shall eversee him again? I am glad I thought of getting these oars and throwingthem down, even if he has used them to go away with. What will papathink when he finds them gone? Anyhow, the monotony of this stupidplace has been broken at last, and now, perhaps, something else willhappen. I believe something must be going to happen very soon, anyhow,from the way papa talks. Dear papa! how queerly he acts, and how Iwish I could see him happy just once! Now I must go and tell him thatthe schooner is coming."
With this the girl apparently performed a miracle, for she seemed topush aside a portion of the red-stained cliff and disappear behind itwithout leaving a trace of an opening.
As Peveril rowed steadily down the coast he saw in the distance aschooner that he believed to be the one belonging to Joe Pintaud'sfriends beating up from the southward. For a moment he thought oftrying to board her, but, quickly dismissing the idea, doggedlypursued his way.
Arrived at the cove, he was disappointed to find his camp vacant andwithout a sign that his coming companions had returned to it. Buildinga fire, he made a pot of coffee, and prepared to await their comingwith what patience he could command. Some of the fisher-children cameand watched him shyly, but when he attempted to draw them intoconversation they only laughed and ran away.
Feeling very lonely, and undecided as to what he should do, he hadjust begun to eat a lunch of cold food prepared by Joe that morningwhen a plan occurred to him. It was to set forth on foot to meet hismen, failing to do which he could at least spy out the enemy'sstrength. "I can discover, too, what lies behind that ridge, and wherethey are carrying those logs," he said, half aloud.
THE MEN HASTILY THREW PEVERIL HEAD-FIRST INTO THEBUSHES]
So impatient was he to put this plan into execution that he would notwait to finish his lunch, but, swallowing a mug of coffee and stuffinga few hard biscuit into the ample pockets of his now nearly dry coat,he set forth. Coming across a well-trodden though narrow trail,leading in what he believed to be the right direction, he turned intoit, and followed it briskly for several miles.
It was by this time late afternoon, and long shadows were creepingover the rugged upland country that he traversed. No house was to beseen, nor evidence of human occupation. All the large timber havingbeen long since cut off, the region was now covered with a raggedsecond growth and thick underbrush. Extensive tracts had been burnedover, and thousands of small trees, standing in the melancholyattitudes of death, added to the desolation of the scene. Every nowand then he passed yawning prospect-holes, offering mute evidence ofdisappointed hopes.
At length he caught a whiff of smoke, a dull clang of machinery cameto his ears; and, with curiosity keenly aroused, he pursued his waymore cautiously. A few minutes later he reached a point where hecaught glimpses of buildings, evidently belonging to a mine. A tallshaft-house was surrounded by various shops and a cluster ofdwellings, most of them very humble in appearance, though one waslarge and pretentious.
Although smoke was curling lazily from a lofty stack, that he imaginedbelonged to an engine-house, and though there was a certain amount ofnoise, as of machinery in motion, th
ere were no other signs ofactivity about the place. In fact, it was pervaded by an aspect ofdesolation and desertion. There were no hurrying men nor teams. Mostof the buildings appeared to be permanently closed; doors were boardedup, windows were broken, and the smaller dwellings were almost hiddenby the rank growth of weeds and bushes that closely surrounded them.
As Peveril stared in perplexity at this melancholy picture hisattention was attracted by a sound of voices near at hand. He gazedeagerly, and even took a few steps forward, hoping to meet his ownparty, but was grievously disappointed to see instead a group of threeburly strangers clad in mining costume. As they drew near herecognized them to be Bohemians, and was particularly struck by thehideous expression of him who seemed to act as leader of the party.
Although the new-comers started at sight of the young man, andregarded him with scowling faces as they drew near, they did not speaknor offer to molest him, but passed by in silence.
Disappointed that they were not his own men, but relieved to be soeasily rid of them, Peveril again turned his attention to thesemi-deserted mining village that had so aroused his curiosity. Sodeeply interested did he at once become in watching a team of oxenthat had just appeared, hauling a log over a rise of ground, that hedid not hear the approach of stealthy footsteps nor note the crouchingforms creeping up behind him. Closer and closer they came, until theywere within reach of their unconscious victim. Then they sprang uponhim all at once, and he was hurled to the ground.
In another moment his arms were bound, and he recognized in onedistorted face, leering close above his own, that of the man who hadled the attack on him in the mine, and whom he had sent reeling awaywith a broken jaw.
Now the cruel face was rendered doubly hideous by a grin of triumph,and Peveril's heart sank within him as he gazed into the pitiless eyesthat lighted its brutish features.
