by Quincy Allen
CHAPTER XIV--BLUFF TAKES CHANCES
There never was such a frightened group of fellows as that crowd whenthey saw their basket of provisions vanish in the grip of thisawful-looking object.
For a few seconds they seemed too astonished to even move, and the thiefhad actually gone out of sight in the brush before the first boy made ajump after him.
Whether it was a touch of valor that actuated him, or the desire to getback the precious basket that held their food, it would be hard to say.
"Look out!" shouted Frank, who had seen something descending along theface of the little rise.
Even as he spoke a shower of stones, together with lumps of earth, fellwith a great clatter. Somebody was bombarding the camp from above! Itlooked as though the wild man must have had wings to reach that spot, ifthe missiles came from him.
By this time Pet himself was in full flight. He had snatched up hisloose garments from the sticks on which they were drying at the fire,and made for the shelter of the bushes on the other side of the camp.
The rest scampered this way and that, one even hiding inside the tent,while a couple of others tried to budge the heavy boat that had beendrawn up high and dry on the shore, as if seriously considering thechances of flight.
Frank saw his opportunity to get away, and was not slow to avail himselfof it.
"Thanks, awfully, Mr. Wild Man; I'm indebted to you," he laughed, as hestarted along the little beach, headed for his own camp.
He knew his chums would be dreadfully anxious by this time. They musthave surely heard the excited cries from the other camp, and would bealarmed lest something had happened to him.
As he drew near he whistled. This was a signal that Bluff shouldrecognize, and which would tell him who approached, so that he would notbe tempted to fire, or make any threatening demonstration.
"Welcome back, Frank!" exclaimed Bluff, as he appeared in sight.
"Sure, we're glad to see you safe and sound. From the racket we began tobe afraid that you'd got into trouble," observed Will.
"The trouble seemed to be on the other side, boys. They've fared worsethan we did. In our case it was only a kettle full of stew; but theylost everything!"
"What's that? Do you mean somebody cribbed their grub?" demanded Bluff.
"Just what happened, and right under my eyes, too. I saw it done. Oh!what you missed then, Will! If you could only have snapped off thatpicture, there wouldn't be a single soul in Centerville doubt the storyabout the wild man," said Frank.
"Wild man! Do you mean to say he entered their camp while you werethere?"
"And actually grabbed up their stuff under your eyes? Then you can tellus what he looked like. Was it really a man, or an animal, Frank?"questioned Bluff, excitedly.
Frank shook his head, as he replied:
"There you've got me, for just on the spur of the moment I couldn't saypositively. He walked on two legs, and seemed like a man; but lookedlike a great big chimpanzee, or an ape, I've seen do tricks at thecircus. Anyway, he was a terrible object, and sent a shiver over me."
"Gracious goodness! and he stole their provisions, you said?" exclaimedWill, involuntarily looking around as if he half expected the dreadfulwild man to rush into view right then and there.
"Everything they had, I imagine. One good thing, it will make them getout in the morning, and for that we're obliged to the wild man. If onlyJerry were here, now, I'd be feeling first-class," resumed Frank, with asigh.
"But I don't understand why he'd enter their camp when he could havegotten a lot of much better grub right here in ours," said Bluff,shaking his head.
"Well, you see, he's evidently afraid of our guns; and, perhaps, hehappened to know that they had none over yonder," explained Frank.
"But is that reasonable? Would a crazy man stop for such a little thingas that? It strikes me this raid on their eating department looks like aset-up job."
"There now, Bluff, you've set me to thinking again. I neglected to tellyou all that happened. When the hairy monster was making off with thebasket, one of the boys started after him; and then and there a showerof stones and dirt came down from above, and fell all around him. Afterthat there was a quick scattering," remarked Frank.
"Evidently the wild man had a friend close by; he wasn't alone then.Say, perhaps he's formed a league with those ugly hoboes. They're all ahungry lot, and ready to steal anything that comes along in the way ofgrub."
"Again you may be right, Bluff. If you keep on guessing I'm sure we'llknow all about the whole business soon," laughed Frank.
"But how about that other scheme of yours?" asked Bluff.
"What's that--the trip to town?"
"Yes. Haven't changed your mind about it, eh, Frank?" asked the other.
"Are you willing to make the attempt?" queried Frank, promptly.
"Try me, that's all. Now that the old moon's up it will be just fun. Ican make it in a little time, and hunt up the sheriff. Why, the lot ofus may even be back here by morning, boys," replied Bluff,enthusiastically.
He always went into anything with his whole soul, though perhaps hisardor might cool sooner than the grim determination of Frank, or evenJerry.
"That would be fine. Well, since you don't object, suppose you get thecanoe ready. Will and I will remain to watch the camp, because we seemto be surrounded by a raft of enemies, all eager to do us a bad turn ifthey can. With Jerry missing, the case looks serious, and something mustbe done to round these bad men up."
Bluff immediately jumped up and hurried over to where the three canoeswere fastened together with the chain and padlocks. He proceeded to gethis own boat free from all entanglements, and presently had it launchedupon the water.
Then he came back for the paddle and to receive any parting instructionsFrank might see fit to give him.
"Make reasonably good time, Bluff, but don't push yourself, mind.There's no such great hurry as all that. When you get to town go rightaway to police headquarters and see if you can find Mr. Dodd."
"What if he happens to be away?" asked Bluff, wishing to be prepared forany emergency that might chance to arise.
"Then wait as long as you can for him. Should you get tired in the end,leave a letter to be delivered as soon as he shows up; then return to ushere. It may be possible, even as you hint, that the sheriff is awayhunting the woods to the south for those two rascally, thievish hoboes.That's all, Bluff. Good-by, and good luck!"
Bluff shook hands with each of his chums. Then he gave his canoe a pushthat started it going out, sprang in over the stern with the accuratebalance of an expert, picked up his paddle and commenced his moonlightcruise back to town.
Frank and Will stood there watching him as long as they could see thedark object upon the moonlit water of the lake; then they turned andsilently entered the camp once more.
From somewhere out upon the great stretch of water came the strange cryof a loon that had lingered ere going to its northern summer home. Thesound was particularly mournful, it seemed to Frank.
"Can he make it, do you think?" asked Will, who seemed unusually worriedto-night; for all these stories about wonderful chances which he hadlost had begun to work upon his mind.
"Without the slightest doubt. Why not? There's no sea running, the windhas died away to a whisper, and the moon is bright. Why, Bluff wouldlike nothing better than a circuit of the entire lake at such a time,"replied Frank.
"I was just wondering whether anything might get after him on the water,that's all," remarked the other.
"Chuck that sort of talk. Don't be a pessimist, Will. Of course he canmake it, and, perhaps, as he says, they may all be here by morning,ready to gather in those clever rascals," declared Frank, stoutly.
"But why do you suppose they ever came here to Wildcat Island to hide?"
"I've been thinking about that. There's that Waddy Walsh you speakabout--since he has lived here he possibly knows something about thisplace. Then again they may have heard about the wild man, and how theisland is shun
ned by every one in the neighborhood. In that case, yousee, it would offer a splendid hiding-place for a couple of men tryingto escape the sheriff."
"Frank, you just seem to hit on the right thing. That must be the fact.And our coming here rather upset their plans," said Will.
"Yes, but it gave them a supper last night. They must have been toohurried in their flight to lay in any stock of food. Perhaps theyintended going across to the mainland from time to time, and stealingchickens from the farmers."
"I'll be jiggered if I can see how there could be any connection betweenthose scamps and that wild man with the hairy hide. Perhaps it was anape, and he has a mate on the island. Would you shoot him if you sawhim, Frank?"
"H'm, that depends. Certainly not unless I thought my life was indanger. I say that, because I really believe myself that it is a humanbeing. And I have a little suspicion that is hardly strong enough as yetto mention, but which I intend to think over. But let us settle down andtake things as comfortable as we can. I'll stand watch for a while, andthen let you take my place. Lie down and rest, Will."
