The Motor Boys Across the Plains; or, The Hermit of Lost Lake
Page 17
CHAPTER XV
THE STORY OF LOST LAKE
The trick Bob had played seemed to be much appreciated among the crowdof miners and herdsmen who were gathered at the hotel. They laughed loudand long over the sight Simmons had presented.
"I guess he'll know better than to fool with the next lad that comesalong in one of them choo-choo wagons," was the hotel proprietor'scomment.
Bob gathered up the specimens that belonged to the professor and theywere put in the car, together with a fresh supply of provisions thatwere purchased at the village store.
"I guess we'll be traveling," suggested the professor. The boys agreedwith him, for though they knew the pleasures of sleeping beneath a roof,yet the character of the men who stayed at the hotel was so rough thatthey feared further rows. So, in spite of the entreaties of the hotelkeeper they started off, having inquired the best roads to take.
Through the afternoon they bowled over a well elevated table land. Theair was fine and bracing. Off in the distance to the west could be seenthe first ranges of the big mountains.
"That's where our mine is," said Jerry, his eyes shining.
"Maybe it isn't ours after all," put in Bob.
"Now there you go, Chunky. What do you want to call up unpleasantsubjects for?" asked Ned reproachfully. "Anyhow it's our mine until someone takes it away from us, and I guess they'll have quite a fight, withNestor on guard."
The others thought so too. Jerry, who was steering, was sending the autoforward at a fast clip, when the professor, who always had his eyes opencalled out:
"What's that just ahead of us? Looks like a bear."
"Where?" asked Ned.
"Right in line with that big rock," went on the scientist, who had verygood eyes and could see a long distance.
"It's only a tree stump," spoke Bob.
"I didn't know tree stumps could move," went on Mr. Snodgrass, "forthis one is certainly coming toward us. It's not a bear after all," hecontinued, now that the object was nearer. "It's a bull! That's what itis! It looks as if it meant to go for us!"
The boys could now see that the beast was one of the big, long-hornedwestern cattle. It had evidently strayed from the herd, or had been madean outcast because of a bad temper and a perpetual desire to fight. Thelatter seemed more likely, for, as the auto proceeded, and the bull cameon, lessening the distance between the two, a defiant bellow of ragesounded.
"I hope he don't try to ram us," spoke Jerry. "We don't want any morecollisions."
"See if you can't run away from him," suggested Ned.
By this time the bull was about one hundred yards away. It was comingstraight for the auto. Jerry opened the muffler and at the sound of theexplosions the bull stopped short.
At this point the road ran in a sort of depression, with hills risingon either side. It was rather narrow, so there was no chance to turn toone side. Jerry had to bring the machine to a stop or else run the riskof hitting the bull. He thought the animal might run away if it saw themachine coming toward him, but there was nothing sure about this.
"Well, this is a regular hold-up," said the professor. "I wonderwhether the bull wants to collect toll?"
The animal seemed to be growing angrier and angrier every minute. Itbellowed loudly, pawed the earth with its hoofs, and shook the loweredhead, armed with sharp horns. Occasionally the keen points would tear upthe ground.
"I wouldn't want him to strike one of our tires," remarked Ned. "Itwould be all up with it."
"Hurrah! I have it!" cried Bob at length.
He dove beneath the rear seat and pulled up a shining object.
"The ammonia squirt gun!" he exclaimed. "The same we used on the hold-uptramps. Give the bull a dose of it!"
"Good idea," commented Jerry.
The bulb of the automatic pistol was still filled with the fiery liquid,for the boys kept it loaded in readiness for use. Bob handed it overto Jerry. The latter took careful aim, and pressed the rubber. A finestream of the powerful stuff struck the bull full in the face.
With a bellow that fairly shook the ground near-by the bull reared up inthe air, and coming down on all fours snorted with rage, shook its headto rid its eyes of the terrible burning, and then dashed madly away.
"Now I guess we can get past," remarked Bob, "and get some supper. I'mas hungry as a bear."
A good fire was soon started and Ned began to prepare the meal. Whilethe others were setting out the dishes, or getting ready for thenight camp, since it seemed there was no place for shelter in theneighborhood, the travelers were startled by a voice:
"Evenin' strangers," called a tall, thin man who strolled down theslight hill at the foot of which the party were encamped. "Have you gota bite to spare?"
"Plenty," replied the professor cheerfully. "Come right along. Supperwill be ready in a little while. Are you hungry?"
"Hungry? I should say so. I haven't had a bit to eat for two days,except what berries and old nuts I could gather."
"What's the matter? Get lost?" asked Jerry.
"Exactly," replied the stranger. "My name's Johnson," he went on. "I wasprospecting up in the hills, and got lost there."
"Anybody with you?" asked Ned.
"Nary a soul; I'm all alone. I used up the last of my grub in tryingto find the trail, and I guess I'd been looking for it yet if I hadn'theard the noise of your steam engine here, and smelled the cooking. Is'pose you're huntin' for it, same as me."
"Hunting for what?" asked the professor, struck by Johnson's manner.
"Why Lost Lake, to be sure. Nobody comes out this far unless they'rehuntin' for the lake, but you're the first to come in a steam carwithout rails."
"Well, it's a free country," remarked the scientist, wishing to evadegiving a direct answer, in the hope of learning something. "I guess wehave a right to hunt for the lake."
"Of course, of course you have, strangers," went on Johnson. "Nooffense. Have you struck a trace of it yet?"
"Not yet," replied Mr. Snodgrass. "To tell you the truth," the professorwent on, "we don't know much about this lost lake."
"Nor no one else," said Johnson. "I'll tell you all I know, which isn'tmuch. I've been looking for it 'most a year now."
"Suppose we have supper first," suggested the professor as he noted theeyes Johnson was casting at the food. "We can talk afterward."
"That's the best word I've heard in a good while," said the newcomer.
He ate with a rapidity that left no doubt about his hunger. Nor werethe others far behind him, as the crisp air of the mountain region hadgiven them all famous appetites.
"Now for Lost Lake," spoke Jerry when all had their fill.
"It's supposed to be in those mountains over there," began Johnson,pointing to the range off in the west, now dimly discernible in thedusk. "It's said to be a beautiful sheet of water, with high peaks allaround it. It was discovered forty years ago by a prospector, and hecame to the nearest village with the news. But when he went to lead aparty back they couldn't find the trail. Ever since then people havetried to find Lost Lake, but no one has ever succeeded. Many have beenkilled trying."
"But why does any one want to find a lake hidden in the mountains?"asked Mr. Snodgrass.
"Yes, tell us?" asked Ned.
"Why, for the gold on its banks, of course," said Johnson. "Didn't I saythat? I meant to. The man who discovered it said there were pebbles ofgold on the shores. He brought back a pocket full to prove it. I got thefever quite a few months ago, but nothing has come of all my efforts,and this time I nearly died. It was terrible up in the mountains.There's not a soul there I believe."
"And you didn't even get a glimpse of the lake?" asked Ned.
"Nary a look, young man. But I'm sure it's there. I'm going back totown, get a new outfit and some provisions, and have another try."
He was another example of how the gold fever grips one.
"Maybe we'll come across the lake, though we're not looking for it,"said Jerry.
"Maybe you will," assen
ted the prospector. "That's generally the way.The first man was not hunting for it, but he came upon it one night whenthe moon was shining. If you do find it, look out for the old hermit,that's all."