CHAPTER XXII
A REVELATION
The professor did not know what to do. He and the boys expected to findthe hut deserted, but, through some cause, the woman had evidently madea mistake as to the absence of the hermit. Nor did Mr. Snodgrass care toaccept the invitation of the old man and enter the hut, not knowing whathe might find there.
"You must not mind what Kate says," the hermit went on, seeing that hisunexpected visitors hesitated. "She means well, but she exaggerates alittle sometimes."
The professor thought that a rather cool manner in which to reply toaccusation of murder, but, he reflected, if the hermit was as bad as thewoman made him out to be, he would naturally, be rather a bold sort ofperson.
The boys, too, were somewhat embarrassed by their position. To comesuddenly upon a man you expect to bind and hand over to the authoritiesas a criminal of the worst kind and then to find him calmly invitingyou into his house, is something out of the ordinary. How much longerthe travelers might have stood outside the hut, after the invitation toenter had been given, will always be a cause for speculation, because,the next instant something happened.
The professor, who had been glancing from the aged hermit to the hut,and then back to the old man, suddenly uttered an exclamation, and madea dive for the door.
"There he goes!" cried the scientist. "There is the one I've beenlooking for for nearly a month!" and, a second later, he had disappearedinside the cabin.
"What's the matter? Is some one after you?" asked the old man hasteningin the footsteps of the scientist, while the boys trailed in behind."What do you want?"
"I have it! I have it!" called the professor's voice. "It's a beauty,and a rare one."
"What does he mean?" asked the hermit, turning to the boys.
"It's a pink-winged dragon fly," cried the professor, coming back atthat point and hearing the question. He had penetrated to the fartherside of the cabin. "I saw the insect on the cabin door," he went on,explaining to the old man. "Then I saw it go in. I knew it would notstay long, so the only thing to do was to make a jump for it, withoutwaiting to explain. I am very glad I got it, for it's worth at leastseven dollars, and perhaps more. I must apologize for running into yourcabin in that hasty manner," the scientist went on, turning to the oldman.
"I guess that was the best way of getting you into it," said the hermitwith a smile, which, the boys admitted, was a very pleasant one for amurderer. "But now you are here, do not be in a hurry to get out again."
"If you have no objections I will stay until I have put away thisdragon-fly specimen in a case," said the professor, pulling out a smallflat box in which he placed his precious specimens temporarily.
"Let me ask you to supper," went on the old man, seeming to the boys tobe very eager to have them remain. "It is so seldom that I have companythat I appreciate it very much. Stay and have a meal with me."
The boys and the professor hardly knew what answer to make. They did notwant to stay, yet did not care to offend by saying no.
"I'm afraid we might inconvenience you," began Mr. Snodgrass. "You knowwhat it is when company comes unexpectedly, and the larder is empty."
"Have no fears on that score," replied the old man with a short laugh."I have plenty for all of us," and throwing open a cupboard he showed itwell stocked with many victuals.
As no other excuse offered, the travelers could do nothing else butagree to stay, though Bob said afterwards that he kept his hand on hisrevolver, in his outside coat pocket, ready to draw it at a moment'snotice.
So, in a little while, supper was being prepared by the hermit, whoseemed to be quite an expert cook. As he busied himself about thestove the boys had time to glance over the cabin. The first thing thatimpressed them was that the place was well planned for defense.
It was built somewhat like the old block houses the early settlersconstructed, with the upper story projecting over the first, so that theIndians who besieged the place, could be attacked from above. Then thelads noted that the sides were pierced with small loop holes, while onthe walls were several rifles, and belts full of cartridges.
"One might think that you were in an enemy's country," observed Mr.Snodgrass to the hermit, as he took note of the means of defense.
"I have to be on guard," responded the hermit, quickly. "My life isnot safe a moment. I do not know what minute I may be attacked. I amsurrounded by spies on every hand."
"It is a wonder that you let us in then," said Jerry. "How do you knowthat we will not betray you?"
"I am too good a reader of human character as shown in the face to fearanything like that," the old man went on. "I can trust you; I know Ican."
"Who are you in danger from?" asked the professor, wondering what sortof story the hermit could tell.
"All kinds of bad men," was the answer. "They had me in their poweronce, but I got away. I came here because it was a place well hiddenfrom general observation. I have lived here several years, and you arethe first persons beside poor Kate, that I have been friendly with inthat time."
"Then why do you keep ready to repel an enemy if none has molested youin that period?" asked Mr. Snodgrass.
"Because there is no telling when the men will attack me," replied theold man. "There are several who would like to get control of me, but Ithink I can prevent it. I will never let them get me into their poweragain, as long as I have a shot in the gun."
Supper was ready by this time, and the travelers, not very muchreassured by the talk of the strange old hermit sat down to the rudetable. The food, contrary to their expectation, proved very good.
When the meal was over the hermit began to question the travelers abouttheir journey and asked why they came to the lake, which, he said, wasseldom if ever visited. They told him how they had unexpectedly foundthe sheet of water.
"That generally is the way in this world," said the old man. "If youlook for a thing you never find it, but if you do not, sometimes itcomes to you in the most unexpected manner. I have sought something formany years, but I have not found it, and my heart will break if I do notsucceed soon."
"What is it you are looking for?" asked Ned, softly, as he saw thehermit was affected.
"I can not tell you now," was the answer. "Later I may, and perhaps youcan help me in the quest."
"We would be glad to," said the professor. "But I think we must begoing now. It is getting late and we must get back to the automobile.Besides, I am afraid we will have trouble finding our way through thewoods."
"Have no fear," said the hermit. "I will call Kate and she will take youback, just as she brought you here."
"But I thought she was--" began Uriah Snodgrass.
"That is only a notion of hers, that I am a murderer," spoke the hermit,with a smile. "Kate pretends to be very much afraid of me, but she willcome to me when I call her. Probably you are wondering who I am, andwhy I live out in these lonely woods. If you care to I will tell you mystory briefly."
They all said they would be glad to listen, so the hermit began bysaying, for reasons of his own, that he would not tell his name.
"I do not want it to be known who I am," he said. "But, as I said, I wasonce in the power of a number of bad men. I used to be a prospector,and made considerable at it, until trouble came. Then I came to thislonesome place. I had heard the legend of Lost Lake, and the goldsupposed to be on its shores, but I never expected to find this bodyof water. However, I did come across it, though I never have found anygold. I have been here ever since, and that is about three years. Imanage to hunt and fish, and so get enough to live on. Occasionally I goto the nearest village, and sell a few articles I make out of wood, andso get a little money."
"I should think you would be very lonesome at times," said Bob.
"I am glad to be alone when I think of all I suffered from those men,"was the reply.
"Would you mind telling us about the woman?" asked Mr. Snodgrass. "Sheseems a queer creature."
"She is," answered the hermit. "She is harmless enou
gh, except whenaroused, and her great trouble is in thinking that I am a murderer."
"What makes her think such a thing?" asked Jerry.
"Because she is slightly crazy," said the hermit. "She was in thesewoods when I came here, and, in time we grew to be good friends. Itseems that years ago her whole family was killed by the Indians, shealone escaping. It turned her brain, and ever since then, she imaginesthat nearly all men are murderers. I wonder she has not accused you ofthe crime," and the hermit smiled a little.
"She certainly acted queer," admitted the professor, "but I thought itwas because she took you to be--er--"
"Oh, I don't mind having you refer to it," put in the old man. "Sheoften accuses me of the crime to my face. I humor her, and admitsometimes that I am a desperate criminal, and that I am going to givemyself up to the authorities. It sort of calms her down."
"What did you mean by saying that she would come whenever you calledher?" asked Jerry. "Is she near by?"
"She stays in a little cabin I built for her, not far off," replied thehermit. "When I want her to go on an errand for me, for she is veryswift and reliable, I merely blow this horn," and he showed a big conchhanging on the wall. "I will call her to show you the way back to yourcamp when you are ready."
The professor and the boys thought it was about time to leave. Theypromised the hermit they would come and see him again, and then theold man, taking down the horn, unbarred the door, and, stepping outblew three shrill blasts that reverberated through the woods. It wasjust getting dusk, and the echoes, ringing back from the distant hills,sounded weird in the gathering darkness.
For a few seconds no answer came, then, from far off in the woodssounded a faint cry.
"Here she comes," said the hermit. "She will take you the shortest way."
In a little while the crackling of the brush could be heard, and, a fewseconds later Kate appeared. She did not seem surprised not to find thetravelers all murdered.
"Will you show them the way back to camp?" asked the old man.
"Yes," said Kate, simply. "Follow me," she added, turning to the boysand the professor.
They started off after the strange woman, and, at that instant the oldhermit uttered an exclamation.
"Some one is coming!" he cried. "It may be some of my enemies!"
A moment later he turned and fled into the dark woods!
The Motor Boys Across the Plains; or, The Hermit of Lost Lake Page 24
