Comrades on River and Lake Part 15

CHAPTER XI-A LIVELY EVENING

For a moment none of the boys said a word. Then Chot burst into a laugh, believing the best thing to do was to "jolly" the men.

"Yes; you've got us all right, but I think some explanations are in order."

"You're right, young fellow," said one of the men. "Explanations are in order, and you're going to make 'em."

"What is there to explain?"

"Lots o' things."

"For instance?"

"Never mind for instance. Hank, line this bunch up over yonder, then put some more trash on that fire so it won't go out I think we've got the fellows we want, all right."

Hank jammed two immense pistols into his belt and did as his companion ordered. Hank was a young man, probably twenty years old, heavy set, with the appearance of having always lived off the fat of the land. The other-Dave, he had been called by Hank-was long and lean with a scraggly mustache, a man of at least forty.

"These are not the men we saw earlier in the evening," said Chot in a low tone to the other boys.

"No; I don't see the slightest similarity in their appearance," Tom replied.

"This don't appear to be a hold up, either," said Bert. "This man Dave talks like he thinks we're criminals of some sort."

"Well, we'll find out in a minute, just what he means," said Chot.

While Hank was heaping brush on the fire, Dave stood with his revolvers leveled at the boys, whom Hank had huddled in a little group, so that all were in easy range.

"Now, you fellers stand still," said Dave. "We don't want any monkey business."

"Do we look like we're trying to run away?" asked Tom. "Don't worry-we're going to stay right here and find out what all this means.

We've nothing to run for."

"Oh, is that so? Well, maybe I can convince you different. Here now, Hank. Get out your revolvers and watch these fellers close, while I question 'em."

Hank did as he was bidden, seeming to take great pleasure in leveling his weapons at the boys.

"Point those things in the air, can't you?" asked Fleet, nervously. "I know you don't want to shoot us, but one of them might go off by accident, and I'm not ready to give up this canoe trip just yet."

"Canoe trip?" queried Dave, suspiciously. "Where's the canoes?"

"Right before your eyes, old man," said Chot, pointing to where the canoes were lying beneath one of the trees.

"Don't call me 'old man'!" snapped Dave. "I won't stand for nothin' like that!"

Then he walked over and took a look at the canoes.

"Where'd you pick 'em up?" he asked.

"I don't know that it's any of your business," Chot replied, "Isn't it about time you were telling us why you've got us standing here at the point of your revolvers? We haven't done anything to you."

"Oh, you haven't, eh? Well, maybe not, but I'll bet you know who robbed my house last night, all right. Oh, you fellers think you can wriggle out of this business, but we've got you dead to rights, ain't we, Hank?"

"Certainly have," was Hank's reply.

"You say your house was robbed last night?"

It was Chot who put the question.

"Yes; you know very well it was robbed."

"I knew nothing of the kind. We were not in this neighborhood last night."

"Then how comes it I find you trespa.s.sin' on my property?" demanded Dave. "Tell me that."

"We didn't know it was your property. We came up the lake in our canoes, searching for a place to camp for the night. This seemed to be the nicest looking spot, so we came ash.o.r.e."

"That's a pretty good tale, but it won't work. You ain't got no proof."

"We have plenty of proof. You say your house was robbed last night?"

"Yes, sir; last night. The thieves got away with eighty dollars in gold that I had locked in a bureau drawer."

"Well, last night we camped on the sh.o.r.es of Lake George, and at noon to-day we entered Lake Champlain and took dinner at a little village called Delano."

"Delano? Look out-I know where that is. I may take a notion to telephone down there and look you fellers up."

"Just what we're trying to get you to do. Practically the whole village saw us land there, and saw us start north after we had eaten our meal.

So now that we have some basis of proof on which to proceed, suppose you look us up, and let's have done with this nonsense."

Dave and Hank whispered together a moment, then the former said:

"Step out here, one by one, so I can get a good look at you."

Fleet was the first to obey this command.

Dave and Hank looked him up and down, then shook their heads.

"Nope," said Hank, "that can't be him."

Each of the other boys in turn underwent the close scrutiny of their captors, and when the inspection was over both Dave and Hank seemed in a quandary.

"Don't none of 'em answer the description," said Hank, a dismal note in his voice. "What we goin' to do now?"

"Do I take it from your remarks that one of you saw these thieves?"

asked Chot.