Mystery At Devil's Paw Part 4

A Strange Knapsack A silence fell on the campers as the full import of Frank's words sank home.

"What I'd like to know," Joe put in, "is how those prowlers got here. If that same fishing boat came back during the night, we'd have heard it."

"I doubt if they'd have taken a chance on waking us," Frank said thoughtfully. "Seems more likely they came in a canoe."

Joe spoke up. "You could be right about that, Frank. They might even have come from somewhere upriver and portaged around the falls."

Frank nodded. "I think we should scout this whole area from the air. That would give us a chance to learn the terrain and all the streams around here."

"Swell idea!" Joe agreed. "We might even spot the enemy camp!"

Tony, whose equipment included a two-way radio, volunteered to call the Fish and Wildlife Service in Juneau. "They put a helicopter into service just a few months ago," he informed the others. "I'm sure that we could arrange a flight."

"Good! How about calling them right now?" Frank urged.

Tony did so, and the official on duty promised to send the helicopter to the island early the next morning.

That afternoon, while Tony attended to writing out some reports and Chet stretched out for a nap, Frank and Joe decided to explore the riverbank above the falls.

The two boys crossed over from the island by motorboat, then hiked northward along the rising sh.o.r.e line. The ground underfoot was soft with a thick layer of pine needles and mossy vegetation.

"Feels like walking on a carpet," Joe remarked.

"Just right for moccasins," said Frank. "But I could sure do without the mosquitoes!"

When they were several hundred yards past the falls, Frank pointed through the trees to an object in the river. "Take a look at that rock out there, Joe. Pretty unusual, eh?"

Joe shaded his eyes and squinted at the curious pillar of stone. Rising almost six feet above the water, it was black and shaped like an hourgla.s.s. The spray from the rapids made it glisten in the sunshine.

"It sure is is odd!" Joe agreed. "I wonder if it's a natural formation?" odd!" Joe agreed. "I wonder if it's a natural formation?"

45 "Let's find out," Frank proposed.

The brothers pushed through a thick grove of brush and alders which grew almost to the river's edge. Here the Hardys removed their shoes and socks, rolled up their pants, and waded out into the stream.

"Wow! This water's ice cold!" Joe exclaimed.

"Watch out for those sharp stones on the bottom," Frank said.

The black rock stood only a few yards from sh.o.r.e. It was smooth and weathered, showing no signs of having been chipped or chiseled into shape by tools.

"Funny how it narrows in the middle," Frank said. "Could the water alone have done that?"

"Probably," Joe mused, "it gets worn away by silt and debris when the river's-"

The words ended in a yell of surprise as Joe was suddenly knocked flat by a huge paw.

With a splash, he landed in the water! Frank, whirling, saw an enormous brown bear! A menacing growl rumbled from its jaws.

Before the bear could aim another blow, Frank plunged into the icy rapids. Balked, the huge beast then turned back to his first target. Joe was stunned and floundering in the shallow water. The bear's claws arced toward him in a vicious swipe! But Frank yanked his brother's arm, pulling him out of the way. The bear's paw missed Joe by inches!

46 Towing Joe with one hand, Frank swam frantically out of range. The foaming rapids threatened to sweep them toward the falls, but fortunately, the two boys were strong swimmers and finally reached the sh.o.r.e.

Meanwhile the bear, towering erect on his hind legs, glared at the youths with hot, suspicious eyes. Luckily he made no move to pursue them.

"What a monster!" Joe gasped, as the Hardys sank down on the bank. "He must be nine feet tall!"

"At least," Frank panted. "And I'll bet he weighs close to a ton!"

Joe shivered in his soaked clothing. "What made him so mad? I thought those fellows seldom attacked humans unless they're provoked."

"There's your answer." Frank chuckled wryly. "We did did provoke him-by trespa.s.sing on provoke him-by trespa.s.sing on his private fishing spot!"

Down on all fours again, the bear had just speared a plump salmon with one stroke of his paw. Flopping back on his haunches in the water, the huge animal devoured the fish in a few gulps.

Splat! Another salmon fell prey to his mighty paw. This too disappeared down his gullet, Another salmon fell prey to his mighty paw. This too disappeared down his gullet, followed by half a dozen others in quick succession. At last, his hunger satisfied, the bear lumbered out of the water and vanished among the alders.

"Whew!" Joe let out a whistle of relief. "I'm sure not sorry to see that baby leave!"

48 "That makes two of us," Frank murmured. "Let's get back to camp before we freeze in these wet clothes!"

Dripping and shivering, the Hardys trudged back along the riverbank.

"Hold it!" Joe exclaimed, stopping suddenly. He bent down and plucked a battered knapsack out of the underbrush. "I wonder who lost this?"

"Take a look inside," Frank suggested. "Maybe there'll be some clue to the owner."

Joe unbuckled the straps and groped inside the pouch. "No. It's empty," he announced, holding the bag open for Frank to see.

"Wait a minute! I think there's an extra thickness of leather in there." Frank took the knapsack and ran his fingers around the interior. "Sure enough! There's a secret pocket!"

Joe's eyes gleamed with interest as Frank removed the contents. There were two items.

One was a piece of jade, carved in the likeness of a fierce-looking bird. The other was a crumpled piece of paper.

"A map!" Frank exclaimed, unfolding the paper.

"Of what?" Joe stared in puzzlement. The map, crudely drawn, showed a river or stream of water and various other geographical features. But it bore no place names.

"Maybe Tony will recognize it," Frank said. "Come on! Let's hurry!"

49 Chet and Tony greeted the two bedraggled figures in astonishment. When the Hardys related their close call with the bear, Chet grew visibly pale. The brothers next displayed the knapsack and contents. Then, while Frank and Joe changed into dry clothes, Tony produced a map of the area from among his gear.

"This sketch doesn't jibe with any of the places on my map," he reported.

"This jade carving doesn't add up, either," Joe said thoughtfully. "Matter of fact, I've never heard of jade being found in Alaska. Have you?" he added, turning to his brother with a questioning look.

Frank shook his head. "It certainly doesn't look like any of the Indian carvings we saw in the museum."

Chet regarded the objects nervously. "If you ask me, this knapsack was left there as a t-t-trap," he quavered. "You fellows shouldn't have brought it back to camp. I'll bet this means another visit from our enemies!"

"How long do you suppose the knapsack had been lying there?" Tony asked, half inclined to agree with Chet.

"Not too long," Frank replied. "The buckles aren't even rusty."

Chet hastily looked around. "What'd I tell you? I'll bet someone's spying on us right now!"

CHAPTER VI.

Nightmare!

they crouched quickly and glanced about. Then Frank broke into a grin. "Cut it out, Chet.

Quit scaring me like that!"

"Just the same," Joe declared seriously, "there might be something to what Chet says. I think we'd better radio to Juneau about that knapsack." Tony cranked up the aerial of his radio. When the set was warmed up, he spoke into the microphone: "Kooniak calling Fish and Wildlife Service!"

Presently a voice crackled: "Juneau to Kooniak! Come in, please!"

Tony reported the finding of the knapsack. The department operator promised to inform the police by telephone and then to call back.

In a few minutes the operator's voice came over the speaker. "The police say that no such loss has been reported. But our man will pick up the 51 knapsack for them when he flies out with the helicopter."

"Okay, thanks," Tony said. "Over and out."

After a hearty supper, the boys washed up their mess kits and talked for a while around the campfire. When they were ready to retire, Chet seemed nervous.

"I still think we may get a return visit from that gang," Chet insisted. "How about taking turns standing watch tonight?"

"Okay. That's not a bad idea," Frank said. "Let's draw straws to pick our watches."

Joe won and chose to stand the first trick. Chet, Frank, and Tony would follow in that order. It was broad daylight through most of Joe's watch. Finally, yawning, he woke Chet and prepared to crawl into his own sleeping bag.

As the plump youth took over, the birdcalls became hushed. The sky flamed red, then a deep, brooding twilight settled over the pine forest.

"These woods are positively spooky at night!" Chet thought with a shiver. Picking himself a comfortable spot, he sat down under a tree. "No use getting nervous. I'd better think of something cheerful!"

Determinedly Chet concentrated on visions of himself salmon fishing-pulling in one silvery fish after another. This did make him feel better.

Night deepened. Soon it was completely dark, except for the circle of light around the camp52 fire. From across the river came the melancholy hoot of an owl.

Chet, lulled by the peacefulness of the night, settled himself more comfortably against the tree. "This isn't such a bad spot after all," he thought drowsily. The next instant Chet sat bolt upright and a horrified yell escaped his lips. The Hardys and Tony awoke in a flash and came rushing out of their tents.

"Chet! What's wrong?" Frank cried out.

The chunky lad was on his feet, trembling. "S-s-something came at me out of the darkness!" he quavered.

"You mean an animal?" Tony asked.

"No-men! A whole gang of them! They tried to club me, but I fought 'em off!"

"What?" Tony stared at him. "You must be dreaming! There's no one around here but Tony stared at him. "You must be dreaming! There's no one around here but us!"

"But I saw them, I tell you!" Chet insisted, still shaking with fright. "Masked men!"

Frank and Joe quickly scouted the ground around the camp. But there were no footprints or other traces of intruders.

"Exactly where did all this happen?" Frank inquired calmly.

"Right here," Chet replied. "I was sitting with my back against this tree, and all of a sudden-"

"-you fell asleep!" Joe completed the sentence with a chuckle. "You just had a nightmare!"

53 To rea.s.sure their friend, the Hardys and Tony took lanterns and made a thorough search. Finally Chet agreed that he must have dreamed the whole incident.

"Go ahead and hit the sack," Frank told him with a grin. "It's almost time for my watch, anyhow."

At breakfast the next morning Joe and Tony ribbed the stocky youth about his wild dream. Chet took their jokes good-naturedly, adding, "At least these flapjacks are real. Slip me a few more, Frank!"

Breakfast over, they busied themselves with their morning ch.o.r.es. Soon after they finished washing up, the helicopter arrived from Juneau.

"I'm Robbie Robbins," the pilot introduced himself. He was a pleasant young man, sandy-haired, about twenty-two years old.

The boys shook hands and explained why they had sent for him. Then Frank showed the pilot the crude map which the Hardys had found in the knapsack. "Ever seen a place like this?"

Robbins studied the map and shook his head. "Not that I recall. But there are so many lakes and streams around here that I wouldn't want to say for sure. We'll keep our eyes open."

The helicopter had seats for three besides the pilot, but Chet elected to stay on the island with Tony. "You fellows do the exploring," he told Frank and Joe. "I feel safer on the ground!"

54 Robbie and the Hardys climbed aboard, and the helicopter took off. Soon the Kooniak appeared as a ribbon of blue winding among the evergreens. The pilot headed northward, working back and forth in widening sweeps across both sides of the river.

"I don't see any place that looks like this map," Joe remarked.

"No sign of a camp, either," Frank added, as he scanned the terrain with binoculars.

Several hours later the boys noticed a cl.u.s.ter of huts about a mile west of the Kooniak.

"It's a Haida village," Robbie told the Hardys. "They're one of the Alaskan Indian tribes."

"Could we land and question them?" Frank inquired. "I'd like to find out if they've seen any strangers recently."

"Okay. But you may not find them very talkative," Robbie warned.