The Camp in the Snow Part 23

Presently the trail turned due north. During the next half hour the pursuers caught an occasional glimpse of Chesumcook Lake from high ground. They pushed steadily on, until Brick began to feel a little weary. He admitted as much to his companions.

"Don't give up yet, my lad," said Raikes. "Now that you've come this far, you may as well finish. The rascal can't keep ahead of us long."

"And when we get your watch and money, we'll take you part of the way back," added Bogle.

"If you'll do that, it's all right," replied Brick. "It's a long distance to where we left the boys, and I might get lost by myself. It must be dinner time now."

"I reckon it is," admitted Raikes.

He looked up at the sun, which was dimly visible through a bank of fleecy clouds.

"Shall we have a bite to eat?" asked Bogle, glancing at the sled.

Raikes shook his head.

"Better not stop now," he replied. "Every minute is precious."

They pushed on rapidly, spurring Brick to greater efforts by repeated words of cheer. Now and then they bent over to examine Sparwick's trail, or whispered together in low tones.

An hour after midday, a strip of open ground was reached. It had probably been devastated at one time by a forest fire.

Sparwick's trail led across the clearing to within a dozen feet of a brook. Then it turned abruptly and entered the thick forest, in the direction of the lake.

Raikes stooped down, and intently examined the imprint of the snowshoes.

"What do you think of it?" he asked of Bogle.

"Not very fresh, eh?" replied Raikes.

"Exactly. The scamp is traveling at a two-forty gait. It will be wasting time to keep this up any longer."

"And the game's not worth the candle, anyhow," added Raikes.

He looked meaningly at his companion. They moved away from Brick to a ledge of rocks that extended clear to the brook. For several minutes they conversed in low tones. They pointed first to the stream, and then to the rocks on which they stood. The latter, owing to their exposed position, had been blown full of snow. Finally the men returned to Brick.

"We've decided to give up the pursuit," said Raikes. "Instead of gaining, we've been falling behind."

"Sorry we brought you on such a wild-goose chase," added Bogle, "but it can't be helped."

"I don't care much," replied Brick. "Only it's a long ways back. Are you going with me?"

"I reckon not," said Bogle. "In fact, you had better go along with us.

You're pretty tired, lad, so I'll carry your rifle for you."

By a quick movement, he s.n.a.t.c.hed the weapon.

The act and the words startled Brick. He suddenly realized that his companion had some evil design against him.

"Give me my rifle," he said. "I can find the way back alone. The boys are likely to meet me."

Bogle scowled savagely.

"Don't get obstinate, youngster," he said, in a sharp tone. "I told you before that you were going with us. Now march! we have no time to lose."

Again Brick recognized the familiar chord in the man's voice. Like a flash, he remembered where he had heard it. The discovery so angered him that he forgot every instinct of prudence.

"I know you now," he cried. "You can't fool me with your beard and mustache. You are the missionary who was on the train that night. You followed me and tried to steal my pocketbook."

The ferocious expression that instantly appeared on Bogle's face told Brick he had done a foolish thing. His dread of consequences led him to commit another blunder. He turned and dashed at full speed across the clearing.

A hoa.r.s.e command to stop fell on his ears. He disregarded it and ran faster. He heard crunching footsteps behind him. Then one of his snowshoes caught in a tuft of bushes, and he sprawled headlong. As he rose to his feet, a muscular hand clutched his collar. He wheeled around to meet Bogle's grim and angry face.

"I've got you," growled the ruffian. "Don't try another trick of this sort, youngster, or you'll be sorry."

"Let me go!" cried Brick. "Let me go, I say. It's you that will be sorry!"

Fear and terror lent him strength. He struggled desperately to break loose. In the short scuffle that followed he was roughly handled. A blow on the nose from Bogle's fist partially stunned him and drew blood. He realized the folly of further efforts, and meekly submitted to be dragged back.

"I told you not to be rough," remonstrated Raikes. "The lad's nose is bleeding, and there's blood on the snow. How are you going to hide it?"

"It won't matter," replied Bogle. "It's his own fault. He had no business to struggle. I hit him accidentally. Use your handkerchief, youngster."

Brick did so, and in a short time the bleeding stopped. He quietly let Bogle search him, and the belt of money that he wore under his clothes, was soon brought to light. The men opened it greedily, and counted over the gold coins and banknotes.

"You're welcome to that, since I can't help myself," said Brick, in a sullen tone. "And now I suppose you'll let me go."

Raikes looked at his companion, and shrugged his shoulders.

"No; we won't let you go," replied Bogle, savagely. "The cash will do very nicely, but just at present we want you more than anything else.

And here's a word of advice, youngster. You'll do well to heed it, for I'm not given to idle speech. Keep your mouth shut, and ask no questions. Obey orders, and you shan't be harmed. If you try to escape, I'll put a bullet through you. How's that, Silas?"

"Couldn't be any plainer," a.s.sented Raikes. "I hope you understand, lad."

Brick did not reply. He was pretty badly scared by Bogle's threats, and had no intention of disobeying. The whole affair was a profound mystery.

He could not imagine what his captors wanted with him, now that they had all his money.

"I guess they intend to keep me prisoner for a while," he reflected, "so they will have a better chance to escape."

Then a darker thought entered his mind, and brought a gleam of terrible anxiety to his face. Supposing they should make an attempt upon his life?

CHAPTER XX.

BRICK'S DEFENCE.

First of all, Raikes followed Sparwick's trail to where it entered the woods. He plunged a few yards into the heavy undergrowth and timber.