The Camp in the Snow Part 38

For two days he remained in this condition. Mowry tended him faithfully and constantly, never leaving his side for a moment.

On the third morning Jerry opened his eyes with a clear mind. He was puzzled to find himself in such surroundings. He remembered all that had happened up to the time of his fall. He listened with wonder to Mowry's explanation. He was startled to find out how much time had elapsed.

Then, in an eager voice, he told the whole story from beginning to end.

The trapper was vastly indignant to learn of the rascality of his old a.s.sociates.

"Of course I'll help you, lad," he declared. "I knowed suthin' was wrong when I run across the cabin, an' they didn't even ask me in ter warm my bones. An' that was me you heard outside that night. I was tryin' ter diskiver the mystery. I reckon I didn't git back until arter you fell, else I'd a' heard you screech. You see, I took a roundabout way so as to hide my tracks."

"Then we must act at once," replied Jerry. "If we don't, we won't save the money. Raikes may return from New York any day."

"Time enough, lad," a.s.sured Mowry. "The rascals think you're dead, an'

they won't dream of leavin' the cabin. If you take keer of yourself ter-day, you'll be able ter tramp down to Kingman an' organize a party."

Jerry insisted that he was as well as ever, and wanted to get up. But an effort satisfied him that this was out of the question. So he submitted to the inevitable as patiently as possible.

Mowry fed him on nourishing meat and broth during the day, and by evening all traces of fever had left him.

A hasty breakfast was eaten in the morning, and the camp was put in order. Then Mowry and Jerry started on their long tramp. The trapper took a hand-sled with him, and whenever the level ground permitted, he gave the lad a lift. Thus the journey was robbed of half its fatigue, and Jerry was comparatively fresh when the settlement was reached late in the afternoon.

Kingman was a straggling bit of a place on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The inhabitants were bluff, honest folk, and Mowry happily knew most of them. He accepted the proffered hospitality of the station agent for himself and companion.

The news quickly spread through the village, and by the next morning a party of armed men were ready to start for the cabin in the swamp. Jerry reluctantly consented to stay behind. He had to admit that he was not in fit condition to make the long tramp.

"Thar's one thing you'd better do while we're gone," said Mowry.

"Telegraph to this here lawyer in New York ter have Silas Raikes arrested. It may save a heap of trouble."

The station agent favored this suggestion. But, unluckily, Jerry had forgotten the name and address. He finally concluded that the former was Glenwood. So, while Mowry and his companions were heading northward through the woods, a message sped southward over the wires, addressed simply, "Mr. Glenwood, New York."

It read as follows:

"Don't make any deal with the man from Maine who demands $15,000.

Have him arrested at once. Particulars later. Answer."

The name of the station agent was attached. But noon brought no answer; nor yet evening. A second message was dispatched, and a third at midnight.

Morning came, and still there was no reply.

Jerry waited impatiently about the telegraph tower at the station. Then he went to dinner. As he and the agent were rising from the table, the operator arrived with a yellow paper. It contained the following reply from New York:

"Can't find the man. Lots of Glenwoods in the city. No lawyers of that name."

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

JERRY'S JOURNEY.

The agent was satisfied that a mistake had been made in the name, and Jerry was of the same opinion.

While they were discussing what had better be done, Mowry unexpectedly entered the house. He looked thoroughly fatigued and worn out. In a few words he told his story of failure. They had found the cabin deserted.

The rest of the party were scouring the neighborhood. Then the trapper had started back at once.

"Somethin' hes scairt the rascals," he declared, "an' so they pulled out fur a safer hidin'-place. But I reckon the men will find 'em sooner or later. I thought I'd slip back with the news. How about the lawyer chap in New York? Did you git an answer?"

The telegram was read to him, and he scratched his head in a puzzled way.

"I don't put no faith in these pesky things," he said. "That there fifteen thousand dollars must be kept out of the hands of these derned rascals. I reckon thar's time enough. It would take about a week fur the lawyer chap to make terms with Raikes, an' get word across the ocean an'

back. I'll bet Raikes is down thar in the city waitin'."

"Very likely," a.s.sented the agent. "If we had the lawyer's right name we could soon reach him."

"I don't believe it," exclaimed the trapper, in a scornful tone.

"Telegraphin' ain't no account. Lad, you must go to New York by the fust train. I'll foot the bills."

"Me?" gasped Jerry. He could scarcely believe that he had heard aright.

"Sartin," resumed Mowry. "You're a bright lad, an' I reckon you'll know what to do. Go to this man Larkin's house, or to his place of business.

Some one will tell you where to find the lawyer."

"Or you might get a city directory," suggested the agent, who evidently favored the plan, "and look over the names that are like Glenwood."

"Yes; and one of those is a good plan," replied Jerry. "I'm willing to go, and I think I will succeed."

"Thar ain't no doubt about it," declared the trapper. "You're an extry bright lad, from what I've seed of you. An', bein' brought up in Bangor, I reckon New York won't scare you. It's a leetle bigger town, from what I've heard."

Jerry and the agent smiled at each other.

"You must telegraph back what luck you have," Mowry went on. "An' when you've fixed things an' hed Raikes arrested, you an' the lawyer chap hed better come up here by the first train."

"Unless the boys are rescued in the meantime," added the agent. "We can let you know about that by wire. It's barely possible that Raikes is on his way back, so I will have all the stations in this vicinity watched."

"That's a good idee," approved the trapper. "He'll likely come right to Kingman, since this is the nearest point to the cabin. While the lad's in New York I'll go up country ag'in, an' see how them fellers are makin' out with their hunt."

After a further discussion of a few minutes, the matter was definitely settled. The agent brought his knowledge of the different railway lines into practical use, and the trapper produced the sum of fifty dollars from a dirty buckskin belt.

"That oughter last you, lad," he said. "I reckon the lawyer chap will pay me back one o' these days."

There was a train westward at two o'clock that afternoon, and when it steamed away from the Kingman station Jerry was among its pa.s.sengers. He waved his hand at Mowry and the agent as long as he could see them.

Then the boy settled down in the seat, and tried to realize the wonderful thing that had happened to him. He was actually on the way to New York--the great city that Brick had described in such glowing terms.

Already the past seemed but a shadowy dream. Had he actually lived through those stirring adventures in the Maine woods?

By degrees his mind grew more composed, and he settled his thoughts on the object of his journey. He was quickly roused by the arrival of the train at Mattawamkeag. Here he purchased a ticket to Bangor, and made connection with another train on the Maine Central Railway.

Jerry reached Bangor at five o'clock. There was no time to stop and see his parents, for a southward-bound train was ready.