The Ranger Boys Outwit the Timber Thieves Part 11

"I think you have a good hunch there, Phil, although I rather think that Barrows is not clever enough to dope out that trick. Still, there can be no harm in watching both lakes. Suppose that we take a little trip today to the small one, and then tomorrow night we will hustle over to the big one after the camp has turned in for the night. Guess that will be our best plan. Now let's wait for Barrows and Howells to finish their conversation, and we will trot over while I ask a few leading questions."

They waited a few minutes, talking over their probable course of action, and were about to set out for the office, when Howells appeared on the scene. Rage and disappointment were depicted in his face, and the boys were quick to take notice of this.

"What's the matter? You look as though you had bad news to bring us,"

said Garry.

"Well, it's bad news for me, at any rate, and I think also for you. I believe I have proof enough that Barrows is a crook from the word go. I have been discharged from my job as cruiser and scaler and ordered to leave the place immediately."

"Why, I can hardly believe you, what's it all about?" asked Phil.

"Well, it's a short story. I had hardly gotten inside the office, when Barrows told me I was through. Naturally all other thoughts left my head, that is about my errand, and I asked him why. He replied that when he hired me he thought he was getting an accurate scaler, and that the reports showed that the amount of timber I had reported was cut had not been delivered. Immediately I knew that he was on to the fact that I was aware of the shortage and was spiking my guns before I could do or say anything. Now I know that I have accurately measured all the timber that was cut in this tract. I was at school long enough to learn how to scale if I never learned anything else. Of course we had words, and I forgot myself and accused him of knowing that timber was disappearing, and he was covering up by throwing the blame on me. Of course there was nothing that I could do, so I told him a few wholesome truths and walked out of the office."

"Then that definitely settles Barrows' status here," said Garry. "He knows that timber is being stolen, and he wants to cover it up. I hope you did not connect us in any way with you while you were telling Barrows what you thought of him, did you Art?"

"You bet I didn't. I kept my head that much, at any rate."

"Well, we have lost a valuable ally since you must go away. I suppose, though, we could hire you as a guide and keep you here. Barrows could make no objection then," said Garry.

"No, that would be the worst thing that you could do. It would put Barrows on his guard, for he would immediately leap to the conclusion that I had told you everything. No, the wisest thing for me to do is to hop out and go back to town. Then in a few days I could get back here and see what I could dig up in the way of stolen timber. I think the most advisable thing to do would be to find out from some of the railway stations near here where timber is being shipped from, and in that way we could get a line on where it is going. Then you chaps on the inside can browse about a bit and find out how it is stolen. Between us we can secure evidence that will uncover the whole plot. I'm going out now, before they get onto the fact that we have had time to talk things over.

In the meantime, take my advice, and keep your eyes open every minute.

Eternal vigilance on your part is going to be the price of success. Not that I believe any harm will come to you. Barrows would not dare attempt that; but he could move so stealthily that you could not find out anything. Now I'll say goodbye and trot along. Good luck to you, and I will contrive some way to get word to you of what is going on."

Howells shook hands with the boys, and then loped off to get his dunnage. The boys watched his departure sadly, for they had counted a great deal on the help that the young timberman could give them.

"Well, fellows, that puts it directly up to us again. We will have to work on our own hook and get to the bottom of this. Now let's have action. Tomorrow morning-it is too late now to do anything-we will take a little trip to the small lake, Kanamo Lake I think they call it; Dutton is the name of the big one, and start our search there. We will simply say that we are going off for some fishing and swimming. Now we'll go to the office, and remember, not a word about knowing that Howells was discharged." And concluding his talk, Garry led the way to the office.

Barrows watched them narrowly as they came in, but said nothing.

"Thought we'd get a little information about Kanamo Lake," said Phil, as they seated themselves.

"Yes," chimed in Garry. "We are going off there early tomorrow and have a little fishing and perhaps a swim or two. We haven't done anything since we got here but watch the timber cutting, and that isn't a novelty any longer. What we especially want to find out is whether there is any canoe or boat on either of the lakes that we could use to get some really good fishing."

"There isn't a boat or canoe of any sort on either Dutton or Kanamo,"

answered the manager. "But you will find that will not interfere with your fishing. Part of the banks are well covered with reeds, and early in the morning and after the sun has gone down you can catch a fine mess of pickerel. Throughout the day the ba.s.s can be caught from the bank if you boys are any hand at making a good long cast. I suppose as soon as the timber cutting is done, the tourists will begin to swarm here for summer camping, and then there will be plenty of boats and few fish.

That's generally the way." The manager talked heartily as though relieved that the conversation had taken the turn that it had, and perhaps because of the information that the boys were going to get away from the camp. It was likely that he had expected some questioning because of the discharge of the scaler. Evidently thinking over the matter, he decided something in his mind, and turning to Garry, remarked casually: "I had hoped that the arrival of the scaler would give me a little extra time so that I could do some fishing with you and act as guide around here, but I regret to say that I found him incompetent and was obliged to discharge him. He was careless about his measurements, or else did not know how to measure properly, and all our records are messed up so that it will take me several days to get them straightened out. Fortunately I know pretty well what's been shipped and can check against the bills of lading. Well, there goes the cook's supper call."

Following supper, the boys made excuses that they wanted to get their fishing tackle in order and retired early to their shack. They got to sleep early, as they expected a strenuous day on the morrow, and also hoped to be able to make a trip to Dutton Lake at night, hence wanted sleep.

Just as they were undressing, d.i.c.k uttered an exclamation of disgust.

"What's the matter, d.i.c.k, lose a b.u.t.ton?" inquired Phil.

"No, confound it, lost that nice knife with my name on it that I bought in Bangor."

"That's too bad, lost your nice toy. Well, you should worry, as you have your sensible scout knife that will cut even if it hasn't a nice name on it," laughed Phil.

Early morning found them routed out with the dawn, and as they hurried for the cookhouse to get some supplies with which to cook a luncheon at the lake, they heard the cook and his helper talking about some marauder that had been captured the night before and was locked up in the storehouse.

Neither seemed to know much about it, but the boys could see that the cookee was on tenterhooks, and several times tried to get out, only to be called by the cook and set to doing some necessary task toward the getting of breakfast. This uneasiness on the part of the cookee made the boys think that possibly Baptiste LeBlanc had been caught, and decided that when they had eaten they would have a look at the prisoner.

Barrows appeared when they were half way through breakfast, and the chums at once began to question him regarding the capture of the unknown man and what he might have wanted there.

"Perhaps he is the one who has been causing a lot of trouble around here," said Barrows. "I haven't seen him yet. Couple of the men found him snooping around the office last night, and after locking him up, woke me up and told me about him. After I eat I am going to question him, and if you want to get a little later start on your fishing trip, you can come and take a look at him."

This was exactly what the boys wanted, and they thanked Barrows for the invitation. They made a hurried meal, and then after Barrows had posted the notices for the section bosses for the day, they went to the storehouse, which was the most solid looking building in the camp, being built of great logs with a thick double hasp and padlocks on the door.

Inside were kept the cooking supplies for the camp.

The manager produced a key, and throwing open the door, called to the prisoner to come out.

The three chums pressed forward eagerly to see if they were right in their guess that LeBlanc or his evil a.s.sociate had been captured.

What they did finally see nearly knocked them off their feet. There was a shuffling sound as of some one getting up, and then through the door into the sunlight, walked The Hermit!

CHAPTER X

THE FIRST HIKE

It was nearly a minute before the boys could find their tongues. The hermit stood there blinking in the sunlight, for it had been pitch black inside of the storehouse.

Finally Garry shouted:

"h.e.l.lo, Hermit. Where did you come from?"

Barrows stared at the boys in surprise.

"Do you know this man?" he asked sharply.

"Of course we do," replied the boys, almost simultaneously. "It isn't so long ago that he was of great aid to us in our work on the fire patrol,"

added Garry. Immediately he could have kicked himself, for he had by this statement let Barrows know that the man might be of help to them again.

"What are you trying to do around here?" snapped Barrows, turning to the hermit. "Trying to steal something, or set fire to the camp or something of that sort?"

"That will be just about enough, Mr. Barrows," interrupted Garry. "We happen to know this old man, and I'll vouch for him personally. It is probable that he came here to visit us, and was wandering about when your men, naturally thinking him to be a marauder, seized him. You can take my word for it that he's all right."

Barrows evidently resented the way in which Garry had spoken to him. "I think I am the best judge of what to do in this camp, young man. I am not satisfied with his presence here, and it is my intention to have him taken to town and lodged in jail there until I find out what's at the bottom of the broken saws and such occurrences in the camp."

"Now just one moment, Barrows," said Garry with a determined ring in his voice, and a snap in his eyes that boded little good for Barrows. "I am not one who will naturally trade on his being the son of the man who owns this camp, but I give you ample warning that if my word is doubted in this matter, and this old man, who is as harmless as a rabbit, is not freed immediately, I will go to town this morning and take steps that will cause your instant removal from this camp. I have never asked my father to back me in anything that I was not absolutely sure of, and you can rely on the fact that he will take my word in this case, knowing me as he does. Now Mr. Barrows, you may take your choice in this matter and decide quickly."

The manager hesitated a moment, evidently trying to decide just who had the upper hand in the situation. Seeing this, Garry turned to Phil and d.i.c.k, and said:

"Boys, go pack up your dunnage and get ready to leave in fifteen minutes."

The two chums turned on their heels without a word, and were starting for the shack when Barrows, seeing that he was beaten, called: