Part 7 (1/2)

”That's right!” the voice in the darkness said. ”Now, you with the light, send it over here. I might want to use it!”

Alex. slid his torch along the floor. In its progress the b.u.t.ton was pressed and a round illumination sprang up on the wall. Almost in the center of this they saw the white hair and beard of the old man who had invited them into the room above!

The boys sat for a long time in serious thought after that, well knowing that every word uttered would be heard by their guardian.

Alex. was more than hopeful in his views of the situation.

”If these fellows were professionals,” he mused, ”they wouldn't take any chances on us not having more weapons and more lights. They would make sure by searching us! I don't believe they ever took a prisoner before, or that they are very anxious about keeping us. I guess we just b.u.t.ted in where we're not wanted, and they'll let us go after a time. Anyway, they're easy!”

Directly loud noises were heard in the old house, and the insecure walls shook under heavy burdens. It seemed to the listening lads that huge boxes and barrels were being transferred from one room to another.

There were excited voices, too, although no words could be understood.

It seemed to the two prisoners that the old mansion was being deserted, and their impression was that the thieves were removing their plunder because their hiding-place had been intruded upon. In that case, they thought, they might soon be released.

After what seemed a whole day, food was pushed into the room, and the boys ate heartily of the fresh pork sausages, corn pones, and sweet potatoes given them.

”You're all right on the feed!” Alex. called back in the direction of the corner where for an instant the old man had been seen.

There was no answer, but, somehow, the boys were convinced that there was some one there in the room with them. It does not always require the eyes, or the hands, or the ears, or the sense of smell, to show one that others are close by.

There is a tingling of the nerves which warns of the presence of hostile elements, and this it was which showed the prisoners that they were still under guard.

That was a long afternoon. For the most part there were no sounds in the old house; still, now and then, there came the jar of heavy burdens on the floors, and the sharp and angry voices of men, speaking in a tongue the boys did not understand.

When the cracks in the boards at the windows began to darken, they knew that night was falling. They thought of the comfortable cabin of the _Rambler_, and of the companions.h.i.+p of the other boys with spasms of anger and regret. As the darkness became more complete outside, they arose and walked up and down the floor of their little room.

”Say, Mister!” Alex. called out to their invisible guard, directly, ”how many acts are there in this drama? When do the persecuted c-h-e-i-l-d-s return to their agonized and heart-broken parents?”

”I'm as weary of it as you are!” was the remarkable answer, still in that calm voice they had heard before.

”Then why don't you cut it out?” asked Jule.

”There are men in the party who advise that,” was the significant answer. ”They are at present discussing your fate. Many declare that it is not wise to permit you to leave the place! I'm sorry for you, but you had no right to snoop in here!”

”Next time,” Alex. replied, ”you hoist a piracy flag, and we'll keep away.”

”When will this strategy board you refer to make a report?” asked Jule.

”I may receive orders at any moment,” was the answer.

Silence followed. There were crunchings and chatterings, in the walls where rodents were busy making nests, but no sound of human action. In the long wait the boys heard a low, inquisitive sniff!

Alex. drew Jule's head over to him and whispered in his ear:

”That's Captain Joe, for a dollar and a half!”

”You're on!” Jule responded. ”I'll be glad to lose the bet at that, too!”