Part 19 (1/2)

”Inside of five minutes, sir. I was just on the way to get the rest of my chums, and then send for a.s.sistance, because I've caught the crazy man in a trap!”

”A trap! D'ye hear that, Jenkins? This lad has been able to do what you and I would have given a lot to accomplish. What sort of a trap, would you mind telling us, young man?” continued Mr. Lawrence, with more respect in his voice than at any time previous.

”In his old log cabin, sir,” Max replied, ”where once upon a time he used to live. He has been sleeping there every night, but hiding in the thick jungle during the day. Several times now he's gone and raided our camp for provisions, which he would take to the cabin, and eat up. So I fixed it for him to get something more to-night, while I waited up here, ready to fasten the door of the cabin with a log.”

”Well, that sounds clever of you, I must say,” remarked the other, admiration in his voice, ”and the trap worked, did it?”

”He came along, and he walked into the cabin. Somehow he must have secured a supply of matches, for he has been having fires there, sir; and he lighted a splinter of wood when he came in to-night. I peeped through a c.h.i.n.k and saw him for the first time. He gave me a chill, I tell you. You see, we got the idea in our heads that it was an escaped convict hiding out on the island; but none of us ever thought of a crazy man, and poor old Wesley Coombs at that.”

”After he went in you fastened the door, did you?” the other asked.

”I had a heavy log handy, and this I propped up against the door, so no single man could ever push it open. But because he threw himself against it so hard I dragged a second one over to back up the first. And now, sir, I'm sure he can't get out of that cabin unless he takes to burrowing under the logs; which would take him hours; for he had no knife, and the earth is as hard as stone there.”

”Well done, my lad. Allow me to thank you for the great help you have given us, and to congratulate you as well. Shake hands, won't you, please,” and this Max did with all the sincerity in the world.

”And I sure hope you don't hold any grudge against me, young feller, because I b.u.mped your head when I took you in?” remarked Jenkins, as he, too, brushed up, and felt for the hand of the boy in the darkness.

”Why, of course not,” replied Max, giving an unseen grimace as his bruised side hurt him just then. ”You were only doing what you thought was your duty; and, after seeing that wild man, I can understand that he must be strong as an ox, and I suppose violent, too.”

”Oh, no, not a bit,” declared Mr. Lawrence; ”that is, he's never been so in the past. No keeper ever had the least trouble with old Coombs. They all liked him, because he was so gentle and tractable. But would you mind taking us to that cabin now, young fellow!”

”I wish you'd go with me down to our camp first,” said Max.

”To be sure we will, and it's a very little favor to ask after doing us such a good turn; but what's the idea, my boy?” asked the head warden, cheerfully.

”My name is Max Hastings,” replied the boy, who did not just fancy being called ”my boy” and ”young fellow” any too much. ”You see, I wanted to have my four chums on hand at the time you opened the door, and secured poor old Wesley Coombs. We can get back there in a jiffy, and they'd be ever so much obliged for the chance of seeing how the last thing worked.”

”Well, it seems to be your game all along, Max, since we don't even know where this strange old cabin, that we've been hearing so much about lately, is located. So, as you promise to lead us back there with as little delay as possible, certainly we'll go with you. And the sooner we start, the quicker we can be back again.”

That was a hint from Mr. Lawrence that Max could not ignore. There was logic and a world of truth back of it, too.

”Come on then, please, sir; the going is better close to the sh.o.r.e line; and that's the way I came up.”

With that he started, the others trailing along in his wake. And Max chuckled to himself more than a few times while thus drawing nearer and nearer to the camp, where a great surprise awaited his chums.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE LAST CAMP FIRE ON CATAMOUNT ISLAND.

”h.e.l.lo! In camp, there, ahoy! Show a head!”

That was the way Max shouted, as he broke into the circle of light cast by the camp fire, none too good just then, on account of lack of attention.

Instantly several heads appeared in view, two at each tent flap, to be exact.

”It's Max, all right!” shouted Steve.

”And, say, what's this he's gone and brought back with him, fellers?”

cried Bandy-legs, staring in surprise at the two men, with their gray uniforms and bra.s.s b.u.t.tons of authority.