Part 26 (1/2)

”What's going on here?” demanded a familiar voice.

Dobbs whirled around to see Mr. Silverton and Sam Hatfield standing directly behind him.

”I caught 'em this time, Mr. Silverton,” the workman said in keen satisfaction. ”When I found 'em here, they were stealing the pheasants.”

”Idiot!” Mr. Silverton reprimanded him. ”If it hadn't been for the Cubs, two thirds of my pheasants would have drowned. Where, may I ask, have you been?”

Dobbs lost some of his a.s.surance. ”Why, I drove into town for a few minutes,” he stammered. ”The storm came up suddenly. As soon as I could get back here-”

”It's taken you long enough,” Mr. Silverton retorted. ”Your job was to stay here. Where were you?”

”Why, I-that is-I had an appointment with a friend. It-it was just personal business.”

”And while you were attending to your personal business, the pheasant runs were flooding. You knew that the creek was choked with logs and debris?”

”Why-no.”

”Then why didn't you?” Silverton pinned him down. ”The Cubs discovered it on their first visit here. Unless the dam is dynamited, the water will keep rising for hours.”

”I'll see what can be done right away,” Dobbs said, reaching for the lantern.

As he stooped, his gaze fell upon the s.h.i.+pping crate which Dan and Brad had deposited on the floor only a few minutes before. His attention fastened upon it only momentarily, and then deliberately he looked away.

However, both Brad and Dan had seen the glance, and it dawned upon them that the foreman had knowledge of the crate having been left in the lean-to.

Despite the urgency of getting back to the creek to dynamite the log jam, Brad determined to bring up the matter then and there.

”Dan and I very easily can explain why we're here-” he began, only to have Mr. Silverton interrupt.

”There's no need for you to explain to Dobbs, boys.”

”But we feel you should know, sir,” Dan broke in. ”We brought two c.o.c.ks which we found across the creek in a s.h.i.+pping crate.”

”In a s.h.i.+pping crate?” the owner of the pheasant farm repeated in a puzzled voice.

Dan explained how he and Brad had come upon the hidden path, and of seeing the two strangers who had complained of being double-crossed when they failed to find the crated pheasants.

”Dobbs, what do you know of this matter?” his employer demanded severely.

”Why, not a thing.” The foreman laughed nervously. ”Not a thing. We built a little lean-to about a year ago where I sometimes keep a few tools.

Haven't used it in months or been near there.”

”You told me nothing of having built the shack, Dobbs. In fact, I find there are many things you neglected to report. Who are the men who have been trespa.s.sing on my property?”

”I wouldn't know,” Dobbs whined. ”I've never seen anyone use the old logging road.”

”No mention was made of anyone using it,” Brad tripped him up. ”However, that's how they have been coming here-down the road at night, crossing the log bridge afoot and then apparently to the lean-to.”

”That ain't so!” Dobbs denied, suddenly losing control of his temper.