Part 32 (1/2)
As he partially rose Bug leaped upon him, and both men rolled over to the edge of a gaping hole in the floor. They struggled an instant on the brink, and then fell through, landing with a terrific splash in the flooded wasteway far below.
Hocker and Jeffries rushed precipitately from the mill to head them off, while the farmer insanely attempted to check the conflagration by tramping through the _debris_ that was burning here and there on the floor.
The whole affair had taken place in a very few seconds, and Ned was at first so dazed by the confusion and the flames that he was quite incapable of doing anything. The terrified cries of his companions roused him from his stupor, and he dashed through the intense heat to the closet door.
A quick jerk threw the bolt open, and the frightened boys poured out.
The lurid glare of the flames and the spark laden volumes of smoke were more than they could stand. One and all bolted for the nearest aperture in the creek side of the mill, and fortunately reached it without falling through the gaps in the floor.
Ned would gladly have followed their example, but he suddenly bethought him of the plunder Moxley had packed up to carry away. Such a loss would be irreparable, and without hesitation he dashed toward the burning wall.
The heat was intense, but he managed to get near enough to s.n.a.t.c.h the bag. One end was badly scorched. He suddenly spied Hocker's gun, and knowing how the owner valued it, he made another rush and carried it off in triumph.
Thus laden down he tottered across the floor in imminent fear of dropping through to the wasteway, and overwhelmed at times by the suffocating smoke and fiery sparks. When his courage and endurance were all but spent he reached a broken place in the wall and staggered into the refres.h.i.+ng outer air. How good it seemed!
Abner had long since preceded him, and the farmer made his appearance a moment later, still grasping Randy's blackened gun. The boys had been waiting on Ned in terrible suspense, afraid to venture back into the mill, and when he appeared with his burden their joy knew no bounds.
They were ignorant of the disaster that had befallen Bug and Moxley, and when Ned told them, the whole party started off on a run.
They searched the wasteway just as Jeffries and Hocker landed from the boat, pus.h.i.+ng Moxley before them, and followed by Bug. The ruffian's hands were already manacled. With the exception of dripping clothes neither of the men seemed the worse for their struggle and subsequent fall.
”They were still locked together when we pulled them from the water,”
said Jeffries. ”That little fellow is a plucky one. He deserves great credit for raising the siege. We've got our man at last, and bitterly he'll rue this night's work.”
”It's a bad job fur me, too,” observed the farmer. ”The old mill will soon be a heap of ashes. It's insured fur about what the lumber's worth, but that ain't much consolation. I hate to see it go after standin' here fur nigh onto seventy years.”
”It's hard,” muttered Hocker, ”that's a fact.”
Then all were silent, watching the flames as they rose higher and higher, and licked every corner of the doomed building. It was a grand sight while it lasted, but in twenty minutes nothing was left save a few blackened beams and smoldering heaps of ashes.
”That ends the fireworks,” said Jeffries. ”We may as well be moving along. It's past two o'clock in the morning.”
He drew a second pair of handcuffs from his pocket, and to Ned's wrath and indignation, clapped them suddenly on Bug's wrists.
CHAPTER XXVIII
A GOOD DEED
Ned was the only one who showed any surprise at the constable's action, and quite naturally, since he alone was acquainted with all the facts in the case. Hocker had already taken Moxley to the boat and seated him; the ruffian had lost his defiant manner, and was cowed and sullen.
Jeffries now started to follow with Bug, but was stopped by a detaining touch on the arm.
”I beg your pardon, Mr. Jeffries,” said Ned, trying hard to control his feelings, ”but you surely don't intend to carry off Bug to jail after all he has done to-night? We owe everything to him.”
Jeffries looked at the lad half sternly.
”Law is law,” he replied in a pompous tone. ”I am an officer of justice, and must do my duty. This fellow was clearly concerned in the theft of Mocker's gun and boat, and what he did before or after that don't wipe out the crime. Why, if I'd turn him loose now I'd be compoundin' a felony. Of course I'll speak a good word for him when he comes up for trial--I'll promise you that--and it may lessen his sentence.”
”Jeffries is right,” said the farmer. ”If a man will commit crimes he must suffer for them. Both fellows air guilty, no doubt.”
Bug threw a grateful glance at Ned, and then turned appealingly to Hocker.