Part 28 (1/2)
”If you only would, I'd be ever so much obliged, Andy. Three dozen, yes, four now, of the finest scenes a fellow ever could take. Why, some of them are _immense_!”
”I suppose you are referring now to that one where that yellow dog was chasing me around the tree; but I wouldn't die of grief if posterity never got a squint at that picture,” said Jerry, shaking his head.
”Please start now,” urged Will; ”for they will be opening the package just for spite. One little bit of daylight and the whole thing will be ruined. And from what I know of Pet Peters, I believe he'd do it.”
”I just reckon he would, now. All right, I'm off,” said Andy.
”Wait, and we'll go with you,” declared Frank, quietly.
”I can do it just as well alone; still, perhaps it is good to have you fellers along. But we must run,” Andy observed.
”We can do it. Come on, boys!” cried Frank
They started off through the timber, even Jerry keeping up a rattling pace, although somewhat out of breath.
”Better not talk,” admonished Andy, when Will manifested a disposition to continue his doleful wails about his terrible loss.
”That's good advice, Will. If you hope to recover your property, better keep a padlock on your lips just now. Besides, you need all your wind,”
remarked Frank.
They ran on.
The trail was crooked, but kept drawing nearer the lake all the while.
”Just a few minutes more,” panted Andy at length.
And when less than that time had pa.s.sed they could catch glimpses of the cabin in which he and his crowd had taken up their quarters, after being forestalled by the outdoor chums in the race for the hemlock camp.
Andy said nothing, but the manner in which he put his fingers on his lips as he turned his head, was indicative of silence.
He led them forward in such a way that the cabin stood between them and the spot where several boys seemed to have cl.u.s.tered, interested in something.
When they looked around the corner of the hut they counted five in the bunch. It was Pet Peters, a tall, raw-boned lad, who was swinging the camera to and fro in triumph, while he held up the waterproof package in which Will kept the rolls of films that had been exposed, awaiting the time when he could develop the same.
”Say, but won't them sissies be hoppin' mad w'en they sees it gone?” he was saying, with a grin; ”an' we can keep it as long as we wanter.”
”What's he got in the black bag, Pet?” demanded one of the others.
”Don't know, but we'll soon find out,” grunted the leader of the group, looking around for a place to lay the camera down while he applied himself to the task of opening the tied-up package.
”I bet it's films he's used; I know, because I got a bull's-eye camera to home,” exclaimed another chap, pressing forward eagerly.
”Who was it tumbled into the old mine shaft?” asked Pet, as he dug at the knot with which the cord was fastened.
”Don't know for sure, but I kinder think it must a-been Jerry Wallington.
I seen that Frank and Will along with Andy,” replied a third, quickly.
”Glad of it. Andy says as how he's under obligations to Jerry, but fur me I don't take any stock in that sorter thing. He jest couldn't let a feller lie there and die under that tree. It sarves Andy right because he wanted to cover up the old shaft again afore any purty boy fell down in it and skinned his nose. Say, how d'ye 'spose they ever found that ladder agin after we hid it?”
”'Course Andy got it for 'em. He oughter left the kid in the hole all night. Hope he's bunged up good and hard by the tumble,” came from another.