Part 40 (1/2)
”Yes, I know them, but not very well. Some of them are German-Americans, like me, but they are not my friends. I would advise you to stay away from them. The hunting, anyway, is better elsewhere. Now good-bye and good luck.” And thus speaking, Herman Crouse urged forward his team and continued on his way.
”I'll bet a new hat against a lemon that he is bound for the old Parkingham house!” exclaimed Randy, when the German was out of earshot.
”Let us follow him and make sure,” returned his twin.
”All right,” said Jack. ”But we had better keep out of sight among the trees.”
With so much timber standing around, this was an easy matter. Following Crouse, they saw the man at last turn in at the old house and drive around to where the barn was located. Then he got out of the boxsled and walked to a back door of the residence.
”Now I guess we'll find out if those Germans are back or not,” announced Gif.
They waited for several minutes, and then the door was again opened and Herman Crouse came out, followed by two of the men the boys had previously seen. All three hurried down to the barn and there began to unload the boxsled. Then the boys saw the unknown Germans give Crouse some money. The three talked together for a few minutes in German, and then the owner of the boxsled drove away and the other Germans returned to the house.
”This is getting interesting,” remarked Jack. ”Of course, that hay was meant for the horses, but what do you suppose can be in those packing cases?”
”Come on around to the back of the barn, and maybe we can learn something further,” said Fred.
”It's gettin' purty late, boys,” announced Jed Wallop.
”If you want to go home, don't let us keep you,” returned Gif, quickly.
”Well, I don't want to see any of you lads git into trouble,” answered Wallop. ”At the same time, I hate to leave my family alone after dark.”
”Well, you go on, then,” put in Jack quickly. ”There are five of us, and I guess we can take care of ourselves, especially as we have our guns with us.”
”O' course, everything may be perfectly reg'lar here,” continued Jed Wallop. ”Although, like you, I have my doubts. But unless you want me to stay, I'll git home.” And a little later he took his departure.
Left to themselves, the Rovers and Gif watched their chance, and, un.o.bserved, entered the big barn. Here they found that all of the packing cases which had been brought in by Herman Crouse had been placed out of sight under the hay.
”One thing is certain--they don't want any outsiders to know about these cases,” remarked Jack.
Suddenly Fred, who was looking out of the doorway toward the house, uttered a low cry of alarm.
”Get under cover, fellows, just as quick as you can!” he said. ”Three of those Germans are coming down here!”
CHAPTER XXVII
THE COMING OF THE WOLVES
Fred's announcement came as a surprise. The Germans were coming from the house so rapidly that there was no time to leave the barn, the back door being closed and having some packing cases and hay against it.
”Come on up in the loft!” cried Jack. ”Be quick now!”
”Why not hide down here in the hay?” suggested Andy.
”Because they may try to get at those packing cases, and then they would probably discover us,” was the reply. ”Quick! This way!”
Gif was already acting on the oldest Rover boy's suggestion and going up a ladder nailed to one side of the barn. Randy and the others followed, Fred being the last.
At the top of the ladder was an opening to a large loft. Here there was more hay, and also some old farm implements which had evidently been hoisted there by means of a block and tackle.