Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
14
“It’s certainly a big lift,” declared Pete, “but
I wish he’d keep to himself or-else let us know
-who he is. I’d just like to see him once. i
Phin saw him last night. all-right then,” said
il. . . .
“Yes, and I don’t want to see him that way
again; but we’d better call Clara. She must be
-wondering what all this is about.” /
_. When Clara came to see the bags she was
rather relieved. - a . -
. “It shows that he’s alive, anyway,” she said.
“He seems like some good genie, such as we read
about in the fairy tales—don’t he, Phil?”.
It looked more and more that way as the after-
noon went on. Their myste?ious friend kept right
on working in the interest of our-treasure hunt-
ers. When they got back to the hole again they
found more of the treasure missing and when
they returned to the hut there stood two bags
more of the precious stuff upon the floor. Night
was close at hand when they got the last of it
down and all this time not a sight of their un-
known assistant did they get. <A good fire was
now built on the hearth, for up here on the moun-
tainside the night was decidedly cool, and Phil
fastened the door. by means of a heavy wooden
bar, which he ran in between two big iron staples
ready in place to receive it. All was now snug
and comfortable. The fire gave them light enough
to see by and while Clara started in to cook the
supper Phil pried up two of the floor boards
and proceeded to store away the treasure under
the hut, where there was a space about a foot in
depth. He then restored the boards to their ori-
ginal position and for the first time since they
brought the treasure into the hut felt reasonably
secure. The boys were wild with excitement over
the finding of the treasure and were full of their
plans for making their escape from the island.
‘That night Clara fixed up a bed for herself in the
loft, while Phil lay on the floor near the fire,
where he placed a mattress from one of the bunks
in the other room.
It was supposed to be Pete’s turn to watch, but
before Phil had been asleep half an hour Pete’s
head was down upon the table and he was. snor-
ing. Clara was asleep, too, and thus the hut was
poorly guarded just at the time when the watch
should have been the sharpest.. Midnight came
and went and still they all slept on until along
toward four o’clock Phil suddenly awakened by
the sound of something falling against the door.
He sprang to his feet, hardly knowing whether
he had been dreaming or had actually heard the
sound. As Phil listened he could distinguish
voices talking in whispers outside.
““They are in there all right,” some one said,
“and they must have the treasure with them.
What’s the matter with making a rush and tak-
ing the old shebang by storm?” )
Phil’s blood ran cold as he reached for. his
rifle... He had recognized the voice of Bill Kane
and from his remarks he knew that the men must
have visited the treasure pit in the mountain. It
was the voice of Andy Stoddard, the one-armed
man, that replied:
. “You fellows can do it if you like, but I’m not
‘in it. That big one is game every time and for
my part I don’t care to have him bore a hole
through me with his rifle.”
“We might set the blamed old ranch aflre and
smoke ’em out,” said Kane, after a minute. “I’d
a
“ “Bang! Bang! Bang!” came the
with ’em again!”
_as the saying goes.
oe
LEFT ON TREASURE ISLAND
do it, too, if it wasn’t for the girl, but, of course,
we don’t care to kill her.” 7 :
“Certainly not, but something has. got’ to” be
done,” replied Andy. pl eo Te,
“There’s no sense in standing ‘polly-foxing
here,” returned the other. “Gun ‘or no gun I’m
going for the door. Come on, boys! .Who’ll fol-.
low my lead?” ~
“Pete! Pete! Wake up, Pete!”
shaking his friend. |.
“Lemme alone,” growled Pete.
whispered Phil,
blows outside.
Phil threw up his rifle and stood ready.
They were kicking with all their strength
against the door. / : -
CHAPTER XVI.—Captured by the Enemy. *
“Wake up, Pete! Wake up! ‘They are on to
us!” cried Phil, as once more the sailors threw:
themselves against the door of the hut.
Probably it was the banging on the door and
not Phil’s shouting that woke Pete, but at. all
events he did wake at last and was on his feet in
an instant.
{Great Scott! What is it, Phil?” he gasped
out. ~
“An attack—that’s all,’ replied Phil. “It has
come just as we expected. Get up.and wake Clara.
I can’t imagine how she can sleep through all this.
racket! Quick! Quick!” | fo
' Pete flew to the ladder, shouting Clara’s name,
while Phil planted himself in front of the door,
fully determined to make short work of the first
man who forced his way into the hut.. Fast and
furious the blows were showered upon the door.
It bulged inward and the whole hut shook, but
still the door held firm. : oot
“Why Phil! Clara isn’t here!” shouted Pete
from the loft. “She gone! She’s gone!”
“Gone!” gasped Phil. “Gone! You must be .
mistaken. Look! Look everywhere! Heavens!
They were almost in that time—they’ll fetch it»,
the next!” : :
Pete came tumbling down the ladder.
_ “She’s not-up there!” he cried. ‘Account for
it any way you like, I tell you she’s gone!”
“Then, upon my word, I’m glad of it, for we
can’t hold out against these fellows!” said Phil,
and even as he spoke the door came tumbling in
with a crash and the sailors came crowding into
the hut with Andy Stoddard, the one-armed man, .
in the lead. : : : i
_Phil instantly fired, but Pete could: not get -his..
rifle up in time before he was felled to the floor
by a blow from Bill Kane’s powerful fist. ,
“Kill him, Andy! Kill him!” the crowd yelled.
“Finish the business up so we won’t be bothered
It looked mighty bad for Phil then. L
His shot was a miss and before he could get.in |
another Andy Stoddard wrenched his rifle away.
and felled him by a cruel blow. Phil got'it on |
the head and as he went down his senses left him.”
for the moment; when he came to himself again
he was sitting in one chair with his hands tied be- ,
hind him and Pete was in’ agother in the same —
condition, while the sailors, were. rummagl1ig -
about the hut trying to find thegtreasure, swear-
ing and cursing until “the air was fairly blue,” -
Some were in the loft and ,
%
*