"How are you going?" queried Arnold. "We can"t get away from the negro outside. He"s guarding the very door."
"I"ll show you how we"ll get out. I"m going to burn these cords off my arms, and then I"ll set fire to the cabin, and when Doright rushes in, we"ll rush out. Before he knows what"s up, we"ll be away in the woods.
I"d like another piece of sheep, though!"
"Funny they brought it in here," commented Arnold. "I"ll bet Lopez stole it. He was in a mighty hurry to get here and then brought it inside the cabin. He should have left it outside."
"We won"t argue about that now," replied Harry kicking the remains of the fire about. "I"m going to get loose first thing!"
Arnold protested vigorously, but to no avail. Harry maintained that Tom had been kicked and Jack had been shot and therefore a burn or two on his part should be borne unflinchingly. He found considerable difficulty in getting the fire applied to the cords without also burning his own flesh. At last he was triumphant.
Quickly he loosed Arnold. He then threw the remains of the fire into the middle of the mattress. A burst of flame followed. In an incredibly short time the whole end of the cabin was blazing.
Doright horrified fled to the edge of the clearing where he felt safe.
Arnold dashed out of the cabin in terror. Turning to find Harry gone he rushed back, entering just as the gallery fell.
CHAPTER XV
A SURPRISE AT THE FORTUNA
"What"s it to you where we are going?" demanded Jack, as he elbowed his way past the others and confronted the giant.
"Look here, white folks," began the negro, "Ah don"t want no trouble, but youall mustn"t go rangin" aroun" thoo mah place like this here "thout "splainin" yourselfs. This is mah fahm."
"Yes, it is your farm," cried Frank. "You"ve got as many farms as a hen"s got teeth! All your farms are in your mind!"
"Nemmine about dat, boys," grinned the black. "Jes" youall tell me where youall"s gwine, else mebbe somepin" gwine happen!"
"You"re right, something"s going to happen, and that mighty suddenly!"
was Jack response. "This"ll happen to you!"
He swung his arm up. Tom expected momentarily to hear the report of an automatic. Instead he saw the negro"s face lighted brilliantly by the dart of flame from the imitation automatic which was fitted as a searchlight. The powerful electric light blinded and dazzled the man on whom it was thrown.
"Now, look here, fellow!" began Jack in a threatening tone. "If you don"t stand one side and tell me your name at once, I"ll put this light square on your foot and that foot"ll wither up and tomorrow this time, it"ll drop off. I could do that to your head, too, if I wanted to. But you will probably not make it necessary for me to do so. At least, I hope not."
"Lordy, Boss," stuttered the now thoroughly frightened man, "Don"t youall point that there thing mah way no mo". Ah don"t like hit--Ah pointedly does not. Youall needn"t be afraid of me."
"n.o.body"s afraid of you, you big lummix!" declared Tom, now coming forward. "What"s your name, anyhow?" he demanded.
"Mah name"s Doright Abraham Jefferson Davis Canaan. Ah don" know de rest ob it. Ah "spects dey done forgot to tell me all."
"Well it"s a good thing your shoulders are broad enough to carry that much of a load," laughed the boys. "That"s enough."
"Now then, Doright Whatsyourname Canaan," Jack began, "can you tell us where we are? It is dark in these woods and we don"t know this country at all. Tell me where we are at."
"Well, sah," began the darky, "Youall is "bout half way to West Pascagoula. Yaas, sir, Boss, dat am a sure "nuf fac"."
"Good! That"s enlightening!" Frank put in. "Now tell me is there a place nearby. I mean does anyone live near here?"
"No, sir," replied Doright. "Ah can show youall where they was onct, but they haint there no mo". Done moved!"
"Lead on, Doright," commanded Jack, "and be careful on what road you set your feet. We have lost our two comrades and we are trying to find them.
Our n.o.ble dog here has trailed them thus far, and he"ll help us find the boys, but you can do it more quickly."
In answer, Doright turned and beckoned the boys to follow. He led them in a short time to the site of the cabin in the clearing. There the lads found only a few smoking pieces of timber and a huge bed of embers.
Tom"s nose was sniffing suspiciously.
"Do you get it again?" asked Frank. "I do, and it"s plain as can be in here. Seems mighty funny, too!" he declared.
"It is peculiar," agreed Tom. "I can get the odor of burned flesh as plain as day. I wonder what this fellow knows."
"Doright," demanded Frank, pulling his automatic from his pocket and presenting it muzzle foremost towards the giant, "tell us what happened to the boys. Tell it quick and straight."
Quaking with fear, the negro told of the call of the boys late in the afternoon; of his preparing supper; of the rage of Lopez; of his command to tie the boys; of his own sleepiness when thinking the boys were safe and of finding the cabin afire.
He maintained that he had remained as long as it was possible to hope for the boys" safety, and then had started off in search of Lopez or Wyckoff to give them the news.
His fear was so genuine and his grief over the fact that he had been unable to do anything to save their chums so intense that the boys could not find it in their hearts to chide him further.
"Never mind, Doright," Tom exclaimed laying a hand on the broad shoulder of the negro. "We believe you did all you could and that you tried to live up to your name and to do right. Don"t grieve."
Rowdy had been ranging about the clearing while the conversation had been going on. He did not seem to take a dislike to Doright, but rather ignored him. This fact was commented on by the boys.
"Jack," Tom spoke at length, "do you know what I think?"
"No, Tom, I do not," replied Jack. "You think so many things it"s hard to keep track of them all. I wish I might. What is it?"
"I don"t believe the boys ever were in that cabin at all."
"Oh, yes, dey was, Boss!" protested Doright. "Ah seen "em."
"Then they got out!" stoutly maintained Tom.
"Where are they now?" asked Frank. "And how do you explain that odor of burning flesh? There"s a mystery here somewhere."
"There always is a mystery when the Beaver Patrol goes out on a hike,"
declared Tom. Look at the dense, dark mystery that surrounded us while we were in the Copper Country. Look at the mystery about our visit to Niagara Falls. We simply blunder into mystery every time we stir a foot!
Mystery is our regular schedule!"
"Yes," agreed Jack, "but we always solve the mystery. This is going to be no exception to the rule! We must solve it!"
"Maybe Doright can explain something about this thing," suggested Frank.
"Doright!" he called. "Can you tell me what makes such a smell of burning meat around here? What is it?"