"Go as far as you like," replied Harry. "I don"t know one from another.
They all look alike to me."
"See those two drinking by that big dead stub," Lopez said. "Which one shall I take, the one with black on his face or the white?"
"Take the black faced one," replied Arnold. "He"s fatter."
"Here goes then," stated Lopez seeming hardly to take aim before pulling the trigger. "The black faced one was what you wanted."
His shot was successful. The black faced sheep fell in his tracks. Lopez swung quickly forward, picked up the sheep and started away with his burden over his shoulder.
"Come on, now," he urged. "The rest of the flock"ll go home all right and I want to get to the cabin right soon and get supper."
The boys wondered at his haste to leave the spot. Arnold looked quickly at Harry and exchanged questioning glances, but spoke no word. Harry"s hands were busy with the mute language, however.
"Looks mighty suspicious," he telegraphed to his chum.
"Just what I was thinking," declared Arnold in reply.
"We"d better keep our weather eye open," was Harry"s next suggestion.
"Maybe those are his sheep and maybe they are not."
"You"re the wise boy," Arnold agreed. "I mistrust him."
During this time the three travelers had been making good progress. At length they came out into a small clearing in the center of which stood a log cabin surrounded by every evidence of shiftlessness and neglect. A gunnysack did duty as a window and curtain also. The chimney at the end of the building was of sticks and clay while the roof was of "rived"
shingles.
At the approach of Lopez and the boys a large negro stepped out to meet them. His face was black as ebony while his teeth were pearly white. His grin was expansive.
""Deed Boss, I"se powerful glad to see you," he began.
"Shut up," commanded Lopez. "Take this sheep and get some supper on the way just as quick as you can and not a word out of your head. I want you to get supper and I"ll do the talkin". Hear?"
"Yaas, sir, Boss. I done hear you. I sure can get supper."
"Now, boys," stated Lopez with a large, hospitable manner that was intended to be ingratiating, "help your se"fs to whatever you find.
Doright, here, will soon have things goin" for supper. Let"s set out on the gallery while he"s fixin" up things."
Accepting the invitation the boys disposed themselves upon the "gallery," as the veranda is called in that country. They noticed that Lopez continued to hold his rifle. Only glances could be exchanged, however, for Lopez seemed to be watching them.
In a short time the negro announced supper and all went inside. A rough deal table contained broiled steaks from the sheep, while sweet potatoes roasted in the embers of the fire were handed around by the servant. The crude arrangements led the boys to again glance at one another in wonderment.
"Take right holt, boys," urged Lopez, setting the example.
The boys were hungry enough to need no second invitation. Surely the mutton was done to a turn and the sweet potatoes were the most delicious the boys had ever eaten.
After supper Lopez swung round to the boys and demanded:
"What youall here for, anyhow? Give it to me straight."
"Came here for supper," parried Arnold. "And a mighty good one it was.
We"d like to hire that cook of yours for the boat."
"You won"t need no cook on the boat if you Don"t tell me the truth,"
almost shouted Lopez, with a gleam of hatred in his eye.
"Why, what"s the matter?" cried Harry, springing to his feet.
"I"ll show you what"s the matter," gritted the enraged man. "You think you can come down here and steal what rightfully belongs to us and take it away up North, don"t you? I"ll show you."
"Why, what do you mean?" cried Harry. "I don"t understand."
"Don"t you lie to me," shouted Lopez, making as if to strike the boy.
"Don"t you lie to me! I know what you want."
"Well then, what do we want?" questioned Arnold indignantly.
"Youall want that Spanish Treasure Chest, but you won"t get it,"
savagely vociferated Lopez. "That chest belongs to us."
"Well then," cried Harry with some heat, "why don"t you go on and get it instead of annoying a party of boys who are here for a pleasant outing.
You make me tired. You act foolish."
"Don"t you insult me," almost screamed Lopez. "I"ll let Wyckoff settle with you for this. You see if I don"t."
"Wyckoff don"t worry me any," boasted Arnold with a great deal more composure outwardly than he felt inside. "I don"t care a snap of my finger for Wyckoff. He couldn"t lick a postage stamp."
"We"ll see about that!" shouted Lopez. "Doright," to the negro, "fetch that cord and tie these fellers up. Then you stay here and watch "em while I go see what Wyckoff wants to do with "em."
"Yaas, sir, Boss!" replied the negro. "Mah name"s Doright "case Ah always does de rightest Ah knows how. I sure does, Boss. Ever"body what knows me says dat! Ah"m a Doright n.i.g.g.e.r!"
"Shut up," snapped Lopez. "And stay shut, too. Don"t you go talkin" to these boys while I"m gone, or I"ll get Mammy Judy to put a conjure on you that"ll turn half of you white and the other half green. Now you remember that, or I"ll fix you!"
"Yaas, sir, Boss," replied Doright in a shaking tone.
Quickly he obeyed the commands of his master, securely fastening the boys" arms behind their backs with lengths of cord. He then indicated a bed on the floor of the cabin as a place where the boys might rest if they chose.
"Now you stay out here on the gallery and keep your eyes open,"
commanded Lopez. "I won"t be gone more"n an hour if I can find Wyckoff and we"ll see what he wants done with these robbers!"
After he was gone Doright took up his post on the gallery. He persistently refused to reply to the boys" questions, and after a time they refrained from trying to elicit any information.
"Looks like that villain Wyckoff was out after us and means business!"
Harry ventured. "He seems to have lots of help!"
"I guess this is one of those Spanish moss beds you were telling about, Arnold," Harry said, walking over and kicking the bed.
"Looks like it," replied Arnold, "but just now the springs in the Fortuna berths would suit me a whole lot better. I"m homesick."
"And I"m going home," declared Harry with emphasis.