Chapter XXIX. What Happened at the Lodge - The Rover Boys on a Hunt by Edward Stratemeyer
"So you want to see a Secret Service man, eh?" said the newcomer, after a slight pause. "What's in the wind?"
"We think we have discovered something that the Government ought to know about," answered Jack slowly.
"But there isn't any use of our saying anything about it unless you are really a public official of some sort or other," broke in Randy hastily.
After this there followed quite a conversation, the newcomer leading the boys on to tell what they knew concerning the Germans at the old Parkingham house, and also what they knew about Herman Crouse and Tony Duval.
"I think I am on the right track at last," said the man. "And since you have told me so much I will return your confidences by stating that I am a Secret Service officer. We had an idea that the Germans might try something of that sort in this vicinity, and I am pretty sure now that we are on the right track."
"Try something of what sort?" questioned Andy.
"We received word in a roundabout way over six weeks ago that an attempt would be made by the Germans to establish a radio station somewhere along this portion of the coast. The hills back of Timminsport and Henryville would make an ideal spot for such a station."
"Do you mean a radio station from which they could send wireless messages all the way to Germany?" cried Fred.
"Oh, no! Not such a distance as that. Such a station would require more power than they would be able to generate without heavy and complicated machinery. But it was thought they might establish a lesser station from which they could send wireless messages to any of their submarines or warships that might be sailing within a given distance of our shore."
"You surely have struck it!" cried Randy. "Those coils of wire and the electrical things we saw in the packing cases up at their barn prove it."
The Secret Service agent, who gave his name as William Pollock, questioned them still further, and then said he would get into immediate communication with his superiors.
"You'll hear more from me in the near future," said he, when the talk had come to an end. "I'll probably be at Cedar Lodge in two or three days. In the meantime, if you want to do Uncle Sam a real service say nothing at all to any outsider of what you have discovered, or of your meeting with me."
To this the cadets readily consented, and then William Pollock hurried off, to obtain a private turnout in which to get to Timminsport as speedily as possible.
"Now I guess there will be something doing up at the Parkingham house before long," declared Gif, when they were once more on their way to the Lodge.
"Yes, and there will be something doing at Tony Duval's place too," returned Jack.
"I wish we could be on hand to see what happens!" cried Randy wistfully.
"Perhaps, if the Secret Service men come up here to make an arrest, they will allow us to go along with them," added his twin.
On account of his ankle, which was still somewhat weak, Spouter had remained at the bungalow. When the others returned he listened with keen interest to all they had to tell.
"Gee, that's great!" he exclaimed. "If those Germans are really guilty I hope the government officials round them up in short order."
"Yes, and round up Tony Duval, too," added Fred.
"What about Glutts and Werner?" questioned Andy.
"Well, if they have been guilty of any treachery toward our Government, they ought to suffer," was the way Gif expressed himself.
"Do you know, I'll feel rather sorry for that Herman Crouse, if he is mixed up in this," said Jack. "He seemed to be a pretty decent sort."
"Well, in these war times a man has either got to be for Uncle Sam or against him," answered Spouter.
Feeling certain that William Pollock would be unable to do anything that afternoon, the boys got a hasty lunch, and late in the afternoon went out for some more hunting. They tramped a distance of over two miles through the snow, and managed to bring down several rabbits and likewise a pheasant and some smaller birds.
"I hope we don't see any more of those wolves," said Fred, when they had started to return to the Lodge.
"Look! look!" cried Gif suddenly.
He had scarcely spoken when Jack raised his gun and fired. Then the oldest Rover boy fired again, both shots being taken before the others could get their guns into action.
"It's a fox!" cried Randy. "Jack, I guess you got him, too!"
"I hope so," was Jack's answer as he stopped to reload his weapon.
The animal he had fired at had been running across a small opening between the trees. At the first shot the game had made a turn, and at the second had given a leap and disappeared into a small hollow filled with snow.
When the boys reached the hollow all they could see at first was the snow which had been kicked in several directions. But then they caught sight of a bushy tail peeping forth from the white covering.
"It's a fox, all right enough!" exclaimed Gif.
"Look out there! He may not be dead," warned Fred. "If he's alive and you touch him he may give you quite a bite."
They advanced with caution, and Gif turned the animal over with the end of his gun barrel. He exposed a large fox of a silvery grey color. It was quite dead.
"A silver fox!" came from Andy.
"Jack, you've had your wish," said Gif. "It's a silver fox, all right enough."
They dragged it forth from the hollow and examined the animal with much interest. The fur was somewhat reddish next to the hide, but the tips were white and silver grey.
"A beautiful piece of fur, that's certain," said Gif. "Your folks will be glad to get it."
"How about Ruth Stevenson getting it," said Randy, with a grin; and at this remark Jack blushed.
A part of the next day was spent in skinning both the fox and the wolf. The boys wondered if they would see anything of the Secret Service agent, but he did not show himself.
"They may take their own time about working up this case," remarked Spouter. "They may want to get just the right kind of evidence before they close in on the rascals."
Another day went by, and again the lads went forth to try their skill both at hunting and at fishing. This time Spouter went along, and while the others were fishing with more or less success the orator of Colby Hall had the honor of stirring up a brook mink of fair size and laying it low.
"You've got a nice little neck-piece there for somebody," said Jack, as he looked at the soft fur of the mink. "You can count yourself lucky."
Another Sunday was passed in camp, but still the Secret Service agent did not show himself. On the Sabbath day Jed Wallop came down to see them. They said nothing to the old hunter of what was in the wind.
"I am sorry to hear your vacation is drawin' to a close," said Jed Wallop. "But you ought to be purty well satisfied over what you've got. It ain't everybody that can git a silver fox and other foxes too, and a wolf and a brook mink, not to say anything about rabbits, squirrels, partridges, and sech. I think you lads have done wonderful well."
"I think so myself," answered Gif.
Monday morning the young hunters took it easy, and it was not until after lunch that they thought of going out once again with their guns.
"Might as well make the best of what time is left to us," was the way Fred expressed himself. "Before long we'll have to be at the Colby Hall grind again."
"Don't mention school to me," answered Andy. "This kind of a life suits me down to the heels."
The boys were almost ready to leave the Lodge when they heard the jingle of sleigh bells and to their surprise saw a large sled approaching filled with the bundled-up figures of men.
"Hello, it must be those Secret Service agents!" cried Gif. "Now maybe there will be something doing!"
All watched the approach of the big sleigh, and were then surprised to see that the turnout contained the four Germans they had met before, and likewise Tony Duval and a sixth man, who was a stranger to them.
"Are you at home?" called out the largest of the Germans, the man named Bauermann.
"Looks as if we were, doesn't it?" answered Jack, as he stood in the doorway with the others peering over his shoulders.
"We would like to have a talk with you, young man," went on Emil Bauermann, with a frown on his face. "We came over here on purpose to see you."
"If you young men have been trying to make trouble for me you shall suffer for it," came in a growl from Tony Duval.
"Who said we were trying to make trouble for you, Duval?" demanded Gif.
"Bah! you cannot fool me, Garrison," said the hunter wrathfully. Evidently he was greatly excited.
"Duval, let me handle this matter," remonstrated Emil Bauermann. "We want to have a serious talk with you young men," he added to the boys.
All of the occupants of the big sleigh sprang out in the snow, and without waiting for an invitation to do so stalked into the Lodge.
The Germans were evidently in a bad humor, and they glowered at the cadets in a way that made them feel far from comfortable.
"What is it you want?" demanded Gif, not liking the manner of their intrusion.
"We want to come to an understanding," growled one of the Germans.
"You cannot play tricks behind our backs without taking the consequences," grumbled another.
"Maybe you think you're smart, but you'll find that we are smarter," added a third. "Many a man has been so smart that he has stuck his head into the noose."
"Let me handle this matter," broke in Emil Bauermann, and then uttered some words in German. An animated discussion in that tongue followed, the cadets understanding next to nothing of what was said.
"I do not like the looks of this at all," whispered Randy to Jack. "I believe they came here to do us harm."
"That's the way it looks to me too," whispered Fred. "They must have got wind in some way of our being up around their place."
The Germans had turned to the strange man who was with them, and when they pointed to the cadets this stranger nodded. Evidently he was identifying the boys.
"It is as I thought," said Emil Bauermann sternly, as he glared at the young hunters. "This man saw you spying around our place and around the Duval place. What do you mean by such conduct? Explain yourselves or take my word for it, it will go hard with you," and he shook a menacing fist in their faces.