Chapter 11 The Message in the Hollow Oak by Carolyn Keene
Into the Woods
The next morning at breakfast Nancy spoke of her desire to visit the Chap property. She was relieved when Mrs. Donnelly offered some practical advice without asking leading questions.
“Pete Atkins is one of the best guides in this part of the country. For a very reasonable sum he’ll furnish you with a boat and all necessary equipment, as well as cook your lunch for you.”
“Must we go by boat?” Nancy questioned in surprise.
“That would be the only sensible way. The Chap property has a corduroy road leading up to it, but I know you would find the route tedious. By boat you will have a far more enjoyable time.”
“I think the water trip would be lots of fun,” George remarked.
“Well, hardly that,” Mrs. Donnelly smiled, “for you must make two portages between lakes. However, it will be a worthwhile experience.”
“How can we get in touch with Pete Atkins?” Nancy inquired.
“I’ll make all arrangements for you if you wish. When would you want to start?”
“As soon as possible.”
Mrs. Donnelly glanced at the clock.
“It is late now, but if Pete works fast you might get away by nine o’clock. That should give you ample time to reach your destination before nightfall.”
“Then we’ll not return until tomorrow,” Nancy told her. “I won’t know how long I’ll be detained until after I get there.”
“I’ll not worry about your safety as long as Pete Atkins looks after you,” Mrs. Donnelly assured her.
Arrangements were soon completed, and the girls went to their rooms to dress for the trip. When the guide met them at the boat landing, he nodded approvingly as he saw that they wore riding breeches and knee-high shoes.
“Take good care of my girls,” Mrs. Donnelly cautioned him.
“The best ever,” he grinned.
Pete had brought along a small “kicker” motor. As the little boat shot across the lake the girls thought that the journey was to be both a rapid and a pleasant one. They soon arrived at the first portage, and there the motor was left behind.
“We’ll carry only paddles and the grub,” Pete explained as they set off through a narrow forest trail. “I have a canoe hidden at Lake Stewart.”
Each of the girls had a light pack to transport. Before they had gone a mile, however, their burdens seemed to have taken on at least twenty pounds additional weight. They were overjoyed and relieved when they came within view of sparkling blue water again.
Pete drew out a red canoe from the bushes, where it had been cleverly hidden. Bending over to launch it, he gazed with interest at a fresh footprint in the sand.
“Someone’s been through here this morning,” he observed briefly. “City fellow, too.”
“How can you tell?” Bess whispered curiously.
“Type of shoe,” Nancy answered.
Pete helped the girls into the boat, and did not refer again to the footprint. However, as she sat in the bow helping to paddle, Nancy wondered idly who could have preceded them on the lake.
Her thoughts turned to Grandfather Chap. Would she find him at home and in good health? How disappointing it would be if she were to fail in her mission!
As she suddenly scanned the dazzling waters she observed a small moving object directly ahead. It was a boat. She pointed out the craft to the guide, but his sharp eyes had noted it long before she had. They dipped their paddles deeper, and gradually drew closer to the boat.
“It looks to me as if they’re trying to keep well ahead of us,” Nancy commented, a trifle puzzled.
Two men were in the canoe. Both of them handled their oars awkwardly. Nancy did not expect to recognize either of them, and therefore was greatly surprised when one of them glanced back and she caught a glimpse of his face.
“Why, it’s Tom Stripe, I do believe!” she exclaimed.
The guide’s face was as black as a thunder cloud.
“Do you know him?” Nancy demanded.
“He’s been up here before,” Pete snapped. “A yellow dog, if there ever was one!”
Nancy watched the boat closely. Unless she was greatly mistaken, Stripe’s companion was none other than Raymond Niles! Had the two men purposely trailed her to Wellington Lake? She was afraid that trouble lay ahead of her.
The two men were aware that they had been seen, and accordingly took to their oars with a will. Soon they had disappeared behind a bend in the lake, where they were hidden from view. When Nancy and her party reached the spot a few minutes later, they saw no sign of the other boat.
“That’s queer,” she murmured. “I wonder where those men could have gone!”
Her eyes swept the shoreline, but the canoe was nowhere to be seen. However, it would be a very simple matter to conceal the craft among the dense bushes and pine trees that lined the water.
“Perhaps Niles and Stripe came up here only to fish,” Bess observed optimistically. “Mrs. Donnelly told me this is one of the best fishing places in Canada.”
“They won’t get much of a catch by hiding in the bushes,” the guide returned grimly.
Although Nancy and her chums surveyed the lake at intervals, they did not again catch sight of the two men. After an uneventful hour had passed they relaxed slightly.
“I’m hungry as a bear,” George presently remarked.
The loyal guide smilingly pointed the canoe toward shore.
“We may as well stop for lunch. This is as good a place as any.”
They pulled the craft up into the sandy beach and unloaded their knapsacks. The girls looked on admiringly as Pete built a fire. Then he took out a battered coffee pot and a smoke-blackened skillet. Soon the air was fragrant with the odor of bacon and potatoes frying.
The girls were ashamed of the amount of food they were able to consume. At home they might have scorned such simple fare, but after the morning’s paddle even coarse bread tasted delicious.
“I’ll go to the spring for some fresh water, and then we’ll start on again,” Pete announced after they had finished.
Nancy and her chums were clearing away the refuse, when they were startled at hearing a slight noise in the bushes.
“Who’s there?” Nancy called out sharply.
Tom Stripe and Raymond Niles stepped out into the open.
“What do you want?” Nancy demanded.
“Oh, just a little talk with you,” the latter said blandly. “We’re interested in that newly-acquired property of yours.”
“So I suspected!”
“Now don’t get up on your high-horses,” Niles wheedled. “We’re not trying to cheat you out of anything.”
“I wish I could be sure of that.”
“We’re perfectly willing to pay you a good price for your land.”
“What price?” Nancy questioned shrewdly.
“The land cost you nothing, so anything you might make is clear profit. Now the property is barren—practically valueless. It will cost you more in taxes than it is worth. Considering all this, we feel that two hundred dollars would be more than a fair sum.”
Nancy could not repress a smile.
“If the land is so worthless, why do you wish to acquire it!”
Niles had anticipated this question.
“It is located not far from a good fishing lake. We expect to erect a cabin there.”
“I don’t care to sell,” Nancy said coldly.
“You’re making a mistake,” Tom Stripe snarled.
“I think I’m not!” Nancy retorted, angered by the surly tones. “If you must know the truth, I distrust both of you!”
“We want the land, and we’ll get it, too!” Stripe fairly shouted. “If you won’t sell to us, we’ll strand you here! We’ll wreck your canoe!”
In sudden rage he darted toward the shore where the craft had been left. Nancy and her chums pursued him, but Raymond Niles blocked their way. Stripe pushed the light canoe out into the water, and overturned it.
“Pete! Help!” Nancy shouted frantically.
Their guide came running down the trail. With one leap he was upon Tom Stripe.
The men struggled knee deep in water. Then, with a mightly blow, Pete struck the man under the chin. He reeled backward, lost his balance, and toppled over into the water.
Nancy had not remained idle. Raymond Niles held her arms, but she struggled valiantly to free herself. Just as Stripe pitched backwards she jerked away, taking her captor completely by surprise. Then she gave him a powerful shove. He stumbled and tried to save himself, but failed. With a yell of rage he, too, fell into the water.
For an instant Nancy stood watching the two men as they struggled to regain their footing. Then it dawned upon her that she and her friends were missing a golden opportunity to make their get-away.
“Quick!” she shouted to her companions. “Help me right the canoe!”