Chapter 16

ON THE TRAIL.

The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

"I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy. After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

"He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

"But he did it nevertheless, and I would trust him as far as any person I ever saw."

Then the men held a short consultation as to what should be done, and Harvey insisted on making a detour, in order to approach the house on the side opposite where he believed the enemy were stationed.

"If you help me on the horse I can ride," he said, "and it will be possible to hold communication with the besieged, if nothing more."

"But you should go where your wound can be dressed properly."

"There is time enough for that. I want to get hold of Bob, and then I'll give you fellows a chance to clear up the counterfeiting case."

Since Harvey was really the leader of the expedition, the others could do no more than advise against his engaging in work, and he led the way, seated on the saddle, with his wounded leg fastened to the pommel in such a manner that it would not be injured by the trees while they were passing through the woods.

In due time the party came to a point from which the building could be seen.

A deep silence reigned. One would have said the house had long been deserted.

"I'll go where they can see me, and, if no one shoots, climb over the wood-pile," Jet suggested.

To this plan Harvey would not listen.

He first sent the new-comers to beat the thicket on this side, for the purpose of learning if any of the enemy were in the vicinity, and, when they returned with the information that no one had been seen, he advanced to the very edge of the bushes, where the signal was given.

"They won't be likely to answer it after having been fooled this morning," Jet suggested, and, without waiting for orders, he stepped beyond the shelter of the trees.

Instantly he did so one of the besieged appeared at the window, and hailed:

"Are you alone?"

"There are three besides me," Jet replied, and the words were hardly out of his mouth before the remainder of the party came into view.

"Are you all right?" Harvey shouted.

"Except for being mighty hungry and thirsty."

"Have you seen anything of the enemy?"

"Not since early this morning. It's my opinion that they have skipped after trying to get in here."

"We can soon find out," Harvey said. "We'll go boldly up to the gate, and before it is torn down we shall know how many are in the vicinity."

During the time Jet and the two men were forcing an entrance nothing more was heard from the adjoining woods, and when the party entered the yard it was with the belief that the gang had been frightened away by the escape of the detective and Jet, and the disappearance of their leader.

"It won't do to take chances," Harvey said, as his friends opened the door of the house. "Go out with these gentlemen who have just arrived, and make careful search. The boy and I will care for things here."

This order was obeyed after the detective had been assisted into the building, and the horse fastened in the stable.

The prisoner was occupying the same position as when Jet saw him last, and appeared to be thoroughly tired of the whole business.

"If you had brought up some food we might have stayed here until morning; but as it is I reckon we must make a move pretty soon."

"How strange that I never thought of such a thing," Jet replied, and straightway he began to blame himself, until his companion said soothingly:

"After what you have gone through with, it is not strange such a thing should have escaped your mind. We shan't suffer very much if we don't get anything for a few hours more."

A short time later the searchers returned laden down with provisions, and reported that they failed to find any signs of the enemy.

They had come upon a place where the ground appeared to have been lately disturbed, and on digging there discovered a large store of bacon, hard-tack, flour and potatoes.

Before waiting to discuss the situation, the hungry men at once proceeded to cook a hearty meal, two of them going in search of water, and while this work was being done Harvey had a long, serious conversation with Jet.

"There is no question but that they have grown frightened and run away," he said by way of beginning, and to this remark Jet assented, nodding his head.

"Our trip will have been a failure, despite the fact of having captured Joe, unless we also get Bob."

"It'll be mighty hard work to find him now."

"That may be; but yet I am depending upon you to do the work."

"Me?" Jet repeated in surprise.

"Certainly; what is to prevent?"

"I don't even know where to look for him."

"Neither do I; but we shall hit upon the trail after a while, for I believe in the maxim that 'all things come to him who waits.'"

"But surely some of these men could do better than I."

"Are you afraid to try it?" Harvey asked, as he looked Jet full in the face.

"Not a bit of it. I only thought that there'd be more chance of success if somebody else took the job. You see I've made a big fool of myself half a dozen times since this thing was started."

"And by so doing have gained just so much experience. I want the whole work done by you and I, except when we have to call for assistance, as in the present case. It's professional pride, my boy, and I look to you to take my place, until I can crawl around once more."

"I'll be only too willing to do anything you say, Mr. Harvey."

"Then it is all right, Jet, and before three months go by we'll have our friend Bob behind the bars. Now, lie down and take a nap so as to be in condition for our final trip to the town."

"Then you have given up all hopes of finding the men here?"

"Yes; although it may be possible they will be foolish enough to come back. We'll leave two men here on watch for a few days."

Jet threw himself on the floor, and in a very few seconds was sleeping soundly.

When he was awakened the hunger of those who had been so long without food was appeased, and all preparations made for the return trip.

As a matter of course Harvey rode on the horse; Jet walked by his side, and the officers traveled in advance.

The last arrivals were perfectly willing to remain on guard in the house a few days, now that there were plenty of provisions, and they were busily engaged repairing the gate when the little party started.

Nothing of especial interest occurred during the journey, and when they arrived in town an officer was met who had come from New York to take charge of the prisoner.

The two men who had attempted to rescue Joe were held on the charge of resisting an officer, and it was believed they could be detained until it might be possible to connect them with the manufacture or passing of counterfeit money.

To this last, however, Harvey paid but little attention, allowing the officers from Albany full charge of the case. He was on the trail of a murderer, and all else seemed of but trifling importance.

A surgeon in the village dressed Harvey's wound, and when that had been done there was yet two hours remaining before a train bound for Albany would arrive.

"Now you and I will have a final talk, Jet," the detective said, when the two were left alone in one of the rooms at the hotel.

"Why? Ain't you counting on taking me with you?"

"Certainly not. I thought it was agreed you were to search for Bob."

"So I am; but I didn't know I was to be left here."

"That is not exactly what will be done, although it amounts to much the same thing. I propose to have you get on the train with us, as if you were going off, and then, stopping at the next station, travel back thirty or forty miles to whichever town we may decide upon as the most promising."

"What am I to do there, sir?"

"Look for Bob. Move about from town to town just as seems best at the moment, and I have no doubt but that you will soon strike his trail."

"Am I to let you know when I find it?"

"Certainly. Can you write?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then let me hear from you every day. Here is an address where the letters will reach me at the earliest possible moment."

"But, Mr. Harvey, can't you tell me how to begin the work?"

"No; circumstances must decide. I have no question but that you will succeed finally, and in two weeks, if the job isn't finished before, I hope to be with you again."

The detective wrote on a slip of paper the address to which letters should be sent, gave Jet more money, and concluded the interview by saying:

"It isn't well to let even the officers from Albany know what you propose to do. I will cook up some story to satisfy their curiosity. Now, go and buy me a through ticket, and one for yourself to the next station."

Jet did as he was directed, and, as he entered the depot saw Joe, who, guarded by the officer sent from New York, was waiting the coming of the train.

The alleged murderer bestowed a wicked look on the boy who had captured him, and then turned his head away.

"If he ever gets the chance I shall have a hot time of it," Jet thought, as he transacted his business with the ticket-seller and then returned to Harvey.

The latter was just being brought down stairs, for the time of departure was near at hand, and Jet followed him to the station, where the detective was warmly greeted by Joe's guard.

Here Jet felt proud by being introduced as the one who had made the arrest and afterward brought his prisoner safely through the woods where the remainder of the gang were lurking, and District Messenger No. 48 felt amply rewarded by the words of praise for all he had suffered.

The cars arrived. Jet followed his companions on board, and, twenty minutes later, alighted at a small village where it would be necessary he should wait half an hour before a western bound train came along.

"It's a tough job I've undertaken," he said to himself, when the long line of coaches had pulled out, leaving him alone, "and somehow or other I feel pretty certain I'm going to come to grief before this thing is ended."