CHAPTER XX

THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN

"Look!" exclaimed Ned.

Then, as he and Jerry watched what took place in the circle of light, they beheld a woman, her long hair streaming down her back, run from the woods up to the old man. In her hand she held a big club, and with it she endeavored to strike the aged man. The latter dropped his sack, and seemed to engage in a struggle with the woman.

"He's killing her!" exclaimed Ned. "This is the hermit we were warned against."

"Come on!" cried Jerry. "We must see what it means."

But, just as he started down the slope, the search-light went out, leaving the place in utter blackness, for the moon was under a cloud. When Jerry had succeeded in getting the light going again, the man and woman were nowhere to be seen.

"Well, that certainly was a queer sight," remarked Ned. "I wonder what it all means?"

"I guess we'll have to stay here until we find out," said Jerry. "It looked as if there was going to be trouble, at one time."

"What's all the excitement about?" asked the professor, coming out of the shack, followed by Bob.

Jerry related what they had seen, and the professor agreed that it would be better to remain and make an investigation.

"I say, you fellows are mean to go off alone and have a cracking adventure like that," objected Bob, in a grieved tone.

"We didn't want to disturb your slumbers," said Ned.

"Don't eat so much supper next time, and you will not sleep so sound," advised Jerry. But Bob was not to be appeased until promised that the next time Ned and Jerry went ghost hunting they would take him with them.

Having been so thoroughly aroused from their sleep the travelers decided to sit up a while and see if they could catch another glimpse of the strange man and woman. But, though they sat and talked for more than an hour, there was no further sign of the two queer creatures.

"I'm going to bed," announced Bob at length, and the others decided to follow his example. They slept soundly until morning, though Jerry said afterward that he dreamed he was being chased across the frozen lake by a white haired man on a black horse. He got stuck in the ice, and was freezing to death, when he awakened to find that his blanket had slipped from him, and that a cold rain was blowing in through the cracks of the shack. Morning had dawned cold and dreary.

"Wow! This isn't exactly pleasant!" exclaimed Jerry, as he poked his head out of the front of the screen of branches. "I wish there was a hotel handy."

The others crawled from beneath the blankets, not in any too good humor at the dismal prospect.

"And I'll bet there isn't any dry wood to be had," said Bob. "That means a cold breakfast."

A search proved that he was right. Nor was there any charcoal, since the last had been used some days before, and they had been to no place where they could get more.

"Just when a fellow needs a hot cup of coffee," went on Bob. "I never saw such beastly luck."

Jerry said nothing. He seemed to be studying over some matter.

"I have it," he exclaimed.

"What? Some dry wood?" asked Ned with much eagerness.

"No, but I know how to make some hot coffee," was the answer.

Jerry lost no time in explaining. He first went to the auto where he got out rubber coats for himself and his companions. Then, ready to defy the rain, which was coming down at a good clip, Jerry hunted about until he found two large stones. These he set up a short distance apart, placing another each at the front and rear of the first two.

"There's the stove," he remarked.

"A heap of good it will do, with no fire in it," growled Bob.

"Wait," advised Jerry.

Taking the big search-light, which he had used the night previous, he removed the top, so that the flame could be used for cooking purposes. They prepared a good meal and enjoyed it.

It continued to rain, and to fill in time the boys went fishing in the lake. Luck was with them and within half an hour they had ten fine fish, and then, though they could have taken many more, they did not, as Jerry said they would have no use for them.

"Fish for dinner for me to-day," said Bob, while the others laughed at his usual exhibition of how fond of eating he was. The fish did prove an excellent dish, fried in corn meal on Jerry's improvised stove. Some bacon gave them a relish, and with hot coffee they felt they had as good a meal as many a hotel could serve.

"I wonder where the professor is?" said Ned, when the meal was almost over. "I forgot that he wasn't with us."

"He's off gathering birds, bugs or reptiles," said Jerry. "He'll come when he feels good and hungry."

"He's more likely to forget all about being hungry if he gets chasing a fine specimen," remarked Ned. "I think I'll just take a stroll and see if I can come across him."

"We'll go along," said Jerry and Bob.

So the three started off together. They could easily follow the professor's trail, as he had broken through the underbrush, snapping off many twigs and breaking small branches. The boys wandered on for nearly a mile, but saw no sign of the scientist. They were about to turn back, and wait for him at camp, when Jerry held up his hand to indicate silence.

"Hark!" he whispered.

The others stood still, and, listening intently, heard above the patter of the raindrops, voices in conversation.

"That's the professor," said Ned.

"Some one is with him then," put in Jerry. "They are coming this way."

The sounds of persons advancing through the bushes could be heard. The voices also sounded plainer. A minute later the brush was parted and the professor, followed by a woman, came out into the little clearing where the boys were. At the sight of the woman, Jerry started, for he recognized her as the strange person who had been with the old man the night previous. The professor seemed excited about something.

"Boys, this lady has just told me some strange news," he said.

"What is it?" asked Ned.

"Beware of the hermit of Lost Lake!" the woman exclaimed suddenly. "Have a care of him. Many poor travelers has he murdered. He would have murdered you last night if I had not prevented him."

"So that's what it was all about," said Jerry, half aloud. The woman heard him, and turned:

"Did you see him?" she asked. "Did you see me?"

"I--we--" began Jerry.

"You have been spying on me!" exclaimed the woman, growing much excited.