CHAPTER XXII

A REVELATION

The professor did not know what to do. He and the boys expected to find the hut deserted, but, through some cause, the woman had evidently made a mistake as to the absence of the hermit. Nor did Mr. Snodgrass care to accept the invitation of the old man and enter the hut, not knowing what he might find there.

"You must not mind what Kate says," the hermit went on, seeing that his unexpected visitors hesitated. "She means well, but she exaggerates a little sometimes."

The professor thought that a rather cool manner in which to reply to accusation of murder, but, he reflected, if the hermit was as bad as the woman made him out to be, he would naturally, be rather a bold sort of person.

The boys, too, were somewhat embarrassed by their position. To come suddenly upon a man you expect to bind and hand over to the authorities as a criminal of the worst kind and then to find him calmly inviting you into his house, is something out of the ordinary. How much longer the travelers might have stood outside the hut, after the invitation to enter had been given, will always be a cause for speculation, because, the next instant something happened.

The professor, who had been glancing from the aged hermit to the hut, and then back to the old man, suddenly uttered an exclamation, and made a dive for the door.

"There he goes!" cried the scientist. "There is the one I've been looking for for nearly a month!" and, a second later, he had disappeared inside the cabin.

"What's the matter? Is some one after you?" asked the old man hastening in the footsteps of the scientist, while the boys trailed in behind. "What do you want?"

"I have it! I have it!" called the professor's voice. "It's a beauty, and a rare one."

"What does he mean?" asked the hermit, turning to the boys.

"It's a pink-winged dragon fly," cried the professor, coming back at that point and hearing the question. He had penetrated to the farther side of the cabin. "I saw the insect on the cabin door," he went on, explaining to the old man. "Then I saw it go in. I knew it would not stay long, so the only thing to do was to make a jump for it, without waiting to explain. I am very glad I got it, for it's worth at least seven dollars, and perhaps more. I must apologize for running into your cabin in that hasty manner," the scientist went on, turning to the old man.

"I guess that was the best way of getting you into it," said the hermit with a smile, which, the boys admitted, was a very pleasant one for a murderer. "But now you are here, do not be in a hurry to get out again."

"If you have no objections I will stay until I have put away this dragon-fly specimen in a case," said the professor, pulling out a small flat box in which he placed his precious specimens temporarily.

"Let me ask you to supper," went on the old man, seeming to the boys to be very eager to have them remain. "It is so seldom that I have company that I appreciate it very much. Stay and have a meal with me."

The boys and the professor hardly knew what answer to make. They did not want to stay, yet did not care to offend by saying no.

"I'm afraid we might inconvenience you," began Mr. Snodgrass. "You know what it is when company comes unexpectedly, and the larder is empty."

"Have no fears on that score," replied the old man with a short laugh. "I have plenty for all of us," and throwing open a cupboard he showed it well stocked with many victuals.

As no other excuse offered, the travelers could do nothing else but agree to stay, though Bob said afterwards that he kept his hand on his revolver, in his outside coat pocket, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

So, in a little while, supper was being prepared by the hermit, who seemed to be quite an expert cook. As he busied himself about the stove the boys had time to glance over the cabin. The first thing that impressed them was that the place was well planned for defense.

It was built somewhat like the old block houses the early settlers constructed, with the upper story projecting over the first, so that the Indians who besieged the place, could be attacked from above. Then the lads noted that the sides were pierced with small loop holes, while on the walls were several rifles, and belts full of cartridges.

"One might think that you were in an enemy's country," observed Mr. Snodgrass to the hermit, as he took note of the means of defense.

"I have to be on guard," responded the hermit, quickly. "My life is not safe a moment. I do not know what minute I may be attacked. I am surrounded by spies on every hand."

"It is a wonder that you let us in then," said Jerry. "How do you know that we will not betray you?"

"I am too good a reader of human character as shown in the face to fear anything like that," the old man went on. "I can trust you; I know I can."

"Who are you in danger from?" asked the professor, wondering what sort of story the hermit could tell.

"All kinds of bad men," was the answer. "They had me in their power once, but I got away. I came here because it was a place well hidden from general observation. I have lived here several years, and you are the first persons beside poor Kate, that I have been friendly with in that time."

"Then why do you keep ready to repel an enemy if none has molested you in that period?" asked Mr. Snodgrass.

"Because there is no telling when the men will attack me," replied the old man. "There are several who would like to get control of me, but I think I can prevent it. I will never let them get me into their power again, as long as I have a shot in the gun."

Supper was ready by this time, and the travelers, not very much reassured by the talk of the strange old hermit sat down to the rude table. The food, contrary to their expectation, proved very good.

When the meal was over the hermit began to question the travelers about their journey and asked why they came to the lake, which, he said, was seldom if ever visited. They told him how they had unexpectedly found the sheet of water.

"That generally is the way in this world," said the old man. "If you look for a thing you never find it, but if you do not, sometimes it comes to you in the most unexpected manner. I have sought something for many years, but I have not found it, and my heart will break if I do not succeed soon."

"What is it you are looking for?" asked Ned, softly, as he saw the hermit was affected.

"I can not tell you now," was the answer. "Later I may, and perhaps you can help me in the quest."

"We would be glad to," said the professor. "But I think we must be going now. It is getting late and we must get back to the automobile. Besides, I am afraid we will have trouble finding our way through the woods."

"Have no fear," said the hermit. "I will call Kate and she will take you back, just as she brought you here."

"But I thought she was--" began Uriah Snodgrass.

"That is only a notion of hers, that I am a murderer," spoke the hermit, with a smile. "Kate pretends to be very much afraid of me, but she will come to me when I call her. Probably you are wondering who I am, and why I live out in these lonely woods. If you care to I will tell you my story briefly."

They all said they would be glad to listen, so the hermit began by saying, for reasons of his own, that he would not tell his name.

"I do not want it to be known who I am," he said. "But, as I said, I was once in the power of a number of bad men. I used to be a prospector, and made considerable at it, until trouble came. Then I came to this lonesome place. I had heard the legend of Lost Lake, and the gold supposed to be on its shores, but I never expected to find this body of water. However, I did come across it, though I never have found any gold. I have been here ever since, and that is about three years. I manage to hunt and fish, and so get enough to live on. Occasionally I go to the nearest village, and sell a few articles I make out of wood, and so get a little money."

"I should think you would be very lonesome at times," said Bob.

"I am glad to be alone when I think of all I suffered from those men," was the reply.

"Would you mind telling us about the woman?" asked Mr. Snodgrass. "She seems a queer creature."

"She is," answered the hermit. "She is harmless enough, except when aroused, and her great trouble is in thinking that I am a murderer."

"What makes her think such a thing?" asked Jerry.

"Because she is slightly crazy," said the hermit. "She was in these woods when I came here, and, in time we grew to be good friends. It seems that years ago her whole family was killed by the Indians, she alone escaping. It turned her brain, and ever since then, she imagines that nearly all men are murderers. I wonder she has not accused you of the crime," and the hermit smiled a little.

"She certainly acted queer," admitted the professor, "but I thought it was because she took you to be--er--"

"Oh, I don't mind having you refer to it," put in the old man. "She often accuses me of the crime to my face. I humor her, and admit sometimes that I am a desperate criminal, and that I am going to give myself up to the authorities. It sort of calms her down."

"What did you mean by saying that she would come whenever you called her?" asked Jerry. "Is she near by?"

"She stays in a little cabin I built for her, not far off," replied the hermit. "When I want her to go on an errand for me, for she is very swift and reliable, I merely blow this horn," and he showed a big conch hanging on the wall. "I will call her to show you the way back to your camp when you are ready."

The professor and the boys thought it was about time to leave. They promised the hermit they would come and see him again, and then the old man, taking down the horn, unbarred the door, and, stepping out blew three shrill blasts that reverberated through the woods. It was just getting dusk, and the echoes, ringing back from the distant hills, sounded weird in the gathering darkness.

For a few seconds no answer came, then, from far off in the woods sounded a faint cry.

"Here she comes," said the hermit. "She will take you the shortest way."

In a little while the crackling of the brush could be heard, and, a few seconds later Kate appeared. She did not seem surprised not to find the travelers all murdered.

"Will you show them the way back to camp?" asked the old man.

"Yes," said Kate, simply. "Follow me," she added, turning to the boys and the professor.

They started off after the strange woman, and, at that instant the old hermit uttered an exclamation.

"Some one is coming!" he cried. "It may be some of my enemies!"

A moment later he turned and fled into the dark woods!