CHAPTER XXIV

THE HERMIT'S IDENTITY

"Catch him! I want him! Bring him back!" exclaimed the stranger as he saw the hermit disappearing into the depths of the forest.

"What do you want of him?" asked the professor, not liking the man's looks.

"What's that your business?" inquired the stranger. "Trot along now, and don't bother me."

"I'll do nothing of the kind," retorted Mr. Snodgrass. "That old man is a friend of ours, and we'll see that no harm comes to him."

"Well, I'm going to catch him," replied the rough looking man, "so stand aside."

He made as if to go in pursuit of the hermit, but Kate, with flashing eyes and defiant gestures, stood in front of the stranger.

"You let him alone!" she exclaimed. "If you go after him I'll scratch your eyes out!"

And she looked fierce and strong enough to put her threat into execution as she stood her ground.

"Mind," she went on, "don't you dare to stir a step after him!"

"So that's the way the land lays, eh?" sneered the fellow. "Well, we'll see about that."

Putting his finger to his lips he blew a shrill whistle. Hardly had the echo died away than two more men, more roughly dressed, if possible, than the first man, made their appearance from behind bushes where they had evidently been hiding.

"I've found him," said the first man to his companions. "Now these people want to interfere."

"Knock 'em out of the way," growled one of the late comers.

"Look here!" began Jerry who was beginning to get angry. "If there's any knocking to be done I guess we can do our share."

"When did you leave home?" asked the first man, with a sneer. "Look out, young tenderfoot, how you mix up in this matter."

"What right have you to follow this old man?" asked the professor, for he began to believe the strangers to be some of the enemies of which the hermit had been fearful.

"That's none of your affair," was the answer. "We want that man and we're going to have him. He got away from us once, and we're going to take care it does not happen again. Come on, boys. Let's trail after the old chap. He can't have gone very far."

The three turned and were about to take after the hermit when Kate, who had stepped aside, made a sudden spring, and confronted the leader of the three men.

"Don't you dare go after that poor old man!" she cried. "There! Take that!"

And before the man could raise his hand in defense Kate gave him a forceful push. It was followed by a curious happening.

The three men were standing on the very edge of the knoll, upon the summit of which was the tree where the hermit had been hiding. So steep was the descent that when Kate shoved the man he toppled over backward. Right behind him were the other two men, and falling against them, their leader bowled them down like the remaining pins in a game of skittles. All three of them went slipping, sprawling, tumbling head over heels down the steep slope, vainly trying to dig their hands into the earth and so save themselves.

"There!" exclaimed the woman, as she saw the men roll down. "I guess they will not defy me again in a hurry!"

"I don't believe they will," observed the professor drily.

In fact the men seemed to have had enough of Kate for, having rolled to the bottom of the hill, where they arrived somewhat the worse for wear, they got up, but made no attempt to return. Instead they shuffled off through the woods, contenting themselves with shaking their fists at the party on top of the hill.

"What had we better do now?" asked Ned.

"Go back to our camp," spoke Jerry.

"I think perhaps we had," counseled the professor. "I thought the poor old hermit was merely wandering in his mind when he talked about men being after him, but, it seems he was right. Now that we have had an encounter with these men, and incurred their hate, it would be best if we did not leave our automobile unguarded. There is no telling what will happen in the next few hours."

"What can we do to save the hermit?" asked Bob.

"Nothing right away, I fear," replied Mr. Snodgrass. "We could not find him in the night, for it will soon be dark, and I think he can look after himself better than we can, for the present."

"I think so too," put in Kate, who seemed to have calmed down after her attack on the men. "We will go back to your camp, and take up the search to-morrow."

It was getting dusk now, and the travelers made the best speed they could, following Kate's guidance, back to their shack near the lake. They found the camp undisturbed and soon were preparing a supper, which the woman shared. Then she bade them good night, and promised to come in the morning.

"I guess we had better post a guard to-night," said Jerry, as he and the others were thinking of turning in. "There may be a lot of those men after the hermit, and they will not feel any too friendly toward us for what we have done. What do you say, Professor?"

Uriah Snodgrass thought the scheme a good one, and, lots having been drawn, the first watch fell to Ned. He got out his rifle, and, having provided a quantity of wood for the fire, and making the search-light ready so it could be set going quickly, he prepared to spend part of the night on guard.

It was rather lonesome, especially as the others soon fell asleep, as was evidenced by their heavy breathing and an occasional snore. But Ned knew that perhaps the lives of his comrades might depend on his vigilance, so he fought against the feeling of dread, as well as the inclination to sleep, for he was very tired. As the night wore on a stronger feeling of dread took possession of the lad. He started at every sound, and the bark of a fox, the howl of a distant wolf, and even the hooting of an owl was enough to make him jump.

He was very glad, therefore, when his trick was up and Jerry took his place.

"Did you see or hear anything?" asked Jerry.

"Nary a thing except the wild animals," replied Ned. "There's a regular menagerie around here, by the sound in the woods."

For several hours Jerry remained on guard. He was wide awake, for the sleep earlier in the evening had rested him considerably. Part of the time he sat on a log near the fire, and again, he would get up and pace back and forth looking around anxiously.

Jerry replenished the fire and then, feeling somewhat chilly, began to walk rapidly up and down, pacing about ten feet in either direction from the blaze. Once, when he had gone a little further, and stood near a big elm tree he fancied he heard a noise among the branches. Glancing up he was startled by hearing some one utter:

"Hist! Hist!"

"Who's--who's there?" faltered Jerry, for he was taken by surprise.

"Sh! Not so loud! Have they gone?" asked a voice.

"Who?" asked the lad, wondering who was speaking.

"The men who were after me?" was the reply, and then Jerry recognized the hermit's voice.

"Yes, they have gone. Come down, you are safe now," said Jerry.

There was a scrambling among the branches and soon the white-haired old man stood on the ground beside the boy. His clothing was torn, and his beard was matted with briers and brambles. His face and hands were cut, and he bore the appearance of having raced through the thick underbrush.

"I had a hard time escaping them," said the hermit. "Have you any water? I have not had a drink in several hours, and my throat is parched."

Jerry ran to the water pail to get the hermit a drink. The noise he made aroused the others.

"What is it? Are they attacking us?" asked Mr. Snodgrass.

"No, the hermit has come back," replied Jerry. "He was hiding up in a tree."

The professor hurried out of the shack, and joined the old man, who seemed very glad to get back among his new friends. He said he had been wandering around ever since he ran away when the stranger appeared, and, at last, had determined to try and find the boys' camp.

"Now you are here we will take good care of you, Mr.--er--Mr.--" stammered the professor, forgetting that the hermit had refused to disclose his identity. The old man noticed the hesitating tones.

"There is no reason why I should keep my name a secret from you any longer," he said. "You probably never heard of me, and never will again. I only desire to remain hidden from my enemies, and I think you are my friends."

"What is your name?" asked the professor.

"Jackson Bell," was the reply. "I am an old gold miner."

"Jackson Bell," repeated Jerry, wondering if he had heard aright.

"Jackson Bell," repeated the professor. "Where have I heard that name before?"

"Why you must be Tommy Bell's father," exclaimed Ned.

"What's that!" fairly shouted the hermit. "Do you know Tommy Bell? Have you seen my dear son? Tell me quickly! Do not keep a poor old man in suspense," and he seemed greatly agitated.

"I thought I had seen some relative of his somewhere," said the professor.