CHAPTER VII

THE RESCUE OF TOMMY BELL

"I wonder who they can be, to hide off in the woods this way," whispered Bob.

The next instant there floated out from the hut a cry of anguish. It was the voice of a boy, seemingly in great pain or fear, and the travelers heard the words:

"Oh don't! Please don't! You are killing me! I don't know! I can't tell you, for I would if I could! Oh! Oh! Please don't burn me again!"

"It's a gang torturing some one!" almost shouted Ned. "Let's go to the rescue!"

He would have sprung forward had not Jerry laid a detaining hand on his arm.

"Wait, Ned," counseled Jerry. "Some one there evidently needs our help, but we must go with caution. First we must get our guns. We may need them!"

Once more the appealing cry burst out.

"Quick!" whispered Jerry. "Professor, you and Bob go back for the rifles, and bring the bulls-eye lantern that has the dark slide to it. Ned and I will stay here and watch!"

Mr. Snodgrass and Bob lost no time. In less than five minutes they had rejoined Ned and Jerry.

"Has anything happened?" asked Bob.

"Nothing since," whispered Jerry. "Now we will go forward. Every one have his gun ready. I will carry the lantern."

Almost as silently as shadows the four figures stole forward, Jerry showing a cautious gleam now and then to guide them on their way. They found there was a fairly good path leading up to the hut.

They had covered half the distance when once more the cries of anguish burst out. This time they were followed by angry shouts, seemingly from several men, and voices in dispute could be heard.

"One of us had better creep forward and see what is going on inside the cabin," whispered Jerry. "We must know what sort of enemies we have to meet."

"I'll go," volunteered Bob.

"Better let me," suggested the professor. "I have had some experience in stalking animals, and I can probably advance more quietly than you can."

They all saw the reasonableness of this and the scientist started off. Like a cat he made an advance until he was so close to the hut that he could peer into the uncurtained window. What he saw made him start back in terror.

In the room were half a dozen roughly dressed men, all armed, and with brutal faces. The room was filled with smoke from cigars and pipes, and cards were scattered over a rough table in the middle of the apartment.

But what attracted the attention of the professor and made his heart beat fast in anger, was the sight of a small, pale boy, bound with ropes up against a big stone fireplace, on the hearth of which logs were burning.

In front of the lad stood one of the largest and strongest of the tough gang, and in his hand he held a redhot poker, which, as the scientist watched, he brought close to the bare legs of the terror-stricken lad.

Then came again those heart-rending cries:

"Oh don't! Please don't! I would tell you where he is if I knew! Please don't burn me again!"

The professor's blood boiled.

"We'll soon put a stop to this horrible work!" he exclaimed to himself as he glided back to where the boys were and quickly made them acquainted with what he had seen.

"Come on!" cried Jerry. "We must rescue that boy!"

As softly as they could, the travelers advanced toward the hut. They found the door and, while the others with rifles in readiness stood in a semi-circle about it, Jerry made ready to knock and demand admittance.

"If they don't open the door we must burst it in," said the boy. "The professor and I will look to that, while you and Ned, Bob, must stand ready to rush in right after us with your guns ready. But don't shoot unless your life is in danger, and then fire not to kill, but to wound."

There was a minute of hesitation, for they all realized that it was taking a desperate chance to tackle such a rough gang in the midst of woods, far from civilization. But the sound of the poor boy's cries nerved them on as, once more, the pitiful appeal for mercy rang out.

Jerry sprang forward and gave several vigorous blows on the door with the butt of his gun. All at once silence took the place of the confusion inside the hut.

"Who's there? What do you want?" asked a gruff voice.

"Open the door! We want that boy!" cried Jerry.

Confused murmurs from within told that the gang had been taken by surprise.

"I don't know who you are, but whoever you are you had better move on, if you don't want a bullet through you," called the man who had first answered the knock. "This is none of your affair."

"Open the door or we'll burst it in!" cried Jerry, knowing the best way to be successful in the fight was to act quickly and take the men by surprise.

There was a laugh from within the hut. It was answered by a rending, crashing splintering sound as Jerry and the professor, using the stocks of their guns, began a vigorous attack on the portal. The door was strong enough, but the hinges were not, and, in less than half a minute the barrier had given way and, with a bound the travelers found themselves tumbling into the hut.

Instantly confusion reigned. The men shouted hoarsely, and several tried to reach their guns, which were stacked in one corner.

"Hands up!" commanded Jerry sharply, leveling his gun at the man who seemed to be the leader.

"Why, they're nothing but boys! Knock 'em out of the way!" cried one of the gang. At the same time another began creeping up behind Jerry, his intention being to grab the lad from the back and disarm him.

But Bob saw the movement, and, leveling his rifle at the fellow, told him to halt.

"I guess you've got the drop on us," growled the man whom Jerry was covering with the gun. "What's the game anyhow? Are you stage robbers?"

"We want you to stop torturing that boy," cried Jerry.

"Why, that's my kid, and I was only givin' him a taste of the rod because he wouldn't mind me; 'spare the rod and spoil the child,' is a good saying, you know."

"Not from you!" snapped the professor. "Is this man your father?" the scientist asked the bound boy.

"Speak up now! Ain't I your daddy?" put in the leader, scowling at the boy.

"Tell the truth! Don't let him scare you!" said the professor reassuredly. "We are in charge here now. Is he your father?"

"No--no--sir," stammered the poor little lad, and then he burst into tears.

"I thought so!" commented the scientist. "Now you scoundrels clear out of here before we cause your arrest!"

"You're talkin' mighty high," sneered the leader, "but look out! This matter is none of your affair, and that boy belongs to us!"

"Take me away! Oh, please take me away! They'll kill me!" sobbed the lad.

There was such a fiery look in the professor's eye as he leveled his gun at the gang of men that they started back, evidently fearing to be fired upon.

"Come on!" called one. "We'll get some of the Mexicans and then we'll see who's runnin' things around here!"

With that the gang sneaked out of the door, leaving the boys and the professor master of the situation. Their first act was to unbind the lad, who was almost fainting from pain and fear.

"Are there any more of them?" asked Jerry.

"Yes," said the boy faintly. "There are a lot of half-breed Mexicans in the gang. They are in a hut about a mile farther up the road, where they keep a lot of horses on a ranch."

"Then perhaps we'd better get out of here while we have a chance," said the professor. "We can't fight a score or more. Let's take the boy and hurry away."

"Come on then," said Jerry. "We'll get back to the auto. I only hope these men don't discover it and damage the car."

But when an attempt to start was made it was found that the boy, who said, in response to an inquiry from Ned, that his name was Tommy Bell, was unable to walk. The ropes bound about his legs had caused the blood to stagnate in the veins.

"Here!" exclaimed Jerry. "Bob, you and Ned go ahead with the lantern, and the professor and I will carry Tommy. Step lively now!"

Moving in that order the procession started, and in a few minutes the travelers were back at the machine, which did not seem to have been disturbed. There was no sight or sound of the gang.

Tommy was made as comfortable as possible, and then there was a brief consultation.

"Which way had we better go?" asked Jerry.

"I think it would be best to turn around," said Bob. "We'll run up against the gang if we go ahead."

"The best road is straight ahead through this woods," spoke Tommy. "If you take the other your machine will get stuck."

"Then we'll take this one, and trust to luck not to have any trouble with the gang," decided Jerry, as he cranked up the car.

Just as they started the moon came out from the clouds, for the rain had ceased, and, though not many of the silver beams shone through the thick foliage, it was much lighter than it had been. Jerry threw in the gear and the next instant the car glided forward and shot along the tunnel of trees, leaving the hut where Tommy Bell had been a prisoner.

"Is the Mexican camp near this main road?" asked the professor of Tommy.

"About three hundred feet in," answered the boy, who was feeling much better.

"How many men are at it?"

"About one hundred, I guess, from what I heard them say."

"Then I guess we'd better go past it on the fly," muttered Jerry, as he speeded up the machine until it was skimming along at a fast rate. In a little while there was a gleam of light through the trees ahead.

"There's the camp!" exclaimed Tommy.

A minute later the travelers were made well aware of it, for, as they whizzed past in the auto, they heard shouts of anger, mingling with the sounds of rushing feet, while an occasional pistol shot rang out, the flash of fire cutting the darkness.

"They saw us," spoke Bob. "Lucky it was pretty dark, or they might have damaged the auto."

"To say nothing of ourselves," added Ned.