The Adventures of Rover Boys: 26 Illustrated Adventure Novels. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ insisted Arnold Baxter, and caught the captain by the arm. "Don't waste words on them. There will be time enough to talk when we reach the island." And then the two walked off, closing and locking the passageway door after them.

      "The island?" repeated Sam. "Then they intend to take us to some lonely island, Tom!"

      "I wouldn't be surprised. I've noticed by the shafts of light coming through the cracks overhead that we are sailing northward. We must be in Lake Huron by this time."

      "One satisfaction, they left our right hands free," continued the youngest Rover. "And I must say that stew just touched the spot."

      Again the hours drifted slowly by. The boys had really lost all track of time. They dozed off and did not awaken until some time later. Whether they had slept through a night or not they did not know.

      Presently they heard the sails being lowered and an anchor go overboard. Then a boat put off from the Peacock, and for a while all became silent.

      "We must be close to some landing," was Tom's comment. "Perhaps it's the island old Baxter mentioned."

      Another half hour slipped by. Then the door to the cabin was opened, and both Baxters, Captain Langless, and the mate of the schooner appeared.

      "Get up," ordered the captain, and when they arose he saw to it that their lower limbs were released, but that their hands were bound more tightly behind them than ever.

      "We are going ashore," said Arnold Baxter. "Remember we want no treachery nor any attempt to run away. If you try either, somebody will get shot."

      With this caution they were marched into the cabin and then on deck. At first the strong light blinded them, but soon they became accustomed to this, and made out a small bay just ahead, surrounded by cedar trees and various bushes. Back of the trees was a hill, and off to the southward a rocky elevation ending in a needle-like point. It was this elevation which gave to the island the name of Needle Point. By the Indians of days gone by the island was called Arrow Head.

      A rowboat was in waiting beside the Peacock, and into this the prisoners were placed. The captain of the schooner and the Baxters also went along, and soon the rowboat had passed over the waters of the little bay and grounded on a bit of shelving beach.

      "Now we'll go ashore," said Captain Langless, and glad enough for the change, Tom and Sam leaped upon the beach. The others followed, and tying up the boat, the master of the Peacock led the way through the trees and brush to the hill previously mentioned. Here there was a slight path, winding in and out among a series of rocks.

      "Where are you going to take us?" said Tom.

      "You'll find out soon enough," returned Arnold Baxter. "March."

      "Supposing I refuse?"

      "We'll knock you down and drag you along," put in Dan Baxter, anxious to say something.

      "You had better come along quietly," said Captain Langless. "To kick will only make you worse off."

      The march was resumed, and now they dove straight into the interior of the island, which was about a mile and a half long and half as wide. At some points the path was choked with weeds and trailing vines, and they progressed with difficulty.

      It must be admitted that Tom and Sam were very uneasy. They had felt that the authorities might follow the Peacock, but how would anybody ever discover them in such a lonely place as this? But there was no help for it, and on they went until Captain Langless called a sudden halt.

      They had gained a cliff running out from one end of the hill. The rocks arose in a sheer wall, thirty or more feet in height. At the base were a spring and a small pool of water. To the left of the spring was a cave-like opening, partly choked with brushwood.

      "Here we are," said the captain. "Watch them."

      He moved toward the opening and soon had a portion of the brushwood torn aside. Then he lit a lantern he had brought along and disappeared into the opening.

      He had scarcely passed from view when he let out a yell of fright.

      "A snake! Look out for him!"

      The words just reached the ears of Sam and Tom when the reptile appeared. He was all of five feet long and as thick as a man's wrist.

      "A snake!" screamed Dan Baxter, and took to his heels without waiting to see what the creature might do.

      Arnold Baxter was less frightened, and snatching a pistol from his pocket, he took hasty aim and fired. But his aim was poor, and the bullet flew wide of its mark.

      The snake was a dangerous one, and very much shot, and came straight for Tom and Sam. An instant later the savage reptile was coiling itself around the youngest Rover's left leg!

      CHAPTER XVIII

       COFFEE FOR THREE

       Table of Contents

      The situation was one which demanded instant action.

      The snake was a dangerous one, and very much aroused, and it might at any instant do Sam great harm.

      The poor boy was speechless and motionless, for the reptile had caught his eye and held him as by a spell.

      It was Tom who acted. Heedless of the danger, he leaped forward and aimed a kick at the snake's head.

      The reptile was caught fairly and squarely, and the head went down with an angry hiss. Then Tom stepped upon it, but the snake squirmed loose and uttered another hiss, louder than before.

      "Take him off! Take him off!" screamed Sam, now recovering his voice. "Don't let him bite me."

      He would have caught the snake himself, and so would Tom, but the hands of both were still tied behind them.

      By this time Captain Langless emerged from the cave, pulling out a pistol as he did so.

      Arnold Baxter had not offered to fire a second shot. Now, he was out of danger himself, he did not seem to care what became of the Rovers.

      Crack! crack! It was the captain's weapon which spoke up, and the two shots, fired in rapid succession, did their work thoroughly. The first took the snake in the neck and the second in the head, and in a twinkle the long, slippery body unwound itself from Sam's leg and began to turn and twist on the ground.

      "Good for you!" gasped Sam, when able to speak again. "Ugh! what an ugly thing!" And he retreated to the opposite side of the pool, along with Tom.

      "He was a nasty one," replied Captain Langless, as he coolly proceeded to reload his pistol. "I might have killed him in the cave, only the light was bad."

      "Is he — he dead?" came from behind some rocks, and Dan showed a white face and trembling form.

      "Yes, he's dead," answered Arnold Baxter. "I came pretty close to hitting him," he went on, bound to say something for himself.

      "I — I thought there was a whole nest СКАЧАТЬ