"That's an idea!" cried Jack. "I don't know but what we had better act
on it."




CHAPTER XXIV

A CONVERSATION OF IMPORTANCE


"Do you know anything about those Germans?" questioned Fred, turning to
Codfish.

"I know they came to see Tony Duval once or twice before," answered the
sneak of Colby Hall. "They and Duval seem to have some secret business
between them."

"Do you know what it is?" asked Jack.

At this Codfish shook his head.

"Did Werner and Glutts have anything to do with it?" came from Gif.

"They went to Duval's cabin once when the Germans were there. I asked to
go along, but they wouldn't let me. After that Bill and Gabe took some
kind of a message down to Timminsport for them. It was on their way back
from the town that they stopped and made a mess of things at your Lodge.
They were laughing and joking about it when they got back, and that is
how I know what took place."

"You said you would tell us where the things that were taken away are,"
came from Spouter.

"They are all in the barn under the hay--at least that is what Bill and
Gabe said. They took 'em out there in one of the bed sheets."

"I guess that's right," came quickly from Gif. "I noticed that one of
the sheets was missing."

They had now reached the shelter of the forest, and here, after a little
talk, it was decided that the twins and Fred should return to Cedar
Lodge at once, taking Codfish with them, while Jack, Gif, and Spouter
took a roundabout course leading to the rear of Tony Duval's shack.

"We've got to be careful," announced Jack. "For all we know, those
Germans may be desperate characters."

"And on the other hand they may be the most innocent fellows in the
world," added Spouter. "Remember, not all the German-Americans in this
country are unpatriotic."

The three soon reached a point where they could catch sight of Duval's
shack. They approached with caution so that they might not be seen from
the single back window of which the rough building boasted. As the boys
drew closer they saw that the window had been raised several inches.
Evidently there was a good fire going inside of the shack, and with so
many occupants the place had become overly warm.

"Then it's all settled, and you'll attend to the matter?" they heard one
of the Germans remark, as they crawled up close to the building.

"Yes, I'll do it," answered Tony Duval. "But I'll be running a big
risk."

"Not if you are careful," said another of the Germans.

"And don't forget that you are being well paid for your work," added a
third German, "and that you are doing this for the country in which your
mother was born."

"I should not want to be caught," grumbled Tony Duval. "If I was, the
authorities might hang me."

"Poof! be not so chicken-hearted," said the German who had first spoken.
"Now it is all arranged, be careful that you do not disappoint us," he
added sternly.

The three cadets had listened to this talk with intense interest. Now
Jack could not resist the temptation to peer in at one corner of the
window. He saw one of the Germans returning a wallet to his pocket, and
saw Tony Duval take up several bank bills from the table and place them
away in his hunting jacket. All of the Germans were on their feet, and
now turned to the door, which one of them flung wide open.

"It's all over; get back as far as you can to the woods," whispered the
oldest Rover boy, and led the way with the others at his heels.

When the cadets gained the shelter of the trees they saw the Germans get
into the sleigh once more, and a few seconds later they drove away, Tony
Duval watching their departure.

"Now what do you make of that, Jack?" questioned Gif. His face showed
that he was puzzled.

"It looks to me as if those fellows were up to no good," returned Jack.

"Did you notice what they said about Tony Duval's mother?" cried
Spouter. "That seemed to me as if his mother might have been a German
woman."

"That's the way I took it, too," returned Jack. "And then, don't forget
what Duval said--that the authorities might hang him if he was caught.
That sounds as if they were asking him to do something which was against
the law."

"Yes, and a big crime at that," put in Gif.

"I wonder where the Germans live?"

"Most likely at a distance. Otherwise they wouldn't be using a sleigh."

"We ought to look into this, and without delay," said Jack decidedly.

"Let us make it our business to find out all about the Germans
to-morrow," said Gif. And so it was decided.

When the three arrived at Cedar Lodge they found the others were already
there and had uncovered the goods hidden by Glutts and Werner under the
hay in the barn. There they likewise found the bedsheet and the blanket
which had previously been taken.

"Well, anyway, they didn't rob us," was Randy's comment.

"I guess they were afraid to do that," answered his twin. "They thought
we might bring the law down on them."

"I don't like those fellows any more, and I intend to have nothing more
to do with 'em," said Codfish.

"I guess they got you up here simply to make you toady to them."

"That's what they did, Andy. They made me carry all the things for 'em,
and made me cut the wood and wash the dishes and everything. I was a big
fool to leave home, where I might have had a splendid time during the
holidays."

That evening came the first real drawback of the outing. In returning
from the barn Spouter slipped on some ice and fell down with his foot
under him. When he got up he found that his ankle was sprained, so that
he could scarcely walk upon it. The others assisted him into the
bungalow and did what they could to make him comfortable.

"I guess I'll be all right in a day or two," grumbled Spouter. "But this
will prevent me from going out with you to-morrow to find out about
those Germans."

"Well, anyway, Spouter, you'll have Codfish here to keep you company,
and I'm sure he'll be glad enough to get something to eat for you," said
Jack.

"I'll do that willingly if only you won't call me Codfish any more,"
pleaded the cadet mentioned.

"All right, Henry. We'll have to call you by your right name after
this." And at this the sneak of the school seemed much relieved.
Secretly, he hated the nickname of Codfish exceedingly.

Early in the morning came a surprise. The boys heard a well-known
whistle and beheld Jed Wallop approaching, this time on foot. The old
hunter had his gun with him.

"Thought I'd make a day of it with you," he announced. "That is, unless
you've some other plans."

"We were thinking of coming over to your place," answered Jack. "We want
to get some information."

"All right. I'm the walkin' dictionary and cyclopædia of this hull
district," answered Jed Wallop, with a grin. "Go on and fire all the
questions at me that you want to."

The old hunter listened with interest to what the cadets had to say
concerning the Germans and Tony Duval, and also about the message Glutts
and Werner had carried to Timminsport for the strangers.

"That don't look right to me, at all," he said, shaking his head
gravely. "I've seen them Germans a few times myself, drivin' around in
that big sleigh of theirn. Sometimes there's only two of 'em, and then
agin the four are in a bunch. Someone once told me that Duval had German
blood in his veins, and I guess that's right."

"And I'm sure Glutts is German, and maybe Werner too," said Randy.

"My idee is that them Germans are holdin' out at an old house up River
Bend way. It was the old Parkingham estate, but it hasn't been used for
years. It's a mighty lonely place, too, right in the midst of the
woods."

"How far is that from here?" questioned Fred.

"About three miles, I should say."

"Is there a pretty good road?" questioned Jack.

"The way by the mountain road would be all of five miles. But I know a
fair trail through the woods that we might take."

"Then let's get there as soon as possible!" cried Gif. "Will you go with
us, Jed?"

"O' course I will! If them Germans are traitors to this country, or
anything like that, I want to know it," answered the old hunter
decidedly. "I'm too old to enlist for the war, but I ain't too old to do
my duty by Uncle Sam."

"We might combine business with pleasure," remarked Jack. "We can take
our guns and game bags, and also a substantial lunch. Then if we see any
signs of game going or coming, we can take our time about getting back
here."

"One thing that brought me over was this," went on Jed Wallop. "I heard
one of you young fellers sayin' you wanted to get a crack at a silver
fox. Well, I know a holler about two miles from here where quite a few
foxes are hangin' out. I've heard 'em barkin' around there more than
once. I saw a silver fox up that way, too, and if he shows himself you
might git what you are wishin' fer."

"Fine!" exclaimed Jack, with enthusiasm. "But is that hang-out of the
foxes on the way to the old mansion you mentioned?"

"No, it ain't. But we might work around that way comin' back."

A substantial lunch was prepared and packed, and then, after seeing to
it that their guns were in good order, the five cadets and Jed Wallop
left the Lodge.

"Mighty sorry I can't go along," said Spouter dolefully. "However, I
wish you all the best of luck, not only in getting some information
about those Germans, but also in locating the foxes."

"And you can depend on me taking good care of Dick," said Henry Stowell.

"All right, Henry," answered Gif; for he and all of the others had been
told how Codfish hated his nickname, and they had decided to do what
they could toward dropping it, although, as Andy had remarked, "It might
be pretty hard to stop calling a donkey a donkey all the time."

"We'll give the little sneak a chance to turn over a new leaf," was what
Jack had said in return. "I don't believe Codfish is bad at heart--he's
only been traveling in the wrong company."

It was a fair day with the sun coming up clearly over the treetops. It
was still intensely cold, but there was little or no wind, for which the
lads were thankful.

"I suppose you have thinned out the game a good deal right around this
Lodge," remarked Jed Wallop. "You know rabbits and squirrels don't like
to hear the bangin' of a gun. They know mighty well it spells trouble
fer 'em."

A mile was covered before they sighted anything that looked like game.
Then a big fat rabbit ran directly across their path. To give the boys a
chance, Jed Wallop did not fire, and as a consequence the bunny got
away, none of the cadets being quick enough to get a shot at it.

"You've got to have your eyes open if you want to lay low all the game
in these woods," chuckled the old hunter.

"He was too close to us," grumbled Gif. "Why, he was out of sight before
I could think of raising my gun!"

"You mustn't think, Gif. Jest fire and let it go at that," and Jed
Wallop grinned broadly. He was a man who loved company, and he thought
it great sport to be out in the woods with the cadets.

After this they trudged along in silence, each of the lads keeping his
eyes wide open for the possible appearance of any game. But nothing came
to view.

"Now we'll soon be in sight of that old house," announced Jed Wallop
presently. "It's on the other side of this hill."

They topped the rise, and there saw before them a small clearing, beyond
which was a rough mountain road. On the other side of the road was a
thick patch of timber, and in the midst of this stood a long low house
with a wide veranda in front.

"There is the Parkingham house," said Jed Wallop. "And unless I'm
greatly mistaken that's where them Germans are hangin' out."




CHAPTER XXV

TEE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE IN THE WOODS


"We don't want anyone to see us," remarked Jack, as they came to a halt
on the edge of the clearing.

"Oh, them Germans won't know but what you're simply out huntin',"
answered Jed Wallop.

Nevertheless, the boys were anxious to approach the old house
unobserved, and so skirted the clearing and crossed the mountain road,
which at this point was lined with thick pines. Then they entered the
forest again, coming up presently at a point in the rear of the building
where there was a small barn and also several sheds.

The Parkingham house was a rambling structure which had seen better
days. One end sagged, and here a porch post had fallen away, along with
several steps. But the other end of the long building had evidently been
put in some kind of repair, for some boards on the piazza were new, as
were also several window sashes. All the curtains were drawn down.

"Somebody mast be living here," remarked Randy. "Otherwise they wouldn't
have gone to the trouble and expense of making repairs."

They looked around the old house carefully, but could see nobody. Then
they peered into the barn.

"No horses here," announced Gif. "And that big sleigh isn't here
either."

"Then, if those Germans live here, they must be away on a trip,"
remarked Jack after a pause.

"I don't see anything suspicious around this place," said Andy.

The barn showed signs of use, and so did the other outbuildings, and
there were numerous tracks in the snow leading from the barn to the
house. At the well some water had been spilled, and this had not yet had
time to freeze.

"They can't have gone away so very long ago," was Gif's comment. He
turned to the others. "Well, what's the next move?"

"I don't see why you don't walk right up and knock on the door, and if
them fellers are around have a talk with 'em," declared Jed Wallop. "If
they are above board, they won't hesitate about answerin' questions."

"Let us wait around the barn for a while and see if anybody comes in or
goes out," suggested Jack. He could not get it out of his mind how
queerly the Germans had acted, and he felt certain that something was
wrong and that the fellows ought to be reported to the authorities.

"Gee! it's rather cold around here," remarked Fred, as they walked up
and down in the big barn to keep warm.

"I'm going to cover myself in the hay if you fellows are going to stay
here any length of time," cried Andy, and in a playful mood he and his
twin made a dash for what looked to be a large quantity of hay at one
side of the barn. Both burrowed down in this, and then Randy set up a
cry of surprise.

"Hello! this isn't a pile of hay at all. It's bundles of wire!"

"Bundles of wire?" queried Jack.

"What kind of wire?" asked Gif.

"Looks like fence wire, or telegraph wire, to me," said Andy, who was
holding some of the hay to one side so that he might get a better look
at what was underneath. "It looks brand new, too."

There were numerous coils of the wire, and these the cadets and Jed
Wallop looked at with interest. Then they found several packing cases,
all nailed up tightly and marked in English and in German.

"This is certainly queer," said Jack.

"Say, what's the matter with opening one or two of the cases and seeing
what's in 'em?" suggested Fred.

"Have we any right to do that?" asked Gif doubtfully.

"We'll take the right," decided Jack. "I'm satisfied that those fellows
are up to no good. You know what Tony Duval said when they asked him to
do something."

Not far from the barn was a woodshed, and here the cadets procured an
axe and a hammer. With these implements they managed to pry open one of
the packing cases. Inside was what looked to be electrical machinery,
but just what it was they could not make out.

"Looks like that telephone or telegraph line all right enough," remarked
Randy. "But what are those fellows going to do with any such line as
that away up here?"

"It's a riddle, ain't it?" remarked Jed Wallop. "Jest the same, that
stuff looks mighty suspicious to me."

They continued their investigation, and behind the packing cases found
some machinery. All of it was new and strange to them.

"If they've got so much queer stuff out here in the barn, how much more
do you suppose they've got in the house?" questioned Fred.

"If I was sure no one was at home I'd be strongly tempted to find a way
inside and take a look around," said Jack.

"Come ahead and do it!" burst out Randy. "I don't believe there's a soul
around."

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Jack finally. "You keep out of sight,
and I'll go out on the road and walk toward the house and knock on the
door. Then, if anybody comes, I'll say that I'm out hunting and would
like to buy a bit to eat. They can't refuse me a bite, and that will
give me a little chance to look around while I'm inside."

"I don't think you ought to go alone," said Gif. "They know there are a
bunch of us at the Lodge and they would be rather suspicious if you were
by yourself. Why not let me go with you?"

So it was arranged, and, leaving the others hidden in the barn, the two
cadets started to walk through the woods to the road.

"Keep your guns with you," advised Jed Wallop. "And if you git into
anything like a tight place, shoot off one of the guns as a signal and
we'll be to the rescue in no time."

The two boys were soon out on the lonely mountain road, and then they
headed for the old house. Boldly mounting the main piazza, they knocked
sharply on the door.

At first there was no response, and the lads were just congratulating
themselves on the fact that the premises were deserted when they heard
shuffling footsteps. Then came the tremulous voice of an elderly woman
speaking in broken English.

"Who ist der? Vat you vants?"

"We are a couple of boys out hunting," answered Jack. "We would like to
know if we can buy something to eat."

"I haf nodings for you. You besser go somevhere else."

"Can't we come in and get warm?" asked Gif.

"_Nein._ You go avay."

"Who lives here?" questioned Jack loudly, for the woman had made no
attempt to open the door.

"Dis ist Mister Bauermann's house."

"Is he in? I'd like very much to speak to him. I am sure he would let us
have something to eat," went on Jack in the smoothest tone he could
command.

"Do you know Mister Bauermann?" questioned the woman cautiously.

"Isn't he the gentleman who has been riding around here in his sleigh
with two or three other men?" asked Gif. "If he is," he continued, "we
have met him near my father's place."

"I think you might at least let us have a little to eat. We're willing
to pay well for it," broke in Jack. "Just a little bread and butter, and
maybe a cup of hot coffee or tea if you have it."

"I can't open de door for you," said the woman firmly. "Mister Bauermann
he gifs orders not to let anypody in de house. You haf to go avay unt
get somedings to eat somevhere else."

"When do you expect Mr. Bauermann back?" asked Gif.

"Dot I can't say. Maybe he was come back by dinner time, unt maybe not
bis night."

"All right then, we'll go. But I think you are rather mean not to sell
us something to eat," said Jack.

To this the woman did not make any reply, but they heard her fumbling at
the door, evidently making certain that the lock and bolt were secure.

As there seemed nothing else to do, the two cadets retired, and, feeling
that the woman must be watching them from behind the tightly drawn
curtains at the windows, walked on down the rough road until a bend hid
the house from view. Then they came up through the woods again and
rejoined those at the barn.

"Well, we found out one thing, anyway," declared Jack. "There is a woman
keeping guard in the house, and the menfolks are all away and won't be
back until noon or to-night."

"Evidently those chaps are very secretive," said Gif. "I agree with Jack
that the whole thing looks mighty suspicious."

"Do you intend to wait around here until those Germans come back?" asked
Fred a bit impatiently.

"Why not go out on a hunt and come back later?" suggested Randy.

"That's the talk!" broke in Andy. "I'm getting tired of hanging around
here doing nothing." To him it had been a long wait while the others had
gone to the house.

"I suppose we might as well go on a hunt," announced Gif. "Anyway, I'm
willing to do whatever the others say."

So it was decided that they should go off on a hunt, to return to the
house either later that day or else on the day following. This suited
Jed Wallop, for the old hunter did not feel in the humor for
investigating the old mansion or the Germans staying there.

"Come on, come on," said he, "and maybe we'll git a chance at a fox or
two."

"Now you're saying something!" cried Fred.

Leaving the old Parkingham house and outbuildings behind, they struck
off through the woods, crossed the mountain road and a small frozen-up
watercourse, and then mounted one of the hills lying to the northwest of
Cedar Lodge. Here they found traveling rather difficult, and more than
once the old hunter said he wished they were on snowshoes.

"Purty hard to use 'em at first," said he. "But after a while travelin'
that way gits to be as easy as the reg'lar way."

"Oh, we know something about snowshoes," said Jack. "But we didn't think
we'd need any on this trip."

They tramped around for the rest of the forenoon, managing to stir up
several rabbits, and also a partridge, which Fred was fortunate enough
to bring down. Then they built a small campfire and made themselves a
pot of hot chocolate and had this with the lunch they had brought along.

The middle of the afternoon found them in the location Jed Wallop had
had in mind when speaking of foxes. The old hunter told all of them to
be on the alert.

"You know Mr. Fox ain't goin' to stand still to be shot at," said he
quizzically. "As soon as he spots you he'll be off quicker than greased
lightning."

They advanced with caution, and had hardly proceeded a hundred yards
when Jed Wallop suddenly put up his hand for silence. They were coming
to a series of rocks, and beyond this was a small clearing, backed up by
brushwood still thickly covered with snow. They looked over toward this
brushwood in the direction which Jed Wallop pointed out, and there saw a
fox standing on a high rock, gazing expectantly at the woods beyond.




CHAPTER XXVI

WHAT THE BIG BARN CONTAINED


"There's your chance," whispered Wallop to the cadets. "Quick, now; or
he may leap away before you can say Jack Robinson."

"Go ahead, Gif," said Jack quickly, for he felt that their host should
have the first chance to shoot.

There was no time to argue the matter, and, raising his gun, Gif took
hasty aim and fired. His aim was not of the best, for only a few of the
scattering shot pierced the fox's side. The animal wheeled around in
evident astonishment, and for a second did not know which way to escape.

"Fire at him! Fire at him!" called out Jed Wallop quickly. "Fire, or
he'll git away."

This time all of the others blazed away, one after another. Several of
the charges went wild, but Randy managed to catch the fox directly in
the shoulder, and he leaped high in the air, and then came down,
floundering around and kicking the loose snow in all directions.

"Hurrah! We've got him!" cried Randy.

"Mebbe you have and mebbe you haven't," answered Jed Wallop. "Better run
in and finish him."

Gif was the first to do this, and a final charge caused the fox to cease
his struggles.

"A purty good-sized animal," remarked the old hunter, when they were
inspecting it. "That skin is worth some money."

The old hunter said he would carry the dead fox for them, and again they
went forward. They spent the best part of the afternoon looking for more
foxes, but in this they were disappointed. However, deep in the woods
they came upon a covey of partridges. All banged away at a lively rate,
and had the satisfaction of killing three of the birds.

"A pretty good haul, after all," remarked Fred, with satisfaction.

"Don't you think it about time that we returned to that old Parkingham
house?" questioned Jack, after the game had been placed in their bags.

"We might as well work around that way," answered Gif. "Remember, we'll
have quite a tramp after that getting back to the Lodge."

They turned in the direction of the old house in the woods and on their
way kept their eyes open for more game. But all they sighted were two
small squirrels, and these they thought not worth shooting at.

They were just about to cross the mountain road not far from the old
house when they heard a pair of horses hitched to a long boxsled
approaching. The sled was piled high with several boxes and three bales
of hay.

"Get back!" cried Jack quickly. "That may be one of those Germans
coming, and I don't think it would be wise to let him see us."

They stepped behind some trees and brushwood, and soon the boxsled came
closer. Then another surprise awaited them, for the driver of the sled,
who was alone, was none other than the farmer they had rescued from the
burning railroad car.

"It's that fellow Crouse," whispered Gif. "What do you know about that?"

"Shall we go out and speak to him?" questioned Andy.

"I don't see that it would do any harm," said Jack. "We have a perfect
right to be out hunting in this neighborhood."

Accordingly they stepped out in the roadway almost directly in front of
the on-coming boxsled. The driver, who was crouched down with the big
collar of his overcoat turned up around his ears, had evidently been in
deep thought, for when he noticed them he straightened up in surprise
and brought his team to a sudden halt.

"Why, if it isn't our friend from the railroad train!" remarked Jack,
with a smile.

"Well, I never!" declared Herman Crouse, with a momentary look of
pleasure on his face. "How did you young gentlemen get up here?" And
then, of a sudden, a cloud came over his features.

"Can't you see we're out hunting?" answered Fred, pointing to the guns
and game in their bags.

"Yes, yes! To be sure! I forgot that you came up here to go hunting.
Have you had much success?"

"A little," answered Gif. "We've got a fox, and we've had quite a few
rabbits, squirrels, quail and partridges."

"Not so bad." Herman Crouse looked anxiously at the boys and Jed Wallop.
"Where are you staying?"

"At Cedar Lodge. It's several miles from here," answered Jack. And then
he continued: "You belong around here? I thought you said you had a farm
near Enwood."

"So I have. But during the winter I make a little extra money trucking.
That's what I am doing now. I am feeling pretty good again."

"Where are you bound?" questioned Randy.

At this question Herman Crouse seemed somewhat disturbed.

"Oh, I've got to go up the road quite a distance," he answered
evasively. "I might offer to give you a ride, only you can see I am
loaded down as it is." And this statement was correct, for the boxsled
was carrying about all the team could haul.

"We met some other Germans around here--four men who drive around in a
big sleigh," said Jack boldly and looking Herman Crouse full in the
eyes.

"Yes, yes! I know!" The eyes of the man fell for an instant. "I am not a
German," he said somewhat lamely. "That is, I was born on the other
side, but I came to this country before I was twenty-one, and now I am
an American."

"Then you don't side with Germany in this war?"

"I don't side with the Kaiser. I am sorry for the common people, for
they have had no say-so in this awful slaughter that is going on."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you stick up for the good old U. S. A.!"
cried Jack. "You know there are a good many Germans and German-Americans
here who are the other way."

"I want nothing to do with them and nothing to do with war!" answered
Herman Crouse. "I am only a hard-working man who wants to be left
alone." He paused for an instant. "Don't imagine that I have forgotten
what you did for me," he continued, with a little smile. "You were my
very good friends, and I shall never forget it. Now, if you please, I
must hurry on, because I want to get back home before it gets too dark.
I wish you all the best of luck with your hunting;" and he took up the
reins again.

"Do you know anything about the hunting in that direction?" questioned
Randy, pointing to where the old Parkingham house was located.

"I do not think it is very good up there," was the quick reply. "And,
anyway, if I were you gentlemen I would not go anywhere near the old
house up there."

"Why not?" demanded Jed Wallop.

"The people who are staying there are very queer. They do not like any
strangers around."

"Then you know them?" questioned Gif.

"Yes, I know them, but not very well. Some of them are German-Americans,
like me, but they are not my friends. I would advise you to stay away
from them. The hunting, anyway, is better elsewhere. Now good-bye and
good luck." And thus speaking, Herman Crouse urged forward his team and
continued on his way.

"I'll bet a new hat against a lemon that he is bound for the old
Parkingham house!" exclaimed Randy, when the German was out of earshot.

"Let us follow him and make sure," returned his twin.

"All right," said Jack. "But we had better keep out of sight among the
trees."

With so much timber standing around, this was an easy matter. Following
Crouse, they saw the man at last turn in at the old house and drive
around to where the barn was located. Then he got out of the boxsled and
walked to a back door of the residence.

"Now I guess we'll find out if those Germans are back or not," announced
Gif.

They waited for several minutes, and then the door was again opened and
Herman Crouse came out, followed by two of the men the boys had
previously seen. All three hurried down to the barn and there began to
unload the boxsled. Then the boys saw the unknown Germans give Crouse
some money. The three talked together for a few minutes in German, and
then the owner of the boxsled drove away and the other Germans returned
to the house.

"This is getting interesting," remarked Jack. "Of course, that hay was
meant for the horses, but what do you suppose can be in those packing
cases?"

"Come on around to the back of the barn, and maybe we can learn
something further," said Fred.

"It's gettin' purty late, boys," announced Jed Wallop.

"If you want to go home, don't let us keep you," returned Gif, quickly.

"Well, I don't want to see any of you lads git into trouble," answered
Wallop. "At the same time, I hate to leave my family alone after dark."

"Well, you go on, then," put in Jack quickly. "There are five of us, and
I guess we can take care of ourselves, especially as we have our guns
with us."

"O' course, everything may be perfectly reg'lar here," continued Jed
Wallop. "Although, like you, I have my doubts. But unless you want me to
stay, I'll git home." And a little later he took his departure.

Left to themselves, the Rovers and Gif watched their chance, and,
unobserved, entered the big barn. Here they found that all of the
packing cases which had been brought in by Herman Crouse had been placed
out of sight under the hay.

"One thing is certain--they don't want any outsiders to know about these
cases," remarked Jack.

Suddenly Fred, who was looking out of the doorway toward the house,
uttered a low cry of alarm.

"Get under cover, fellows, just as quick as you can!" he said. "Three of
those Germans are coming down here!"




CHAPTER XXVII

THE COMING OF THE WOLVES


Fred's announcement came as a surprise. The Germans were coming from the
house so rapidly that there was no time to leave the barn, the back door
being closed and having some packing cases and hay against it.

"Come on up in the loft!" cried Jack. "Be quick now!"

"Why not hide down here in the hay?" suggested Andy.

"Because they may try to get at those packing cases, and then they would
probably discover us," was the reply. "Quick! This way!"

Gif was already acting on the oldest Rover boy's suggestion and going up
a ladder nailed to one side of the barn. Randy and the others followed,
Fred being the last.

At the top of the ladder was an opening to a large loft. Here there was
more hay, and also some old farm implements which had evidently been
hoisted there by means of a block and tackle.

"Hush now," warned Gif, and the five cadets tiptoed their way toward the
hay, bent upon secreting themselves should it become necessary to do so.

The Germans carried two lanterns, for it was now quite dark in the barn.
They were talking volubly in their native tongue, so that the cadets
could understand very little of what was said. One man, a tall, burly
individual, who was evidently more prosperous than the others, was
addressed as Herr Bauermann, and he was the man mentioned by the woman
who had refused to open the door and let Jack and Gif in.

Herr Bauermann had come out to inspect the contents of the packing cases
brought in by Herman Crouse. He had the two other men open the cases and
take out layers of excelsior so that he might look at what was
underneath. He gave a grunt of satisfaction and nodded his head
approvingly, at the same time continuing to speak in German.

All of the cadets were anxious to see what the boxes contained, and
looked cautiously down the ladder opening and through some cracks in the
loft flooring. All they could make out was some machinery, apparently
electrical and similar to that in the other cases. There was also a
large round package covered with heavy bagging, and this was found to
contain more coils of wire of various sizes.

While the men were looking around one of them suddenly stooped and
picked up something from the floor. He passed this to the others, at the
same time making some remark which, of course, the lads could not
understand.

"He's got a glove," whispered Jack.

"It's one of my gloves! I dropped it when we climbed the ladder,"
returned Randy in sudden alarm.

The finding of the glove interested the Germans very much. They looked
all around the barn, and for a few minutes the cadets were fearful that
they would come up in the loft. But then they evidently concluded that
the glove had been dropped by Herman Crouse, and placed it on a shelf.

It was a good half hour before the Germans left the barn and returned to
the house, and by that time the five cadets in the loft were almost
frozen. They had been unable to move around and thus keep warm, and with
the coming of night the thermometer was going down steadily.

"Come on! let us get out of here," said Fred, his teeth chattering. "If
we don't move soon I'll be frozen stiff."

The boys came cautiously out of the barn and looked toward the house.
Every curtain was tightly drawn, and lights shown only from the kitchen
and the dining room of the old dwelling.

"Those fellows are going to get supper," said Randy, "and I move we go
home and do likewise. We can't learn anything more standing here, and if
we went to the door and showed ourselves those men might get very
suspicious."

"All right! let's go back to the Lodge then," announced Jack. "Just the
same, I'm going to investigate this matter further, and I'm not going to
wait so very long either."

"Oh, I guess we all want to investigate these Germans," said Fred
quickly. "Don't you remember how we helped to round up those submarine
rascals?" he added, referring to an affair which has been related in
detail in the volume entitled, "The Rover Boys Under Canvas."

Losing no more time, the five cadets hurried down the rough mountain
road, and then struck off through the woods on a bee line for Cedar
Lodge. This time Gif took good care that they should not become lost.
But it was a long wearisome journey, and before the Lodge was reached
every one of the lads was almost ready to drop from exhaustion. They
were bitterly cold, and some of them thought their ears or noses must be
frozen.

"There's the light!" cried Fred at last, and he pointed to a candle
which Spouter had had Stowell place in one of the windows.

"Spouter must have done that to help us to find the way," said Jack.
"Very thoughtful of him."

As soon as they were a little closer they set up a ringing shout, and at
once Henry Stowell came to the door and flung it open. All were glad
enough to troop in and throw themselves down in comfortable seats before
the blazing fire.

"Me for a big hot supper!" announced Randy. "And I can't get it inside
of me any too quick!"

"Ditto right here," added Fred.

"And don't forget to pass me a large portion, please," came from Andy.

Under Spouter's directions, Stowell had already set a pot of water to
boiling, and had likewise baked a large pan of pork and beans and made
another pan of biscuits. Even though he had asked the sneak of Colby
Hall to work, Spouter had spoken kindly to Stowell and given him some
first-class advice, and this was evidently having its effect.

"I've got my skates, and I'm going to skate down to Henryville
to-morrow," said Stowell. "From there I can take the public sleigh to
Timminsport, and go home that way. Wish I was there now!"

Soon supper was under way, and, while eating, the other cadets related
to their chum what they had seen and heard around the old house in the
woods.

"There sure is something wrong up there," declared Spouter, whose
sprained ankle was much better. "Those fellows are up to no good. I
think, Jack, we ought to notify the authorities."

"We talked that over, Spouter; and we have concluded that we will take
another look around the place first," was the reply.

The others questioned Stowell again, but could get little further
information from the young cadet. He was satisfied, however, that Werner
had been doing some queer things for Tony Duval, and that Bill Glutts
had assisted his crony.

"There is something strange about the whole business," said he. "Once or
twice I asked Bill or Gabe about it, but I never could get any
satisfaction. I sometimes think carrying that message was only a bluff,
and that the Germans were merely trying to test out Bill and Gabe, to
see if they could not get them to do something else."

In the morning came a big surprise. It was snowing and blowing
furiously, and to go hunting or to do anything else outside was
practically out of the question. The windows were coated with ice.

"I guess I'll have to stay with you fellows for awhile," remarked
Stowell dolefully. "I wouldn't dare to try to get to Henryville in such
a snowstorm as this."

"You stay right where you are, Henry, and make yourself comfortable,"
said Gif. "As long as you're willing to do your share of the work around
here, you shall have your share of whatever there is to eat."

"It's very nice of you fellows to treat me this way after all that has
happened," said the young cadet. "Of course I'll do my full share of the
work. When I was with Bill and Gabe they always wanted me to do
everything."

The storm continued all that day, the wind, if anything, increasing in
violence. All the boys could do was to keep the fire going and make
themselves as comfortable as possible inside the Lodge. They read, wrote
letters, and played games, and also tried their hands at more
candy-making, and also the baking of some pies and cookies.

"Gee! those pies are pretty good," announced Spouter, after a piece of
one of them had been passed to him.

"They ought to be good," returned Fred. "My face was nearly burned off
baking them."

"And please don't ask me to make any more doughnuts," announced Randy.
"If I had to run a bake shop, I'd charge about twice as much as the
regular bakers do."

"He'd charge for the hole in the doughnut," came from his twin, with a
grin.

During the day they had once or twice heard a sound outside that was new
to them. They were not sure, but Jack thought it might be a wolf, and to
this Gif agreed.

"There are wolves prowling around here," said the latter. "But I never
knew of any to come close to the Lodge."

"More than likely he's hungry and wants something to eat, and has
smelled our stuff cooking," ventured Fred.

They had an early supper, and then Gif said they would have to get in
another supply of wood from the shed before retiring.

"And we might as well get in a good supply while we are at it," he
added. "If this snow keeps coming down we may not be able to get out at
all to-morrow unless we do a lot of shoveling."

It was no easy job to get to the woodshed, for the wind was still
blowing furiously. When they opened the back door of the Lodge the snow
came swirling in, almost blinding them.

"No use of you fellows trying it," announced Jack to Fred and Stowell.

"That's it," said Gif. "Four of us going out will be more than enough.
You fellows can push the snow away from the door if you want to."

With their overcoats buttoned up tightly and their caps pulled well down
over their ears, Gif, Jack and the twins sallied forth in the direction
of the woodshed, which was about fifty yards away. They had all they
could do to make any progress, and when the shed was gained they were
almost winded.

"Say, we were foolish not to get this wood before," panted Gif.

"Well, there is no use of finding fault now," answered Jack. "Come on.
Now we have packed down the path a little it won't be quite so hard."

The four boys made two trips to the woodshed, each time bringing all the
logs they could carry. Then Randy wanted to call a halt.

"I'm about played out," said he. "Let us get the rest in to-morrow."

"That's just what I say," gasped his twin. "No use of killing
ourselves."

"I'm going to make one more trip," said Gif.

"And so am I," added Jack.

The pair stepped out of the house with the others watching them. In a
minute more they disappeared from view in the storm and the darkness.

"Gee! but it's going to be one awful night," cried Fred.

"You've said it!" returned Randy. Then, of a sudden, he gave a start.
"What's that?" he ejaculated.

What he referred to was a long mournful howl which arose on the
storm-laden air. This howl was followed by another, and then by a third.

"It's wolves!" cried Fred.

"Look! Look!" ejaculated Andy. "Look out there, will you? A whole pack
of wolves!"

"Yes, and they're coming right for the house!" wailed Stowell. "Shut
that door quick, or they'll jump in on us!"




CHAPTER XXVIII

THE MAN IN THE GREY OVERCOAT


"Don't shut the door!" cried Randy. "Remember, Gif and Jack are
outside."

"Hello out there!" yelled Spouter, hobbling to the door in the
excitement. "Beware of the wolves!"

Whether his voice carried to Jack and Gif through the storm they could
not tell. Then came another howl from the wolves, this time in concert,
and suddenly two of the slinking forms appeared close to the open door.
The eyes of the beasts appeared so baneful to the cadets that they
quickly slammed the barrier shut and bolted it.

"But we can't leave Jack and Gif out there!" cried Fred. "Remember! they
are unarmed."

"Get the guns!" ordered Spouter. "Hurry up! We'll give those wolves all
they are looking for."

He hobbled across the floor to his own weapon, resting against the wall
in a corner, and looked to see if it was loaded. The others also made a
wild dash to arm themselves.

In the meanwhile the howls of the wolves kept increasing. Two more of
the beasts had come up close to the Lodge, so that the total number was
now five.

"Oh, oh! do you think they'll break into the house and eat us up?"
wailed Stowell.

"If they break in they'll get one mighty warm reception," answered Andy.
"Come on! let us open that door and go after them," he continued boldly.

Now that they were armed the Rovers and Spouter felt much safer, and
they lost no time in getting back to the door which they had just
closed.

"Oh, dear! don't open the door," pleaded Stowell. "They'll jump right in
on top of us!"

"Not after we give 'em a few doses of shot," answered Spouter. "Here,
Henry, you stand behind the door along with Fred. You, Andy and Randy,
fire as soon as you catch sight of the wolves. I'll reserve my shot for
any beast that tries to enter."

"Wait!" called out Randy suddenly. "When you shoot at the wolves be sure
to aim low. Otherwise the shots may carry through the storm and hit Gif
or Jack."

The door was opened cautiously by Fred, Stowell being too frightened to
assist. Those ready to fire saw several of the wolves in a bunch less
than fifteen feet away. The beasts had found some scraps of food which
had been thrown out of the bungalow and were pawing for more in the
snow.

"Bang! bang!" went the shotguns in the hands of the twins. The wolves
gave loud yelps of pain, and one leaped high in the air. Another uttered
a fierce snarl, and then, seeing the young hunters, made a dash directly
for them.

It was a moment of great peril, for the wolf had been wounded just
enough to make it tremendously ugly. Its eyes gleamed wickedly, and it
showed every tooth in its wide-open mouth.

But Spouter was on guard. He waited until the wolf was less than five
feet from the door, and then blazed away. The charge of shot was so
heavy that the beast fell back, its neck completely shattered.

"Now give 'em a second barrel, boys!" cried Spouter, and a moment later
three more reports rang out.

Then, unable to resist the temptation to get into the fight, Fred caught
up his gun and also fired, managing to catch one of the fleeing beasts
in the hind quarters.

"I guess that's the last of those wolves," remarked Spouter. "I don't
believe they'll come around here again all winter."

The wolf shot through the neck was dead, while at least two of the
others were so badly wounded they could scarcely drag themselves away
through the storm. The others disappeared as if by magic, racing along
at the top of their speed.

"Hello there!" came from out of the storm. "How did you make out with
those wolves?" It was Jack who was calling, and a moment later he
appeared with Gif following.

"There is what is left of the pack!" cried Randy, pointing to the dead
wolf. "Spouter brought that one down, and we managed to wound at least
two others."

"And those that could do it left quicker than them came," added his
twin.

"Good for you, Spouter!" cried Jack. "Evidently spraining your ankle
didn't interfere with your marksmanship."

"Huh! anybody could hit a target if he was right on top of it," answered
the other cadet; nevertheless Spouter was immensely pleased over his
success in laying the big wolf low.

The carcass of the dead beast was dragged into the entryway, and then
Gif and Jack brought a few more sticks of wood from the shed.

"We'll have to skin that wolf," said Gif. "Spouter, you can get a very
nice rug out of it, or maybe use the fur for some kind of a garment."

"I'll send it home," said Spouter. "I know it will please the folks very
much."

It was not until some days later that the storm cleared away
sufficiently for the boys to go out once more. Then, as they were
running short of supplies, they decided to accompany Stowell down to
Henryville, going as before on their skates.

"I must say I rather hate to leave you fellows," declared the little
cadet. "You've treated me very nicely--much better than I was treated by
Bill and Gabe. When we get back to Colby Hall I won't forget it."

"Well, you turn over a new leaf, Henry, and join the right crowd, and
you'll get along much better," answered Jack. "It will never do a fellow
any good to train with chaps like Glutts and Werner or with fellows like
Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown."

They found quite a little snow on the river and had often to plough
across the drifts on their skates as best they could. But there were
many long, cleared spaces, and here all of the cadets made good time,
for even Stowell was a fairly good skater.

"You'll be just in time, Henry," said Gif, as they came in sight of the
town. "It's now half-past ten, and, if I remember rightly, the public
sleigh for Timminsport leaves at eleven o'clock."

Gif's surmise proved correct and all walked over to the hotel from which
the sleigh for the other town started. It was an easy matter for Stowell
to obtain accommodations in this turnout, and soon he had said good-bye
and was bound for home.

"I'm mighty glad he is going to give up training with Glutts and
Werner," remarked Fred, and the others agreed with him.

The boys had made out a list of what they wanted, and, leaving the
hotel, they went over to the general store where they had traded before.
The proprietor was glad to see them, especially when he found out they
needed so many things.

"I had a man in here last night asking about you," said the storekeeper
when he was busy putting up their things.

"Asking about us?" repeated Jack. "Who was he?"

"I don't know. He was in here once before, two or three weeks ago asking
about the different hunting lodges and lumber camps in this vicinity. He
didn't give any name, and he didn't say what his business was."

"What sort of looking man was he?" asked Gif.

"Oh, just an ordinary looking sort of fellow--not very tall and not very
short either. He had a clean-shaven face and dark hair and dark eyes."

"How was he dressed?" questioned Fred.

"He wore a dark grey overcoat and a slouch hat and fur gloves. He bought
a couple of my best cigars, and stood around awhile, talking about the
people who came to the store to trade. Then he asked about Cedar Lodge,
and he wanted to know all about who was staying there. When he heard the
name Rover he was very much interested, and when I told him you were a
bunch of cadets from Colby Hall he said he would have to look you up."

"Maybe he's a friend of ours!" cried Randy. "Too bad you didn't get the
name."

"I don't know as he was any particular friend. You see, he asked about
some of the other places around here too--about Jed Wallop's place, and
those shacks belonging to Tony Duval, and about the old Hunker cabin and
the deserted Parkingham house, and the old Crosby camp, and those shacks
down at Miller's saw mill, and a lot of places like that. I thought
maybe he had an idea of buying some place and locating here."

"He may have been nothing but a real estate agent," declared Andy.

"What did you tell him about the old Parkingham house?" questioned Jack
curiously.

"I told him a bunch of foreigners were staying up there--I thought
possibly they might be Germans trying to hide themselves so as to keep
out of the draft. Say! do you suppose he might be a Government agent
rounding up the slackers?" continued the storekeeper, with interest.