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Updated: June 18, 2025
While thinking and planning I sat on the edge of the great hole where the spring was. Suddenly I saw a swirl in the water, and then a splendid spotted fish. It broke water twice. It was two feet long. "Dick, there's fish in this hole!" I yelled, eagerly. "Shouldn't wonder," replied he. "Sure, kid, thet hole's full of trout speckled trout," said Herky-Jerky. "But they can't be ketched." "Why not?"
It was the first time I had taken a good look at him. He was smaller than I had fancied; his feet and hands and features resembled those of a woman, but his eyes were live coals of black fire. In the daylight I was not in the least afraid of him. Herky-Jerky was the most interesting one of our captors. He had a short, stocky figure, and was the most bow-legged man I ever saw.
Like a pistol it cracked on Buell's head and snapped into bits. The lumberman gave a smothered groan, then clattered down the ladder and rolled on the floor. There he lay quiet. "All-fired dead thet kid now, ain't he?" said Bud, sarcastically. "How'd you like thet crack on the knob? You'll need a larger size hat, mebbe. Herky-Jerky, you go up an' see what's up there."
I demanded. I had not caught little trout in the Pennsylvania hills for nothing. "They eat, don't they? That fish I saw was a whale, and he broke water for a bug. Get me a pole and some bugs or worms!" When I took out my little case and showed the fishing-line, Herky-Jerky said he would find me some bait. While he was absent I studied that spring with new and awakened eyes.
Both of you went to sleep take thet from me!" "Wal, he's gone, an' he took the kid's gun with him," said Bill, coolly. "Now we'll be dodgin' bullets." Dick Leslie had escaped! I could hardly keep down a cry of triumph. I did ask if it was true, but none of them paid any attention to me. Buell then ordered Herky-Jerky to trail Dick and see where he had gone. Herky refused point-blank. "Nope.
Then, carefully studying the map, I marked off the three miles Herky and I had fired. "Very good. You had help in this?" "Yes. A fellow called Herky-Jerky. He was one of Buell's men who kept me a prisoner." "But he turned out a pretty good sort, didn't he?" "Indeed, yes, sir." "Well, I'll try to locate him, and offer him a job in the service. Now, Mr.
Agriculture would be impossible without water, and the forests hold water. The West wants people to come to stay. The lumberman who slashes off the timber may get rich himself, but he ruins the land." "What's that new law Congress is trying to pass?" queried Dick. I was puzzled, but presently I caught his meaning. Bill and Herky-Jerky were hanging on our words with unconcealed attention.
Dick whooped when I held up the fish; as for me, I was speechless. The trout was almost two feet long, broad and heavy, with shiny sides flecked with color. Herky-Jerky celebrated my luck with a generous outburst of enthusiasm, whereupon his comrades reminded him of his offer to swallow my fishing pole.
"You skunk!" exclaimed Herky-Jerky, with the utmost cheerfulness. "Wal, Buell," said Bill, in cool disdain, "comsiderin' my fondness fer fresh air an' open country, I can't say I'm sorry to dissolve future relashuns. I was only in jail onct, an' I couldn't breathe free." It was then Buell went beside himself with rage.
I should have gone straight to the bottom like a piece of lead but for the lasso. It tightened around my chest, and began to haul me up. I felt the air and the light, and opened my eyes to see Herky-Jerky hauling away on the rope. When he caught sight of me he looked as if ready to dodge behind the bank. "Whar's my gun?" he yelled. I had dropped it in the spring.
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