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Updated: May 24, 2025
"The rascal has been drinking, and the fiery stuff has given him false courage. After a while he will either fall asleep or become helpless from intoxication." "I wonder if the boys know that help is outside," remarked Ned, "I wish I could get a few words with them." "Of course they know it," replied Hocker. "They heard every word that was said, and they have too much sense to make any outcry.
"It's hard," muttered Hocker, "that's a fact." Then all were silent, watching the flames as they rose higher and higher, and licked every corner of the doomed building. It was a grand sight while it lasted, but in twenty minutes nothing was left save a few blackened beams and smoldering heaps of ashes. "That ends the fireworks," said Jeffries. "We may as well be moving along.
Hocker proved himself a delightful host. His cabin was crammed full of curious contrivances for catching fish and trapping game, the various uses of which he took delight in explaining to the boys. He was an adept at cooking as the bountiful evening meal proved and he possessed a fund of adventurous stories that made the hours pass quickly until bedtime.
There ain't no undercurrent out there as I know of, so he ain't likely to come to harm, and besides I'm mighty anxious to git my gun back." Here Mr. Hocker winked slyly at Daddy Perkiss and the fishermen. The old man failed to appreciate the joke. "It's temptin' Providence," he cried shrilly, pounding his cane on the beach.
"If you ever sees that weapon agin, Mose Hocker, I'll give you ten pounds of the best plug terbacker that Bill Smith has in his store." "That's a bargain," exclaimed Mose. "You fellows can testify to what he said." Then turning to Randy he added with a laugh, "Don't fail me now, lad. Ten pounds of terbacker ain't picked up every day."
"That yarn was started years ago," whispered Mose Hocker, coming close up to the boys, "an' Daddy has told it so many times that he believes every word. I reckon the most of it's true though. It would take more'n one clothesline to reach bottom out here." "But has the place never been sounded?" asked Ned. "Have you never tried it yourself?" Mose Hocker shook his head vigorously.
"I reckon I can fix this matter," he said after a little consideration. "I owe you lads something anyhow, and this is a good time to pay the debt." Hocker was as good as his word. He walked over to the boat and surprised Jeffries by saying in a grave tone, "Look here, old man; I've sorter veered round on this thing.
To enforce this hostile declaration Moxley thrust the muzzle of his gun through a crevice, and Jeffries hastily retreated. There was dead silence for a while. It was only too evident that Moxley meant what he said, and though Jeffries and Hocker were brave men, they were reluctant to engage in a struggle with all the odds against them.
"You can't play that game on me. Get out of that at once, or I'll riddle you with buckshot. In ten seconds I shoot." It was not a time to hesitate or parley. The plank dropped into place, and by a reckless swing and drop Hocker landed fairly in the center of the boat, very nearly capsizing it. Abner dropped the oars, and the current whirled the craft swiftly down the wasteway.
"If you can tell me the exact location I'll get it for you." "You will, will you?" exclaimed the man impressively. "Waal, I reckon you'd have a stiff contract. Did you fellows never hear of Rudy's Hole? Thar it lies right in front of you, and there ain't no bottom to it." "Hold on, Mose Hocker," exclaimed one of the fishermen. "There must be bottom somewheres, of course, but it's mighty far down."
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