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Updated: June 27, 2025
"I don't deny that I was with Moxley when he broke into your cabin," he said huskily, "but I was only with him because I wanted to help these boys. I couldn't leave him without spoilin' my plans, and I couldn't persuade him to let the cabin alone, though I tried hard enough. He gave me the slip next morning, as it was, an' I had to tramp it down the creek the rest of the way.
Not until he was fairly inside, and crawling on hands and knees over the rickety floor, did he realize the great danger that lay in what he had undertaken to do. For an instant he trembled with fear, and then the memory of his wrongs steeled his heart and nerves. A sudden noise overheard caused him to crouch midway on the floor. A moment later the stairway creaked, and Moxley began to descend.
I took you fur some one else at first fur the man what put this boat here." "You mean Dude Moxley," said Ned. "Well, I can tell you where he is. In spite of your warning we all fell into his hands, and I'm the only one that's free so far." He went on with his story and quickly made the situation clear. Bug was amazed to learn how close his old companion was.
He paused a moment and then went on: "You'll find out before long that Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with. I'll get what I want out of you obstinate pig headed chaps if it takes a week. I know how to bring you to terms. Back you go in that closet now, and there you stay until you can listen to reason.
He could not withstand the temptation to go up the creek and have a look at the canoes. He found them all safely out of reach of the flood, for Moxley was too shrewd a man to let them go adrift, and perhaps cause an investigation that would frustrate his plans.
He was sprawled in a lazy attitude on the sawdust, pulling at his foul black pipe. Occasionally he took a flat, greenish bottle from his pocket and tasted the contents with a satisfactory smack of the lips. The fumes of bad tobacco and whisky began to permeate the closet. So the long afternoon wore on. Moxley seemed quite unconcerned about his prisoners.
One and all bolted for the nearest aperture in the creek side of the mill, and fortunately reached it without falling through the gaps in the floor. Ned would gladly have followed their example, but he suddenly bethought him of the plunder Moxley had packed up to carry away. Such a loss would be irreparable, and without hesitation he dashed toward the burning wall.
And we won't have to start down this flooded creek in the dark, either, I must be quick, though, for Moxley might happen to open the closet and discover my absence. I wish there was some way of letting the boys know what I am going to do." This was manifestly impossible, so Ned crawled away from the door and crossed the sluice to the foot of the hill.
His progress could be noted as he passed the crevices in the wall. Bug lay motionless, wondering what he should do next. The possibility of being discovered made him tremble violently. He quite forgot that he had a pistol. Moxley had now reached the floor, and with cautious steps he moved along the wall toward the lower corner.
When I was quite sure that they had gone and were not coming back again to find something they had forgotten, I went downstairs and surprised a conclave between the butler, Moxley, and his satellites, reinforced by Lady Ragnall's maid and two other female servants. "Gratuities!" Moxley was exclaiming, which I thought a fine word for tips, "not a smell of them!
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