By noon they had made their way directly through the woods and had eleven rabbits and three squirrels to their credit. Then Tom suggested they build a campfire and rest while eating their lunch and this was done.
"I wish we could bring down a fox or two," said Jack Ness. "They have been bothering the chickens again lately--carried off two only night before last."
"Do you know where they hang out?" asked Dick.
"I think they come from over yonder," and the hired man pointed with his hand to the northward.
"Let us travel in that direction after dinner," suggested Sam. "Even if we don't spot any foxes we may find as many rabbits and squirrels there as anywhere else."
The others were willing, and half of the afternoon was spent by the four hunters in a locality that was new to them. One fox was sighted, and Jack Ness shot the animal in the hind quarters, and then Sam finished him by a shot in the side.
"Well, that makes one fox less anyway," said the hired man.
They kept on, and brought down two rabbits and a wild turkey. By this time they were pretty well tired out, and Tom suggested that they start for home.
"It's a long tramp," he said, "and by the time we get back I guess we'll all be ready to rest."
"As for that, I am ready to rest now," said Sam. "Tramping through the snow is no easy task."
"Especially if a fellow's legs aren't very long," returned Dick, with a grin.
"Well, mine are as long as they ought to be," came from Sam, promptly.
"They reach to the ground, and yours don't reach any further," and then there was a general laugh, Jack Ness guffawing loudly.
The hired man said he knew of a short cut to the farm, and they followed him to something of a path through the woods and then out on a trail made years before by charcoal burners. Soon they came in sight of a cabin, from the chimney of which the smoke was curling.
"Who lives here?" asked Dick.
"An old man named Derringham," answered Jack Ness. "He is very old and somewhat out of his head. He makes his living by selling herbs and barks for medicine. Years ago, so they say, he was an herb doctor, but he didn't have a certificate, or something like that, so the authorities drove him out of business. After that he got queer and took to the woods."
"Let us go in and see him," said Tom, whose curiosity was aroused. He walked boldly up to the hut and knocked loudly on the dilapidated door.
"Who is that, Pop?" he heard somebody ask, in a startled voice.
"I don't know, sir," was the answer, in the voice of an old man.
"I don't want to see anybody," went on the first speaker. "Send him away, whoever he is."
"Go away!" cried the old man. "I don't want anybody around here."
By this time all of the party outside were at the door. Tom's face showed that he was laboring under sudden surprise.
"Evidently the old man doesn't want visitors," was Dick's comment.
"There is somebody else in there with him," whispered Tom. "From his voice I should say it was Bill Dangler!"
CHAPTER XXIV
A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE
The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
"Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him. Then he nodded vigorously.
"What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
"I am sure I don't know. But I am almost certain it was Dangler's voice.
If you will remember, it has a certain shrillness to it."
"Yes, I know that."
During this talk there were murmurs in the cabin which those outside could not understand. Then the old man came towards the door and slipped a bolt into place.
"I want you to go away!" he said sharply. "I don't like strangers around here."
"We won't hurt you, Mr. Derringham," said Dick. "We came to pay you a friendly visit."
"Wouldn't you like a nice rabbit from us?" asked Tom, bound to get into the cabin somehow.
"I have no money with which to buy rabbits."
"We'll make you a present of one," said Sam.
"I want no presents from anybody. I want you to go away," said the old man, in a high-pitched, nervous tone.
"Mr. Derringham, don't you remember me?" asked Jack Ness. "I used to buy herbs and watercress from you. I'd like to speak to you for a minute."
"Who are you?"
"I am Jack Ness, the man who works over on the Rover farm."
"The Rover farm!" muttered a voice in the cabin. "Don't let them in!
Don't you do it!"
"I am sure that is Dangler!" cried Tom, whose ears were on the alert.
"If he is really there we have him cornered!"
"Yes, and he shan't get away from us again," added Dick.
"If he tries it we can halt him with a dose of buckshot," put in Sam.
After that there was a pause, the boys not knowing exactly how to proceed. Tom pressed on the door, but it refused to give way.
"I tell you I want you to leave!" cried the old man, after some more whispering in the cabin. "If you don't go away I'll get my gun."