The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward

am. He has the map, and I reckon he'll keep it. Now, if it's all the same to you, we'll take that meal. Eh, Sam?"

      "I'm hungry enough."

      "I shan't give you a mouthful!" roared Baxter. "You can't play any game on me."

      "That shows what your promise is worth, Baxter," returned Tom. "I didn't expect much else, though, for I know you thoroughly. Still, we told you nothing but the truth."

      With a face full of hatred Dan Baxter turned on his heel and left them. Presently they heard him sit down with the others, and all began to eat the food that had been cooking.

      "I must say we didn't gain much," observed Tom gloomily. "I suppose I ought to have humored him, in order to get something. But I despise him so I can't help pitching into him."

      "I wouldn't humor him — I'd starve first!" returned Sam earnestly. "I am glad we weren't carrying the map."

      "So am I glad. Rather than give it to him, I would have chewed it up and swallowed it."

      Half an hour went by, during which both boys said but little, each being busy trying to concoct some scheme by which they might escape. They heard the others talking in low voices, but were unable to catch what was said.

      Presently Jasper Grinder came in, bringing with him a small portion of food and a kettle of water. Setting the things on a rock, he untied one hand of each of the boys, that they might eat and drink.

      "This is a fine meal," said Tom sarcastically.

      "It is more than you deserve," replied the former teacher of Putnam Hall.

      "You always were a hard one, Grinder."

      "Mr. Grinder, if you please," said the man pointedly.

      "And if I don't please to call you Mister?"

      "Then you will get nothing more from me."

      "Do you know that you are playing a high game here, keeping us prisoners?" asked Sam.

      "What we are doing is our business." Jasper Grinder paused for a moment. "I want you to tell me something of that treasure for which you are seeking," he went on.

      "What do you want to know?" asked Tom.

      "What is the treasure worth?"

      "We can't tell that until it is found."

      "You are quite sure it has never been removed?"

      "How can we be sure, when we don't know anything about it."

      "Baxter says your brother Dick has a map."

      "Hasn't Baxter a map, too?" questioned Sam.

      "Something of a map, yes, but it is not very complete."

      "I'm glad to hear that," said Tom quickly.

      "But Baxter claims the treasure for himself."

      "Really?" said Sam sarcastically. "Well, let him claim what he pleases. If we find it, it will belong to us — don't forget that."

      Again there was a pause. Jasper Grinder looked anxiously toward the outer cave, to see if Baxter or the guide were watching him. But the two were talking earnestly between themselves.

      "I have a plan," began the former teacher of Putnam Hall, in a low voice, "a plan to aid you."

      "What plan?" demanded Tom.

      "Hush! not so loud — or they may hear you. I presume you know what sort of a fellow Baxter is?"

      "Well, rather," said Sam dryly.

      "He is planning to do you a great deal of harm. Now I think I can save you."

      "Then save us," said Tom. "Or untie us, and we will save ourselves."

      "You can't save yourselves. Baxter is strong, and that guide is a giant in strength."

      "What do you propose?"

      "I'm coming to that. But you must make me a promise first."

      "What promise?"

      "That half that treasure shall be mine when it is found."

      "Half!" cried Tom and Sam together.

      "Yes."

      "We can't promise that," went on Tom.

      "You don't want much," was Sam's comment.

      "Isn't it worth something to be saved from Baxter's clutches? I overheard him tell the guide what troubles he had had with you in the past, and how you had been the means of sending his father to prison, and all that. Why, he would put you out of the way forever, if he could."

      "And will you stand by, Jasper Grinder, and see that done?" asked Tom.

      "No! no! But — but — he is his own master. Promise what I wish, and I will help you."

      "We can't promise you half the treasure," said Tom flatly. "But if you will really help us, we'll promise that you shall lose nothing by the transaction."

      At this instant Dan Baxter leaped to his feet and ran for his gun, while Bill Harney and Lemuel Husty did the same.

      "Come out here, Grinder!" shouted the bully. "Somebody or some wild animal is around!"

      CHAPTER XXIII

       THE BLACK BEAR

       Table of Contents

      "Somebody is coming!" ejaculated Sam. "I hope it is Dick, with Mr. Barrow!"

      "So do I," returned Tom.

      Without saying a word more, Jasper Grinder ran from the inner cave and joined Baxter and the guide. His face was pale, and he was evidently much disturbed.

      Soon Baxter and his party were outside, and the Rover boys heard them moving up and down the gully. Several minutes passed, and then came a gunshot, followed by another.

      "I hope they are not firing on Dick or Mr. Barrow," said Sam, with something of a shudder.

      "I guess not," returned his brother. "If they were, we'd probably hear shots in return."

      An hour went by, and then Dan Baxter and the others came back, the guide carrying several rabbits and a large fox. The rabbits were skinned and kept for eating, and the fox was skinned and the carcass thrown away.

      Torn and Sam had expected Jasper Grinder to return to them, but if the former teacher desired to do this, he was prevented by Dan Baxter, who kept his companions close by him, around the fire.

      Slowly the time went by until darkness was upon them. The fire was kept up, but Baxter screened it as much as possible, so that the glare might not penetrate to the forest beyond the gully and prove a beacon to guide Dick and John Barrow to the spot.

      The boys were tired out, and soon Sam sank to sleep, with his hands still tied to the tree roots. Tom tried to keep awake, but half an hour later he, too, was in dreamland.

      When the Rovers awoke it was not yet morning. All was dark around them, for the fire had burnt low. Sam roused up first, with a severe pain in his wrists and ankles, where his bonds were cutting him.

      "Oh, my wrists!" he groaned, and his voice caused Tom to start.

      "Is that you, Sam?"

      "Yes. My wrists are almost cut in two!"

      "The same here. I've slept like a rock, too."

      "Is it morning yet?"

      "I'm sure I don't know."

      "What's going on in there?" came from Dan Baxter, as he leaped to his feet and caught up a gun.

      "We are suffering from cuts of the ropes," said Tom. "It was an outrage to compel us to sleep in this fashion, tied up like mummies!"

      "Oh,