"They certainly are on this side of the creek," Clay reasoned, "for they couldn't very well make progress on the other side unless they traveled in an aeroplane."

There were no tracks to follow, no indications of any one having pa.s.sed that way recently, but the boys kept pluckily on, listening now and then for some sign from the dog.

"If he finds Alex," Jule declared, "he'll make a note of it, and we'll hear a racket fit to wake the dead."

"And that will warn the outlaws of our approach," said Clay in a discouraged tone of voice. "Perhaps we did wrong to bring the dog."

"You may be sure Captain Joe will give a good account of himself,"

Jule said confidently. "He may make a racket, but it's dollars to apples that they won't catch him."

In a short time the clamor the boys had been expecting came from the forest beyond. Captain Joe was barking and growling and, judging from the commotion in the copse, was evidently threshing about.

"That's a sc.r.a.p," Jule declared. "Perhaps he has caught one of the men. If he has, I hope he's got him by the throat."

Pressing into the interior of the forest, the level gra.s.sy plateau having long since disappeared, the boys finally came to a small cleared glade and discovered the cause of Captain Joe's enthusiasm.

Teddy, the cub, was standing with his back to the hole of a giant tree inviting the dog to a boxing match. Captain Joe's clamor indicated only delight at the meeting with his friend.

Before showing themselves in the glade, the boys looked in every direction for some indication of the outlaws, but there was no sign of human life anywhere near them. No noise, save the cries of the creatures of the air and the jungle.

"You're a fine old scout, Captain Joe," whispered Clay as he finally advanced into the glade. "You notify everybody within a mile of us as to our location, but you don't do a thing to help us find Alex."

At mention of the lost boy's name, Teddy dropped down from his antagonistic att.i.tude, and, thrusting a soft muzzle against Clay's hand, moved away to the west.

"The cub has more sense than the dog," Jule exclaimed. "Captain Joe makes a noise, and Teddy does the piloting. Do you suppose he knows where Alex is?" he added.

"It seems to me that he is trying to tell us something," Clay replied.

"Anyway, we may as well follow him."

Teddy, who was an especial favorite of Alex's, and never lost an opportunity of following him about, appeared to know exactly where he was going, for he maintained a steady pace for half an hour or more, keeping to the south sh.o.r.e of the creek for a time and then crossing on a fallen tree to the opposite bank.

"Now," said Clay, "we ought not to follow close behind the cub. He makes as much noise as a freight train going up a steep grade, and we'll be sure to be seen if the outlaws are anywhere about."

"Perhaps he will go on alone," Jule suggested.

"In that case, we can skirt his track and remain hidden. That ought not to be very difficult in this broken country."

Teddy turned about with an inquiring glance as the boys left his side, but soon proceeded on his course. Fearful that Captain Joe would indulge in another demonstration of some kind, the boys kept him with them, Jule keeping a close hold on his collar.

"This doesn't seem much like a river trip to me," Jule grinned as they pa.s.sed over rocks, sneaked through miniature canyons and threaded thickets alive with briers and clinging vines. "Seems more like an overland expedition to the north star."

"There is one compensation," Clay added humorously. "Alex will get good and hungry--and serve him right at that."

"Huh!" Jule declared, "Alex is always hungry anyway."

Teddy now quickened his pace so that the boys had great difficulty in following him. He ran with his nose to the rough ground, his short ears tipped forward, for all the world like a hound on a scent.

"Look at the beast!" Jule laughed. "Acts like he was a hound after foxes. That's some bear, Clay."

"So far as I know," Clay answered, "he's the only cub that ever did a stunt like that. Still, he's only exhibiting the advantages of an early education, for he has long been trained to follow us."

After a short time the boys, advancing up a ledge and then into a little gully, came upon Teddy lying flat on the ground, his nose pointing straight ahead. When they came to him Captain Joe pulled fiercely to get away, his nose pointing straight to the north.

"I guess," Jule panted, holding to the dog with all his strength, "that they have located Alex. If you'll take charge of this obstreperous animal for a while, I'll sneak ahead and have a look."

Clay finally succeeded in quieting the dog, and Jule pushed on up the gully. At the very end, where the depression terminated in a wall of rock, he saw a faint column of smoke. A closer approach revealed a small fire of dry sticks with something cooking in a tin pail over the coals.

Jule stopped and considered the situation seriously.

"Now, I wonder," he thought, "why Teddy didn't make a fool of himself by rushing right up to Alex. I don't believe he's scared of the men, and, to tell the truth, I don't see any men to be frightened at. Alex seems to be there alone. Wonder why he doesn't run."

The reason why Alex didn't run was disclosed in a moment. The boy's hands were tightly bound across his breast and a strong rope encircled his ankles. For a moment there was no one in sight save the boy, then a roughly dressed man came into view carrying an armful of dry wood for the fire. Jule heard both the dog and the cub protesting at being kept away from the fellow, and saw the man turn sharply about.

Then there came another revelation. With bound arms swinging out, and bound feet kicking violently, Alex was ordering the two animals away.

Well trained as they were, they protested while they obeyed.

"Is that that bear of yours, again?" Jule heard the man asking. "If I wasn't afraid of attracting attention, I'd put a bullet into him. Call him up here and keep him quiet while I gather more dry wood. The boys will be here in an hour or so and will want breakfast."

"That settles it," whispered Jule. "If the boys are so far away that they won't be back in an hour or more, they won't find any cook when they return. If I have my way, the cook will be tied up."

"All right," Alex said in reply to the fellow's order, "I'll call him up and keep him quiet after you go away. He's been used to polite society and doesn't like you!"

The man snarled out some surly reply and disappeared. Jule was at his chum's side in a moment. The ropes were cut, and the two boys were speeding back to where Clay had been left.

There was a little scene of congratulation, and then Captain Joe, growling fiercely, leaped forward. The man who had gone in search of wood must have heard the noisy greetings of the boys, for he came running back to the fire. The boys saw him throw a hand back for a weapon, heard an exclamation of anger, and knew that the dog was springing at his throat.

The struggle was a short one, for the man who had been attacked had not succeeded in reaching his revolver. When the boys reached the scene the man was black in the face and the dog was shaking him viciously by the neck.

"Captain Joe seems to know who his friends are!" Alex shouted.

"If we don't break his hold in a minute, the man will be dead," Jule exclaimed, dancing excitedly about, "and we're not out to commit murder."

When the clutch of the dog was finally released, the man lay back, panting, on the ground. An examination of his injury showed that it was not serious, his throat having been compressed rather than torn.

In a moment the man sat up and glared about with murder in his protruding eyes. Seeing the dog still watching him, he gave him a vicious kick and came near inviting a repet.i.tion of the attack.

"I'll kill that dog!" he shouted.

"No, you won't!" laughed Alex. "We're going to take that dog out of this blooming country. We're going to tie you up so you won't over-exert yourself while in your present weakened condition, and streak it for the motor boat. We've had enough of this blooming election precinct."

This program was carried out so far as moving back toward the motor boat was concerned, but when, after a long, hard journey, they came to the place in the river where the _Rambler_ had been left, it was nowhere to be seen. Satisfied that Case had not proceeded up the river--the falls would have prevented a long run up--they all entered the rowboat and pa.s.sed on down toward the St. Lawrence.

"Talk about getting lost!" grinned Alex. "Case has gone and lost the boat!"

CHAPTER VII