<h2 id="c27">CHAPTER XXVII. <br/><span class="small">MR. JASPER SURPRISED.</span></h2>
<p>“Don’t move, you!” the man called out, threateningly;
“I’ve got you covered; and I’m desperate
enough to shoot, if you rile me just so far. Get
that?”</p>
<p>Thad managed to preserve his level head in spite
of the seriousness of the conditions. It had always
been one of his strongest points that when an
emergency arose he could calmly meet it. In times
past this sterling trait had placed him head and
shoulders above the other scouts, and had considerable
to do with making him the assistant scoutmaster
of Cranford Troop.</p>
<p>He knew that this man was in a frame of mind
to do almost anything wicked. He had always been
a bad man, and now that his whole future depended
on his getting safely out of the country with the
plunder he had lately stolen, it was not likely he
would let anything stand in his way.</p>
<p>Thad began to use some of the shrewdness that
a scout should always aim to have at his command
when placed in a position of this sort.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_237">237</div>
<p>He saw something moving just a little way behind
Jasper, and quickly realized that this must be
the swamp guide. Alligator Smith had allowed the
man to pass him by, but he was now creeping up
like a panther back of him, advancing inches at a
time, but with the utmost care, and meaning when
the proper second came to spring upon Jasper’s
shoulders.</p>
<p>So Thad knew that it was his duty to hold the
attention of the man in some way or other, until his
confederate could cover the little space that still
separated him from his intended victim.</p>
<p>Once let Tom Smith make that plunge, and the
chances were he would fix matters, so that Jasper
would not be left in any condition to do further
damage.</p>
<p>Above all else Thad knew that under no consideration
must he allow the man to suspect that he was
only trying to hold his attention for a deep purpose.
And in order to make the matter stronger Thad determined
to stagger Jasper by revealing his identity.
Anything at all so that he could cause him to remain
just where he was, and allow the other to reach him.</p>
<p>“Oh! I surrender, all right, so please don’t think
of using your gun. It isn’t at all necessary, you
see!” and as he said this the boy held up his hands,
both of which were free; for he had allowed his
rifle to fall to the ground at the time he seized upon
the extended hands of the girl, outstretched to him.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_238">238</div>
<p>“However did you get over here: and what’s that
uniform mean?” demanded Jasper, who was apparently
almost stunned with surprise.</p>
<p>“Why, you see, I belong to the Boy Scouts,” remarked
Thad, off-hand; “and you must know
they’re always interested in boats, motorcycles,
aeroplanes and all such things. And it looks like a
fellow would need a flying machine to cross that
sink of mud around this place.”</p>
<p>“An aeroplane! You an air pilot?” exclaimed
the man, hardly knowing whether it could be true,
or that this boy might be deceiving him for a purpose.
“I’d never believe it unless you showed me
your machine. What were you doing holding the
hands of my daughter? There’s something more
about this thing than you’ve admitted! I’m beginning
to suspect that you came here with some purpose!”</p>
<p>Only another minute, Thad expected, would be
necessary; Alligator Smith was making good progress,
and must soon be in position to hurl himself
upon the unsuspecting Jasper, wrestling with these
staggering facts.</p>
<p>“Well, that’s right, Mr. Jasper, I did come here
for a good reason!” Thad went on to say composedly,
hoping that he could manage to hold the
attention of the other just a brief space of time
longer.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_239">239</div>
<p>“You know me!” gasped the man, still further
amazed; “who are you, boy? I demand that you
tell me, and in a hurry too, if you understand what’s
good for you.” and he made a significant movement
with the hand that gripped the pistol.</p>
<p>“My name is one you’ve heard before, Mr. Jasper.
I’m Thad Brewster!”</p>
<p>That was almost like a thunderclap to the rascal.
It must have brought up before his mind’s eye many
things connected with his wretched past. When he
had succeeded in digesting it better no doubt he
would show signs of anger; he might even think of
raising his hand to do the lad injury; because when
one has bitterly wronged another he is apt to hate
him in the bargain. But just then Jasper was too
utterly astonished to even show rage.</p>
<p>“You Thad Brewster?” he cried out, his hand
falling to his side from weakness, as he stared into
the face of the boy who stood there, and calmly confronted
him.</p>
<p>“Yes, and I have come to find my little sister,
Pauline, the girl you stole away from my mother
many years ago. There’s no use in saying that you
didn’t, because I have plenty of proof. Why, anybody
could tell from her looks alone that she was a
Brewster. And of course you’ll let her go back
with me, Mr. Jasper. You must have long ago repented
having been so cruel to my poor mother,
who died, mostly from grieving after her lost baby.
You can go your way, and let Pauline be with me.
You will, won’t you?”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_240">240</div>
<p>Of course Thad was talking in this way for the
simple reason that he must say something to hold
the attention of the man, because the critical moment
was close at hand. And he had really taken
the strongest measures possible for riveting the
mind of Jasper upon what he was saying. A dozen
seconds more, and it would all be over; so the scoutmaster
was determined that he would continue to
grip Jasper’s mind for that length of time.</p>
<p>The man laughed, now, a little hoarsely.</p>
<p>“Of all the nerve I ever met up with, you take the
premium!” he remarked, with a vein of sarcasm in
his voice. “I guess you are a Brewster, all right,
and a chip of the old block in the bargain. But
you’re off your reckoning if you think I’m going to
let that little girl get away from me. Why, I’m
just beginning to care for her; and in some distant
country she’ll make me a fine, dutiful daughter for
my old age. And it’ll be a sweet morsel for me to
roll under my tongue, having a child of Henry
Brewster to wait on me!”</p>
<p>“Then she is my sister; you don’t try to deny
that, do you?” demanded the boy, like a flash.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_241">241</div>
<p>“Why should I, when it adds to my pleasure to
see you hate to lose her?” answered the other; and
then beginning to scowl savagely he went on to say
while he waved his deadly weapon to and fro:
“however you came over here, you’re not going
back again in a hurry, to betray me to my enemies.
I’ll just tie you up, neck and crop, and perhaps leave
you here, monarch of all you survey, when Polly
and myself make up our minds to skip out. Don’t
move a finger now, boy, or it will be the worse for
you!”</p>
<p>“Oh! I’ve got both hands held up, as you see;
and as there’s all of twenty feet between us, why I
couldn’t do anything even if I wanted to. But would
money induce you to let me take my sister away
with me? You always liked money, Mr. Jasper;
and if you saw a chance to make twenty thousand
dollars perhaps you’d change your mind, and go off
without Polly. Huh! I guess you will, anyway.
Whoop! hold him tight, Tom Smith; and here’s
helping you if you need it!”</p>
<p>The swamp hunter had finally made his leap, and
with such success that he landed on the back of
Jasper, bearing the rascal heavily to the ground.
Of course the man struggled furiously; but he was
as a pigmy in the grip of the stalwart alligator-skin
hunter, who not only prevented him from using the
weapon he held, but forced him to drop the same, by
bending back his arm until he almost broke it.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_242">242</div>
<p>Thad jumped forward, and secured the dangerous
weapon; after which felt that the case was
so nearly settled that it would be safe to call the
rest of the sheriff’s posse up. Accordingly he let
out a loud “cooee” that would mean a whole lot to
the balance of the scouts; and almost immediately
he heard them tearing along, fairly wild to reach
the spot, and see what was happening.</p>
<p>And when they did come hurrying up, imagine
the delight of Bumpus, Giraffe and the rest at discovering
Thad standing there, holding the hand of
the girl, and looking happier than they could ever
remember seeing him before; while Alligator Smith
was covering the prostrate form of Jasper with his
angular body.</p>
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