“Well,” Mr. Nocker continued, “according to my recollection those gentlemen from Creston lost a field-glass they valued highly, as well as a watch, and several other things, that they would surely pay a good reward to recover.”
“That makes me think of something,” Dick spoke up.
“Tell us what it is, then, please?” urged Leslie, quickly.
“The trail I started to follow at the time I glimpsed the gorilla standing so close by, was so well beaten that I felt sure it must lead to his den, somewhere in the thickest part of the jungle.”
“It stands to reason that would be the case,” admitted Mr. Nocker. “I suppose you are going to say, Dick, that if the pit trap works and the monster is caught, so there need be no further fear of him, you mean to follow up that trail and find his den?”
“Why, yes, sir, that was what I had in mind,” admitted the boy, modestly. “If he is like some monkeys I’ve read about, that had such a weakness for pretty and shiny things that they stole them, he’ll keep his trophies there, and we’ll be apt to get back everything that’s been taken.”
“Thank you for that comforting assurance, Dick,” said Mr. Holwell. “There’s a standing reward of ten dollars out for the safe return of my watch. I’d feel that I was getting off pretty cheap at that, for I cherish that keepsake considerably above its intrinsic value. Then Dan, here, is to be heard from also, for he’s in the same boat with me.”
“Ten cents reward, and no questions asked,” declared Dan, “for the safe return of my dollar watch! That’s ten per cent. you know. I only hope the rascal hasn’t gone and stowed it away in his cheek, as I saw a tricky monkey do when he’d hooked a man’s watch right from his pocket.”
Many times during the evening Dan might have been observed listening eagerly. He half fancied he had caught some significant sound which indicated that his expected guest had arrived at the trap, and taken the plunge.
On each occasion, however, he concluded he must have been mistaken. At any rate Dan did not see fit to ask any one to accompany him thither, lantern in hand, to investigate. Indeed, it is questionable if he could have found a single recruit had he proposed such a thing. The boys were not keen to wander far from the protection of that jolly campfire, knowing, as they did, what sort of terrible beast was making its home on Bass Island.