CHAPTER VIII.—DEPUTY KING GETS A BATH.
Alex was awakened by the little cabin clock striking midnight. He lay quiet for a moment without opening his eyes, for he was still very tired and sleepy, notwithstanding his unfortunate afternoon siesta. Presently he felt the cold nose of the bear brushing against the palm of one hand, which was hanging over the edge of the bunk.
As this was a trick often resorted to by the cub to attract attention when he was hungry, or wanted some one to play with, the boy took no special notice of it. Then a strange rustle and stir in the cabin came to his ears, a combination of sounds which proclaimed a hustling about of furniture and a tossing about of small articles.
At that he opened his eyes and sat up. Then he rubbed his sleepy eyes and stretched out a hand in the direction of the place where he always kept his automatic at night. The weapon was not there!
What he saw was King, the deputy sheriff, opening and closing the drawers under the bunks where Clay and Case slept. He was tumbling the contents of the drawers over the floor and frowning savagely as he turned the medley of furnishing goods with nervous hands.
Now, how came it that King was on board the Rambler? The deputy had left the boat for the purpose of pursuing the boy who had taken the money and the handbag from Josiah Trumbull. By this time he ought to be far into the mountainous district to the west. And what was he doing there? And where were Case and Clay, and Captain Joe?
These questions, and many others of a similar kind, came to the boy as he watched King throwing the boys’ shirts, collars, ties, underclothing, and toilet articles about. But no answers came, except that a low growl from the dog sounded from the open doorway. Turning, Alex saw that he was tied by a chain to the top bar of the deck railing.
Captain Joe was pulling at the chain, his red eyes were glaring angrily, and his capable teeth showed under his snarling lips.
Alex beckoned silently to the dog, and he pulled at his chain fiercely and set up a great barking. Then King looked at the dog and at the bunk where the astonished Alex sat, still motioning to the dog.
“Good morning!” the deputy said, with a smile which was not altogether hostile. “How do you find yourself this morning?”