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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18952-h.zip b/18952-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..597f262 --- /dev/null +++ b/18952-h.zip diff --git a/18952-h/18952-h.htm b/18952-h/18952-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2435381 --- /dev/null +++ b/18952-h/18952-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5026 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Boy Scouts On A Long Hike, by Archibald Lee Fletcher + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; + position: absolute; right: 2%; border:1px solid white; + padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; + color: #444; background-color: #EEE;} + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + hr.full {width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.major {width:75%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.minor {width:30%; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; + padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; + font-size: 90% } + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + p.backmatter {margin-left: 20px; text-indent: -20px;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Boy Scouts on a Long Hike, by Archibald Lee Fletcher + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Boy Scouts on a Long Hike + Or, To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps + +Author: Archibald Lee Fletcher + +Release Date: July 31, 2006 [EBook #18952] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class='figcenter' style='width: 300px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<img src='images/illus-cover.jpg' alt='cover' title='cover' /><br /> +</div> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + <col style="width:100%;" /> + <tr> + <td align="center"> + <span style="font-size: 180%;"><br />BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE</span><br /> + <span style="font-size: 80%;">OR</span><br /> + <span style="font-size: 170%;">To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps</span><br /><br /><br /> + <span style="font-size: 80%;">By</span><br /> + <span style="font-size: 150%;">Archibald Lee Fletcher</span><br /><br /><br /> + <span style="font-size: 100%;">Chicago</span><br /> + <span style="font-size: 120%;">M. A. DONOHUE & CO.</span><br /> + </td> + </tr> +</table> + + +<hr class='major' /> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size: 80%'>Copyright 1913<br /> +M. A. DONOHUE & CO.<br /> +CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<h2><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<col style="width:70%;" /> +<col style="width:10%;" /> +<tr><td align="right">I</td><td align="left">—THE BOYS OF THE BEAVER PATROL</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_I">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II</td><td align="left">—HELPING NOODLES</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_II">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III</td><td align="left">—THE GENTLE COW</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_III">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV</td><td align="left">—IN ALABAMA CAMP</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_IV">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V</td><td align="left">—A HELPING HAND</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_V">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI</td><td align="left">—THE HOME-COMING OF JO DAVIES</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_VI">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII</td><td align="left">—INNOCENT OR GUILTY?</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_VII">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII</td><td align="left">—"WELL, OF ALL THINGS!"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_VIII">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX</td><td align="left">—THE RUNAWAY BALLOON</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_IX">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X</td><td align="left">—DUTY ABOVE ALL THINGS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_X">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI</td><td align="left">—THE TRAIL IN THE SWAMP</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XI">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII</td><td align="left">—WHERE NO FOOT HAS EVER TROD</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XII">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII</td><td align="left">—THE OASIS IN THE SWAMP</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV</td><td align="left">—JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XIV">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XV</td><td align="left">—ON THE HOME-STRETCH</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XV">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI</td><td align="left">—"WELL DONE, BEAVER PATROL!"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XVI">146</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr class='major' /> + +<h1>Boy Scouts on a Long Hike</h1> +<h2>Or, To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps</h2> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +<h2>Chapter I</h2><h3>THE BOYS OF THE BEAVER PATROL</h3> +</div> + +<p>"They all think, fellows, that the Beaver Patrol can't do it!"</p> + +<p>"We'll show 'em how we've climbed up out of the tenderfoot class; hey, +boys?"</p> + +<p>"Just watch our smoke, that's all. Why, it's only a measly little +twenty-five miles per day, and what d'ye think?"</p> + +<p>"Sure Seth, and what's that to a husky lot of Boy Scouts, who've been +through the mill, and wear merit badges all around? Huh! consider it as +good as done right now!"</p> + +<p>Half a dozen boys who wore khaki uniforms, were chattering like so many +magpies as they stood in a little group on an elevation overlooking the +bustling Indiana town of Beverly.</p> + +<p>Apparently they must have been practicing some of the many clever things +Boy Scouts delight to learn, for several of the number carried signal +flags; two had pieces of a broken looking-glass in their possession; +while the tall lad, Seth Carpenter, had a rather sadly stained blanket +coiled soldier fashion about his person, that gave off a scent of smoke, +proving that he must have used it in communicating with distant +comrades, by means of the smoke code of signals.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span></p> + +<p>Besides Seth there were in the group Jotham Hale, Eben Newcomb, Andy +Mullane, Fritz Hendricks, and a merry, red-faced boy who, because of his +German extraction, went by the name of "Noodles Krafft."</p> + +<p>The reader who has not made the acquaintance of these wide-awake scouts +in previous volumes of this Series will naturally want to know something +about them, and hence it might be wise to introduce the members of the +Beaver Patrol right here.</p> + +<p>Eben was the official bugler of Beverly Troop. He had been made to take +this office much against his will, and for a long time had the greatest +difficulty in getting the "hang" of his instrument, so that his comrades +guyed him most unmercifully over the strange medleys he used to bring +forth when meaning to sound the various "calls." But of late Eben seemed +to have mastered his silver-plated bugle, and was really doing very +well, with an occasional lapse excepted.</p> + +<p>Andy was a Kentucky boy, but outside of a little extra touch of pride, +and a very keen sense of his own honor, you would never know it.</p> + +<p>Seth was the champion signal sender, and delighted to study up +everything he could discover concerning this fascinating subject.</p> + +<p>Fritz, on his part, chose to make an especial study of woodcraft, and +was forever hunting for "signs," and talking of the amazing things which +the old-time Indians used to accomplish along this line.</p> + +<p>As for good-natured Noodles, if he had any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> specialty at all, it lay in +the art of cooking. When the boys were in camp they looked to him to +supply all sorts of meals that fairly made their mouths water with +eagerness to begin operations long before the bugle of Eben sounded the +"assembly."</p> + +<p>Last of all the group, was Jotham Hale, a rather quiet boy, with an +engaging face, and clear eyes. Jotham's mother was a Quaker, or at least +she came from the peace-loving Friends stock; and the lad had been early +taught that he must never engage in fights except as a very last resort, +and then to save some smaller fellow from being bullied.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, which no one in Beverly would ever forget, Jotham had +proven that deep down in his heart he possessed true courage, and grit. +He had faced a big mad dog, with only a baseball bat in his hands, and +wound up the beast's career right on the main street of the town, while +everybody was fleeing in abject terror from contact with the animal.</p> + +<p>Because in so doing Jotham had really saved an old and nearly blind +veteran soldier from being bitten by the terrible brute, he had been +adjudged worthy to wear the beautiful silver merit badge which is sent +occasionally from Boy Scout Headquarters to those members of the +organization who have saved life at great peril to themselves.</p> + +<p>But Jotham was not the only one who proudly sported a badge. In fact, +every one of the eight members of the Beaver Patrol wore a bronze medal +on the left side of his khaki jacket. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> had come to them because of +certain services which the patrol had rendered at the time a child had +been carried away by a crazy woman, and was found, later on, through the +medium of their knowledge of woodcraft.</p> + +<p>Of course there were two more boys connected with the patrol, who did +not happen to be present at the time we find them resting on their way +home after a rather strenuous afternoon in the open.</p> + +<p>These were Paul Prentice, the patrol leader, and who served as acting +scout master when Mr. Alexander was unable to accompany them; and "Babe" +Adams, the newest recruit, a tenderfoot who was bent on learning +everything connected with the game.</p> + +<p>They had gone home a little earlier than the rest, for reasons that had +no connection with the afternoon's sport, each of them having a pressing +engagement that could not be broken. "Babe" had been nick-named in the +spirit of contrariness that often marks the ways of boys; for he was an +unusually tall, thin fellow; and so far as any one knew, had never +shirked trouble, so that he could not be called timid in the least.</p> + +<p>"No use hurrying, fellows," declared Seth, as he flung himself down on a +log that happened to be lying near the edge of a little precipice, +marking the abrupt end of the shelf which they had been following, so +that to descend further the scouts must pass around, and pick their way +down the hillside.</p> + +<p>"That's so," added Jotham, following suit, and taking great care not to +knock his precious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> bugle in the least when making the shift; "for one, +I'm dead tired after such a hard afternoon. But all the same, I want +you to know that I'm in apple-pie condition for that long hike, or will +be, after a night's rest."</p> + +<p>"What d'ye suppose made Mr. Sargeant offer a prize if the Beaver Patrol +could walk to Warwick by one road, and back along another, a distance of +just an even hundred miles, between sunrise of four days?" and Fritz +looked around at his five comrades as though inviting suggestions.</p> + +<p>"Because he's fond of boys, I reckon," remarked Andy. "They tell me he +lost two splendid little fellows, one by drowning, and the other through +being lost in the forest; and when he learned what sort of things the +scouts practice, he said he was in favor of encouraging them to the +limit."</p> + +<p>"Well, we want to get busy, and show Mr. Sargeant that we're going to +give him a run for his money," said Seth.</p> + +<p>"We've all seen the cup in the window of the jewelers in town, and it +sure is a beauty, and no mistake," added Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Don't anybody allow himself to think we can't cover that hundred miles +inside the time limit. You know how Paul keeps telling us that +confidence is more'n half the battle," Fritz went on to say.</p> + +<p>"You pet we want dot gup, undt we're yust bound to get der same," +observed Noodles, who could talk quite as well as any of his mates, but +who liked to pretend every now and then, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> he could only express +himself in "broken English," partly because it pleased him and at the +same time amused his mates.</p> + +<p>"We're right glad to hear you say that, Noodles," declared Seth, with a +wink in the direction of the others; "because some of us have been +afraid the hike might be too much for you, and Eben."</p> + +<p>"Now, there you go again, Seth," complained the bugler, "always +imagining that because I seldom blow my own horn——" but he got no +further than this, for there broke out a shout, from the rest of the +boys.</p> + +<p>"That's where you struck it right, Eben!" cried Seth, "because in the +old days you seldom did blow your own horn; but I notice that you're +improving right along now, and we have hopes of making a champion bugler +out of you yet."</p> + +<p>"Of course that was just a slip; but let it pass," remarked Eben, +grinning in spite of the fact that the joke was on him. "What I meant to +say was that because I don't go around boasting about the great things +I'm going to do, please look back on my record, and see if I haven't got +there every time."</p> + +<p>"Sure you have," admitted Seth, "and we give you credit for bull-dog +stubbornness, to beat the band. Other fellows would have thrown the +bugle into the bushes, and called quits; but you kept right along +splitting our ears with all them awful sounds you called music. And say, +if you can show the same kind of grit on this long hike we're going to +try, there ain't any doubt but what we'll win out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, Seth; you're a queer fish sometimes, but your heart's all +right, underneath the trash," observed Eben, sweetly; and when he talked +like that he always put a stop to the other's teasing.</p> + +<p>"How about you, Noodles; d'ye think you're good for such a tough walk?" +asked Fritz, turning suddenly on the red-faced, stout boy, who was +moving uneasily about, as though restless.</p> + +<p>"Meppy you don't know dot me, I haf peen practice on der quiet dis long +time, so as to surbrize you all," came the proud reply. "Feel dot +muscle, Seth, undt tell me if you think idt could pe peat. Gymnastics I +haf take, py shiminy, till all der while I dream of chinning mineself, +hanging py one toe, undt all der rest. Meppy you vill surbrised pe yet. +Holdt on, don't say nuttings, put wait!"</p> + +<p>He put on such a mysterious air that some of the boys laughed; but +Noodles only smiled broadly, nodded his head, and made a gesture with +his hand that gave them to understand he was ready and willing to let +time vindicate his reputation.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't we better be moving on?" remarked Andy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the sun's getting pretty low in the west, and that means it must +be near supper time," said Fritz, who was the possessor of a pretty +brisk appetite all the time.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what's the use of hurrying?" Seth went on to say, shifting his +position on the log, and acting as though quite content to remain an +unlimited length of time. "It won't take us ten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> minutes to get there, +once we start; fifteen at the most. And I like to walk in just when the +stuff is being put on the table. It saves a heap of waiting, you know."</p> + +<p>"That's what it does," Eben echoed. "Because, if there's anything I hate +to do, it's hanging around while they're finishing getting grub ready."</p> + +<p>"Here, quit walking all over me, Noodles!" called out Fritz, who had +coiled his rather long legs under him as well as he could, while +squatting there on the ground.</p> + +<p>"I haf nodt der time to do all dot," remarked the German-American boy, +calmly, "idt would pe too pig a chob. Oh! excuse me off you blease, +Fritz; dot was an accident, I gif you my word."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't stumble across me again, that's all," grumbled the other, +watching Noodles suspiciously, and ready to catch him at his tricks by +suddenly thrusting out a foot, and tripping him up—for Noodles was so +fat and clumsy that when he took a "header" he always afforded more or +less amusement for the crowd.</p> + +<p>It was not often that Noodles displayed a desire to play tricks or joke, +which fact made his present activity all the more remarkable; in fact he +was developing a number of new traits that kept his chums guessing; and +was far from being the dull-witted lad they had formerly looked upon as +the butt of all manner of practical pranks.</p> + +<p>While the scouts continued to chat, and exchange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> laughing remarks upon +a variety of subjects, Noodles kept moving restlessly about. Fritz felt +pretty sure that the other was only waiting for a good chance to pretend +to stumble over his legs again, and while he pretended to be entering +heartily into the rattling fire of conversation, he was secretly keeping +an eye on the stout scout.</p> + +<p>Just as he anticipated, Noodles, as though discovering his chance, +lurched heavily toward him. Fritz, boylike, instantly threw out a foot, +intending to simply trip him up, and give the other a taste of his own +medicine.</p> + +<p>Well, Noodles tripped handsomely, and went sprawling headlong in a +ludicrous manner; but being so round and clumsy he rather overdid the +matter; for instead of simply rolling there on the ground, he kept on +scrambling, hands and legs shooting out every-which-way; and to the +astonishment and dismay of his comrades, Noodles vanished over the edge +of the little precipice, close to which the scouts had made their +temporary halt while on the way home!</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +<h2>Chapter II</h2><h3>HELPING NOODLES</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Oh! he fell over!" shouted Eben, appalled by what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Noodles! What if he's gone and broke his neck?" gasped Jotham, +turning a reproachful look upon Fritz.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to go as far as that, fellows, give you my word for it!" +Fritz in turn was muttering, for he had been dreadfully alarmed when he +saw poor Noodles vanish from view in such a hasty fashion.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" cried Andy.</p> + +<p>"Hellup!" came a faint voice just then.</p> + +<p>"It's Noodles!" exclaimed Fritz, scrambling over in the direction of the +spot where they had seen the last of their unfortunate chum.</p> + +<p>"Oh! perhaps he's gone and fractured his leg, and our family doctor, +meaning Paul, ain't along!" groaned Eben.</p> + +<p>All of them hastened to follow after the eager Fritz, and on hands and +knees made for the edge of the shelf of rock, from which in times past +they had sent many a flag signal to some scout mounted on the roof of +his house in town.</p> + +<p>Fritz had more of an interest in discovering what had happened to the +vanished scout than any of his comrades. Possibly his uneasy conscience +reproached him for having thrust out his foot in the way he did, and +sending poor Noodles headlong to his fate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span></p> + +<p>At any rate he reached the brink of the descent before any of the rest. +They unconsciously kept their eyes on Fritz. He would serve as a +barometer, and from his actions they could tell pretty well the +conditions existing down below. If Fritz exhibited any symptoms of +horror, then it would afford them a chance to steel their nerves against +the sight, before they reached his side.</p> + +<p>Fritz was observed to crane his neck, and peer over the edge of the +shelf. Further he leaned, as though hardly able to believe his eyes. +Then, when some of the rest were holding their breath in expectation of +seeing him turn a white face toward them, Fritz gave vent to a hoarse +laugh. It was as though the relief he felt just had to find a vent +somehow.</p> + +<p>Astounded by this unexpected outcome of the near-tragedy the others +hastened to crawl forward still further, until they too were able to +thrust out their heads, and see for themselves what it was Fritz seemed +to be amused at.</p> + +<p>Then they, too, chuckled and shook with amusement; nor could they be +blamed for giving way to this feeling, since the spectacle that met +their gaze was comical enough to excite laughter on the part of any one.</p> + +<p>Noodles was there all right; indeed, he was pretty much in evidence, as +they could all see.</p> + +<p>In falling it happened that he had become caught by the seat of his +stout khaki trousers; a friendly stump of a broken branch connected with +a stunted tree that grew out of the face of the little precipice had +taken a firm grip upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> loose cloth; and since the boy in struggling +had turned around several times, there was no such thing as his becoming +detached, unless the branch broke.</p> + +<p>"Hellup! why don't you gif me a handt?" he was shouting as he clawed at +the unyielding face of the rock, while vainly endeavoring to keep his +head higher than his flying heels.</p> + +<p>While it was very funny to the boys who peered over the edge of the +shelf, as Noodles would have an ugly tumble should things give way, Andy +and Seth quickly realized that they had better get busy without any more +delay, and do the gallant rescue act.</p> + +<p>Had Paul been there he would have gone about it in a business-like way, +for he was quick to grapple with a problem, and solve it in short order. +As it was a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, one boy suggested +a certain plan, only to have a second advanced as a better method of +getting Noodles out of his unpleasant predicament.</p> + +<p>Meantime the poor fellow was kicking, and turning, and pleading with +them not to go back on an old chum, and leave him to such a terrible +fate.</p> + +<p>"Der rope—get quick der rope, undt pull me oop!" he wailed.</p> + +<p>"That's so, boys, Noodles has struck the right nail on the head!" cried +Seth. "Here, who's carrying that rope right now?"</p> + +<p>"Noodles has got it himself, that's what!" exclaimed Eben.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you ever hear of such rotten luck, now?" demanded Seth.</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" interrupted Andy, "seems to me I remember seeing him lay +something down over here. Let me look and find out. Whoop! here she is, +boys! That's what I call great luck. Seth, suppose you see if you can +drop the loop over his head."</p> + +<p>"Pe sure as you don't shoke me, poys!" called out the dangling object +below, in a manner to prove that he heard all they said.</p> + +<p>"Get it over his feet, Seth; then we can yank him up. He won't mind it +for a short time. Some of his brains will have a chance to run back into +his head that way," suggested Eben.</p> + +<p>"Make quick, blease!" wailed the unhappy scout, who was growing dizzy +with all this dangling and turning around. "I hears me der cloth gifing +away; or else dot dree, it pe going to preak py der roots. Hurry oop! +Get a moof on you, somepody. Subbose I want to make some squash pie down +on der rocks?"</p> + +<p>But Seth was already hard at work trying to coax that noose at the end +of the dangling rope to fall over the uptilted legs of the unfortunate +scout.</p> + +<p>"Keep still, you!" he shouted, when for the third time his angling +operations were upset by some unexpected movement on the part of the +struggling boy. "Think I c'n lasso a bucking broncho? Hold your feet up, +and together, if you want me to get you! There, that's the way. +Whoop-la!"</p> + +<p>His last shout announced sudden success.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span></p> + +<p>Indeed, the loop of the handy rope had dropped over the feet of Noodles, +and was speedily drawn tight by a quick movement on the part of the +operator.</p> + +<p>The balance of the boys laid hold on the rope and every one felt that +the tension was relieved—that is, every one but Noodles, and when he +found himself being drawn upward, with his head down, he probably +thought things had tightened considerably.</p> + +<p>As the obliging branch saw fit to let go its tenacious grip about that +time, of course Noodles was soon drawn in triumph over the edge of the +shale, protesting more or less because he was scratched in several +places by sharp edges of the rock.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for Scout tactics; they count every time!" exclaimed Eben.</p> + +<p>Fritz was unusually solicitous, and asked Noodles several times whether +he had received any serious hurt as a result of his strange experience. +The German boy felt himself all over, grunting several times while so +doing. But in the end he announced that he believed he was all there, +and beyond a few minor bruises none the worse for his adventure.</p> + +<p>"Put you pet me I haf a narrow escape," he added, seriously. "How far +must I haf dropped if dot pully oldt khaki cloth gives vay?"</p> + +<p>"All of twenty feet, Noodles," declared Andy.</p> + +<p>"Dwenty feets! Ach, petter say dree dimes dot," asserted Noodles. "I +gives you my word, poys, dot it seemed I was on der top of a mountain,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> +mit a fine chance my pones to preak on der rocks pelow. Pelieve me, I am +glad to pe here."</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't think I did that on purpose, Noodles?" asked Fritz, +contritely.</p> + +<p>The other turned a quizzical look upon him.</p> + +<p>"Tid for tad, Fritz," he remarked, "iff I had nodt peen drying to choke +mit you meepy I might nodt haf met with sooch a shock. Petter luck nexdt +time, hey?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know just what you mean, Noodles, blest if I do," remarked +Fritz, with a puzzled look on his face, "but I agree with all you say. +This practical joke business sometimes turns out different from what you +expect. I'm sure done with it."</p> + +<p>But then, all boys say that, especially after they have had a little +fright; only to go back to their old way of doing things when the shock +has worn off. And the chances were that Fritz was far from being cured +of his habits.</p> + +<p>"How lucky we had the rope along," ventured Jotham, who was coiling up +the article in question at the time he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I always said it would come in handy," remarked Eben, quickly and +proudly, "and if you stop to think of the many uses we've put that same +rope to, from yanking a fellow out of a quicksand, to tying up a bad man +who had escaped from the penitentiary, you'll all agree with me that +it's been one of the best investments we ever made."</p> + +<p>"That's right," echoed Seth, always willing to give credit where such +was due.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ketch me ever going into the woods without my rope," declared Eben.</p> + +<p>"Well, do we make that start for home and mother and supper right now; +or are we going to stay here till she gets plumb dark?" asked Fritz, +impatiently, moving his feet out of the way every time anyone approached +too closely, as though possessed by a fear lest he be tempted to repeat +his recent act.</p> + +<p>"Come on, everybody," said Eben, making a start, "I refuse to hang out a +minute longer. Seems like I c'n just get a whiff of the steak a sizzling +on the gridiron at our house; and say, when I think of it, I get wild. +I'm as hungry as that bear that came to our camp, and sent us all up in +trees like a covey of partridges."</p> + +<p>"If you're as hungry as that after just an afternoon's signal practice, +think what'll happen when we've been hiking all day, and covered our +little forty or fifty miles?" suggested Andy, chuckling.</p> + +<p>"Oh! come off, Andy, you don't really mean that, do you?" called out +Eben over his shoulder. "I'm good for twenty-five miles, I think; but +you give me a cold feeling when you talk about fifty. And poor old +Noodles here will melt away to just a grease spot, if the weather keeps +on as warm as it is now."</p> + +<p>"Don't let him worry you, Eben," sang out Seth. "I heard Paul telling +how at the most we might try for thirty the second day, so as to get +ahead a bit. But what is going to count in this test is +regularity—keeping up an even pace each day of the four. And chances +are we'll own that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> fine trophy by the time we get back to Beverly +again."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I hear something about our having to register at a lot of places +along the way?" asked Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I believe that's a part of the game," replied Seth. "It's only +right, just to prove that we haven't cut across lots, and shirked any. +Mr. Sargeant and the two members of the committee mean to wait up for us +at each station, and kind of keep an eye on us. I guess they want to +encourage us some, too, when we come in, dusty and tired and feeling +pretty near fagged out.</p> + +<p>"Some of the other fellows, Steve Slimmons, Arty Beecher, and two more, +who expect to start our second patrol in the fall, wanted to go along +with us; but Mr. Sargeant preferred to limit it to just the Beavers. He +said we were seasoned scouts by this time, while the other fellows might +be called tenderfeet; and it would be a pity to run chances of losing +the prize, just because one of them softies fell down."</p> + +<p>Fritz offered this explanation, and somehow at mention of Steve +Slimmons' name a slight smile could be seen flitting across more than +one face. For well did the scouts remember when this same boy had been +accounted one of the toughest lads in all Milltown, as that part of +Beverly across the railroad tracks was called.</p> + +<p>At that time he had been called "Slick" Slimmons, and in many ways he +deserved the name, for he was a smooth customer. But circumstances had +arisen, as told in a previous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> volume of this series, whereby Steve had +gone through a rather serious experience, and had his eyes opened to the +fact that in leading such a wild life he was carrying the heavy end of +the log.</p> + +<p>He had broken with the tough crowd of which he had been a member up to +then, and now was hand in glove with Paul Prentice and his scouts, in +fact considered himself a member of Beverly Troop.</p> + +<p>The active lads found little trouble in negotiating the descent leading +down to level ground. Even Noodles had become many times more agile than +before he donned the magical khaki of the scouts; for the various duties +that had to be performed from time to time by every member of the patrol +had done wonders for the slow moving German-American boy.</p> + +<p>With their goal now in sight, the six scouts started off at a lively +pace. If any of them felt in the least bit tired he was evidently +determined not to show it to his comrades, or any one they might happen +to meet on the road leading to Beverly. Pride is a great thing at +certain times, and helps ride over many difficulties.</p> + +<p>So, in due time they separated, each fellow heading toward his own home. +And the last words they called back to each other were in connection +with the great hike upon which they expected to start on the following +morning, which would be Tuesday.</p> + +<p>Many anxious looks were cast upward toward the blinking stars that +night, and speculations indulged in as to the probable kind of weather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +that would be doled out to them while on the road.</p> + +<p>And more than one scout lay awake long after he went to bed, trying to +lift the curtain that hid the future, just a little way, so as to get a +peep of what was waiting for the Beaver Patrol, but of course without +the least success.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +<h2>Chapter III</h2><h3>THE GENTLE COW</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Paul, how do we hold out for the third day on the hike?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Paul, please let us know just how much further you expect to +coax the leg weary bunch on today? Not to say that I'm tired; but then I +know Noodles, and another scout not far away right now, are grunting +like fun every little rise in the road we come to," and Seth gave his +head a flirt in the quarter where Eben was anxiously gripping his bugle, +as if in momentary expectation of getting a signal from the patrol +leader to blow the call that would signify a halt.</p> + +<p>"It's only four o'clock, fellows," began the acting scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>Dismal groans sounded; but with a smile Paul went on to add:</p> + +<p>"We've already made our twenty-five miles since sun-up, just this side +of Warwick; but it's a fine day, and I did hope we might hang on a +little while further, so as to cut down our last day's hike a few miles. +It's always the hardest part of the whole thing, the finishing spurt. +But of course, if any of you feel played out we can call it off right +now."</p> + +<p>Eben and Noodles braced themselves up at this, and tried to look as +though they had no calling acquaintance with such a thing as fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm good for a couple more miles, I guess," declared the former.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span></p> + +<p>"Make idt tree, undt you will see how I holdt oudt!" proudly boasted the +stout boy, who spent half his time mopping his red face; for the day had +been a pretty warm one, so Noodles, who had to carry a third again as +much weight as any of his companions, thought.</p> + +<p>"Bully boy!" exclaimed impulsive Seth, "didn't I say they had the sand +to do all we tried. You never would have believed Noodles here could +have covered the ground he has. Scouting has been the making of him, as +it will of any feller that cares to set his teeth together, and just try +real hard."</p> + +<p>"I suggest then," went on Paul, his face beaming with pleasure, "that we +take a little rest right here, say of half an hour; and then march along +again for three miles, as near as we can guess. And if we do that, +fellows, it leaves only twenty more for the last day."</p> + +<p>"I reckon that silver trophy is as good as won," remarked Andy Mullane.</p> + +<p>"Barring accidents; and you never can tell when something may happen," +added wise Seth.</p> + +<p>"Then I hope it will be to you, and not to me," said Eben, who was +rubbing his shin at a place where he had bruised it earlier in the day.</p> + +<p>"Have we got enough grub along to last out?" queried Fritz.</p> + +<p>All eyes were turned toward Noodles, who generally looked after this +part of the business when they were abroad, either camping or tramping.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't say yes, if Fritz he puts der crimp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> in dot appetites off +his," was what the cook announced, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll see to it that he gets no more than his regular ration after +this," Paul declared, pretending to look severe.</p> + +<p>"Huh! that makes me feel real bad right away, let me tell you, fellers," +Fritz remarked, touching his belt line with a rueful face. "However do +you think I can fill up all this space here with just one ration? It's +different with some of the rest of the bunch; take Noodles for example, +he hasn't got room for more'n half a ration. I speak for what he can't +make way with."</p> + +<p>"Say, there's a chance right now for you to fill up ahead of time!" +exclaimed Eben, as he pointed through the fence; and looking, the scouts +saw a cow standing there, placidly chewing, her cud, and evidently +watching them curiously as she attended strictly to business.</p> + +<p>"Sure," Fritz went on to say, quickly, getting to his feet, "she's got +plenty of rations, quarts and quarts of fine rich milk. I've got half a +notion to step in there, and see how it tastes. See here, if I tied a +nickel or a dime in a piece of paper, and attached it to her horn, +wouldn't that be all right, Paul? Ain't scouts got a right to live off +the country as they hike through, 'specially if they pay for what they +take?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if it was a case of necessity, now——" began the scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>"It is," broke in Eben, who for some reason seemed to want to egg Fritz +on, "our comrade's plumb near starved, you know, and we're talking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> of +cutting his grub allowance down to half. But I don't think he's got the +nerve to fill up on nice rich fresh milk, that's what. Some people talk +pretty loud, but when you pin 'em down, they say they didn't mean it."</p> + +<p>Of course that finished Fritz. If he had been joking before, he now took +the matter in a serious light.</p> + +<p>"Huh! that remark don't hit me, Eben," he said, disdainfully, "If it was +a ferocious old bull I might hesitate about trespassing on his field, +but a gentle cow, whoever knew one to act ugly? Here goes, after I've +tied up this nickel in a piece of paper, with a string to it, to fix it +on Sukey's horn. Anybody else feel milk thirsty? Don't all speak at once +now, because I'm first."</p> + +<p>Apparently no one else was hankering after fresh milk just then; at +least none of the scouts gave any indication of meaning to accompany the +bold invader.</p> + +<p>"If you're really intending to go over the fence and try the milk +supply," suggested Paul. "I'd advise you to leave that red neck scarf +that you're so proud of wearing, behind you, Fritz."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so," broke in Seth, "cows, as well as bulls, don't fancy +anything red, I've been told. Better leave it with me, Fritz."</p> + +<p>"Huh, think I ain't on to your little game, Seth Carpenter," declared +the other, making no move to take off the necktie in question, "don't I +know that you've always wanted that scarf? Ain't you tried to buy it off +me more'n a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> times? Not much will I let you hold it. That tie stays +by me. If the poor old cow don't like it, she can do the next best +thing. Now, watch me get my fill, fellers. Milk is the staff of life, +more'n bread; and I always did like it fresh. Here goes."</p> + +<p>He clambered up on the top of the fence, while all the other scouts +watched to see how the operation turned out.</p> + +<p>"Take care, Fritz," warned Eben, solemnly, "she's got her eye on you, +all right, and she's stopped chewing her cud too. P'raps she may turn +out to be a hooker; you never can tell about cows. And chances are, +she's got a calf up in the barn. You see, a cow is always ugly when she +thinks they're agoin' to steal her calf away, like they did lots of +other times."</p> + +<p>"Oh! rats!" sneered the valiant Fritz, drawing his staff over with him, +so as to get a purchase on the ground within the field, and ease his +intended jump.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Fritz," added Jotham, "see that little enclosure just back of +where she stands? Looks like it might have been fenced off to protect +some fruit trees or something. Well, if I was in your boots now, and she +made a jump for me, I'd tumble over that same fence in a hurry. A cow's +got horns the same as a bull, and you'll be sorry if ever she tosses +you."</p> + +<p>But Fritz had evidently made up his mind, and would not allow anything +to deter him. The more the other scouts threw out these hints the +stronger became his determination to carry his clever scheme to +completion. And when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> said he was fond of fresh milk Fritz only told +the truth; though the chances were he would never have accepted such a +risk only for the badgering of Eben and Seth.</p> + +<p>Using his long staff in a dexterous way he dropped lightly to the +ground, and immediately started to walk toward the spot where the cow +stood.</p> + +<p>She had raised her head a little, and appeared to be observing his +coming with certain suspicious signs.</p> + +<p>"Go slow, Fritz; she don't like your looks any too much!" warned Paul, +who had climbed to the top of the rail fence, the better to see what +happened.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Fritz himself may have felt a little qualm just about that time, +for the actions of the cow were far from reassuring; but he was too +proud to show anything that seemed to savor of the "white feather" +before his chums, especially after making all the boasts he had.</p> + +<p>And so he kept grimly on, even if his knees did begin to knock together +a little, when he actually saw the cow suddenly lower her head, and +throw up the dirt with those ugly looking short horns, to one of which +he had so recently declared he meant to secure the coin he would leave, +to pay for all the milk he expected to consume.</p> + +<p>Paul had called out once or twice, words of warning. He also suggested +that it would be wise for the adventurous one to turn back; because, if +appearance went for anything the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> animal had a bad temper, and would be +apt to give him more or less trouble.</p> + +<p>But that had no effect on Fritz, who, having embarked on the venture, +did not mean to back down until absolutely forced to do so.</p> + +<p>And so the other five scouts, ranged along the fence, watched to see +what would happen. Perhaps their hearts were beating just a little +faster than ordinary; but if so, that was not a circumstance to the way +Fritz felt his throbbing like a trip hammer, even while he kept steadily +moving ahead.</p> + +<p>He started to utter what he meant to be soothing words, as he approached +the gentle bovine. He had heard farmers talking to their cows when +starting to do the milking act, and thought it the proper caper. But +Bossy must have finally made up her mind that this trespasser had a +suspicious look, and meant to carry off the little calf that could now +be heard calling away off beyond a rise where a farm house and stable +evidently lay.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she lowered her head, and started toward Fritz. Frenzied shouts +arose from those who were watching the proceedings from a safe distance.</p> + +<p>"Run, Fritz! she's coming!" bawled one.</p> + +<p>"Remember the fence over there, Fritz, and what I told you!" cried +Jotham.</p> + +<p>Fritz did not take the trouble to reply. He could hardly have done so +even had he so desired, for just then he was most actively employed.</p> + +<p>At the time the cow made her abrupt plunge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> toward him the scout could +not have been more than thirty feet away. He was wise enough to realize +that should he attempt to make a wild dash for the fence surrounding the +field, the active four legged animal would be able to overtake him +before he could get half way there. And as the one way left to him Fritz +jumped to one side, in order to avoid contact with those cruel-looking +black horns.</p> + +<p>His first act was one of impulse rather than anything else; he just +sprang to one side, and allowed the animal to go surging past, so close +that he could have easily reached out his hand, and touched her flank, +had he chosen to do so.</p> + +<p>Of course she would quickly realize that her attack had been a failure, +and recovering, turn again to renew it. He must not be on the same spot +when that time came. And as there was no better opening offered than the +enclosure mentioned by Jotham, he started for the same, with the cow in +full pursuit, and his chums shrieking all sorts of weird advice.</p> + +<p>So close was the angry animal behind him that at first Fritz could not +take the time to mount that fence. He chased around it, and as if +accepting the challenge, Bossy did the same, kicking her heels high in +the air, and with tail flying far in the rear.</p> + +<p>Fritz managed to keep a pretty good distance ahead of his pursuer, and +as there did not seem to be any particular danger just then, some of the +boys allowed their feelings of hilarity to have full swing, so that +peals of riotous laughter floated to the indignant ears of the +fugitive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span></p> + +<p>Indeed, Eben laughed so much that he lost his hold, and fell into the +meadow; but it was ludicrous to see how nimbly he clambered up again, as +though fearful lest the cow take a sudden notion to dash that way, +changing her tactics.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Fritz was laying his plans looking to what he would call a +coup. When he had gained a certain distance on the circling cow, so that +he would have time to scramble over the fence, he hastened to put this +scheme into operation.</p> + +<p>Fritz had dropped upon the ground, and was evidently panting for breath. +At any rate, the boys, perched like a lot of crows on the distant fence, +could see him waving his campaign hat rapidly to and fro, as though +trying to cool off after his recent lively experience.</p> + +<p>"Look at the old cow, would you?" burst out Eben, "she sees him now, I +tell you! Say, watch her try and jump that fence, to get closer +acquainted with our chum. Oh! my stars! what d'ye think of that now; +ain't she gone and done it though?"</p> + +<p>While the bugler of Beverly Troop was speaking, the angry cow made a +furious dash forward. Eben had naturally imagined she meant to try and +follow Fritz over the fence but he was wrong. There was a terrific crash +as the head of the charging beast came in contact with the frail fence; +and the next thing they knew the cow had thrown down an entire section, +so that no longer did any barrier separate her from the object of her +increasing fury.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> +<h2>Chapter IV</h2><h3>IN ALABAMA CAMP</h3> +</div> + +<p>Fritz was no longer sitting there taking things comfortably, and cooling +himself off by using his hat as a fan.</p> + +<p>With the terrific crash the scout was on his feet, ready for further +flight, as he saw the head of the cow not ten feet away from where he +stood.</p> + +<p>This time he made straight for another section of the fence, and passed +over it "like a bird," as Seth declared. But evidently fences had little +terror for the aroused cow, since she immediately proceeded to knock +down another section in about the space of time it would take to read +the shortest riot act ever known.</p> + +<p>This prompt act again placed her on the same side as the fleeing Fritz. +The loud shouts of his chums warned him of her coming on the scene +again, even if that suspicious crash had failed to do so.</p> + +<p>Fritz was becoming used to clambering over fences by now; in fact it +seemed to be something like a settled habit.</p> + +<p>The cow saw his lead, and went him one better, for a third crash told +how the poorly constructed fence had gone down before her rush, like a +pack of cards in the wind.</p> + +<p>All the while Fritz was changing his location. He calculated that if +only he could hold out for say three more "climbs," he would be in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +position to make a run for the border fence, which was made much more +stoutly then the division one, and would probably turn back even a +swooping bull.</p> + +<p>After it was all over, Fritz would demand that his comrades give him +full credit for his cunning lead. Meanwhile he was kept as busy as any +real beaver; getting first on one side of the crumpling fence, and then +on the other; while the cow kept on making kindling wood of the barrier.</p> + +<p>Paul took advantage of the animal's attention being wholly centred upon +Fritz, to run out upon the field, and pick up the cast-off staff of the +busy scout. His intention at the time was to render all the assistance +in his power; but discovering that Fritz was rapidly approaching a point +where he could work out his own salvation, the scoutmaster thought +discretion on his part warranted a hasty departure, unless he wished to +take the place his comrade vacated.</p> + +<p>The boys on the fence were shouting, and waving their hats, and doing +all manner of things calculated to attract the attention of the "gentle +cow," and cause her to ease up in her attack; but apparently she was not +to be bought off so cheaply, and meant to pursue her advantage to the +bitter end.</p> + +<p>Then came the chance for which the artful Fritz had been so +industriously working, when he made one more fling over the remnant of +the enclosure fence, and upon reaching the outside, galloped away toward +the road as fast as his legs could carry him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span></p> + +<p>Of course the cow chased after him again as soon as she had knocked down +another section of fence; but Fritz seemed to have pretty good wind, +considering all he had been through; and he showed excellent sprinting +powers that promised to put him among the leaders at the next high +school field sports exhibition.</p> + +<p>And the other five scouts gave him a hearty cheer when they saw him +nimbly take the high fence on the bound, with those wicked horns not +more than five feet in his rear.</p> + +<p>They soon joined the panting one, who greeted his mates with a cheery +grin, as though conscious of having done very well, under such +distracting conditions.</p> + +<p>"But you've yet to know whether that milk is as rich as you hoped?" +remarked Paul, smilingly, as he handed Fritz his staff.</p> + +<p>"And chances are, you went and lost that blessed nickel you meant to tie +to one of gentle Bossy's horns; what a shame, and a waste of good coin!" +said Seth, pretending to be very much disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Huh! getting off pretty cheap at that!" grunted Fritz. "Ketch me tryin' +to milk any cow that's got a calf up in the barn. I'd rather face two +bulls than one like her. Don't ever mention milk to me again; I know +I'll just despise the looks of it from now on. Whew! but didn't she mean +business; and if ever those sharp horns had got attached to me, it would +have been a hard job to break away."</p> + +<p>"If you feel rested, and have changed your mind about that same splendid +milk," remarked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> Paul, "perhaps we'd better be getting along now. Three +miles—why, Fritz, I wouldn't be much surprised if you covered all of +that in the little chase you put up. All you needed to beat the record +for flying was a pair of wings."</p> + +<p>Fritz was wonderfully good-natured, and they could not make him angry. +When other boys were apt to scowl and feel "grouchy," Fritz would come +up smilingly after each and every round, ready to take punishment +without limit.</p> + +<p>And so they continued to walk along the road, chatting among themselves +as cheerily as footsore and weary scouts might be expected to do when +trying to encourage each other to further exertions.</p> + +<p>Every step really meant a good deal to their success, for in the course +of ten minutes Paul declared that another mile had been duly covered.</p> + +<p>When they saw another cow inside a fenced enclosure the boys tried by +every argument they could devise to tempt Fritz to try his hand once +more, but he steadfastly declined to accept the dare.</p> + +<p>"Say what you like, fellers," he remarked firmly, "me and cows are on +the outs, for this trip anyway. It's somebody else's turn to afford +amusement for the bunch. I've sure done my duty by the crowd. Let me be, +won't you? Tackle Seth there, or Babe Adams. I happen to know that they +like milk just every bit as much as I do. Water's good enough for me, +right now; and here's the spring I've been looking for a long while."</p> + +<p>At that they all hastened to discover some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> spots where it was possible +to lap up a sufficient supply of the clear fluid.</p> + +<p>This cooling drink seemed to invigorate the boys, so that when they +started off again it was with a somewhat quicker step, and heads that +were held up straighter than of late.</p> + +<p>It enabled them to reel off another mile without any great effort.</p> + +<p>"Only one more, and then we've just got to let up on this thing," said +Paul.</p> + +<p>"I really believe you're getting tired of it yourself, Mr. Scoutmaster?" +ventured one of the boys, eagerly; for if Paul would only confess to +this, they felt that they could stand their own weaknesses better.</p> + +<p>"And that is no joke," laughed Paul, frankly. "You see, I haven't been +hardening my muscles as much lately as when the baseball season was in +full swing. But with two miles placed to our account, we shouldn't be +much worried about how things are coming out. Will we try for that last +mile, boys? It's for you to say!"</p> + +<p>He received a unanimous shout of approval, which announced that the +others were of a united mind. And so they kept along the road though +some steps lagged painfully, and it was mainly through the exertions of +the mind that the body was whipped into obeying.</p> + +<p>Finally Paul turned to Eben, and made a quick gesture that the bugler +was waiting for, since he immediately raised the shining instrument to +his lips, puffed out his cheeks, took in a tremendous breath, and gave +the call that was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> next to the "fall in for supper" signal, the most +popular known to the scouts.</p> + +<p>"Alabama! Here we rest!" cried Seth, turning aside into the woods after +Paul, who evidently had his eye on a certain location, where he meant to +pitch the third night's camp.</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea," remarked Andy, always quick to seize upon anything +that gave a hint concerning his beloved South, "let's call this Alabama +Camp!"</p> + +<p>"Put it to a vote," called out Fritz, "all in favor of the same say aye; +contrary no. The ayes have it unanimously. Hurrah for Alabama Camp. +Seems like that's a good restful name; and I hope we sleep right good +here; for most of us are pretty well used up."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention that same above a whisper," warned Seth, "because we've +got two awfully touchy chums along, who're always carrying chips on +their shoulders when it comes to the subject of being knocked out. Say, +Paul, did you know about this camp site before; because it's the +dandiest place we've struck on the big hike?"</p> + +<p>"Just dumb luck," replied the other, shaking his head in the negative. +"I thought it looked good this way, when I called for a halt. And you're +just about right, Seth; it does fill the bill great. Here's our spring +of clear cold water; and there you have a splendid place to start your +fire, Jotham. Now, let's throw ourselves down for a little while, and +then when we feel rested, we'll get busy doing things."</p> + +<p>All of them were only too glad to do as Paul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> suggested. And when +another ten minutes had slipped past, Jotham struggled to his feet to +wearily but determinedly gather together some material with which to +start a blaze.</p> + +<p>When he had it going Noodles realized that it was now up to him to start +getting some supper cooking. They had come in very light marching order, +since Paul realized that if they hoped to win that lovely prize he must +not load any of the boys down with superfluous burdens.</p> + +<p>As a rule they depended on the farmers to supply them with such things +as they needed, chiefly eggs and milk. The former they had along with +them, several dozen eggs in fact, purchased from an obliging farmer +earlier in the afternoon, and fortunately carried in other knapsacks +than that of Fritz, who would have smashed the entire supply, had he +been in charge of the same at the time of his exciting adventure with +the cow.</p> + +<p>Upon putting it to a vote they decided that they could just as well do +without any milk for one night; especially after Fritz had shown them +how difficult it sometimes was to accumulate a supply.</p> + +<p>Of course a coffee pot had been brought along, for somehow a camp must +always seem like a dreary desert without the delicious smell of boiling +coffee at each and every meal that is prepared.</p> + +<p>So Noodles made a grand big omelette, using sixteen eggs for the same, +and the two frying pans that had been strapped, one to each pack of a +couple of scouts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span></p> + +<p>Besides this they had some cheese and crackers, which would help fill +the vacuum that seemed to exist an hour after each and every meal. +Several potatoes for each scout were duly placed in the red ashes of the +fire, and jealously watched, in order that they might not scorch too +badly before being thoroughly roasted.</p> + +<p>On the whole, there was no reason for being ashamed of that camp supper. +Everything tasted just "prime," as several of the boys took pains to +say; for they were artful enough to know that by showering words of +praise upon the cook, they might secure his valuable services for all +time to come, because Noodles was open to flattery.</p> + +<p>And what was better still, there was an abundant supply for all of them, +regardless of the difference in appetites; Fritz was not stinted in the +least, for he actually declined a further helping, and had to be urged +to clean out the pan just to keep "that little bit of omelet from being +wasted."</p> + +<p>Having no tent along, and only a couple of dingy old blankets which they +expected to use for sending smoke signals, should the occasion arise, +the scouts were compelled to resort to more primitive ways of spending +the night than usual. But then Paul had shown them how to sleep with +their heads away from the fire; and he also arranged to keep the small +blaze going during the entire night, since it was apt to get pretty +chilly along about two in the morning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span></p> + +<p>All these things had been arranged on the first night out, so that by +this time the boys were pretty well accustomed to the novel way of +sleeping. And on the whole they had taken to it fairly well, no one +complaining save when the mosquitoes annoyed them in one camp near the +water.</p> + +<p>An hour after supper had been disposed of some of the boys were already +beginning to nod drowsily. And when fellows are just dead tired it seems +a sin to try and keep them awake, especially when there is no need of +it.</p> + +<p>So Paul announced that those who wanted to could turn in, while the rest +were enjoined to keep quiet, doing their talking in whispers, so as not +to disturb the sleepers; just as if the discharge of a six pound cannon +close by would bother those weary scouts, once they lost themselves in +the dreamland of Nod.</p> + +<p>Babe Adams had just stepped over to get a last drink at the near-by +spring, when the others were surprised to see him come tearing back +again, evidently in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"Paul, come over here with me, and you can see it!" he called out.</p> + +<p>"See what?" demanded the scoutmaster, at the same time climbing to his +feet.</p> + +<p>"Looks like some farmhouse might be afire; because you c'n see the red +flames jumping up like fun!" was the thrilling announcement made by the +tenderfoot scout.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> +<h2>Chapter V</h2><h3>A HELPING HAND</h3> +</div> + +<p>"It's a fire, all right!" announced Paul, after he had taken a good +look.</p> + +<p>"No question about that," declared Seth, who was right on the heels of +the others, for you could never keep him quiet when there was anything +going on, because he always wanted to be "in the swim."</p> + +<p>"Yes, either a house, or a barn ablaze," remarked Eben, sagely.</p> + +<p>"Might be only a hay stack, you know," suggested Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Don't burn like that to me; I seem to see something of a building every +now and then, when the flames shoot up," Paul went on to remark, for he +was always discovering things upon which to found a reasonable theory.</p> + +<p>"How far away does it lie, dy'e think, Paul?" asked Andy.</p> + +<p>"Not more than half a mile, I should say," came the reply.</p> + +<p>"Just my idea to a dot," Jotham admitted.</p> + +<p>"Why, you c'n even hear the crackle of the flames, whenever the night +wind happens to blow this way," Babe Adams asserted; and they all agreed +with him, for the same sound had come to their ears also.</p> + +<p>"We might help the poor old farmer, if we only happened to be closer," +Eben said, in the goodness of his heart.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span></p> + +<p>"And if we didn't feel so bunged-up tired," added Andy.</p> + +<p>Somehow the scouts began to show signs of nervousness. Those might seem +like pretty good excuses to some fellows; but when a boy becomes a scout +he somehow looks at things in a different way from in the old days. No +matter how tired he may be, he eagerly seizes on a chance to be useful +to others; to do some good deed, so as to experience the delightful glow +that always follows a helpful act.</p> + +<p>"Say, how about it?" began Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Could we be useful if we did manage to trot over there, Paul?" Andy +demanded.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure we might," answered the scoutmaster, firmly; "and if we're +going, why, the sooner we make a start the better. Seconds count when a +house or barn is on fire. I feel pretty well rested, speaking for +myself; and half a mile each way oughtn't to do us up. We're scouts on a +long hike, and able to do lots of things that other fellows wouldn't +dare attempt."</p> + +<p>"Take me along, Paul!" cried Jotham.</p> + +<p>"And me!"</p> + +<p>"Hope you won't forget that I'm ready to be in the bunch," Seth +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>In fact, there was not one out of Paul's seven companions who did not +vociferously inform the leader of the patrol that he was a subject for +the draft.</p> + +<p>"You can't all go," decided Paul, quick to decide; "and as two fellows +ought to stay and look after camp while the rest are off, I'll appoint +Noodles and Eben to that duty."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span></p> + +<p>Groans followed the announcement.</p> + +<p>"Oh! all right, Paul; just as you say," remarked the bugler, after +giving vent to his disappointment in this manner; "we'll keep guard +while the rest of you are having a bully good time.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps something will happen along here to let us enjoy ourselves."</p> + +<p>"If you need help let us know it," Paul called back, for he was already +moving off in the direction of the fire, followed by the five lucky +scouts.</p> + +<p>"How?" bellowed Noodles; "do we whoop her up, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Sound the assembly, and we'll hurry back," came the answer, as the pack +of boys disappeared in the darkness of the night.</p> + +<p>They kept pretty well together, so that none might stray. Consequently, +when one happened to trip over some log or other obstacle that lay in +the path he would sing out to warn his comrades, so as to save them from +the same trouble.</p> + +<p>With such a bright beacon ahead there was no trouble about keeping on a +direct line for the fire. And all the while it seemed to be getting more +furious. Indeed, what with the shouts that came to their ears, the +bellowing of cattle, and whinnying of horses, things began to get pretty +lively as they approached the farmyard.</p> + +<p>Presently they seemed to break out from the woods, and reach an open +field. Beyond this they could plainly see the fire.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's a barn, all right!" gasped Jotham, immediately.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they seem to be afraid that the farmhouse will go, too," added +Andy.</p> + +<p>"They're throwing buckets of water on it, sure enough," sang out Babe +Adams.</p> + +<p>Now some of the boys could easily have outrun their mates, being +possessed of longer legs, or the ability to sprint on occasion; but they +had the good sense to accommodate themselves to the rest, so that they +were still in a squad when drawing near the scene of the excitement.</p> + +<p>A man and a woman seemed to be about the sole persons visible, and they +were laboring like Trojans to keep the fire from communicating to the +low farmhouse that was situated close to the burning barn.</p> + +<p>The six scouts must have dawned upon the vision of the sorely pressed +farmer and his wife almost like angels, for the pair were nearly +exhausted, what with the labor and the excitement.</p> + +<p>"Buckets—water—let us help you!" was what Paul exclaimed as they came +up.</p> + +<p>Cows were running this way and that, bellowing like mad, as though half +crazed.</p> + +<p>What with frightened chickens cackling, and hogs grunting in their +near-by pen, the scene was one that those boys would not forget in a +hurry.</p> + +<p>"In the kitchen—help yourselves!" the farmer said, pointing as he +spoke; and without waiting for any further invitation the scouts rushed +pellmell into the rear part of the house, where they seized upon all +sorts of utensils, from a big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> dishpan, to buckets, and even a small tin +foot bath tub.</p> + +<p>A brook ran close to the barn, as Paul had learned with his first +comprehensive glance around. This promised to be a most fortunate thing +for the would be fire-fighters.</p> + +<p>Led by the scoutmaster, the boys dashed in that direction, filled +whatever vessel they happened to be carrying, and then hurried back to +the house. Here the water was dashed over the side of the building that +seemed to be already scorching under the fierce heat of the blazing +barn.</p> + +<p>"Get us a ladder; that roof will be on fire if we don't throw water over +it!" Paul shouted to the farmer, as he came in contact with the man.</p> + +<p>"This way—there's a ladder here by the hen house!" was what he replied.</p> + +<p>Several of the boys seized upon it, and before you could think twice +they were rushing the ladder toward the side of the house. Paul climbed +up, carrying with him a full bucket of water; and having dashed the +contents of this in such a way as to wet a considerable portion of the +shingle roof, he threw the bucket down to one of the boys below.</p> + +<p>Another was quickly placed in his hands. Everybody was working like a +beaver now, even the farmer's wife, carrying water from the creek, and +getting it up to the boy on the ladder. It was pretty warm work, for the +heat of the burning barn seemed terrific; but then boys can stand a good +deal, especially when excited,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> and bent on accomplishing things; and +Paul stuck it out, though he afterwards found several little holes had +been burned in his outing shirt by flying sparks.</p> + +<p>The barn, of course, was beyond saving, and all their energies must be +expended on the house. By slow degrees the fire was burning itself out. +Already Paul felt that the worst was past, and that if they could only +keep this up for another ten minutes all would be well.</p> + +<p>A couple of neighbors had come along by this time, to help as best they +could. When a fire takes place in the country everybody is ready and +willing to lend a hand at carrying out things, or fighting the flames in +a primitive fashion; for neighbors have to depend more or less upon each +other in case of necessity.</p> + +<p>"I reckon the house ain't liable to go this time," Andy remarked, when +Paul came down the ladder finally, trembling from his continued +exertions, which had been considerable of a strain on the lad, wearied +as he was with three days' tramping.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," remarked the farmer, who came hustling forward about +this time, "and I owe you boys a heap for what you done this night. I +guess now, only for you comin' to help, I'd a lost my house as well as +my barn. As it is I've got a lot to be thankful for. Just put insurance +on the barn, and the new crop of hay last week. I call that being pretty +lucky for once."</p> + +<p>He shook hands with each of the scouts, and asked after their names.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span></p> + +<p>"I want to let your folks know what you done for us this night, boys," +he said, "and p'raps you might accept some little present later on, just +as a sort of remembrance, you know."</p> + +<p>"How did the fire start, sir?" asked Paul.</p> + +<p>"That's what bothers me a heap," replied the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Then you don't know?" continued the scoutmaster, who felt a reasonable +curiosity to learn what he could of the matter while on the spot.</p> + +<p>"It's all a blank mystery to me, for a fact," continued the farmer, +whose name the boys had learned was Mr. Rollins. "My barn and stable was +all one, you see. My man has been away all day, and I had to look after +the stock myself, but I finished just as dark set in, before supper, in +fact, so there ain't been so much as a lighted lantern around here +tonight."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, when you lighted your pipe you may have thrown the match away, +and it fell in the hay?" suggested Paul.</p> + +<p>"If it had, the fire'd started long ago; fact is, I'd a seen it right +away. And to settle that right in the start let me say I don't smoke at +all, and didn't have any occasion to strike a single match while out +here."</p> + +<p>Of course this statement of the farmer seemed to settle all idea of his +having been in any way responsible for the burning of the barn.</p> + +<p>"It looks like a big black mystery, all right," declared Fritz, who +always liked to come upon some knotty problem that needed solving.</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea that the fire could have been the work of tramps?" +Paul went on to ask.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are never troubled that way up here," replied the farmer. "You see, +it's away from the railroad, and hoboes generally follow the ties when +they tramp across country."</p> + +<p>"That makes it all the more queer how the fire could have started," Paul +went on to remark, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't a been one of the cows taken to smoking, I suppose?" ventured +Seth, in a humorous vein.</p> + +<p>"One thing sure," continued the farmer, a little uneasily, "that fire +must have been caused by what they call spontaneous combustion; or else +somebody set it on purpose."</p> + +<p>"Do you know of anybody who would do such a terrible thing; that is, +have you any enemy that you know of, sir?" questioned Paul.</p> + +<p>"None that I would ever suspect of such a mean thing as that," was the +farmer's ready reply. "We're human around here, you know, and may have +our little differences now and then, but they ain't none of 'em serious +enough to tempt a man to burn a neighbor's barn. No, that's a dead sure +thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad to hear it," the scoutmaster went on. "And I don't +suppose now, you've missed any valuables, have you, sir?"</p> + +<p>The farmer turned a shade whiter, and Paul could see that a shiver went +through his frame.</p> + +<p>"Gosh! I hadn't thought about that. Wait here a minute, will you, +please?"</p> + +<p>With that he dashed into the house, as though a sudden terrible +suspicion had assailed him. The six scouts stood there awaiting his +return.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> Mrs. Rollins was talking with the neighbors, as they watched +the last of the barn disappearing in a bed of red cinders.</p> + +<p>Hardly had a full minute passed before the boys saw the farmer come +leaping out of the building again. No need for any one to ask a +question, because his whole appearance told the story of new excitement +and mystery. If ever a man looked worried and nearly heart broken the +farmer did then.</p> + +<p>"It's sure enough gone, every cent of it!" he groaned, as he reached the +scouts.</p> + +<p>"Your money, I suppose you mean?" Paul asked, sympathetically; while +Fritz and Seth pricked up their ears eagerly at the prospect of another +chapter being added to the little excitement of the evening.</p> + +<p>"Yes, three thousand dollars that was to pay off my mortgage next week. +I had it hid away where I thought no thief could even find it; but the +little tin box, and everything has been carried off. And now I know why +the barn was fired—so as to keep the missus and me out there, while the +rascal made a sneak into the house, and laid hands on my savings. All +gone, and the mortgage due next week!"</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +<h2>Chapter VI</h2><h3>THE HOME-COMING OF JO DAVIES</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Whew! that's tough!" observed Seth.</p> + +<p>One or two of the other scouts whistled, to indicate the strained +condition of their nerves; and all of them pressed up a little closer, +so as not to lose a single word of what was passing.</p> + +<p>"But if as you say, sir, that you had this money securely hidden, it +doesn't seem possible that an ordinary tramp would know the place where +you kept it, so that he could dodge right into the house, and in a +minute be off with it; isn't that so?"</p> + +<p>Paul was the greatest hand you ever heard of to dip deeply into a thing. +Where most other boys of his age would be satisfied to simply listen, +and wonder, he always persisted in asking questions, in order to get at +the facts. And he was not born in Missouri either, as Seth often +laughingly declared.</p> + +<p>The farmer looked at him. There was a frown beginning to gather on his +forehead as though sudden and serious doubts had commenced to take a +grip on his mind.</p> + +<p>"If he took my money I'll have the law on him, as sure as my name is +Sile Rollins," Paul heard him mutter, half to himself.</p> + +<p>"Then you've thought of some one who might have known that you had three +thousand dollars under your roof, is that it, sir?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Y-yes, but it's hard to suspect Jo, when I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> done so much for him +these years he's been with me," admitted the owner of the farm; though +at the same time his face took on a hard expression, and he ground his +teeth together furiously, while he went on to say, "but if so be he has +robbed me, I ain't called upon to have any mercy on him, just because +his old mother once nursed my wife, and I guess saved her life. Jo has +got to hand my money back, or take the consequences."</p> + +<p>"Is Jo your hired man?" Paul asked.</p> + +<p>The farmer nodded his head moodily; he was evidently a prey to mingled +feelings, and close upon the border of a dazed condition. These +calamities following so swiftly upon each other's heels had taken his +breath away. But presently he would recover, and be eager to do +something.</p> + +<p>"You said just a bit ago that he was away today, and that you had to do +the chores this evening, looking after the stock, and such things; +wasn't that it, sir?" continued the scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>"He asked to have this afternoon off; wouldn't say why he wanted to get +away, either. And by ginger! now that I think of it, Jo did look kind of +excited when he was asking me for leave. I can see why that should be +so. He was figuring on this nasty little game right then and there. He +wanted to be able to prove an <i>alibi</i> in case he was ever accused. And +this evening he must have put a match to the hay in the barn, and then +watched his chance to creep into the house when both of us was busy +trying to save the stock. Oh! it makes my blood boil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> just to think of +it. And I never would have believed Jo Davies could have been so cold +blooded as to take the chances of burnin' the animals he seemed to be so +fond of."</p> + +<p>"Did he stay here over night with you?" Paul asked.</p> + +<p>"Not as a rule, Jo didn't. You see, he's got an old mother, and they +live in a little cottage about a mile away from here toward town. So Jo, +he always made it a point to sleep there. I had no fault to find, +because he was on hand bright and early every morning. But this will +kill his old mother; however could he do it? Chances are, he fell in +with some racing men when we had the county fair, and has got to +gambling. But I'll be ruined if I don't get that money back again."</p> + +<p>"Could we help you in any way, Mr. Rollins? You know, Boy Scouts are +always bound to be of assistance whenever they find a chance. We're on a +great hike just now, and a little leg weary; but if we can stand by you +further, please let us know. How about that, boys?" and Paul turned +toward his chums as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket, Paul!" replied Andy, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Our sentiments, every time," said Seth.</p> + +<p>And the others gave vigorous nods, to indicate that they were all of the +same mind; which unanimity of opinion must have been a great +satisfaction to the leader.</p> + +<p>"Then let's go right away, boys!" remarked the farmer, eagerly. "P'raps +now we might come up with Jo on the way, and ketch him with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> the goods +on. If he'll only give me back my money I'll agree not to prosecute, on +account of his poor old mother, if nothing else. But I'm as bad off as a +beggar if I lose all that hard earned cash."</p> + +<p>Without saying anything to Mrs. Rollins or the neighbors, they hurried +away, the boys keeping in a cluster around the farmer. If any of the +scouts began to feel twinges in the muscles of their legs, already hard +pushed, they valiantly fought against betraying the weakness. Besides, +the excitement acted as a tonic upon them, and seemed to lend them +additional powers of endurance, just as it does in foot races where the +strain is terrific.</p> + +<p>"It looks bad for Jo Davies, I should think, Paul," Andy managed to say, +as they pushed resolutely along.</p> + +<p>"Well, he is the one fellow who may have known about the money," +admitted the scout master, "and if the temptation ever came to him, he +could easily watch his employer, and learn where he hid the cash. How +about that, Mr. Rollins?"</p> + +<p>The farmer had heard what was being said, and immediately replied:</p> + +<p>"If Jo was bent on robbery, p'raps he could have watched me some time, +and seen where I hid that little tin box away in the attic. I used to go +there once a week to add some money to the savings that I'd foolishly +drawn out of bank long before I needed 'em, just to see how it felt to +be rich for a little while."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span></p> + +<p>"When was the last time you went up there to look at it?" Paul asked.</p> + +<p>"Let me see, when Web Sterry paid me for the heifer I sold him I put the +money away; and that was just ten days back."</p> + +<p>"And it was all there then, you say?" questioned Paul.</p> + +<p>"Surely," replied the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Was Jo working near the house then, can you remember, sir?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Rollins appeared to reflect.</p> + +<p>"When was the day we did some carpenter work on that extension—as sure +as anything it was the day Webb paid me! Yes, I remember, now, that Jo +came around from his work on the plane, and told me Webb was there."</p> + +<p>The farmer's excitement was increasing. Things, under the clever +questioning of the young scoutmaster, seemed to be fitting in with each +other, just as a carpenter dovetails the ends of a box together.</p> + +<p>"It looks as though Jo might have spied on you when you went up to the +attic to put that new money away with the rest. If he suspected that you +were keeping a large sum in the house that's what he would most likely +do when he knew you had just taken in some more cash. Now, I don't know +Jo Davies, and I don't like to accuse him of such a terrible crime; but +circumstantial evidence all points in his direction, Mr. Rollins."</p> + +<p>Paul measured his words. He never liked to think ill of any one; but +really in this case it seemed as though there could be hardly any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> doubt +at all; Jo Davies must be the guilty party.</p> + +<p>"Are we gettin' near where Jo lives?" asked Jotham, trying to speak +lightly, although there was a plain vein of anxiety in his voice; for +when a fellow has covered nearly thirty miles since sun-up, every rod +counts after that; and following each little rest the muscles seem to +stiffen wonderfully.</p> + +<p>"More'n two-thirds the way there," replied the farmer. "We'll see a +light, like as not, when we get around this turn in the woods road. +That'll come from the little cabin where he lives with his old mother. +Oh! but I'm sorry for Mrs. Davies; and the boy, he always seemed to +think so much of his maw, too. You never can tell, once these fast +fliers get to running with racing men. But I only hope I get my own back +again. That's the main thing with me just now, you know. And if Jo, he +seems sorry, I might try and forget what he's done. It all depends on +how things turn out. See, just as I told you, there's the light ahead."</p> + +<p>All of them saw it; and as they continued to walk hastily forward +through the darkness Paul was thinking how human Mr. Rollins was, after +all; for it was only natural that his first thought should be in +connection with the safe recovery of his hard earned money.</p> + +<p>They rapidly drew near the cottage, and all of the boys were beginning +to wonder what was fated to happen next on the programme. Doubtless they +were some of them fairly quivering with eagerness, and hoping that the +thief might be caught examining the stolen cash box.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hush! there's somebody coming along over there; stand still, +everybody!" Paul gave warning, suddenly, and the whole party remained +motionless, watching a lighted lantern that was moving rapidly toward +the cottage from the opposite direction, being evidently carried by an +approaching man.</p> + +<p>It continued to advance straight toward the cottage. Then the unknown +opened the door, and went in.</p> + +<p>"That was Jo," muttered Mr. Rollins, "I seen his face plain as anything; +but why would he be coming from the direction of town, instead of my +place?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! that might be only a clever little trick, sir," Seth made haste to +say, as though to indicate in this way that scouts were able to see back +of all such sly dodges.</p> + +<p>"Say, he sure had something under his arm," broke in Jotham just then.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw that, too," added Paul. "It was a small package, not much +larger than a cigar box, I should say, and wrapped up in brown paper."</p> + +<p>"P'raps my tin cash box?" suggested Mr. Rollins, in trembling tones.</p> + +<p>"It might be, though I hardly think any one smart enough to play such a +game as setting fire to a barn in order to draw all attention away from +the house he wanted to rob, would be silly enough to carry home a tin +box that would convict him, if ever it was found there."</p> + +<p>Paul made this remark. They had once more started to advance, though by +no means as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> rapidly as before. The fact that Jo Davies had arrived just +before them, and not only carrying a lighted lantern, but with a +suspicious packet under his arm, seemed to necessitate a change of pace, +as well as a new line of action.</p> + +<p>"Let's sneak up to the window, and peek in?" suggested Fritz, and +somehow the idea appealed to the others, for without any argument they +proceeded to carry out the plan of campaign.</p> + +<p>It promised to be easy work. The shade seemed to be all the way up, as +though the old lady who lived in the humble cottage had left a light +near the window purposely in order to cheer her boy when he turned the +bend below, and came in sight of home.</p> + +<p>As noiselessly as possible, therefore, the six scouts, accompanied by +the farmer, crept toward this window. The sill was not over four feet +from the ground, and could be easily reached; indeed, in order not to +expose themselves, they were compelled to stoop rather low when +approaching the spot.</p> + +<p>Some sort of flower garden lay under the window. Paul remembered +stepping upon unseen plants, and somehow felt a pang of regret at thus +injuring what had probably taken much of the old lady's time and +attention to nurse along to the flowering stage. But this was an +occasion when all minor scruples must be laid aside. When a man has been +basely robbed, and by an employee in whom he has put the utmost +confidence, one cannot stand on ceremony, even if pet flowerbeds are +rudely demolished. And if the farmer's suspicions turned out to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> real +facts, Jo Davies' old mother was apt to presently have worries besides +which the breaking of her flowers would not be a circumstance.</p> + +<p>Now they had reached a point where, by raising their heads, they could +peep into the room where the lamp gave such illumination.</p> + +<p>As scouts the boys had long ago learned to be cautious in whatever they +attempted; and hence they did not immediately thrust their heads upward, +at the risk of attracting the attention of whoever might be within the +room. On the contrary each fellow slowly and carefully raised himself, +inch by inch, until his eyes, having passed the lower sill he could see, +first the low ceiling, then the upper part of the opposite wall, and +last of all the occupants themselves.</p> + +<p>They were two in number, one an old woman with a sweet face and +snow-white hair; the other a tall, boyish-looking chap, undoubtedly the +Jo who had been farmhand to Mr. Rollins, and was now under the dreadful +ban of suspicion.</p> + +<p>When Paul first caught sight of these two they were bending over the +table, on which something evidently lay that had been holding their +attention. Jo was talking excitedly. Every minute he would pause in +whatever he was saying, to throw his arms around the little old lady, +who in turn would clasp her arms about his neck; and in this way they +seemed to be exchanging mutual congratulations. But when they moved +aside while thus embracing, Paul felt a cold chill run up and down his +spine because <i>there upon the table were several piles of bank bills!</i></p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_VII" id="Chapter_VII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +<h2>Chapter VII</h2><h3>INNOCENT OR GUILTY?</h3> +</div> + +<p>Paul could feel the farmer trembling as he happened to come in contact +with his person; and from this he guessed that Mr. Rollins had also +discovered the pile of money on the table.</p> + +<p>Was Jo Davies, then, such a silly fellow as this? It did not seem +possible that anyone not a fool would rob his employer, and immediately +hurry home, to throw the stolen money before his dear old mother, with +some wonderful story of how he had found it on the road, perhaps, or had +it given to him by a millionaire whose horse he stopped on the highway, +when it was running away with a lady in the vehicle.</p> + +<p>And somehow, from the few little glimpses Paul had caught of the young +fellow's face he rather liked Jo Davies. If, as seemed very likely, the +young man had been tempted to steal this money, it would cause Paul a +feeling of regret, even though he had not known there was such a being +as Jo Davies in the world half an hour before.</p> + +<p>"Whoo! see the long green!" he heard Seth whisper. "Reckon he's gone and +done it, worse luck!" and from the words and the manner of his saying +them, Paul guessed that the speaker must have taken a fancy to Jo, as +well as himself.</p> + +<p>The window happened to be shut, and so this whisper attracted no +attention on the part of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> those within the cottage. Indeed, they were so +given over to excitement themselves that they were hardly apt to notice +anything out of the common.</p> + +<p>Paul could feel the farmer beginning to slip down, and it was easy to +understand that the sight of all that money made him want to rush +inside, to claim it, before the bold thief had a chance to hide his +plunder somewhere.</p> + +<p>And this was the only possible thing that should be done. While Mr. +Rollins in the kindness of his heart might wish to spare the dear old +lady all he could, he dared not take any chances of losing sight of his +property.</p> + +<p>"Come on, boys!"</p> + +<p>That was quite enough, for when the other scouts heard Paul say these +three simple words they knew that there was going to be something doing. +And quickly did they proceed to fall in behind their leader and the +farmer.</p> + +<p>Under ordinary conditions, perhaps, it might have occurred to the patrol +leader to throw some sort of guard around the cabin, so as to prevent +the escape of the desperate thief. He did not think of doing such a +thing now, for various reasons.</p> + +<p>In the first place, one of the scouts could hardly hope to cope with +such a husky young fellow as the farmhand, if once he wanted to break +through the line.</p> + +<p>Then again, it hardly seemed likely that Jo Davies would attempt to +flee, when his old mother was there to witness his confusion; in fact, +the chances appeared to be that he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> brazen it out, and try to +claim that the money belonged to him. The door was close at hand, so +that it took only part of a minute for the eager farmer to reach the +means of ingress.</p> + +<p>He did not hesitate a second, after having set eyes on all that alluring +pile of bank notes on the table, under the glow of the lamp.</p> + +<p>And when he suddenly opened the door, to burst into the room, Paul and +the other scouts were close upon his heels, every fellow anxious to see +what was about to happen.</p> + +<p>Of course the noise caused by their entrance in such a mass, was heard +by those in the room. Jo Davies sprang to his feet, and assumed an +attitude of defiance, one arm extended, as though to defend the little +fortune that lay there exposed so recklessly upon the table.</p> + +<p>Possibly this was the very first time in all his life that he had +experienced such a sensation as fear of robbery. When a man has never +possessed anything worth stealing, he can hardly know what the feeling +is. So it must have been sheer instinct that caused Jo to thus stand on +guard, ready apparently to fight, in order to protect his property, +however recently it may have come into his possession.</p> + +<p>No wonder that he felt this sudden alarm, to have the door of his home +rudely thrown open, and a horde of fellows fairly tumbling over each +other, in their eagerness to enter.</p> + +<p>Then, the look of alarm seemed to pass away from the face of the young +fellow; as though he had recognized his employer. Paul wondered whether +this was real or cleverly assumed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> He saw Jo actually smile, and +advancing a step, half hold out his hand toward Mr. Rollins.</p> + +<p>But the farmer was looking very stern just then. He either did not see +the extended hand, or else meant to ignore it purposely, for he +certainly made no move toward taking it.</p> + +<p>"I've got back, Mr. Rollins," Jo said, his voice rather shaky, either +from excitement, or some other reason; and he stared hard at Paul and +the other khaki-garbed scouts, as though puzzled to account for their +being there.</p> + +<p>"So I see," replied the farmer, grimly.</p> + +<p>"I hope you didn't hev too much trouble with the stock, Mr. Rollins," Jo +went on to say, in a half hesitating sort of way.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I did, they are all safe and sound; perhaps you'd like to know +that now," the farmer went on to remark, a little bitterly.</p> + +<p>Jo looked at him queerly.</p> + +<p>"He either doesn't understand what that means, or else is trying to seem +ignorant," was what Paul thought, seeing this expression of wonderment.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear that, sure I am, Mr. Rollins," the other remarked, +slowly, "an' seein' as how you're dropped in on us unexpected like, +p'raps I ought to tell you what I meant to say in the mornin.'"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" demanded Mr. Rollins, unconsciously edging a little +closer to the table where that tempting display of greenbacks could be +seen; just as though he began to fear that it might suddenly take wings +and fly away before he could put in a claim for his property.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've come in for a little windfall, sir," began Jo, proudly it +appeared.</p> + +<p>"Looks like you had," grumbled the farmer, as he flashed his eyes again +toward the display so near at hand.</p> + +<p>"And if so be you're of the same mind about that Thatcher farm, p'raps +we might come to terms about the same, sir. I guess you'd just as lief +sell it to <i>me</i> as anybody else, wouldn't you, Mr. Rollins?"</p> + +<p>"You seem to have a lot of money all of a sudden, Jo?" suggested the +farmer, in a hoarse tone, so that he had to clear his throat twice while +speaking.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that's so," declared the young farm hand, eagerly. "I never +dreamed of such grand good fortune as an old aunt of mine dying up in +Indianapolis, and leaving me all she had in bank. That's why I asked to +get off this afternoon, Mr. Rollins, so I could run over, and get what +was comin' to me."</p> + +<p>The farmer was grinding his teeth a little; but so long as he believed +he saw all his stolen hoard before him, within reach of his hand, he +seemed able to control himself; he even waxed a trifle sarcastic, Paul +thought, when, looking straight at his hired man, he went on to say:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps now, Jo, I might give a pretty good guess about the size of +this wonderful fortune you've come into so sudden-like. How would three +thousand sound to you, Jo? Is that about the figure now, tell me?"</p> + +<p>Jo turned a wondering face toward his old mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, did you ever hear the beat of that, maw?" he cried, "Mr. Rollins +has just guessed the size of my pile to a dollar, because it was just +three thousand old Aunt Libby left me—a few dollars over p'raps. +However did you know it, sir?" and he once more faced the sneering +farmer.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you, Jo," continued Mr. Rollins, coldly, "I happen to have +just had three thousand dollars in bills stolen from my house this very +night, by some rascal who first of all set fire to my stable and barn, +so that the missus and me'd be so taken up with saving our pet stock +we'd leave the farmhouse unguarded. Yes, and there <i>was</i> a few dollars +more'n three thousand dollars, Jo. Queer coincidence I'd call it now, +wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>Jo turned deathly white, and stared at his employer. His eyes were round +with real, or assumed horror. If he was "putting on," as Seth would term +it, then this farm hand must be a pretty clever actor for a crude +country bumpkin, Paul thought.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Jo, my boy, my boy, what does he mean by saying that?"</p> + +<p>The little old lady had arisen from her chair, though she trembled so +that she seemed in danger of falling; but Paul unconsciously moved a +pace closer, ready to catch her in his arms if she swooned. But Jo, +quick as a flash, hearing her voice, whirled around, and threw a +protecting arm about her.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, maw; don't you go and be afraid. I ain't done nawthing +you need to be fearful about. This money's mine! Set down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> again, deary. +Don't you worrit about Jo. He ain't agoin' to make your dear old heart +bleed, sure he ain't."</p> + +<p>And somehow, when Paul saw the tender way in which the rough farm boy +forced the little old lady back into her chair, and caught the positive +tone in which he gave her this assurance, he seemed almost ready to +believe Jo <i>must</i> be innocent; although when he glanced at the +money his heart misgave him again.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Rollins, please tell me what it all means?" asked Jo, turning +and facing his employer again, with a bold, self-confident manner that +must have astonished the farmer not a little. "I just come up from town +as fast as I could hurry, because, you see, I knew I was bringin' the +greatest of news to maw here. I did see a sorter light in the sky when I +was leavin' town, and thinks I to myself, that old swamp back of the ten +acre patch must be burnin' again; but I never dreamed it was the stable +and hay barn, sure I didn't sir."</p> + +<p>The farmer hardly seemed to know what to say to this, he was so taken +aback by the utter absence of guilt in the face and manner of Jo.</p> + +<p>Before he could frame any sort of reply the young fellow had spoken +again.</p> + +<p>"You said as how you'd got all the stock out safe, didn't you, Mr. +Rollins? I'd just hate to think of Polly and Sue and the hosses bein' +burned up. Whatever d'ye think could a set the fire agoin'? Mebbe that +last hay we put in wa'n't as well cured as it might a been, an' it's +been heatin' right along. I meant to look into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> it more'n once, but +somethin' always came along an' I plumb forgot it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rollins looked at him, and frowned. He did not know how to answer +such a lead as this. He was growing impatient, almost angry again.</p> + +<p>"Give me my money, Jo, and let me be going; I can't breathe proper in +here, you've upset me so bad," he said, holding out his hand with an +imperative gesture.</p> + +<p>"But I ain't got no money of yours, Mr. Rollins," expostulated the +other, stubbornly. "I'm awful sorry if you've gone and lost your roll, +and I'd do most anything to help you find it again; but that money +belongs to me, and I don't mean to turn it over to nobody. It's goin' to +buy a home for me and maw, understand that, sir—your little Thatcher +place, if so be you'll come to terms; but some other if you won't. +That's plain, sir, ain't it?"</p> + +<p>"What, do you have the nerve to stick to that silly story, after +admitting that this wonderfully gotten fortune of yours tallies to the +dollar with what has been taken from my house?" demanded Mr. Rollins, +acting as though half tempted to immediately pounce upon the treasure, +and take possession, depending on Paul and his scouts to back him up if +Jo showed fight.</p> + +<p>"I sure do; and I know what I know, Mr. Rollins!" declared the farmhand, +with flashing eyes, as he pushed between the table and the irate farmer; +while his little mother wrung her clasped hands, and moaned pitifully to +see the strange thing that was happening there under her own roof.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span></p> + +<p>It looked for a moment as though there might be some sort of a rumpus; +and Seth even began to clench his hands as if ready to take a prominent +part in the same; but as had happened more than a few times before when +the storm clouds gathered over the scouts, Paul's wise counsel +intervened to prevent actual hostilities.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Mr. Rollins," he called out. "This thing ought to be +easily settled, one way or another. You understand that queer things may +happen sometimes, and there is a chance that two sums of money may be +almost exactly alike. Now, if Jo here has inherited a nice little +fortune, he ought to be able to prove that to us by showing letters, or +some sort of documents. How about that, Jo?"</p> + +<p>To the surprise, and pleasure as well, of the scoutmaster, Jo's face +immediately expanded into a wide grin, and he nodded his head eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Say, maw, what did you do with that letter we had from the law firm +over in Indianapolis, tellin' me to come and claim my property, and to +bring along something to prove that I was the said Jo Albion Davies +mentioned in Aunt Selina's last will and testament? In the drawer, you +mean? All right, I'll get it; and let these gentlemen read the same. And +there's Squire McGregor as went up with me to identify me to the +lawyers, he'll tell you he saw me get this money from the bank, just +before they closed this arternoon. There she is; now read her out loud, +young feller."</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_VIII" id="Chapter_VIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +<h2>Chapter VIII</h2><h3>"WELL, OF ALL THINGS!"</h3> +</div> + +<p>"All right; I'll be only too glad to do the same," said Paul, as he +accepted what appeared to be a well thumbed letter from Jo.</p> + +<p>One glance he gave at the same, and then a load seemed to have been +lifted somehow from his boyish heart; because, after he had seen how Jo +Davies loved that dear little white-haired mother, he would have felt it +keenly did the circumstances make it appear that the young farmhand were +guilty of robbing the man who trusted him so fully.</p> + +<p>So Paul read out the letter. There is no need of giving it here, because +it was rather long, and written in a very legal-like way, each sentence +being enveloped in a ponderous atmosphere.</p> + +<p>But it was upon the letter-head of a big law firm in Indianapolis, and +in so many words informed the said Jo Albion Davies that his respected +aunt, Selina Lee Davies, had passed out of this life, leaving him her +sole heir; and that if he were interested, it would be to his advantage +to come to the city as speedily as possible, to claim the little sum +that was waiting for him in bank; and to be sure and bring some one +along with him who would be able to vouch for his being the party in +question.</p> + +<p>Luckily Jo had taken Squire McGregor along, who happened to know one of +the members of the big law firm; for otherwise the heir might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> have had +some trouble in proving his identity, since he had forgotten to carry +even the letter in his pocket, it seemed.</p> + +<p>But of course after that Mr. Rollins could not say a word about claiming +the tempting display of greenbacks that lay exposed upon the table. Jo +was already engaged in tenderly gathering them up, as though meaning to +secrete his little fortune either on his person, or somewhere else.</p> + +<p>"Looks like I'm clean busted, don't it?" the farmer said, with a sigh, +turning toward Paul, upon whom he had somehow come to rely in the +strangest way possible.</p> + +<p>"It does seem as though your money has gone in a queer way, sir," +replied the young scoutmaster, "but honestly now, I find it hard to +believe that a common hobo would be able to find it so quick, if you had +it hidden away up in a corner of the garret, and hadn't been there for +ten days."</p> + +<p>Jo stopped gathering his fortune together; he had snapped several heavy +rubber bands around it, evidently supplied at the city bank when he drew +the money.</p> + +<p>"I wonder, now, could that have anything to do with it," they heard him +mutter, as he looked curiously at the farmer.</p> + +<p>The words were heard by Mr. Rollins, who, ready to grasp at a floating +straw, in his extremity, even as might a drowning man, quickly observed:</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by saying that, Jo? I hope you can give me some sort +of hint that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> will help me find my money again; because I meant to pay +off my mortgage with it, and will be hard pushed to make good, if it +stays lost."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you, sir," said Jo, readily. "It was just about a week ago +that I'd been to town, you remember, and getting home along about +midnight I was worried about one of the hosses that had been actin' sick +like. So I walked over here, not wantin' to wait till mornin'. Just when +I was agoin' back I seen a light movin' around over at the house, and I +stopped a minute to watch the same."</p> + +<p>"Yes, go on; a week ago, you say?" the farmer remarked, as Jo paused to +catch his breath again.</p> + +<p>"On Thursday night it was, Mr. Rollins," the other went on. "Well, just +then I saw the back door open, and somebody stepped out. I seen it was +you, and about the queerest part of it all was that it looked to me as +if you might be walkin' around in your pajamas! Do you remember comin' +outdoors on that night for anything, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I don't even remember walking around that way," replied Mr. Rollins, +hastily, and looking as though he did not know whether Jo were trying to +play some sort of joke on him, or not, "but go on and tell the rest. +What did I do? Did you stop long enough to see?"</p> + +<p>"Well," continued the farm hand, "I saw you go over to the old Dutch +oven that hasn't been used this twenty years, and move around there a +bit; but it wasn't none of my business, Mr. Rollins, and so I went along +home. I guess any gentleman's got the right to go wanderin'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> around his +own premises in the middle of the night, if he wants to, and nobody +ain't got any right to complain because he don't make the trouble to put +on his day clothes."</p> + +<p>The farmer looked helplessly at Paul. Plainly his wits were in a stupor, +and he could not make head or tail of what Jo was telling him.</p> + +<p>"Can you get a pointer on to what it all means?" he asked, almost +piteously.</p> + +<p>Paul had conceived a wonderful idea that seemed to give great promise of +solving the dark puzzle.</p> + +<p>"You just as much as said that you could not remember having come out of +your house that night; and that you never knew yourself to walk around +out of doors in your pajamas; is that so, sir?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That's what I meant; and if I was put on the stand right now, I could +lift my right hand, and take my solemn affidavit that I didn't do any +such thing—unless by George! I was walking in my sleep!"</p> + +<p>"That's just the point I'm trying to get at, Mr. Rollins," said Paul, +quietly. "Jo, here, says he <i>saw</i> you as plain as anything, and yet you +don't recollect doing it. See here, sir, can you ever remember walking +in your sleep?"</p> + +<p>"Why, not for a great many years," answered the farmer, somewhat +confused, and yet with a new gleam of hope appearing in his expectant +eyes.</p> + +<p>"But you admit then that you <i>have</i> done such a thing?" pursued the +scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>"Yes, as a boy I did a heap of queer stunts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> when asleep. They had to +lock my door for a time, and fasten my windows. Why, one night they +found me sitting on top of the chimney, and had to wait till I took the +notion to come down; because, if they woke me, it might mean a nasty +tumble that would like as not break my neck. But I haven't done anything +in that line for thirty years."</p> + +<p>"Until one night a week ago, Mr. Rollins," continued Paul, convincingly, +"when dreaming that your money was in danger, you got out of your bed, +went up and took it from the garret where you had it hidden, walked +downstairs, passed outside, and stowed it nicely away inside the big old +Dutch oven. And chances are you'll find it right there this minute."</p> + +<p>"Oh! do you really think so, my boy?" exclaimed the delighted farmer, +"then I'm going off right away and find out. If you'll go with me I'll +promise to hitch up, and carry the lot of you back to your camp, no +matter where that may be."</p> + +<p>"What say, shall we go, fellows?" asked the patrol leader, turning to +the others.</p> + +<p>There was not one dissenting voice. Every boy was just wild to ascertain +how this strange mystery would turn out. And as it would be just about +as long a walk to Alabama Camp as going to the farmer's place, they +decided the matter without any argument.</p> + +<p>"And you just bet I'm going along, after what I've heard about this +thing," declared Jo Davies, "maw, you ain't afraid to stay alone a +little while longer, be you? You c'n sit on this blessed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> windfall while +I'm gone, but don't go to fingerin' the same, because walls often have +eyes as well as ears, remember."</p> + +<p>When the six scouts started off in company with Mr. Rollins, Jo Davies +tagged along with them. In his own good fortune the farm hand was only +hoping that the money which his employer had missed might be found in +the old Dutch oven, just like this smart Boy Scout had suggested.</p> + +<p>They covered the distance in short order. You would never have believed +that those agile lads had been walking for nearly twelve hours that day, +if you could see how they got over the ground, even with two of them +limping.</p> + +<p>It can be easily understood that there was more or less speculation +among the scouts as they hurried along. Would the farmer find his +missing wad snugly secreted in the old Dutch oven, as Paul so +confidently suggested? And if such turned out to be the case, wouldn't +it prove that the scoutmaster was a wonder at guessing things that were +a blank puzzle to everybody else?</p> + +<p>So they presently came again to the farm. The ashes were still glowing +where the big barn had so recently stood. Here and there a cow or a +horse could be seen, nosing around in the half light, picking at the +grass in forbidden corners, and evidently about done with their recent +fright.</p> + +<p>Straight toward the back of the house the farmer led the way, and up to +the old Dutch oven that had been built on to the foundation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> for the +baking of bread, and all family purposes, many years back; but which had +fallen into disuse ever since the new coal range had been placed in the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>Everybody fairly held their breath as Mr. Rollins dropped down on his +hands and knees, struck a match, and half disappeared within the huge +receptacle. He came backing out almost immediately; and before his head +and shoulders appeared in view Paul knew that he had made a glorious +find, because they could hear him laughing almost hysterically.</p> + +<p>"Just like you said, my boy, it was there!" he cried, holding up what +proved to be the missing tin box that held his hoard. "And to think that +I stole my own cash while I was asleep! I guess my wife'll have to tie +my feet together every night after this, for a while; or perhaps I'll be +running away with everything we've got. Say, Jo, I hope you ain't going +to hold it against me that I suspected you'd been and had your morals +corrupted by some of them horse jockeys you met at the county fair this +summer? And about that Thatcher place, Jo, we'll easy make terms, +because nobody ain't going to have it but you and your maw, hear that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, of all things," exclaimed the delighted Seth.</p> + +<p>Jo evidently did not hold the slightest ill feeling against his old +friend and employer, for he only too gladly took the hand Mr. Rollins +held out.</p> + +<p>"Turns out just like the fairy story, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> everybody happy; only we +don't see the princess this time," said Seth, after the scouts had given +three cheers for Jo, and then three more for Mr. Rollins.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" remarked Jo, with a huge grin, "she's comin' along purty soon now; +and my gettin' this windfall'll hurry up the weddin' a heap. Drop past +the Thatcher farm along about Thanksgivin' time, boys, and I'll be glad +to introduce you to her."</p> + +<p>"Say, perhaps we will," Seth declared, with boyish enthusiasm, "because, +you see, we all live at Beverly, which ain't more'n twenty miles away as +the crow flies. How about it, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"We'll come along with you, Seth, never fear. And now, the sooner we get +over to camp the better, because some of us are feeling pretty well used +up," Andy went on to admit with charming candor.</p> + +<p>"All right, boys, just give me a minute to run indoors, and put this +package away, and I'll be with you. It won't take long to hitch up, +because we managed to save the harness and wagons, me and the missus."</p> + +<p>True to his word Mr. Rollins was back in a very brief space of time, and +catching the two horses he wanted, he attached them to a big wagon.</p> + +<p>"Tumble in, boys," he called out, as he swung himself up on the driver's +seat, after attaching the lighted lantern to the front, so that he could +see the road as they went along.</p> + +<p>The scouts waited for no second invitation, but speedily secured places +in the body of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> vehicle. As there was half a foot of straw in it, +they found things so much to their liking that on the way, at least +three of the boys went sound asleep, and had to be aroused when the camp +was finally reached.</p> + +<p>Eben and Noodles were poor sentinels, it seemed, for both were lying on +the ground asleep, nor did they know when the other returned until told +about it in the morning. But fortune had been kind to the "babes in the +wood," as Seth called them in derision, for nothing had happened while +the main body of the patrol chanced to be away on duty.</p> + +<p>And so it was another little adventure had come along, with wonderful +results, and the happiest of endings. Really, some of the boys were +beginning to believe that the strangest of happenings were always lying +in wait, as if desirous of ambushing the members of the Beaver Patrol. +Why, they could even not start off on a hike, it seemed, without being +drawn into a series of events, the like of which seldom if ever befell +ordinary lads.</p> + +<p>During the hours of darkness that followed all of them slept soundly, +nor was there any alarm given to disturb them. And as nothing in the +wide world brings such satisfaction and contentment as good sleep, when +at dawn they awoke to find the last day of the great hike at hand, every +fellow declared that he was feeling especially fit to make that +concluding dash with a vim.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was hastily eaten; indeed, their stock of provisions had by +this time gotten to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> low ebb, and would not allow of much variety; +though they managed to scrape enough together to satisfy everybody but +Fritz, who growled a little, and wanted to know however a scout could do +his best when on short rations?</p> + +<p>Then to the inspiring notes of Eben's silver-plated bugle the boys of +the Beaver Patrol left Alabama Camp, and started on the last lap for +their home goal.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_IX" id="Chapter_IX"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> +<h2>Chapter IX</h2><h3>THE RUNAWAY BALLOON</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Hey! look at all the crows flying over, would you?"</p> + +<p>Seth called this out as he pointed upwards, and the rest of the patrol +naturally turned their heads in order to gape.</p> + +<p>"Whew! did you ever see such a flock of the old caw-caws?" burst out +Eben.</p> + +<p>"Give 'em a toot from your bugle, and see what they think?" suggested +Jotham.</p> + +<p>"For goodness sake, be careful," broke in Fritz, "because they might be +so knocked in a heap at Eben's fine playing, they'd take a tumble, and +nearly smother the lot of us. We'd think it was raining crow, all +right."</p> + +<p>"Are they good to eat?" demanded Babe, who was pretty green as yet to a +great many things connected with outdoor life, "because, if we have time +to stop at noon to cook a meal, we might—"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a shout from several of the other and wiser +scouts.</p> + +<p>"Say, hold on there, Babe, we haven't got that near being starved as to +want to eat crow," declared Andy.</p> + +<p>"Can they be eaten at all, Paul?" persisted Babe, as usual turning to +the scoutmaster for information; "seems to me I've heard something like +that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and people who have tried say they're not near as bad a dish as +the papers always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> make out," Paul replied. "I don't see myself why they +should be, when most of the time they live on the farmer's corn."</p> + +<p>"But can you tell where that bunch is coming from, and where bound?" +continued Babe. "They all come out of that same place, and keep +chattering as they soar on the wind, which must be some high up there."</p> + +<p>"Well, I've heard it said that there's a big crow rookery somewhere back +in the gloomy old Black Water Swamps; but I never met anybody that had +ever set eyes on the same. Every day, winter and summer, that big flock +comes out, and scatters to a lot of feeding grounds; some going down the +river, where they pick up food that's been cast ashore; others bound for +a meal in the corn fields."</p> + +<p>"And they come back again in the night to roost there; is that it, +Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess if we stood right here half an hour before dark we'd see +squads of the noisy things heading over yonder from all sorts of +quarters. D'ye know, I've sometimes had a notion I'd like to explore the +heart of that queer old swamp," and the young patrol leader cast a +thoughtful glance toward the quarter from whence that seemingly endless +stream of crows flowed continually.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that's the ticket!" exclaimed Seth. "I've heard a heap about +that same spooky old place myself. They say nobody ever has been able to +get to the heart of it. And I heard one man, who traps quite a lot of +muskrats every winter, tell how he got lost in a part of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> swamp +once, and spent a couple of pretty tough days and nights wandering +around, before he found his way out again. He said it'd take a heap to +tempt him to try and poke into the awful center of Black Water Swamps."</p> + +<p>"But what's that to us, fellers?" ejaculated Fritz. "The boys of the +Beaver Patrol ain't the kind to get scared at such a little thing as a +swamp. Just because it's a tough proposition ought to make us want to +take up the game, and win out. We fairly eat hard jobs! And looking back +we have a right to feel a little proud of the record we've made, eh, +fellers?"</p> + +<p>Of course every scout stood up a little straighter at these words, and +smiled with the consciousness that they had, as Fritz so aptly put it, a +right to feel satisfied with certain things that had happened in the +past, and from which they had emerged acknowledged victors.</p> + +<p>"Just put a pin in that, to remember it, Paul, won't you?" said Andy.</p> + +<p>"Why, sure I will, since a lot of you seem to think it worth while," +replied the obliging scoutmaster, with a smile, "and if we haven't +anything ahead that seems to be more worth while, we might turn out here +later on, prepared to survey a trail right through the swamp. I admit +that I'm curious myself to see what lies hidden away in a place where, +up to now, no man has ever set a foot."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the young explorers!" cried Eben, who seemed strangely +thrilled at the tempting prospect.</p> + +<p>They say the boy is father to the man; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> among a bunch of six or +eight lads it is almost a certainty that you will find one or two who +fairly yearn to grow up, and be second Livingstones, or Stanleys, or Dr. +Kanes. Eben had read many books concerning the amazing doings of these +pathfinders of civilisation, and doubtless even dreamed his boyish +dreams that some fine day he too might make the name of Newcomb famous +on the pages of history by discovering some hitherto unknown tribe of +black dwarfs; or charting out a land that had always been unexplored +territory.</p> + +<p>They looked back many times at the stream of flying crows that continued +to issue from that one point beyond the thick woods. And somehow the +very prospect of later on trying to accomplish a task that had until +then defied all who had attempted it, gave the scouts a pleasing thrill +of anticipation. For such is boy nature.</p> + +<p>Strange how things often come about.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment not one of the scouts even dreamed of what was in +store for them. How many times the curtain obscures our sight, even when +we are on the very threshold of discovery!</p> + +<p>They tramped along sturdily, until they had covered perhaps two miles +since departing from the place where the third night had been spent, and +which would go down in the record of the big hike as Camp Alabama.</p> + +<p>A couple of the scouts limped perceptibly, but even they declared that +as they went on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> "kinks" were getting out of their legs, and +presently all would be well.</p> + +<p>The sun shone from a fair sky, though now and then a cloud would pass +over his smiling face; but as the day promised to be rather hot none of +them were sorry for this.</p> + +<p>"Hope it don't bring a storm along, though," remarked Babe, when the +matter was under discussion.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's got to be some storm to keep the boys of the Beaver Patrol +from finishing their hike on time," declared Seth, grimly.</p> + +<p>"That's so, Seth, you never spoke truer words," added Fritz. "I reckon, +now, half of Beverly will turn out on the green this after noon to see +the conquering heroes come home. There's been the biggest crowds around +that jeweler's window all week, staring at that handsome cup, and +wishing they would have a chance to help win it."</p> + +<p>"And we'd hate the worst kind to disappoint our friends and folks, +wouldn't we, fellers?" Eben remarked.</p> + +<p>Somehow both limpers forgot to give way to their weakness, and from that +minute on the very thought of the great crowd that would send up a +tremendous cheer when the boys in khaki came in sight, was enough to +make them walk as though they did not know such a thing as getting +tired.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Fritz, a couple of minutes afterwards, "oh! my stars! +what's that big thing rising up behind the tops of the trees over +there?"</p> + +<p>"Somebody's barn is blowing away, I guess!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> exclaimed Eben, in tones +that shook with sudden alarm. "Mebbe's it's a cyclone acomin', boys. +Paul, what had we ought to do? It ain't safe to be under trees at such a +time, I've heard!"</p> + +<p>"Cyclone, your granny!" jeered Seth Carpenter, who had very sharp eyes, +and was less apt to get "rattled" at the prospect of sudden danger, than +the bugler of Beverly Troop, "why, as sure as you live, I believe it's a +balloon, Paul!"</p> + +<p>"What! a real and true balloon?" almost shrieked Eben, somewhat relieved +at the improved prospect.</p> + +<p>"You're right, Seth," declared the scoutmaster, "it <i>is</i> a balloon, and +it looks to me right now as though there's been trouble for the +aeronaut. That gas-bag has a tough look to me, just as if it had lost +about half of the stuff that keeps it floating! See how it wabbles, will +you, fellows, and how low down over the trees it hangs. There, it just +grazed that bunch of oaks on the little rise. The next time it'll get +caught, and be ripped to pieces!"</p> + +<p>"Paul, do you think that can be a man hanging there?" cried Seth. +"Sometimes it looks to me like it was; and then again the balloon tilts +over so much I just can't be sure."</p> + +<p>"We'll know soon enough," remarked the patrol leader, quietly, "because, +as you can see, the runaway balloon is heading this way, full tilt. I +wouldn't be surprised if it passed right over our heads."</p> + +<p>"Say, perhaps we might grab hold of some trailing rope, and bring the +old thing down?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> suggested Fritz, looking hastily around him while +speaking, as if desirous of being prepared, as a true scout should +always make it a point to be, and have his tree picked out, about which +he would hastily wind a rope, should he be fortunate enough to get hold +of such.</p> + +<p>"Whew! I wouldn't want to be in that feller's shoes," observed Eben, as +they all stood there in the road, watching the rapidly approaching +balloon.</p> + +<p>"Solid ground for me, every time, except when I'm in swimming, or +skimming along over the ice in winter!" Andy interjected, without once +removing his eager eyes from the object that had so suddenly caught +their attention.</p> + +<p>It was a sight calculated to hold the attention of any one, with that +badly battered balloon sweeping swiftly along on the wind, and +approaching so rapidly.</p> + +<p>All of them could see that there was a man clinging to the ropes that +marked the place where the customary basket should have been; evidently +this latter must have been torn away during a collision with the rocks +or trees on the top of a ridge with which the ungovernable gas-bag had +previously been in contact; and it was a marvel how the aeronaut had +been able to cling there.</p> + +<p>"Will it land near here, d'ye think, Paul?" asked Jotham, round-eyed +with wonder, and feeling very sorry for the wretched traveler of the +upper air currents, who seemed to be in deadly peril of his life.</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so," replied the scoutmaster,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> rapidly measuring +distances with his ready eye, and calculating upon the drop of the half +collapsed balloon.</p> + +<p>"But see where the bally old thing's heading, will you?" cried Seth, +"straight at the place where them crows came out of. Say, wouldn't it be +awful tough now, if it dropped right down in the heart of Black Water +Swamps, where up to now never a human being has set foot, unless some +Indian did long ago, when the Shawnees and Sacs and Pottawattomies and +all that crowd rampaged through this region flat-footed."</p> + +<p>The scouts stood there, and watched with tense nerves as the drifting +balloon drew rapidly closer.</p> + +<p>Now they could plainly see the man. He had secured himself in some way +among the broken ropes that had doubtless held the basket in place. Yes, +and he must have discovered the presence of the little khaki-clad band +of boys on the road, for surely he was waving his hand to them wildly +now.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he understood that it was a safe thing to appeal to any boy who +wore that well known suit; because every one has learned by this time +that when a lad takes upon himself the duties and obligations of +scoutcraft, he solemnly promises to always help a fellow in distress, +when the opportunity comes along; and with most scouts the habit has +become so strong that they always keep both eyes open, looking for just +such openings.</p> + +<p>Closer and closer came the wrecked air monster.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span></p> + +<p>Just as one of the boys had said, it seemed about to pass very nearly +overhead; and as the man would not be more than sixty or seventy feet +above them, possibly he might be able to shout out a message.</p> + +<p>"Keep still! He's calling something down to us!" cried Seth, when +several of the others had started to chatter at a lively rate.</p> + +<p>Now the balloon was whipping past, going at a pretty good clip. +Apparently, then, it did not mean to get quite low enough to let them +clutch any trailing rope, and endeavor to effect the rescue of the +aeronaut. Fritz did make an upward leap, and try to lay hold of the only +rope that came anywhere near them; but missed it by more than a foot.</p> + +<p>"Accident—badly wrenched leg—follow up, and bring help—Anderson, from +St. Louis—balloon <i>Great Republic</i>—report me as down—will drop in few +minutes!"</p> + +<p>They caught every word, although the man's voice seemed husky, and weak, +as if he might have been long exposed and suffering. And as they stood +and watched the balloon drift steadily away, lowering all the time, +every one of those eight scouts felt moved by a great feeling of pity +for the valiant man who had risked his life and was now in such a +desperate situation.</p> + +<p>"There she goes down, fellers!" cried Eben, excitedly.</p> + +<p>"And what d'ye know, the bally old balloon has taken a crazy notion to +drop right in the worst part of the Black Water Swamps, where we were +just saying nobody had ever been before!"</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_X" id="Chapter_X"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +<h2>Chapter X</h2><h3>DUTY ABOVE ALL THINGS</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Gee! whiz! that's tough!"</p> + +<p>Fritz gave vent to his overwrought feelings after this boyish fashion; +and his words doubtless echoed the thought that was in the mind of every +fellow in that little bunch of staring scouts.</p> + +<p>True enough, the badly damaged balloon had taken a sudden dip downward, +as though unable to longer remain afloat, with such a scanty supply of +gas aboard; and as Seth said, it certainly looked as though it had +chosen the very worst place possible to drop—about in the heart of the +swamp.</p> + +<p>"Now, why couldn't the old thing have dipped low enough right here for +us to grab that trailing rope?" demanded Jotham, dejectedly; for he +immediately began to feel that all manner of terrible things were in +store for the aeronaut, if, as seemed likely, he would be marooned in +the unknown morass, with no means of finding his way out, and an injured +leg in the bargain to contend with.</p> + +<p>"Hope he didn't come down hard enough to hurt much," remarked Andy.</p> + +<p>"Huh! if half we've heard about that place is true, little danger of +that," declared Seth. "Chances are he dropped with a splash into a bed +of muck. I only hope he don't get drowned before help comes along!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span></p> + +<p>"Help! what sort of help can reach him there?" observed Fritz, solemnly; +and then once again did those eight scouts exchange uneasy glances.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we let them know in Beverly, why, sure they'll organize some +sort of relief expedition. I know a dozen men who'd be only too glad to +lend a helping hand to a lost aeronaut," Andy went on to say.</p> + +<p>"Wherever do you suppose he came from, Paul?" asked Eben.</p> + +<p>"Say, didn't you hear him say St. Louis?" demanded Seth. "Better take +some of that wax out of your ears, Eben."</p> + +<p>"Whee! that's a pretty good ways off, seems to me," the bugler remarked, +shaking his head, as though he found the story hard to believe.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's nothing to brag of," Seth assured him. "They have big +balloon races from St. Louis every year, nearly, and the gas-bags drift +hundreds of miles across the country. I read about several that landed +in New Jersey, and one away up in Canada won the prize. This one met +with trouble before it got many miles on its journey. And he wants us to +report that the <i>Great Republic</i> is down; Anderson, he said his name +was, didn't he, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was it," replied the scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>Paul seemed to be looking unusually grave, and the others realized that +he must have something of more than usual importance on his mind.</p> + +<p>"How about that, Paul," broke out Fritz, who had been watching the face +of the patrol<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> leader, "we're about eighteen miles away from home; and +must we wait till we get there to start help out for that poor chap?"</p> + +<p>"He might die before then," remarked Jotham seriously.</p> + +<p>Again a strange silence seemed to brood over the whole patrol. Every +fellow no doubt was thinking the same thing just then, and yet each boy +hated to be the one to put it into words.</p> + +<p>They had taken so much pride in the big hike that to even suggest giving +it up, and just in the supreme moment of victory, as it were, seemed +next door to sacrilege, and yet they could not get around the fact that +it seemed right up to them to try and save that forlorn aeronaut. His +life was imperiled, and scouts are always taught to make sacrifices when +they can stretch out a hand to help any one in jeopardy.</p> + +<p>Paul heaved a great sigh.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," he said, solemnly, "I'm going to put it up to you this time, +because I feel that the responsibility ought to be shared; and remember +majority rules whenever the scoutmaster thinks best to let the troop +decide."</p> + +<p>"All right, Paul," muttered Seth, dejectedly.</p> + +<p>"It's only fair that you should saddle some of the responsibility on the +rest of the bunch," admitted Jotham, hardly a bit more happy looking +than Seth; for of course every one of them knew what was coming; and +could give a pretty good guess as to the consequences.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," added Fritz, "so out with it, Paul. When I've got a +bitter dose to swallow I want to hurry, and get it over."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span></p> + +<p>"It hurts none of you more than it does me," went on the scoutmaster, +firmly, "because I had set my heart on winning that fine trophy; and +there'll be a lot of people disappointed this afternoon when we fail to +show up, if we do."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," grunted Seth, "I c'n see our friend, Freddy Rossiter, +going around with that sickly grin on his face, telling everybody that +he always knew we were a lot of fakirs, and greatly overrated; and that, +like as not, even if we did show up we'd a been carried many a mile on +some hay-wagon. But go on, Paul; let's have the funeral quick, so a +feller c'n breathe free again."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to put a motion, and every scout has a right to vote just as +he thinks best. Only before you decide, stop and think what it all +means, to that poor man as well as ourselves," Paul continued.</p> + +<p>"Ready for the motion," mumbled Fritz, who looked as though he had lost +his very last friend, or was beginning to feel the advance symptoms of +sea sickness.</p> + +<p>"All in favor of changing our plans, and trying to rescue the lost +balloonist right now, say yes," the scoutmaster demanded, in as firm a +tone as he could muster.</p> + +<p>A chorus of affirmatives rang out; some of the boys were a little weak +in the reply they made, for it came with an awful wrench; but so far as +Paul could decide the response was unanimous.</p> + +<p>He smiled then.</p> + +<p>"I'm proud of you, fellows, yes I am," he declared heartily. "I think I +know just what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> each and every one of you feels, and when you give up a +thing you've been setting your minds on so long, and just when it looks +as if we had an easy walk-over, I'm sure it does you credit. Some of the +Beverly people may laugh, and make fun when we fail to turn up this +afternoon; but believe me, when we do come in, and they learn what's +happened, those for whose opinion we care will think all the more of us +for doing what we mean to."</p> + +<p>"Hope so," sighed Seth, who could not coax any sort of a smile to his +forlorn looking face, "but because I talk this way, Paul, don't you go +and get the notion in your head that if the whole thing depended on me +I'd do anything different from what we expect to. There's such a thing +as duty that faces every scout who's worthy of the name. For that he +must expect to give up a whole lot of things he'd like to do. And you'll +find that I can stand it as well as the next feller."</p> + +<p>"P'raps when they know what happened, the committee'll be willing to +give us a chance to make another try next week?" suggested Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Good boy, Jotham, and a clever idea," cried Fritz.</p> + +<p>Somehow the suggestion seemed to give every one a sensation of relief.</p> + +<p>"I think myself that we'll be given another chance to show what we can +do," was what Paul remarked. "We can prove that we had the victory about +as good as clinched when this unexpected thing came along. And I know +Mr. Sargeant will be pleased to hear that we gave up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> our chances of +winning that trophy because a sudden serious duty confronted us."</p> + +<p>"Then we're going to start right away to try and find the middle of +Black Water Swamps—is that the idea, Paul?" inquired Seth.</p> + +<p>"That's what it amounts to, it looks like, to me," replied the +scoutmaster, as he stood there in the open road, looking long and +steadily at the very spot where they had seen the last of the dropping +balloon; just as though he might be fixing the locality on his mind for +future use.</p> + +<p>"Do we all have to go, Paul, or are you going to let several of us tramp +along to Beverly?" some one asked just then.</p> + +<p>"That depends on how you feel about it," was the answer the scoutmaster +gave. "It won't do any good for a part of the patrol to arrive on time, +because, you remember one of the rules of the game is that every member +must fulfill the conditions, and make the full hundred miles hike. Do +you want to go to town, while the rest of us are searching the swamps +for the aeronaut, Eben?"</p> + +<p>"I should say not," hastily replied the bugler.</p> + +<p>"How about you, Noodles?" continued Paul.</p> + +<p>"Nixey doing; me for der swamps, undt you can put dot in your pipe undt +smoke idt," the one addressed replied, for there were times when the +scouts, being off duty, could forget that Paul was anything other than a +chum.</p> + +<p>"Well," the patrol leader went on to say, laughingly, "I'm not going to +ask any other fellow, for I see by the looks on your faces that you'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> +take it as an insult. So, the next thing to settle is where we'd better +strike into the place."</p> + +<p>Seth came to the front again.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, I talked a lot with that feller that got lost in there; +and he told a heap of interesting things about the blooming old swamp, +also where he always started into the same when trapping. You see, +somehow I got a hazy idea in this silly head of mine that some time or +other I might want to get a couple of chums to go with me, and try and +see what there was in the middle of the Black Water Swamps."</p> + +<p>"That's good, Seth," declared one of his mates, encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"The smartest thing you ever did, barring none," added Jotham.</p> + +<p>"It's apt to be of more or less use to us right now, and that's a fact," +was the way Paul put it.</p> + +<p>"I reckon," Andy remarked, looking thoughtfully at Seth, "that you could +tell right now whether we happened to be near that same place. It would +be a great piece of good luck if we could run across the entrance, and +the trail your trapper friend made, without going far away from here."</p> + +<p>"Let's see," continued Seth, screwing his forehead up into a series of +funny wrinkles, as he usually did when trying to look serious or +thoughtful, "he told me the path he used lay right under a big sycamore +tree that must have been struck by a stray bolt of lightning, some time +or other, for all the limbs on the north side had been shaven clean +off."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Then you've noticed such a tree, have you?" asked Paul, instantly, +recognizing the symptoms, for he had long made a study of each and every +scout in the troop, and knew their peculiarities.</p> + +<p>"Look over yonder, will you?" demanded Jotham, pointing.</p> + +<p>Immediately various exclamations arose.</p> + +<p>"That's the same old blasted sycamore he told me about, sure as you're +born," declared Seth, with a wide grin of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"The Beaver Patrol luck right in the start; didn't I say nothing could +hold out against that?" remarked Fritz.</p> + +<p>"Come along, Paul; let's be heading that way," suggested Jotham.</p> + +<p>In fact, all the scouts seemed anxious to get busy. The first pang of +regret over giving up their cherished plan had by this time worn away, +and just like boys, they were now fairly wild to be doing the next best +thing. They entered heart and soul into things as they came along, +whether it happened to be a baseball match; a football scrimmage on the +gridiron; the searching for a lost trail in the woods, or answering the +call to dinner.</p> + +<p>And so the whole eight hurried along over the back road, meaning to +branch off at the point nearest to the tall sycamore that had been +visited by a freak bolt from the thunder clouds, during some storm in +years gone by.</p> + +<p>Paul was not joining in the chatter that kept pace with their movements. +He realized that he had a serious proposition on his hands just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> then. +If so experienced a man as that muskrat trapper could get lost in Black +Water Swamps and stay lost for two whole days, it behooved a party of +boys, unfamiliar with such surroundings to be very careful in all they +did.</p> + +<p>But Paul had ever been known as a cautious fellow. He seldom acted from +impulse except when it became actually necessary, in order to meet some +sudden emergency; and then there were few who could do things more +quickly than the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>In a case of this kind, the chances were that they must take unusual +precaution against losing their bearings; that is, they must feel that +they had a back trail to follow in case forward progress became +impossible, or inexpedient.</p> + +<p>Paul had his theory as to the best way to accomplish such a thing; and +of course it had to do with "blazing" trees as they went along. In this +fashion all chances of making mistakes would be obviated; and if they +failed to effect the rescue of the man who had dropped in the heart of +the dismal morass at least the eight boys need not share his sad fate.</p> + +<p>Leaving the road they now headed straight for the sycamore that stood as +a land mark, and a specimen of the freaks of lightning. No sooner had +they reached it than Paul's eyes were on the ground.</p> + +<p>The others heard him give a pleased exclamation, and then say:</p> + +<p>"It's all right, fellows; because here is a well beaten trail that seems +to lead straight in to the place. And now, follow me in single file!"</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_XI" id="Chapter_XI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +<h2>Chapter XI</h2><h3>THE TRAIL IN THE SWAMP</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the eight scouts found that they were leaving solid ground, and +actually getting to where little bogs surrounded them on almost every +side, they had a queer feeling. Up to now none of them had ever had much +experience in passing through a real swamp, because there were no such +places nearer to Beverly than this one, and eighteen miles is quite too +far for boys to walk on ordinary occasions, when seeking fun.</p> + +<p>They looked around time and again, though none of them dared loiter, and +Paul, as the leader, was setting a pretty good pace.</p> + +<p>Just behind Paul came Seth. The scoutmaster had asked him to keep close +at his heels, for since Seth had acquired more or less of a fund of +swamp lore from the man who trapped muskrats for their pelts, in the +fall and winter, if any knotty problems came up to be solved the chances +were Seth would be of more use than any one of the other fellows.</p> + +<p>Evidently they were in for some new and perhaps novel experiences. And +there is nothing that pleases the average boy more than to look upon +unfamiliar scenes, unless it is to run up against a bit of an adventure.</p> + +<p>One thing Paul had made sure to fetch along with him when taking this +big hike, and that was his little camp hatchet. Fritz had begged to be +allowed to carry his old Marlin shotgun,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> under the plea that they might +run across some ferocious animal like a wildcat, or a skunk, and would +find a good use for the reliable firearm; but the scoutmaster had set +his foot down firmly there.</p> + +<p>But they would have to make numerous fires while on the way, and a +little hatchet was apt to come in very handy.</p> + +<p>And the feel of it in his belt had given Paul his idea about "blazing" +the trees just as soon as they no longer had the trapper's path to serve +them as a guide against their return.</p> + +<p>It is a very easy thing to make a trail in this way; only care must +always be taken to make the slices, showing the white wood underneath +the bark, on that side of the tree most likely to be seen by the +returning pilgrim. Great loss of time must result if one always had to +go behind every tree in order to find the blaze that had been so +carefully given, not to mention the chances of becoming confused, and +eventually completely turned around.</p> + +<p>That path twisted and turned in the most amazing and perplexing manner +possible.</p> + +<p>Although Paul had purposely warned the boys to try and keep tabs of the +points of the compass as they passed along, in less than ten minutes +after striking the swamp proper it is doubtful whether one of them could +have told correctly just where the north lay, if asked suddenly; though +by figuring it out, looking at the sun, and all that, they might have +replied with a certain amount of accuracy after a while.</p> + +<p>But then they felt sure Paul knew; and somehow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> or other they had always +been in the habit of relying on the scoutmaster to do some of their +thinking for them—a bad habit it is, too, for any boys to let +themselves fall into, and one that Paul often took them to task for. +They would cheerfully admit the folly of such a course, and promise to +reform, yet on the next occasion it would be the same old story of +depending on Paul.</p> + +<p>"Path seems to be petering out a heap, Paul," remarked Seth, when +another little time had crept along, and they had penetrated still +deeper into the swamp, with a very desolate scene all around them, water +surrounding many of the trees that grew there with swollen boles, such +as always seems to be the case where they exist in swampy regions.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was thinking that myself," replied the other; "and it's about +time for me to begin using my little hatchet, even if I don't happen to +be George Washington."</p> + +<p>"Let's stop for a breath, and listen," suggested Eben; "who knows now +but what we might be nearer where the balloon dropped than we thought. +P'raps we could even get an answer if we whooped her up a bit."</p> + +<p>"How about that, Paul?" demanded Fritz, who could shout louder perhaps +than any other boy in Beverly, and often led the hosts as a cheer +captain, when exciting games were on with other school teams.</p> + +<p>"Not a bad idea, I should say," was the reply, as the patrol leader +nodded his head in approval.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> "Suppose you lead off, Fritz, and let it +be a concerted yell."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Fritz marshaled them all in a line, and gave the word. Such +an outbreak as followed awoke the sleeping echoes in the swamp, and sent +a number of startled birds flying madly away. Indeed, Jotham noticed a +rabbit bounding off among the hummocks of higher ground; and Noodles +afterwards declared that he had seen the "cutest little pussycat" +ambling away; though the others vowed it must have been a skunk, and +gave Noodles fair warning that if ever he tried to catch such a cunning +"pussycat" he would be buried up to the neck until his clothes were +fumigated.</p> + +<p>"Don't hear any answer, do you, fellers?" remarked Seth, after the +echoes had finally died away again.</p> + +<p>Everybody admitted that there seemed to have been no reply to the shout +they had sent booming along.</p> + +<p>"Hope we didn't scare him by making such a blooming row," Seth went on +to say.</p> + +<p>"I'm bothered more by thinking that he may have been killed, or very +badly hurt when the balloon fell down," Paul ventured to say.</p> + +<p>The thought made them all serious again. In imagination they pictured +that valiant fellow who had taken his life in his hands in the interest +of sport, possibly lying there on the ground senseless, or buried in the +slimy mud, which could be seen in so many places all around them. And it +was far from a pleasing prospect that confronted those eight scouts,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +though none of them gave any sign of wanting to back out.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe a blast from my horn would reach him?" suggested Eben.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you try it, eh? Paul?" Fritz remarked.</p> + +<p>"No harm can come of it, so pitch in Eben," the other told the troop +bugler.</p> + +<p>"And put in all the wind you c'n scrape together," added Seth.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Eben blew a blast that could have been heard fully a mile +away. He grew red in the face as he sent out his call; and doubtless +such a sweet medley of sounds had never before been heard in that +desolate looking place since the time of the ice period.</p> + +<p>"No use; he don't answer; or if he does, we don't get it," Seth +observed, in a disappointed tone.</p> + +<p>"Then the only thing for us to do is to go ahead," Andy proposed.</p> + +<p>"Paul's getting his bearings again," remarked Eben.</p> + +<p>"I wanted to make dead sure," the scoutmaster observed, with a glow of +determination in his eyes. "You see, we tried to note just about where +the balloon seemed to fall; and it takes a lot of figuring to keep that +spot in your mind all the while you're turning and twisting along this +queer trail. But I feel pretty sure of my ground."</p> + +<p>"Huh! wish I did the same," said Seth, holding up one of his feet, and +showing that he had been in black mud half way to his knee, when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> +made some sort of bad guess about the footing under him.</p> + +<p>Apparently Paul was now ready to once more start out. But they saw him +give a quick hack at a tree, and upon looking as they passed they +discovered that he had taken quite a slice off the bark, leaving a white +space as big as his two hands, and which could easily be seen at some +distance off in the direction whither they were bound.</p> + +<p>That was called a "blaze."</p> + +<p>If Seth thought he was having his troubles, they were slight compared +with those that attacked one other member of the little band of would-be +rescuers.</p> + +<p>Noodles, besides being a good-natured chap, was more or less awkward. +Being so very stout had more or less to do with this; and besides, he +had a habit of just ambling along in any sort of happy-go-lucky way.</p> + +<p>Now, while this might not be so very bad under ordinary conditions, when +there was a decent and level road to be traveled over, it brought about +all sorts of unexpected and unwelcome difficulties when they were trying +to keep to a narrow and crooked path.</p> + +<p>Twice already had Noodles made a slip, and gone in knee-deep, to be +dragged out by some of his comrades. And he was glancing around at the +gloomy aspect with a look approaching <i>fear</i> in his eyes, just as though +he began to think that they were invading a haunted region where +respectable scouts had no business to go, even on an errand of mercy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span></p> + +<p>Such was the wrought-up condition of his nerves, that when a branch +which some one had held back, and then let slip, came in contact with +the shins of Noodles, he gave out a screech, and began dancing around +like mad.</p> + +<p>"Snakes! and as big as your wrist too! I saw 'em!" he called out, +forgetting to talk in his usual broken English way, because of his +excitement.</p> + +<p>They had some difficulty in convincing him that it was only a branch +that had caressed his ankle, and not a venomous serpent; for Noodles +confessed that if he dreaded anything on the face of the earth it was +just snakes, any kind of crawling varmints, from the common everyday +garter species to the big boa constrictor to be seen in the menagerie +that came with the annual circus visiting Beverly.</p> + +<p>Again and again was Paul making good use of his handy little camp +hatchet, and Seth took note of the manner in which the blazed trail was +thus fashioned. It may be all very fine to do things in theory, but +there is nothing like a little practical demonstration. And in all +likelihood not one of these seven boys but would be fully able to make +just such a plain trail, should the necessity ever arise. When one has +<i>seen</i> a thing done he can easily remember the manner of doing it; but +it is so easy to get directions confused, and make blunders.</p> + +<p>Paul was not hurrying now.</p> + +<p>A mistake would be apt to cost them dear, and he believed that an ounce +of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. If they could avoid +going wrong, it did not matter a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> great deal that they made slow +progress. "Be sure you're right and then go ahead" was the motto of the +famous frontiersman, Davy Crockett, and Paul had long ago taken it as +his pattern too.</p> + +<p>Besides, it paid, for any one could see that they were steadily getting +in deeper and deeper. The swamp was becoming much wilder now; and it was +not hard to realize that a man getting lost here, and losing his head, +might, after his bearings were gone, go wandering at haphazard for days, +possibly crossing his own trail more than a few times.</p> + +<p>It seemed a lonesome place. Animals they saw none. Perhaps there might +be deer in the outer portions, but they never came in here. Although the +scouts saw no evidences that wild-cats lived in the swamp, they could +easily picture some such fierce animal crouching in this clump of matted +trees or back of that heavy bush, watching their passage with fiery +eyes.</p> + +<p>The scouts found their long staves of considerable use from time to +time. Had Noodles for instance been more adept in the use of the one he +carried he might have been saved from a whole lot of trouble. Perhaps +this might prove to be a valuable lesson to the boy. He could not help +but see how smartly the others kept themselves from slipping off the +narrow ridge of ground by planting their staves against some convenient +stump, or the butt of a tree, anywhere but in the oozy mud.</p> + +<p>"Wait up for me!" Noodles would call out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> every little while, when he +fell behind, for he seemed to have a horror lest he might slip into that +horrible bed of mud, and be sucked down before his chums could reach +him. "It iss nodt fair to leave me so far behindt der rest. How wouldt +you feel if you rescued der argonaut, and lose your chump; dell me dot? +Give eferypody a chance, and—mine gootness, I mighty near proke my pack +dot time," for he had come down with a tremendous thump, when his feet +slipped out from under him.</p> + +<p>But as a rule boys are not apt to give a clumsy comrade much sympathy, +and hence only rude laughter greeted this fresh mishap on the part of +Noodles.</p> + +<p>"Nature looked out for you when she saw what an awkward chap you were +going to be, Noodles," called back Fritz. "You're safely padded all +right, and don't need to feel worried when you sit down, sudden-like. If +it was me, now, there might be some talking, because I'm built more on +the jack-knife plan."</p> + +<p>"Oh! what is that?" cried Eben, as a strange, blood-curdling sound came +from a point ahead of them; just as though some unlucky fellow was being +sucked down in the embrace of that slimy mud, and was giving his last +shriek for help.</p> + +<p>As the other scouts had of course heard the same thing, all of the +detachment came to a sudden halt, and looking rather apprehensively at +one another, they waited to learn if the weird gurgling sound would be +repeated, but all was deathly still.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_XII" id="Chapter_XII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +<h2>Chapter XII</h2><h3>WHERE NO FOOT HAS EVER TROD</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Now whatever do you suppose made that racket?" demanded Seth.</p> + +<p>"Sounded just like a feller getting drowned, and with his mouth half +full of water. But I don't believe it could have been a human being, do +you, Paul?" and Eben turned to the one in command of the troop.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," returned the scoutmaster, promptly. "More than likely it +was some sort of a bird."</p> + +<p>"A bird make a screechy sound like that?" echoed the doubting Eben.</p> + +<p>"Some sort of heron or crane. They make queer noises when they fight, or +carry on in a sort of dance. I've read lots of things about cranes that +are hard to believe, yet the naturalists stand for the truth of the +accounts."</p> + +<p>Paul started off again, as though not dismayed in the slightest by the +strange squawk, half human in its way. And his example spurred the +others on to follow in his wake, so that once more they were making +steady progress.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't care so much," grumbled Fritz, as he trailed along, "if only +I had a gun along. But it's tough luck to be smooching through a place +like this, where a sly old cat may be watching you from the branch +overhead, and your trusty Marlin hanging on the nails at home."</p> + +<p>"They say you always see plenty of game<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> when you haven't got a gun; and +so I guess we'll run across all sorts of things, from bobcats to +alligators!" Paul went on to remark, whimsically, but there was one +scout who chose to take his words seriously, and this was Noodles.</p> + +<p>"What's that about alligators?" he called out from his place at the rear +of the little procession. "Blease don't dell me now as we shall some +reptiles meet up mit pefore we finish dis exblorations. If dere iss one +thing I don't like, worser as snakes, dose pe alligators. I would go +across der street to avoid dem. You moost some fun pe making when you +say dot, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Sure I am, Noodles," replied the scoutmaster quickly, "because there +are no alligators or crocodiles native to the state of Indiana. I +believe they have a few lobsters over in Indianapolis, but they don't +count. But the chances are we will run across some queer things before +we get out of this place."</p> + +<p>"What gets me," remarked Jotham, "is the way the thing came on us. Why, +we'd just about said that we'd like to explore the old swamp, from +curiosity if nothing else, when that balloon hove in sight, and settled +down where we'd have to push right into the center of the place to find +the man who was hanging to the wreck."</p> + +<p>"Well, we had our wish answered on the spot, didn't we?" questioned the +patrol leader, "and it came in such a way that we couldn't well back +out. So here we are, up to our necks in business."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span></p> + +<p>"I only hopes as how we won't pe up to our necks in somedings else +pefore long," came a whine from the rear, that made more than one fellow +chuckle.</p> + +<p>A number of times Paul stopped, for one reason or another. Now it was +some little imprint of animal feet that had attracted his attention in +the harder mud at the side of the narrow ridge he was following; then +again he wanted to listen, and renew his observations.</p> + +<p>Seth was watching him closely. Somehow he was reminded of that grizzled +old carpenter whom he had observed, when the addition was being put to +their house, and who, after measuring a board three blessed times, and +picking up his saw, made ready to cut it in twain, when, possessed of an +idea that he must not make a miscalculation, laid down his saw, and went +to work to measure it for the fourth time!</p> + +<p>Paul was not quite so bad as all that, but he did like to make sure he +was right before taking a step that could not be recovered, once it was +gone.</p> + +<p>"There's one thing sure," Seth could not help remarking, after he had +watched Paul for some time, and noted how confident the other seemed +with every forward step that was taken.</p> + +<p>"What might that be, Seth?" demanded Babe Adams, when the other paused.</p> + +<p>"If that feller I talked with, the one that hunts muskrats around here +in the season, had been just half as smart as Paul, he never would a +lost hisself in the swamps, and come near starving to death."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span></p> + +<p>"So say we all of us!" added Jotham.</p> + +<p>"That's as neat a compliment as I ever had paid me, boys; though I +hardly think I deserve it, yet. Wait and see if we get lost, or not. The +proof of the pudding's in the eating of it, you know. Talk is cheap and +butters no parsnips, they say. I like to <i>do</i> things. But honestly +speaking, I believe we're getting through this place pretty smartly."</p> + +<p>"But she keeps agettin' darker right along, Paul?" complained Noodles, +taking advantage of a brief halt to pick up a stick and start to wiping +the dark ooze from the bottom of his trousers.</p> + +<p>"That only means we're pushing steadily in toward the center; and I'm +beginning to lose my fear about getting there. Perhaps, after all, it +may be an easy thing to put our feet where those of no other white man +has ever trod."</p> + +<p>Paul spoke with an assurance that carried the rest along with him. That +had ever been one of his strongest points at school in the leadership of +the class athletic and outdoor sports team.</p> + +<p>It was getting more and more difficult for several of the scouts to +follow their leader. The narrow ledge had been bad enough, but when it +came to passing along slippery logs, with the water all around, and a +bath sure to follow the slightest mishap, Eben's nerve gave way.</p> + +<p>"If it's going to keep up like this, Paul, you'll have to drop me out, +because I just can't do it, and that's a fact!" he wailed, as he clung +with both hands and knees to an unusually slippery<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> place, having lost +his stick in making a miscalculation when trying to brace himself.</p> + +<p>One of the other fellows recovered the staff, and then Eben was assisted +across. Paul had been expecting something like this, and was not very +much surprised. He felt pretty sure there was another who would welcome +an order to stay there on that little patch of firm ground, and wait for +the return of the rest.</p> + +<p>"Well, I was just thinking of leaving a rear guard, to protect our line +of communications," he proceeded to say, gravely, but with a wink toward +Seth and Fritz, "and as it will be necessary for two to fill the +position, I appoint Seth and Noodles to the honorable post. You will +take up your position here, and if anybody tries to pass you by without +giving the proper countersign, arrest him on the spot."</p> + +<p>"Which spot, Paul?" asked Noodles, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't matter, so long as you stay here and guard our line of +retreat. And boys, keep your eyes on the watch for signals. Perhaps we +may have to talk with you by smoke signs. So you can amuse yourselves by +picking up some wood, and getting ready to start a smoky fire, only +don't put a match to it unless we call you."</p> + +<p>"All right, Paul," returned Eben, taking it all in deadly earnest, +although the other fellows were secretly chuckling among themselves. +"And then again, I've got my bully old bugle, in case I want to give you +a call. Don't worry about Noodles; I'll be here to look after him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span></p> + +<p>"The blind leading the blind," muttered Seth as he turned his face away.</p> + +<p>"There, you see now," broke in Fritz, "if we only had my gun along, Eben +here could be a real sentry, and hold a feller up in the right way. +Watch this second slippery log here, boys. You c'n easy enough push +anybody into the slush if he gets gay, and refuses to give the +password."</p> + +<p>Then he in turn also followed after Paul, leaving the bugler and Noodles +there, congratulating themselves that they could be doing their full +duty by the enterprise without taking any more desperate risks.</p> + +<p>And then when the six scouts had gone about fifty feet Eben was heard +wildly shouting after them.</p> + +<p>"Paul, O! Paul!" he was bellowing at the top of his voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" asked the scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>"You forgot something," came the answer.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"You didn't give us the password, you know; and how c'n we tell whether +any fellers has it right, when we don't even know."</p> + +<p>Paul just turned and walked on, laughing to himself; and those who +followed in his footsteps were shaking with inward amusement. Either +Eben had taken the bait, and gorged the hook, or else he was having a +little fun with them, no one knew which.</p> + +<p>However, all of them soon realized that Paul had done a clever thing +when he thus coaxed the two clumsy members of the patrol to drop out of +line, and allow those better fitted for coping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> with the difficulties of +the slippery path to go forward; because it steadily grew worse instead +of better, and neither Eben nor Noodles could have long continued.</p> + +<p>Why, even Fritz began to feel timid about pursuing such a treacherous +course, and presently he sought information.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we must be nearly in the heart of the old bog, Paul? +Seems to me we've come a long ways, and when you think that we've got to +go back over the same nasty track again, perhaps carrying a wounded man, +whew! however we are going to do it, beats me."</p> + +<p>Paul stopped long enough to give a tree a couple of quick upward and +downward strokes with that handy little tool of his, and then glance at +the resulting gash, as though he wanted to make sure that it could be +seen a decent distance off.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a pretty hard question to answer," he replied, slowly. "In +the first place, we don't know whether the man fell into the heart of +the Black Water, or over by the other side. Fact is, we haven't come on +anything up to now to settle the matter whether he fell at all."</p> + +<p>"Great governor! that <i>would</i> be a joke on us now, wouldn't it, if we +made our way all over this beastly place, when there wasn't any aeronaut +to help? We'd feel like a bunch of sillies, that's right!" burst out +Fritz.</p> + +<p>"But we acted in good faith," Paul went on to say, positively. "We +weighed the matter, and arrived at the conclusion that he had fallen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +somewhere in here; and we agreed, <i>all of us</i>, mind you, Fritz, that it +was our duty to make a hunt for Mr. Anderson. And we're here on the +ground, doing our level best."</p> + +<p>"Ain't got another word to say, Paul," Fritz observed, hastily, "you +know best; only I sure hope it don't get any worse than we find it right +now. I never did like soft slimy mud. Nearly got smothered in it once, +when I was only a kid, and somehow it seems to give me the creeps every +time I duck my leg in. But go right along; only if you hear me sing out, +stop long enough to give me a pull."</p> + +<p>"We're all bound to help each other, don't forget that, Fritz," said +Seth. "It might just as well be me that'll take a slide, and go squash +into that awful mess on the right, or on the left. Don't know whether to +swim, or wade, if that happens; but see there, you can't find any bottom +to the stuff."</p> + +<p>He thrust his long Alpine staff into the mire as far as it could go; and +the other scouts shuddered when they saw that so far as appearances +went, the soft muck bed really had no bottom. Any one so unfortunate as +to fall in would surely gradually sink far over his head, unless he were +rescued in time, or else had the smartness to effect his own release by +seizing hold of a low-hanging branch and gradually drawing his limbs out +of the clinging stuff.</p> + +<p>Then they all looked ahead, as though wondering what the prospect might +be for a continuance of this perilous trip which had broken up their +great hike.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span></p> + +<p>"I guess it's about time to make another try with a shout or so, Fritz," +said Paul, instead of giving the order for an advance.</p> + +<p>"All right, just as you say," returned the other, "we've come quite some +distance since we made the last big noise; and if he's weak and wounded, +yet able to answer at all, p'raps we might hear him this time. Line up +here, fellers, and watch my hands now, so's all to break loose +together."</p> + +<p>It was a tremendous volume of sound that welled forth, as Fritz waved +his hands upward after a fashion that every high school fellow +understood; why, Seth declared that it could have been heard a mile or +more away, and from that part of the swamp half way out in either +direction.</p> + +<p>Then they strained their ears to listen for any possible answer. The +seconds began to creep past, and disappointment had already commenced to +grip hold of their hearts when they started, and looked quickly, +eagerly, at one another.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear it?" asked Fritz, gasping for breath after his exertions +at holding on to that long-drawn school yell.</p> + +<p>"We sure did—something!" replied Jotham, instantly, "but whether that +was the balloonist answering, Eben or Noodles calling out to us, or some +wild animal giving tongue, blest if I know."</p> + +<p>And then, why, of course five pair of eyes were turned on Paul for the +answer.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>THE OASIS IN THE SWAMP</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Was that another fish-eating bird like a crane, Paul?" asked Seth.</p> + +<p>"Sounded more like a human voice," Jotham put in.</p> + +<p>"And that's what it was, or else we're all pretty much mistaken," was +the verdict of the scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>They turned their eyes toward the quarter from whence the sound had +appeared to come; and while some thought it had welled up just in a line +with this bunch of bushes, or it might be a leaning tree, still others +believed it had come straight up against the breeze.</p> + +<p>Although there might be a few points difference in their guesses, still +it was noticeable that on the whole they were pretty uniform, and +pointed almost due east from the spot where they stood.</p> + +<p>"How about the prospect of getting through there?" queried Jotham, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Huh! couldn't be tougher, in my opinion," grumbled Seth.</p> + +<p>"But if you look far enough, boys," remarked Paul, "you can see that +there seems to be some firmer ground over there."</p> + +<p>"Well, now, you're right about that, Paul," interjected Fritz, "I was +just going to say the same myself. Made me think of what an oasis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> in a +desert might look like, though to be sure I never saw one in my life."</p> + +<p>"Solid ground, you mean, eh?" said Babe Adams, gleefully, "maybe, now, +we won't be just tickled to death to feel the same under our trilbies +again. This thing of picking your way along a slippery ledge about three +inches wide, makes me feel like I'm walking on eggs all the while. Once +you lose your grip, and souse you go up to your knees, or p'raps your +neck, in the nasty dip. Solid ground will feel mighty welcome to me."</p> + +<p>"Do we make a bee line for that quarter, Paul?" asked Andy.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see you try it, that's what," jeered Seth. "In three shakes +of a lamb's tail you'd be swimming in the mud. Guess we have to follow +one of these crazy little hummocks that run criss-cross through the +place, eh, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you're right about that, Seth; but I'm glad to say I think one +runs over toward that spot; anyway, here goes to find out."</p> + +<p>The young scoutmaster made a start while speaking, and the balance of +the boys lined out after him.</p> + +<p>"Keep close together, so as to help each other if any trouble comes," +was what Paul called out over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and for goodness sake don't all get in at once, or we'll be +drowned. Think what an awful time there'd be in old Beverly, if six of +her shining lights went and got snuffed out all at once. Hey, quit your +pushin' there, Jotham, you nearly had me overboard that time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I just <i>had</i> to grab something, because one of my legs was in up +to the knee. Oh! dear, what a fine time we'll have getting all this mud +off us," Jotham complained, from just behind.</p> + +<p>But they were making pretty fair progress, all the same; and whenever +any of the boys could venture to take their eyes off the faintly marked +path they were following, long enough to send a quick look ahead, they +saw that the anticipated haven of temporary refuge loomed up closer all +the time.</p> + +<p>At least this was encouraging, and it served to put fresh zeal in those +who had begun to almost despair of ever getting across the acre of mud +that lay between the spot where they had last shouted, and the Promised +Land.</p> + +<p>They were a cheery lot, taken as a whole; and what was even better, they +believed in passing their enthusiasm along. So one, and then another, +called out some encouraging words as the humor seized them.</p> + +<p>Foot by foot, and yard by yard they moved along, Paul always cautious +about venturing upon unknown ground; but finding a way to gain his end.</p> + +<p>"Here's a little patch of solid ground, and we can rest up for a minute +or so," was the welcome announcement that came along the line of toiling +scouts, and of course brought out various exclamations of delight.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a great relief to be able to actually stand upright once +more, so as to stretch the cramped muscles in their legs. Some of the +boys even started to dancing, though Seth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> scorned to do anything like +this, and pretended to make all manner of fun of their contortions.</p> + +<p>"Talk about them cranes doing funny stunts when they get together and +dance," he remarked, "I guess, now, they haven't got anything on you +fellers. Why, if anybody happened to see you carryin' on that way he'd +sure believe the whole bunch had broke loose from some lunatic asylum. +When I dance I like to have some style about it, and not just hop around +any old way."</p> + +<p>So Seth took it out in stretching his arms, and rubbing the tired +muscles of his legs.</p> + +<p>It was Jotham who made a discovery. In jumping around he had by chance +wandered a dozen yards away from the rest, when he was heard to give +vent to a cry; and the other boys saw him dart forward, as if to pick +something up from the ground.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Jotham?" several cried in an eager chorus; for their nerves +had been wrought up to a high tension by all they had gone through, and +they felt, as Seth aptly expressed it, "like fiddle strings keyed to +next door to the snapping point."</p> + +<p>For answer Jotham turned and came toward the rest. He was carrying some +object in his hand, and seemed to regard it with considerable interest, +as though he felt that he had made an important discovery.</p> + +<p>As he reached the others he held it up before the scoutmaster; and of +course all could see what it was.</p> + +<p>"A piece of old yellow cloth!" exclaimed Seth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> in disgust, "say, you +made all of us believe that you'd run across something worth while."</p> + +<p>"How about it, Paul?" appealed Jotham, turning to the one whom he +fancied would be more apt to understand, "don't this tell a story; and +ain't it a pretty good clue to run across?"</p> + +<p>"I should say, yes," replied Paul, as he took the article in question in +his own hands, and felt of it eagerly, "because, you see, Seth, this is +really silk, the queer kind they always make balloons out of. And that +ought to tell us we're on the right track. So you see it was an +important pick-up, and ought to count one point for Jotham."</p> + +<p>"Gee whittaker! you don't say?" ejaculated Seth, staring with +considerable more respect at the foot of dingy yellow stuff which the +scoutmaster was holding in his hands. "Well, if that's so, then I pass +along the honors to Jotham. But if a piece of the bally old balloon fell +right here, Paul, don't that tell us the wreck must a passed over where +we're standing now?"</p> + +<p>"Not the least doubt about that," asserted the confident Paul, "and I +was just looking up to see if I could make out the course it took. +Because it must have struck the top of a tree, to tear this piece +loose."</p> + +<p>"How about that one over yonder?" suggested Fritz, pointing as he spoke. +"Looks to me like the top was broke some, and I just bet you now that's +where the big gas-bag did strike first, when it started to drop in a +hurry."</p> + +<p>"Then following the course of the wind, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> hasn't changed this last +hour, it would be carried on straight east," Paul continued, logically.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," declared Seth, "and if you look close now, you'll glimpse +where it struck that smaller bunch of trees just ahead, where we're +going to land soon. And Paul, hadn't we better be trying our luck some +more now? Guess all the boys must be rested, and if we've just <i>got</i> to +do the grand wading act, the sooner we get started the better."</p> + +<p>"First let's call out again, and see if we get any answer. It would +cheer the poor fellow up some, if he happens to be lying there badly +hurt; and if he does answer, we'll get our bearings better. Hit it up, +Fritz!"</p> + +<p>They always turned to Fritz when they wanted volume of sound. That +appeared to be his specialty, the one thing in which he certainly +excelled.</p> + +<p>Of course there was little need of any great noise, now that they had +reason to believe the object of their solicitude must be close at hand; +but then boys generally have plenty of spare enthusiasm, and when Fritz +gave the required signal they let out a roar, as usual.</p> + +<p>"There, that was certainly an answering call!" declared Jotham, proudly.</p> + +<p>"Sounded like he said just two words—'help—hurry!'" spoke up Babe.</p> + +<p>Somehow the rest seemed to be of about the same opinion, and the thought +gave the scouts a strange thrill. Was the unfortunate aeronaut slowly +bleeding to death, lying there amidst the bushes on that tongue of land? +They had given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> up their dearly cherished plan in order to rescue him, +and had undergone considerable in the line of strenuous work, so as to +arrive in time, and now that they were so close to the scene of his +disaster it would be too bad if they were held back until it was too +late to do him any good.</p> + +<p>"Can't we hit it up a little faster, Paul?" begged Andy, who was rather +inclined to be impulsive, because of the warm Southern blood that flowed +in his veins.</p> + +<p>They had once more started on, and were really making pretty good +progress; but when one gives way to impatience, it may seem that a fair +amount of speed is next door to standing still.</p> + +<p>Paul understood the generous impulse that caused the Kentucky boy to +speak in this strain and while he knew that it was dangerous to attempt +any swifter pace than they were then making, still, for once, he bowed +to the will of the majority, and began to increase his speed.</p> + +<p>All went well, for beyond a few minor mishaps they managed to get along. +What if one of the scouts did occasionally slip off the wretched +footing, and splash into the mud; a helping hand was always ready to do +the needful, and the delay could hardly be noticed.</p> + +<p>"There's the beginning of the firm ground just ahead!" Paul presently +remarked, thinking to cheer his comrades with the good news.</p> + +<p>"Oh! joy!" breathed Jotham, who often used queer expressions, that is, +rather odd to hear from a boy.</p> + +<p>Seth was the more natural one of the two when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> he gave vent to his +delight by using the one expressive word:</p> + +<p>"Bully!"</p> + +<p>In a couple of minutes at this rate they would have reached the place +where the slippery trail merged into the more solid ground.</p> + +<p>Perhaps some of the others may not as yet have noticed strange sounds +welling up out of the bushes beyond, but Paul certainly did, and he was +greatly puzzled to account for the same.</p> + +<p>That singular growling could not be the wind passing through the upper +branches of the trees, for one thing. It seemed to Paul more like the +snarling of an angry domestic cat, several times magnified.</p> + +<p>For the life of him he could not imagine what a cat would be doing here +in the heart of the dreaded Black Water Swamps. Surely no hermit could +be living in such a dismal and inaccessible place; even a crazy man +would never dream of passing over such a terribly slippery ledge in +order to get to and from his lonely habitation.</p> + +<p>But if not a cat, what was making that angry snarling?</p> + +<p>Paul knew next to nothing about balloons, but he felt pretty sure that +even the escaping of gas could hardly produce such a sound—it might +pass through a rent in the silk with a sharp hiss, but he could plainly +catch something more than that.</p> + +<p>And then his foot struck solid ground; with a sigh of relief he drew +himself up, and turned to give a hand to Seth, next in line, if it was +needed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span></p> + +<p>So they all came ashore, so to speak, and delighted to feel able to +stand in a comfortable position once more.</p> + +<p>No time now for stretching or dancing, with that ugly snarling growing +constantly deeper, and more angry in volume. Forward was the word, and +Paul somehow felt glad that they gripped those handy staves, tried and +true, with which every scout in course of time becomes quite adept. They +would come in good play should there be any necessity for prompt action.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, everybody," said Paul, as he started off.</p> + +<p>"Count on us to back you up!" Seth declared, from which remark the +scoutmaster understood that by now the others must have caught those +suspicious sounds, and were trying to figure out what they stood for.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if with every forward step he took, Paul could catch them +more and more plainly. Nor was the snarling sound alone; now he believed +he caught a rustling of dead leaves, and something that might be likened +to low muttered words, as though the speaker were being hard pressed, +and had little breath to spare.</p> + +<p>Then, as he pushed through the last fringe of bushes that interfered +with his view, Paul found himself looking upon the cause of all these +queer noises.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_XIV" id="Chapter_XIV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +<h2>Chapter XIV</h2><h3>JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Holy smoke! look at that, would you?" exclaimed Seth, who had been so +close on the heels of the scoutmaster that he sighted the struggling +objects ahead almost as soon as Paul did himself.</p> + +<p>"It's a big wildcat!" echoed Jotham, with a suspicious tremor in his +voice.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the animal in question was a sight well calculated to give any +one more or less reason to feel a touch of alarm.</p> + +<p>Evidently she must be a mother cat, for a couple of partly grown kittens +stood there in plain sight, with every hair on their short backs +erected, and their whole appearance indicating that they were "chips off +the old block," as Seth afterwards declared.</p> + +<p>The wounded aeronaut sat there with a stick in his grasp. This he was +wielding as best he could, to keep the angry animal at a distance, +although his efforts were growing pitifully weaker, and only for the +coming of the scouts he must have been compelled to throw up the sponge +in a short time.</p> + +<p>Evidently the wildcat had come upon him there after he had been dropped +amidst the wreckage of his balloon. Whether it was her natural hatred +for mankind that tempted the savage beast to attack the balloonist, or +the scent of fresh blood from some of his scratches, it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> be hard +to say, possibly both reasons had to do with her action.</p> + +<p>Just how long the scrimmage had been going on Paul could only guess; but +he did know that the beast must have ripped the clothes partly off the +aeronaut's back, and in turn he could see that one of the animal's eyes +was partly closed, from a vigorous whack which the desperate man had +given with his cudgel, no doubt.</p> + +<p>Paul instantly made straight for the scene of commotion, never so much +as hesitating a second. This was one of those emergencies spoken of +before now, when the scoutmaster did not allow himself to pause and +consider, but acted from impulse only.</p> + +<p>The man saw him coming, and gave expression to his satisfaction in a +weak hurrah. As for the cat, at first it seemed ready to try conclusions +with the whole troop of Boy Scouts, for it turned on Paul with the +ugliest glare in its yellow eyes he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>Every fellow was shouting vigorously by now, and the volume of sound +must have had more or less to do with settling the question. Besides, +the pair of kittens seemed to have been frightened off with the coming +of the scouts, having slid into the friendly bushes.</p> + +<p>So the mother cat decided that after all she could yield gracefully to +superior numbers—seven to one was pretty heavy odds, and those waving +staves had an ugly look she did not exactly fancy.</p> + +<p>But all the same there was nothing inglorious in her retreat; she +retired in perfect good order,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> keeping her face to the foe, and +continuing to spit and snarl and growl so long as she remained in sight.</p> + +<p>Several of the scouts were for following her up, and forcing the issue; +but a word from Paul restrained them. He saw that the animal was +furiously angry, and if hard pushed would undoubtedly make things +extremely interesting for any number of fellows; flying into their +midst, so that they could not well use their sticks, and using her sharp +claws to make criss-cross maps across their faces.</p> + +<p>Scratches from the claws of all carnivorous animals are dangerous. Blood +poisoning is apt to set in, because of the fact that their claws are +contaminated from the flesh of such birds or small game as have served +them for a previous meal. And just then Paul had nothing along with him +to prevent the possibility of such a dreadful happening taking place.</p> + +<p>Seth in particular was exceedingly loth to give over. He looked after +the vanishing wild cat, and shook his head in bitter disappointment. +Only for his pride in obeying all orders that came to him from the +scoutmaster, Seth very likely would have followed the cat, and probably +rued his rashness when he had to call for help a minute or so later.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Paul had hurried to the side of the aeronaut, who raised his +hand in greeting, while a smile broke over his anxious face.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, my brave boys!" he exclaimed. "I never dreamed that you could +ever get to me here, when I saw what a horrible sort of bog I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> had +dropped into. And then, after that savage beast set on me I about gave +myself up as lost. She kept walking around me, and growling for a long +time before she made a jump. Oh! it was a nightmare of a time, I assure +you. I've seen some scrapes before in my ballooning experiences, but +never one the equal of this. I'm mighty glad to meet you all. But I'll +never understand how you found me. After this I'll believe Boy Scouts +can do about anything there is going."</p> + +<p>Well, that was praise enough to make every fellow glow with +satisfaction, and feel glad to know he wore the khaki that had won the +sincere respect of this daring voyager of the skies.</p> + +<p>"I hope you're not very badly hurt, Mr. Anderson?" Paul ventured, as he +knelt at the side of the other.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it's serious, but all the same I'm pretty much crippled +after all I've gone through with on this ill-fated trip. But I'm willing +to exert myself to the limit in order to get out of this terrible swamp. +You can't make a start any too soon to please me."</p> + +<p>Paul drew a long breath. If it had been so difficult for active boys, +used to balancing, and doing all sorts of stunts, to cross on those +treacherous little hummock paths, how in the wide world were they ever +going to get a wounded man out of this place?</p> + +<p>He only hoped Mr. Anderson would prove to be the possessor of tenacious +will power, as well as a reserve fund of strength; he would certainly +have good need of both before he struck solid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> ground again, once the +return journey was begun.</p> + +<p>"Well, while my chums are getting their breath after our little jaunt, +suppose you let me look at any cuts you've got, Mr. Anderson," he +suggested, first of all, in a business-like way that quite charmed the +aeronaut.</p> + +<p>"What, you don't mean to tell me that you are something of a doctor as +well as a leader of scouts?" he remarked, with evident pleasure, as he +started to roll up one of the legs of his trousers, so as to expose his +bruised ankle.</p> + +<p>"I know just a little about medicine, enough to make the other fellows +want me to take charge whenever they get hurt. Let me introduce my +friends, sir."</p> + +<p>And accordingly Paul mentioned his own name, and then in turn that of +Andy, Babe, Jotham, Seth and Fritz; also stating that there were two +more in the patrol whom they had left stranded about half way out of the +swamp, to be picked up again on the return journey.</p> + +<p>The pleased aeronaut shook hands heartily with each boy. He was +experiencing a delightful revulsion of feeling, for all of a sudden the +darkness had given way to broad daylight.</p> + +<p>Paul on his part, after a superficial examination, was glad to find +there was really nothing serious the matter. He had feared lest he might +find a broken leg or even a few ribs fractured; but nothing of the kind +seemed to be the case.</p> + +<p>It was true that Mr. Anderson had a lot of black and blue places upon +his person, and would doubtless feel pretty sore for some days to come, +but really Paul could not see why he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> should not be able to keep company +with his rescuers. He seemed to possess an uncommon share of grit; his +determined defense against the savage wildcat proved that plainly +enough; and on the whole, with what help the scouts might give on +occasion, there was a fair chance of his getting out of the swamp inside +of an hour or so.</p> + +<p>"Now I'm ready to make a start, if you say the word," Paul observed, +when perhaps five minutes had passed.</p> + +<p>The gentleman had been helped to his feet. Trying the injured leg, he +declared he believed he would be able to get along; even though he did +make a wry face at the very moment of saying this.</p> + +<p>Paul endeavored to explain to him what sort of work lay before them, +passing along on such insecure footing.</p> + +<p>"Well, I must get in touch with a doctor, and that as speedily as +possible," remarked Mr. Anderson, "and I'll get out of this horrible +place if I have to crawl every foot of the way on my hands and knees. +But I don't imagine it's going to come to such a pass as that, yet +awhile. I'm ready to take my first lesson, Paul, if so be you lead the +way."</p> + +<p>Already the aeronaut seemed to have taken a great fancy for the young +scoutmaster; but then that was only what might be expected. Paul had led +the relief expedition; and besides, there was something attractive about +the boy that always drew people to him.</p> + +<p>"Then please follow directly after me; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> Seth, you fall in behind Mr. +Anderson, will you?" Paul went on to say.</p> + +<p>"Huh! hope you don't mean that the way you say it," grunted Seth, with a +wide grin, "because, seems to me I've done nothing else but <i>fall in</i> +ever since I got on the go. I've investigated nearly every bog along the +line, and found 'em all pretty much alike, and not to my likin' one +single bit."</p> + +<p>But all the same, Seth felt proud of the fact that the scoutmaster had +selected him for the post of honor; for he knew that, coming just behind +the wounded balloonist, he would be expected to lend a helping hand at +such times as Mr. Anderson experienced a slip.</p> + +<p>Just the consciousness of responsibility was apt to make Seth much more +sure-footed than before. It is always so; and wise teachers watch their +chances to make boys feel that they are of some consequence. Besides, +experiences goes a great way and Seth, having tested nearly all the +muddy stretches along the way, had in a measure learned how to avoid +contact with them again.</p> + +<p>In another minute the boys and Mr. Anderson were on the move. No doubt, +if that savage mother cat and her charges were secretly watching from a +leafy covert near by, they must have been heartily gratified because the +menacing enemy had seen fit to quit the oasis in the swamp, leaving the +remnants of the wrecked balloon to be pawed over by the frolicsome +kittens.</p> + +<p>"I see that you are true scouts, for you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> blazed the way as +prettily as I ever saw it done, Mr. Anderson remarked presently.</p> + +<p>"That was Paul's doing," spoke up Seth, not in the least jealous.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's the easiest thing to do that anybody ever tried," declared the +scoutmaster without even looking back over his shoulder, for he needed +his eyes in front constantly.</p> + +<p>"So I understand," continued Mr. Anderson, "but then, it isn't everybody +who can be smart enough to do the right thing at the right time."</p> + +<p>"How do you make out, sir?" asked Paul, wishing to change the +conversation, for, strange to say, he never liked to hear himself +praised, in which he differed very much from the vast majority of boys.</p> + +<p>"Getting along better than I expected, Paul," replied the wounded +balloonist.</p> + +<p>"It's only a question of time, then, before we pass out of the swamp," +the other went on to say. "And as we've got our trail all laid out, and +Seth knows the best places to try the mud, I guess we'll make it."</p> + +<p>He was already thinking deeply and seriously. A sudden wild hope had +flashed into Paul's brain, and if all went well he meant to put it up to +the other scouts after a while.</p> + +<p>When he looked at his watch he found that it was now just a quarter +after ten; and doing some lightning calculating he believed they could +be out of the morass, discounting any serious trouble, by another hour.</p> + +<p>Then, supposing it took them forty-five minutes to get Mr. Anderson to +the nearest farm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> house, even though they had to make a rude stretcher, +and carry him, that brought the time to exactly noon.</p> + +<p>Could they really do it, make the eighteen miles that still lay between +themselves and the field at Beverly, where they were expected to show up +some time that day, if they hoped to win the prize?</p> + +<p>Some how the very possibility of being put upon his mettle gave Paul a +thrill. He had no doubts concerning his own ability to finish the great +hike within the specified space of time, before the sun had vanished +behind the western horizon, but it was a grave question whether some of +the other scouts could accomplish the task. There was Eben for instance, +never a wonder when it came to running; and then fat Noodles would be +apt to give out before two-thirds of those eighteen miles had been +placed behind them.</p> + +<p>But if there was a ghost of a chance Paul was determined to take +advantage of it, and he believed that even the laggards would be keen to +make the attempt, once he mentioned the subject to them.</p> + +<p>And so they kept pushing steadily along, Mr. Anderson showing wonderful +pluck, considering the pain he must be suffering all the while from his +numerous bruises and cuts.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_XV" id="Chapter_XV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +<h2>Chapter XV</h2><h3>ON THE HOME-STRETCH</h3> +</div> + +<p>Perhaps they were becoming experts at the game; or it might be that the +going back over familiar ground made the job easier, since they could +see each slippery place where an accident had happened on the outward +trip, and thus grow additionally cautious.</p> + +<p>Be that as it might, they made very few missteps on the return journey. +Even Mr. Anderson managed to do himself great credit, and Seth did not +have to help him up on the narrow ridge more than three or four times; +nor were any of his mishaps of a serious nature.</p> + +<p>In due time, therefore, they came in sight of the place where Eben and +Noodles had been left. Their voices must have warned the pair that they +were coming, for they could be seen shading their eyes with their hands +to shut out the glare of the sun, as they watched the string of figures +slowly picking a path through the sea of mud and water.</p> + +<p>Apparently they must have counted an extra form among the muddy group; +and just had to give expression to their satisfaction; for Noodles +yelped excitedly, while Eben sent out a series of blasts from his bugle, +which, upon examination, seemed to bear some faint earmarks to "Lo, the +Conquering Hero Comes!"</p> + +<p>And when they landed at this half-way stage in their tiresome journey, +Mr. Anderson had to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> introduced to the remaining members of the +Beaver Patrol. He also insisted on shaking hands with them, as he had +done all the others, and letting them know his now exalted opinion about +the ability of Boy Scouts to do wonders, all of which was sweetest music +in the ears of the pair who had been cheated out of their share of the +honors in the actual rescue party.</p> + +<p>When the march was resumed—and Paul hastened matters as much as he +could in reason—Noodles and Eben insisted on asking many questions as +to just how they had found the balloonist. They grew quite excited when +they heard about the mother wildcat and her savage little kittens; and +even indulged in speculations as to what a great time they would have +had defending themselves, had a trio like that paid them a visit.</p> + +<p>Oh! it was certainly wearisome work, keeping up that strained position +of the leg muscles so long. Paul began to fear that they would never be +able to accomplish the other task beyond, for he heard Noodles take his +regular plunges every little while, and judged that the stout boy must +by this time be a sight calculated to make his mother shed tears, if +ever she saw him in such a state.</p> + +<p>But all things must come to an end, and finally Seth gave a shout, like +unto the glad whoop a wrecked mariner might set up at sight of land +ahead.</p> + +<p>"There's the place where we started in, Paul; yes, and I can see that +queer tree at the spot the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> trapper's path ended, and the fun began!" he +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Bless you, Seth, for those comforting words!" called out Eben from +close to the rear of the procession.</p> + +<p>"One last little bulge, and then victory for us!" Fritz remarked, and if +the gladness expressed in his voice could be taken as an index to the +feelings of his heart, then the scout must be a happy fellow just then, +when the clouds rolled away, to let the sun shine again.</p> + +<p>Of course they made it without any more trouble than Noodles giving a +last try at the friendly mud, as though wanting to really find out +whether it did have any bottom down below or not. And when they took +some sticks, and scraped the worst of the sticky mess off his face, +Noodles promised to be a sight indeed. But Paul assured him that they +would stop at the first spring they came across, in order to allow him +to wash some of the stuff off.</p> + +<p>"Ain't we a nobby looking bunch of scouts now, though?" remarked Fritz, +as he glanced ruefully down at his muddy uniform; for as a rule the boy +had been quite particular with his clothes, having reformed after +joining the organization.</p> + +<p>"It's too bad you were put to such straits to help me," declared Mr. +Anderson, heartily, "and I mean to do everything in my power to keep you +from feeling sorry that you gave up all chances of winning that +beautiful trophy today. It was a shame, and I regret having been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> the +unfortunate cause of it more than I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"Oh! perhaps there might be a <i>little</i> bit of a chance left to us yet, +sir," said Paul; at which every one of the other seven scouts pricked up +his ears and crowded around.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye mean, Paul, by sayin' that?" demanded Seth, his eyes opening +wide as they became glued upon those of the scoutmaster, for knowing +Paul as he did, he understood that the other must have some clever idea +in mind.</p> + +<p>"Yes, tell us what the scheme is?" pleaded Jotham, who had been really +more disappointed of giving up the hike than any of the others; for he +knew his mother, and a certain girl Jotham thought a good deal of, would +be on the grandstand at the baseball grounds, waiting to cheer him as he +passed by with his fellow scouts.</p> + +<p>"It all depends on how long it takes us to get Mr. Anderson to the +nearest farmhouse," Paul went on.</p> + +<p>"Why, I remember seeing a house near the road just below where we left +it to head for the swamp!" spoke up Fritz, eagerly, "and I guess we +could carry him there in less'n half an hour if we had to."</p> + +<p>At that the aeronaut spoke up.</p> + +<p>"I protest. Please don't take me into consideration at all, boys," he +hastened to say, "if there's the remotest chance for you to make your +race, leave me right here, and start off. I'll find my way to the road, +and then a farmhouse, where they'll take me in, and have me looked +after. You've done wonders for me as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> it is, saved my life, I haven't +the least doubt; and I'm going to remember it, you can depend, but I +wish you'd let me take care of myself from now on."</p> + +<p>But Paul shook his head. He understood the feeling that prompted the +gentleman to speak in this vein; but he did not think Mr. Anderson was +as well able to look out for himself as he would have them believe.</p> + +<p>"We never do things by halves, sir," the scoutmaster said, steadily. "If +you can hobble along with one of us on either side to help, we'll go +that way; but if it's too much of an effort then I'll show you how smart +we are about making a litter out of some of these saplings here on which +we'll carry you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson looked pleased to hear Paul talk in this confident way; but +would not listen to such a thing as treating him like a badly wounded +man.</p> + +<p>"Give me a shoulder to lean on, and I'm sure I can make it in decent +time, boys," he declared.</p> + +<p>So Paul ranged on his right, with sturdy Seth closing up on the left, +and in this fashion they started out.</p> + +<p>The road was no great distance away, it will be remembered; and in less +than ten minutes they had reached it. Then turning toward distant +Beverly, they commenced to cover the ground they had previously gone +over.</p> + +<p>There was no mistake about the farmhouse, in due time it was reached. +Their arrival quite excited the little household, for the men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> had come +in from the fields to their midday meal.</p> + +<p>Paul did not want to stop to explain matters; all that could be left to +Mr. Anderson. The odor of dinner did make more than one of the scouts +raise his eyebrows, and exchange a suggestive look with another; but +they realized that every minute was precious to them now, and that they +just could not stay long enough to sit and partake, though the farmer +cordially invited them.</p> + +<p>They did accept a few things to munch at as they walked along; and +promised to send word to a certain address which the aeronaut gave them; +and in fact Paul was to notify a committee by wire that disaster had +overtaken the <i>Great Republic</i>, but that the aeronaut was safe, and +wished the news to be communicated to his wife at a certain hotel in St. +Louis.</p> + +<p>Of course all of the boys knew what the new hope that had come to Paul +amounted to. He had, with his customary carefulness, shown them in black +and white figures just the number of miles that still remained +uncovered, about eighteen in all, and then they figured out when the sun +would be setting at Beverly.</p> + +<p>"Six full hours, and then some," Seth had declared, with a look of +contempt; as though he could see no reason why they should not come in +on time easily. "Why, of course we c'n do it, and then not half try. +Now, you'd think I'd be feeling stiff after that crouching work in the +swamp. All a mistake. Never fitter in my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> life. I could start on a run +right now, and cover some miles without an effort."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't do it, then," advised Paul, "you know what happens to the +racer who makes too big an effort in the start. Get warmed up to your +work, and there's a chance to hold out. Better be in prime condition for +the gruelling finish. That's the advice one of the greatest all-around +athletes gives. So we'll start at a fair pace, and later on, if it +becomes necessary we'll be able to run some."</p> + +<p>Of course Paul was thinking while he said this of the weak links in the +chain, no other than Eben and Noodles. The latter was a wretched runner +at best. He could walk fairly well, after a fashion, as his work of the +last three days proved; and by judicious management Paul hoped to coax +Noodles along, mile after mile.</p> + +<p>As they walked they munched the sandwiches provided at the farm house +where Mr. Anderson had been left. Thus they killed two birds with one +stone, as Paul put it—continued to cover a couple of precious miles +while securing strength and comfort from the food.</p> + +<p>Whenever a chance occurred Noodles would get to work again scraping some +more dirt off his garments. Fritz often declared the county would +prosecute him for leaving so many piles of swamp mud along the pike; but +after each and every operation the stout boy declared that he felt in +far better trim to continue the journey, and that at least pleased all +hands.</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to hope, Noodles," remarked Jotham, "that by the time we +get to Beverly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> you'll look half way decent, and not make the girls +ashamed to own us as we march through the town to the music of a band, +mebbe."</p> + +<p>"Put I don't want to be owned py any girl as I knows; so what +differences does idt make, dell me?" was all the satisfaction he got +from the other; who was evidently more concerned about the cost of a new +suit, all to be earned by his own individual exertions, than anything +else.</p> + +<p>When the first hour had passed, and they found that they had made four +miles as near as could be told, some of the scouts were exultant, and +loudly declared it was going to be as easy as falling off a log.</p> + +<p>"A regular picnic, believe me!" declared Seth.</p> + +<p>"Like taking candy from the baby!" Fritz affirmed.</p> + +<p>"A walk-over!" was Babe's style of expressing his sentiments.</p> + +<p>"Well, it will be that, if we ever get to Beverly green before the sun +drops out of sight," laughed Paul.</p> + +<p>He was only concerned about Noodles, truth to tell, for he knew that +Eben, while no great athlete, had a reserve fund in his stubborn +qualities, and would shut his teeth hard together toward the end, +plodding along with grim determination. Noodles must be watched, and +coddled most carefully, if they hoped to carry him with them over the +line in time to claim the glorious trophy.</p> + +<p>And that was really why Paul asked him to walk along with him, so that +he could from time to time cheer the other up by a few words of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> praise +that would make him believe he was showing great improvement in his +stride. It could be seen by the way his eye lighted up that Noodles +appreciated this flattery; he had a real jaunty air as he walked on, and +even cast an occasional glance of commiseration back at the fellows +less highly favored than himself.</p> + +<p>Besides, Paul, as a careful manager, wished to husband a certain portion +of the other's strength for the last five miles. He knew that must be +the sticking time, when probably Noodles would declare he could not go +another step, and endeavor to drop down beside the road to rest.</p> + +<p>Now Paul knew how far being diplomatic went in an affair of this kind. +He remembered hearing a story about two gentlemen on a hunting trip up +in Maine, carrying a couple of air rubber mattresses for sleeping +purposes, and wondering how they could get the two guides, one a native, +and the other a Penobscot Indian, to blow them up every night.</p> + +<p>So during the supper one of them got to comparing the chests of the two +men, and exciting their rivalry as to which had the larger lungs. When +he had them fully primed he said he had means of testing the matter, and +brought out the twin air mattresses. Eagerly then the guides lay flat on +their stomachs, and at the word started to blow like two-horse power +engines. The first test was declared a <i>tie</i>; and after that the guides +could hardly wait for night to come to try out their lungs against each +other.</p> + +<p>And with this story in his mind the young scoutmaster determined to play +the two weak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> members of the Beaver Patrol against each other, having in +view the benefit that would result from such keen rivalry.</p> + +<p>First he talked to Noodles about Eben's awakening talent in the line of +pedestrian feats; and soon had the stout boy affirming that he could +beat the best efforts of the bugler without more than half trying.</p> + +<p>Then Paul found a chance to arouse the ambition of Eben in turn, by +hinting at what Noodles had boasted. Thus Paul presently had the two +lads jealously watching each other. They did not come to any open +rupture, because they were good fellows, and fast friends, but did Eben +happen to take a notion to go up a little in the line in order to speak +to one of the others, Noodles clung to him like a leech.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Paul had to restrain the eager pair more than once, for they +were so determined to excel the record, each of the other, that they +gave evidences of even wanting to run.</p> + +<p>By carefully nursing this spirit of emulation and rivalry the patrol +leader believed he was assisting the cause, without doing either of his +chums the slightest injury. It was a case of simply bringing out all +there was in a couple of lads who, as a rule, were prone to give up too +easily.</p> + +<p>And so they kept tramping along the turnpike leading toward home, +jollying each other, and every now and then, when resting for a bit, +trying to remove some of the dreadful evidences of black mud from their +usually natty uniforms and leggins.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span></p> + +<p>"P'raps they'll think it the biggest joke going," remarked Seth, "when +they get on to it that we've been in the Black Water Swamps, and I guess +Freddy's crowd'll laugh themselves sick, like a lot of ninnies, but just +wait till we tell what took us there, and show the card Mr. Anderson +gave us, with his message for St. Louis on the back. Then it seems to me +the laugh will be on them."</p> + +<p>They took great consolation in remembering what a gallant piece of work +they had been enabled to carry out since leaving Camp Alabama that +morning. It would perhaps be carried far and wide in the papers, when +Mr. Anderson's story was told, and reflect new glory on the uplifting +tendency of the Boy Scout movement. People who did not understand what a +wonderful lot of good was coming out of teaching growing lads to be able +to take care of themselves under any and all conditions, besides being +considerate for others, brave in time of danger, and generous toward +even their enemies, would have their eyes opened.</p> + +<p>And so it was a happy and merry parcel of scouts that plodded along the +road leading to Beverly town that afternoon, as the sun sank lower and +lower toward the West.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="Chapter_XVI" id="Chapter_XVI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> +<h2>Chapter XVI</h2><h3>"WELL DONE, BEAVER PATROL!"</h3> +</div> + +<p>They had struck along the road leading from Scranton, and reached the +well-known Jerusalem pike, of which mention has been frequently made in +previous stories of this series.</p> + +<p>As they passed the Stebbens and the Swartz farms the scouts gave a cheer +that brought a waving of handkerchiefs from the windows of the houses, +which were in plain sight of the road.</p> + +<p>Far down in the west the glowing sun was sinking; but Paul had +calculated well, and he knew that, barring accidents, they could easily +make the town before the king of day passed from sight.</p> + +<p>Once they had halted for a few minutes' rest, the last they expected to +enjoy, and Paul had taken advantage of the opportunity to start a smoky +fire; after which he and Seth, the signal sender of the patrol, used the +latter's blanket to send a series of dense smoke clouds soaring upward +at certain intervals.</p> + +<p>One of the boys who expected to join the second patrol in the early +fall, Steve Slimmons, would be on the lookout for this signal that would +announce the coming of the weary column; and when he caught sight of the +smoke waves it would be his duty to announce that, after all, the scouts +had not fallen down in their brave attempt to win that glorious trophy; +but were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> coming right along, and hoped to be on hand in due time.</p> + +<p>Well, there would be a good many suppers delayed in and around Beverly +on that night, some of the scouts told each other.</p> + +<p>They could easily picture the green swarming with people, all watching +up the road for the patrol to turn the bend, and come in sight, with +unbroken ranks, having fulfilled the conditions of the hike to the +letter.</p> + +<p>There was no longer any need for Paul to excite the slumbering ambitions +of either Eben or Noodles. Why, after they passed the crossroads where +the ruins of the old blacksmith shop lay, in which they had held their +first meetings, but which had been mysteriously burned down, some +thought by mischievous and envious town boys—after they had gone by +this well-known spot, and sighted the Scroggins farm beyond, every +fellow had actually forgotten such a thing as fatigue. They held +themselves up straight, and walked with a springy step that would go far +toward indicating that a hundred miles in four days was only play for +such seasoned veterans.</p> + +<p>And now the outlying houses of the home town began to loom up. Why, to +several of the boys it really seemed as though they must have been away +for weeks. They eagerly pointed out various objects that were familiar +in their eyes, just as if they had feared the whole map of the town +might have been altered since they marched away on their little four day +tramp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span></p> + +<p>Seth in particular was greatly amused by hearing this kind of talk. He +had been away from home so much that the novelty of the sensation of +coming back did not appeal to him, as it may have done to Eben and +Jotham for instance.</p> + +<p>"You fellers," said Seth, chuckling while he spoke, "make me think of +the little kid that took a notion to run away from home, and wandered +around all day. When night came along he just couldn't stand it any +longer, and crept home. His folks knew what was up, and they settled on +punishing him by not noticing him, or saying a thing about his being +gone. The kid tried to ketch the attention of maw, but she was sewing, +and kept right along, just like he'd been around all day. Then he tried +dad; but he read his paper, and smoked his pipe, and never paid the +least attention. That boy just couldn't understand it. There he'd been +away from home a whole year it seemed to him, since morning, and yet +nobody seemed to bother the least bit, or make a fuss over him. And when +he couldn't get a rise from anybody, he saw the family pussy sittin' by +the fire. 'Oh!' he says, says he, 'I see you've still got the same old +cat you had when I went away!'"</p> + +<p>Even Eben and Noodles laughed at that. They knew the joke was on them; +but just at that moment both were feeling too happy to take offense at +anything.</p> + +<p>"There's the church steeple!" cried Babe.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you're so tall you c'n see things long before the rest of us do," +declared Jotham, not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> maliciously, but with the utmost good humor, for +he knew that in a very short time now he would see his dear little +mother, proudly watching him march past; and perhaps also discover a +tiny web of a handkerchief waving from the pretty hand of a certain +little girl he knew; and the thought made Jotham very happy.</p> + +<p>"Listen! ain't that boys shouting?" demanded Seth.</p> + +<p>"Just what it is now," replied Andy. "They've got scouts at the bend of +the road, and know we're coming."</p> + +<p>"We've done what we set out to do, fellers!" cried Seth, gloatingly.</p> + +<p>"And the trophy belongs to us; for right now we're in Beverly town, and +there's the blessed old sun still half an hour high," Fritz observed +with pardonable pride in his voice.</p> + +<p>"And think of us getting that balloon man safe out of the Black Water +Swamps; yes, and going to the middle of the patch, something that they +say nobody ever did before! That's going to be a big feather in our +caps, believe me," Seth went on to say, as he took a glance down at his +stained khaki trousers and leggins.</p> + +<p>Paul gave his little command one last look over, for they were now at +the bend, and in another minute would come under the eyes of the dense +crowd which, from all the signs that came to his ears, he felt sure had +gathered to welcome the marching patrol home again after their long +hike.</p> + +<p>Then the curve in the road was reached; a dozen more steps and they +turned it, to see the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> green fairly black with people, who waved their +hats and handkerchiefs, and shouted, until it seemed to the proud scouts +that the very foundations of the heavens must tremble under the roaring +sound.</p> + +<p>Chief Henshall was there, together with several of his men, keeping an +avenue open along which the khaki-clad boys were to march, to a spot in +front of the grand stand, where the generous donor of the trophy, +together with a committee of prominent citizens of Beverly, waited to +receive them.</p> + +<p>It was perhaps the proudest moment in the lives of those eight boys when +Paul, replying to the little speech which accompanied the passing of the +silver cup, thanked Mr. Sargeant and the committee for the great +interest taken in the formation of Beverly Troop; and in a few words +explained just why he and his comrades came so near being unable to +fulfill the obligations governing the hike.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Sargeant read aloud the message which the wrecked balloonist +was wiring to St. Louis, in which he declared that he owed his very life +to the daring of the Boy Scouts, who had penetrated to the very center +of the Black Water Swamps in order to rescue him, such a din of cheering +as broke out had never been heard in Beverly since that +never-to-be-forgotten day when the baseball nine came up from behind in +the ninth inning, and clinched the victory that gave them the high +school championship of the county for that year.</p> + +<p>But the boys now began to realize that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> were, as Seth expressed it, +"some tired," and they only too willingly allowed their folks to carry +them off home, to get washed up, and partake of a good meal. But no +matter what each scout may have secretly thought when he sat down to a +white tablecloth, with silver, and china, and polished glass around him, +he stoutly avowed that nothing could equal the delight of a camp-fire, +tin cups and platters, and simple camp fare, flanked by an appetite that +was keener than anything ever known at home.</p> + +<p>This work of four days was likely to long remain the banner achievement +of the Beaver Patrol lads; but the vacation period still held out a few +weeks further enjoyment, and it may be readily understood that such +wide-awake fellows would be sure to hatch up more or less excitement +before the call came to go back to school duties.</p> + +<p>That this proved to be the case can be understood from the fact that +another volume follows this story, bearing the significant title of "The +Boy Scouts' Woodcraft Lesson; or, Proving Their Mettle in the Field." +And the young reader who has become interested in the various doings of +the scouts belonging to the Beaver Patrol can find in the pages of that +book further accounts of what Acting Scoutmaster Paul Prentice and his +seven valorous chums started out to accomplish, in order to prove that +the education of a Boy Scout brings out the best there is in him, under +any and all conditions.</p> + +<p class='center'>The End<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<hr class='full' /> + +<h2>BOYS' COPYRIGHTED BOOKS</h2> + +<p>The most attractive and highest class list of copyrighted books for boys +ever printed. In this list will be found the works of W. Bert Foster, +Capt. Ralph Bonehill, Arthur M. Winfield, etc.</p> + +<p>Printed from large clear type, illustrated, bound in a superior quality +of cloth.</p> + +<p class='center'>THE CLINT WEBB SERIES<br /> +By W. Bert Foster</p> + +<p>1.—Swept Out to Sea; or, Clint Webb Among the Whalers.<br /> +2.—The Frozen Ship; or, Clint Webb Among the Sealers.<br /> +3.—From Sea to Sea; or, Clint Webb on the Windjammer.<br /> +4.—The Sea Express; or, Clint Webb and the Sea Tramp.</p> + +<p class='center'>THE YOUNG SPORTSMAN'S SERIES<br /> +By Capt. Ralph Bonehill</p> + +<p>Rival Cyclists; or, Fun and Adventures on the Wheel.<br /> +Young Oarsmen of Lake View; or, The Mystery of Hermit Island.<br /> +Leo the Circus Boy; or, Life Under the Great White Canvas.</p> + +<p class='center'>SEA AND LAND SERIES<br /> +Four Boys' Books by Favorite Authors</p> + +<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:60%;" /> +<col style="width:40%;" /> +<tr><td>Oscar the Naval Cadet</td><td>Capt. Ralph Bonehill</td></tr> +<tr><td>Blue Water Rovers</td><td>Victor St. Clare</td></tr> +<tr><td>A Royal Smuggler</td><td>William Dalton</td></tr> +<tr><td>A Boy Crusoe</td><td>Allen Erie</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='center'>ADVENTURE AND JUNGLE SERIES<br /> +A large, well printed, attractive edition.</p> + +<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:60%;" /> +<col style="width:40%;" /> +<tr><td>Guy in the Jungle</td><td>Wm. Murray Grayden</td></tr> +<tr><td>Casket of Diamonds</td><td>Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td>The Boy Railroader</td><td>Matthew White, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Treasure of South</td><td>Lake Farm W. Bert Foster</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='center'>YOUNG HUNTERS SERIES<br /> +By Capt. Ralph Bonehill</p> + +<p>Gun and Sled; or, The Young Hunters of Snow Top Island.<br /> +Young Hunters in Porto Rico; or, The Search for a Lost Treasure.<br /> +Two Young Crusoes; by C. W. Phillips.<br /> +Through Apache Land; or, Ned in the Mountains; by Lieut. R. H. Jayne.</p> + +<p class='center'>BRIGHT AND BOLD SERIES<br /> +By Arthur M. Winfield</p> + +<p>Poor but Plucky; or, The Mystery of a Flood.<br /> +School Days of Fred Harley; or, Rivals for All Honors.<br /> +By Pluck, not Luck; or, Dan Granbury's Struggle to Rise.<br /> +The Missing Tin Box; or, Hal Carson's Remarkable City Adventure.</p> + +<p class='center'>COLLEGE LIBRARY FOR BOYS<br /> +By Archdeacon Farrar</p> + +<p>Julian Home; or, A Tale of College Life.<br /> +St. Winifred's; or, The World of School.</p> + +<hr style="border:dashed black; border-width:1px 0 0; height:0;" /> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of $1.00</p> + +<p class='center'><span style='font-size:130%;'>M. A. DONOHUE & CO.</span><br /> +701-733 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago</p> + +<hr class='full' /> + +<h2>FAMOUS BOOKS IN REBOUND EDITIONS</h2> + +<p class='center'>HEIDI<br /> +A Child's Story of Life in the Alps<br /> +By Johanna Spyri</p> + +<p>395 pages—illustrated. 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These volumes have never before been offered +for less than $1.25; for sale now at the special price of $1.00 each.</p> + +<hr style="border:dashed black; border-width:1px 0 0; height:0;" /> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +mentioned.</p> + +<p class='center'><span style='font-size:130%;'>M. A. DONOHUE & CO.</span><br /> +701-733 So. 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It imparts a comprehensive +knowledge of woods from fungus growth to the most stately monarch of the +forest; it treats of the habits and lairs of all the feathered and furry +inhabitants of the woods. Shows how to trail wild animals; how to +identify birds and beasts by their tracks, calls, etc. Tells how to +forecast the weather, and in fact treats on every phase of nature with +which a Boy Scout or any woodman or lover of nature should be familiar. +The authorship guarantees its authenticity and reliability. +Indispensable to "Boy Scouts" and others. Printed from large clear type +on superior paper.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>Embellished With Over 100 Thumb Nail Illustrations Taken From Life</b></p> + +<p class='center'>Bound in Cloth. Stamped with unique and appropriate designs in ink.</p> + +<p class='center'>Price, <b>75c</b> Postpaid</p> + +<p class='center'><span style='font-size:130%;'>M. A. DONOHUE & CO.</span><br /> +701-733 So. 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Embracing, Humorous, Sentimental, +Patriotic, Serious, Comic, Eloquent, Pathetic, Character and Dialect +Sketches that are always in demand.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>MODEL SERIES OF SPEAKERS AND DIALOGS</b><br /> +Nos. 1 to 14, recitations and dialogs for all occasions, price, 10c each.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>COMIC READINGS AND RECITATIONS</b><br /> +192 pages all comic and humorous, price, 25c in paper. 50c in cloth.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>PATRIOTIC RECITATIONS AND READINGS</b><br /> +192 pages for all patriotic occasions, price, 25c in paper. 50c in cloth.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>TOMMY'S FIRST SPEAKER</b><br /> +Over 300 short, simple pieces for little tots. Cloth, 50c.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>TOMMY'S SECOND SPEAKER</b><br /> +Over 200 serious, quaint pieces for older ones. Cloth, 50c.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>DEARBORN SPEAKER AND DIALOGS</b><br /> +Original and selected readings for all purposes with observations for study and practice. Cloth, 75c.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>YOUNG FOLKS DIALOGS AND DRAMAS</b><br /> +Short, pretty, funny for all occasions, paper 25c. Cloth, 50c.</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>EVERYBODY'S SPEAKER AND ENTERTAINER</b><br /> +Contains select readings, dialogs and dramas. Illustrated. Cloth, $1.50</p> + +<p class='backmatter'><b>AMERICAN STAR SPEAKER AND ELOCUTIONIST</b><br /> +Complete text on how to recite. 225 selections, 550 pages. Cloth $2.00</p> + +<p>The above books have been carefully prepared for pupils of all ages, and +are especially adopted for the use of Schools, Churches, Lyceums, +Anniversaries, Temperance Societies, Lodges, in fact, they are +indispensable when preparing for <i>any</i> public entertainment.</p> + +<p>For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will be sent to any address in +the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage paid, on receipt of price, +in currency, money order or stamps.</p> + +<p class='center'><span style='font-size:130%;'>M. A. DONOHUE & CO.</span><br /> +701-733 SO. DEARBORN STREET :: CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='full' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> + <ol> + <li>Punctuation has been normalized to contemporary standards.</li> + <li>Corrections to typographic errors in original: + <ul> + <li>Table of Contents listed Chapter VIII on page 17, corrected to 71.</li> + <li>p. 11 "samee" to "same" ("But all the same, I want")</li> + <li>p. 26 "sup-up" to "sun-up" ("since sun-up")</li> + <li>p. 29 "fresk" to "fresh" ("hankering after fresh milk")</li> + <li>p. 41 "superflous" to "superfluous" ("superfluous burdens")</li> + <li>p. 48 "promises" to "promised" ("promised to be a most fortunate thing")</li> + <li>p. 73 "mortagge" to "mortgage" ("meant to pay off my mortgage")</li> + <li>p. 79 "befel" to "befell" ("seldom if ever befell ordinary lads")</li> + <li>p. 81 "alway" to "always" ("as the papers always make out")</li> + <li>p. 85 "trememduous" to "tremendous" ("tremendous cheer")</li> + <li>p. 101 "or" to "of" ("habit of relying")</li> + <li>p. 112 "susprised" to "surprised" ("not very much surprised")</li> + <li>p. 143 "commisseration" to "commiseration" ("glance of commiseration")</li> + <li>p. 146 "Jersualem" to "Jerusalem" ("well-known Jerusalem pike")</li> + <li>p. 149 "price" to "pride" ("with pardonable pride in his voice")</li> + <li>First advertising page: "Tayne" to "Jayne" ("Lieut. R. H. Jayne.")</li> + <li>Fourth advertising page: "eveything" to "everything" ("everything that is fresh")</li> + </ul></li> + </ol> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Boy Scouts on a Long Hike, by +Archibald Lee Fletcher + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE *** + +***** This file should be named 18952-h.htm or 18952-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/9/5/18952/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Boy Scouts on a Long Hike + Or, To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps + +Author: Archibald Lee Fletcher + +Release Date: July 31, 2006 [EBook #18952] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE +or +To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps + +By +Archibald Lee Fletcher + +Chicago +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Copyright 1913 +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. +CHICAGO + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +CONTENTS + +Chapter Page + +I--THE BOYS OF THE BEAVER PATROL 7 +II--HELPING NOODLES 16 +III--THE GENTLE COW 26 +IV--IN ALABAMA CAMP 35 +V--A HELPING HAND 44 +VI--THE HOME-COMING OF JO DAVIES 53 +VII--INNOCENT OR GUILTY? 62 +VIII--"WELL, OF ALL THINGS!" 71 +IX--THE RUNAWAY BALLOON 81 +X--DUTY ABOVE ALL THINGS 90 +XI--THE TRAIL IN THE SWAMP 99 +XII--WHERE NO FOOT HAS EVER TROD 108 +XIII--THE OASIS IN THE SWAMP 117 +XIV--JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME 126 +XV--ON THE HOME-STRETCH 135 +XVI--"WELL DONE, BEAVER PATROL!" 146 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE +Or, To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE BOYS OF THE BEAVER PATROL + + +"They all think, fellows, that the Beaver Patrol can't do it!" + +"We'll show 'em how we've climbed up out of the tenderfoot class; hey, +boys?" + +"Just watch our smoke, that's all. Why, it's only a measly little +twenty-five miles per day, and what d'ye think?" + +"Sure Seth, and what's that to a husky lot of Boy Scouts, who've been +through the mill, and wear merit badges all around? Huh! consider it as +good as done right now!" + +Half a dozen boys who wore khaki uniforms, were chattering like so many +magpies as they stood in a little group on an elevation overlooking the +bustling Indiana town of Beverly. + +Apparently they must have been practicing some of the many clever things +Boy Scouts delight to learn, for several of the number carried signal +flags; two had pieces of a broken looking-glass in their possession; +while the tall lad, Seth Carpenter, had a rather sadly stained blanket +coiled soldier fashion about his person, that gave off a scent of smoke, +proving that he must have used it in communicating with distant +comrades, by means of the smoke code of signals. + +Besides Seth there were in the group Jotham Hale, Eben Newcomb, Andy +Mullane, Fritz Hendricks, and a merry, red-faced boy who, because of his +German extraction, went by the name of "Noodles Krafft." + +The reader who has not made the acquaintance of these wide-awake scouts +in previous volumes of this Series will naturally want to know something +about them, and hence it might be wise to introduce the members of the +Beaver Patrol right here. + +Eben was the official bugler of Beverly Troop. He had been made to take +this office much against his will, and for a long time had the greatest +difficulty in getting the "hang" of his instrument, so that his comrades +guyed him most unmercifully over the strange medleys he used to bring +forth when meaning to sound the various "calls." But of late Eben seemed +to have mastered his silver-plated bugle, and was really doing very +well, with an occasional lapse excepted. + +Andy was a Kentucky boy, but outside of a little extra touch of pride, +and a very keen sense of his own honor, you would never know it. + +Seth was the champion signal sender, and delighted to study up +everything he could discover concerning this fascinating subject. + +Fritz, on his part, chose to make an especial study of woodcraft, and +was forever hunting for "signs," and talking of the amazing things which +the old-time Indians used to accomplish along this line. + +As for good-natured Noodles, if he had any specialty at all, it lay in +the art of cooking. When the boys were in camp they looked to him to +supply all sorts of meals that fairly made their mouths water with +eagerness to begin operations long before the bugle of Eben sounded the +"assembly." + +Last of all the group, was Jotham Hale, a rather quiet boy, with an +engaging face, and clear eyes. Jotham's mother was a Quaker, or at least +she came from the peace-loving Friends stock; and the lad had been early +taught that he must never engage in fights except as a very last resort, +and then to save some smaller fellow from being bullied. + +On one occasion, which no one in Beverly would ever forget, Jotham had +proven that deep down in his heart he possessed true courage, and grit. +He had faced a big mad dog, with only a baseball bat in his hands, and +wound up the beast's career right on the main street of the town, while +everybody was fleeing in abject terror from contact with the animal. + +Because in so doing Jotham had really saved an old and nearly blind +veteran soldier from being bitten by the terrible brute, he had been +adjudged worthy to wear the beautiful silver merit badge which is sent +occasionally from Boy Scout Headquarters to those members of the +organization who have saved life at great peril to themselves. + +But Jotham was not the only one who proudly sported a badge. In fact, +every one of the eight members of the Beaver Patrol wore a bronze medal +on the left side of his khaki jacket. This had come to them because of +certain services which the patrol had rendered at the time a child had +been carried away by a crazy woman, and was found, later on, through the +medium of their knowledge of woodcraft. + +Of course there were two more boys connected with the patrol, who did +not happen to be present at the time we find them resting on their way +home after a rather strenuous afternoon in the open. + +These were Paul Prentice, the patrol leader, and who served as acting +scout master when Mr. Alexander was unable to accompany them; and "Babe" +Adams, the newest recruit, a tenderfoot who was bent on learning +everything connected with the game. + +They had gone home a little earlier than the rest, for reasons that had +no connection with the afternoon's sport, each of them having a pressing +engagement that could not be broken. "Babe" had been nick-named in the +spirit of contrariness that often marks the ways of boys; for he was an +unusually tall, thin fellow; and so far as any one knew, had never +shirked trouble, so that he could not be called timid in the least. + +"No use hurrying, fellows," declared Seth, as he flung himself down on a +log that happened to be lying near the edge of a little precipice, +marking the abrupt end of the shelf which they had been following, so +that to descend further the scouts must pass around, and pick their way +down the hillside. + +"That's so," added Jotham, following suit, and taking great care not to +knock his precious bugle in the least when making the shift; "for one, +I'm dead tired after such a hard afternoon. But all the same, I want +you to know that I'm in apple-pie condition for that long hike, or will +be, after a night's rest." + +"What d'ye suppose made Mr. Sargeant offer a prize if the Beaver Patrol +could walk to Warwick by one road, and back along another, a distance of +just an even hundred miles, between sunrise of four days?" and Fritz +looked around at his five comrades as though inviting suggestions. + +"Because he's fond of boys, I reckon," remarked Andy. "They tell me he +lost two splendid little fellows, one by drowning, and the other through +being lost in the forest; and when he learned what sort of things the +scouts practice, he said he was in favor of encouraging them to the +limit." + +"Well, we want to get busy, and show Mr. Sargeant that we're going to +give him a run for his money," said Seth. + +"We've all seen the cup in the window of the jewelers in town, and it +sure is a beauty, and no mistake," added Jotham. + +"Don't anybody allow himself to think we can't cover that hundred miles +inside the time limit. You know how Paul keeps telling us that +confidence is more'n half the battle," Fritz went on to say. + +"You pet we want dot gup, undt we're yust bound to get der same," +observed Noodles, who could talk quite as well as any of his mates, but +who liked to pretend every now and then, that he could only express +himself in "broken English," partly because it pleased him and at the +same time amused his mates. + +"We're right glad to hear you say that, Noodles," declared Seth, with a +wink in the direction of the others; "because some of us have been +afraid the hike might be too much for you, and Eben." + +"Now, there you go again, Seth," complained the bugler, "always +imagining that because I seldom blow my own horn----" but he got no +further than this, for there broke out a shout, from the rest of the +boys. + +"That's where you struck it right, Eben!" cried Seth, "because in the +old days you seldom did blow your own horn; but I notice that you're +improving right along now, and we have hopes of making a champion bugler +out of you yet." + +"Of course that was just a slip; but let it pass," remarked Eben, +grinning in spite of the fact that the joke was on him. "What I meant to +say was that because I don't go around boasting about the great things +I'm going to do, please look back on my record, and see if I haven't got +there every time." + +"Sure you have," admitted Seth, "and we give you credit for bull-dog +stubbornness, to beat the band. Other fellows would have thrown the +bugle into the bushes, and called quits; but you kept right along +splitting our ears with all them awful sounds you called music. And say, +if you can show the same kind of grit on this long hike we're going to +try, there ain't any doubt but what we'll win out." + +"Thank you, Seth; you're a queer fish sometimes, but your heart's all +right, underneath the trash," observed Eben, sweetly; and when he talked +like that he always put a stop to the other's teasing. + +"How about you, Noodles; d'ye think you're good for such a tough walk?" +asked Fritz, turning suddenly on the red-faced, stout boy, who was +moving uneasily about, as though restless. + +"Meppy you don't know dot me, I haf peen practice on der quiet dis long +time, so as to surbrize you all," came the proud reply. "Feel dot +muscle, Seth, undt tell me if you think idt could pe peat. Gymnastics I +haf take, py shiminy, till all der while I dream of chinning mineself, +hanging py one toe, undt all der rest. Meppy you vill surbrised pe yet. +Holdt on, don't say nuttings, put wait!" + +He put on such a mysterious air that some of the boys laughed; but +Noodles only smiled broadly, nodded his head, and made a gesture with +his hand that gave them to understand he was ready and willing to let +time vindicate his reputation. + +"Hadn't we better be moving on?" remarked Andy. + +"Yes, the sun's getting pretty low in the west, and that means it must +be near supper time," said Fritz, who was the possessor of a pretty +brisk appetite all the time. + +"Oh! what's the use of hurrying?" Seth went on to say, shifting his +position on the log, and acting as though quite content to remain an +unlimited length of time. "It won't take us ten minutes to get there, +once we start; fifteen at the most. And I like to walk in just when the +stuff is being put on the table. It saves a heap of waiting, you know." + +"That's what it does," Eben echoed. "Because, if there's anything I hate +to do, it's hanging around while they're finishing getting grub ready." + +"Here, quit walking all over me, Noodles!" called out Fritz, who had +coiled his rather long legs under him as well as he could, while +squatting there on the ground. + +"I haf nodt der time to do all dot," remarked the German-American boy, +calmly, "idt would pe too pig a chob. Oh! excuse me off you blease, +Fritz; dot was an accident, I gif you my word." + +"Well, don't stumble across me again, that's all," grumbled the other, +watching Noodles suspiciously, and ready to catch him at his tricks by +suddenly thrusting out a foot, and tripping him up--for Noodles was so +fat and clumsy that when he took a "header" he always afforded more or +less amusement for the crowd. + +It was not often that Noodles displayed a desire to play tricks or joke, +which fact made his present activity all the more remarkable; in fact he +was developing a number of new traits that kept his chums guessing; and +was far from being the dull-witted lad they had formerly looked upon as +the butt of all manner of practical pranks. + +While the scouts continued to chat, and exchange laughing remarks upon +a variety of subjects, Noodles kept moving restlessly about. Fritz felt +pretty sure that the other was only waiting for a good chance to pretend +to stumble over his legs again, and while he pretended to be entering +heartily into the rattling fire of conversation, he was secretly keeping +an eye on the stout scout. + +Just as he anticipated, Noodles, as though discovering his chance, +lurched heavily toward him. Fritz, boylike, instantly threw out a foot, +intending to simply trip him up, and give the other a taste of his own +medicine. + +Well, Noodles tripped handsomely, and went sprawling headlong in a +ludicrous manner; but being so round and clumsy he rather overdid the +matter; for instead of simply rolling there on the ground, he kept on +scrambling, hands and legs shooting out every-which-way; and to the +astonishment and dismay of his comrades, Noodles vanished over the edge +of the little precipice, close to which the scouts had made their +temporary halt while on the way home! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HELPING NOODLES + + +"Oh! he fell over!" shouted Eben, appalled by what had happened. + +"Poor old Noodles! What if he's gone and broke his neck?" gasped Jotham, +turning a reproachful look upon Fritz. + +"I didn't mean to go as far as that, fellows, give you my word for it!" +Fritz in turn was muttering, for he had been dreadfully alarmed when he +saw poor Noodles vanish from view in such a hasty fashion. + +"Listen!" cried Andy. + +"Hellup!" came a faint voice just then. + +"It's Noodles!" exclaimed Fritz, scrambling over in the direction of the +spot where they had seen the last of their unfortunate chum. + +"Oh! perhaps he's gone and fractured his leg, and our family doctor, +meaning Paul, ain't along!" groaned Eben. + +All of them hastened to follow after the eager Fritz, and on hands and +knees made for the edge of the shelf of rock, from which in times past +they had sent many a flag signal to some scout mounted on the roof of +his house in town. + +Fritz had more of an interest in discovering what had happened to the +vanished scout than any of his comrades. Possibly his uneasy conscience +reproached him for having thrust out his foot in the way he did, and +sending poor Noodles headlong to his fate. + +At any rate he reached the brink of the descent before any of the rest. +They unconsciously kept their eyes on Fritz. He would serve as a +barometer, and from his actions they could tell pretty well the +conditions existing down below. If Fritz exhibited any symptoms of +horror, then it would afford them a chance to steel their nerves against +the sight, before they reached his side. + +Fritz was observed to crane his neck, and peer over the edge of the +shelf. Further he leaned, as though hardly able to believe his eyes. +Then, when some of the rest were holding their breath in expectation of +seeing him turn a white face toward them, Fritz gave vent to a hoarse +laugh. It was as though the relief he felt just had to find a vent +somehow. + +Astounded by this unexpected outcome of the near-tragedy the others +hastened to crawl forward still further, until they too were able to +thrust out their heads, and see for themselves what it was Fritz seemed +to be amused at. + +Then they, too, chuckled and shook with amusement; nor could they be +blamed for giving way to this feeling, since the spectacle that met +their gaze was comical enough to excite laughter on the part of any one. + +Noodles was there all right; indeed, he was pretty much in evidence, as +they could all see. + +In falling it happened that he had become caught by the seat of his +stout khaki trousers; a friendly stump of a broken branch connected with +a stunted tree that grew out of the face of the little precipice had +taken a firm grip upon the loose cloth; and since the boy in struggling +had turned around several times, there was no such thing as his becoming +detached, unless the branch broke. + +"Hellup! why don't you gif me a handt?" he was shouting as he clawed at +the unyielding face of the rock, while vainly endeavoring to keep his +head higher than his flying heels. + +While it was very funny to the boys who peered over the edge of the +shelf, as Noodles would have an ugly tumble should things give way, Andy +and Seth quickly realized that they had better get busy without any more +delay, and do the gallant rescue act. + +Had Paul been there he would have gone about it in a business-like way, +for he was quick to grapple with a problem, and solve it in short order. +As it was a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, one boy suggested +a certain plan, only to have a second advanced as a better method of +getting Noodles out of his unpleasant predicament. + +Meantime the poor fellow was kicking, and turning, and pleading with +them not to go back on an old chum, and leave him to such a terrible +fate. + +"Der rope--get quick der rope, undt pull me oop!" he wailed. + +"That's so, boys, Noodles has struck the right nail on the head!" cried +Seth. "Here, who's carrying that rope right now?" + +"Noodles has got it himself, that's what!" exclaimed Eben. + +"Did you ever hear of such rotten luck, now?" demanded Seth. + +"Hold on!" interrupted Andy, "seems to me I remember seeing him lay +something down over here. Let me look and find out. Whoop! here she is, +boys! That's what I call great luck. Seth, suppose you see if you can +drop the loop over his head." + +"Pe sure as you don't shoke me, poys!" called out the dangling object +below, in a manner to prove that he heard all they said. + +"Get it over his feet, Seth; then we can yank him up. He won't mind it +for a short time. Some of his brains will have a chance to run back into +his head that way," suggested Eben. + +"Make quick, blease!" wailed the unhappy scout, who was growing dizzy +with all this dangling and turning around. "I hears me der cloth gifing +away; or else dot dree, it pe going to preak py der roots. Hurry oop! +Get a moof on you, somepody. Subbose I want to make some squash pie down +on der rocks?" + +But Seth was already hard at work trying to coax that noose at the end +of the dangling rope to fall over the uptilted legs of the unfortunate +scout. + +"Keep still, you!" he shouted, when for the third time his angling +operations were upset by some unexpected movement on the part of the +struggling boy. "Think I c'n lasso a bucking broncho? Hold your feet up, +and together, if you want me to get you! There, that's the way. +Whoop-la!" + +His last shout announced sudden success. + +Indeed, the loop of the handy rope had dropped over the feet of Noodles, +and was speedily drawn tight by a quick movement on the part of the +operator. + +The balance of the boys laid hold on the rope and every one felt that +the tension was relieved--that is, every one but Noodles, and when he +found himself being drawn upward, with his head down, he probably +thought things had tightened considerably. + +As the obliging branch saw fit to let go its tenacious grip about that +time, of course Noodles was soon drawn in triumph over the edge of the +shale, protesting more or less because he was scratched in several +places by sharp edges of the rock. + +"Hurrah for Scout tactics; they count every time!" exclaimed Eben. + +Fritz was unusually solicitous, and asked Noodles several times whether +he had received any serious hurt as a result of his strange experience. +The German boy felt himself all over, grunting several times while so +doing. But in the end he announced that he believed he was all there, +and beyond a few minor bruises none the worse for his adventure. + +"Put you pet me I haf a narrow escape," he added, seriously. "How far +must I haf dropped if dot pully oldt khaki cloth gives vay?" + +"All of twenty feet, Noodles," declared Andy. + +"Dwenty feets! Ach, petter say dree dimes dot," asserted Noodles. "I +gives you my word, poys, dot it seemed I was on der top of a mountain, +mit a fine chance my pones to preak on der rocks pelow. Pelieve me, I am +glad to pe here." + +"I hope you don't think I did that on purpose, Noodles?" asked Fritz, +contritely. + +The other turned a quizzical look upon him. + +"Tid for tad, Fritz," he remarked, "iff I had nodt peen drying to choke +mit you meepy I might nodt haf met with sooch a shock. Petter luck nexdt +time, hey?" + +"I don't know just what you mean, Noodles, blest if I do," remarked +Fritz, with a puzzled look on his face, "but I agree with all you say. +This practical joke business sometimes turns out different from what you +expect. I'm sure done with it." + +But then, all boys say that, especially after they have had a little +fright; only to go back to their old way of doing things when the shock +has worn off. And the chances were that Fritz was far from being cured +of his habits. + +"How lucky we had the rope along," ventured Jotham, who was coiling up +the article in question at the time he spoke. + +"I always said it would come in handy," remarked Eben, quickly and +proudly, "and if you stop to think of the many uses we've put that same +rope to, from yanking a fellow out of a quicksand, to tying up a bad man +who had escaped from the penitentiary, you'll all agree with me that +it's been one of the best investments we ever made." + +"That's right," echoed Seth, always willing to give credit where such +was due. + +"Ketch me ever going into the woods without my rope," declared Eben. + +"Well, do we make that start for home and mother and supper right now; +or are we going to stay here till she gets plumb dark?" asked Fritz, +impatiently, moving his feet out of the way every time anyone approached +too closely, as though possessed by a fear lest he be tempted to repeat +his recent act. + +"Come on, everybody," said Eben, making a start, "I refuse to hang out a +minute longer. Seems like I c'n just get a whiff of the steak a sizzling +on the gridiron at our house; and say, when I think of it, I get wild. +I'm as hungry as that bear that came to our camp, and sent us all up in +trees like a covey of partridges." + +"If you're as hungry as that after just an afternoon's signal practice, +think what'll happen when we've been hiking all day, and covered our +little forty or fifty miles?" suggested Andy, chuckling. + +"Oh! come off, Andy, you don't really mean that, do you?" called out +Eben over his shoulder. "I'm good for twenty-five miles, I think; but +you give me a cold feeling when you talk about fifty. And poor old +Noodles here will melt away to just a grease spot, if the weather keeps +on as warm as it is now." + +"Don't let him worry you, Eben," sang out Seth. "I heard Paul telling +how at the most we might try for thirty the second day, so as to get +ahead a bit. But what is going to count in this test is +regularity--keeping up an even pace each day of the four. And chances +are we'll own that fine trophy by the time we get back to Beverly +again." + +"Didn't I hear something about our having to register at a lot of places +along the way?" asked Jotham. + +"Yes, I believe that's a part of the game," replied Seth. "It's only +right, just to prove that we haven't cut across lots, and shirked any. +Mr. Sargeant and the two members of the committee mean to wait up for us +at each station, and kind of keep an eye on us. I guess they want to +encourage us some, too, when we come in, dusty and tired and feeling +pretty near fagged out. + +"Some of the other fellows, Steve Slimmons, Arty Beecher, and two more, +who expect to start our second patrol in the fall, wanted to go along +with us; but Mr. Sargeant preferred to limit it to just the Beavers. He +said we were seasoned scouts by this time, while the other fellows might +be called tenderfeet; and it would be a pity to run chances of losing +the prize, just because one of them softies fell down." + +Fritz offered this explanation, and somehow at mention of Steve +Slimmons' name a slight smile could be seen flitting across more than +one face. For well did the scouts remember when this same boy had been +accounted one of the toughest lads in all Milltown, as that part of +Beverly across the railroad tracks was called. + +At that time he had been called "Slick" Slimmons, and in many ways he +deserved the name, for he was a smooth customer. But circumstances had +arisen, as told in a previous volume of this series, whereby Steve had +gone through a rather serious experience, and had his eyes opened to the +fact that in leading such a wild life he was carrying the heavy end of +the log. + +He had broken with the tough crowd of which he had been a member up to +then, and now was hand in glove with Paul Prentice and his scouts, in +fact considered himself a member of Beverly Troop. + +The active lads found little trouble in negotiating the descent leading +down to level ground. Even Noodles had become many times more agile than +before he donned the magical khaki of the scouts; for the various duties +that had to be performed from time to time by every member of the patrol +had done wonders for the slow moving German-American boy. + +With their goal now in sight, the six scouts started off at a lively +pace. If any of them felt in the least bit tired he was evidently +determined not to show it to his comrades, or any one they might happen +to meet on the road leading to Beverly. Pride is a great thing at +certain times, and helps ride over many difficulties. + +So, in due time they separated, each fellow heading toward his own home. +And the last words they called back to each other were in connection +with the great hike upon which they expected to start on the following +morning, which would be Tuesday. + +Many anxious looks were cast upward toward the blinking stars that +night, and speculations indulged in as to the probable kind of weather +that would be doled out to them while on the road. + +And more than one scout lay awake long after he went to bed, trying to +lift the curtain that hid the future, just a little way, so as to get a +peep of what was waiting for the Beaver Patrol, but of course without +the least success. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GENTLE COW + + +"Paul, how do we hold out for the third day on the hike?" + +"Yes, and Paul, please let us know just how much further you expect to +coax the leg weary bunch on today? Not to say that I'm tired; but then I +know Noodles, and another scout not far away right now, are grunting +like fun every little rise in the road we come to," and Seth gave his +head a flirt in the quarter where Eben was anxiously gripping his bugle, +as if in momentary expectation of getting a signal from the patrol +leader to blow the call that would signify a halt. + +"It's only four o'clock, fellows," began the acting scoutmaster. + +Dismal groans sounded; but with a smile Paul went on to add: + +"We've already made our twenty-five miles since sun-up, just this side +of Warwick; but it's a fine day, and I did hope we might hang on a +little while further, so as to cut down our last day's hike a few miles. +It's always the hardest part of the whole thing, the finishing spurt. +But of course, if any of you feel played out we can call it off right +now." + +Eben and Noodles braced themselves up at this, and tried to look as +though they had no calling acquaintance with such a thing as fatigue. + +"Oh! I'm good for a couple more miles, I guess," declared the former. + +"Make idt tree, undt you will see how I holdt oudt!" proudly boasted the +stout boy, who spent half his time mopping his red face; for the day had +been a pretty warm one, so Noodles, who had to carry a third again as +much weight as any of his companions, thought. + +"Bully boy!" exclaimed impulsive Seth, "didn't I say they had the sand +to do all we tried. You never would have believed Noodles here could +have covered the ground he has. Scouting has been the making of him, as +it will of any feller that cares to set his teeth together, and just try +real hard." + +"I suggest then," went on Paul, his face beaming with pleasure, "that we +take a little rest right here, say of half an hour; and then march along +again for three miles, as near as we can guess. And if we do that, +fellows, it leaves only twenty more for the last day." + +"I reckon that silver trophy is as good as won," remarked Andy Mullane. + +"Barring accidents; and you never can tell when something may happen," +added wise Seth. + +"Then I hope it will be to you, and not to me," said Eben, who was +rubbing his shin at a place where he had bruised it earlier in the day. + +"Have we got enough grub along to last out?" queried Fritz. + +All eyes were turned toward Noodles, who generally looked after this +part of the business when they were abroad, either camping or tramping. + +"I wouldn't say yes, if Fritz he puts der crimp in dot appetites off +his," was what the cook announced, gravely. + +"Then we'll see to it that he gets no more than his regular ration after +this," Paul declared, pretending to look severe. + +"Huh! that makes me feel real bad right away, let me tell you, fellers," +Fritz remarked, touching his belt line with a rueful face. "However do +you think I can fill up all this space here with just one ration? It's +different with some of the rest of the bunch; take Noodles for example, +he hasn't got room for more'n half a ration. I speak for what he can't +make way with." + +"Say, there's a chance right now for you to fill up ahead of time!" +exclaimed Eben, as he pointed through the fence; and looking, the scouts +saw a cow standing there, placidly chewing, her cud, and evidently +watching them curiously as she attended strictly to business. + +"Sure," Fritz went on to say, quickly, getting to his feet, "she's got +plenty of rations, quarts and quarts of fine rich milk. I've got half a +notion to step in there, and see how it tastes. See here, if I tied a +nickel or a dime in a piece of paper, and attached it to her horn, +wouldn't that be all right, Paul? Ain't scouts got a right to live off +the country as they hike through, 'specially if they pay for what they +take?" + +"Well, if it was a case of necessity, now----" began the scoutmaster. + +"It is," broke in Eben, who for some reason seemed to want to egg Fritz +on, "our comrade's plumb near starved, you know, and we're talking of +cutting his grub allowance down to half. But I don't think he's got the +nerve to fill up on nice rich fresh milk, that's what. Some people talk +pretty loud, but when you pin 'em down, they say they didn't mean it." + +Of course that finished Fritz. If he had been joking before, he now took +the matter in a serious light. + +"Huh! that remark don't hit me, Eben," he said, disdainfully, "If it was +a ferocious old bull I might hesitate about trespassing on his field, +but a gentle cow, whoever knew one to act ugly? Here goes, after I've +tied up this nickel in a piece of paper, with a string to it, to fix it +on Sukey's horn. Anybody else feel milk thirsty? Don't all speak at once +now, because I'm first." + +Apparently no one else was hankering after fresh milk just then; at +least none of the scouts gave any indication of meaning to accompany the +bold invader. + +"If you're really intending to go over the fence and try the milk +supply," suggested Paul. "I'd advise you to leave that red neck scarf +that you're so proud of wearing, behind you, Fritz." + +"Yes, that's so," broke in Seth, "cows, as well as bulls, don't fancy +anything red, I've been told. Better leave it with me, Fritz." + +"Huh, think I ain't on to your little game, Seth Carpenter," declared +the other, making no move to take off the necktie in question, "don't I +know that you've always wanted that scarf? Ain't you tried to buy it off +me more'n a few times? Not much will I let you hold it. That tie stays +by me. If the poor old cow don't like it, she can do the next best +thing. Now, watch me get my fill, fellers. Milk is the staff of life, +more'n bread; and I always did like it fresh. Here goes." + +He clambered up on the top of the fence, while all the other scouts +watched to see how the operation turned out. + +"Take care, Fritz," warned Eben, solemnly, "she's got her eye on you, +all right, and she's stopped chewing her cud too. P'raps she may turn +out to be a hooker; you never can tell about cows. And chances are, +she's got a calf up in the barn. You see, a cow is always ugly when she +thinks they're agoin' to steal her calf away, like they did lots of +other times." + +"Oh! rats!" sneered the valiant Fritz, drawing his staff over with him, +so as to get a purchase on the ground within the field, and ease his +intended jump. + +"Listen, Fritz," added Jotham, "see that little enclosure just back of +where she stands? Looks like it might have been fenced off to protect +some fruit trees or something. Well, if I was in your boots now, and she +made a jump for me, I'd tumble over that same fence in a hurry. A cow's +got horns the same as a bull, and you'll be sorry if ever she tosses +you." + +But Fritz had evidently made up his mind, and would not allow anything +to deter him. The more the other scouts threw out these hints the +stronger became his determination to carry his clever scheme to +completion. And when he said he was fond of fresh milk Fritz only told +the truth; though the chances were he would never have accepted such a +risk only for the badgering of Eben and Seth. + +Using his long staff in a dexterous way he dropped lightly to the +ground, and immediately started to walk toward the spot where the cow +stood. + +She had raised her head a little, and appeared to be observing his +coming with certain suspicious signs. + +"Go slow, Fritz; she don't like your looks any too much!" warned Paul, +who had climbed to the top of the rail fence, the better to see what +happened. + +Perhaps Fritz himself may have felt a little qualm just about that time, +for the actions of the cow were far from reassuring; but he was too +proud to show anything that seemed to savor of the "white feather" +before his chums, especially after making all the boasts he had. + +And so he kept grimly on, even if his knees did begin to knock together +a little, when he actually saw the cow suddenly lower her head, and +throw up the dirt with those ugly looking short horns, to one of which +he had so recently declared he meant to secure the coin he would leave, +to pay for all the milk he expected to consume. + +Paul had called out once or twice, words of warning. He also suggested +that it would be wise for the adventurous one to turn back; because, if +appearance went for anything the animal had a bad temper, and would be +apt to give him more or less trouble. + +But that had no effect on Fritz, who, having embarked on the venture, +did not mean to back down until absolutely forced to do so. + +And so the other five scouts, ranged along the fence, watched to see +what would happen. Perhaps their hearts were beating just a little +faster than ordinary; but if so, that was not a circumstance to the way +Fritz felt his throbbing like a trip hammer, even while he kept steadily +moving ahead. + +He started to utter what he meant to be soothing words, as he approached +the gentle bovine. He had heard farmers talking to their cows when +starting to do the milking act, and thought it the proper caper. But +Bossy must have finally made up her mind that this trespasser had a +suspicious look, and meant to carry off the little calf that could now +be heard calling away off beyond a rise where a farm house and stable +evidently lay. + +Suddenly she lowered her head, and started toward Fritz. Frenzied shouts +arose from those who were watching the proceedings from a safe distance. + +"Run, Fritz! she's coming!" bawled one. + +"Remember the fence over there, Fritz, and what I told you!" cried +Jotham. + +Fritz did not take the trouble to reply. He could hardly have done so +even had he so desired, for just then he was most actively employed. + +At the time the cow made her abrupt plunge toward him the scout could +not have been more than thirty feet away. He was wise enough to realize +that should he attempt to make a wild dash for the fence surrounding the +field, the active four legged animal would be able to overtake him +before he could get half way there. And as the one way left to him Fritz +jumped to one side, in order to avoid contact with those cruel-looking +black horns. + +His first act was one of impulse rather than anything else; he just +sprang to one side, and allowed the animal to go surging past, so close +that he could have easily reached out his hand, and touched her flank, +had he chosen to do so. + +Of course she would quickly realize that her attack had been a failure, +and recovering, turn again to renew it. He must not be on the same spot +when that time came. And as there was no better opening offered than the +enclosure mentioned by Jotham, he started for the same, with the cow in +full pursuit, and his chums shrieking all sorts of weird advice. + +So close was the angry animal behind him that at first Fritz could not +take the time to mount that fence. He chased around it, and as if +accepting the challenge, Bossy did the same, kicking her heels high in +the air, and with tail flying far in the rear. + +Fritz managed to keep a pretty good distance ahead of his pursuer, and +as there did not seem to be any particular danger just then, some of the +boys allowed their feelings of hilarity to have full swing, so that +peals of riotous laughter floated to the indignant ears of the +fugitive. + +Indeed, Eben laughed so much that he lost his hold, and fell into the +meadow; but it was ludicrous to see how nimbly he clambered up again, as +though fearful lest the cow take a sudden notion to dash that way, +changing her tactics. + +Meanwhile Fritz was laying his plans looking to what he would call a +coup. When he had gained a certain distance on the circling cow, so that +he would have time to scramble over the fence, he hastened to put this +scheme into operation. + +Fritz had dropped upon the ground, and was evidently panting for breath. +At any rate, the boys, perched like a lot of crows on the distant fence, +could see him waving his campaign hat rapidly to and fro, as though +trying to cool off after his recent lively experience. + +"Look at the old cow, would you?" burst out Eben, "she sees him now, I +tell you! Say, watch her try and jump that fence, to get closer +acquainted with our chum. Oh! my stars! what d'ye think of that now; +ain't she gone and done it though?" + +While the bugler of Beverly Troop was speaking, the angry cow made a +furious dash forward. Eben had naturally imagined she meant to try and +follow Fritz over the fence but he was wrong. There was a terrific crash +as the head of the charging beast came in contact with the frail fence; +and the next thing they knew the cow had thrown down an entire section, +so that no longer did any barrier separate her from the object of her +increasing fury. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN ALABAMA CAMP + + +Fritz was no longer sitting there taking things comfortably, and cooling +himself off by using his hat as a fan. + +With the terrific crash the scout was on his feet, ready for further +flight, as he saw the head of the cow not ten feet away from where he +stood. + +This time he made straight for another section of the fence, and passed +over it "like a bird," as Seth declared. But evidently fences had little +terror for the aroused cow, since she immediately proceeded to knock +down another section in about the space of time it would take to read +the shortest riot act ever known. + +This prompt act again placed her on the same side as the fleeing Fritz. +The loud shouts of his chums warned him of her coming on the scene +again, even if that suspicious crash had failed to do so. + +Fritz was becoming used to clambering over fences by now; in fact it +seemed to be something like a settled habit. + +The cow saw his lead, and went him one better, for a third crash told +how the poorly constructed fence had gone down before her rush, like a +pack of cards in the wind. + +All the while Fritz was changing his location. He calculated that if +only he could hold out for say three more "climbs," he would be in a +position to make a run for the border fence, which was made much more +stoutly then the division one, and would probably turn back even a +swooping bull. + +After it was all over, Fritz would demand that his comrades give him +full credit for his cunning lead. Meanwhile he was kept as busy as any +real beaver; getting first on one side of the crumpling fence, and then +on the other; while the cow kept on making kindling wood of the barrier. + +Paul took advantage of the animal's attention being wholly centred upon +Fritz, to run out upon the field, and pick up the cast-off staff of the +busy scout. His intention at the time was to render all the assistance +in his power; but discovering that Fritz was rapidly approaching a point +where he could work out his own salvation, the scoutmaster thought +discretion on his part warranted a hasty departure, unless he wished to +take the place his comrade vacated. + +The boys on the fence were shouting, and waving their hats, and doing +all manner of things calculated to attract the attention of the "gentle +cow," and cause her to ease up in her attack; but apparently she was not +to be bought off so cheaply, and meant to pursue her advantage to the +bitter end. + +Then came the chance for which the artful Fritz had been so +industriously working, when he made one more fling over the remnant of +the enclosure fence, and upon reaching the outside, galloped away toward +the road as fast as his legs could carry him. + +Of course the cow chased after him again as soon as she had knocked down +another section of fence; but Fritz seemed to have pretty good wind, +considering all he had been through; and he showed excellent sprinting +powers that promised to put him among the leaders at the next high +school field sports exhibition. + +And the other five scouts gave him a hearty cheer when they saw him +nimbly take the high fence on the bound, with those wicked horns not +more than five feet in his rear. + +They soon joined the panting one, who greeted his mates with a cheery +grin, as though conscious of having done very well, under such +distracting conditions. + +"But you've yet to know whether that milk is as rich as you hoped?" +remarked Paul, smilingly, as he handed Fritz his staff. + +"And chances are, you went and lost that blessed nickel you meant to tie +to one of gentle Bossy's horns; what a shame, and a waste of good coin!" +said Seth, pretending to be very much disappointed. + +"Huh! getting off pretty cheap at that!" grunted Fritz. "Ketch me tryin' +to milk any cow that's got a calf up in the barn. I'd rather face two +bulls than one like her. Don't ever mention milk to me again; I know +I'll just despise the looks of it from now on. Whew! but didn't she mean +business; and if ever those sharp horns had got attached to me, it would +have been a hard job to break away." + +"If you feel rested, and have changed your mind about that same splendid +milk," remarked Paul, "perhaps we'd better be getting along now. Three +miles--why, Fritz, I wouldn't be much surprised if you covered all of +that in the little chase you put up. All you needed to beat the record +for flying was a pair of wings." + +Fritz was wonderfully good-natured, and they could not make him angry. +When other boys were apt to scowl and feel "grouchy," Fritz would come +up smilingly after each and every round, ready to take punishment +without limit. + +And so they continued to walk along the road, chatting among themselves +as cheerily as footsore and weary scouts might be expected to do when +trying to encourage each other to further exertions. + +Every step really meant a good deal to their success, for in the course +of ten minutes Paul declared that another mile had been duly covered. + +When they saw another cow inside a fenced enclosure the boys tried by +every argument they could devise to tempt Fritz to try his hand once +more, but he steadfastly declined to accept the dare. + +"Say what you like, fellers," he remarked firmly, "me and cows are on +the outs, for this trip anyway. It's somebody else's turn to afford +amusement for the bunch. I've sure done my duty by the crowd. Let me be, +won't you? Tackle Seth there, or Babe Adams. I happen to know that they +like milk just every bit as much as I do. Water's good enough for me, +right now; and here's the spring I've been looking for a long while." + +At that they all hastened to discover some spots where it was possible +to lap up a sufficient supply of the clear fluid. + +This cooling drink seemed to invigorate the boys, so that when they +started off again it was with a somewhat quicker step, and heads that +were held up straighter than of late. + +It enabled them to reel off another mile without any great effort. + +"Only one more, and then we've just got to let up on this thing," said +Paul. + +"I really believe you're getting tired of it yourself, Mr. Scoutmaster?" +ventured one of the boys, eagerly; for if Paul would only confess to +this, they felt that they could stand their own weaknesses better. + +"And that is no joke," laughed Paul, frankly. "You see, I haven't been +hardening my muscles as much lately as when the baseball season was in +full swing. But with two miles placed to our account, we shouldn't be +much worried about how things are coming out. Will we try for that last +mile, boys? It's for you to say!" + +He received a unanimous shout of approval, which announced that the +others were of a united mind. And so they kept along the road though +some steps lagged painfully, and it was mainly through the exertions of +the mind that the body was whipped into obeying. + +Finally Paul turned to Eben, and made a quick gesture that the bugler +was waiting for, since he immediately raised the shining instrument to +his lips, puffed out his cheeks, took in a tremendous breath, and gave +the call that was next to the "fall in for supper" signal, the most +popular known to the scouts. + +"Alabama! Here we rest!" cried Seth, turning aside into the woods after +Paul, who evidently had his eye on a certain location, where he meant to +pitch the third night's camp. + +"That's a good idea," remarked Andy, always quick to seize upon anything +that gave a hint concerning his beloved South, "let's call this Alabama +Camp!" + +"Put it to a vote," called out Fritz, "all in favor of the same say aye; +contrary no. The ayes have it unanimously. Hurrah for Alabama Camp. +Seems like that's a good restful name; and I hope we sleep right good +here; for most of us are pretty well used up." + +"Don't mention that same above a whisper," warned Seth, "because we've +got two awfully touchy chums along, who're always carrying chips on +their shoulders when it comes to the subject of being knocked out. Say, +Paul, did you know about this camp site before; because it's the +dandiest place we've struck on the big hike?" + +"Just dumb luck," replied the other, shaking his head in the negative. +"I thought it looked good this way, when I called for a halt. And you're +just about right, Seth; it does fill the bill great. Here's our spring +of clear cold water; and there you have a splendid place to start your +fire, Jotham. Now, let's throw ourselves down for a little while, and +then when we feel rested, we'll get busy doing things." + +All of them were only too glad to do as Paul suggested. And when +another ten minutes had slipped past, Jotham struggled to his feet to +wearily but determinedly gather together some material with which to +start a blaze. + +When he had it going Noodles realized that it was now up to him to start +getting some supper cooking. They had come in very light marching order, +since Paul realized that if they hoped to win that lovely prize he must +not load any of the boys down with superfluous burdens. + +As a rule they depended on the farmers to supply them with such things +as they needed, chiefly eggs and milk. The former they had along with +them, several dozen eggs in fact, purchased from an obliging farmer +earlier in the afternoon, and fortunately carried in other knapsacks +than that of Fritz, who would have smashed the entire supply, had he +been in charge of the same at the time of his exciting adventure with +the cow. + +Upon putting it to a vote they decided that they could just as well do +without any milk for one night; especially after Fritz had shown them +how difficult it sometimes was to accumulate a supply. + +Of course a coffee pot had been brought along, for somehow a camp must +always seem like a dreary desert without the delicious smell of boiling +coffee at each and every meal that is prepared. + +So Noodles made a grand big omelette, using sixteen eggs for the same, +and the two frying pans that had been strapped, one to each pack of a +couple of scouts. + +Besides this they had some cheese and crackers, which would help fill +the vacuum that seemed to exist an hour after each and every meal. +Several potatoes for each scout were duly placed in the red ashes of the +fire, and jealously watched, in order that they might not scorch too +badly before being thoroughly roasted. + +On the whole, there was no reason for being ashamed of that camp supper. +Everything tasted just "prime," as several of the boys took pains to +say; for they were artful enough to know that by showering words of +praise upon the cook, they might secure his valuable services for all +time to come, because Noodles was open to flattery. + +And what was better still, there was an abundant supply for all of them, +regardless of the difference in appetites; Fritz was not stinted in the +least, for he actually declined a further helping, and had to be urged +to clean out the pan just to keep "that little bit of omelet from being +wasted." + +Having no tent along, and only a couple of dingy old blankets which they +expected to use for sending smoke signals, should the occasion arise, +the scouts were compelled to resort to more primitive ways of spending +the night than usual. But then Paul had shown them how to sleep with +their heads away from the fire; and he also arranged to keep the small +blaze going during the entire night, since it was apt to get pretty +chilly along about two in the morning. + +All these things had been arranged on the first night out, so that by +this time the boys were pretty well accustomed to the novel way of +sleeping. And on the whole they had taken to it fairly well, no one +complaining save when the mosquitoes annoyed them in one camp near the +water. + +An hour after supper had been disposed of some of the boys were already +beginning to nod drowsily. And when fellows are just dead tired it seems +a sin to try and keep them awake, especially when there is no need of +it. + +So Paul announced that those who wanted to could turn in, while the rest +were enjoined to keep quiet, doing their talking in whispers, so as not +to disturb the sleepers; just as if the discharge of a six pound cannon +close by would bother those weary scouts, once they lost themselves in +the dreamland of Nod. + +Babe Adams had just stepped over to get a last drink at the near-by +spring, when the others were surprised to see him come tearing back +again, evidently in great excitement. + +"Paul, come over here with me, and you can see it!" he called out. + +"See what?" demanded the scoutmaster, at the same time climbing to his +feet. + +"Looks like some farmhouse might be afire; because you c'n see the red +flames jumping up like fun!" was the thrilling announcement made by the +tenderfoot scout. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A HELPING HAND + + +"It's a fire, all right!" announced Paul, after he had taken a good +look. + +"No question about that," declared Seth, who was right on the heels of +the others, for you could never keep him quiet when there was anything +going on, because he always wanted to be "in the swim." + +"Yes, either a house, or a barn ablaze," remarked Eben, sagely. + +"Might be only a hay stack, you know," suggested Jotham. + +"Don't burn like that to me; I seem to see something of a building every +now and then, when the flames shoot up," Paul went on to remark, for he +was always discovering things upon which to found a reasonable theory. + +"How far away does it lie, dy'e think, Paul?" asked Andy. + +"Not more than half a mile, I should say," came the reply. + +"Just my idea to a dot," Jotham admitted. + +"Why, you c'n even hear the crackle of the flames, whenever the night +wind happens to blow this way," Babe Adams asserted; and they all agreed +with him, for the same sound had come to their ears also. + +"We might help the poor old farmer, if we only happened to be closer," +Eben said, in the goodness of his heart. + +"And if we didn't feel so bunged-up tired," added Andy. + +Somehow the scouts began to show signs of nervousness. Those might seem +like pretty good excuses to some fellows; but when a boy becomes a scout +he somehow looks at things in a different way from in the old days. No +matter how tired he may be, he eagerly seizes on a chance to be useful +to others; to do some good deed, so as to experience the delightful glow +that always follows a helpful act. + +"Say, how about it?" began Jotham. + +"Could we be useful if we did manage to trot over there, Paul?" Andy +demanded. + +"I'm sure we might," answered the scoutmaster, firmly; "and if we're +going, why, the sooner we make a start the better. Seconds count when a +house or barn is on fire. I feel pretty well rested, speaking for +myself; and half a mile each way oughtn't to do us up. We're scouts on a +long hike, and able to do lots of things that other fellows wouldn't +dare attempt." + +"Take me along, Paul!" cried Jotham. + +"And me!" + +"Hope you won't forget that I'm ready to be in the bunch," Seth +exclaimed. + +In fact, there was not one out of Paul's seven companions who did not +vociferously inform the leader of the patrol that he was a subject for +the draft. + +"You can't all go," decided Paul, quick to decide; "and as two fellows +ought to stay and look after camp while the rest are off, I'll appoint +Noodles and Eben to that duty." + +Groans followed the announcement. + +"Oh! all right, Paul; just as you say," remarked the bugler, after +giving vent to his disappointment in this manner; "we'll keep guard +while the rest of you are having a bully good time. + +"Perhaps something will happen along here to let us enjoy ourselves." + +"If you need help let us know it," Paul called back, for he was already +moving off in the direction of the fire, followed by the five lucky +scouts. + +"How?" bellowed Noodles; "do we whoop her up, Paul?" + +"Sound the assembly, and we'll hurry back," came the answer, as the pack +of boys disappeared in the darkness of the night. + +They kept pretty well together, so that none might stray. Consequently, +when one happened to trip over some log or other obstacle that lay in +the path he would sing out to warn his comrades, so as to save them from +the same trouble. + +With such a bright beacon ahead there was no trouble about keeping on a +direct line for the fire. And all the while it seemed to be getting more +furious. Indeed, what with the shouts that came to their ears, the +bellowing of cattle, and whinnying of horses, things began to get pretty +lively as they approached the farmyard. + +Presently they seemed to break out from the woods, and reach an open +field. Beyond this they could plainly see the fire. + +"It's a barn, all right!" gasped Jotham, immediately. + +"Yes, and they seem to be afraid that the farmhouse will go, too," added +Andy. + +"They're throwing buckets of water on it, sure enough," sang out Babe +Adams. + +Now some of the boys could easily have outrun their mates, being +possessed of longer legs, or the ability to sprint on occasion; but they +had the good sense to accommodate themselves to the rest, so that they +were still in a squad when drawing near the scene of the excitement. + +A man and a woman seemed to be about the sole persons visible, and they +were laboring like Trojans to keep the fire from communicating to the +low farmhouse that was situated close to the burning barn. + +The six scouts must have dawned upon the vision of the sorely pressed +farmer and his wife almost like angels, for the pair were nearly +exhausted, what with the labor and the excitement. + +"Buckets--water--let us help you!" was what Paul exclaimed as they came +up. + +Cows were running this way and that, bellowing like mad, as though half +crazed. + +What with frightened chickens cackling, and hogs grunting in their +near-by pen, the scene was one that those boys would not forget in a +hurry. + +"In the kitchen--help yourselves!" the farmer said, pointing as he +spoke; and without waiting for any further invitation the scouts rushed +pellmell into the rear part of the house, where they seized upon all +sorts of utensils, from a big dishpan, to buckets, and even a small tin +foot bath tub. + +A brook ran close to the barn, as Paul had learned with his first +comprehensive glance around. This promised to be a most fortunate thing +for the would be fire-fighters. + +Led by the scoutmaster, the boys dashed in that direction, filled +whatever vessel they happened to be carrying, and then hurried back to +the house. Here the water was dashed over the side of the building that +seemed to be already scorching under the fierce heat of the blazing +barn. + +"Get us a ladder; that roof will be on fire if we don't throw water over +it!" Paul shouted to the farmer, as he came in contact with the man. + +"This way--there's a ladder here by the hen house!" was what he replied. + +Several of the boys seized upon it, and before you could think twice +they were rushing the ladder toward the side of the house. Paul climbed +up, carrying with him a full bucket of water; and having dashed the +contents of this in such a way as to wet a considerable portion of the +shingle roof, he threw the bucket down to one of the boys below. + +Another was quickly placed in his hands. Everybody was working like a +beaver now, even the farmer's wife, carrying water from the creek, and +getting it up to the boy on the ladder. It was pretty warm work, for the +heat of the burning barn seemed terrific; but then boys can stand a good +deal, especially when excited, and bent on accomplishing things; and +Paul stuck it out, though he afterwards found several little holes had +been burned in his outing shirt by flying sparks. + +The barn, of course, was beyond saving, and all their energies must be +expended on the house. By slow degrees the fire was burning itself out. +Already Paul felt that the worst was past, and that if they could only +keep this up for another ten minutes all would be well. + +A couple of neighbors had come along by this time, to help as best they +could. When a fire takes place in the country everybody is ready and +willing to lend a hand at carrying out things, or fighting the flames in +a primitive fashion; for neighbors have to depend more or less upon each +other in case of necessity. + +"I reckon the house ain't liable to go this time," Andy remarked, when +Paul came down the ladder finally, trembling from his continued +exertions, which had been considerable of a strain on the lad, wearied +as he was with three days' tramping. + +"That's a fact," remarked the farmer, who came hustling forward about +this time, "and I owe you boys a heap for what you done this night. I +guess now, only for you comin' to help, I'd a lost my house as well as +my barn. As it is I've got a lot to be thankful for. Just put insurance +on the barn, and the new crop of hay last week. I call that being pretty +lucky for once." + +He shook hands with each of the scouts, and asked after their names. + +"I want to let your folks know what you done for us this night, boys," +he said, "and p'raps you might accept some little present later on, just +as a sort of remembrance, you know." + +"How did the fire start, sir?" asked Paul. + +"That's what bothers me a heap," replied the farmer. + +"Then you don't know?" continued the scoutmaster, who felt a reasonable +curiosity to learn what he could of the matter while on the spot. + +"It's all a blank mystery to me, for a fact," continued the farmer, +whose name the boys had learned was Mr. Rollins. "My barn and stable was +all one, you see. My man has been away all day, and I had to look after +the stock myself, but I finished just as dark set in, before supper, in +fact, so there ain't been so much as a lighted lantern around here +tonight." + +"Perhaps, when you lighted your pipe you may have thrown the match away, +and it fell in the hay?" suggested Paul. + +"If it had, the fire'd started long ago; fact is, I'd a seen it right +away. And to settle that right in the start let me say I don't smoke at +all, and didn't have any occasion to strike a single match while out +here." + +Of course this statement of the farmer seemed to settle all idea of his +having been in any way responsible for the burning of the barn. + +"It looks like a big black mystery, all right," declared Fritz, who +always liked to come upon some knotty problem that needed solving. + +"Have you any idea that the fire could have been the work of tramps?" +Paul went on to ask. + +"We are never troubled that way up here," replied the farmer. "You see, +it's away from the railroad, and hoboes generally follow the ties when +they tramp across country." + +"That makes it all the more queer how the fire could have started," Paul +went on to remark, thoughtfully. + +"Couldn't a been one of the cows taken to smoking, I suppose?" ventured +Seth, in a humorous vein. + +"One thing sure," continued the farmer, a little uneasily, "that fire +must have been caused by what they call spontaneous combustion; or else +somebody set it on purpose." + +"Do you know of anybody who would do such a terrible thing; that is, +have you any enemy that you know of, sir?" questioned Paul. + +"None that I would ever suspect of such a mean thing as that," was the +farmer's ready reply. "We're human around here, you know, and may have +our little differences now and then, but they ain't none of 'em serious +enough to tempt a man to burn a neighbor's barn. No, that's a dead sure +thing." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear it," the scoutmaster went on. "And I don't +suppose now, you've missed any valuables, have you, sir?" + +The farmer turned a shade whiter, and Paul could see that a shiver went +through his frame. + +"Gosh! I hadn't thought about that. Wait here a minute, will you, +please?" + +With that he dashed into the house, as though a sudden terrible +suspicion had assailed him. The six scouts stood there awaiting his +return. Mrs. Rollins was talking with the neighbors, as they watched +the last of the barn disappearing in a bed of red cinders. + +Hardly had a full minute passed before the boys saw the farmer come +leaping out of the building again. No need for any one to ask a +question, because his whole appearance told the story of new excitement +and mystery. If ever a man looked worried and nearly heart broken the +farmer did then. + +"It's sure enough gone, every cent of it!" he groaned, as he reached the +scouts. + +"Your money, I suppose you mean?" Paul asked, sympathetically; while +Fritz and Seth pricked up their ears eagerly at the prospect of another +chapter being added to the little excitement of the evening. + +"Yes, three thousand dollars that was to pay off my mortgage next week. +I had it hid away where I thought no thief could even find it; but the +little tin box, and everything has been carried off. And now I know why +the barn was fired--so as to keep the missus and me out there, while the +rascal made a sneak into the house, and laid hands on my savings. All +gone, and the mortgage due next week!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE HOME-COMING OF JO DAVIES + + +"Whew! that's tough!" observed Seth. + +One or two of the other scouts whistled, to indicate the strained +condition of their nerves; and all of them pressed up a little closer, +so as not to lose a single word of what was passing. + +"But if as you say, sir, that you had this money securely hidden, it +doesn't seem possible that an ordinary tramp would know the place where +you kept it, so that he could dodge right into the house, and in a +minute be off with it; isn't that so?" + +Paul was the greatest hand you ever heard of to dip deeply into a thing. +Where most other boys of his age would be satisfied to simply listen, +and wonder, he always persisted in asking questions, in order to get at +the facts. And he was not born in Missouri either, as Seth often +laughingly declared. + +The farmer looked at him. There was a frown beginning to gather on his +forehead as though sudden and serious doubts had commenced to take a +grip on his mind. + +"If he took my money I'll have the law on him, as sure as my name is +Sile Rollins," Paul heard him mutter, half to himself. + +"Then you've thought of some one who might have known that you had three +thousand dollars under your roof, is that it, sir?" he asked. + +"Y-yes, but it's hard to suspect Jo, when I've done so much for him +these years he's been with me," admitted the owner of the farm; though +at the same time his face took on a hard expression, and he ground his +teeth together furiously, while he went on to say, "but if so be he has +robbed me, I ain't called upon to have any mercy on him, just because +his old mother once nursed my wife, and I guess saved her life. Jo has +got to hand my money back, or take the consequences." + +"Is Jo your hired man?" Paul asked. + +The farmer nodded his head moodily; he was evidently a prey to mingled +feelings, and close upon the border of a dazed condition. These +calamities following so swiftly upon each other's heels had taken his +breath away. But presently he would recover, and be eager to do +something. + +"You said just a bit ago that he was away today, and that you had to do +the chores this evening, looking after the stock, and such things; +wasn't that it, sir?" continued the scoutmaster. + +"He asked to have this afternoon off; wouldn't say why he wanted to get +away, either. And by ginger! now that I think of it, Jo did look kind of +excited when he was asking me for leave. I can see why that should be +so. He was figuring on this nasty little game right then and there. He +wanted to be able to prove an _alibi_ in case he was ever accused. And +this evening he must have put a match to the hay in the barn, and then +watched his chance to creep into the house when both of us was busy +trying to save the stock. Oh! it makes my blood boil just to think of +it. And I never would have believed Jo Davies could have been so cold +blooded as to take the chances of burnin' the animals he seemed to be so +fond of." + +"Did he stay here over night with you?" Paul asked. + +"Not as a rule, Jo didn't. You see, he's got an old mother, and they +live in a little cottage about a mile away from here toward town. So Jo, +he always made it a point to sleep there. I had no fault to find, +because he was on hand bright and early every morning. But this will +kill his old mother; however could he do it? Chances are, he fell in +with some racing men when we had the county fair, and has got to +gambling. But I'll be ruined if I don't get that money back again." + +"Could we help you in any way, Mr. Rollins? You know, Boy Scouts are +always bound to be of assistance whenever they find a chance. We're on a +great hike just now, and a little leg weary; but if we can stand by you +further, please let us know. How about that, boys?" and Paul turned +toward his chums as he spoke. + +"That's the ticket, Paul!" replied Andy, promptly. + +"Our sentiments, every time," said Seth. + +And the others gave vigorous nods, to indicate that they were all of the +same mind; which unanimity of opinion must have been a great +satisfaction to the leader. + +"Then let's go right away, boys!" remarked the farmer, eagerly. "P'raps +now we might come up with Jo on the way, and ketch him with the goods +on. If he'll only give me back my money I'll agree not to prosecute, on +account of his poor old mother, if nothing else. But I'm as bad off as a +beggar if I lose all that hard earned cash." + +Without saying anything to Mrs. Rollins or the neighbors, they hurried +away, the boys keeping in a cluster around the farmer. If any of the +scouts began to feel twinges in the muscles of their legs, already hard +pushed, they valiantly fought against betraying the weakness. Besides, +the excitement acted as a tonic upon them, and seemed to lend them +additional powers of endurance, just as it does in foot races where the +strain is terrific. + +"It looks bad for Jo Davies, I should think, Paul," Andy managed to say, +as they pushed resolutely along. + +"Well, he is the one fellow who may have known about the money," +admitted the scout master, "and if the temptation ever came to him, he +could easily watch his employer, and learn where he hid the cash. How +about that, Mr. Rollins?" + +The farmer had heard what was being said, and immediately replied: + +"If Jo was bent on robbery, p'raps he could have watched me some time, +and seen where I hid that little tin box away in the attic. I used to go +there once a week to add some money to the savings that I'd foolishly +drawn out of bank long before I needed 'em, just to see how it felt to +be rich for a little while." + +"When was the last time you went up there to look at it?" Paul asked. + +"Let me see, when Web Sterry paid me for the heifer I sold him I put the +money away; and that was just ten days back." + +"And it was all there then, you say?" questioned Paul. + +"Surely," replied the farmer. + +"Was Jo working near the house then, can you remember, sir?" + +Mr. Rollins appeared to reflect. + +"When was the day we did some carpenter work on that extension--as sure +as anything it was the day Webb paid me! Yes, I remember, now, that Jo +came around from his work on the plane, and told me Webb was there." + +The farmer's excitement was increasing. Things, under the clever +questioning of the young scoutmaster, seemed to be fitting in with each +other, just as a carpenter dovetails the ends of a box together. + +"It looks as though Jo might have spied on you when you went up to the +attic to put that new money away with the rest. If he suspected that you +were keeping a large sum in the house that's what he would most likely +do when he knew you had just taken in some more cash. Now, I don't know +Jo Davies, and I don't like to accuse him of such a terrible crime; but +circumstantial evidence all points in his direction, Mr. Rollins." + +Paul measured his words. He never liked to think ill of any one; but +really in this case it seemed as though there could be hardly any doubt +at all; Jo Davies must be the guilty party. + +"Are we gettin' near where Jo lives?" asked Jotham, trying to speak +lightly, although there was a plain vein of anxiety in his voice; for +when a fellow has covered nearly thirty miles since sun-up, every rod +counts after that; and following each little rest the muscles seem to +stiffen wonderfully. + +"More'n two-thirds the way there," replied the farmer. "We'll see a +light, like as not, when we get around this turn in the woods road. +That'll come from the little cabin where he lives with his old mother. +Oh! but I'm sorry for Mrs. Davies; and the boy, he always seemed to +think so much of his maw, too. You never can tell, once these fast +fliers get to running with racing men. But I only hope I get my own back +again. That's the main thing with me just now, you know. And if Jo, he +seems sorry, I might try and forget what he's done. It all depends on +how things turn out. See, just as I told you, there's the light ahead." + +All of them saw it; and as they continued to walk hastily forward +through the darkness Paul was thinking how human Mr. Rollins was, after +all; for it was only natural that his first thought should be in +connection with the safe recovery of his hard earned money. + +They rapidly drew near the cottage, and all of the boys were beginning +to wonder what was fated to happen next on the programme. Doubtless they +were some of them fairly quivering with eagerness, and hoping that the +thief might be caught examining the stolen cash box. + +"Hush! there's somebody coming along over there; stand still, +everybody!" Paul gave warning, suddenly, and the whole party remained +motionless, watching a lighted lantern that was moving rapidly toward +the cottage from the opposite direction, being evidently carried by an +approaching man. + +It continued to advance straight toward the cottage. Then the unknown +opened the door, and went in. + +"That was Jo," muttered Mr. Rollins, "I seen his face plain as anything; +but why would he be coming from the direction of town, instead of my +place?" + +"Oh! that might be only a clever little trick, sir," Seth made haste to +say, as though to indicate in this way that scouts were able to see back +of all such sly dodges. + +"Say, he sure had something under his arm," broke in Jotham just then. + +"Yes, I saw that, too," added Paul. "It was a small package, not much +larger than a cigar box, I should say, and wrapped up in brown paper." + +"P'raps my tin cash box?" suggested Mr. Rollins, in trembling tones. + +"It might be, though I hardly think any one smart enough to play such a +game as setting fire to a barn in order to draw all attention away from +the house he wanted to rob, would be silly enough to carry home a tin +box that would convict him, if ever it was found there." + +Paul made this remark. They had once more started to advance, though by +no means as rapidly as before. The fact that Jo Davies had arrived just +before them, and not only carrying a lighted lantern, but with a +suspicious packet under his arm, seemed to necessitate a change of pace, +as well as a new line of action. + +"Let's sneak up to the window, and peek in?" suggested Fritz, and +somehow the idea appealed to the others, for without any argument they +proceeded to carry out the plan of campaign. + +It promised to be easy work. The shade seemed to be all the way up, as +though the old lady who lived in the humble cottage had left a light +near the window purposely in order to cheer her boy when he turned the +bend below, and came in sight of home. + +As noiselessly as possible, therefore, the six scouts, accompanied by +the farmer, crept toward this window. The sill was not over four feet +from the ground, and could be easily reached; indeed, in order not to +expose themselves, they were compelled to stoop rather low when +approaching the spot. + +Some sort of flower garden lay under the window. Paul remembered +stepping upon unseen plants, and somehow felt a pang of regret at thus +injuring what had probably taken much of the old lady's time and +attention to nurse along to the flowering stage. But this was an +occasion when all minor scruples must be laid aside. When a man has been +basely robbed, and by an employee in whom he has put the utmost +confidence, one cannot stand on ceremony, even if pet flowerbeds are +rudely demolished. And if the farmer's suspicions turned out to be real +facts, Jo Davies' old mother was apt to presently have worries besides +which the breaking of her flowers would not be a circumstance. + +Now they had reached a point where, by raising their heads, they could +peep into the room where the lamp gave such illumination. + +As scouts the boys had long ago learned to be cautious in whatever they +attempted; and hence they did not immediately thrust their heads upward, +at the risk of attracting the attention of whoever might be within the +room. On the contrary each fellow slowly and carefully raised himself, +inch by inch, until his eyes, having passed the lower sill he could see, +first the low ceiling, then the upper part of the opposite wall, and +last of all the occupants themselves. + +They were two in number, one an old woman with a sweet face and +snow-white hair; the other a tall, boyish-looking chap, undoubtedly the +Jo who had been farmhand to Mr. Rollins, and was now under the dreadful +ban of suspicion. + +When Paul first caught sight of these two they were bending over the +table, on which something evidently lay that had been holding their +attention. Jo was talking excitedly. Every minute he would pause in +whatever he was saying, to throw his arms around the little old lady, +who in turn would clasp her arms about his neck; and in this way they +seemed to be exchanging mutual congratulations. But when they moved +aside while thus embracing, Paul felt a cold chill run up and down his +spine because _there upon the table were several piles of bank bills_! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +INNOCENT OR GUILTY? + + +Paul could feel the farmer trembling as he happened to come in contact +with his person; and from this he guessed that Mr. Rollins had also +discovered the pile of money on the table. + +Was Jo Davies, then, such a silly fellow as this? It did not seem +possible that anyone not a fool would rob his employer, and immediately +hurry home, to throw the stolen money before his dear old mother, with +some wonderful story of how he had found it on the road, perhaps, or had +it given to him by a millionaire whose horse he stopped on the highway, +when it was running away with a lady in the vehicle. + +And somehow, from the few little glimpses Paul had caught of the young +fellow's face he rather liked Jo Davies. If, as seemed very likely, the +young man had been tempted to steal this money, it would cause Paul a +feeling of regret, even though he had not known there was such a being +as Jo Davies in the world half an hour before. + +"Whoo! see the long green!" he heard Seth whisper. "Reckon he's gone and +done it, worse luck!" and from the words and the manner of his saying +them, Paul guessed that the speaker must have taken a fancy to Jo, as +well as himself. + +The window happened to be shut, and so this whisper attracted no +attention on the part of those within the cottage. Indeed, they were so +given over to excitement themselves that they were hardly apt to notice +anything out of the common. + +Paul could feel the farmer beginning to slip down, and it was easy to +understand that the sight of all that money made him want to rush +inside, to claim it, before the bold thief had a chance to hide his +plunder somewhere. + +And this was the only possible thing that should be done. While Mr. +Rollins in the kindness of his heart might wish to spare the dear old +lady all he could, he dared not take any chances of losing sight of his +property. + +"Come on, boys!" + +That was quite enough, for when the other scouts heard Paul say these +three simple words they knew that there was going to be something doing. +And quickly did they proceed to fall in behind their leader and the +farmer. + +Under ordinary conditions, perhaps, it might have occurred to the patrol +leader to throw some sort of guard around the cabin, so as to prevent +the escape of the desperate thief. He did not think of doing such a +thing now, for various reasons. + +In the first place, one of the scouts could hardly hope to cope with +such a husky young fellow as the farmhand, if once he wanted to break +through the line. + +Then again, it hardly seemed likely that Jo Davies would attempt to +flee, when his old mother was there to witness his confusion; in fact, +the chances appeared to be that he would brazen it out, and try to +claim that the money belonged to him. The door was close at hand, so +that it took only part of a minute for the eager farmer to reach the +means of ingress. + +He did not hesitate a second, after having set eyes on all that alluring +pile of bank notes on the table, under the glow of the lamp. + +And when he suddenly opened the door, to burst into the room, Paul and +the other scouts were close upon his heels, every fellow anxious to see +what was about to happen. + +Of course the noise caused by their entrance in such a mass, was heard +by those in the room. Jo Davies sprang to his feet, and assumed an +attitude of defiance, one arm extended, as though to defend the little +fortune that lay there exposed so recklessly upon the table. + +Possibly this was the very first time in all his life that he had +experienced such a sensation as fear of robbery. When a man has never +possessed anything worth stealing, he can hardly know what the feeling +is. So it must have been sheer instinct that caused Jo to thus stand on +guard, ready apparently to fight, in order to protect his property, +however recently it may have come into his possession. + +No wonder that he felt this sudden alarm, to have the door of his home +rudely thrown open, and a horde of fellows fairly tumbling over each +other, in their eagerness to enter. + +Then, the look of alarm seemed to pass away from the face of the young +fellow; as though he had recognized his employer. Paul wondered whether +this was real or cleverly assumed. He saw Jo actually smile, and +advancing a step, half hold out his hand toward Mr. Rollins. + +But the farmer was looking very stern just then. He either did not see +the extended hand, or else meant to ignore it purposely, for he +certainly made no move toward taking it. + +"I've got back, Mr. Rollins," Jo said, his voice rather shaky, either +from excitement, or some other reason; and he stared hard at Paul and +the other khaki-garbed scouts, as though puzzled to account for their +being there. + +"So I see," replied the farmer, grimly. + +"I hope you didn't hev too much trouble with the stock, Mr. Rollins," Jo +went on to say, in a half hesitating sort of way. + +"Well, if I did, they are all safe and sound; perhaps you'd like to know +that now," the farmer went on to remark, a little bitterly. + +Jo looked at him queerly. + +"He either doesn't understand what that means, or else is trying to seem +ignorant," was what Paul thought, seeing this expression of wonderment. + +"I'm glad to hear that, sure I am, Mr. Rollins," the other remarked, +slowly, "an' seein' as how you're dropped in on us unexpected like, +p'raps I ought to tell you what I meant to say in the mornin.'" + +"What's that?" demanded Mr. Rollins, unconsciously edging a little +closer to the table where that tempting display of greenbacks could be +seen; just as though he began to fear that it might suddenly take wings +and fly away before he could put in a claim for his property. + +"I've come in for a little windfall, sir," began Jo, proudly it +appeared. + +"Looks like you had," grumbled the farmer, as he flashed his eyes again +toward the display so near at hand. + +"And if so be you're of the same mind about that Thatcher farm, p'raps +we might come to terms about the same, sir. I guess you'd just as lief +sell it to _me_ as anybody else, wouldn't you, Mr. Rollins?" + +"You seem to have a lot of money all of a sudden, Jo?" suggested the +farmer, in a hoarse tone, so that he had to clear his throat twice while +speaking. + +"Yes, sir, that's so," declared the young farm hand, eagerly. "I never +dreamed of such grand good fortune as an old aunt of mine dying up in +Indianapolis, and leaving me all she had in bank. That's why I asked to +get off this afternoon, Mr. Rollins, so I could run over, and get what +was comin' to me." + +The farmer was grinding his teeth a little; but so long as he believed +he saw all his stolen hoard before him, within reach of his hand, he +seemed able to control himself; he even waxed a trifle sarcastic, Paul +thought, when, looking straight at his hired man, he went on to say: + +"Perhaps now, Jo, I might give a pretty good guess about the size of +this wonderful fortune you've come into so sudden-like. How would three +thousand sound to you, Jo? Is that about the figure now, tell me?" + +Jo turned a wondering face toward his old mother. + +"Well, did you ever hear the beat of that, maw?" he cried, "Mr. Rollins +has just guessed the size of my pile to a dollar, because it was just +three thousand old Aunt Libby left me--a few dollars over p'raps. +However did you know it, sir?" and he once more faced the sneering +farmer. + +"I'll tell you, Jo," continued Mr. Rollins, coldly, "I happen to have +just had three thousand dollars in bills stolen from my house this very +night, by some rascal who first of all set fire to my stable and barn, +so that the missus and me'd be so taken up with saving our pet stock +we'd leave the farmhouse unguarded. Yes, and there _was_ a few dollars +more'n three thousand dollars, Jo. Queer coincidence I'd call it now, +wouldn't you?" + +Jo turned deathly white, and stared at his employer. His eyes were round +with real, or assumed horror. If he was "putting on," as Seth would term +it, then this farm hand must be a pretty clever actor for a crude +country bumpkin, Paul thought. + +"Oh! Jo, my boy, my boy, what does he mean by saying that?" + +The little old lady had arisen from her chair, though she trembled so +that she seemed in danger of falling; but Paul unconsciously moved a +pace closer, ready to catch her in his arms if she swooned. But Jo, +quick as a flash, hearing her voice, whirled around, and threw a +protecting arm about her. + +"It's all right, maw; don't you go and be afraid. I ain't done nawthing +you need to be fearful about. This money's mine! Set down again, deary. +Don't you worrit about Jo. He ain't agoin' to make your dear old heart +bleed, sure he ain't." + +And somehow, when Paul saw the tender way in which the rough farm boy +forced the little old lady back into her chair, and caught the positive +tone in which he gave her this assurance, he seemed almost ready to +believe Jo _must_ be innocent; although when he glanced at the +money his heart misgave him again. + +"Now, Mr. Rollins, please tell me what it all means?" asked Jo, turning +and facing his employer again, with a bold, self-confident manner that +must have astonished the farmer not a little. "I just come up from town +as fast as I could hurry, because, you see, I knew I was bringin' the +greatest of news to maw here. I did see a sorter light in the sky when I +was leavin' town, and thinks I to myself, that old swamp back of the ten +acre patch must be burnin' again; but I never dreamed it was the stable +and hay barn, sure I didn't sir." + +The farmer hardly seemed to know what to say to this, he was so taken +aback by the utter absence of guilt in the face and manner of Jo. + +Before he could frame any sort of reply the young fellow had spoken +again. + +"You said as how you'd got all the stock out safe, didn't you, Mr. +Rollins? I'd just hate to think of Polly and Sue and the hosses bein' +burned up. Whatever d'ye think could a set the fire agoin'? Mebbe that +last hay we put in wa'n't as well cured as it might a been, an' it's +been heatin' right along. I meant to look into it more'n once, but +somethin' always came along an' I plumb forgot it." + +Mr. Rollins looked at him, and frowned. He did not know how to answer +such a lead as this. He was growing impatient, almost angry again. + +"Give me my money, Jo, and let me be going; I can't breathe proper in +here, you've upset me so bad," he said, holding out his hand with an +imperative gesture. + +"But I ain't got no money of yours, Mr. Rollins," expostulated the +other, stubbornly. "I'm awful sorry if you've gone and lost your roll, +and I'd do most anything to help you find it again; but that money +belongs to me, and I don't mean to turn it over to nobody. It's goin' to +buy a home for me and maw, understand that, sir--your little Thatcher +place, if so be you'll come to terms; but some other if you won't. +That's plain, sir, ain't it?" + +"What, do you have the nerve to stick to that silly story, after +admitting that this wonderfully gotten fortune of yours tallies to the +dollar with what has been taken from my house?" demanded Mr. Rollins, +acting as though half tempted to immediately pounce upon the treasure, +and take possession, depending on Paul and his scouts to back him up if +Jo showed fight. + +"I sure do; and I know what I know, Mr. Rollins!" declared the farmhand, +with flashing eyes, as he pushed between the table and the irate farmer; +while his little mother wrung her clasped hands, and moaned pitifully to +see the strange thing that was happening there under her own roof. + +It looked for a moment as though there might be some sort of a rumpus; +and Seth even began to clench his hands as if ready to take a prominent +part in the same; but as had happened more than a few times before when +the storm clouds gathered over the scouts, Paul's wise counsel +intervened to prevent actual hostilities. + +"Wait a minute, Mr. Rollins," he called out. "This thing ought to be +easily settled, one way or another. You understand that queer things may +happen sometimes, and there is a chance that two sums of money may be +almost exactly alike. Now, if Jo here has inherited a nice little +fortune, he ought to be able to prove that to us by showing letters, or +some sort of documents. How about that, Jo?" + +To the surprise, and pleasure as well, of the scoutmaster, Jo's face +immediately expanded into a wide grin, and he nodded his head eagerly. + +"Say, maw, what did you do with that letter we had from the law firm +over in Indianapolis, tellin' me to come and claim my property, and to +bring along something to prove that I was the said Jo Albion Davies +mentioned in Aunt Selina's last will and testament? In the drawer, you +mean? All right, I'll get it; and let these gentlemen read the same. And +there's Squire McGregor as went up with me to identify me to the +lawyers, he'll tell you he saw me get this money from the bank, just +before they closed this arternoon. There she is; now read her out loud, +young feller." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"WELL, OF ALL THINGS!" + + +"All right; I'll be only too glad to do the same," said Paul, as he +accepted what appeared to be a well thumbed letter from Jo. + +One glance he gave at the same, and then a load seemed to have been +lifted somehow from his boyish heart; because, after he had seen how Jo +Davies loved that dear little white-haired mother, he would have felt it +keenly did the circumstances make it appear that the young farmhand were +guilty of robbing the man who trusted him so fully. + +So Paul read out the letter. There is no need of giving it here, because +it was rather long, and written in a very legal-like way, each sentence +being enveloped in a ponderous atmosphere. + +But it was upon the letter-head of a big law firm in Indianapolis, and +in so many words informed the said Jo Albion Davies that his respected +aunt, Selina Lee Davies, had passed out of this life, leaving him her +sole heir; and that if he were interested, it would be to his advantage +to come to the city as speedily as possible, to claim the little sum +that was waiting for him in bank; and to be sure and bring some one +along with him who would be able to vouch for his being the party in +question. + +Luckily Jo had taken Squire McGregor along, who happened to know one of +the members of the big law firm; for otherwise the heir might have had +some trouble in proving his identity, since he had forgotten to carry +even the letter in his pocket, it seemed. + +But of course after that Mr. Rollins could not say a word about claiming +the tempting display of greenbacks that lay exposed upon the table. Jo +was already engaged in tenderly gathering them up, as though meaning to +secrete his little fortune either on his person, or somewhere else. + +"Looks like I'm clean busted, don't it?" the farmer said, with a sigh, +turning toward Paul, upon whom he had somehow come to rely in the +strangest way possible. + +"It does seem as though your money has gone in a queer way, sir," +replied the young scoutmaster, "but honestly now, I find it hard to +believe that a common hobo would be able to find it so quick, if you had +it hidden away up in a corner of the garret, and hadn't been there for +ten days." + +Jo stopped gathering his fortune together; he had snapped several heavy +rubber bands around it, evidently supplied at the city bank when he drew +the money. + +"I wonder, now, could that have anything to do with it," they heard him +mutter, as he looked curiously at the farmer. + +The words were heard by Mr. Rollins, who, ready to grasp at a floating +straw, in his extremity, even as might a drowning man, quickly observed: + +"What do you mean by saying that, Jo? I hope you can give me some sort +of hint that will help me find my money again; because I meant to pay +off my mortgage with it, and will be hard pushed to make good, if it +stays lost." + +"I'll tell you, sir," said Jo, readily. "It was just about a week ago +that I'd been to town, you remember, and getting home along about +midnight I was worried about one of the hosses that had been actin' sick +like. So I walked over here, not wantin' to wait till mornin'. Just when +I was agoin' back I seen a light movin' around over at the house, and I +stopped a minute to watch the same." + +"Yes, go on; a week ago, you say?" the farmer remarked, as Jo paused to +catch his breath again. + +"On Thursday night it was, Mr. Rollins," the other went on. "Well, just +then I saw the back door open, and somebody stepped out. I seen it was +you, and about the queerest part of it all was that it looked to me as +if you might be walkin' around in your pajamas! Do you remember comin' +outdoors on that night for anything, sir?" + +"I don't even remember walking around that way," replied Mr. Rollins, +hastily, and looking as though he did not know whether Jo were trying to +play some sort of joke on him, or not, "but go on and tell the rest. +What did I do? Did you stop long enough to see?" + +"Well," continued the farm hand, "I saw you go over to the old Dutch +oven that hasn't been used this twenty years, and move around there a +bit; but it wasn't none of my business, Mr. Rollins, and so I went along +home. I guess any gentleman's got the right to go wanderin' around his +own premises in the middle of the night, if he wants to, and nobody +ain't got any right to complain because he don't make the trouble to put +on his day clothes." + +The farmer looked helplessly at Paul. Plainly his wits were in a stupor, +and he could not make head or tail of what Jo was telling him. + +"Can you get a pointer on to what it all means?" he asked, almost +piteously. + +Paul had conceived a wonderful idea that seemed to give great promise of +solving the dark puzzle. + +"You just as much as said that you could not remember having come out of +your house that night; and that you never knew yourself to walk around +out of doors in your pajamas; is that so, sir?" he asked. + +"That's what I meant; and if I was put on the stand right now, I could +lift my right hand, and take my solemn affidavit that I didn't do any +such thing--unless by George! I was walking in my sleep!" + +"That's just the point I'm trying to get at, Mr. Rollins," said Paul, +quietly. "Jo, here, says he _saw_ you as plain as anything, and yet you +don't recollect doing it. See here, sir, can you ever remember walking +in your sleep?" + +"Why, not for a great many years," answered the farmer, somewhat +confused, and yet with a new gleam of hope appearing in his expectant +eyes. + +"But you admit then that you _have_ done such a thing?" pursued the +scoutmaster. + +"Yes, as a boy I did a heap of queer stunts when asleep. They had to +lock my door for a time, and fasten my windows. Why, one night they +found me sitting on top of the chimney, and had to wait till I took the +notion to come down; because, if they woke me, it might mean a nasty +tumble that would like as not break my neck. But I haven't done anything +in that line for thirty years." + +"Until one night a week ago, Mr. Rollins," continued Paul, convincingly, +"when dreaming that your money was in danger, you got out of your bed, +went up and took it from the garret where you had it hidden, walked +downstairs, passed outside, and stowed it nicely away inside the big old +Dutch oven. And chances are you'll find it right there this minute." + +"Oh! do you really think so, my boy?" exclaimed the delighted farmer, +"then I'm going off right away and find out. If you'll go with me I'll +promise to hitch up, and carry the lot of you back to your camp, no +matter where that may be." + +"What say, shall we go, fellows?" asked the patrol leader, turning to +the others. + +There was not one dissenting voice. Every boy was just wild to ascertain +how this strange mystery would turn out. And as it would be just about +as long a walk to Alabama Camp as going to the farmer's place, they +decided the matter without any argument. + +"And you just bet I'm going along, after what I've heard about this +thing," declared Jo Davies, "maw, you ain't afraid to stay alone a +little while longer, be you? You c'n sit on this blessed windfall while +I'm gone, but don't go to fingerin' the same, because walls often have +eyes as well as ears, remember." + +When the six scouts started off in company with Mr. Rollins, Jo Davies +tagged along with them. In his own good fortune the farm hand was only +hoping that the money which his employer had missed might be found in +the old Dutch oven, just like this smart Boy Scout had suggested. + +They covered the distance in short order. You would never have believed +that those agile lads had been walking for nearly twelve hours that day, +if you could see how they got over the ground, even with two of them +limping. + +It can be easily understood that there was more or less speculation +among the scouts as they hurried along. Would the farmer find his +missing wad snugly secreted in the old Dutch oven, as Paul so +confidently suggested? And if such turned out to be the case, wouldn't +it prove that the scoutmaster was a wonder at guessing things that were +a blank puzzle to everybody else? + +So they presently came again to the farm. The ashes were still glowing +where the big barn had so recently stood. Here and there a cow or a +horse could be seen, nosing around in the half light, picking at the +grass in forbidden corners, and evidently about done with their recent +fright. + +Straight toward the back of the house the farmer led the way, and up to +the old Dutch oven that had been built on to the foundation, for the +baking of bread, and all family purposes, many years back; but which had +fallen into disuse ever since the new coal range had been placed in the +kitchen. + +Everybody fairly held their breath as Mr. Rollins dropped down on his +hands and knees, struck a match, and half disappeared within the huge +receptacle. He came backing out almost immediately; and before his head +and shoulders appeared in view Paul knew that he had made a glorious +find, because they could hear him laughing almost hysterically. + +"Just like you said, my boy, it was there!" he cried, holding up what +proved to be the missing tin box that held his hoard. "And to think that +I stole my own cash while I was asleep! I guess my wife'll have to tie +my feet together every night after this, for a while; or perhaps I'll be +running away with everything we've got. Say, Jo, I hope you ain't going +to hold it against me that I suspected you'd been and had your morals +corrupted by some of them horse jockeys you met at the county fair this +summer? And about that Thatcher place, Jo, we'll easy make terms, +because nobody ain't going to have it but you and your maw, hear that?" + +"Well, of all things," exclaimed the delighted Seth. + +Jo evidently did not hold the slightest ill feeling against his old +friend and employer, for he only too gladly took the hand Mr. Rollins +held out. + +"Turns out just like the fairy story, with everybody happy; only we +don't see the princess this time," said Seth, after the scouts had given +three cheers for Jo, and then three more for Mr. Rollins. + +"Oh!" remarked Jo, with a huge grin, "she's comin' along purty soon now; +and my gettin' this windfall'll hurry up the weddin' a heap. Drop past +the Thatcher farm along about Thanksgivin' time, boys, and I'll be glad +to introduce you to her." + +"Say, perhaps we will," Seth declared, with boyish enthusiasm, "because, +you see, we all live at Beverly, which ain't more'n twenty miles away as +the crow flies. How about it, fellows?" + +"We'll come along with you, Seth, never fear. And now, the sooner we get +over to camp the better, because some of us are feeling pretty well used +up," Andy went on to admit with charming candor. + +"All right, boys, just give me a minute to run indoors, and put this +package away, and I'll be with you. It won't take long to hitch up, +because we managed to save the harness and wagons, me and the missus." + +True to his word Mr. Rollins was back in a very brief space of time, and +catching the two horses he wanted, he attached them to a big wagon. + +"Tumble in, boys," he called out, as he swung himself up on the driver's +seat, after attaching the lighted lantern to the front, so that he could +see the road as they went along. + +The scouts waited for no second invitation, but speedily secured places +in the body of the vehicle. As there was half a foot of straw in it, +they found things so much to their liking that on the way, at least +three of the boys went sound asleep, and had to be aroused when the camp +was finally reached. + +Eben and Noodles were poor sentinels, it seemed, for both were lying on +the ground asleep, nor did they know when the other returned until told +about it in the morning. But fortune had been kind to the "babes in the +wood," as Seth called them in derision, for nothing had happened while +the main body of the patrol chanced to be away on duty. + +And so it was another little adventure had come along, with wonderful +results, and the happiest of endings. Really, some of the boys were +beginning to believe that the strangest of happenings were always lying +in wait, as if desirous of ambushing the members of the Beaver Patrol. +Why, they could even not start off on a hike, it seemed, without being +drawn into a series of events, the like of which seldom if ever befell +ordinary lads. + +During the hours of darkness that followed all of them slept soundly, +nor was there any alarm given to disturb them. And as nothing in the +wide world brings such satisfaction and contentment as good sleep, when +at dawn they awoke to find the last day of the great hike at hand, every +fellow declared that he was feeling especially fit to make that +concluding dash with a vim. + +Breakfast was hastily eaten; indeed, their stock of provisions had by +this time gotten to a low ebb, and would not allow of much variety; +though they managed to scrape enough together to satisfy everybody but +Fritz, who growled a little, and wanted to know however a scout could do +his best when on short rations? + +Then to the inspiring notes of Eben's silver-plated bugle the boys of +the Beaver Patrol left Alabama Camp, and started on the last lap for +their home goal. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RUNAWAY BALLOON + + +"Hey! look at all the crows flying over, would you?" + +Seth called this out as he pointed upwards, and the rest of the patrol +naturally turned their heads in order to gape. + +"Whew! did you ever see such a flock of the old caw-caws?" burst out +Eben. + +"Give 'em a toot from your bugle, and see what they think?" suggested +Jotham. + +"For goodness sake, be careful," broke in Fritz, "because they might be +so knocked in a heap at Eben's fine playing, they'd take a tumble, and +nearly smother the lot of us. We'd think it was raining crow, all +right." + +"Are they good to eat?" demanded Babe, who was pretty green as yet to a +great many things connected with outdoor life, "because, if we have time +to stop at noon to cook a meal, we might--" + +He was interrupted by a shout from several of the other and wiser +scouts. + +"Say, hold on there, Babe, we haven't got that near being starved as to +want to eat crow," declared Andy. + +"Can they be eaten at all, Paul?" persisted Babe, as usual turning to +the scoutmaster for information; "seems to me I've heard something like +that." + +"Yes, and people who have tried say they're not near as bad a dish as +the papers always make out," Paul replied. "I don't see myself why they +should be, when most of the time they live on the farmer's corn." + +"But can you tell where that bunch is coming from, and where bound?" +continued Babe. "They all come out of that same place, and keep +chattering as they soar on the wind, which must be some high up there." + +"Well, I've heard it said that there's a big crow rookery somewhere back +in the gloomy old Black Water Swamps; but I never met anybody that had +ever set eyes on the same. Every day, winter and summer, that big flock +comes out, and scatters to a lot of feeding grounds; some going down the +river, where they pick up food that's been cast ashore; others bound for +a meal in the corn fields." + +"And they come back again in the night to roost there; is that it, +Paul?" + +"Yes, I guess if we stood right here half an hour before dark we'd see +squads of the noisy things heading over yonder from all sorts of +quarters. D'ye know, I've sometimes had a notion I'd like to explore the +heart of that queer old swamp," and the young patrol leader cast a +thoughtful glance toward the quarter from whence that seemingly endless +stream of crows flowed continually. + +"Hurrah! that's the ticket!" exclaimed Seth. "I've heard a heap about +that same spooky old place myself. They say nobody ever has been able to +get to the heart of it. And I heard one man, who traps quite a lot of +muskrats every winter, tell how he got lost in a part of the swamp +once, and spent a couple of pretty tough days and nights wandering +around, before he found his way out again. He said it'd take a heap to +tempt him to try and poke into the awful center of Black Water Swamps." + +"But what's that to us, fellers?" ejaculated Fritz. "The boys of the +Beaver Patrol ain't the kind to get scared at such a little thing as a +swamp. Just because it's a tough proposition ought to make us want to +take up the game, and win out. We fairly eat hard jobs! And looking back +we have a right to feel a little proud of the record we've made, eh, +fellers?" + +Of course every scout stood up a little straighter at these words, and +smiled with the consciousness that they had, as Fritz so aptly put it, a +right to feel satisfied with certain things that had happened in the +past, and from which they had emerged acknowledged victors. + +"Just put a pin in that, to remember it, Paul, won't you?" said Andy. + +"Why, sure I will, since a lot of you seem to think it worth while," +replied the obliging scoutmaster, with a smile, "and if we haven't +anything ahead that seems to be more worth while, we might turn out here +later on, prepared to survey a trail right through the swamp. I admit +that I'm curious myself to see what lies hidden away in a place where, +up to now, no man has ever set a foot." + +"Hurrah for the young explorers!" cried Eben, who seemed strangely +thrilled at the tempting prospect. + +They say the boy is father to the man; and among a bunch of six or +eight lads it is almost a certainty that you will find one or two who +fairly yearn to grow up, and be second Livingstones, or Stanleys, or Dr. +Kanes. Eben had read many books concerning the amazing doings of these +pathfinders of civilisation, and doubtless even dreamed his boyish +dreams that some fine day he too might make the name of Newcomb famous +on the pages of history by discovering some hitherto unknown tribe of +black dwarfs; or charting out a land that had always been unexplored +territory. + +They looked back many times at the stream of flying crows that continued +to issue from that one point beyond the thick woods. And somehow the +very prospect of later on trying to accomplish a task that had until +then defied all who had attempted it, gave the scouts a pleasing thrill +of anticipation. For such is boy nature. + +Strange how things often come about. + +Just at that moment not one of the scouts even dreamed of what was in +store for them. How many times the curtain obscures our sight, even when +we are on the very threshold of discovery! + +They tramped along sturdily, until they had covered perhaps two miles +since departing from the place where the third night had been spent, and +which would go down in the record of the big hike as Camp Alabama. + +A couple of the scouts limped perceptibly, but even they declared that +as they went on the "kinks" were getting out of their legs, and +presently all would be well. + +The sun shone from a fair sky, though now and then a cloud would pass +over his smiling face; but as the day promised to be rather hot none of +them were sorry for this. + +"Hope it don't bring a storm along, though," remarked Babe, when the +matter was under discussion. + +"Well, it's got to be some storm to keep the boys of the Beaver Patrol +from finishing their hike on time," declared Seth, grimly. + +"That's so, Seth, you never spoke truer words," added Fritz. "I reckon, +now, half of Beverly will turn out on the green this after noon to see +the conquering heroes come home. There's been the biggest crowds around +that jeweler's window all week, staring at that handsome cup, and +wishing they would have a chance to help win it." + +"And we'd hate the worst kind to disappoint our friends and folks, +wouldn't we, fellers?" Eben remarked. + +Somehow both limpers forgot to give way to their weakness, and from that +minute on the very thought of the great crowd that would send up a +tremendous cheer when the boys in khaki came in sight, was enough to +make them walk as though they did not know such a thing as getting +tired. + +"Look!" cried Fritz, a couple of minutes afterwards, "oh! my stars! +what's that big thing rising up behind the tops of the trees over +there?" + +"Somebody's barn is blowing away, I guess!" exclaimed Eben, in tones +that shook with sudden alarm. "Mebbe's it's a cyclone acomin', boys. +Paul, what had we ought to do? It ain't safe to be under trees at such a +time, I've heard!" + +"Cyclone, your granny!" jeered Seth Carpenter, who had very sharp eyes, +and was less apt to get "rattled" at the prospect of sudden danger, than +the bugler of Beverly Troop, "why, as sure as you live, I believe it's a +balloon, Paul!" + +"What! a real and true balloon?" almost shrieked Eben, somewhat relieved +at the improved prospect. + +"You're right, Seth," declared the scoutmaster, "it _is_ a balloon, and +it looks to me right now as though there's been trouble for the +aeronaut. That gas-bag has a tough look to me, just as if it had lost +about half of the stuff that keeps it floating! See how it wabbles, will +you, fellows, and how low down over the trees it hangs. There, it just +grazed that bunch of oaks on the little rise. The next time it'll get +caught, and be ripped to pieces!" + +"Paul, do you think that can be a man hanging there?" cried Seth. +"Sometimes it looks to me like it was; and then again the balloon tilts +over so much I just can't be sure." + +"We'll know soon enough," remarked the patrol leader, quietly, "because, +as you can see, the runaway balloon is heading this way, full tilt. I +wouldn't be surprised if it passed right over our heads." + +"Say, perhaps we might grab hold of some trailing rope, and bring the +old thing down?" suggested Fritz, looking hastily around him while +speaking, as if desirous of being prepared, as a true scout should +always make it a point to be, and have his tree picked out, about which +he would hastily wind a rope, should he be fortunate enough to get hold +of such. + +"Whew! I wouldn't want to be in that feller's shoes," observed Eben, as +they all stood there in the road, watching the rapidly approaching +balloon. + +"Solid ground for me, every time, except when I'm in swimming, or +skimming along over the ice in winter!" Andy interjected, without once +removing his eager eyes from the object that had so suddenly caught +their attention. + +It was a sight calculated to hold the attention of any one, with that +badly battered balloon sweeping swiftly along on the wind, and +approaching so rapidly. + +All of them could see that there was a man clinging to the ropes that +marked the place where the customary basket should have been; evidently +this latter must have been torn away during a collision with the rocks +or trees on the top of a ridge with which the ungovernable gas-bag had +previously been in contact; and it was a marvel how the aeronaut had +been able to cling there. + +"Will it land near here, d'ye think, Paul?" asked Jotham, round-eyed +with wonder, and feeling very sorry for the wretched traveler of the +upper air currents, who seemed to be in deadly peril of his life. + +"I hardly think so," replied the scoutmaster, rapidly measuring +distances with his ready eye, and calculating upon the drop of the half +collapsed balloon. + +"But see where the bally old thing's heading, will you?" cried Seth, +"straight at the place where them crows came out of. Say, wouldn't it be +awful tough now, if it dropped right down in the heart of Black Water +Swamps, where up to now never a human being has set foot, unless some +Indian did long ago, when the Shawnees and Sacs and Pottawattomies and +all that crowd rampaged through this region flat-footed." + +The scouts stood there, and watched with tense nerves as the drifting +balloon drew rapidly closer. + +Now they could plainly see the man. He had secured himself in some way +among the broken ropes that had doubtless held the basket in place. Yes, +and he must have discovered the presence of the little khaki-clad band +of boys on the road, for surely he was waving his hand to them wildly +now. + +Perhaps he understood that it was a safe thing to appeal to any boy who +wore that well known suit; because every one has learned by this time +that when a lad takes upon himself the duties and obligations of +scoutcraft, he solemnly promises to always help a fellow in distress, +when the opportunity comes along; and with most scouts the habit has +become so strong that they always keep both eyes open, looking for just +such openings. + +Closer and closer came the wrecked air monster. + +Just as one of the boys had said, it seemed about to pass very nearly +overhead; and as the man would not be more than sixty or seventy feet +above them, possibly he might be able to shout out a message. + +"Keep still! He's calling something down to us!" cried Seth, when +several of the others had started to chatter at a lively rate. + +Now the balloon was whipping past, going at a pretty good clip. +Apparently, then, it did not mean to get quite low enough to let them +clutch any trailing rope, and endeavor to effect the rescue of the +aeronaut. Fritz did make an upward leap, and try to lay hold of the only +rope that came anywhere near them; but missed it by more than a foot. + +"Accident--badly wrenched leg--follow up, and bring help--Anderson, from +St. Louis--balloon _Great Republic_--report me as down--will drop in few +minutes!" + +They caught every word, although the man's voice seemed husky, and weak, +as if he might have been long exposed and suffering. And as they stood +and watched the balloon drift steadily away, lowering all the time, +every one of those eight scouts felt moved by a great feeling of pity +for the valiant man who had risked his life and was now in such a +desperate situation. + +"There she goes down, fellers!" cried Eben, excitedly. + +"And what d'ye know, the bally old balloon has taken a crazy notion to +drop right in the worst part of the Black Water Swamps, where we were +just saying nobody had ever been before!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DUTY ABOVE ALL THINGS + + +"Gee! whiz! that's tough!" + +Fritz gave vent to his overwrought feelings after this boyish fashion; +and his words doubtless echoed the thought that was in the mind of every +fellow in that little bunch of staring scouts. + +True enough, the badly damaged balloon had taken a sudden dip downward, +as though unable to longer remain afloat, with such a scanty supply of +gas aboard; and as Seth said, it certainly looked as though it had +chosen the very worst place possible to drop--about in the heart of the +swamp. + +"Now, why couldn't the old thing have dipped low enough right here for +us to grab that trailing rope?" demanded Jotham, dejectedly; for he +immediately began to feel that all manner of terrible things were in +store for the aeronaut, if, as seemed likely, he would be marooned in +the unknown morass, with no means of finding his way out, and an injured +leg in the bargain to contend with. + +"Hope he didn't come down hard enough to hurt much," remarked Andy. + +"Huh! if half we've heard about that place is true, little danger of +that," declared Seth. "Chances are he dropped with a splash into a bed +of muck. I only hope he don't get drowned before help comes along!" + +"Help! what sort of help can reach him there?" observed Fritz, solemnly; +and then once again did those eight scouts exchange uneasy glances. + +"As soon as we let them know in Beverly, why, sure they'll organize some +sort of relief expedition. I know a dozen men who'd be only too glad to +lend a helping hand to a lost aeronaut," Andy went on to say. + +"Wherever do you suppose he came from, Paul?" asked Eben. + +"Say, didn't you hear him say St. Louis?" demanded Seth. "Better take +some of that wax out of your ears, Eben." + +"Whee! that's a pretty good ways off, seems to me," the bugler remarked, +shaking his head, as though he found the story hard to believe. + +"Why, that's nothing to brag of," Seth assured him. "They have big +balloon races from St. Louis every year, nearly, and the gas-bags drift +hundreds of miles across the country. I read about several that landed +in New Jersey, and one away up in Canada won the prize. This one met +with trouble before it got many miles on its journey. And he wants us to +report that the _Great Republic_ is down; Anderson, he said his name +was, didn't he, Paul?" + +"Yes, that was it," replied the scoutmaster. + +Paul seemed to be looking unusually grave, and the others realized that +he must have something of more than usual importance on his mind. + +"How about that, Paul," broke out Fritz, who had been watching the face +of the patrol leader, "we're about eighteen miles away from home; and +must we wait till we get there to start help out for that poor chap?" + +"He might die before then," remarked Jotham seriously. + +Again a strange silence seemed to brood over the whole patrol. Every +fellow no doubt was thinking the same thing just then, and yet each boy +hated to be the one to put it into words. + +They had taken so much pride in the big hike that to even suggest giving +it up, and just in the supreme moment of victory, as it were, seemed +next door to sacrilege, and yet they could not get around the fact that +it seemed right up to them to try and save that forlorn aeronaut. His +life was imperiled, and scouts are always taught to make sacrifices when +they can stretch out a hand to help any one in jeopardy. + +Paul heaved a great sigh. + +"Fellows," he said, solemnly, "I'm going to put it up to you this time, +because I feel that the responsibility ought to be shared; and remember +majority rules whenever the scoutmaster thinks best to let the troop +decide." + +"All right, Paul," muttered Seth, dejectedly. + +"It's only fair that you should saddle some of the responsibility on the +rest of the bunch," admitted Jotham, hardly a bit more happy looking +than Seth; for of course every one of them knew what was coming; and +could give a pretty good guess as to the consequences. + +"That's a fact," added Fritz, "so out with it, Paul. When I've got a +bitter dose to swallow I want to hurry, and get it over." + +"It hurts none of you more than it does me," went on the scoutmaster, +firmly, "because I had set my heart on winning that fine trophy; and +there'll be a lot of people disappointed this afternoon when we fail to +show up, if we do." + +"Sure thing," grunted Seth, "I c'n see our friend, Freddy Rossiter, +going around with that sickly grin on his face, telling everybody that +he always knew we were a lot of fakirs, and greatly overrated; and that, +like as not, even if we did show up we'd a been carried many a mile on +some hay-wagon. But go on, Paul; let's have the funeral quick, so a +feller c'n breathe free again." + +"I'm going to put a motion, and every scout has a right to vote just as +he thinks best. Only before you decide, stop and think what it all +means, to that poor man as well as ourselves," Paul continued. + +"Ready for the motion," mumbled Fritz, who looked as though he had lost +his very last friend, or was beginning to feel the advance symptoms of +sea sickness. + +"All in favor of changing our plans, and trying to rescue the lost +balloonist right now, say yes," the scoutmaster demanded, in as firm a +tone as he could muster. + +A chorus of affirmatives rang out; some of the boys were a little weak +in the reply they made, for it came with an awful wrench; but so far as +Paul could decide the response was unanimous. + +He smiled then. + +"I'm proud of you, fellows, yes I am," he declared heartily. "I think I +know just what each and every one of you feels, and when you give up a +thing you've been setting your minds on so long, and just when it looks +as if we had an easy walk-over, I'm sure it does you credit. Some of the +Beverly people may laugh, and make fun when we fail to turn up this +afternoon; but believe me, when we do come in, and they learn what's +happened, those for whose opinion we care will think all the more of us +for doing what we mean to." + +"Hope so," sighed Seth, who could not coax any sort of a smile to his +forlorn looking face, "but because I talk this way, Paul, don't you go +and get the notion in your head that if the whole thing depended on me +I'd do anything different from what we expect to. There's such a thing +as duty that faces every scout who's worthy of the name. For that he +must expect to give up a whole lot of things he'd like to do. And you'll +find that I can stand it as well as the next feller." + +"P'raps when they know what happened, the committee'll be willing to +give us a chance to make another try next week?" suggested Jotham. + +"Good boy, Jotham, and a clever idea," cried Fritz. + +Somehow the suggestion seemed to give every one a sensation of relief. + +"I think myself that we'll be given another chance to show what we can +do," was what Paul remarked. "We can prove that we had the victory about +as good as clinched when this unexpected thing came along. And I know +Mr. Sargeant will be pleased to hear that we gave up our chances of +winning that trophy because a sudden serious duty confronted us." + +"Then we're going to start right away to try and find the middle of +Black Water Swamps--is that the idea, Paul?" inquired Seth. + +"That's what it amounts to, it looks like, to me," replied the +scoutmaster, as he stood there in the open road, looking long and +steadily at the very spot where they had seen the last of the dropping +balloon; just as though he might be fixing the locality on his mind for +future use. + +"Do we all have to go, Paul, or are you going to let several of us tramp +along to Beverly?" some one asked just then. + +"That depends on how you feel about it," was the answer the scoutmaster +gave. "It won't do any good for a part of the patrol to arrive on time, +because, you remember one of the rules of the game is that every member +must fulfill the conditions, and make the full hundred miles hike. Do +you want to go to town, while the rest of us are searching the swamps +for the aeronaut, Eben?" + +"I should say not," hastily replied the bugler. + +"How about you, Noodles?" continued Paul. + +"Nixey doing; me for der swamps, undt you can put dot in your pipe undt +smoke idt," the one addressed replied, for there were times when the +scouts, being off duty, could forget that Paul was anything other than a +chum. + +"Well," the patrol leader went on to say, laughingly, "I'm not going to +ask any other fellow, for I see by the looks on your faces that you'd +take it as an insult. So, the next thing to settle is where we'd better +strike into the place." + +Seth came to the front again. + +"Well, you see, I talked a lot with that feller that got lost in there; +and he told a heap of interesting things about the blooming old swamp, +also where he always started into the same when trapping. You see, +somehow I got a hazy idea in this silly head of mine that some time or +other I might want to get a couple of chums to go with me, and try and +see what there was in the middle of the Black Water Swamps." + +"That's good, Seth," declared one of his mates, encouragingly. + +"The smartest thing you ever did, barring none," added Jotham. + +"It's apt to be of more or less use to us right now, and that's a fact," +was the way Paul put it. + +"I reckon," Andy remarked, looking thoughtfully at Seth, "that you could +tell right now whether we happened to be near that same place. It would +be a great piece of good luck if we could run across the entrance, and +the trail your trapper friend made, without going far away from here." + +"Let's see," continued Seth, screwing his forehead up into a series of +funny wrinkles, as he usually did when trying to look serious or +thoughtful, "he told me the path he used lay right under a big sycamore +tree that must have been struck by a stray bolt of lightning, some time +or other, for all the limbs on the north side had been shaven clean +off." + +"Well, I declare!" ejaculated Jotham. + +"Then you've noticed such a tree, have you?" asked Paul, instantly, +recognizing the symptoms, for he had long made a study of each and every +scout in the troop, and knew their peculiarities. + +"Look over yonder, will you?" demanded Jotham, pointing. + +Immediately various exclamations arose. + +"That's the same old blasted sycamore he told me about, sure as you're +born," declared Seth, with a wide grin of satisfaction. + +"The Beaver Patrol luck right in the start; didn't I say nothing could +hold out against that?" remarked Fritz. + +"Come along, Paul; let's be heading that way," suggested Jotham. + +In fact, all the scouts seemed anxious to get busy. The first pang of +regret over giving up their cherished plan had by this time worn away, +and just like boys, they were now fairly wild to be doing the next best +thing. They entered heart and soul into things as they came along, +whether it happened to be a baseball match; a football scrimmage on the +gridiron; the searching for a lost trail in the woods, or answering the +call to dinner. + +And so the whole eight hurried along over the back road, meaning to +branch off at the point nearest to the tall sycamore that had been +visited by a freak bolt from the thunder clouds, during some storm in +years gone by. + +Paul was not joining in the chatter that kept pace with their movements. +He realized that he had a serious proposition on his hands just then. +If so experienced a man as that muskrat trapper could get lost in Black +Water Swamps and stay lost for two whole days, it behooved a party of +boys, unfamiliar with such surroundings to be very careful in all they +did. + +But Paul had ever been known as a cautious fellow. He seldom acted from +impulse except when it became actually necessary, in order to meet some +sudden emergency; and then there were few who could do things more +quickly than the patrol leader. + +In a case of this kind, the chances were that they must take unusual +precaution against losing their bearings; that is, they must feel that +they had a back trail to follow in case forward progress became +impossible, or inexpedient. + +Paul had his theory as to the best way to accomplish such a thing; and +of course it had to do with "blazing" trees as they went along. In this +fashion all chances of making mistakes would be obviated; and if they +failed to effect the rescue of the man who had dropped in the heart of +the dismal morass at least the eight boys need not share his sad fate. + +Leaving the road they now headed straight for the sycamore that stood as +a land mark, and a specimen of the freaks of lightning. No sooner had +they reached it than Paul's eyes were on the ground. + +The others heard him give a pleased exclamation, and then say: + +"It's all right, fellows; because here is a well beaten trail that seems +to lead straight in to the place. And now, follow me in single file!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE TRAIL IN THE SWAMP + + +When the eight scouts found that they were leaving solid ground, and +actually getting to where little bogs surrounded them on almost every +side, they had a queer feeling. Up to now none of them had ever had much +experience in passing through a real swamp, because there were no such +places nearer to Beverly than this one, and eighteen miles is quite too +far for boys to walk on ordinary occasions, when seeking fun. + +They looked around time and again, though none of them dared loiter, and +Paul, as the leader, was setting a pretty good pace. + +Just behind Paul came Seth. The scoutmaster had asked him to keep close +at his heels, for since Seth had acquired more or less of a fund of +swamp lore from the man who trapped muskrats for their pelts, in the +fall and winter, if any knotty problems came up to be solved the chances +were Seth would be of more use than any one of the other fellows. + +Evidently they were in for some new and perhaps novel experiences. And +there is nothing that pleases the average boy more than to look upon +unfamiliar scenes, unless it is to run up against a bit of an adventure. + +One thing Paul had made sure to fetch along with him when taking this +big hike, and that was his little camp hatchet. Fritz had begged to be +allowed to carry his old Marlin shotgun, under the plea that they might +run across some ferocious animal like a wildcat, or a skunk, and would +find a good use for the reliable firearm; but the scoutmaster had set +his foot down firmly there. + +But they would have to make numerous fires while on the way, and a +little hatchet was apt to come in very handy. + +And the feel of it in his belt had given Paul his idea about "blazing" +the trees just as soon as they no longer had the trapper's path to serve +them as a guide against their return. + +It is a very easy thing to make a trail in this way; only care must +always be taken to make the slices, showing the white wood underneath +the bark, on that side of the tree most likely to be seen by the +returning pilgrim. Great loss of time must result if one always had to +go behind every tree in order to find the blaze that had been so +carefully given, not to mention the chances of becoming confused, and +eventually completely turned around. + +That path twisted and turned in the most amazing and perplexing manner +possible. + +Although Paul had purposely warned the boys to try and keep tabs of the +points of the compass as they passed along, in less than ten minutes +after striking the swamp proper it is doubtful whether one of them could +have told correctly just where the north lay, if asked suddenly; though +by figuring it out, looking at the sun, and all that, they might have +replied with a certain amount of accuracy after a while. + +But then they felt sure Paul knew; and somehow or other they had always +been in the habit of relying on the scoutmaster to do some of their +thinking for them--a bad habit it is, too, for any boys to let +themselves fall into, and one that Paul often took them to task for. +They would cheerfully admit the folly of such a course, and promise to +reform, yet on the next occasion it would be the same old story of +depending on Paul. + +"Path seems to be petering out a heap, Paul," remarked Seth, when +another little time had crept along, and they had penetrated still +deeper into the swamp, with a very desolate scene all around them, water +surrounding many of the trees that grew there with swollen boles, such +as always seems to be the case where they exist in swampy regions. + +"Yes, I was thinking that myself," replied the other; "and it's about +time for me to begin using my little hatchet, even if I don't happen to +be George Washington." + +"Let's stop for a breath, and listen," suggested Eben; "who knows now +but what we might be nearer where the balloon dropped than we thought. +P'raps we could even get an answer if we whooped her up a bit." + +"How about that, Paul?" demanded Fritz, who could shout louder perhaps +than any other boy in Beverly, and often led the hosts as a cheer +captain, when exciting games were on with other school teams. + +"Not a bad idea, I should say," was the reply, as the patrol leader +nodded his head in approval. "Suppose you lead off, Fritz, and let it +be a concerted yell." + +Accordingly Fritz marshaled them all in a line, and gave the word. Such +an outbreak as followed awoke the sleeping echoes in the swamp, and sent +a number of startled birds flying madly away. Indeed, Jotham noticed a +rabbit bounding off among the hummocks of higher ground; and Noodles +afterwards declared that he had seen the "cutest little pussycat" +ambling away; though the others vowed it must have been a skunk, and +gave Noodles fair warning that if ever he tried to catch such a cunning +"pussycat" he would be buried up to the neck until his clothes were +fumigated. + +"Don't hear any answer, do you, fellers?" remarked Seth, after the +echoes had finally died away again. + +Everybody admitted that there seemed to have been no reply to the shout +they had sent booming along. + +"Hope we didn't scare him by making such a blooming row," Seth went on +to say. + +"I'm bothered more by thinking that he may have been killed, or very +badly hurt when the balloon fell down," Paul ventured to say. + +The thought made them all serious again. In imagination they pictured +that valiant fellow who had taken his life in his hands in the interest +of sport, possibly lying there on the ground senseless, or buried in the +slimy mud, which could be seen in so many places all around them. And it +was far from a pleasing prospect that confronted those eight scouts, +though none of them gave any sign of wanting to back out. + +"Mebbe a blast from my horn would reach him?" suggested Eben. + +"Suppose you try it, eh? Paul?" Fritz remarked. + +"No harm can come of it, so pitch in Eben," the other told the troop +bugler. + +"And put in all the wind you c'n scrape together," added Seth. + +Accordingly Eben blew a blast that could have been heard fully a mile +away. He grew red in the face as he sent out his call; and doubtless +such a sweet medley of sounds had never before been heard in that +desolate looking place since the time of the ice period. + +"No use; he don't answer; or if he does, we don't get it," Seth +observed, in a disappointed tone. + +"Then the only thing for us to do is to go ahead," Andy proposed. + +"Paul's getting his bearings again," remarked Eben. + +"I wanted to make dead sure," the scoutmaster observed, with a glow of +determination in his eyes. "You see, we tried to note just about where +the balloon seemed to fall; and it takes a lot of figuring to keep that +spot in your mind all the while you're turning and twisting along this +queer trail. But I feel pretty sure of my ground." + +"Huh! wish I did the same," said Seth, holding up one of his feet, and +showing that he had been in black mud half way to his knee, when he +made some sort of bad guess about the footing under him. + +Apparently Paul was now ready to once more start out. But they saw him +give a quick hack at a tree, and upon looking as they passed they +discovered that he had taken quite a slice off the bark, leaving a white +space as big as his two hands, and which could easily be seen at some +distance off in the direction whither they were bound. + +That was called a "blaze." + +If Seth thought he was having his troubles, they were slight compared +with those that attacked one other member of the little band of would-be +rescuers. + +Noodles, besides being a good-natured chap, was more or less awkward. +Being so very stout had more or less to do with this; and besides, he +had a habit of just ambling along in any sort of happy-go-lucky way. + +Now, while this might not be so very bad under ordinary conditions, when +there was a decent and level road to be traveled over, it brought about +all sorts of unexpected and unwelcome difficulties when they were trying +to keep to a narrow and crooked path. + +Twice already had Noodles made a slip, and gone in knee-deep, to be +dragged out by some of his comrades. And he was glancing around at the +gloomy aspect with a look approaching _fear_ in his eyes, just as though +he began to think that they were invading a haunted region where +respectable scouts had no business to go, even on an errand of mercy. + +Such was the wrought-up condition of his nerves, that when a branch +which some one had held back, and then let slip, came in contact with +the shins of Noodles, he gave out a screech, and began dancing around +like mad. + +"Snakes! and as big as your wrist too! I saw 'em!" he called out, +forgetting to talk in his usual broken English way, because of his +excitement. + +They had some difficulty in convincing him that it was only a branch +that had caressed his ankle, and not a venomous serpent; for Noodles +confessed that if he dreaded anything on the face of the earth it was +just snakes, any kind of crawling varmints, from the common everyday +garter species to the big boa constrictor to be seen in the menagerie +that came with the annual circus visiting Beverly. + +Again and again was Paul making good use of his handy little camp +hatchet, and Seth took note of the manner in which the blazed trail was +thus fashioned. It may be all very fine to do things in theory, but +there is nothing like a little practical demonstration. And in all +likelihood not one of these seven boys but would be fully able to make +just such a plain trail, should the necessity ever arise. When one has +_seen_ a thing done he can easily remember the manner of doing it; but +it is so easy to get directions confused, and make blunders. + +Paul was not hurrying now. + +A mistake would be apt to cost them dear, and he believed that an ounce +of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. If they could avoid +going wrong, it did not matter a great deal that they made slow +progress. "Be sure you're right and then go ahead" was the motto of the +famous frontiersman, Davy Crockett, and Paul had long ago taken it as +his pattern too. + +Besides, it paid, for any one could see that they were steadily getting +in deeper and deeper. The swamp was becoming much wilder now; and it was +not hard to realize that a man getting lost here, and losing his head, +might, after his bearings were gone, go wandering at haphazard for days, +possibly crossing his own trail more than a few times. + +It seemed a lonesome place. Animals they saw none. Perhaps there might +be deer in the outer portions, but they never came in here. Although the +scouts saw no evidences that wild-cats lived in the swamp, they could +easily picture some such fierce animal crouching in this clump of matted +trees or back of that heavy bush, watching their passage with fiery +eyes. + +The scouts found their long staves of considerable use from time to +time. Had Noodles for instance been more adept in the use of the one he +carried he might have been saved from a whole lot of trouble. Perhaps +this might prove to be a valuable lesson to the boy. He could not help +but see how smartly the others kept themselves from slipping off the +narrow ridge of ground by planting their staves against some convenient +stump, or the butt of a tree, anywhere but in the oozy mud. + +"Wait up for me!" Noodles would call out every little while, when he +fell behind, for he seemed to have a horror lest he might slip into that +horrible bed of mud, and be sucked down before his chums could reach +him. "It iss nodt fair to leave me so far behindt der rest. How wouldt +you feel if you rescued der argonaut, and lose your chump; dell me dot? +Give eferypody a chance, and--mine gootness, I mighty near proke my pack +dot time," for he had come down with a tremendous thump, when his feet +slipped out from under him. + +But as a rule boys are not apt to give a clumsy comrade much sympathy, +and hence only rude laughter greeted this fresh mishap on the part of +Noodles. + +"Nature looked out for you when she saw what an awkward chap you were +going to be, Noodles," called back Fritz. "You're safely padded all +right, and don't need to feel worried when you sit down, sudden-like. If +it was me, now, there might be some talking, because I'm built more on +the jack-knife plan." + +"Oh! what is that?" cried Eben, as a strange, blood-curdling sound came +from a point ahead of them; just as though some unlucky fellow was being +sucked down in the embrace of that slimy mud, and was giving his last +shriek for help. + +As the other scouts had of course heard the same thing, all of the +detachment came to a sudden halt, and looking rather apprehensively at +one another, they waited to learn if the weird gurgling sound would be +repeated, but all was deathly still. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +WHERE NO FOOT HAS EVER TROD + + +"Now whatever do you suppose made that racket?" demanded Seth. + +"Sounded just like a feller getting drowned, and with his mouth half +full of water. But I don't believe it could have been a human being, do +you, Paul?" and Eben turned to the one in command of the troop. + +"No, I don't," returned the scoutmaster, promptly. "More than likely it +was some sort of a bird." + +"A bird make a screechy sound like that?" echoed the doubting Eben. + +"Some sort of heron or crane. They make queer noises when they fight, or +carry on in a sort of dance. I've read lots of things about cranes that +are hard to believe, yet the naturalists stand for the truth of the +accounts." + +Paul started off again, as though not dismayed in the slightest by the +strange squawk, half human in its way. And his example spurred the +others on to follow in his wake, so that once more they were making +steady progress. + +"I wouldn't care so much," grumbled Fritz, as he trailed along, "if only +I had a gun along. But it's tough luck to be smooching through a place +like this, where a sly old cat may be watching you from the branch +overhead, and your trusty Marlin hanging on the nails at home." + +"They say you always see plenty of game when you haven't got a gun; and +so I guess we'll run across all sorts of things, from bobcats to +alligators!" Paul went on to remark, whimsically, but there was one +scout who chose to take his words seriously, and this was Noodles. + +"What's that about alligators?" he called out from his place at the rear +of the little procession. "Blease don't dell me now as we shall some +reptiles meet up mit pefore we finish dis exblorations. If dere iss one +thing I don't like, worser as snakes, dose pe alligators. I would go +across der street to avoid dem. You moost some fun pe making when you +say dot, Paul?" + +"Sure I am, Noodles," replied the scoutmaster quickly, "because there +are no alligators or crocodiles native to the state of Indiana. I +believe they have a few lobsters over in Indianapolis, but they don't +count. But the chances are we will run across some queer things before +we get out of this place." + +"What gets me," remarked Jotham, "is the way the thing came on us. Why, +we'd just about said that we'd like to explore the old swamp, from +curiosity if nothing else, when that balloon hove in sight, and settled +down where we'd have to push right into the center of the place to find +the man who was hanging to the wreck." + +"Well, we had our wish answered on the spot, didn't we?" questioned the +patrol leader, "and it came in such a way that we couldn't well back +out. So here we are, up to our necks in business." + +"I only hopes as how we won't pe up to our necks in somedings else +pefore long," came a whine from the rear, that made more than one fellow +chuckle. + +A number of times Paul stopped, for one reason or another. Now it was +some little imprint of animal feet that had attracted his attention in +the harder mud at the side of the narrow ridge he was following; then +again he wanted to listen, and renew his observations. + +Seth was watching him closely. Somehow he was reminded of that grizzled +old carpenter whom he had observed, when the addition was being put to +their house, and who, after measuring a board three blessed times, and +picking up his saw, made ready to cut it in twain, when, possessed of an +idea that he must not make a miscalculation, laid down his saw, and went +to work to measure it for the fourth time! + +Paul was not quite so bad as all that, but he did like to make sure he +was right before taking a step that could not be recovered, once it was +gone. + +"There's one thing sure," Seth could not help remarking, after he had +watched Paul for some time, and noted how confident the other seemed +with every forward step that was taken. + +"What might that be, Seth?" demanded Babe Adams, when the other paused. + +"If that feller I talked with, the one that hunts muskrats around here +in the season, had been just half as smart as Paul, he never would a +lost hisself in the swamps, and come near starving to death." + +"So say we all of us!" added Jotham. + +"That's as neat a compliment as I ever had paid me, boys; though I +hardly think I deserve it, yet. Wait and see if we get lost, or not. The +proof of the pudding's in the eating of it, you know. Talk is cheap and +butters no parsnips, they say. I like to _do_ things. But honestly +speaking, I believe we're getting through this place pretty smartly." + +"But she keeps agettin' darker right along, Paul?" complained Noodles, +taking advantage of a brief halt to pick up a stick and start to wiping +the dark ooze from the bottom of his trousers. + +"That only means we're pushing steadily in toward the center; and I'm +beginning to lose my fear about getting there. Perhaps, after all, it +may be an easy thing to put our feet where those of no other white man +has ever trod." + +Paul spoke with an assurance that carried the rest along with him. That +had ever been one of his strongest points at school in the leadership of +the class athletic and outdoor sports team. + +It was getting more and more difficult for several of the scouts to +follow their leader. The narrow ledge had been bad enough, but when it +came to passing along slippery logs, with the water all around, and a +bath sure to follow the slightest mishap, Eben's nerve gave way. + +"If it's going to keep up like this, Paul, you'll have to drop me out, +because I just can't do it, and that's a fact!" he wailed, as he clung +with both hands and knees to an unusually slippery place, having lost +his stick in making a miscalculation when trying to brace himself. + +One of the other fellows recovered the staff, and then Eben was assisted +across. Paul had been expecting something like this, and was not very +much surprised. He felt pretty sure there was another who would welcome +an order to stay there on that little patch of firm ground, and wait for +the return of the rest. + +"Well, I was just thinking of leaving a rear guard, to protect our line +of communications," he proceeded to say, gravely, but with a wink toward +Seth and Fritz, "and as it will be necessary for two to fill the +position, I appoint Seth and Noodles to the honorable post. You will +take up your position here, and if anybody tries to pass you by without +giving the proper countersign, arrest him on the spot." + +"Which spot, Paul?" asked Noodles, solemnly. + +"Well, it doesn't matter, so long as you stay here and guard our line of +retreat. And boys, keep your eyes on the watch for signals. Perhaps we +may have to talk with you by smoke signs. So you can amuse yourselves by +picking up some wood, and getting ready to start a smoky fire, only +don't put a match to it unless we call you." + +"All right, Paul," returned Eben, taking it all in deadly earnest, +although the other fellows were secretly chuckling among themselves. +"And then again, I've got my bully old bugle, in case I want to give you +a call. Don't worry about Noodles; I'll be here to look after him." + +"The blind leading the blind," muttered Seth as he turned his face away. + +"There, you see now," broke in Fritz, "if we only had my gun along, Eben +here could be a real sentry, and hold a feller up in the right way. +Watch this second slippery log here, boys. You c'n easy enough push +anybody into the slush if he gets gay, and refuses to give the +password." + +Then he in turn also followed after Paul, leaving the bugler and Noodles +there, congratulating themselves that they could be doing their full +duty by the enterprise without taking any more desperate risks. + +And then when the six scouts had gone about fifty feet Eben was heard +wildly shouting after them. + +"Paul, O! Paul!" he was bellowing at the top of his voice. + +"Well, what is it?" asked the scoutmaster. + +"You forgot something," came the answer. + +"What?" + +"You didn't give us the password, you know; and how c'n we tell whether +any fellers has it right, when we don't even know." + +Paul just turned and walked on, laughing to himself; and those who +followed in his footsteps were shaking with inward amusement. Either +Eben had taken the bait, and gorged the hook, or else he was having a +little fun with them, no one knew which. + +However, all of them soon realized that Paul had done a clever thing +when he thus coaxed the two clumsy members of the patrol to drop out of +line, and allow those better fitted for coping with the difficulties of +the slippery path to go forward; because it steadily grew worse instead +of better, and neither Eben nor Noodles could have long continued. + +Why, even Fritz began to feel timid about pursuing such a treacherous +course, and presently he sought information. + +"Don't you think we must be nearly in the heart of the old bog, Paul? +Seems to me we've come a long ways, and when you think that we've got to +go back over the same nasty track again, perhaps carrying a wounded man, +whew! however we are going to do it, beats me." + +Paul stopped long enough to give a tree a couple of quick upward and +downward strokes with that handy little tool of his, and then glance at +the resulting gash, as though he wanted to make sure that it could be +seen a decent distance off. + +"Well, that's a pretty hard question to answer," he replied, slowly. "In +the first place, we don't know whether the man fell into the heart of +the Black Water, or over by the other side. Fact is, we haven't come on +anything up to now to settle the matter whether he fell at all." + +"Great governor! that _would_ be a joke on us now, wouldn't it, if we +made our way all over this beastly place, when there wasn't any aeronaut +to help? We'd feel like a bunch of sillies, that's right!" burst out +Fritz. + +"But we acted in good faith," Paul went on to say, positively. "We +weighed the matter, and arrived at the conclusion that he had fallen +somewhere in here; and we agreed, _all of us_, mind you, Fritz, that it +was our duty to make a hunt for Mr. Anderson. And we're here on the +ground, doing our level best." + +"Ain't got another word to say, Paul," Fritz observed, hastily, "you +know best; only I sure hope it don't get any worse than we find it right +now. I never did like soft slimy mud. Nearly got smothered in it once, +when I was only a kid, and somehow it seems to give me the creeps every +time I duck my leg in. But go right along; only if you hear me sing out, +stop long enough to give me a pull." + +"We're all bound to help each other, don't forget that, Fritz," said +Seth. "It might just as well be me that'll take a slide, and go squash +into that awful mess on the right, or on the left. Don't know whether to +swim, or wade, if that happens; but see there, you can't find any bottom +to the stuff." + +He thrust his long Alpine staff into the mire as far as it could go; and +the other scouts shuddered when they saw that so far as appearances +went, the soft muck bed really had no bottom. Any one so unfortunate as +to fall in would surely gradually sink far over his head, unless he were +rescued in time, or else had the smartness to effect his own release by +seizing hold of a low-hanging branch and gradually drawing his limbs out +of the clinging stuff. + +Then they all looked ahead, as though wondering what the prospect might +be for a continuance of this perilous trip which had broken up their +great hike. + +"I guess it's about time to make another try with a shout or so, Fritz," +said Paul, instead of giving the order for an advance. + +"All right, just as you say," returned the other, "we've come quite some +distance since we made the last big noise; and if he's weak and wounded, +yet able to answer at all, p'raps we might hear him this time. Line up +here, fellers, and watch my hands now, so's all to break loose +together." + +It was a tremendous volume of sound that welled forth, as Fritz waved +his hands upward after a fashion that every high school fellow +understood; why, Seth declared that it could have been heard a mile or +more away, and from that part of the swamp half way out in either +direction. + +Then they strained their ears to listen for any possible answer. The +seconds began to creep past, and disappointment had already commenced to +grip hold of their hearts when they started, and looked quickly, +eagerly, at one another. + +"Did you hear it?" asked Fritz, gasping for breath after his exertions +at holding on to that long-drawn school yell. + +"We sure did--something!" replied Jotham, instantly, "but whether that +was the balloonist answering, Eben or Noodles calling out to us, or some +wild animal giving tongue, blest if I know." + +And then, why, of course five pair of eyes were turned on Paul for the +answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE OASIS IN THE SWAMP + + +"Was that another fish-eating bird like a crane, Paul?" asked Seth. + +"Sounded more like a human voice," Jotham put in. + +"And that's what it was, or else we're all pretty much mistaken," was +the verdict of the scoutmaster. + +They turned their eyes toward the quarter from whence the sound had +appeared to come; and while some thought it had welled up just in a line +with this bunch of bushes, or it might be a leaning tree, still others +believed it had come straight up against the breeze. + +Although there might be a few points difference in their guesses, still +it was noticeable that on the whole they were pretty uniform, and +pointed almost due east from the spot where they stood. + +"How about the prospect of getting through there?" queried Jotham, +anxiously. + +"Huh! couldn't be tougher, in my opinion," grumbled Seth. + +"But if you look far enough, boys," remarked Paul, "you can see that +there seems to be some firmer ground over there." + +"Well, now, you're right about that, Paul," interjected Fritz, "I was +just going to say the same myself. Made me think of what an oasis in a +desert might look like, though to be sure I never saw one in my life." + +"Solid ground, you mean, eh?" said Babe Adams, gleefully, "maybe, now, +we won't be just tickled to death to feel the same under our trilbies +again. This thing of picking your way along a slippery ledge about three +inches wide, makes me feel like I'm walking on eggs all the while. Once +you lose your grip, and souse you go up to your knees, or p'raps your +neck, in the nasty dip. Solid ground will feel mighty welcome to me." + +"Do we make a bee line for that quarter, Paul?" asked Andy. + +"I'd like to see you try it, that's what," jeered Seth. "In three shakes +of a lamb's tail you'd be swimming in the mud. Guess we have to follow +one of these crazy little hummocks that run criss-cross through the +place, eh, Frank?" + +"Yes, you're right about that, Seth; but I'm glad to say I think one +runs over toward that spot; anyway, here goes to find out." + +The young scoutmaster made a start while speaking, and the balance of +the boys lined out after him. + +"Keep close together, so as to help each other if any trouble comes," +was what Paul called out over his shoulder. + +"Yes, and for goodness sake don't all get in at once, or we'll be +drowned. Think what an awful time there'd be in old Beverly, if six of +her shining lights went and got snuffed out all at once. Hey, quit your +pushin' there, Jotham, you nearly had me overboard that time." + +"Well, I just _had_ to grab something, because one of my legs was in up +to the knee. Oh! dear, what a fine time we'll have getting all this mud +off us," Jotham complained, from just behind. + +But they were making pretty fair progress, all the same; and whenever +any of the boys could venture to take their eyes off the faintly marked +path they were following, long enough to send a quick look ahead, they +saw that the anticipated haven of temporary refuge loomed up closer all +the time. + +At least this was encouraging, and it served to put fresh zeal in those +who had begun to almost despair of ever getting across the acre of mud +that lay between the spot where they had last shouted, and the Promised +Land. + +They were a cheery lot, taken as a whole; and what was even better, they +believed in passing their enthusiasm along. So one, and then another, +called out some encouraging words as the humor seized them. + +Foot by foot, and yard by yard they moved along, Paul always cautious +about venturing upon unknown ground; but finding a way to gain his end. + +"Here's a little patch of solid ground, and we can rest up for a minute +or so," was the welcome announcement that came along the line of toiling +scouts, and of course brought out various exclamations of delight. + +It was indeed a great relief to be able to actually stand upright once +more, so as to stretch the cramped muscles in their legs. Some of the +boys even started to dancing, though Seth scorned to do anything like +this, and pretended to make all manner of fun of their contortions. + +"Talk about them cranes doing funny stunts when they get together and +dance," he remarked, "I guess, now, they haven't got anything on you +fellers. Why, if anybody happened to see you carryin' on that way he'd +sure believe the whole bunch had broke loose from some lunatic asylum. +When I dance I like to have some style about it, and not just hop around +any old way." + +So Seth took it out in stretching his arms, and rubbing the tired +muscles of his legs. + +It was Jotham who made a discovery. In jumping around he had by chance +wandered a dozen yards away from the rest, when he was heard to give +vent to a cry; and the other boys saw him dart forward, as if to pick +something up from the ground. + +"What is it, Jotham?" several cried in an eager chorus; for their nerves +had been wrought up to a high tension by all they had gone through, and +they felt, as Seth aptly expressed it, "like fiddle strings keyed to +next door to the snapping point." + +For answer Jotham turned and came toward the rest. He was carrying some +object in his hand, and seemed to regard it with considerable interest, +as though he felt that he had made an important discovery. + +As he reached the others he held it up before the scoutmaster; and of +course all could see what it was. + +"A piece of old yellow cloth!" exclaimed Seth, in disgust, "say, you +made all of us believe that you'd run across something worth while." + +"How about it, Paul?" appealed Jotham, turning to the one whom he +fancied would be more apt to understand, "don't this tell a story; and +ain't it a pretty good clue to run across?" + +"I should say, yes," replied Paul, as he took the article in question in +his own hands, and felt of it eagerly, "because, you see, Seth, this is +really silk, the queer kind they always make balloons out of. And that +ought to tell us we're on the right track. So you see it was an +important pick-up, and ought to count one point for Jotham." + +"Gee whittaker! you don't say?" ejaculated Seth, staring with +considerable more respect at the foot of dingy yellow stuff which the +scoutmaster was holding in his hands. "Well, if that's so, then I pass +along the honors to Jotham. But if a piece of the bally old balloon fell +right here, Paul, don't that tell us the wreck must a passed over where +we're standing now?" + +"Not the least doubt about that," asserted the confident Paul, "and I +was just looking up to see if I could make out the course it took. +Because it must have struck the top of a tree, to tear this piece +loose." + +"How about that one over yonder?" suggested Fritz, pointing as he spoke. +"Looks to me like the top was broke some, and I just bet you now that's +where the big gas-bag did strike first, when it started to drop in a +hurry." + +"Then following the course of the wind, which hasn't changed this last +hour, it would be carried on straight east," Paul continued, logically. + +"Sure thing," declared Seth, "and if you look close now, you'll glimpse +where it struck that smaller bunch of trees just ahead, where we're +going to land soon. And Paul, hadn't we better be trying our luck some +more now? Guess all the boys must be rested, and if we've just _got_ to +do the grand wading act, the sooner we get started the better." + +"First let's call out again, and see if we get any answer. It would +cheer the poor fellow up some, if he happens to be lying there badly +hurt; and if he does answer, we'll get our bearings better. Hit it up, +Fritz!" + +They always turned to Fritz when they wanted volume of sound. That +appeared to be his specialty, the one thing in which he certainly +excelled. + +Of course there was little need of any great noise, now that they had +reason to believe the object of their solicitude must be close at hand; +but then boys generally have plenty of spare enthusiasm, and when Fritz +gave the required signal they let out a roar, as usual. + +"There, that was certainly an answering call!" declared Jotham, proudly. + +"Sounded like he said just two words--'help--hurry!'" spoke up Babe. + +Somehow the rest seemed to be of about the same opinion, and the thought +gave the scouts a strange thrill. Was the unfortunate aeronaut slowly +bleeding to death, lying there amidst the bushes on that tongue of land? +They had given up their dearly cherished plan in order to rescue him, +and had undergone considerable in the line of strenuous work, so as to +arrive in time, and now that they were so close to the scene of his +disaster it would be too bad if they were held back until it was too +late to do him any good. + +"Can't we hit it up a little faster, Paul?" begged Andy, who was rather +inclined to be impulsive, because of the warm Southern blood that flowed +in his veins. + +They had once more started on, and were really making pretty good +progress; but when one gives way to impatience, it may seem that a fair +amount of speed is next door to standing still. + +Paul understood the generous impulse that caused the Kentucky boy to +speak in this strain and while he knew that it was dangerous to attempt +any swifter pace than they were then making, still, for once, he bowed +to the will of the majority, and began to increase his speed. + +All went well, for beyond a few minor mishaps they managed to get along. +What if one of the scouts did occasionally slip off the wretched +footing, and splash into the mud; a helping hand was always ready to do +the needful, and the delay could hardly be noticed. + +"There's the beginning of the firm ground just ahead!" Paul presently +remarked, thinking to cheer his comrades with the good news. + +"Oh! joy!" breathed Jotham, who often used queer expressions, that is, +rather odd to hear from a boy. + +Seth was the more natural one of the two when he gave vent to his +delight by using the one expressive word: + +"Bully!" + +In a couple of minutes at this rate they would have reached the place +where the slippery trail merged into the more solid ground. + +Perhaps some of the others may not as yet have noticed strange sounds +welling up out of the bushes beyond, but Paul certainly did, and he was +greatly puzzled to account for the same. + +That singular growling could not be the wind passing through the upper +branches of the trees, for one thing. It seemed to Paul more like the +snarling of an angry domestic cat, several times magnified. + +For the life of him he could not imagine what a cat would be doing here +in the heart of the dreaded Black Water Swamps. Surely no hermit could +be living in such a dismal and inaccessible place; even a crazy man +would never dream of passing over such a terribly slippery ledge in +order to get to and from his lonely habitation. + +But if not a cat, what was making that angry snarling? + +Paul knew next to nothing about balloons, but he felt pretty sure that +even the escaping of gas could hardly produce such a sound--it might +pass through a rent in the silk with a sharp hiss, but he could plainly +catch something more than that. + +And then his foot struck solid ground; with a sigh of relief he drew +himself up, and turned to give a hand to Seth, next in line, if it was +needed. + +So they all came ashore, so to speak, and delighted to feel able to +stand in a comfortable position once more. + +No time now for stretching or dancing, with that ugly snarling growing +constantly deeper, and more angry in volume. Forward was the word, and +Paul somehow felt glad that they gripped those handy staves, tried and +true, with which every scout in course of time becomes quite adept. They +would come in good play should there be any necessity for prompt action. + +"Follow me, everybody," said Paul, as he started off. + +"Count on us to back you up!" Seth declared, from which remark the +scoutmaster understood that by now the others must have caught those +suspicious sounds, and were trying to figure out what they stood for. + +It seemed as if with every forward step he took, Paul could catch them +more and more plainly. Nor was the snarling sound alone; now he believed +he caught a rustling of dead leaves, and something that might be likened +to low muttered words, as though the speaker were being hard pressed, +and had little breath to spare. + +Then, as he pushed through the last fringe of bushes that interfered +with his view, Paul found himself looking upon the cause of all these +queer noises. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME + + +"Holy smoke! look at that, would you?" exclaimed Seth, who had been so +close on the heels of the scoutmaster that he sighted the struggling +objects ahead almost as soon as Paul did himself. + +"It's a big wildcat!" echoed Jotham, with a suspicious tremor in his +voice. + +Indeed, the animal in question was a sight well calculated to give any +one more or less reason to feel a touch of alarm. + +Evidently she must be a mother cat, for a couple of partly grown kittens +stood there in plain sight, with every hair on their short backs +erected, and their whole appearance indicating that they were "chips off +the old block," as Seth afterwards declared. + +The wounded aeronaut sat there with a stick in his grasp. This he was +wielding as best he could, to keep the angry animal at a distance, +although his efforts were growing pitifully weaker, and only for the +coming of the scouts he must have been compelled to throw up the sponge +in a short time. + +Evidently the wildcat had come upon him there after he had been dropped +amidst the wreckage of his balloon. Whether it was her natural hatred +for mankind that tempted the savage beast to attack the balloonist, or +the scent of fresh blood from some of his scratches, it would be hard +to say, possibly both reasons had to do with her action. + +Just how long the scrimmage had been going on Paul could only guess; but +he did know that the beast must have ripped the clothes partly off the +aeronaut's back, and in turn he could see that one of the animal's eyes +was partly closed, from a vigorous whack which the desperate man had +given with his cudgel, no doubt. + +Paul instantly made straight for the scene of commotion, never so much +as hesitating a second. This was one of those emergencies spoken of +before now, when the scoutmaster did not allow himself to pause and +consider, but acted from impulse only. + +The man saw him coming, and gave expression to his satisfaction in a +weak hurrah. As for the cat, at first it seemed ready to try conclusions +with the whole troop of Boy Scouts, for it turned on Paul with the +ugliest glare in its yellow eyes he had ever seen. + +Every fellow was shouting vigorously by now, and the volume of sound +must have had more or less to do with settling the question. Besides, +the pair of kittens seemed to have been frightened off with the coming +of the scouts, having slid into the friendly bushes. + +So the mother cat decided that after all she could yield gracefully to +superior numbers--seven to one was pretty heavy odds, and those waving +staves had an ugly look she did not exactly fancy. + +But all the same there was nothing inglorious in her retreat; she +retired in perfect good order, keeping her face to the foe, and +continuing to spit and snarl and growl so long as she remained in sight. + +Several of the scouts were for following her up, and forcing the issue; +but a word from Paul restrained them. He saw that the animal was +furiously angry, and if hard pushed would undoubtedly make things +extremely interesting for any number of fellows; flying into their +midst, so that they could not well use their sticks, and using her sharp +claws to make criss-cross maps across their faces. + +Scratches from the claws of all carnivorous animals are dangerous. Blood +poisoning is apt to set in, because of the fact that their claws are +contaminated from the flesh of such birds or small game as have served +them for a previous meal. And just then Paul had nothing along with him +to prevent the possibility of such a dreadful happening taking place. + +Seth in particular was exceedingly loth to give over. He looked after +the vanishing wild cat, and shook his head in bitter disappointment. +Only for his pride in obeying all orders that came to him from the +scoutmaster, Seth very likely would have followed the cat, and probably +rued his rashness when he had to call for help a minute or so later. + +Meanwhile Paul had hurried to the side of the aeronaut, who raised his +hand in greeting, while a smile broke over his anxious face. + +"Welcome, my brave boys!" he exclaimed. "I never dreamed that you could +ever get to me here, when I saw what a horrible sort of bog I had +dropped into. And then, after that savage beast set on me I about gave +myself up as lost. She kept walking around me, and growling for a long +time before she made a jump. Oh! it was a nightmare of a time, I assure +you. I've seen some scrapes before in my ballooning experiences, but +never one the equal of this. I'm mighty glad to meet you all. But I'll +never understand how you found me. After this I'll believe Boy Scouts +can do about anything there is going." + +Well, that was praise enough to make every fellow glow with +satisfaction, and feel glad to know he wore the khaki that had won the +sincere respect of this daring voyager of the skies. + +"I hope you're not very badly hurt, Mr. Anderson?" Paul ventured, as he +knelt at the side of the other. + +"I don't believe it's serious, but all the same I'm pretty much crippled +after all I've gone through with on this ill-fated trip. But I'm willing +to exert myself to the limit in order to get out of this terrible swamp. +You can't make a start any too soon to please me." + +Paul drew a long breath. If it had been so difficult for active boys, +used to balancing, and doing all sorts of stunts, to cross on those +treacherous little hummock paths, how in the wide world were they ever +going to get a wounded man out of this place? + +He only hoped Mr. Anderson would prove to be the possessor of tenacious +will power, as well as a reserve fund of strength; he would certainly +have good need of both before he struck solid ground again, once the +return journey was begun. + +"Well, while my chums are getting their breath after our little jaunt, +suppose you let me look at any cuts you've got, Mr. Anderson," he +suggested, first of all, in a business-like way that quite charmed the +aeronaut. + +"What, you don't mean to tell me that you are something of a doctor as +well as a leader of scouts?" he remarked, with evident pleasure, as he +started to roll up one of the legs of his trousers, so as to expose his +bruised ankle. + +"I know just a little about medicine, enough to make the other fellows +want me to take charge whenever they get hurt. Let me introduce my +friends, sir." + +And accordingly Paul mentioned his own name, and then in turn that of +Andy, Babe, Jotham, Seth and Fritz; also stating that there were two +more in the patrol whom they had left stranded about half way out of the +swamp, to be picked up again on the return journey. + +The pleased aeronaut shook hands heartily with each boy. He was +experiencing a delightful revulsion of feeling, for all of a sudden the +darkness had given way to broad daylight. + +Paul on his part, after a superficial examination, was glad to find +there was really nothing serious the matter. He had feared lest he might +find a broken leg or even a few ribs fractured; but nothing of the kind +seemed to be the case. + +It was true that Mr. Anderson had a lot of black and blue places upon +his person, and would doubtless feel pretty sore for some days to come, +but really Paul could not see why he should not be able to keep company +with his rescuers. He seemed to possess an uncommon share of grit; his +determined defense against the savage wildcat proved that plainly +enough; and on the whole, with what help the scouts might give on +occasion, there was a fair chance of his getting out of the swamp inside +of an hour or so. + +"Now I'm ready to make a start, if you say the word," Paul observed, +when perhaps five minutes had passed. + +The gentleman had been helped to his feet. Trying the injured leg, he +declared he believed he would be able to get along; even though he did +make a wry face at the very moment of saying this. + +Paul endeavored to explain to him what sort of work lay before them, +passing along on such insecure footing. + +"Well, I must get in touch with a doctor, and that as speedily as +possible," remarked Mr. Anderson, "and I'll get out of this horrible +place if I have to crawl every foot of the way on my hands and knees. +But I don't imagine it's going to come to such a pass as that, yet +awhile. I'm ready to take my first lesson, Paul, if so be you lead the +way." + +Already the aeronaut seemed to have taken a great fancy for the young +scoutmaster; but then that was only what might be expected. Paul had led +the relief expedition; and besides, there was something attractive about +the boy that always drew people to him. + +"Then please follow directly after me; and Seth, you fall in behind Mr. +Anderson, will you?" Paul went on to say. + +"Huh! hope you don't mean that the way you say it," grunted Seth, with a +wide grin, "because, seems to me I've done nothing else but _fall in_ +ever since I got on the go. I've investigated nearly every bog along the +line, and found 'em all pretty much alike, and not to my likin' one +single bit." + +But all the same, Seth felt proud of the fact that the scoutmaster had +selected him for the post of honor; for he knew that, coming just behind +the wounded balloonist, he would be expected to lend a helping hand at +such times as Mr. Anderson experienced a slip. + +Just the consciousness of responsibility was apt to make Seth much more +sure-footed than before. It is always so; and wise teachers watch their +chances to make boys feel that they are of some consequence. Besides, +experiences goes a great way and Seth, having tested nearly all the +muddy stretches along the way, had in a measure learned how to avoid +contact with them again. + +In another minute the boys and Mr. Anderson were on the move. No doubt, +if that savage mother cat and her charges were secretly watching from a +leafy covert near by, they must have been heartily gratified because the +menacing enemy had seen fit to quit the oasis in the swamp, leaving the +remnants of the wrecked balloon to be pawed over by the frolicsome +kittens. + +"I see that you are true scouts, for you have blazed the way as +prettily as I ever saw it done, Mr. Anderson remarked presently. + +"That was Paul's doing," spoke up Seth, not in the least jealous. + +"Oh! it's the easiest thing to do that anybody ever tried," declared the +scoutmaster without even looking back over his shoulder, for he needed +his eyes in front constantly. + +"So I understand," continued Mr. Anderson, "but then, it isn't everybody +who can be smart enough to do the right thing at the right time." + +"How do you make out, sir?" asked Paul, wishing to change the +conversation, for, strange to say, he never liked to hear himself +praised, in which he differed very much from the vast majority of boys. + +"Getting along better than I expected, Paul," replied the wounded +balloonist. + +"It's only a question of time, then, before we pass out of the swamp," +the other went on to say. "And as we've got our trail all laid out, and +Seth knows the best places to try the mud, I guess we'll make it." + +He was already thinking deeply and seriously. A sudden wild hope had +flashed into Paul's brain, and if all went well he meant to put it up to +the other scouts after a while. + +When he looked at his watch he found that it was now just a quarter +after ten; and doing some lightning calculating he believed they could +be out of the morass, discounting any serious trouble, by another hour. + +Then, supposing it took them forty-five minutes to get Mr. Anderson to +the nearest farm house, even though they had to make a rude stretcher, +and carry him, that brought the time to exactly noon. + +Could they really do it, make the eighteen miles that still lay between +themselves and the field at Beverly, where they were expected to show up +some time that day, if they hoped to win the prize? + +Some how the very possibility of being put upon his mettle gave Paul a +thrill. He had no doubts concerning his own ability to finish the great +hike within the specified space of time, before the sun had vanished +behind the western horizon, but it was a grave question whether some of +the other scouts could accomplish the task. There was Eben for instance, +never a wonder when it came to running; and then fat Noodles would be +apt to give out before two-thirds of those eighteen miles had been +placed behind them. + +But if there was a ghost of a chance Paul was determined to take +advantage of it, and he believed that even the laggards would be keen to +make the attempt, once he mentioned the subject to them. + +And so they kept pushing steadily along, Mr. Anderson showing wonderful +pluck, considering the pain he must be suffering all the while from his +numerous bruises and cuts. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +ON THE HOME-STRETCH + + +Perhaps they were becoming experts at the game; or it might be that the +going back over familiar ground made the job easier, since they could +see each slippery place where an accident had happened on the outward +trip, and thus grow additionally cautious. + +Be that as it might, they made very few missteps on the return journey. +Even Mr. Anderson managed to do himself great credit, and Seth did not +have to help him up on the narrow ridge more than three or four times; +nor were any of his mishaps of a serious nature. + +In due time, therefore, they came in sight of the place where Eben and +Noodles had been left. Their voices must have warned the pair that they +were coming, for they could be seen shading their eyes with their hands +to shut out the glare of the sun, as they watched the string of figures +slowly picking a path through the sea of mud and water. + +Apparently they must have counted an extra form among the muddy group; +and just had to give expression to their satisfaction; for Noodles +yelped excitedly, while Eben sent out a series of blasts from his bugle, +which, upon examination, seemed to bear some faint earmarks to "Lo, the +Conquering Hero Comes!" + +And when they landed at this half-way stage in their tiresome journey, +Mr. Anderson had to be introduced to the remaining members of the +Beaver Patrol. He also insisted on shaking hands with them, as he had +done all the others, and letting them know his now exalted opinion about +the ability of Boy Scouts to do wonders, all of which was sweetest music +in the ears of the pair who had been cheated out of their share of the +honors in the actual rescue party. + +When the march was resumed--and Paul hastened matters as much as he +could in reason--Noodles and Eben insisted on asking many questions as +to just how they had found the balloonist. They grew quite excited when +they heard about the mother wildcat and her savage little kittens; and +even indulged in speculations as to what a great time they would have +had defending themselves, had a trio like that paid them a visit. + +Oh! it was certainly wearisome work, keeping up that strained position +of the leg muscles so long. Paul began to fear that they would never be +able to accomplish the other task beyond, for he heard Noodles take his +regular plunges every little while, and judged that the stout boy must +by this time be a sight calculated to make his mother shed tears, if +ever she saw him in such a state. + +But all things must come to an end, and finally Seth gave a shout, like +unto the glad whoop a wrecked mariner might set up at sight of land +ahead. + +"There's the place where we started in, Paul; yes, and I can see that +queer tree at the spot the trapper's path ended, and the fun began!" he +exclaimed. + +"Bless you, Seth, for those comforting words!" called out Eben from +close to the rear of the procession. + +"One last little bulge, and then victory for us!" Fritz remarked, and if +the gladness expressed in his voice could be taken as an index to the +feelings of his heart, then the scout must be a happy fellow just then, +when the clouds rolled away, to let the sun shine again. + +Of course they made it without any more trouble than Noodles giving a +last try at the friendly mud, as though wanting to really find out +whether it did have any bottom down below or not. And when they took +some sticks, and scraped the worst of the sticky mess off his face, +Noodles promised to be a sight indeed. But Paul assured him that they +would stop at the first spring they came across, in order to allow him +to wash some of the stuff off. + +"Ain't we a nobby looking bunch of scouts now, though?" remarked Fritz, +as he glanced ruefully down at his muddy uniform; for as a rule the boy +had been quite particular with his clothes, having reformed after +joining the organization. + +"It's too bad you were put to such straits to help me," declared Mr. +Anderson, heartily, "and I mean to do everything in my power to keep you +from feeling sorry that you gave up all chances of winning that +beautiful trophy today. It was a shame, and I regret having been the +unfortunate cause of it more than I can tell you." + +"Oh! perhaps there might be a _little_ bit of a chance left to us yet, +sir," said Paul; at which every one of the other seven scouts pricked up +his ears and crowded around. + +"What d'ye mean, Paul, by sayin' that?" demanded Seth, his eyes opening +wide as they became glued upon those of the scoutmaster, for knowing +Paul as he did, he understood that the other must have some clever idea +in mind. + +"Yes, tell us what the scheme is?" pleaded Jotham, who had been really +more disappointed of giving up the hike than any of the others; for he +knew his mother, and a certain girl Jotham thought a good deal of, would +be on the grandstand at the baseball grounds, waiting to cheer him as he +passed by with his fellow scouts. + +"It all depends on how long it takes us to get Mr. Anderson to the +nearest farmhouse," Paul went on. + +"Why, I remember seeing a house near the road just below where we left +it to head for the swamp!" spoke up Fritz, eagerly, "and I guess we +could carry him there in less'n half an hour if we had to." + +At that the aeronaut spoke up. + +"I protest. Please don't take me into consideration at all, boys," he +hastened to say, "if there's the remotest chance for you to make your +race, leave me right here, and start off. I'll find my way to the road, +and then a farmhouse, where they'll take me in, and have me looked +after. You've done wonders for me as it is, saved my life, I haven't +the least doubt; and I'm going to remember it, you can depend, but I +wish you'd let me take care of myself from now on." + +But Paul shook his head. He understood the feeling that prompted the +gentleman to speak in this vein; but he did not think Mr. Anderson was +as well able to look out for himself as he would have them believe. + +"We never do things by halves, sir," the scoutmaster said, steadily. "If +you can hobble along with one of us on either side to help, we'll go +that way; but if it's too much of an effort then I'll show you how smart +we are about making a litter out of some of these saplings here on which +we'll carry you." + +Mr. Anderson looked pleased to hear Paul talk in this confident way; but +would not listen to such a thing as treating him like a badly wounded +man. + +"Give me a shoulder to lean on, and I'm sure I can make it in decent +time, boys," he declared. + +So Paul ranged on his right, with sturdy Seth closing up on the left, +and in this fashion they started out. + +The road was no great distance away, it will be remembered; and in less +than ten minutes they had reached it. Then turning toward distant +Beverly, they commenced to cover the ground they had previously gone +over. + +There was no mistake about the farmhouse, in due time it was reached. +Their arrival quite excited the little household, for the men had come +in from the fields to their midday meal. + +Paul did not want to stop to explain matters; all that could be left to +Mr. Anderson. The odor of dinner did make more than one of the scouts +raise his eyebrows, and exchange a suggestive look with another; but +they realized that every minute was precious to them now, and that they +just could not stay long enough to sit and partake, though the farmer +cordially invited them. + +They did accept a few things to munch at as they walked along; and +promised to send word to a certain address which the aeronaut gave them; +and in fact Paul was to notify a committee by wire that disaster had +overtaken the _Great Republic_, but that the aeronaut was safe, and +wished the news to be communicated to his wife at a certain hotel in St. +Louis. + +Of course all of the boys knew what the new hope that had come to Paul +amounted to. He had, with his customary carefulness, shown them in black +and white figures just the number of miles that still remained +uncovered, about eighteen in all, and then they figured out when the sun +would be setting at Beverly. + +"Six full hours, and then some," Seth had declared, with a look of +contempt; as though he could see no reason why they should not come in +on time easily. "Why, of course we c'n do it, and then not half try. +Now, you'd think I'd be feeling stiff after that crouching work in the +swamp. All a mistake. Never fitter in my life. I could start on a run +right now, and cover some miles without an effort." + +"Well, don't do it, then," advised Paul, "you know what happens to the +racer who makes too big an effort in the start. Get warmed up to your +work, and there's a chance to hold out. Better be in prime condition for +the gruelling finish. That's the advice one of the greatest all-around +athletes gives. So we'll start at a fair pace, and later on, if it +becomes necessary we'll be able to run some." + +Of course Paul was thinking while he said this of the weak links in the +chain, no other than Eben and Noodles. The latter was a wretched runner +at best. He could walk fairly well, after a fashion, as his work of the +last three days proved; and by judicious management Paul hoped to coax +Noodles along, mile after mile. + +As they walked they munched the sandwiches provided at the farm house +where Mr. Anderson had been left. Thus they killed two birds with one +stone, as Paul put it--continued to cover a couple of precious miles +while securing strength and comfort from the food. + +Whenever a chance occurred Noodles would get to work again scraping some +more dirt off his garments. Fritz often declared the county would +prosecute him for leaving so many piles of swamp mud along the pike; but +after each and every operation the stout boy declared that he felt in +far better trim to continue the journey, and that at least pleased all +hands. + +"I'm beginning to hope, Noodles," remarked Jotham, "that by the time we +get to Beverly you'll look half way decent, and not make the girls +ashamed to own us as we march through the town to the music of a band, +mebbe." + +"Put I don't want to be owned py any girl as I knows; so what +differences does idt make, dell me?" was all the satisfaction he got +from the other; who was evidently more concerned about the cost of a new +suit, all to be earned by his own individual exertions, than anything +else. + +When the first hour had passed, and they found that they had made four +miles as near as could be told, some of the scouts were exultant, and +loudly declared it was going to be as easy as falling off a log. + +"A regular picnic, believe me!" declared Seth. + +"Like taking candy from the baby!" Fritz affirmed. + +"A walk-over!" was Babe's style of expressing his sentiments. + +"Well, it will be that, if we ever get to Beverly green before the sun +drops out of sight," laughed Paul. + +He was only concerned about Noodles, truth to tell, for he knew that +Eben, while no great athlete, had a reserve fund in his stubborn +qualities, and would shut his teeth hard together toward the end, +plodding along with grim determination. Noodles must be watched, and +coddled most carefully, if they hoped to carry him with them over the +line in time to claim the glorious trophy. + +And that was really why Paul asked him to walk along with him, so that +he could from time to time cheer the other up by a few words of praise +that would make him believe he was showing great improvement in his +stride. It could be seen by the way his eye lighted up that Noodles +appreciated this flattery; he had a real jaunty air as he walked on, and +even cast an occasional glance of commiseration back at the fellows +less highly favored than himself. + +Besides, Paul, as a careful manager, wished to husband a certain portion +of the other's strength for the last five miles. He knew that must be +the sticking time, when probably Noodles would declare he could not go +another step, and endeavor to drop down beside the road to rest. + +Now Paul knew how far being diplomatic went in an affair of this kind. +He remembered hearing a story about two gentlemen on a hunting trip up +in Maine, carrying a couple of air rubber mattresses for sleeping +purposes, and wondering how they could get the two guides, one a native, +and the other a Penobscot Indian, to blow them up every night. + +So during the supper one of them got to comparing the chests of the two +men, and exciting their rivalry as to which had the larger lungs. When +he had them fully primed he said he had means of testing the matter, and +brought out the twin air mattresses. Eagerly then the guides lay flat on +their stomachs, and at the word started to blow like two-horse power +engines. The first test was declared a _tie_; and after that the guides +could hardly wait for night to come to try out their lungs against each +other. + +And with this story in his mind the young scoutmaster determined to play +the two weak members of the Beaver Patrol against each other, having in +view the benefit that would result from such keen rivalry. + +First he talked to Noodles about Eben's awakening talent in the line of +pedestrian feats; and soon had the stout boy affirming that he could +beat the best efforts of the bugler without more than half trying. + +Then Paul found a chance to arouse the ambition of Eben in turn, by +hinting at what Noodles had boasted. Thus Paul presently had the two +lads jealously watching each other. They did not come to any open +rupture, because they were good fellows, and fast friends, but did Eben +happen to take a notion to go up a little in the line in order to speak +to one of the others, Noodles clung to him like a leech. + +Indeed, Paul had to restrain the eager pair more than once, for they +were so determined to excel the record, each of the other, that they +gave evidences of even wanting to run. + +By carefully nursing this spirit of emulation and rivalry the patrol +leader believed he was assisting the cause, without doing either of his +chums the slightest injury. It was a case of simply bringing out all +there was in a couple of lads who, as a rule, were prone to give up too +easily. + +And so they kept tramping along the turnpike leading toward home, +jollying each other, and every now and then, when resting for a bit, +trying to remove some of the dreadful evidences of black mud from their +usually natty uniforms and leggins. + +"P'raps they'll think it the biggest joke going," remarked Seth, "when +they get on to it that we've been in the Black Water Swamps, and I guess +Freddy's crowd'll laugh themselves sick, like a lot of ninnies, but just +wait till we tell what took us there, and show the card Mr. Anderson +gave us, with his message for St. Louis on the back. Then it seems to me +the laugh will be on them." + +They took great consolation in remembering what a gallant piece of work +they had been enabled to carry out since leaving Camp Alabama that +morning. It would perhaps be carried far and wide in the papers, when +Mr. Anderson's story was told, and reflect new glory on the uplifting +tendency of the Boy Scout movement. People who did not understand what a +wonderful lot of good was coming out of teaching growing lads to be able +to take care of themselves under any and all conditions, besides being +considerate for others, brave in time of danger, and generous toward +even their enemies, would have their eyes opened. + +And so it was a happy and merry parcel of scouts that plodded along the +road leading to Beverly town that afternoon, as the sun sank lower and +lower toward the West. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +"WELL DONE, BEAVER PATROL!" + + +They had struck along the road leading from Scranton, and reached the +well-known Jerusalem pike, of which mention has been frequently made in +previous stories of this series. + +As they passed the Stebbens and the Swartz farms the scouts gave a cheer +that brought a waving of handkerchiefs from the windows of the houses, +which were in plain sight of the road. + +Far down in the west the glowing sun was sinking; but Paul had +calculated well, and he knew that, barring accidents, they could easily +make the town before the king of day passed from sight. + +Once they had halted for a few minutes' rest, the last they expected to +enjoy, and Paul had taken advantage of the opportunity to start a smoky +fire; after which he and Seth, the signal sender of the patrol, used the +latter's blanket to send a series of dense smoke clouds soaring upward +at certain intervals. + +One of the boys who expected to join the second patrol in the early +fall, Steve Slimmons, would be on the lookout for this signal that would +announce the coming of the weary column; and when he caught sight of the +smoke waves it would be his duty to announce that, after all, the scouts +had not fallen down in their brave attempt to win that glorious trophy; +but were coming right along, and hoped to be on hand in due time. + +Well, there would be a good many suppers delayed in and around Beverly +on that night, some of the scouts told each other. + +They could easily picture the green swarming with people, all watching +up the road for the patrol to turn the bend, and come in sight, with +unbroken ranks, having fulfilled the conditions of the hike to the +letter. + +There was no longer any need for Paul to excite the slumbering ambitions +of either Eben or Noodles. Why, after they passed the crossroads where +the ruins of the old blacksmith shop lay, in which they had held their +first meetings, but which had been mysteriously burned down, some +thought by mischievous and envious town boys--after they had gone by +this well-known spot, and sighted the Scroggins farm beyond, every +fellow had actually forgotten such a thing as fatigue. They held +themselves up straight, and walked with a springy step that would go far +toward indicating that a hundred miles in four days was only play for +such seasoned veterans. + +And now the outlying houses of the home town began to loom up. Why, to +several of the boys it really seemed as though they must have been away +for weeks. They eagerly pointed out various objects that were familiar +in their eyes, just as if they had feared the whole map of the town +might have been altered since they marched away on their little four day +tramp. + +Seth in particular was greatly amused by hearing this kind of talk. He +had been away from home so much that the novelty of the sensation of +coming back did not appeal to him, as it may have done to Eben and +Jotham for instance. + +"You fellers," said Seth, chuckling while he spoke, "make me think of +the little kid that took a notion to run away from home, and wandered +around all day. When night came along he just couldn't stand it any +longer, and crept home. His folks knew what was up, and they settled on +punishing him by not noticing him, or saying a thing about his being +gone. The kid tried to ketch the attention of maw, but she was sewing, +and kept right along, just like he'd been around all day. Then he tried +dad; but he read his paper, and smoked his pipe, and never paid the +least attention. That boy just couldn't understand it. There he'd been +away from home a whole year it seemed to him, since morning, and yet +nobody seemed to bother the least bit, or make a fuss over him. And when +he couldn't get a rise from anybody, he saw the family pussy sittin' by +the fire. 'Oh!' he says, says he, 'I see you've still got the same old +cat you had when I went away!'" + +Even Eben and Noodles laughed at that. They knew the joke was on them; +but just at that moment both were feeling too happy to take offense at +anything. + +"There's the church steeple!" cried Babe. + +"Yes, you're so tall you c'n see things long before the rest of us do," +declared Jotham, not maliciously, but with the utmost good humor, for +he knew that in a very short time now he would see his dear little +mother, proudly watching him march past; and perhaps also discover a +tiny web of a handkerchief waving from the pretty hand of a certain +little girl he knew; and the thought made Jotham very happy. + +"Listen! ain't that boys shouting?" demanded Seth. + +"Just what it is now," replied Andy. "They've got scouts at the bend of +the road, and know we're coming." + +"We've done what we set out to do, fellers!" cried Seth, gloatingly. + +"And the trophy belongs to us; for right now we're in Beverly town, and +there's the blessed old sun still half an hour high," Fritz observed +with pardonable pride in his voice. + +"And think of us getting that balloon man safe out of the Black Water +Swamps; yes, and going to the middle of the patch, something that they +say nobody ever did before! That's going to be a big feather in our +caps, believe me," Seth went on to say, as he took a glance down at his +stained khaki trousers and leggins. + +Paul gave his little command one last look over, for they were now at +the bend, and in another minute would come under the eyes of the dense +crowd which, from all the signs that came to his ears, he felt sure had +gathered to welcome the marching patrol home again after their long +hike. + +Then the curve in the road was reached; a dozen more steps and they +turned it, to see the green fairly black with people, who waved their +hats and handkerchiefs, and shouted, until it seemed to the proud scouts +that the very foundations of the heavens must tremble under the roaring +sound. + +Chief Henshall was there, together with several of his men, keeping an +avenue open along which the khaki-clad boys were to march, to a spot in +front of the grand stand, where the generous donor of the trophy, +together with a committee of prominent citizens of Beverly, waited to +receive them. + +It was perhaps the proudest moment in the lives of those eight boys when +Paul, replying to the little speech which accompanied the passing of the +silver cup, thanked Mr. Sargeant and the committee for the great +interest taken in the formation of Beverly Troop; and in a few words +explained just why he and his comrades came so near being unable to +fulfill the obligations governing the hike. + +When Mr. Sargeant read aloud the message which the wrecked balloonist +was wiring to St. Louis, in which he declared that he owed his very life +to the daring of the Boy Scouts, who had penetrated to the very center +of the Black Water Swamps in order to rescue him, such a din of cheering +as broke out had never been heard in Beverly since that +never-to-be-forgotten day when the baseball nine came up from behind in +the ninth inning, and clinched the victory that gave them the high +school championship of the county for that year. + +But the boys now began to realize that they were, as Seth expressed it, +"some tired," and they only too willingly allowed their folks to carry +them off home, to get washed up, and partake of a good meal. But no +matter what each scout may have secretly thought when he sat down to a +white tablecloth, with silver, and china, and polished glass around him, +he stoutly avowed that nothing could equal the delight of a camp-fire, +tin cups and platters, and simple camp fare, flanked by an appetite that +was keener than anything ever known at home. + +This work of four days was likely to long remain the banner achievement +of the Beaver Patrol lads; but the vacation period still held out a few +weeks further enjoyment, and it may be readily understood that such +wide-awake fellows would be sure to hatch up more or less excitement +before the call came to go back to school duties. + +That this proved to be the case can be understood from the fact that +another volume follows this story, bearing the significant title of "The +Boy Scouts' Woodcraft Lesson; or, Proving Their Mettle in the Field." +And the young reader who has become interested in the various doings of +the scouts belonging to the Beaver Patrol can find in the pages of that +book further accounts of what Acting Scoutmaster Paul Prentice and his +seven valorous chums started out to accomplish, in order to prove that +the education of a Boy Scout brings out the best there is in him, under +any and all conditions. + +The End + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BOYS' COPYRIGHTED BOOKS + + +The most attractive and highest class list of copyrighted books for boys +ever printed. In this list will be found the works of W. Bert Foster, +Capt. Ralph Bonehill, Arthur M. Winfield, etc. + +Printed from large clear type, illustrated, bound in a superior quality +of cloth. + + +THE CLINT WEBB SERIES + +By W. Bert Foster + +1.--Swept Out to Sea; or, Clint Webb Among the Whalers. + +2.--The Frozen Ship; or, Clint Webb Among the Sealers. + +3.--From Sea to Sea; or, Clint Webb on the Windjammer. + +4.--The Sea Express; or, Clint Webb and the Sea Tramp. + + +THE YOUNG SPORTSMAN'S SERIES + +By Capt. Ralph Bonehill + +Rival Cyclists; or, Fun and Adventures on the Wheel. + +Young Oarsmen of Lake View; or, The Mystery of Hermit Island. + +Leo the Circus Boy; or, Life Under the Great White Canvas. + + +SEA AND LAND SERIES + +Four Boys' Books by Favorite Authors + +Oscar the Naval Cadet Capt. Ralph Bonehill + +Blue Water Rovers Victor St. Clare + +A Royal Smuggler William Dalton + +A Boy Crusoe Allen Erie + + +ADVENTURE AND JUNGLE SERIES + +A large, well printed, attractive edition. + +Guy in the Jungle Wm. Murray Grayden + +Casket of Diamonds Oliver Optic + +The Boy Railroader Matthew White, Jr. + +Treasure of South Lake Farm W. Bert Foster + + +YOUNG HUNTERS SERIES + +By Capt. Ralph Bonehill + +Gun and Sled; or, The Young Hunters of Snow Top Island. + +Young Hunters in Porto Rico; or, The Search for a Lost Treasure. + +Two Young Crusoes; by C. W. Phillips. + +Through Apache Land; or, Ned in the Mountains; by Lieut. R. H. Jayne. + + +BRIGHT AND BOLD SERIES + +By Arthur M. Winfield + +Poor but Plucky; or, The Mystery of a Flood. + +School Days of Fred Harley; or, Rivals for All Honors. + +By Pluck, not Luck; or, Dan Granbury's Struggle to Rise. + +The Missing Tin Box; or, Hal Carson's Remarkable City Adventure. + + +COLLEGE LIBRARY FOR BOYS + +By Archdeacon Farrar + +Julian Home; or, A Tale of College Life. + +St. Winifred's; or, The World of School. + + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of $1.00 + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + +701-733 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +FAMOUS BOOKS IN REBOUND EDITIONS + + +HEIDI + +A Child's Story of Life in the Alps + +By Johanna Spyri + +395 pages--illustrated. Printed from new plates; neatly bound in cloth. + + +PINOCCHIO + +A Tale of a Puppet--By C. Collodi + +Printed from new plates on a good grade of paper; neatly bound in cloth; +illustrated. + + +ELSIE DINSMORE + +By Martha Finley + +Beautiful edition of this popular book. Printed from new plates, covers +stamped in four colors from original design. + + +BROWNIES AND OTHER STORIES + +Illustrated by Palmer Cox + +320 pages and containing an illustration on nearly every page; printed +from new plates from large, clear type, substantially bound in cloth. + + +HELEN'S BABIES + +By John Habberton + +This amusing and entertaining book, printed from new plates, cloth +binding. + + +HANS BRINKER; or, The Silver Skates + +By Mary Mapes Dodge + +A popular edition of this well-known story of life in Holland. + + +RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS + +By Carolyn Wells + + +PLEASANT DAY DIVERSIONS + +By Carolyn Wells + +Printed on a good grade of paper from new plates, bound in a superior +grade book binders' cloth. These volumes have never before been offered +for less than $1.25; for sale now at the special price of $1.00 each. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +mentioned. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 701-733 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +ALWAYS ASK FOR THE DONOHUE +COMPLETE EDITIONS--THE BEST FOR LEAST MONEY + + +WOODCRAFT + +for Boy Scouts and Others + +By OWEN JONES and MARCUS WOODMAN + +With a Message to Boy Scouts by SIR BADEN-POWELL, Founder of the Boy +Scouts' Movement. + +One of the essential requirements of the Boy Scout training is a +Knowledge of Woodcraft. This necessitates a book embracing all the +subjects and treating on all the topics that a thorough knowledge of +Woodcraft implies. + +This book thoroughly exhausts the subject. It imparts a comprehensive +knowledge of woods from fungus growth to the most stately monarch of the +forest; it treats of the habits and lairs of all the feathered and furry +inhabitants of the woods. Shows how to trail wild animals; how to +identify birds and beasts by their tracks, calls, etc. Tells how to +forecast the weather, and in fact treats on every phase of nature with +which a Boy Scout or any woodman or lover of nature should be familiar. +The authorship guarantees its authenticity and reliability. +Indispensable to "Boy Scouts" and others. Printed from large clear type +on superior paper. + +Embellished With Over 100 Thumb Nail Illustrations Taken From Life + +Bound in Cloth. Stamped with unique and appropriate designs in ink. + +Price, 75c Postpaid + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + +701-727 S. DEARBORN ST.--CHICAGO + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +ALWAYS ASK FOR THE DONOHUE +COMPLETE EDITIONS--THE BEST FOR LEAST MONEY + + +Donohue's Plays, Dialogs, Readings, Recitations, Etc. + +A CAREFULLY compiled series of books, which includes everything that is +fresh, popular and up-to-date. Embracing, Humorous, Sentimental, +Patriotic, Serious, Comic, Eloquent, Pathetic, Character and Dialect +Sketches that are always in demand. + +MODEL SERIES OF SPEAKERS AND DIALOGS + +Nos. 1 to 14, recitations and dialogs for all occasions, price, 10c +each. + +COMIC READINGS AND RECITATIONS + +192 pages all comic and humorous, price, 25c in paper. 50c in cloth. + +PATRIOTIC RECITATIONS AND READINGS + +192 pages for all patriotic occasions, price, 25c in paper. 50c in +cloth. + +TOMMY'S FIRST SPEAKER + +Over 300 short, simple pieces for little tots. Cloth, 50c. + +TOMMY'S SECOND SPEAKER + +Over 200 serious, quaint pieces for older ones. Cloth, 50c. + +DEARBORN SPEAKER AND DIALOGS + +Original and selected readings for all purposes with observations for +study and practice. Cloth, 75c. + +YOUNG FOLKS DIALOGS AND DRAMAS + +Short, pretty, funny for all occasions, paper 25c. Cloth, 50c. + +EVERYBODY'S SPEAKER AND ENTERTAINER + +Contains select readings, dialogs and dramas. Illustrated. Cloth, $1.50 + +AMERICAN STAR SPEAKER AND ELOCUTIONIST + +Complete text on how to recite. 225 selections, 550 pages. Cloth $2.00 + +The above books have been carefully prepared for pupils of all ages, and +are especially adopted for the use of Schools, Churches, Lyceums, +Anniversaries, Temperance Societies, Lodges, in fact, they are +indispensable when preparing for _any_ public entertainment. + +For sale by all Book and Newsdealers, or will be sent to any address in +the United States, Canada or Mexico, postage paid, on receipt of price, +in currency, money order or stamps. + +M. A. DONOHUE & CO. + +701-727 S. DEARBORN STREET--CHICAGO + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Punctuation has been normalized to contemporary standards. + +2. corrections to typographic errors in original: + + Table of Contents listed Chapter VIII on page 17, corrected to 71. + + p. 11 "samee" to "same" ("But all the same, I want") + + p. 26 "sup-up" to "sun-up" ("since sun-up") + + p. 29 "fresk" to "fresh" ("hankering after fresh milk") + + p. 41 "superflous" to "superfluous" ("superfluous burdens") + + p. 48 "promises" to "promised" ("promised to be a most fortunate thing") + + p. 73 "mortagge" to "mortgage" ("meant to pay off my mortgage") + + p. 79 "befel" to "befell" ("seldom if ever befell ordinary lads") + + p. 81 "alway" to "always" ("as the papers always make out") + + p. 85 "trememduous" to "tremendous" ("tremendous cheer") + + p. 101 "or" to "of" ("habit of relying") + + p. 112 "susprised" to "surprised" ("not very much surprised") + + p. 143 "commisseration" to "commiseration" ("glance of commiseration") + + p. 146 "Jersualem" to "Jerusalem" ("well-known Jerusalem pike") + + p. 149 "price" to "pride" ("with pardonable pride in his voice") + + First advertising page ("Boys Copyrighted Books"): + "Tayne" to "Jayne" ("Lieut. R. H. Jayne.") + + Fourth advertising page ("Donohue's Plays"): + "eveything" to "everything" ("everything that is fresh") + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Boy Scouts on a Long Hike, by +Archibald Lee Fletcher + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY SCOUTS ON A LONG HIKE *** + +***** This file should be named 18952.txt or 18952.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/9/5/18952/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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