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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/20789-h.zip b/20789-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..57b8416 --- /dev/null +++ b/20789-h.zip diff --git a/20789-h/20789-h.htm b/20789-h/20789-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3b2c17 --- /dev/null +++ b/20789-h/20789-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8196 @@ +<!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 The Grammar School Boys Snowbound, by H. Irving Hancock. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Grammar School Boys Snowbound, by H. Irving Hancock + +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: The Grammar School Boys Snowbound + or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: March 10, 2007 [EBook #20789] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Front matter"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="255" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</td><td align='center'><br /><img src="images/illus01.png" width="262" height="400" alt=""It's Fits—Mr. Fits Himself!"" title=""It's Fits—Mr. Fits Himself!"" /> +<br /><span class="caption">"It's Fits—Mr. Fits Himself!"</span> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>The Grammar School<br />Boys Snowbound</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>Dick & Co. at Winter Sports</h2> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>H. IRVING HANCOCK</h2> + +<div class='center'><br /> +Author of The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, The Grammar School<br /> +Boys in the Woods, The High School Boys' Series, The West Point<br /> +Series, The Annapolis Series, The Boys of the Army<br /> +Series, The Motor Boat Club Series, Etc., Etc.<br /> +<br /> +<br /><br /> +Illustrated<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +P H I L A D E L P H I A<br /> +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'><small><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1911, <span class="smcap">by Howard E. Altemus</span></small></div> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents and Book spine image"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/spine.jpg" width="59" height="400" alt="Spine" title="Spine" /> +</td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Really a Great Plan, But——</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_7'>7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick and Co. Find Cause for Glee</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Campaign to Coax Parents</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_38'>38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Remembered"—By Mr. Fits?</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_52'>52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick Tries Strategy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_62'>62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Log Cabin's Telltale Hearth</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Prowler of the Night</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Worming the Truth from a Whiner</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_88'>88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Intruder Who Tried to be Boss</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_100'>100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Grip of the Big Blizzard</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_107'>107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Six Boys and Another in Cold Storage</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_120'>120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Blizzard Toil and a Mystery</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Visitor by the Air Route</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_140'>140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Mysterious Noises of the Night</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_150'>150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dick Strikes a Real Find</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_155'>155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Keen on the Trail of the Puzzle</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hen Turns His Voice Loose</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_175'>175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Young Mr. Come-Back & Co.</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_186'>186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Not a Love Feast</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_196'>196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cook Shack Disaster</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_203'>203</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On the Trail Backward</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_215'>215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hen Dutcher is Modest</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_226'>226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">This Time is as Good as Any Other</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_236'>236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_244'>244</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Grammar School Boys<br />Snowbound</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>REALLY A GREAT PLAN, BUT——</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 53px;"> +<img src="images/a.png" width="53" height="55" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>S</b></big> Hen Dutcher came up to a group of boys on the ice, and slowed down +his speed, he stuck the point of his right skate in the ice to bring +himself to a full stop.</div> + +<p>"Huh! You fellows think you're some smart on fancy skating, don't you?" +he demanded rather scornfully.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Dave Darrin shortly.</p> + +<p>"You been showing off a lot, then."</p> + +<p>"Hen," grimaced Dave, "I'm afraid you're going to miss your calling in +life."</p> + +<p>"Didn't know I had any," grunted Hen.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have; one of your own choosing, too."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Hen curiously.</p> + +<p>"You're a walking anvil chorus."</p> + +<p>"An anvil chorus?" repeated Hen Dutcher, the puzzled expression +deepening in his face.</p> + +<p>"Yes; wherever you go the fellows are sure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> to hear the sounds of +'hammering' and 'knocking.'"</p> + +<p>A score of boys grinned, a dozen laughed outright. But Hen wasn't bright +enough to see the point.</p> + +<p>"What's an anvil got to do with it all?" demanded Hen in a puzzled tone. +"An anvil belongs in a blacksmith shop."</p> + +<p>"And that's where you ought to go, to do all your 'hammering' and +'knocking,'" explained Dave, as he skated slowly away.</p> + +<p>"Huh! You think you're smart!" growled Hen, who still couldn't see why +the other fellows had laughed.</p> + +<p>"Hen," remarked Dick Prescott, "I'm afraid you're not up to concert +pitch."</p> + +<p>"Concert pitch?" repeated the dense one. "No, I know I'm not. Did I ever +make any claim to being musical?"</p> + +<p>"You see," hinted Greg Holmes, "the trouble with the Dutcher kid is that +he's all ivory, from his collar-button up."</p> + +<p>Another laugh greeted this assertion, but Hen only glared stupidly.</p> + +<p>"Ivory is all white, anyway," Hen muttered. "So am I."</p> + +<p>He swelled out his chest, did one or two fancy little things on skates, +and tried to look important. But none of the other fellows in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> group +on the ice seemed inclined to take young Dutcher at his own valuation.</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was a peculiar chap, at any rate. His worst fault, +probably—but one that led to other faults—was his egotism. He was +always thinking about himself and his own puny little interests. For the +life of him, Hen couldn't understand why he wasn't popular with other +fellows. He sometimes realized that he wasn't, but charged the fact up +to the other fellows being "too stuck on themselves, or on those +'boobs,' Dick Prescott and Dave Darrin."</p> + +<p>"Let's run Hen ashore and rub his face in the snow!" proposed one boy +gleefully.</p> + +<p>"You dassent!" flared up Hen. But half a dozen boys uttered a whoop and +skated toward him. Hen wobbled on his skates an instant, then turned, +intent on escape.</p> + +<p>"Oh, say, fellows," called Dick, "don't be all the time picking on poor +old Hen."</p> + +<p>"We'll just wash his face," shouted back one of the pursuers.</p> + +<p>Hen knew they meant it, and he was traveling down the ice, now, under +full steam.</p> + +<p>"Come on, fellows," called Dick, to Greg and to Tom Reade. "We don't +want to see Hen abused."</p> + +<p>"Why does he get so fresh, then?" demanded Greg, but he started, as did +Tom. Dick & Co.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> were all fleet skaters. They surged to the front of the +pursuers, who took it for granted that Dick and his friends were going +to aid them, and therefore set up a shout of joy.</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was traveling with so much effort that he panted hard as he +skated.</p> + +<p>"Get him, Dick!" sang out Ben Alvord, as Prescott shot ahead of the +others.</p> + +<p>Hen, looking back, saw Dick gaining on him swiftly, while Greg and Tom +were just behind.</p> + +<p>"They're mean as all-git-out!" sputtered panting Hen. "Why can't they +let a fellow alone? Don't they think I've got as much right to talk as +the rest of 'em? Well, I'll show 'em that I have!"</p> + +<p>At this moment Dick overtook the fugitive, linking arms with him.</p> + +<p>"You let me alone!" snarled Hen. "You're meaner'n poison!"</p> + +<p>"Am I?" smiled Dick. "See here, Hen, face about and don't let the +fellows bluff you out of a week's growth. Just turn on them. They won't +do anything to you."</p> + +<p>"If they try it on, I'll fix 'em, no matter what desperate thing I have +to do to get square," snarled Hen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, cut out all the war talk," Dick advised him gently. "Now, wheel +about."</p> + +<p>"You lemme alone! I know where I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> going," snapped Hen, making a big +effort to break loose from Dick's hold. The effort proved a disastrous +one, for Hen tripped himself, slid along for a few feet and then sat +down with a jarring bump on the ice. Dick Prescott all but shared the +same fate.</p> + +<p>"Now, we've got him!" chuckled Ben Alvord, racing in and reaching out +for the luckless Dutcher.</p> + +<p>The unexpected happened. Hen swung around, as on a pivot, extending a +foot in such a way as to trip Ben and send him down on his own face.</p> + +<p>In the gasp of astonishment that followed Hen got upon his feet, gave a +swift push with his left skate and was away.</p> + +<p>"After him, fellows!" roared Toby Ross. "We'll hold him and let Ben do +the face-washing."</p> + +<p>Dick, Tom and Greg had shot past the scene. Now they circled and came +back, their faces aglow with the fast sport and the keen air.</p> + +<p>Hen tried to make for the shore, but got in where the surface of the ice +was rough and choppy. Ned Allen and Toby reached out to grasp Hen as +they neared him. Young Dutcher made a switching-away movement, and the +next instant he had fallen flat on his face. He let out a howl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We've got him!" declared Toby, as he and Allen pounced on the prostrate +one.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but let him alone, fellows," urged Dick, reaching the scene and +halting. "Hen may have his faults, but it's time we chose another fellow +to pick on for a while."</p> + +<p>"We're going to wash his face," insisted Ben Alvord, skating up and +looking belligerent. "Don't you interfere, Dick Prescott!"</p> + +<p>Hen, making no effort to do more than sit up, was blubbering softly.</p> + +<p>"Lemme alone, fellows," he pleaded. "Can't you see I'm hurt?"</p> + +<p>Hen had his right mitten off, and was gingerly applying that hand to the +narrow stretch of upper lip. There was blood there. Hen, catching only +an imperfect view as he gazed down past the end of his nose, was sure +that he had been badly injured by his fall.</p> + +<p>Some of the other boys set up a yell of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Why, you big baby!" blurted Toby. "You've only scratched your lip on +the ice."</p> + +<p>"A handful of snow will heal it!" asserted Ben Alvord. "Come, get up, +bone-head! Come on to your dousing."</p> + +<p>"You lemme alone, I tell you!" screamed Dutcher, blubbering. "I've got +to go home and get myself attended to."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come on, booby!" jeered Alvord, forcing a hand under one of Hen's +shoulders and trying to lift him.</p> + +<p>"Lemme alone. Can't you see I'm badly hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Let Hen alone," broke in Dick quietly.</p> + +<p>"He's got to come ashore and have his face washed in the snow," insisted +Alvord. "Come, fellows, help me take him there."</p> + +<p>"You'd better step back and let him alone, Ben!" spoke Dick, more +quietly than before, but there was a sound of command in his voice as he +moved over between Hen and Alvord.</p> + +<p>"Get out of the way," growled Ben. "This ivory-top has got to have his +face washed in the snow."</p> + +<p>"And I say you're not going to do it," warned Dick.</p> + +<p>"He's too fresh, Hen is."</p> + +<p>"No committee of citizens has asked you to reform any one, Ben," Dick +went on good-humoredly. "You've got a few faults of your own that you +might remedy, and I guess we all have."</p> + +<p>"Come on, fellows, and rush Dutcher," called Ben Alvord. Ross, Allen and +others moved as though to help, but Dick was flanked by Tom and Greg. In +the distance Dave Darrin could be seen skating back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right, if you fellows insist on it," partly agreed Dick. "But if +trouble starts Hen is going to have some backing on his side, too."</p> + +<p>"I guess that's right," nodded Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Now, who's fresh?" challenged Ben Alvord hotly. "You, Dick Prescott."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I am," sighed Dick, "I'm ready to take my punishment for it. +At all events, I'll look after myself."</p> + +<p>"Yah, you will!" growled Ben angrily. "I notice that, just as soon as +anything starts, your gang always jump in on the scene!"</p> + +<p>"Dick will fight you, all alone, I know, Ben, if you want him to," +proposed Dave Darrin, coming slowly into the circle. "But perhaps you +don't want to fight Dick. You tried it once before, and got most +beautifully pounded."</p> + +<p>"Yah!" snarled Ben.</p> + +<p>"Well, didn't you?" demanded Dave.</p> + +<p>"Yah!" sneered Ben. "See here, Darrin, Prescott may be fresh, but he +ain't as bad as you are!"</p> + +<p>"So it's I you want to fight with, is it?" laughed Dave. "Come right on +to the shore, then, and don't try any bluffing."</p> + +<p>But Ben Alvord didn't care about putting up his guard before either of +these spirited youngsters of the Central Grammar School. After +sputtering a little Ben skated away by himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> Hen got up, after +dabbing his upper lip with his handkerchief and finding that the scratch +amounted to nothing. No further effort was made to molest Hen.</p> + +<p>"Now, when you talk, say something pleasant. Don't talk so disagreeably +all the time," advised Prescott in a low tone. "At least, not unless +you're really hunting trouble."</p> + +<p>"This is the meanest crowd I ever saw," declared Hen Dutcher stiffly. +"And you started it all, Dave Darrin, by nicknaming me 'Anvil Chorus!'"</p> + +<p>"You're at it again, Hen," sighed Dick. "Why can't you stop saying +disagreeable things?"</p> + +<p>Toby Ross, who had skated close enough to hear this last, now skated +away again to join a crowd of boys a little way off. Toby spoke to them +laughingly. Then, over the ice, came a mocking chorus:</p> + +<p>"Oh, you Anvil!"</p> + +<p>"There, you see," muttered Dutcher angrily, "you've gone and fastened +the nickname on me!"</p> + +<p>"Anvil! Anvil!" yelled other tormentors.</p> + +<p>"You're all of you about the meanest crowd of fellows I ever saw," +grunted Hen, as he started slowly to skate away.</p> + +<p>"And that's all the thanks you get, Dick, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> trying to use him a bit +decently," jeered Greg Holmes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I'm sorry for the fellow," muttered Prescott. "Hen is one of +those fellows who are never popular with any crowd and can never +understand why."</p> + +<p>Harry Hazelton and Dan Dalzell now skated up from town and joined their +chums. Dick & Co. were at last united.</p> + +<p>"Let's try a two-mile swift skate up river, fellows," urged Dick. +"Ready? Go!"</p> + +<p>Away went the six, moving along over the ice like young human +whirlwinds. Dick & Co. were known to be the best skaters of all the +Grammar School boys in town.</p> + +<p>Dick & Co. will need no introduction to the readers of the first volume +in this series, entitled "<span class="smcap">The Grammar School Boys of Gridley</span>." Our +readers have met all six of the young men, namely, Dick Prescott, Dave +Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton. It would +be hard to find six manlier boys of thirteen—now all of them close to +their fourteenth birthdays.</p> + +<p>Readers of the previous volume know on what grounds it can be claimed +that these six were real leaders of the little Grammar School world of +Gridley. Dick & Co. were ardent lovers of all forms of outdoor sports. +All were keen for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> baseball. As runners these six youngsters were just +beginning to develop as a result of self-training. The September before +Dick Prescott had organized, at the Central Grammar School, a football +squad. Things were moving well in this line until delegations came over +from the North and South Grammars, to see about organizing a Grammar +School football league. The delegates from the two other schools, +however, displayed lack of harmony, and the football idea fell through.</p> + +<p>Now, however, winter was on in earnest, and Dick & Co. were in their +element, for, of all sports, they loved those that went with winter. All +six were fearless coasters; no hill was too steep, too long or too +dangerous. On the ice Dick & Co. felt all the bounding pulse of life.</p> + +<p>This day was the twenty-fourth of December. School had closed in order +to give the Gridley youngsters a free hand on the last day before +Christmas.</p> + +<p>The river had been frozen in fine condition for more than a week. Not +more than four inches of snow had fallen, but all the boys knew that the +season gave promise of more snow ere long.</p> + +<p>As Dick & Co. skated along the number of other skaters became fewer. At +last they reached a part of the river where they had the ice all to +themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's Payson's orchard, Greg," sang out Dave Darrin. "The place where +you got grabbed last fall, by Dexter and Driggs, and carried off to be +shut up in that cave."</p> + +<p>"Say, we ought to hunt up that cave, fellows," called Greg. "Whee! It +might make a bully place for a winter camp. Now, that we've got the two +weeks and more of holiday vacation, wouldn't it be fine to slip off and +camp a few days in that cave?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing," retorted Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Dan asked.</p> + +<p>"You remember that I went off, yesterday after school, on a sleigh ride +with Jim Foley?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, we went by that cave," Tom continued. "Nothing would do but that +we stop. Jim had a lantern on the sleigh. We lit the lantern and got +into the cave. Whew! We nearly got drowned. I meant to tell you fellows +about it, but forgot it."</p> + +<p>"How did you come near getting drowned in a cave?" Greg demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why, the outlandish place isn't weather-tight," responded Tom. "You +know, the flooring slopes slightly upward from the entrance. There are a +lot of cracks that rain and snow-water leak through. It was all little +rivulets inside the place. Camp? Huh! It'd make a bet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>ter extra +reservoir for the town water-works, that place would!"</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" muttered Greg. "I have had a notion that it would be huge fun +to camp out in such a place."</p> + +<p>"I've got another idea about that," spoke up Dan.</p> + +<p>"Fire away!" begged Reade.</p> + +<p>"A cousin of mine who visited me last summer told me about the kind of +camp he and some of his chums had. It was a sort of manufactured cave. +The fellows dug an oblong hole in the ground. Just like a cellar in +shape, you know. It was eight feet wide and twelve feet long. When they +had it all dug out the fellows laid boards over the hole for a roof. +Then they piled dirt back on top of the boards, and on top of the dirt +they laid the sods that they first dug up. At a corner in one end the +fellows left a square hole in the roof, to use for an entrance. For a +door they made a square board cover to fit over the entrance hole. At +the upper end of the cave they dug into the dirt wall and made a stove. +They dug another hole down from above to connect with it, and that made +a dandy stove and chimney. My cousin and his chums used to do a lot of +cooking there. Then they laid down more old boards to make a floor, and +boarded most of the wall space, too.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> Last of all, they took up an old +table and old chairs, and they had just a dandy camp! Say, fellows, why +couldn't we have a camp like that?"</p> + +<p>"It would do all right for springtime," declared Tom Reade, "but we +couldn't work it in winter."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" challenged Dan.</p> + +<p>"Not unless, Danny, you want to be the strong man who's going to dig +down into the ground through two or three feet of frost."</p> + +<p>Dan looked a bit crestfallen.</p> + +<p>"Besides," declared Dick thoughtfully, "every time there was a thaw or a +big rain the cave you're talking about making would be nothing but a big +cistern, half-full of water. But we could dig and fit up such a cave +somewhere in the woods in springtime, fellows."</p> + +<p>"Only we don't have much vacation in the spring," broke in Greg +disappointedly, "and it certainly would be grand to go into camp right +after Christmas Day, if we could be warm enough and have enough to eat."</p> + +<p>"It would be great sport," nodded Dick.</p> + +<p>"Then let's do it," glowed Greg.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have the camping place all picked out, and permission to +use it," smiled Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Well, no," admitted Greg. "But why can't we fix up some sort of +place?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How?" Dave Darrin wanted to know. "If we try going into camp at this +time of the year we want, first of all, some place above ground, with +enough daylight and sunlight. We want a weather-tight place that we can +keep properly warm."</p> + +<p>"All of that," agreed Dick.</p> + +<p>"Why can't we build a place, out in the woods somewhere?" Greg insisted.</p> + +<p>"For one thing," objected Tom Reade quizzically, "there are no leaves at +this time of the year."</p> + +<p>"What do we want leaves for?" queried Greg.</p> + +<p>"To lay on the roof, like shingles."</p> + +<p>"Bosh!" snapped Holmes. "We'd build our camp of wood."</p> + +<p>"Well, where'll we get the wood?" came from Dave.</p> + +<p>"We can carry it from home," proposed Greg.</p> + +<p>"No lumber pile in our yard. Is there in yours?" Dave insisted.</p> + +<p>"We can use the boards from old boxes and things," went on Greg +desperately.</p> + +<p>"Oh, excuse me!" mimicked Tom Reade. "I am not camping out in any +grocery boxes at this cold time of the year."</p> + +<p>"You might go home nights, then," hinted Greg disdainfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The whole camping idea is a great one, if we could only put it +through," declared Dick.</p> + +<p>"Then let's put it through," pressed Greg Holmes. "Where there's a will +there's a way, you know."</p> + +<p>"The trouble is that we need a pocketbook more than a will," returned +Prescott doubtfully. "It would take lumber to build a winter camp, even +if we could prove ourselves good enough carpenters."</p> + +<p>"How much money would it take?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't believe a hundred dollars would go far," declared Reade.</p> + +<p>"Make it a thousand, then," laughed Darrin. "We fellows couldn't raise +either sum in a year."</p> + +<p>"It's too bad," sighed Harry Hazelton. "A good camp, at this time of the +year, would be huge fun!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; it would," agreed Dick. "I don't see the way now, but we may find +it. We can keep on hoping."</p> + +<p>"Hey, you boobs!" called a disagreeable voice across the ice.</p> + +<p>All of the six Grammar School boys slowed down and turned around. They +found themselves looking at a solitary skater who had slowed down. He +was Fred Ripley, son of Lawyer Ripley, one of the wealthy men of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +town. Fred was never over polite to those whom he considered as his +"inferiors." Besides, young Ripley was now in his freshman year at the +Gridley High School. As such, he naturally looked down on mere Grammar +School boys, none of whom, perhaps, would ever reach the dignity of +"attending High."</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Ripley?" called Dick. "Planning to give us a lesson +in the art of polite speech?"</p> + +<p>"Cut the funny talk," grumbled Fred. "Prescott, did you get a letter +from my guv'nor this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no; I didn't know your father was in the habit of writing me +letters. Anyway, I left home before the mail carrier was due."</p> + +<p>"Guv'nor said that was likely to happen," continued Fred. "So he told +me, if I saw you fellows on the ice, to say that he wanted to see you."</p> + +<p>"All of us?" Dave wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"I reckon so. And the guv'nor said it was important, too. You boobs had +better crank up your skates and make fast time. Guv'nor won't be at his +office late to-day."</p> + +<p>"What——" began Dick.</p> + +<p>"The guv'nor gave me a message to you fellows, and I've delivered it," +cut in Fred airily, as he started to skate away. "That's all I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> got +to do in the matter. I don't care to stand here all day. Somebody that +knew me might come along and catch me talking with you."</p> + +<p>"The snob!" muttered Dave indignantly.</p> + +<p>"What on earth can the lawyer want of us?" pondered Greg.</p> + +<p>"Generally, when a lawyer sends for you, it means trouble," guessed +Dalzell.</p> + +<p>"Or else some relative has died and left you a lot of money," added +Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"Well, in any case," replied Dick, "we six fellows haven't the same +relative, anywhere, and Fred said his father wanted to see all of us."</p> + +<p>"We haven't been doing anything—nothing wrong, anyway," declared Dan +virtuously.</p> + +<p>"We won't know the answer until we've seen Mr. Ripley," declared Dick. +"We'll have to go around there after dinner to-day."</p> + +<p>"Why not go now?" proposed Tom Reade. "We haven't anything special to do +with our time."</p> + +<p>"You fellows haven't much imagination, have you?" laughed Dave, his eyes +twinkling mysteriously.</p> + +<p>"Have you guessed?" demanded Dick Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's only a guess, of course, and it may be a wild one."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Out with it!" ordered Tom Reade sharply.</p> + +<p>"You know, fellows," Dave continued, "that we did some service for Mrs. +Dexter last fall, and that she tried to reward us. Now that she's gone +away to parts unknown, perhaps you also know that Lawyer Ripley is +managing her money affairs these days."</p> + +<p>"Then——" gasped Greg.</p> + +<p>"Why, fellows, now that Mrs. Dexter is away, and we can't stop her, and +as to-morrow will be Christmas, why, perhaps——"</p> + +<p>Not one single member of Dick & Co. was at all lacking in imagination +now!</p> + +<p>"Why, do you think——"</p> + +<p>"I wonder if——"</p> + +<p>"Fellows," hinted Dick Prescott dryly, and in a tone that hid the +excitement going on within him, "it won't take us long to skate back to +Gridley!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>DICK & CO. FIND CAUSE FOR GLEE</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 45px;"> +<img src="images/l.png" width="45" height="55" alt="L" title="L" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>AWYER RIPLEY</b></big> was one of the important men of the little city of +Gridley. His law practice, which he did not now follow on account of the +need of an income, put him in touch with all the wealthier people of the +place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></div> + +<p>In manner the lawyer was rather severe and austere. He was a good deal +of an aristocrat. While he did not seek to repel people, he had little +of the knack of drawing people to him in democratic fashion.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" he called, in answer to the knock that Dick gave on the door.</p> + +<p>As the boys entered they saw the lawyer pausing beside his coat rack.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid we have gotten along a little too late, sir," apologized +Dick Prescott.</p> + +<p>"I can spare you two or three minutes," said the lawyer, turning and +going back to his desk.</p> + +<p>"Your son said you wished to see us," Prescott continued.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the lawyer, pulling a drawer in his desk open and glancing +inside. "Late yesterday afternoon I received a letter from my client, +Mrs. Dexter, who directed me to hand you each a new ten-dollar bill, +with her best wishes for a Merry Christmas added."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that Mrs. Dexter intends that as a reward for what we were +able to do for her last fall," cried Dick, flushing. "We tried to tell +her, at the time, that we didn't want any reward and that we wouldn't +feel comfortable in taking one."</p> + +<p>"Nothing was said in Mrs. Dexter's letter about a reward," replied the +lawyer dryly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> "She directed me to hand you the banknotes in place of +Christmas cards. I suppose you young gentlemen have no objection to +receiving Christmas cards?"</p> + +<p>Lawyer Ripley took out several banknotes. One of these he now held out +to Prescott.</p> + +<p>Dick flushed again, looked embarrassed, then reached out his hand slowly +and took the money.</p> + +<p>"Will you send Mrs. Dexter our thanks, sir, and tell her that we enjoyed +the cards very much?"</p> + +<p>"Especially the pictures on them," added Dan Dalzell, as he received his +banknote.</p> + +<p>"I will send all your messages," nodded the lawyer, as he continued the +distribution.</p> + +<p>"Say—whoop!" suddenly exploded Greg Holmes.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter—yours counterfeit?" laughed Dan.</p> + +<p>"Say, fellows," Greg went on, "we were wishing we had the funds to build +some sort of a camp. We can do it, now, can't we?"</p> + +<p>"What kind of camp?" inquired Lawyer Ripley, looking mildly interested. +"And for what would you use a camp?"</p> + +<p>"Why, for camping, I suppose," confessed Greg.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't live in a tent, at this time of the year, would you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If we had to," assented young Holmes. "What we were talking about was +building some kind of a shack in the woods somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Rather a bad time of the year for building operations," smiled Lawyer +Ripley dryly.</p> + +<p>"But this wouldn't be so very much of an operation, sir," urged Greg. +"Now that we've sixty dollars between us, we ought to be able to buy +enough lumber to put up quite a shanty."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and probably have enough money left to pay for the teaming of the +lumber a few miles," agreed the man of law. "But there wouldn't be +enough to pay the carpenters."</p> + +<p>"We might be able to build a small shack ourselves," proposed Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Why, so you might," admitted the lawyer, half smiling. "However, any +task that is worth doing is much better done by one used to that kind of +work. When do you want to go camping?"</p> + +<p>"Why, right after to-morrow, Christmas," replied Dick. "We could stay in +the woods, if our parents let us go, until about the end of the present +vacation."</p> + +<p>"It would take you at least that length of time to build the shack, I +should think," suggested the lawyer. "Until you had it built you might +have to wrap up in the snow at night for your sleep. And, then, when you +had it all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> built, you would discover that the shack didn't belong to +you, but to the owner of the land on which you built it. He could order +you away from the shack if he were so disposed."</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought of that," admitted Greg, looking crestfallen.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we won't camp," spoke up Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"The greatest difficulty," suggested the lawyer, "would be getting the +consent of your parents to any such madcap scheme as going off into the +woods to camp, day after day, in mid-winter."</p> + +<p>"There might be some difficulty about that, sir," replied Prescott. "But +now it looks as though the one really big problem would be to get a camp +on the money that we now have, and to be ready to go into it in season +during this school vacation."</p> + +<p>"That would really be but a very slight difficulty," rejoined the +lawyer.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could see how you make that out, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why, as it happens, in the property that Mrs. Dexter's grandfather left +her there's the strip called Hobson's woods, you know. The forest is a +pretty big affair. In fact, it's what's generally called wild country. +But there are a thousand acres of the woods, worth about four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> dollars +an acre, that now belong to Mrs. Dexter. She authorized me to find a +buyer for that bit of the forest, but it seems to be out of the +question. Now, on Mrs. Dexter's land, in about the middle of it, and +less than two hundred feet off the main trail, is one of the few real +old log cabins left in this part of the United States. The cabin is in +pretty good repair, too, I fancy, for Mrs. Dexter's grandfather used to +do logging out that way. Later in his life, when he had amassed money, +the old gentleman used to go out to that cabin to live for a while, two +or three times in every year. The place was in excellent repair when he +died. It is still, I imagine."</p> + +<p>There was a breathless silence as the lawyer ceased speaking. How the +thought of that log cabin, out in the deep forest, appealed to the +imaginations of such Grammar School boys as these!</p> + +<p>"Well, sir?" asked Greg breathlessly, at last.</p> + +<p>"Young men, if your parents should consent to your going on such a wild, +madcap picnic in mid-winter, I would let you have the use of that cabin. +But you may have the use of the cabin at any other time, as long as the +cabin remains in Mrs. Dexter's name, so I would suggest your going in +the spring or summer."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw!" leaped to Greg Holmes's lips,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> but he choked back the +exclamation. What use would boys have for a log cabin in summer, when +there was a chance to use it in mid-winter? Besides, the summer seemed a +long way off.</p> + +<p>"Is there any water near the cabin, Mr. Ripley?" asked Tom Reade, who +possessed a practical head in such matters.</p> + +<p>"Yes; a spring, within perhaps twenty or thirty feet of the doorway," +nodded the lawyer. "Inside the cabin is one of the big, old-fashioned +fire-places——"</p> + +<p>"O-o-oh! A-a-ah!" gasped the youngsters in chorus.</p> + +<p>"There are also eight bunks in the place, each with a straw or dry-leaf +mattress," continued Mr. Ripley. "There are table and chairs, hand made +and of the crudest kind, and some few tools."</p> + +<p>"Say, wouldn't that make an ideal camp?" demanded Dick Prescott, turning +to his chums, his eyes glowing.</p> + +<p>All their faces were flushed with the excitement of the thing. Now that +it was so close, and practical, all the boys of Dick & Co. felt a wild +desire to be up and away for camp at once.</p> + +<p>"And you say we may have the cabin, sir, and the right to cut some +firewood in the forest?" Dick asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I said you could, if you had your parents' full and free permission to +go," replied Lawyer Ripley. "That, I fancy, is a very different thing."</p> + +<p>"But if we get that permission, sir," urged Dick, "and come back and +tell you so, then you will let us——"</p> + +<p>"If you get home permission, you won't need to come back to me at all," +replied Lawyer Ripley, smiling, as he rose. "Just go and help yourselves +to the cabin and what few improvements it contains. But I am afraid, +boys, you are going to be very much disappointed if you expect that your +parents will consent. I think it very unlikely that you'll get any such +permission. I will send your thanks to Mrs. Dexter, and will also tell +her what I have told you about the use of the camp. As to-morrow will be +Christmas, I shall not be back here to-day. If you go camping, +boys—which I don't believe you will—don't burn the old cabin down +unless you find it necessary in order to keep warm enough."</p> + +<p>As Lawyer Ripley now made it plain that he was about to leave, the boys +hastily repeated their thanks and left the office.</p> + +<p>Not until they got down into the street did any of them feel like +speaking.</p> + +<p>"Say, fellows, if that isn't the grandest——" suddenly blazed forth +Greg.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's all right," nodded Tom.</p> + +<p>"I'm going camping, if I can get any of you fellows to go with me," +announced Dave Darrin.</p> + +<p>"If your folks will let you, you mean," interrupted Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"They will," Dave contended. "And so will yours, Dick."</p> + +<p>"I—I hope so," sighed Dick, his eyes dancing. "I never before in my +life wanted to do anything as much as I now want to go camping."</p> + +<p>"With the still woods, all snow-covered!" cried Dan enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"And the cold nights, with the great fire roaring up the chimney!" +supplied Greg.</p> + +<p>"And some hunting!"</p> + +<p>"And the jolly fun of cooking our own food!"</p> + +<p>These youngsters, as they hurried along the street, were in grave danger +of being lost in the depths of their own excitement.</p> + +<p>"Say, I wonder if there'd be any fishing out there—through the ice?" +demanded Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"There'd be some rabbit hunting, anyway," supplied Dan.</p> + +<p>"If we can only get leave to go!" groaned Greg anxiously.</p> + +<p>"See here, fellows," muttered Dick, halting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> suddenly. "We've simply got +to get that leave from our parents!"</p> + +<p>"But how?" challenged Dan.</p> + +<p>"That's what we've got to think out right now. And, by hookey! I believe +I have an idea. Fellows, we have ten dollars apiece."</p> + +<p>"My mother will say that I must put that in bank," grunted Dan.</p> + +<p>"Wait! Of course, with ten dollars apiece, we've got to consult our +parents as to how the money is to be spent," Dick went on. "Now, that is +a matter that will call for a little diplomacy. Some of what our +principal, Old Dut, calls 'finish'—no, '<i>finesse</i>.'"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Dan wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's a Latin or a Greek word, or something of the sort, meaning to +put a fine edge on a piece of business," Dick explained tranquilly. +"What I mean is this, fellows: Each one of us will go home and show the +money to his father—his father only. Then each one of us will ask +permission to spend five dollars of the money on a present for his +mother, to be given to her to-morrow morning as a surprise. Then we'll +ask our dads for leave to use the other five dollars towards +provisioning our camp. Fellows, if you go about it the right way, I'm +sure you can each get leave for the camping expedition! I feel just +about sure on my own account."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But how about our mothers?" inquired Dan dubiously.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think the present will smooth the way with the mothers?" +laughed Dave Darrin.</p> + +<p>"It ought to," smiled Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we could get our mothers something pretty nice with two +dollars apiece?" asked Harry Hazelton speculatively.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't get anything nice enough for my mother with two dollars, +when I have more money," Dick replied promptly.</p> + +<p>Hazelton's money-saving plan was promptly voted down.</p> + +<p>"So now," proposed Dick, "all we have to do is to hurry home and hustle! +Beat your way to it, fellows!"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" Greg gasped.</p> + +<p>Hurrying along Main Street, through the crowds of Christmas shoppers, +the Grammar School boys were on the point of parting, to go their +several ways homeward, when they came upon a scene that halted them.</p> + +<p>More than two dozen people, mostly women, had gathered around a +shabby-looking man who was clutching wildly at a lamp post, and yet +seemed in momentary danger of falling. His lips were thickly covered +with foam, his eyes glaring, and the fellow was talking wildly, in low +tones, as though to himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come away and leave him. He's intoxicated," announced one woman +shrilly.</p> + +<p>"He's not intoxicated," responded another matron indignantly. "There is +no odor of liquor about the poor man. And drunken men don't froth at the +mouth. This poor fellow is ill—very ill. It must be a fit—maybe +epilepsy. Some of you women who have a little more brains and heart than +others help me to take this poor fellow to the drug store."</p> + +<p>There were willing hands enough, now, among the women. Three or four +tried to take hold of the sufferer at once. That victim of an unknown +malady clutched and gripped at the good Samaritans as they tried to +steer him along the street toward the drug store. To hold him up was all +four women could do together, so progress along the street was slow +indeed.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Dr. Bentley in his auto. Stop him, some one!"</p> + +<p>The doctor quickly ran his car in toward the curb and leaped out. A fine +man and a busy physician, Dr. Bentley was never too much occupied to +stop and help an unfortunate man.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bentley's big frame and broad shoulders loomed up in the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Let me have the man on one side," urged the doctor. "One of you ladies +might help hold him on the other side."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's the matter with the man, doctor?" cried several.</p> + +<p>"Really, ladies, I can't tell until I've had a chance to examine the +man. It may be a fit of some sort. I think likely it is. But we will get +him to the drug store first, and into the back room. Then I can examine +the poor chap comfortably."</p> + +<p>Though seemingly "out of his head," the sufferer succeeded in throwing +his arms about a great deal.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, Dick, who had been following and watching with wide-open +eyes, called out lustily:</p> + +<p>"Dr. Bentley, your overcoat is open, your chain is hanging with no watch +on it, and your scarf pin is gone!"</p> + +<p>That announcement electrified the situation. Dr. Bentley glanced down +swiftly, then threw one hand up to his necktie.</p> + +<p>"My purse is gone from my chatelaine!" cried one of the women who had +been helping.</p> + +<p>"My purse is gone, too!"</p> + +<p>It was amazing to see how quickly the sufferer from the fit galvanized +into action. He straightened up suddenly, gave himself a violent wrench +and shook himself free of those who had sought to aid him.</p> + +<p>With a bound the fellow was off and away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> As he sprang he spat from his +mouth the piece of soap that had supplied the foam to his lips.</p> + +<p>"Catch him, fellows!" yelled Dick.</p> + +<p>But only Tom and young Prescott were near enough to the path of flight. +Tom Reade leaped valiantly in, but was shoved off and sent spinning by +one of the burly fists of the rough.</p> + +<p>It was up to Dick to make the catch.</p> + +<p>Dick had his skates, strapped together, swinging from his right wrist. +He swung the skates back to strike at the fugitive. Ere he could do it +the man drove a big, hammer-like fist straight between Dick Prescott's +eyes in a way that sent that boy down like a log.</p> + +<p>The impact of that blow was heard by all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE CAMPAIGN TO COAX PARENTS</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 24px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="24" height="55" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>N</b></big> another moment the fleeing one had darted around the corner.</div> + +<p>Five members of Dick & Co., angry all the way through, were the first to +reach that corner.</p> + +<p>"There he goes, down the alley-way to the livery stable!" roared Dave +Darrin. "After him, fellows!"</p> + +<p>But by the time that the five reached the stable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> yard the fugitive was +out of sight. Men hurried up, and a quick search was made of the +neighborhood. It was soon certain, however, that the fellow had made +good use of his time and had gotten away. Two policemen who were among +the latest arrivals on the scene gave it as their opinion that further +chase would be worse than useless.</p> + +<p>So Dick's chums turned back, to see how their leader had fared.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bentley was leaning over the boy, who, white and lifeless, lay at +the edge of the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Take him to the drug store, doctor," urged one of the women.</p> + +<p>"He'll revive quicker in the open air, madam," answered the physician.</p> + +<p>"Is young Prescott very badly hurt?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell yet," said Dr. Bentley. "There doesn't seem to be any +fracture of the bone at the point where he was struck. And the back of +his head seems to be sound and whole. I think Master Dick is simply +stunned."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bentley stepped over to his auto, took out a drug case and selected +a vial from it.</p> + +<p>"Get me a glass of water, someone, and promptly," he directed.</p> + +<p>The water was quickly brought. After pouring a few drops from the vial +into it, the medical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> man supported Dick's head and poured some of the +stuff into his mouth.</p> + +<p>After a short time Dick opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Wh-what kicked me?" he asked slowly.</p> + +<p>"The fist of that gentleman with soap-made fits," replied the physician +dryly. "Take a few deep breaths, Prescott. Now, a little more from the +glass. Breathe hard again. There, do you feel as though you'd like to +get on your feet?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Dick replied.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bentley helped him to his feet, supporting him and urging him to try +to walk a little. At about this time Dave and the others returned at a +trot.</p> + +<p>"Dick, I guess you saved some of us from losing more in the way of +valuables," smiled the medical man grimly. "For one, I'm ashamed of +myself. A man who has been practising medicine more than twenty years +should know too much to be taken in by sham fits on the part of a thief +who plays his trick in order to rob a crowd of Christmas shoppers."</p> + +<p>"You think he meant to rob us, then, doctor?" pressed a woman in the +crowd.</p> + +<p>"That fellow certainly did mean to do it," replied Dr. Bentley with +emphasis. "It's an old trick in a crowd—this sort of sham sickness."</p> + +<p>"And he got all my Christmas money—every cent of it—and carried it off +with him!" wailed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> one woman, who looked as though she could not afford +to lose much money.</p> + +<p>"He snatched my locket with the diamond in it!" vengefully exclaimed +another woman, exhibiting the broken ends of a neck chain.</p> + +<p>"My purse is gone. I had forty-two dollars in it."</p> + +<p>"I didn't get off very lightly, ladies," replied Dr. Bentley. "My scarf +pin wasn't so extremely valuable, but I feel badly about the watch, and +I shall feel worse when I realize its loss more fully. That was my +father's watch, and I valued it above money."</p> + +<p>"The police ought to catch that scoundrel," declared one of the women +losers.</p> + +<p>"Of course they ought," cried another. "If they don't catch the thief +what good are the police, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care much about their finding him, unless they also find my +forty-two dollars on him," mournfully proclaimed another of the losers.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for you, ladies. I don't deserve any sympathy, or very +little, for myself. Well, as the scoundrel has gotten away, and as young +Prescott is growing stronger, I shall go on my way to other patients who +need me."</p> + +<p>Dick was still rather dizzy and weak, but Dave's right arm supported +him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Does your head ache?" inquired Greg.</p> + +<p>"Guess," advised Dick dryly.</p> + +<p>As the two policemen had given up looking for the fugitive, and had gone +back to their posts, the crowd was melting. It was nearly noon, and most +people on the streets were moving homeward.</p> + +<p>"Guess you won't have a large appetite for the coming meal," observed +Tom Reade to Dick. "Whew! What a crack that sounded like when the +scoundrel struck you! It must have jarred away some of your appetite."</p> + +<p>"I can't tell about that until I try to eat," Dick answered.</p> + +<p>"No matter whether you eat much or not, but you want to be sure to ask +your mother for two cups of strong coffee with your dinner," advised +Darrin, with all the readiness of the amateur physician.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll go home, fellows," announced Dick, as the noon whistles +blew. "I advise the rest of you to hustle, too. Remember what you've got +to spring on your fathers when you get home. We want to have the whole +thing settled when we meet this afternoon. Try to put it through, all of +you, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to see you as far as your door, Dick, old fellow," Dave +insisted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll be feeling fine in another hour," Dick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> protested. "It just +knocked my senses for a minute or two."</p> + +<p>Shortly after one o'clock the chums gathered again on Main Street. Dick +now looked as keen as ever, and his eyes were shining.</p> + +<p>"It's all settled for me," he announced. "I can go camping."</p> + +<p>"So can I," Dave reported with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Dad almost as good as said I could go," Tom declared. "He'll agree to +it by to-night."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Dan?" queried Dick.</p> + +<p>"I can go—<i>not</i>," groaned Dalzell.</p> + +<p>"I hope to go," announced Greg. "All I could get out of my father was +that he was in a rush, but that he'd talk it over with me to-morrow and +let me know what he had to say."</p> + +<p>Hazelton admitted that he was in the same plight, as to a delayed +decision, but he did not speak as though he were very hopeful of being +permitted to go.</p> + +<p>"It'll just be a shame if we can't all go," Dave declared seriously. "It +won't be a quarter as much fun unless we have the whole crowd."</p> + +<p>"Say, watch that slim, well-dressed fellow with the brown derby," +whispered Hazelton. "See him coming along behind the two women. I'm sure +I saw him, earlier this morning, talking with the same fit-thrower that +bumped Dick."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Humph! So did I," muttered Dick. "I remember. This slim fellow was with +a short, thick-set man with a black moustache."</p> + +<p>"Right!" nodded Harry.</p> + +<p>"They must all be members of the same gang of thieves, then," flashed +Dick. "I've read in the newspapers that the thieves who work the +Christmas trade generally go in gangs. By crackey! Did you see that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" muttered Tom Reade excitedly.</p> + +<p>"What?" questioned Greg.</p> + +<p>"Why," explained Dick, "Mr. Slim put his hand in a woman's skirt pocket. +He slipped a wallet from her pocket to his."</p> + +<p>"That's what he did," nodded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Come along," urged Dick. "We'll see if we can come across a policeman +before Mr. Slim gets all the money in the town."</p> + +<p>Falling in by twos the Grammar School boys, full of excitement, trailed +after the slim, neatly dressed thief.</p> + +<p>Two blocks lower down the boys ran across Policeman Whalen, who, in +citizen's clothes, had been turned out to watch for thieves.</p> + +<p>In an undertone Dick called attention to the slim fellow, who was still +moving along in the moving crowds of shopping women. Whalen cautiously +took up the trail, while Dick & Co. fell back somewhat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two minutes later Whalen made a sudden leap forward, seizing the +suspected young man by the coat collar.</p> + +<p>"Stand by, till I shake ye down!" roared the policeman, thrashing the +thief about until the slim one's teeth chattered. A small morocco purse +fell to the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's mine!" cried a woman.</p> + +<p>"I know it, ma'am. I saw this spalpeen take it from your pocket," nodded +Policeman Whalen. "Come along with me, lad! And ye come, too, ma'am, and +claim your pocketbook."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad you saw him do it," quivered the young woman, her face +white from the shock caused by the thought of losing her Christmas +money.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have seen him do it," admitted Whalen honestly, "only Dick +Prescott called my attention to the spalpeen."</p> + +<p>The prisoner, who realized that he could not twist himself away from the +strong clutch of the policeman, scowled at Dick as the young woman +thanked him.</p> + +<p>A crowd formed in an instant, but Whalen broke up the excitement by +starting promptly along with his captive.</p> + +<p>Dick & Co. turned and followed a little way. The crowd that kept in the +wake of the policeman was soon a dense one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You'll be sorry for this, youngster!" growled a low, angry voice just +behind Dick.</p> + +<p>Like a flash Prescott wheeled. It was not plain, however, who, in all +that throng, had spoken to him. But Dick's roving gaze soon made out, +several yards away, a man in brown, wearing a gray overcoat. The fellow +was marching along with the throng as though he, too, were an idle +spectator.</p> + +<p>"That's the fit-thrower's other friend," flashed through Dick's mind. +"He must have been the fellow who spoke behind me just now, too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's not go any further," proposed Tom Reade. "We've seen folks +arrested before this."</p> + +<p>"Come along," said Dick shortly, not caring to explain his reasons just +at this moment.</p> + +<p>So the chums kept on in the wake of the crowd. A block further on a +uniformed policeman stepped forward to have a look at Whalen's prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Moll-buzzer," explained Policeman Whalen briefly to his brother of the +force. A "moll-buzzer" is a thief who robs women in crowds.</p> + +<p>The uniformed policeman fell back and the crowd moved forward, but Dick +seized the second policeman's coat sleeve.</p> + +<p>"There's another of the gang," whispered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> Dick, pointing to the +black-moustached man in the gray overcoat.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" demanded officer number two.</p> + +<p>"Positive," whispered Dick. "At least, we saw them talking together +early this morning."</p> + +<p>At this moment the man in the gray overcoat turned. He saw Dick and the +policeman talking in low tones. Without waiting an instant the man in +the gray overcoat darted forward, trying to break through the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Grab him!" shouted the policeman.</p> + +<p>Three or four men moved closer to obey.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" yelled some one frantically. "He's got a pistol."</p> + +<p>The citizen helpers drew away quickly at that information, but the delay +had been enough to enable the policeman to close in on his man. With his +locust stick the officer struck down the pistol hand and snatched away +the weapon. An instant later two prisoners were marching toward the +police station, the second one having been taken only on suspicion.</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, Dick Prescott!" cried Grocer Smith, laying a heavy but +approving hand across Dick's shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we all recognized the pair," Prescott answered modestly. "They were +together this morning, and the fit-thrower was with them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You boys will be sorry for making unfounded charges of this sort," +called back the black-moustached prisoner angrily. "Wait and see if +you're not."</p> + +<p>"Cut out the gloom, man!" ordered the uniformed policeman, giving his +captive a twist that hurt. "Don't be trying to frighten small boys."</p> + +<p>At the station house the crowd hung about outside.</p> + +<p>"Going inside, Dick!" asked Dave eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No one has asked us to. I guess we'd better wait out here unless we're +invited inside."</p> + +<p>The young woman, whose pocketbook had been taken, went inside. She +identified her property and made a charge against the pick-pocket. Both +prisoners again heard the name of Dick Prescott mentioned.</p> + +<p>The crowd melted after a little. Later the two prisoners were taken +before Justice Lee. Mr. Slim was sent away for six months on the charge +of pocket picking. The thick set captive in the gray overcoat, because +he could not give a good account of himself, was sentenced to ninety +days in the workhouse for vagrancy. Police and court were determined to +do all in their power to protect the Christmas shoppers.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Now, as to our camping plans," Dick resumed, a little later in the +afternoon. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> fellows who aren't yet sure that you can get leave to +go, will have to keep right on the trail until that permission is given. +You can say that some of us are going, and that may help you some at +home."</p> + +<p>"It may help the rest," suggested Dan Dalzell mournfully, "but nothing +will do me any good. I'm dished. No camping out in winter is going to +come my way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure," urged Dick. "But, at least, you can be +sure you won't go if you don't try some more coaxing."</p> + +<p>"Say, you come and do the coaxing yourself to-night, when dad is home," +begged Dan.</p> + +<p>"I will, if you think it will do any good, Danny," Prescott agreed.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, your little speech can't put the matter any further back +than it stands right now," Dalzell declared. "And, oh, dear! I do want +so badly to go with you fellows! I never wanted anything as much +before."</p> + +<p>"Say, we'll all go together, early this evening," proposed Dick, his +eyes now snapping. "We'll call in a body at the house of each fellow who +hasn't yet secured leave to go on the winter camping party. We will all +present the case. Perhaps we can put it through for the whole six. If we +can't all go there won't be nearly as much fun."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>Very soon, indeed, after supper, Dick & Co. were all assembled once +more.</p> + +<p>"You won't need to go to my house," Tom explained triumphantly. "My +father says I can go and he has brought mother around to agree to it."</p> + +<p>"Whose house shall we go to first, then?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Come to mine," begged Dan woefully.</p> + +<p>So to the Dalzell home they went. The boys pleaded their case both with +Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell. Neither parent, however, would do more than say +that "they would see."</p> + +<p>At Greg Holmes's house victory was quickly won, and Greg was happy. Next +Dick & Co. went in force to Harry Hazelton's home, where the coaxing was +renewed.</p> + +<p>"I want to sleep over this scheme, Harry," said Mr. Hazelton finally, +"and I think your mother does, too. We don't want to see you miss any +good times that you really ought to have, so I think, if the rest are +going, we shall probably decide to let you go, too. But I won't say +'yes' to-night. I'll wait and see how the idea strikes me to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess you're fixed, all right, Harry," grunted Dan when the +Grammar School boys had filed out of the Hazelton house. "But—oh, poor +me!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And now, see here, fellows, we want to get around into the stores +before we lose any more time," suggested Dick. "We don't want to forget +that each fellow is to spend half his money in buying the best present +he can get for his mother."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will pay—in my case?" asked Dan dolefully.</p> + +<p>"Shame on you, Danny boy!" growled Dave Darrin, giving Dalzell a sturdy +shaking.</p> + +<p>"Was there ever a time that it didn't pay a fellow to remember his +mother whenever he had a chance?" demanded Dick. "If my mother had said +'no' and had stuck to it, I'd be mighty glad over being able to get her +a solid Christmas present just the same."</p> + +<p>Within another hour the presents had been bought, the crowd sticking +together and giving collective advice for the benefit of each +individual.</p> + +<p>Then Dick went home. Instead of passing through the store, where both +his parents were, he took out his key and made for the door that +admitted to the living rooms above. Over the knob was tacked a piece of +paper. Dick took it off and carried it upstairs with him, where, in the +light of the parlor, he read this message, in scrawling print:</p> + +<p>"Wait and see if you ain't sorry!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This must be from the fit-thrower!" thought young Prescott, with an +inward jump.</p> + +<p>He was soon to know.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>"REMEMBERED"—BY MR. FITS?</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 49px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="49" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HROUGH</b></big> the night Dick slept as only an active, tired out boy can sleep. +If he woke once he had no recollection of it in the morning.</div> + +<p>This, too, despite the fact that it was Christmas, and he had all of a +boy's natural desire to know what the day was to bring him.</p> + +<p>Rat-tat-tat! sounded Mrs. Prescott's soft fist on Dick's bedroom door +that morning.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, son!" Mrs. Prescott called for the second time.</p> + +<p>"I—I'm awake," gasped Dick sleepily.</p> + +<p>"Get up, then, son. Have you forgotten that this is Christmas?"</p> + +<p>"No'm; I haven't." Dick's feet struck the floor heavily, and he reached +out for his clothing. "Merry Christmas, mother! Is dad there?"</p> + +<p>"He's out in the kitchen, raking the fire. Don't you hear him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm. Say, mother, have you seen your presents yet?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I found a handsome gold chain from your father on my bureau."</p> + +<p>"Was that all you found?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Where did you look?" chuckled Dick.</p> + +<p>"Why, on the parlor table, as usual, to be sure."</p> + +<p>"Better look again, mother," laughed Dick.</p> + +<p>By this time he was nearly dressed. He heard Mrs. Prescott going back +into the parlor.</p> + +<p>"I don't find anything else here for me," Mrs. Prescott called back in a +puzzled voice.</p> + +<p>"Mother, at this rate, you'll soon be needing specs," called Dick, +throwing open his bedroom door and looking out.</p> + +<p>"But I don't see anything else for me, Richard," insisted his mother, as +the boy entered the parlor.</p> + +<p>"Look again, mother. Surely, you——"</p> + +<p>Then Dick halted suddenly, staring hard at the table, and at the mantel +beyond.</p> + +<p>"Why, I left——" he began, and then looked more puzzled. At last he +grinned as the solution of the mystery came into his mind.</p> + +<p>"It's just one of dad's jokes," he laughed. "Or else dad forgot. I gave +it to him last night, to lay on the table after you had gone to bed. You +see, mother, this is the first Christmas that I have had money of my own +with which to buy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> you something really nice. I'll ask dad where it is."</p> + +<p>"Who's taking my name in vain?" called Mr. Prescott, as he came through +the hallway and looked in the parlor. "Merry Christmas, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Same to you, sir. But, say, what happened to that little package I +handed you for mother?"</p> + +<p>"I put it on the table before retiring last night," replied Mr. +Prescott. "It must be there—but it isn't, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Honest, now, dad, this isn't a joke, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Not on my part, anyway," replied the elder Prescott rather blankly.</p> + +<p>"Now, I suppose that you're both playing a little joke on me, trying to +make me curious and impatient," laughed Dick's mother.</p> + +<p>"But where is the package?" demanded Dick, exploring all around. His +father lent a helping hand in the search.</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind, Dick, dear," urged his mother. "My surprise is bound to +turn up. It couldn't have walked out of these rooms. Look at your own +package, my boy."</p> + +<p>Dick turned to glance eagerly at a not very large box, against which +rested a card bearing his own name. He saw, at a glance, that the box +bore the imprint of one of the Gridley jewelers.</p> + +<p>"I can guess!" cried Dick. "I know what's in the box!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Suppose you made a wrong guess?" laughed his mother teasingly. "Better +open it and make sure."</p> + +<p>Dick picked up the box with trembling fingers.</p> + +<p>"Mighty light, whatever it is," he murmured. Then he took off the cover.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" choked Dick. "O-o-o-h!"</p> + +<p>For all he saw resting in the box was a slip of white paper on which had +been poorly printed, in lead pencil, the words:</p> + +<p>"Merry Christmas, Master Butt-in!"</p> + +<p>"Some of Dad's fooling," laughed Dick a moment later.</p> + +<p>"Not much it isn't," retorted Mr. Prescott, taking a quick step forward. +"Let me see that paper."</p> + +<p>Dick handed it over, and his father read the words.</p> + +<p>"What on earth does this mean?" he demanded. "What we put in that box +was your first watch, Dick. A silver-cased watch and a very neat +gold-plated chain."</p> + +<p>One look at his father and a swift glance at his mother convinced the +boy that they had not been parties to any joke. Yet where were the watch +and chain?</p> + +<p>"Who could have left this slip of paper here?" asked Mrs. Prescott.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hardly any one outside of the family," replied Mr. Prescott. "I don't +understand this at all."</p> + +<p>"And mother's gift, too?" pondered Dick aloud, growing more puzzled +every instant.</p> + +<p>"Well, certainly no one else has been in this flat," went on Mrs. +Prescott.</p> + +<p>But Dick flew first to one parlor window, and then to the other. Next he +crossed the parlor in two bounds, dashing to his bedroom. He came back, +holding the slip of paper he had taken from the outer door the night +before.</p> + +<p>"The two slips look as though they had been printed by the same fellow, +don't they?" inquired the boy.</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Mr. Prescott. Dick told him about finding the other slip +on the door the evening before.</p> + +<p>"But who could play such a mean trick?" insisted Mrs. Prescott.</p> + +<p>"The fit-thrower, very likely," Dick answered.</p> + +<p>"The fit—what?"</p> + +<p>Then Dick hastily recalled to them his adventures of the day before.</p> + +<p>"And one parlor window is fastened," Dick went on. "The other has its +catch slipped. The fit-thrower must have climbed up in the night, +slipped the catch with a thin blade and prowled around in here just to +spoil our Christmas."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It looks that way," nodded Mr. Prescott slowly, his usually calm eyes +filled with disappointment. Then he added, to his wife: "My dear, I'm +very glad, indeed, that I placed your chain on your bureau last night, +instead of leaving it here on the parlor table."</p> + +<p>"And poor Dick doesn't get any present!" cried Mrs. Prescott, her eyes +filling a bit. "O Dick, this year we thought we'd please you more by +putting all the money we could spare into one present, so we got your +watch and chain that you've wanted for so long. It's—it's too, too +bad!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Prescott, though seldom given to tears, now sank to the sofa, +pulled out her handkerchief and gave brief vent to her own great +disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, mother; it may turn up all right yet," urged Dick +soothingly, as he rested one arm around her waist. "But if Mr. Fits +really did break in here and take your present, then I feel as though +I'd enjoy trailing him to the end of the earth and seeing him shoved +away behind strong bars!"</p> + +<p>"It seems almost fantastic," declared Mr. Prescott, "but I'm afraid, +Dick, that the scoundrel you've told us about really did break in here +on purpose to spoil your Christmas. If he didn't come in person he must +have sent someone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, well, anyway," protested Dick, trying to stifle his disappointment, +both on his mother's account and his own, "probably we'll all live to +see more Christmases. But, mother, I'm awfully sorry about the loss of +your gift. Dad thought, too, that I had made a fine choice."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you did, young man," remarked Mr. Prescott. "You know, my dear, +that the last time you went to the opera house it was a gala occasion, +and you regretted that you didn't have a really nice fan to carry? Dick +remembered that, and he got you a fan. It was a handsome one. I didn't +believe that a young boy could have as much taste as our son displayed +in choosing that fan. And now—it isn't here!"</p> + +<p>Then each tried to cheer the other up, but despite their best efforts it +started in as a gloomy Christmas morning. The Prescotts, while not by +any means poverty stricken, were yet in very moderate circumstances. +Dick knew well enough that his parents would not be able to duplicate +his much-wanted Christmas gift, and that he would have to wait until +some dim time in the future before he could hope to carry a watch of his +own.</p> + +<p>So all three went out to the breakfast table. Dick, to do him justice, +thought more of his mother's loss than of his own.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to the police about this, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> dear?" Mrs. Prescott asked +her husband presently.</p> + +<p>"I could," the elder Prescott replied, "but I don't imagine it would do +much good. The stuff that has been taken isn't likely to be restored to +us. I doubt if the police would think it even worth any effort. It isn't +an important robbery, as crime goes. It was just a little trick of +revenge."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Fits is revenged all right, then," admitted Dick, with a bitter +smile. "Oh, I only hope that I get a fair chance to pay him back one of +these near days! But, at any rate, my Christmas isn't going to be +spoiled. You have already agreed to my going away on the camping trip +to-morrow, and that is going to be more fun for me than two +Christmases."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you're looking forward so to enjoying your vacation in the +forest," smiled Mrs. Prescott. "It does seem fortunate that you have +such a treat at hand to repay you for your disappointment."</p> + +<p>Suddenly Dick looked blank for an instant. Laying down his knife he +employed his right hand in making a frantic thrust into one of his +trousers' pockets. Then he fished up a banknote.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness that is all right," he gasped. "Mr. Fits didn't think to +look for that. It's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> my five dollars left out of Mrs. Dexter's present, +and is the money that I'm going to pay my share of the camp expenses +with. But, on second thought, I believe I'll drop out of that camping +scheme."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Mr. Prescott, in a rather sharp, queer voice.</p> + +<p>"Because this five dollars will fool Mr. Fits in another way. I can go +to-morrow and get mother another fan like the first one."</p> + +<p>Mr. Prescott's eyes flashed proudly for a moment as he answered, a bit +huskily.</p> + +<p>"You could do that, of course, young man, but your mother would never +forgive you for cheating yourself out of the one pleasure you want +most."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," spoke Dick gravely, "there's more fun in doing without a +pleasure, when you can find another that is worth more to you."</p> + +<p>The tears stood in Mrs. Prescott's eyes. She rose and dropped both arms +around her boy.</p> + +<p>"If we absolutely needed your money, Dick," she said, "I know how +cheerfully you would do without your pleasure for our sakes. But this is +a case where your going camping will be worth more to us all than +anything else that five dollars would buy. Besides, think how +disappointed your friends would be over not having their leader."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I appreciate your mother's feelings so much, lad," went on Mr. +Prescott, "that I forbid you to spend your remaining money on anything +for your mother. She has had her greatest happiness in knowing that you +spent half of the first considerable sum of money you ever had in buying +something for her. That is as far as you can go. Illness alone +preventing, Dick, you'll go camping, and you'll pay your full share into +the camping fund. Besides, I'm glad to say that the indications are that +a much better business year is coming, and that probably we'll soon be +able to have all the things within reason that we may want."</p> + +<p>So Christmas, if it ran rather shy on presents in the Prescott +household, was at least a season of extremely good feeling among three +people whose sympathies ran staunchly together.</p> + +<p>"The fellows will be waiting to see me," laughed Dick after breakfast. +"So, if I haven't anything to show 'em, at least I've got something to +tell them that will make their hair stand up. And I wonder if Mr. Fits +visited any of their homes last night?"</p> + +<p>Laughing, though doubtless he felt quite unlike it, Dick Prescott put on +coat and hat and went out into the Gridley streets.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>DICK TRIES STRATEGY</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/hquote.png" width="75" height="55" alt=""H" title=""H" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br />EY! Hear about Dick Prescott?"</div> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"His Christmas got 'pinched'!"</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Sure."</p> + +<p>Rapidly indeed did the news travel about. Dick told it to his own chums +first. The news "leaked" and traveled up and down the streets as Gridley +boys began to come forth to compare their Christmas experiences.</p> + +<p>Just as certainly, too, the news didn't lose any on its rounds. By the +time that the yarn had been carried to the further end of Main Street, +Dick's holiday losses had mounted up to a total of: A gold watch and +chain, a diamond stickpin, a twenty dollar gold piece, a suit of +clothes, silver plated racing skates, a camera, a cornet and a host of +lesser articles.</p> + +<p>"Whee! The Prescotts must have been making money this year," commented +Ben Alvord, when he heard the long list of presents named.</p> + +<p>"Say," proposed Dave Darrin indignantly, "we'll hike all over Gridley +and just see if we can't run into Mr. Fits somewhere. If we find<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> him +we'll jump him all together, and then holler for the police."</p> + +<p>Quite a bit of searching the six members of Dick & Co. did that morning, +though all without the least success. It presently dawned on these +Grammar School boys that Mr. Fits must have left Gridley far behind.</p> + +<p>"We'll keep our mind on the camping, anyway," proposed Dick. "We want to +start to-morrow morning. We ought to meet at eight o'clock, and then get +away together as soon after as we can."</p> + +<p>"And hoof it twelve miles?" asked Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"No; as we'll have so much stuff to carry, we'll have to pay someone to +drive the stuff out there for us. If we have a wagon we may as well ride +on it."</p> + +<p>"I hope you fellows will all have a good time," suggested Dan Dalzell +generously, though his own face still wore a doleful look. For his +father and mother had held out against his going. All of the other boys +had secured permission.</p> + +<p>"It's a shame you can't go, Dan," blazed Dave.</p> + +<p>"That's what I think," muttered Dan. "Huh! I've a good mind to run away +from home."</p> + +<p>"You'd get spanked when you went back," laughed Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Huh! I ought to run away and never come back," growled Dan.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, cut that out—do!" urged Dick. "Be a fellow of good sense, Danny. +Your father and mother have their own reasons for not wanting you to +go."</p> + +<p>"Their reasons don't do me any good," uttered Dan resentfully.</p> + +<p>"Would it do any good if we all went down to your house and tried +coaxing for you?" asked Greg Holmes.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit," declared Danny gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Say, will you fellows wait here a little while?" begged Dick. "I want +to run home a minute. I'll be right back."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," nodded Dave.</p> + +<p>Dick started on a trot, for he had a new thought as to a possible way of +securing Dan's happiness.</p> + +<p>As young Prescott turned a corner and raced homeward, he was espied by a +boy on the other side of the street.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Dick!" challenged Hen Dutcher gleefully. "What time is it?"</p> + +<p>Dick flushed, but wisely made no answer.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" muttered Hen to himself. "Just as well his watch did get the +run-off. Now Dick Prescott won't be hauling his old timepiece out every +two minutes in school to see what time it is."</p> + +<p>Dick reached home somewhat out of breath.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who's been chasing you?" demanded Mr. Prescott, snatching up a cane +that stood in the corner of the parlor. He assumed a ferocious +expression, which, with one of as peaceable a disposition as Dick's +father possessed, looked more than out of place.</p> + +<p>"I haven't got time to joke, dad," objected the boy, dropping into a +chair. "But I've got something very particular that I want you to do for +me, and it will make Christmas really jolly after all if you can do it."</p> + +<p>Then Dick unfolded his plan, while Mr. Prescott looked uneasy.</p> + +<p>"Why, Dick, my boy, if Dalzell's parents don't want him to go camping it +would look very strange in me to call on them and urge them to exchange +their own good judgment for mine. It would look like an impertinence on +my part. Dan's father and mother are the very best judges as to whether +he should be allowed to go away several days camping. In fact, although +I've consented to it, I'm not sure that I have shown the best kind of +judgment in the matter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't want you to urge the Dalzells very hard, dad. I'm not just +asking that. But I think, if you talk it over with them, perhaps——"</p> + +<p>"It's a queer bit of business for me," remarked Mr. Prescott.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But will you go, Dad? Please."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Mr. Prescott very reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"Can you—can you just as easily go soon, dad?"</p> + +<p>"Ye-es. I'll go now. It's such a queer piece of business that I shall be +thankful when I have it over with."</p> + +<p>"And you'll say the best word you can think of, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"If you don't stop soon, young man, I may change my mind and back out +altogether."</p> + +<p>But Dick, who knew well enough that his father's promise, once given, +was never gone back on, thanked him and then danced joyously out into +the street again.</p> + +<p>"What was the matter, Dick?" asked Tom Reade, curiously, when he +rejoined his chums. "Did you forget something?"</p> + +<p>"There was something I wanted to talk to dad about," responded Dick +evasively.</p> + +<p>"What——" began Dan, without an inkling of a true guess.</p> + +<p>"Be still, you Danny boy," ordered Dave Darrin bluntly. "The family +affairs of the Prescotts should be no concern of yours."</p> + +<p>Though, very much to his regret, Dick did not possess a watch, he +nevertheless managed to keep very good track of the time. Something more +than an hour later he led the fellows around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> to his own corner. He was +just in time to see Mr. Prescott returning.</p> + +<p>"You stay here a minute," young Prescott directed, then set off at a run +to join his father.</p> + +<p>"Did you—did you——" he panted, as he reached his parent.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the head of the family, a bit stiffly. "I made a nuisance +of myself over at the Dalzells. I talked and talked. They talked, too, +and both Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell asked me if I thought it at all safe to +let such a busy little gang of hooligans as you boys go off on such an +expedition. All I could say was to point out the fact that I had given +you leave. Well, Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell gave their consent to Dan's going. +So now I hope you're satisfied."</p> + +<p>"Satisfied? Oh, dad, thank you! This is the best Christmas ever. Thank +you! Whoop!"</p> + +<p>With that young Prescott executed an about-face and went charging back +to where he had left his chums.</p> + +<p>"Are you crazy?" demanded Dan curiously.</p> + +<p>"No; but you'll be, in a minute. Dad went over to see your folks, and +they've given in. You're to go with us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE LOG CABIN'S TELLTALE HEARTH</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/hquote.png" width="75" height="55" alt=""H" title="H" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>AVE</b></big> we got everything?" demanded Tom Reade anxiously.</div> + +<p>"I think so," nodded Dick.</p> + +<p>"No one ever yet started off on any big jaunt without forgetting +something, you know," Greg explained.</p> + +<p>"Well, let every fellow take a look around and see if he can find +anything that we ought to have, and haven't," suggested Dick.</p> + +<p>Six pairs of eyes did some anxious searching.</p> + +<p>It was nearly ten o'clock on the morning after Christmas. Dick & Co. +stood in Miller's grocery store, having mounted guard over an extensive +supply of groceries, meat and personal belongings. What a stack of stuff +there was!</p> + +<p>Dick and Dave had been delegated to do the buying. Starting with a +capital of thirty dollars, they had expended a little more than nineteen +dollars with the butcher and grocer. Joe Miller, the grocer's son, had +gone to hitch up a pair of horses to a roomy truck wagon. Their +conveyance to camp, some twelve miles distant, was to cost them four +dollars, and Miller had made a low price at that. Dave, as the +treasurer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> of the outfit, now had nearly seven dollars left, but of +this, four would be required to pay Joe Miller for the return trip.</p> + +<p>In addition to food supplies, each of the six boys had brought along +underclothing, shirts and an extra pair of shoes. These personal +belongings were packed in bags.</p> + +<p>Then, besides, each boy had a roll of bedding—a pillow, sheets and old +blankets and comforters for each. There were also, either in bedding +rolls or in bags, some few toilet articles. There was also a box of old +kitchen ware. Tom Reade had brought a Rochester lamp; Greg and Dan had +contributed lanterns and Dick a dark lantern.</p> + +<p>"I see one thing we haven't got, but ought to have," said Harry Hazelton +to Dick.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked the latter.</p> + +<p>"A shotgun. Joe Miller has a good one, and I know he'd lend it to us if +we asked him."</p> + +<p>"We won't ask him," Dick replied.</p> + +<p>"Now, why not? We have money enough so we can afford to buy some shells, +and——"</p> + +<p>"Harry, did you tell your folks you expected there'd be a shotgun along +on this trip?"</p> + +<p>"'Course not. I didn't know there would be one."</p> + +<p>"Do you think your folks would have let you come if they had thought of +such a thing?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Maybe not. But they didn't say a word against our having one."</p> + +<p>"Harry, if our parents were to hear that we had taken a shotgun along +they'd be worried to death," said Dick gravely.</p> + +<p>"Humph! We're old enough to manage a gun," remonstrated Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we are, but it would worry our home folks just the same. Boys +are always believed to be careless with firearms. We don't want any +shotgun along, and then we won't have any need to be sorry about it +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"But there'll be rabbits and other game that we might get."</p> + +<p>"Dave has brought his air-rifle, and has plenty of 'pills' for it. And +Tom brought along his bow and half a dozen arrows. We can take care of +the little game we may see."</p> + +<p>"That's right," broke in Dave, who had been listening. "If we were fools +enough to take along a shotgun it'd be many a day before we'd get leave +to go on another camping jaunt."</p> + +<p>So better counsel prevailed, and Joe Miller was not asked to loan his +shotgun. In due time Joe drove around to the door of the store, and the +work of loading began.</p> + +<p>"Hey, you fellows, where are you going?" hailed Ben Alvord, stopping and +gaping in wonder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Camping," replied Dick with an air of importance.</p> + +<p>"Whee! Say, take me along?" coaxed Ben.</p> + +<p>Dick hated the task of refusing, but Dave came to his rescue.</p> + +<p>"Got five dollars, Ben?"</p> + +<p>"Quit your kidding," retorted Alvord.</p> + +<p>"That's what each fellow paid to get into this outfit," Dave went on. +"We couldn't feed any more fellows unless they contributed their share +in cash."</p> + +<p>"How long you going to be gone?" asked Ben.</p> + +<p>"Maybe two weeks."</p> + +<p>"Whee!"</p> + +<p>"It will depend somewhat on how long it takes us to eat up our table +stuff," laughed Dick.</p> + +<p>"My, but you fellows are in luck!"</p> + +<p>A few more of the Grammar School fellows happened along. There was much +envious talk. There were also several pleas to be taken along, but the +mention of the five dollar assessment silenced all such requests.</p> + +<p>"All ready!" called out Joe Miller at last. "You youngsters jump on +lively, for we've got a long way to go."</p> + +<p>With a glad whoop Dick & Co. piled aboard the truck, stowing themselves +away as comfortably as might be.</p> + +<p>"Giddap!" grumbled Joe at the horses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Say!" shouted Ben Alvord as the start was made.</p> + +<p>"Well?" answered Dan.</p> + +<p>"Who's going to do your cookin'?"</p> + +<p>"We are."</p> + +<p>"Wow! You won't all live to tell the tale, then. Got any medicines with +you?"</p> + +<p>"There, I knew we'd forgotten something," declared Tom Reade solemnly. +"S'posing any of us should get sick?"</p> + +<p>"We'll make up our minds that we're not going to," replied Dave. +"Fellows camping out in winter haven't any right to get sick."</p> + +<p>"Still, we might. Might have colds, especially," remarked Dick +thoughtfully. "Oh, I say, Joe! Haul up, quick!"</p> + +<p>Dick was standing up, using his arms to signal an automobile that was +coming toward them.</p> + +<p>"Well, who's sick?" smiled Dr. Bentley, stopping his auto.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, I have six free patients here for you," Dick announced +solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Good!" laughed the physician. "That's the kind I like best. What are +you boys up to?"</p> + +<p>"We're going camping, doctor, out in the forest, and may be gone a +fortnight. Just this minute it struck us that we hadn't a bit of +medicine with us in case any of us got sick. We don't expect to be, of +course, but——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I see," nodded the doctor, smiling pleasantly. "One thing is sure. If +you have a few simple remedies along with you you're less likely to be +ill than if you had forgotten to make any preparation. In that case +worry might do <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'it's'">its</ins> share. Now, let me see."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bentley reached up a drug case from the bottom of his car.</p> + +<p>"Here's a bottle of stuff for colds," he went on, selecting a bottle and +writing on the label. "There, the directions are straight. Going to cook +for yourselves?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"Then indigestion is your most likely trouble." Dr. Bentley began to +write on the label of a second bottle. "And here's a little vial, in +case any of you get a real fever. Be careful to follow the directions +closely."</p> + +<p>Then Dr. Bentley took out his prescription book and wrote on two leaves.</p> + +<p>"Here's a prescription for a liniment, and something else," he added, +tearing out the two pages and passing them to Dick. "You'll notice that +I've written on these that the druggist is to give you the goods with +all discounts off. That'll make the stuff come cheap, for I don't +suppose you're overburdened with wealth on this trip."</p> + +<p>"And now, doctor, how much for the stuff you've given us?" asked Dick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Giddap," retorted Dr. Bentley, giving his machine a start. "I helped +introduce four of you boys to this world, so I'm in a measure +responsible for you."</p> + +<p>"Stop at the drug store, Joe," Dick called out, as the horses were +started.</p> + +<p>"Say, wasn't that fine of Dr. Bentley?" glowed Dick, as they rode along.</p> + +<p>"Sure," nodded Dan, "but our folks will find it somewhere in their +bills, between now and summer."</p> + +<p>"Dan, for that," warned Prescott, "we'll wash your face in the first +snow that falls out in the woods."</p> + +<p>"We surely will," confirmed Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>The stop at the drug store was made, whereby the cash capital was +lowered by eighty cents. Then Dick & Co. were off in earnest.</p> + +<p>So late had the start been made that the boys did not expect to reach +their log cabin until after two o'clock. Over Christmas most of the snow +had disappeared. There was not enough for good sledding, but just enough +to make the going on wheels rather difficult.</p> + +<p>Before noon, appetite asserted itself. Fortunately the boys had brought +along lunches for use on the road. These were devoured with much relish, +Joe Miller, of course, being invited to share with them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>By one o'clock the horses headed into the forest. For the first mile or +so there was a fair sort of road, but after that it dwindled down to +something more like a trail.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this grand, Joe?" exclaimed Greg.</p> + +<p>"What?" demanded Joe.</p> + +<p>"This great old forest, this silence, this grandeur of solitary nature?"</p> + +<p>"It ought to do first rate for lunatics, and such like," answered Joe, +gazing with disfavor at the bare trees and desolate looking bushes. +"What have you boys been doing that you've got to spend a fortnight away +from comfortable livin'?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we're doing this for pleasure," said Dan Dalzell.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" muttered Joe, and there the matter rested.</p> + +<p>It was nearly half past two when the horses were finally hauled up +before the log cabin. But now the truck was bare of boys. Dick & Co. had +leaped overboard the instant they came in sight of the cabin, and had +scampered on before for a look at the place.</p> + +<p>"Say, this is great!" cried Greg. "The old cabin looks good and solid, +too."</p> + +<p>"But how do you get in?" queried Dan, bracing his shoulder against the +door and pushing hard. "The place seems to be locked."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>More boys tried their shoulders against the door, but it did not yield.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to try the windows," proposed Dave. "Hurry and see if +they're fastened. This one is."</p> + +<p>All the windows proved to be fastened.</p> + +<p>"We don't want to break any glass," said Tom Reade ruefully. "We might +have a big freeze around here, and then we'd appreciate window glass."</p> + +<p>Here was a poser, indeed.</p> + +<p>"There doesn't seem to be any keyhole, and yet the door is locked," +muttered Dick, studying the door. "Hold on! What's this string for?"</p> + +<p>He took hold of a cord that appeared to run through the wooden barrier. +Giving the cord a hard pull, Dick once more pushed against the door. It +yielded and swung open.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" sounded the chorus.</p> + +<p>"We're bright ones," laughed Dick. "Thought we knew a lot about log +cabins, and we clean, plumb forgot the latch-string."</p> + +<p>"Let's get inside and get warm," begged Dan.</p> + +<p>"Let's get warm by tumbling the things off the wagon," dissented +Prescott. "I know Joe is in a big hurry to get started back."</p> + +<p>So the stuff was bundled off in rapid order, after which Joe backed his +team and swung it around.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope you fellows have a real, nice, loony time!" was Joe's parting +salute.</p> + +<p>"Now, let's get the stuff inside," urged Dave. This was done with speed, +if not with order.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll go out and chop firewood," proposed Dave. "Who'll go with +me?"</p> + +<p>"Let's all go out and take a look around," suggested Dick. "We want to +know all of our surroundings before dark, which isn't a great way off."</p> + +<p>"We can't have a fire too soon to suit me," grumbled Dan.</p> + +<p>Outside one of the first sights that met their eyes, back of the cabin, +was a pile of four foot logs that would have measured five or six cords.</p> + +<p>"Now, that's what I call bully," gloated Dalzell. "It won't take us long +to have a real fire going in that big chimney-place."</p> + +<p>"Let's see what this other little shack is," urged Dick, leading the way +to a log shanty some eight feet by ten. Again it was necessary to pull a +latch-string, after which the door of the shanty yielded.</p> + +<p>"Why, there's a cook stove in here, and a table and a couple of chairs," +cried Tom. "This must have been the summer cook house."</p> + +<p>"We'll use it for our jail to lock up the bad ones in," jested Dick. +"There are no bunks here for sleeping."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you say if we get some of those logs and start a fire in the +big cabin?" pleaded Dan. "I'm getting chilled."</p> + +<p>The idea prevailed. But the youngsters found snow between the logs, +which were tightly frozen in place. After a good deal of work and much +panting, Dick and Dave succeeded in freeing one log.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted Dan, who had not done any of the work. "Getting these +logs is going to be harder work than chopping down young trees."</p> + +<p>Whistling, Tom Reade had gone around to the cabin. Now, with a whoop of +glee he returned, bearing a crowbar.</p> + +<p>"Found this in one corner of the cabin," he explained. "Now, we'll pry +logs loose in fast order."</p> + +<p>His prediction turned out a good one. Within five minutes more than a +dozen of the logs had been loosened and Dick & Co. busied themselves in +carrying the logs around and into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Now, Danny Coldfeet, we'll soon have your flame red medicine ready," +laughed Dave Darrin jovially. "Get one of the coal oil tins, Danny boy. +Greg, tear off some of the paper to stuff under the logs. Hurry! Then +I'll lay the fire. Tom, you and Harry bring the logs closer."</p> + +<p>Some nearly burned bits of log lay in the broad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> fireplace under the +chimney. Dave bent over to lift these charred bits out. Three or four he +tossed back of him. Then suddenly he stiffened up, sticking a finger in +his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Ouch!" he grunted.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"I burned my finger," sighed Dave.</p> + +<p>"Burned your finger—in a dead fire?"</p> + +<p>But Dick, stirring the burned bits of wood with his shoe, suddenly lay +bare some dull red coals.</p> + +<p>"Look-a-here, fellows," hailed Dan in the same moment. "Here's meat and +bread, and part of a can of tomatoes on the table. The bread ain't old +enough to be mouldy."</p> + +<p>"Fellows," announced Dick Prescott, moving about, "there's some one +living here—some one besides ourselves!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE PROWLER OF THE NIGHT</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 49px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="49" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HE</b></big> six youngsters stood looking curiously at one another.</div> + +<p>"I wonder who it can be?" muttered Dan.</p> + +<p>"Some one who has no business here, anyway," returned Tom Reade +bluntly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder if it's some one who did live here, or some one who thinks +he's going to keep on living here?" asked Dave Darrin dryly.</p> + +<p>"Just the same, I'd like to know who has been living here," Dick went +on. "For that matter, who would want to live here, in the depths of the +woods in winter?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we do, for one crowd," Greg reminded him.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we're boys with a craze for open air and something different," +Prescott maintained. "Now, if men have been living here, the case is +different. Men don't care about schoolboy junkets. If the man or men who +have been living here are honest, I don't mind. Such men will move on if +they find that we're here, and that we alone have the proper authority +to live here. But suppose the men are not honest? Or rough characters?"</p> + +<p>"It will depend on how many there are of them," responded Dan, with one +of his broad grins.</p> + +<p>"Why?" challenged Dick. "If we had to fight for the right to live in +this cabin, how many do you think we could thrash?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess it won't come to that," remarked Tom Reade coolly.</p> + +<p>"And I hope it won't come to that, or anything like it," Dick replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But just the same, you're going to be scared until you find out? Is +that it?" laughed Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>Dick flushed, but he answered honestly:</p> + +<p>"Until something happens I can't tell whether I'm going to be scared or +not. Anyway, perhaps I won't show the greatest amount of fright that is +displayed around here."</p> + +<p>"Now, you're answered, Harry," muttered Dave in a low voice, his eyes +flashing. "No fellow in this crowd has any right to doubt that Dick +Prescott is all there with the grit when it's called for."</p> + +<p>"Can't a fellow joke?" asked Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"But, while all this talk is going on," chattered Dan, "I'm not growing +any warmer."</p> + +<p>"All lend a hand, and we'll get the fireplace cleaned out and the fire +going," urged Dick.</p> + +<p>After that they made matters fly. The old ashes and hot embers were +taken outside and spread. Logs were laid and coal oil spread over them. +A match was touched, flames leaped up in response to the heavy draft of +the broad chimney, and the interior of the old cabin seemed ablaze.</p> + +<p>"My, but that's going to be plenty hot, and some more," chuckled Dan.</p> + +<p>"Who'll chop the ice at the spring and get two buckets of water?" called +Dick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will," Harry answered, and departed, Greg going along to help him. In +a short time Dick had water boiling in a kettle that hung over the fire.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose anyone cares for coffee?" proposed Dick, glancing about +him.</p> + +<p>In a very short time the beverage was ready.</p> + +<p>"Aren't we going to have something to eat, too?" Dan wanted to know, as +the young campers gathered at the table.</p> + +<p>"What's the use of spoiling our supper, which is only a couple of hours +or so away?" asked Dave sensibly.</p> + +<p>Though the coffee was weak, it was hot. The youngsters soon began to +warm up, and all became cheery.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but this life is going to be great!" sighed Greg exultantly. "Say, +fellows, I'm glad I thought of this way of putting in a vacation. Won't +the other fellows in town be crazy when they hear what a great time +we've had?"</p> + +<p>"What I want to know," Harry broke in, "is whether rabbits really do run +in the woods in winter? My mouth is made up for some rabbit stew."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can buy a couple of rabbits, then, from some farmer's son," +suggested Dick dryly.</p> + +<p>"Buy 'em?" sniffed Hazelton scornfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> "Huh! Next thing we know you'll +want some one to come in and do the housework!"</p> + +<p>"It would be better done, then, I don't doubt," laughed Dick. "Now, +fellows, the clock tells us that it's quarter of four. That means +something like an hour more of daylight. I guess we've a few things to +do, haven't we?"</p> + +<p>"Get supper!" proposed Dan.</p> + +<p>"That's one of the things," nodded Dick. "Then there's water to be +brought in. In this nipping air I'll bet there's already more ice over +the spring. Then we ought to bring in a lot more logs for the fire. +It'll be harder work after dark. And some one ought to get potatoes +ready to put on over the fire. Then we ought to select our bunks and get +bedding in them. After that we want to tidy up this hard dirt floor. +Some one will need to wash the cups and saucers, and have 'em ready for +supper."</p> + +<p>"Let's have some system to it, then," urged Dave. "Dick, you look about +and see what's needed. Then set each fellow to his task—and all the +rest will take any kicker down to the spring and duck him!"</p> + +<p>"Lemme fix the potatoes, then," begged Dan. That being one of the +"disagreeable" tasks, no one objected. Dick parceled out the tasks, and +things were soon humming. While they were still busy, darkness had +settled down. But Greg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> had filled the lamp and the lantern, and had +them going, though the big, red fire filled the whole cabin with light.</p> + +<p>"Whee! But this is jolly!" cried Greg, as he stood arranging his bedding +in the bunk he had chosen.</p> + +<p>"It'll be more like fun to-morrow, though," suggested Dick, "when we can +have a whole, daylight day out in the woods. But I think we're all going +to be mighty comfortable here."</p> + +<p>That was the general feeling. The Grammar School boys found themselves +filled with contentment.</p> + +<p>"How are the potatoes coming on, Danny?" inquired Tom. "I'm so hungry I +can hardly stand up."</p> + +<p>"Ready in ten minutes more, I reckon," Dan answered cheerily.</p> + +<p>"Bully!"</p> + +<p>Greg was cutting bread and getting butter out of a glass jar. Dave had +busied himself with opening two tins of meat. They had fresh meat, but +the latter was to be used on the morrow when their housekeeping +arrangements had been better made. For the present the meat and some +other perishable articles of food rested on the ground outdoors, under +an overturned box on which three large stones had been placed as +weights.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's six o'clock," called Dick at last. "Are we going to eat on time?"</p> + +<p>"I'm all ready with the potatoes," Dan called back.</p> + +<p>Dick once more busied himself with making weak coffee. Tom and Harry set +the dishes on the table with a cheery clatter. Then six fearfully hungry +boys sat down to table.</p> + +<p>"There's no jam on the table," grunted Harry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, wait until we get outside of the solid stuff before we bother with +sweets," begged Darrin.</p> + +<p>It was nearly seven when the glorious meal was over. As nothing but +potatoes and coffee had depended on a cook, nothing went wrong with the +meal.</p> + +<p>"Now, we can clean up and wash the dishes," proposed Dick Prescott.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" demanded Tom Reade belligerently. "Work? Right on top of +a supper like that?"</p> + +<p>"I guess we do all feel more like taking a nap," laughed Dick. "Well, +we'll rest for half an hour and see if we feel more like effort then. +What do you say if we all pull our chairs up to the fire?"</p> + +<p>"How close to the fire?" asked Dan, screening his eyes with his fingers +as he glanced at the blazing logs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, not too close for comfort, of course," agreed Dick. "But come on. +We can swap stories."</p> + +<p>"Will they be anything like the spanking story that good Old Dut told +you last September, Dick?" teased Dave.</p> + +<p>"Not right away, I guess," smiled Dick. "I don't believe any fellow, +after that big supper, feels as if he had energy enough to tell a +spanking story. But what kind of stories shall we tell?"</p> + +<p>"I'll wait for some one else to start it," yawned Tom, as he took his +seat in the semi-circle at a respectful distance from the blaze.</p> + +<p>"Who else is going to be a quitter or a loafer?" inquired Dave +scornfully.</p> + +<p>There was a pause. No one appeared to have a story that he wanted to try +out on such a critical audience.</p> + +<p>At last Dick remarked thoughtfully:</p> + +<p>"As the man on the clubhouse steps said——"</p> + +<p>Then he paused, as if he had forgotten the matter.</p> + +<p>"Well," insisted Greg presently, "what did the man on the clubhouse +steps say?"</p> + +<p>"Eh?" inquired Dick, gazing at him with mock blankness.</p> + +<p>"What did the man on the clubhouse steps say?" repeated Greg.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh—er—that is—it's really a secret," Dick replied provokingly.</p> + +<p>"Now, see here, none of that!" growled Tom.</p> + +<p>"Eh?" demanded Dan, awaking from a light doze, with a start and a +subdued snore.</p> + +<p>"Dick Prescott, you tell us what the man on the clubhouse steps said!" +ordered Tom.</p> + +<p>"But I've just told you that it's a secret."</p> + +<p>"None of that, now!"</p> + +<p>"But I can't tell secrets!" pleaded Dick.</p> + +<p>"It isn't a secret at all. It's a good story, and you've got to let it +come out. We need a good one to get us started."</p> + +<p>All now joined in the demand, but Dick shook his head protestingly.</p> + +<p>"Honestly, fellows, it wouldn't be right for me to tell secrets," he +insisted.</p> + +<p>The inner bar that locked the door by night had been dropped into place +ere the boys sat down to supper. But now Harry rose, went over to the +door and raised the bar.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," he called back, "give Dick Prescott just one more swift +chance to tell us what the man on the clubhouse steps said. If he won't, +then grab him and fire him out into the night until he knocks on the +door and promises to be good."</p> + +<p>Tom, Greg and Dave made a laughing bolt for their young leader.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Some one's pulling the latch-string from outside," reported Harry +Hazelton, too startled, for the moment, to let the bar fall. But Tom +wheeled like a flash, leaped forward and dropped the bar back into +place.</p> + +<p>"It's the fellow, or fellows, who have been living here before we came," +whispered Dan in a half-scared voice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>WORMING THE TRUTH FROM A WHINER</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 64px;"> +<img src="images/lquote.png" width="64" height="55" alt=""L" title=""L" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>ET</b></big> me in—quick!" demanded a voice.</div> + +<p>"Move on!" ordered Dave.</p> + +<p>"Whoever they are, they can break in through the windows, at any rate," +muttered Harry Hazelton, in a voice that was just a trifle unsteady.</p> + +<p>"We have legal right to occupy this cabin," called Dick through the +door. "No one else has any right to be here."</p> + +<p>"I know that," answered the voice, "but let me in before I freeze!"</p> + +<p>To the amazement of some of the others, Dick Prescott raised the bar and +swung the door open.</p> + +<p>In came a figure—that of a boy. His cap was pulled down over his ears, +and a big tippet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> obscured most of his face. But Dick grasped him by the +shoulder as the youngster started to enter, followed by a heavy swirl of +snow.</p> + +<p>"What in the world are you doing here, Hen Dutcher?" Dick demanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes! What are you doing here?" chorused the rest.</p> + +<p>"Lemme get near the fire?" begged Hen, in a choking, sobbing voice. "I'm +nearly frozen."</p> + +<p>"Don't shut that door yet," called Dan, moving forward. "We didn't know +it was snowing. I want to see if it's a big snow."</p> + +<p>"You bet it is," chattered Hen. "It's a blizzard, and I don't care how +soon that door is shut."</p> + +<p>"You're not giving orders here, remember," retorted Dan crisply, as he +went to the open doorway. The others, too, crowded to the doorway. It +certainly was a big snow. The flakes were of the largest size, and +coming down thickly to the tune of a moaning wind.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't snowing at dark, and now there are at least four inches," +cried Greg.</p> + +<p>"Five inches," hazarded Dave.</p> + +<p>"How many, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"Say, are you fellows going to freeze me to death?" called Hen Dutcher, +his teeth chattering. He was facing the fire, roasting in front, but +with chills running down his spine.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Close the door, fellows. We can't see much to-night at any rate, and +we'll see the whole storm in the morning," proposed Dick. "We don't want +to see Hen freeze to death."</p> + +<p>"Nobody invited him here!"</p> + +<p>Dick turned, wondering who had made that remark, but he could not make +up his mind.</p> + +<p>"Take off your coat, Hen, and have some hot coffee. We have some left, +and it will warm you," Dick went on, after the door had been closed and +barred.</p> + +<p>"I'll have supper and the whole thing," declared Hen promptly. "Don't +you fellows expect to feed your visitors?"</p> + +<p>"We'll feed you," Dick agreed, "though we had made no plans for visitors +and didn't expect any."</p> + +<p>Hen had some difficulty in getting off his coat.</p> + +<p>"Are you as stiff as that?" asked Prescott, going to the other fellow's +assistance.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, I'm just about frozen to death," moaned Hen. "My, how cold +it came on, just after dark! The wind began to howl, and I could feel +the ice forming on my chin every time I breathed. I thought sure I was +going to freeze to death in the woods. I'd about given up when I saw +your lights."</p> + +<p>"How long has it been snowing?" Dave asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't you fellows know?" Hen demanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No; we were in here, getting supper and then eating it. We didn't know +that it had even started to snow."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't snowing at dark, but it began some time after," replied Hen, +as he took the chair Dick offered and sank into it before the warming +glow.</p> + +<p>"Don't get too close to the fire until you thaw out a bit," advised +Dick. "If you do you'll feel it more."</p> + +<p>"I feel it now," groaned Hen, beginning to moan. "My hands are frozen +stiff."</p> + +<p>They weren't really frozen, though the hands had been badly nipped. It +was twenty minutes before Hen Dutcher cared to move over to the table. +Even then he complained severely of the "stinging" in his hands, feet +and chin.</p> + +<p>"I'm going out," proposed Dave, reaching for his cap and coat. "I'm +going to see for myself just how cold it is."</p> + +<p>No one offered to accompany Darrin. He paused, outside, to tap on one of +the window panes. Two minutes after that he was back, pounding for +admittance.</p> + +<p>"Br-r-r-r!" Dave greeted his comrades, as he stepped inside. "Say, I +don't want any more of being out to-night. I'll bet it's away down below +zero. And how the wind howls and cuts!"</p> + +<p>It took Hen Dutcher, after he got started,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> considerable time to eat his +fill. In the meantime the others, restrained by a sense of what was due +from hosts, held back their curiosity.</p> + +<p>"There, I don't believe I could eat another mouthful," declared Dutcher, +at last, pushing back from the table.</p> + +<p>"Now, Hen," invited Dick, "come over to the fire and tell us how you +came to be here."</p> + +<p>"Why, I just naturally was hereabouts," declared Hen evasively.</p> + +<p>"That won't quite do," replied Dick, shaking his head. "What brought you +into these woods to-night? Did you expect that we'd invite you in to +join us?"</p> + +<p>"Nope. Not quite," Hen replied, a crafty look in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Then out with the truth, Hen Dutcher!" broke in Dave.</p> + +<p>"I don't have to tell you fellows, do I?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you want to stay here to-night!" blurted Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"You fellows wouldn't put me out in the cold again!" dared Hen.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't we?" retorted Greg Holmes.</p> + +<p>"I just wanted a tramp, and took one," replied Hen sulkily.</p> + +<p>"That's too thin!" snapped Dan Dalzell.</p> + +<p>"Then you fellows can invent your own story," offered Hen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Out with him, fellows!" called Harry Hazelton, making a dive for Hen.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare!" blustered Dutcher tremulously.</p> + +<p>"Out with Hen, if he doesn't tell the truth, and the whole of it," +advised Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Dick, you ain't going to let these fellows do anything of the sort, are +you?" quavered Hen. "Why, I'd die if I had to be put out into the storm +again."</p> + +<p>"Why can't you tell us the truth, Hen?" asked Dick quietly, fixing a +searching gaze on Dutcher. Then, with a sudden flash of inspiration, +Dick added, "Who was out this way with you?"</p> + +<p>"No one," Hen replied.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell us that," warned young Prescott. "Who were the other fellows +in the crowd?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you I came alone," Hen insisted, with rising color, as he +shifted under Dick's steady gaze. "Fred and——"</p> + +<p>"Fred—who?" cross-examined Dick.</p> + +<p>"Nobody," Dutcher answered, his eyes on the floor.</p> + +<p>Dick thought a moment before a great light dawned on him.</p> + +<p>"So, Hen Dutcher, Fred Ripley and some of his crowd knew we were coming +out here, and so they came along, too, and you with 'em, eh?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I tell you I wasn't with 'em," protested Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"You walked all the way?"</p> + +<p>"Most of the way."</p> + +<p>"And how did Fred Ripley and his crowd come?"</p> + +<p>"On a wagon, and——"</p> + +<p>Here Hen Dutcher paused suddenly.</p> + +<p>"I came alone," he bellowed wrathfully. "There weren't any other +fellows."</p> + +<p>"Don't you call Ripley a fellow?" pressed Dick. "You said that he and +his crowd came on a wagon. So they're going to play pranks on us, are +they?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you're talking about," protested Hen hoarsely.</p> + +<p>Dave, Tom and Greg fastened on Dutcher, dragging him out of his chair. +This time Dick did not feel called upon to interfere.</p> + +<p>"Now, you tell us all about this queer game!" commanded Dave Darrin, his +eyes flashing warningly. "If you don't, we'll shake it out of you; or +we'll roll you in the snow until we soak the truth out of you! What do +Fred Ripley and his crowd mean to do out here to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," gasped Hen.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do," warned Dave Darrin crisply.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't!"</p> + +<p>"Hen Dutcher," Dick interrupted firmly, "we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> are out here to enjoy +ourselves, and we don't propose to be interfered with. We have a right +to be here, and no one else has. We've wormed it out of you that Fred +Ripley and some other fellows have come out here to torment us. Fred +Ripley has no right to come here and play mean tricks on us."</p> + +<p>"Who gave you the right to be here?" demanded Hen sullenly. "Wasn't it +Fred Ripley's father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but that gives Fred no right to be mean in the matter, and Lawyer +Ripley would be the first to say so, if I went and told him."</p> + +<p>"And then you'd be 'Sneak Prescott,'" taunted Hen.</p> + +<p>"I didn't say I was going to tell Fred's father," Dick answered, his +color rising, "and I haven't any thought of it, either. Any fellow of +anywhere near my own size who calls me a sneak can have his answer—two +of them," Dick went on, displaying his fists. "You know that well +enough, Hen Dutcher. You're one of our own crowd—that is, you go to the +Central Grammar with us, and yet you've joined in with some High School +boys to bother us and spoil our fun. Who's the sneak, Hen? Who will the +fellows at the Central Grammar call the sneak when they hear about +this?"</p> + +<p>Hen began to look decidedly uneasy. He was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> well aware what the Grammar +School boys in Gridley did to one of their own number who was voted a +sneak.</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't mean any harm," muttered Hen, almost whimpering.</p> + +<p>"See here," demanded Dick, another idea coming to him, "how much did +Fred Ripley pay you to help work against us."</p> + +<p>"He didn't pay me nothing," young Dutcher protested ungrammatically.</p> + +<p>"How much did he agree to pay you, then? Come—out with it!" insisted +Dick.</p> + +<p>Hen saw the other chums pressing about him threateningly, so he almost +blubbered:</p> + +<p>"Said he'd give me a dollar if I did the trick right."</p> + +<p>"So there was a trick?" cried Dick quickly; then added ironically: "Hen, +you ought never to tell lies. You don't do it skilfully. You let out the +truth, despite yourself. You've admitted that you've been hired to work +against us—to help spoil our peace and comfort. Now, you've got to tell +us all the rest of it, or you'll have to take the consequences!"</p> + +<p>"Say, don't be mean with a feller!" pleaded Dutcher, ready to snivel.</p> + +<p>"We're not mean with you," Dick insisted. "We've a right to protect +ourselves, and we're going to do it. Besides, you joined us, and now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +you've got to be one of us and tell us the whole scheme against us."</p> + +<p>"I didn't join you!"</p> + +<p>"Do you belong to Fred Ripley's crowd, then? If so, you'd better join +that choice gang! Grab hold of him, fellows!"</p> + +<p>Dave Darrin and Tom Reade gripped Hen, on either side, with great +heartiness. Dan Dalzell ran to unbar the door, after accomplishing which +he turned to view what might follow.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tell us, Hen, what Ripley and his crew are plotting +against us?" Dick insisted once more.</p> + +<p>"They were going to come down here to-night," confessed Hen.</p> + +<p>"What were they going to do here?"</p> + +<p>"Scare you fellers."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they've got a lot of sheets, and a frame to rig up on Bert Dodge's +shoulders. With the frame above him, and covered with sheets, Bert will +make a 'ghost' about ten feet high."</p> + +<p>"What else?" pressed Dick.</p> + +<p>"Well, they've got a queer kind of whistle they can blow on, and it +makes a long, loud moan, or a wail," explained Hen. "Whee! It gave me +the creepy shivers the first time I heard it."</p> + +<p>"Has Ripley's ghost party got anything else to make the night merry +with?" questioned Dick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Some kinder colored fire, that they were going to light at quite a +distance from here, to give an 'unearthly' glow through the woods."</p> + +<p>"What else?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, some other things," confessed Hen vaguely. "I can't tell you all +that crowd has, for I didn't see it and they wouldn't tell me about it."</p> + +<p>"And you turned on Central Grammar boys to help a lot of High School +fellows out?" asked Dick in fine scorn.</p> + +<p>"Well, I was crazy to have a day or two out here in the woods, and you +fellows didn't ask me," protested Hen. "The other crowd did."</p> + +<p>"Yes; because they wanted to use you for a tool against us. They wanted +to make you their catspaw, Hen Dutcher. Oh, you must feel fine! And the +other Central Grammar fellows back in Gridley will be so proud of you!"</p> + +<p>"You don't have to tell 'em," urged Hen Dutcher pleadingly.</p> + +<p>"No; we don't have to," confirmed Tom Reade. "But we can. And most +likely we will. We want to separate the wheat from the chaff at the old +Central Gram."</p> + +<p>"But, please don't tell 'em," whined Hen.</p> + +<p>"We'll see about that," said Dick Prescott. "We won't make a solitary +promise. It may depend on how you act, Hen. Now, is there any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>thing more +you ought to tell us about what Fred Ripley's crowd intends to do?"</p> + +<p>"No-o-o. I don't believe so."</p> + +<p>"Who's with Fred Ripley?"</p> + +<p>"Bert Dodge."</p> + +<p>"Who else?"</p> + +<p>Hen named five other young fellows, two of whom were rather worthless +High School sophomores.</p> + +<p>"And their plan," added Hen, unburdening himself, "was to swoop down +here this evening, lay the lines for a first class ghost scare and then +see you fellows start running and never stop till you reached Gridley. +They've brought some provisions along with them, and they were going to +move in here and camp, and laugh, and have a great joke about how the +Grammar School kids got cold feet, and——"</p> + +<p>"Where are they now?" Dick queried.</p> + +<p>"They were going to my Uncle Joel's for a few hours, have supper there +and then slip down here. But Uncle Joel's place must be four miles from +here, and even he didn't know just where this camp was. So the fellows +made me get the best idea I could from my uncle, and then sent me down +here to find the place. They'll be mad 'cause I ain't back."</p> + +<p>"More likely they'll come, without waiting for you, Hen," observed Dave +Darrin grimly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this moment the latch-string moved; there was a click of wood against +wood as the latch was raised.</p> + +<p>"Fellows, it's our ghost party!" whispered Dick, hoarsely. "Stand close +by me and sail in when I give the word. We'll do our best to make it hot +for the ghost!"</p> + +<p>There were varying degrees of bravery shown in that instant. Not one of +the Grammar School boys dreamed that they could best Fred Ripley's crew +in a rough-and-tumble, but Dick & Co. were all determined to be as +"game" as possible.</p> + +<p>It was different with Hen Dutcher. He turned pale and shook like a leaf.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE INTRUDER WHO TRIED TO BE "BOSS"</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 49px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="49" height="55" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HE</b></big> heavy door was thrust open—and then the Grammar School boys had the +surprise of their lives.</div> + +<p>No swarm had invaded their camp. Instead a solitary man, clad in heavy +overcoat, and with a cap pulled down over his ears, stamped into the +cabin.</p> + +<p>In his astonishment and dismay Dick Prescott could not repress the cry +of:</p> + +<p>"It's Fits—Mr. Fits himself!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I see you hain't forgot me!" snarled the fellow, as he slammed the door +shut, dropped the bar in the place, and then stood with his back to that +barrier.</p> + +<p>"See here, you can't stay here," declared Dick, his eyes flashing.</p> + +<p>"Can't, eh?" jeered the fellow. "And what's going to stop me?"</p> + +<p>"We are. You've no business here."</p> + +<p>"And if I don't see fit to go, my young bantam?"</p> + +<p>"Then we'll put you out. We're smaller than you are, but there are seven +of us—six, I mean," Dick corrected, after a glance at quaking Hen. +"You'll find we can take care of you!"</p> + +<p>"You kids, eh?" laughed Mr. Fits hoarsely. "Why, if you boys started in +to climb over me I'd pick you off and scrunch you, like so many ants. +Just try it and see!"</p> + +<p>To make his bragging good, Mr. Fits crossed the cabin, helping himself +to the chair by the table.</p> + +<p>"I see you've got plenty of grub here," the big fellow went on. "I'll +bother you to make me some hot coffee and get me the best you have to +eat. Step lively, too! Any younker that doesn't move fast enough I'll +pick up and swat, and then I'll throw him out in the snow to stay."</p> + +<p>Saying which, with a savage snort, Mr. Fits<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> rose and took off his +overcoat, tossing it on to the next chair.</p> + +<p>"What are you two whispering about?" demanded the rough intruder, eyeing +Prescott and Darrin, who were now at the further end of the log cabin.</p> + +<p>"Never you mind," Dave retorted tartly.</p> + +<p>"Don't give me any impudence, younker!" growled Fits.</p> + +<p>"Then don't talk to us," Dick advised.</p> + +<p>"I can see that I've got to trim a couple of you," muttered the intruder +sourly. "And then, too, I reckon my supper will be coming along faster."</p> + +<p>"You'll get no supper here," Dick warned him.</p> + +<p>"I won't, hey? Why not, I wonder?" leered the fellow.</p> + +<p>"Because we have no poison to mix with the food," Dave retorted.</p> + +<p>"I'll have that grub, and some good coffee, set on mighty quick!" +growled the visitor. "If that doesn't happen, then I'll run you all out +into the snow. You won't last long out there, I warrant you! It's a +fearful night."</p> + +<p>"Wait!" begged Hen Dutcher. "I'll wait on you, sir."</p> + +<p>"No, you won't, Hen," spoke Dick sharply, firmly. "This man doesn't stay +here. He's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> going to leave mighty soon, or he'll wish he had. If you do +anything that we can't stand for, Hen, we'll put you outdoors with Mr. +Fits."</p> + +<p>"You wait on me, boy," ordered Fits gruffly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I——"</p> + +<p>"——won't," Dave finished for him snappily. "See here, Hen, you are of +no account here. Look out that you don't make yourself too unpopular to +be allowed to remain here to-night."</p> + +<p>"I see that I've got to teach some of you young cubs a lesson," remarked +Fits, rising from the chair.</p> + +<p>"Look out that we don't teach you one!" cried Dick. "Watch him, fellows. +If Mr. Fits gets too familiar, then sail into him!"</p> + +<p>Dick snatched up one hatchet, Greg another. Dan made a rush for the bow +and arrow, fitting a steel tipped arrow to the string. Tom Reade espied +the crowbar, and reached it in two bounds. Dave Darrin caught up a stick +of firewood, Harry Hazelton following suit.</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher didn't do anything except to slink away to one side of the +big room. His bravery didn't go beyond the risk of telling lies.</p> + +<p>"If Fits makes a move towards any of us, fellows," commanded Dick, in a +tone whose steadiness surprised even young Prescott himself, "then the +rest close in on all sides and give this big bully the best you've +got."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wish there was a hatchet for me," growled Dave, whose eyes were +flashing dangerously.</p> + +<p>"Take this one," replied Dick, passing over his own hastily snatched-up +weapon. Thereupon Prescott fell back for an instant, darting over to a +pile of boxes and picking up the air rifle that had been brought along.</p> + +<p>"Let's see if this air rifle is working?" pondered Dick aloud. He took +quick aim and pressed the trigger.</p> + +<p>"You dratted little pirate!" roared Mr. Fits, tensing for a leap +forward. "I'll show you——"</p> + +<p>"You'll get a lot more, if you don't quit trying to run things here," +Dick threatened coolly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fits was waving his right hand aloft. Dick had struck the back of +that hand with one of the pellets that the rifle carried in its +magazine. The skin wasn't broken on that right hand, but the place +stung, just the same, as Mr. Fits well knew.</p> + +<p>"Hold on! Give him his supper, if he'll quiet down," urged Dave Darrin, +aloud, adding, in a whisper to Dick:</p> + +<p>"And while he's eating it I'll try to find the nearest house, and get +men to come down here and grab him."</p> + +<p>As cautiously as Dave spoke the big fellow heard him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you will, will you?" leered Fits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> "Younker, how long do you think +you'd live in the storm that's going on outside? It's a blizzard. If you +don't believe me, go out and see. I'll wait till you come back."</p> + +<p>For answer Dave ran to the door and opened it. A swirl of snow greeted +Darrin in the face, and another big swirl of the white fluff blew in on +the floor.</p> + +<p>"Go right on out in the snow," jeered Mr. Fits. Dave did so, but the +other five chums kept their gaze steadily on the unwelcome intruder.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, fellows," muttered Dave, as he stamped back into the cabin, +"the storm has grown so that I don't believe any of us could get through +it for a distance of three or four miles."</p> + +<p>"And you see," continued Mr. Fits, "I stay here to-night for one very +good reason, if I didn't have any others. It would be plain manslaughter +to make me go out into the storm. I'd simply die in it before going a +mile."</p> + +<p>"The snow is already up over my knees," confirmed Dave Darrin dismally, +"and I believe it would be twice as deep before I'd been gone an hour."</p> + +<p>"So you see it wouldn't be decent to put me out," jeered the big bully, +"even if I were afraid of you younkers and your wild west outfit of toy +guns and archery."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dave closed and barred the door with a grim tightening around the corner +of his lips.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll trouble you boys to stow your amateur theatrical outfit in a +corner and get me a whopping big supper," continued the big fellow, with +a grin, as he returned to his former seat. "If you don't——"</p> + +<p>He paused impressively, then added:</p> + +<p>"If you don't I'll start something moving here that'll show you who's +boss. Or, if you feel too respectable to like my company, then you can +all put on your overcoats and step outdoors. Maybe you can find your way +to some pleasanter place for the night."</p> + +<p>"If we could get through the storm," whispered Dick to Dave, "then we +might leave him here, and get to help who would come down and grab the +scoundrel."</p> + +<p>"We'd get along all right at the start," muttered Dave, shaking his +head. "But I don't believe, the way the blizzard is coming now, that +we'd get more than a mile or so before we'd all lie down in the snow and +have to give up the fight. You've no idea, Dick, what a howler and piler +this storm is. You ought to go out and try it."</p> + +<p>"If you say it can't be done, Dave, I'll take your word. You've as much +sand and fight as any of us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Supper!" yelled the intruder lustily.</p> + +<p>"It's the cook's night off," jeered young Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is, hey?" roared the big fellow. "I'll show you."</p> + +<p>Jumping to his feet, snatching up the chair on which he had been +sitting, and holding it above his head, Mr. Fits charged.</p> + +<p>The crisis in the affair had arrived.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>IN THE GRIP OF THE BIG BLIZZARD</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 54px;"> +<img src="images/d.png" width="54" height="55" alt="D" title="D" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>ICK</b></big> Prescott was squarely in the way. He didn't flinch or dodge, +either.</div> + +<p>Like a flash he brought the air rifle up for use. But there was nothing +wicked in Dick Prescott. Even against such a foe as this big intruder; +Dick felt that it would be wrong, wicked, to aim for the face of Mr. +Fits.</p> + +<p>Instead, Dick aimed for one of the fellow's legs. The little buckshot +went where aimed, but through the thick trousers and underwear the +little missile had no painful effect.</p> + +<p>"Get back, you lunatic!" quivered Dan, in the same instant, drawing the +arrow to the head, ready to let drive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>But at that interesting moment another of the Grammar School boys saved +the situation. It was Tom Reade, who, just as Mr. Fits started forward, +and was still moving, thrust the crowbar between his legs.</p> + +<p>Flop! Fits struck the earthen floor rather heavily, the chair flying +over the head of Dick Prescott and landing beyond.</p> + +<p>"Good chance!" cheered Harry Hazelton, bringing down his stick of +firewood with a blow that resounded.</p> + +<p>Tom Reade now raised the crowbar once more, standing where he could aim +at the fellow's head. Tom was both too generous and too tender hearted +to have struck a human being over the head with such an implement, even +had Fits given provocation.</p> + +<p>"Don't get up, Mr. Fits," warned Dick, still gripping the air rifle. "If +you start to do so, it will be the signal for something to happen."</p> + +<p>Their nerves tense from the peril of their surroundings, the Grammar +School boys, none of whom were cowards at heart, even though they were +pretty young, looked positively fierce in the eyes of the prostrate foe.</p> + +<p>"You don't any of you dare hit me," he sneered, with an attempt at +bluster.</p> + +<p>"Don't we?" scowled Dave Darrin. "Then start something—we'll do the +rest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Get back with that crowbar!" ordered the fellow sullenly. "Put that air +rifle down, and drop that bow and arrow."</p> + +<p>"Get up and make us," advised Dick Prescott almost placidly. "Now, Mr. +Fits, I hope you realize that we're a few too many for you. As we +suggested some time ago, we're going to order you out of here—and at +once. And we're not going to take any fooling, either."</p> + +<p>"But I can't go out," protested the big fellow. "Why, I'd be found +frozen to death in the blizzard."</p> + +<p>"You won't have to go far," Dick informed him. "You of course know, as +well as we do, that there's a little cook shack at the rear of this +cabin. There's a stove there, some firewood and two barrels of coal. +Now, you're going there——"</p> + +<p>"I won't."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are," Prescott asserted. "Unless you want us to beat you up +and simply throw you outside into a snowdrift."</p> + +<p>"But I'm hungry," protested Mr. Fits. "Also, it's mighty cold lying +here."</p> + +<p>"Stay right where you are," Dick went on sternly. "Hen, get this +fellow's overcoat and throw it on the floor near the door."</p> + +<p>Dutcher obeyed, though he seemed to feel decidedly nervous about it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, Hen," continued the young leader, "go to the food supplies and +pick out two tins of corn beef. Got 'em? Also a loaf of bread. Put the +stuff on the coat."</p> + +<p>This was done.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Fits," went on Dick more steadily still, "it would be unwise +for you to rise and walk to the door. We'd bother you if you did. But +you can crawl over to your coat. Start!"</p> + +<p>"What are you trying to do with me?" appealed the recent bully, in a +voice that was now full of concern.</p> + +<p>"Crawl over to your coat, and we'll tell you the rest of it. If you +don't obey, promptly, we'll take the food part away. Start—crawl!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Fits obeyed. He appeared wholly to have lost his nerve, but Dick +wasn't so sure, for he ordered sharply:</p> + +<p>"Watch out, fellows, that he doesn't play 'possum on us. We can't risk +that, you know."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fits, however, by dint of crawling, reached his overcoat and the +food.</p> + +<p>"Throw the door open, Dave," desired young Prescott. "Now, Mr. Fits, +rise, get your things and hustle around to the shack at the rear. Woe +unto you, if you try to turn and come back into this cabin! We won't +stand any more of you."</p> + +<p>Like one beaten, and knowing it, Fits shambled out into the storm. No +one followed him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> to see that he reached the shack safely. Any man in +good health could do far more than perform that feat.</p> + +<p>"Shut the door and bar it, please," chattered Dan Dalzell. "Whew, but +having that door open has made this place a cold storage plant!"</p> + +<p>"Fellows," spoke up Dick, "if this blizzard is to continue, we'll +presently freeze to death in here unless we get more firewood while we +can."</p> + +<p>"All right," grinned Dalzell. "I've a suggestion, and it's a bully one. +We'll appoint Hen Dutcher a committee of one on the woodpile. Go out and +study your subject, Hen, and bring in your report—I mean, a cord of +wood."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't!" protested Hen sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Get on, now! Beat your way to the wood pile," ordered Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"No slang, please," mocked Dave. "How can a fellow who's going to work +hard beat his way, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>"If you don't think you'd have to beat your way, to reach the wood pile +to-night," retorted Tom, "then just go out again and face the wind and +storm. Hen, are you going?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not," snapped Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"Then I'm a prophet," declared Reade solemnly. "I can see you and me +having trouble."</p> + +<p>"I won't go," cried Hen, with an ugly leer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> "I know what you want to +do. You want to drive me out to that shanty, so that big fellow will +jump on me. Go yourself, Mr. Tom Reade."</p> + +<p>"It's too hard a storm for any one fellow to bring in the wood alone," +interjected Dick. "I'll go, and so will Greg. Hen, you'll come with us."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will," Dick informed him. "We've got to leave some of the +fellows here, to guard the doorway against Mr. Fits. We three will go +and attend to it all, and the rest of the fellows will stay right by the +door and see that Mr. Fits, who has been kind enough to go, stays gone. +Get on your coat, Greg, and you, too, Hen."</p> + +<p>"I'll stay and help guard," proposed Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"A bully guard you'd make," jeered Tom. "Into your coat—or else you'll +go without one."</p> + +<p>Tom took hold of Hen by the collar, propelling him rapidly across the +cabin floor. Dick and Greg were slipping rapidly into coats, caps, +overshoes and mittens. Dick picked up the crowbar and Greg the lantern. +Hen Dutcher, making the gloomy discovery that it must be work or fight, +submitted sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Don't hold the door open. Open it when we holler," was Dick's parting +direction.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" muttered Greg, as they stepped outside. The wind blew in their +faces as they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> went around the end of the cabin, nearly taking their +breath, while the snow proved, even now, to be above their knees.</p> + +<p>"We can do this in the morning just as well," cried Hen, panting in the +effort to make himself heard. "Let's go back."</p> + +<p>"You try it, if you dare!" challenged Greg, waving the lantern in the +other boy's face.</p> + +<p>Even with that short distance to go, it took the three youngsters some +little time to reach the great pile of logs. Sparks were flying from the +chimney-top of the shack, showing that Mr. Fits was preparing to warm +himself.</p> + +<p>"And that's the way we've treated the fellow who stole mother's +Christmas present, and mine," muttered Dick.</p> + +<p>At last the boys reached the pile of logs. Dick tackled it bravely with +the crowbar. Shortly he had half a dozen logs clear, though he was +panting, both from the beating of the storm and from the hard labor he +had taken upon himself.</p> + +<p>"Get those in," called Dick. "While you're at it I'll pry more loose."</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher picked up the smallest of the logs, starting for the cabin, +but Greg caught him by the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"See here, Mr. Lazy, if you're going to pick out such easy ones as that, +take two at a time."</p> + +<p>"I can't," sputtered Hen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I'll turn you over to Dave Darrin when you get inside."</p> + +<p>Hen thereupon picked up another small log, though he pretended to +stagger under the double burden. Greg also carried two logs, and he +staggered with good reason, for the weight was more than he should have +attempted in the deep snow.</p> + +<p>In the very little time that had passed the snow seemed to have grown +much deeper. By the time the two wood-carriers reached the doorway and +were admitted they felt as though they had done an hour's work of the +hardest kind.</p> + +<p>Dave Darrin stood just inside, booted and capped.</p> + +<p>"Good enough," muttered Dave, holding out the air rifle. "Now, Greg, you +take this pill-shooter and let me go out for the next wood. We'll send a +new fellow every time."</p> + +<p>"Then you can take my place, Darrin," proposed Hen readily. "Give me +that air rifle."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" was all Dave said, as he poked Hen outdoors before him, while +Dalzell and Hazelton took the logs and stacked them at the further end +of the cabin.</p> + +<p>When Dave and Hen returned they carried but a log apiece.</p> + +<p>"Dick says each fellow is to take only one log at a time," reported +Dave. "In that way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> he thinks we'll last longer and get in more wood. +Now, Hen will stay back. Tom, I see you're in your overcoat and ready. +Come along with me. Dalzell get ready for the next trip, when I come +back with my second log."</p> + +<p>"And I'll be ready to help Dick with the crowbar," called out Hazelton, +running for his coat.</p> + +<p>In this way the Grammar School boys worked rapidly and effectively. Hen +was the only one in the crowd who made any objection to the amount of +work put upon him. Yet it was an hour and a half, from the start, before +Dick would agree that there was wood enough in the cabin.</p> + +<p>"For it may snow for three days, and grow colder all the time," Prescott +explained. "By morning it may be impossible to get out at all. We don't +want to freeze to death."</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, the exercise had put all of the Grammar School boys in a +fine glow. When, at last, the big lot of wood had been moved and stacked +up inside, and they closed the door for good at last, not one of them, +despite his hard work in the biting storm, felt really chilled.</p> + +<p>"Now, what shall we do?" demanded Dave, his eyes dancing.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what time it is?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Not far from ten o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Yes; past bed time for all of us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you feel sleepy?" demanded Dave.</p> + +<p>"I don't," chorused four or five.</p> + +<p>"Let's sit up as late as we like, for once," proposed Greg Holmes. +"That's part of the fun of camping."</p> + +<p>"Humph! I want to go to bed," gaped Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's nothing to stop you, Hen," responded Dick pleasantly. "If +you're really sleepy our chatting won't keep you awake."</p> + +<p>"What bed shall I take?" inquired Hen.</p> + +<p>"Any one that you like best. There are eight bunks to only seven +fellows, you know."</p> + +<p>Hen took a look, finally deciding on one of the two that were nearest to +the chimney.</p> + +<p>"What blankets shall I use?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Dick looked rather blank at that question.</p> + +<p>"Use the ones you brought with you," advised Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"But I didn't bring any with me," grunted Hen. "Hurry up, for I'm awful +sleepy."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, Hen," Dick went on, "we're in something of a fix on the +blanket question. Each fellow brought his own, and on a night like this +any fellow who lends any of his bedding is bound to catch cold when the +fire runs lower and the place gets chilly."</p> + +<p>"But I gotter have blankets," whined Dutcher. "I can't freeze, either."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what you do, Hen," Dick went on. "There are seven +overcoats in the crowd. They'll keep you warm enough."</p> + +<p>"But there's snow on the coats, or where the snow has melted <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'it's'">its</ins> water," +objected Hen. "I'll tell you what you do. You fellows are going to sit +up and you can wait for the coats to dry. Let me have a set of blankets, +and some other fellow take the coats when they're dry."</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the nerve!" gasped Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Hen," spoke Dave sternly, "if you can't wait for the coats to dry, then +you can sit up in a chair by the fire and throw on another log or two +every time you wake up with a chill!"</p> + +<p>Finding that he couldn't have his own selfish way, Hen, with much +grumbling, arranged the coats on two chairs not far from the fire. When +he considered the coats dry enough he crawled into his chosen bunk, +grumbling at the coarse tick filled only with dried leaves, and was +covered by Dick and Greg. Then the other fellows, after replenishing the +fire, sat down to spin stories.</p> + +<p>"You tell the first yarn, Dick," proposed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Too bad," replied Dick, with a shake of the head. "All I can think of +is what the man on the clubhouse steps said."</p> + +<p>"And what was that?" demanded Tom Reade, leaning forward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't tell you, just yet," replied Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Go on! Yes, you can."</p> + +<p>"No; it's a secret."</p> + +<p>"What did the man on the clubhouse steps say?" insisted Dan, jumping up, +seizing the crowbar and poising it over Dick's head.</p> + +<p>"Put down the curling iron, Danny," laughed Prescott. "What the man on +the clubhouse steps said is a secret, and I'm not going to tell you, +just yet, anyway. Some day I'll tell you."</p> + +<p>So Harry Hazelton started the ball rolling with a story. When it was +finished Greg rose and went to the window at the rear of the cabin.</p> + +<p>"I can't see any lights in the shack," he called back. "I guess Fits +must have turned in."</p> + +<p>"I wish we had something better than glass windows between that +scoundrel and ourselves," muttered Hazelton. "After we're asleep all +Fits would have to do would be to smash a light of glass and jump right +in here on us. Chances are that we'd all go on sleeping soundly, too, +while he gathered up the tools and then he'd have us by the hair when we +did wake up."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," proposed Darrin quietly, "we'll fasten the shutters."</p> + +<p>"Quit your kidding," begged Dan.</p> + +<p>"I'm not kidding."</p> + +<p>"But you talk of closing the shutters. There aren't any—worse luck for +us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aren't there?" challenged Dave. "Say, didn't you fellows know that the +cabin windows have shutters?"</p> + +<p>"Have they?" asked Dick, jumping up.</p> + +<p>"Surest thing going," Dave answered. "Come along and I'll show you."</p> + +<p>He went over to one of the windows, which was set to run sidewise in top +and bottom grooves. On account of the snow and the cold the window stuck +a bit, but at last Dave had it open. Then he reached out and tried to +pull the outside shutter along in its own grooves.</p> + +<p>"Stuck with a bit of ice," Dave reported. "Harry, just bring the +kettle."</p> + +<p>Darrin then poured some of the boiling water upon the sill, where the +shutter stuck. At his next effort the shutter moved. Dave closed it and +pegged it so securely that no trick from the outside could loosen that +shutter.</p> + +<p>This was done in turn to all the other windows. Feeling secure now, the +Grammar School boys found themselves drowsy. Between them they fixed up +the fire. Then blankets were spread in six bunks, after which the tired +youngsters undressed and crawled in under the bedding.</p> + +<p>Silence and slumber reigned in that cosy log cabin in the center of the +forest that was in the grip of one of the biggest blizzards in years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>SIX BOYS AND ANOTHER IN COLD STORAGE</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 69px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="69" height="55" alt="W" title="W" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HEN</b></big> the chatter had ceased and the fellows were all dropping off to +sleep, the interior of the tight old log cabin was still aglow from the +light of the fire. That light was so bright that, one after another, the +boys turned over, their faces to the wall.</div> + +<p>And then no sound was heard, save the weird howling of the wind outside, +with an occasional sputter as a stray gust of snow swept down the broad +chimney to the roaring fire. Every Grammar School boy, as he dropped off +to sleep, knew that a big blizzard was still in progress.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I'll sleep a wink, for thinking of Mr. Fits, and what he +may try to do to us in the night," thought Dan Dalzell, while his lids +fell heavily. "If I do sleep, it will be to wake every little while with +a start. Well, so much the better. If I wake often I'm likely to hear +the scoundrel if he starts anything around here—when +he—thinks—we're—so drowsy that we're dead to the +world—and—<i>gullup!</i>"</p> + +<p>That last exclamation was a snore. Dan was conscious of waking once, +though at what time he did not know. He noted that the fire seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> to +have burned very low, and that it was almost wholly dark within the +cabin. Then he dozed. When he awoke once more he could see no glow +whatever from the fire. The lantern that had been left lighted had +flickered out. Dan felt oppressed by a sense of something awesome.</p> + +<p>"What on earth can the time be?" Dan wondered, now quite wide awake and +just slightly uneasy. As he peered about through the dark he made out +what looked very much like a narrow ray of daylight through a crack in +one of the closed shutters.</p> + +<p>"It can't be morning," muttered Dan. "And yet—why is the fire out? We +left a bully one going."</p> + +<p>Dan had thrown his jacket on to the bunk before retiring. Now, he sat +up, reaching for the jacket.</p> + +<p>"Gracious but it's cold!" gasped Dan, as the chill struck him.</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" growled Dave Darrin's drowsy voice. "Don't wake everybody."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" chimed in Dick Prescott sleepily.</p> + +<p>"It's—it's cold," chattered Dan, as he sank back under the blankets. +Here he quickly warmed. And he had gotten what he had looked for, a +battered old dollar watch and a box of matches.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Keep under the clothes and you'll be all right," returned Dick +soothingly. "But, my! With that fire out some of the fellows are going +to have a cold time getting up and building one in the morning."</p> + +<p>Dan's teeth chattered for a minute or two. Then he sat up once more, +striking a match and holding up his watch. Dalzell stared incredulously +at the hands and the dial before he tossed the extinguished match to the +floor and sank back once more under the blankets.</p> + +<p>"S-s-say, do you fellows know what time it is?" shivered Dan.</p> + +<p>"What time?" called Dick and Dave softly.</p> + +<p>"It's half past nine."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," ridiculed Dave. "It was after ten when we went to bed."</p> + +<p>"It's after half past nine—in the morning," retorted Dan impressively.</p> + +<p>"Glory, but I believe you're right," ejaculated Prescott. "I can see +just a tiny crack of daylight over by one of the shutters."</p> + +<p>"It's morning, all right," Dan insisted. "And the fire's out. Wake up, +fellows! Who's going to start a new fire?"</p> + +<p>"I will," volunteered Tom Reade. "Great Scott! No; I won't, either," he +ejaculated, after having thrust his legs out of his bunk preparatory to +jumping up. "Oh, don't I wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> we could carry a million freight carloads +of this cold air back with us! We could make our fortunes selling it to +a cold storage company."</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll have to call for two volunteers," laughed Dick, after +having thrust a foot out. "I'll volunteer, for one. Who'll be the +other?"</p> + +<p>"Hen Dutcher!" came with wonderful unanimity from the others.</p> + +<p>"Not on your life I won't!" retorted Hen with vigor. "I won't freeze +myself for any gang of fellows, and that's flat. I'm going to dress by a +warm fire when I dress."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Dan ruefully, "as I woke all the others up, I guess it's up +to me to volunteer. Say when you're ready, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Now!" answered Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Please don't be so sudden," pleaded Dan. "Give a fellow just a bit of +warning. Count three; no, make it ten."</p> + +<p>So Dick counted. At ten both he and Dan leaped from their bunks. They +were sorry, the instant their feet struck the floor, which seemed at +least twenty degrees colder than ice. Both shook and shivered as they +pulled on their underclothes, shoes which they did not stop to lace, +then shirts, trousers, vests and jackets.</p> + +<p>"Br-r-r-r-r! M-m-m-m—!" was all the sound Dan could make. He was trying +to frame words,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> but his teeth wouldn't stop long enough. Dick made a +dive for a lot of excelsior that had come around some of their goods the +day before. This he threw into the dead, cold fireplace. Dan, shaking as +though with ague, brought a log and laid it across the excelsior. Dick +brought some more firewood. In a short time they had it well heaped. +Then Dick poured coal oil over the whole, and Dan, with palsied fingers, +made three attempts before he could open his match box and strike a +match. The temperature in the cabin must have been around zero, for it +was twenty below outside that same morning.</p> + +<p>At last the lighted match reached the oil soaked excelsior, but before +it could ignite, the cold wind that was roaring down the chimney blew it +out.</p> + +<p>Dick was too cold to talk, but he made a dive for his cap, and held it +in place over some of the excelsior, while shaking Dan miserably felt +for another match. This time the tiny flame caught in the excelsior.</p> + +<p>"It's a g-g-g-g-go!" chattered Dick.</p> + +<p>"M-m-m-me for b-b-b-b-bed!" chattered Dan, racing back to his bunk in +the starting light of the fire and diving in under the blankets.</p> + +<p>But Dick Prescott stuck at his post. He saw the excelsior blaze briskly. +Then the flames licked at the oil over the logs. Thirty seconds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> after +that, and the cabin interior was fairly well lighted by the increasing +blaze. Dick wouldn't go back to his bunk, but stood with his back as +close as he dared to the fire. Yet the cold air was all around him, and, +while his back baked the rest of his body was so cold that his teeth +continued to play against each other in six eight time.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you get back into bed?" called Tom Reade lazily from his +warmth under blankets. But Dick stuck it out. When the first logs were a +seething mass of ruddy fire Dick, now chattering less, brought more +short logs and piled them on in place. The wind, that day, would take +all the wood that was fed to the fire. Gradually Dick stopped +chattering. At last he even felt comfortable.</p> + +<p>"You fellows can get up now just as well as not," he announced.</p> + +<p>Dan was the first to try it.</p> + +<p>"Something like," he announced. That brought Dave Darrin out. One by one +the other fellows followed—all except Hen.</p> + +<p>"You don't catch me out of my bunk until breakfast is ready," announced +young Dutcher.</p> + +<p>Dick wheeled impatiently, at this hint, but Dave Darrin whispered in his +ear:</p> + +<p>"Let it go at that, Dick. But after breakfast we'll make him wash all +the dishes—every one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>—and spend the rest of the forenoon slicking up +around the place. If he refuses—well, we'll know how to bring him to +time."</p> + +<p>So Hen was ignored for the time being. Dan and Greg busied themselves in +the first breakfast preparations. Dick and Dave, presently, went over to +one of the windows, forcing it back and tugging at the shutter, which +proved to be frozen in place.</p> + +<p>"Bring some hot water, Dan, the minute you get it," urged Dick. This was +soon ready and a small amount of it was poured around the sill, +loosening the shutter, which was shoved back.</p> + +<p>"Glory! Look at the storm!" cried Dick. There was a rush after the glass +window had been closed.</p> + +<p>Never had a prettier snow scene been exposed to view. The snow was still +swirling down, while what had fallen was up level with the window.</p> + +<p>"It's a good four feet deep, already!" cried Dave.</p> + +<p>"And looks as though it would go on snowing for a week," added Tom Reade +joyously.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," announced Dick, "we're surely snowbound. That's something +that we've often dreamed about. Say, wouldn't it be queer if we had a +long spell of this sort of thing, and couldn't—simply couldn't—get +back to Central<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> Grammar by the time school opens again after the +holidays?"</p> + +<p>"If the food holds out it'll be fun," assented Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>Soon another shutter was opened, admitting more daylight. When they got +around to the rear window, and got it open, Dick pointed to the shack in +the rear.</p> + +<p>"Well, we know that Mr. Fits hasn't been out to-day," Prescott laughed. +"Just look at his door. The drifts have piled against it, higher than +the door itself."</p> + +<p>Snow scenes, however, do not feed any one. So the boys turned back to +the kitchen preparations. What if the bacon and eggs didn't look quite +neat enough to suit a real housekeeper? The mess tasted good. So did the +fried potatoes, made out of the left overs from last night's boiled +ones. Coffee, bread and butter and "store pie." No wonder the +youngsters, when they were through with breakfast, and in a cabin now +warm from one end to the other, felt, as Dick expressed it:</p> + +<p>"Say, we're at peace with the whole world, aren't we?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Dan solemnly. "Mr. Fits is snowed in tight."</p> + +<p>"We're even at peace with Hen Dutcher, the miserable shirk," rumbled Tom +Reade.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That reminds me," said Dick, turning. "Hen, it's up to you to wash all +the dishes, and to do it tidily, too."</p> + +<p>"I won't," retorted Hen defiantly. "I'm no servant to you fellows."</p> + +<p>"Hen," observed Dick, with a light in his eyes that meant business, +"it's past the time now for you to tell us what you'll do and what you +won't do. We didn't invite you here, and you didn't pay any share of the +expenses that we have been under. Accident made you our guest; we didn't +really want you here at all. The same accident that makes it necessary +for you to stay here for the present has kept away the rest of your +crowd—Fred Ripley and his pals. While you stay here you'll do your full +share of the work. If you don't, you'll soon wish you had. Now, your +first job is to wash and dry the dishes. After that you'll tidy up the +cabin. I'll show you what's needed in that line. Get to work!"</p> + +<p>Hen had grown meeker during this address, for he saw that the other +fellows approved all that their leader was saying.</p> + +<p>"All right," he muttered; "I'll do it, but it ain't a square deal. I'm +your guest and I ought not to work."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>BLIZZARD TOIL AND A MYSTERY</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/oquote.png" width="71" height="55" alt=""O" title=""O" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>UR</b></big> old college chum, Mr. Fits, isn't stirring yet," reported Greg +Holmes, after looking out through the rear window that offered the best +view of the cook shack at the rear.</div> + +<p>"Too bad," muttered Tom Reade, turning away from a front window where he +was watching only the steady fall of the flakes. "If he were a neighbor +worth having he'd come out and offer to shovel the paths."</p> + +<p>"I wonder how cold it is outdoors?" pondered Hazelton aloud.</p> + +<p>"Somewhere below zero, certainly," rejoined Tom. "Suppose we call that +definite enough?"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to get out into this storm," hinted Dave.</p> + +<p>"So would I," nodded Dick with energy. "It would be fine to be out in +the grandest storm that we've ever seen! Down in Gridley I suppose the +folks have the sidewalks cleaned off."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it," objected Dan Dalzell. "Not in this storm. Horses +couldn't get through it to drag a plow, and it would take an army of men +to shovel the snow away, for the wind will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> blow the snow back as fast +as a fellow gets a few bushelfuls moved."</p> + +<p>"Let's try it and see!" proposed Dick, jumping up and going for his +overshoes.</p> + +<p>"Mean it?" demanded Dave joyously.</p> + +<p>"Surely I do."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm with you." Dave ran to where his outdoor apparel lay. "Going +with us, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"It's a bad example to set some of these small boys," gaped Tom with his +most venerable air, "but I'm afraid I can't stay inside while you +fellows are enjoying yourselves."</p> + +<p>Greg, too, hurried to get on his arctic overshoes and his overcoat. Then +he pulled his toboggan cap well down over his ears and neck and donned +his mittens.</p> + +<p>"There are only two snow shovels," announced Dick. "What are the rest of +you going to use?"</p> + +<p>"Here's the fire shovel," answered Greg, producing it. "That will be +good enough for me."</p> + +<p>"Get the door open, Dave," called Dick.</p> + +<p>Darrin unbarred the door, trying to swing it open. Tom Reade sprang to +his aid, for the bottom of the door was frozen to the sill.</p> + +<p>"Bring the hot water, Hen," called Reade.</p> + +<p>"Get it yourself," grumbled Hen. But when Tom turned, and Hen saw his +face, the latter made haste to bring the tea-kettle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 262px;"> +<img src="images/illus02.png" width="262" height="400" alt="Dick Plied His Shovel Vigorously." title="Dick Plied His Shovel Vigorously." /> +<span class="caption">Dick Plied His Shovel Vigorously.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd better pour the water," proposed Tom, taking the kettle. "Dick, you +and Dave begin to yank on the door as soon as you see the hot stream +trickling on below."</p> + +<p>Reade made economical use of the water, yet it took considerable pouring +to loosen up the door at the sill.</p> + +<p>"Better go slow with that water," warned Dutcher. "It's the last there +is in the place."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" retorted Tom. "Once we get outside I guess we can dig our way +to the spring."</p> + +<p>At last the door yielded and swung open. A mass of snow blew in upon +them. Dick leaped at the white wall beyond and began plying his shovel +vigorously.</p> + +<p>"It's light, and can be easily handled," he called back over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>So Dave waited until Dick had made a start of three or four feet. Then +he moved out beside his chum, while Greg, the iron shovel in hand, stood +at hand waiting for the other two to make room enough for him to be able +to help them.</p> + +<p>Bump! went the door, for those inside, without coats or exercise, felt +the cold that rushed into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Where to?" called Dave, for the wind carried their voices off in the +howling blast. "To the spring?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'd better," Dick replied, "as we're out of water."</p> + +<p>Between the depth of the snow and the fury of the storm the Grammar +School boys quickly discovered that they had taken a huge task upon +themselves. After more than ten minutes of laborious shoveling all three +paused, as by common consent, and looked at the work accomplished. They +had gone barely a dozen feet, and under foot, all the way back to the +cabin door, the snow was still some two feet deep.</p> + +<p>The distance from the door to the spring being some ninety feet, it was +plain that more than an hour would be needed for digging the way to the +spring.</p> + +<p>"What's the use of all this trouble?" shouted Greg. "We can melt snow, +anyway."</p> + +<p>"Snow water doesn't taste very good," objected Dave Darrin.</p> + +<p>"Besides, we don't want to admit ourselves stumped by a little snow," +urged Dick. "Come on, fellows; we can make it if we have grit and +industry enough. Here goes!"</p> + +<p>With that Dick Prescott began to shovel harder than ever, so the two +chums added their efforts. Truth to tell, however, ere they had gone +another six feet through the big drifts, their backs were aching. They +could have progressed more rapidly, but for the fact that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> wind blew +much of the snow back into the trench they were cutting through the +great banks of white stuff.</p> + +<p>"Are we going to make it?" asked Dave dubiously at last.</p> + +<p>"We've got to," Dick retorted.</p> + +<p>"The other fellows ought to come out and help us," proposed Greg.</p> + +<p>"That's not a very bad idea, either," Dick agreed, as he started +shoveling once more. "Greg, go back and tell them what we want."</p> + +<p>Prescott and Darrin went on shoveling, manfully, until Tom, Dan and +Harry came wallowing along over what there was of a path and took the +shovels.</p> + +<p>After that, with twenty minute shifts, the work went along more rapidly, +though once in a while one of the shovelers had to go back over the +path, digging out where more snow had blown in.</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was not asked to share in this strenuous work. He had enough +to do in the cabin, and this outdoor performance was no work, anyway, +for a whiner.</p> + +<p>"Get the axe and some of the buckets," called Dick finally, as he, at +the head of a shift, reached and located the spring. The water was, of +course, covered with a thick armor of ice. Greg moved into position with +the axe, striking fast and hard. Dave and Tom, with the snow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> shovels, +moved back over the opened way, keeping it clear in defiance of the +gale. As soon as Greg had the ice chopped away sufficiently, Dick, Dan +and Harry began to carry water. There was a water barrel in the cabin.</p> + +<p>"If we had filled this yesterday we wouldn't have had to work so hard +to-day," half grumbled Dan.</p> + +<p>"Well, we want to do something, don't we?" retorted Prescott. "What did +we come out into the woods for? Just to sit around indoors and eat and +sleep?"</p> + +<p>With the utmost industry it took a long time for the youngsters to fill +the water barrel.</p> + +<p>"Now, we've enough for a week, anyway," remarked Dan, as he and Dick +poured the last pailfuls into the barrel.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps enough for forty eight hours, though we don't want to be too +sure," replied Prescott. "We want water enough for cleanliness, for +cooking and for drinking. That will be quite a lot, I guess."</p> + +<p>The others now came in, for their outdoor exercise had taken up more +than two hours of morning time.</p> + +<p>"Wood, next, I suppose," remarked Tom, gazing regretfully at the already +diminished pile of wood.</p> + +<p>"No; there's wood enough to last until to-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>morrow; probably until the +day after," Dave answered.</p> + +<p>"But do any of you fellows see the storm stopping?" queried Dick.</p> + +<p>"No," Dave and Tom both admitted.</p> + +<p>"Then, as there's no telling how long this good old blizzard will last, +we'll do well to stack all the wood we can carry into this cabin."</p> + +<p>"Why not take a little rest first?" urged Dan. "I'll do my share of the +work, all the time, but I'll admit that I'm tired just now."</p> + +<p>"We can divide into two shifts, then," suggested Dick. "As I don't feel +very tired, I'll get into the first shift. Tom, do you feel plenty +strong?"</p> + +<p>"Strong?" sniffed young Reade. "Humph! I'm ready, right now, to meet and +vanquish the biggest Bermuda onion that you can produce."</p> + +<p>Dave had already started for the door. These three leaders of boydom in +Gridley began to ply their shovels vigorously, starting from a point in +the path already made to the spring. Working through drifts, in some +instances more than six feet deep, it was slow work. After twenty +minutes they went back to the cabin, Greg, Harry and Dan coming out to +take up the work.</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was still toiling hard, for he had concluded that industry +was the only way to save himself unpleasant happenings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How soon are you fellows going to knock off and begin to think about +dinner?" demanded Hen.</p> + +<p>"When we get good enough appetites, I suppose," laughed Dick.</p> + +<p>"Appetites?" sniffed Dutcher. "Huh! I could eat one side of a beef +critter, right now."</p> + +<p>"Go out in the snow and help one of the fellows, then," advised Tom +dryly. "After that you'll be able to eat the whole critter."</p> + +<p>"But when are you going to eat?" insisted Hen. "It's noon now."</p> + +<p>"We'll eat in another hour, I guess, if that suits the crowd," replied +Dick.</p> + +<p>"I'm ready to eat right now," coaxed Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"But you don't belong to the crowd," retorted Dave Darrin grimly. +"Unless you want to put up with bread you'll have to wait until the +crowd is ready."</p> + +<p>"Potatoes will be the first thing ready for dinner, Hen," observed +Prescott mildly. "As you're not doing anything outdoors, you might get +busy peeling a big pan of potatoes."</p> + +<p>"See here," flared Dutcher, "I told you before that I'm no servant, +and——"</p> + +<p>But Dick had risen, for the clock informed him that it was time to +relieve the shift out in the deep snow.</p> + +<p>"Suit yourself, Hen," replied Prescott. "If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> you don't peel the +potatoes, and some one else has to do it, then you won't eat any hot +dinner to-day. That's flat."</p> + +<p>"Isn't Dick Prescott just a mean bully?" growled Hen to himself, as the +"relief" stepped outdoors to resume work.</p> + +<p>"See that Hen keeps busy peeling and washing potatoes," Dick advised +Greg in passing.</p> + +<p>Then the three rested shovelers took up the task. The path was now +approaching the cook shack at the rear of the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Queer, isn't it," inquired Dave, "that we don't see a blessed thing of +Mr. Fits to-day, and that there's no smoke going up his chimney."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he has left these parts," suggested Tom, rather hopefully.</p> + +<p>"How could he?" Dave wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he went last night."</p> + +<p>"I doubt if he could get away, even last night, at the hour when we +turned him adrift," Darrin contended. "A man might have gone a quarter +of a mile, but he couldn't go a whole mile."</p> + +<p>"He hasn't been out to-day, at any rate," declared Dick. "There isn't a +trace of a track anywhere near the shack."</p> + +<p>"Let's dig up to that window and look in," suggested Dave.</p> + +<p>This was done. A few minutes later the three boys stood at the window, +glancing in at all they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> could see of the small interior. Beyond the +stove and chairs there appeared to be nothing to see.</p> + +<p>"Well, our dear friend Fits isn't on the premises—that's certain," +remarked Dave Darrin.</p> + +<p>Which conclusion might be true, or, again, might not.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A VISITOR BY THE AIR ROUTE</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 69px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="69" height="55" alt="W" title="W" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HEN</b></big> the boys awoke next morning the fire was still burning, though +there was not enough of it left to prevent a thin layer of ice forming +over the surface of the water in the barrel. Tom Reade slipped from his +bunk, drawing on shoes and trousers, and quickly placed a few more logs +over the embers. A few minutes after that it was warm enough for the +rest to slip out of their bunks and dress hurriedly—all except Hen +Dutcher.</div> + +<p>Greg soon busied himself, tea-kettle in hand, with thawing the ice +around the bottoms of the sliding shutters.</p> + +<p>"No tracks at the cook shack," announced young Holmes. "And say, +fellows, it has stopped snowing."</p> + +<p>"Well, for once in my life," smiled Dick, "I think I've seen enough +snow. I just wonder how the folks in Gridley are getting through it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, they must have the streets broken, after a fashion, and some sort +of paths on the main sidewalks," responded Tom Reade judicially.</p> + +<p>All were now at the windows, looking out over the scene. At only two of +the windows, however, could a level view be obtained; the two others +were completely blocked by piled up snow. The rest of the windows could +be used for observation purposes when the Grammar School lads placed +boxes on which to stand.</p> + +<p>"The snow looks soft yet," declared Dave.</p> + +<p>"It is soft; you can see that in the way that the wind catches it up in +flurries," Dick argued.</p> + +<p>"Then we can't get far in it to-day," decided Tom Reade. "We can't +travel far over the snow until we have a cold spell for twenty-four +hours that will freeze the top of the snow into a hard crust."</p> + +<p>"When that crust comes we just will travel," muttered Dave.</p> + +<p>"Getting tired of camp?" grinned Dalzell.</p> + +<p>"No, Danny Grin; but you forget something."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"We've got a duty to perform. As soon as we can get where there's a +telephone, we've got to send word to the Gridley folks that Mr. Fits is +in these parts."</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Fits isn't here," Greg objected.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's so," Darrin admitted slowly. "And yet the rascal must be +somewhere around, for he couldn't get far in such a blizzard as we've +been going through."</p> + +<p>"What I'm even more anxious about than Mr. Fits is telephoning the news +to the home folks that we're all safe here, and as snug and comfortable +as can be," Dick interposed. "Whee! But our folks must be worried about +us. They'll never let us go camping again in winter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know about that," argued Dave. "If we only prove to them +that we can weather such a time as this, without sickness or disaster, +they'll be ready to believe that we can take care of ourselves anywhere +on earth."</p> + +<p>"Why, there isn't anything very hard about taking care of ourselves +here," Dick continued. "All we have to do is to show a little industry. +We've got everything at hand that we could possibly need. But I wish the +home folks knew how comfy and happy we are."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see myself out of this," grumbled Hen Dutcher, lying +huddled in his bunk under the pile of overcoats. "Say, fellows, is it +warm enough for me to get up yet?"</p> + +<p>As all of the real boys in the party were already up, none of them +thought it necessary to answer Hen, who presently slid out of his bunk +and began to dress rapidly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are we going to have to eat this morning, and when?" Hen wanted to +know.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll have a light breakfast this morning," hinted Reade.</p> + +<p>"Why?" demanded Dutcher, his jaw dropping.</p> + +<p>"So we can have a better appetite for the turkey we brought along. +Fellows, don't you think we'd better eat that turkey to-day? It may not +keep."</p> + +<p>"Turkey?" blurted Hen Dutcher, his eyes dancing with anticipated +pleasure. "I didn't know you had any grub as fine as that."</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking," proposed Prescott, "that we might as well have +some of that turkey for breakfast this morning."</p> + +<p>"Why, is it already cooked?" cried Hen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," Dick admitted.</p> + +<p>"Then let's have something else for breakfast and keep the turkey until +noon," suggested Dutcher. "I can't wait for my breakfast."</p> + +<p>"What do you fellows say?" asked Dick, putting it to a vote, but +ignoring Hen. "Shall it be turkey for breakfast?"</p> + +<p>"Turkey!" solemnly voted five Grammar School boys.</p> + +<p>"I call it a shame to treat a fellow like this," grumbled Hen. "To make +a fellow wait so long for his breakfast when he's starving to death!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>But none of the others gave any sign that they heard. Dick went to a +shelf on which lay many packages of the food they had brought with them +two days before. Dick took down a plain little wooden box and stepped to +the table.</p> + +<p>"Put on about eight eggs, and boil 'em hard, will you, Greg?" Dick +asked. "Tom might tackle the coffee-making this morning. Dan and Harry +can get potatoes ready."</p> + +<p>"But where's the turkey, then?" queried Hen, watching Dick as he opened +the box.</p> + +<p>"Right here," proclaimed young Prescott, removing the lid.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's—that's codfish, salted and dried!" exploded Hen.</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't codfish Cape Cod turkey?" demanded Reade, with a grin.</p> + +<p>"Is that the only kind of turkey you have with you?" asked Hen.</p> + +<p>"The only kind," smiled Dick. "Don't you like codfish, Hen?"</p> + +<p>"Not a little bit," grumbled Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"Then you can cut out breakfast, and you'll have a fine appetite at +noon," offered Dan consolingly.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that you fellows use me as meanly as you know how," +flared Hen. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves."</p> + +<p>"We are," Tom assured the grumbler.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Though the codfish should have been soaked over night, Dick accomplished +much the same effect by repeatedly scalding it. Then he put it on to +cook in boiling water, and next made a flour sauce in the way that his +mother had patiently taught him. The hard boiled eggs, after being +cooled in cold water, were sliced up and put over the dish when it was +ready. This, with potatoes, bread and butter and weak coffee with +condensed milk, made a meal that satisfied all hands. Hen didn't like +the meal, but he ate more of it than any one else.</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do to-day for fun?" Dan wanted to know as +breakfast drew to a close.</p> + +<p>"Shovel paths and stock up with water and firewood, I guess," smiled +Dick.</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! I'm sorry it has to be all work, and that we can't have any +fun," remarked Harry Hazelton. "I've just been longing to go hunting and +get a rabbit for a stew."</p> + +<p>"We'll be here for days and days yet," answered Dick. "I guess we'll be +able to find plenty of fun before our camping frolic is over."</p> + +<p>"It's fun, just being here and living this way," Darrin declared.</p> + +<p>Something beat against one of the windows, causing the boys to look +around curiously.</p> + +<p>"Just a twig blown off from some tree," declared Tom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is it?" floated back from Greg, who had leaped up and was now hurrying +toward the window in question. "It's a pigeon—that's what it is. And +the poor thing looks perishing, too."</p> + +<p>In truth Mr. Pigeon did seem to be about spent. The poor thing huddled +against the sash, as if trying to shelter itself from the biting wind +and the fine dust of blown snow.</p> + +<p>"Bring the tea-kettle, some one," called Greg, and Dick did so.</p> + +<p>"Pour the water on so that I can get the window open," Greg directed. +"Just enough to soften the ice so that the sash will move back. Be +careful not to let any of the hot water scald the pigeon's feet."</p> + +<p>Working gently, in order not to alarm the spent bird, Dick and Greg soon +had the window open, and Greg drew in the all but frozen little flyer.</p> + +<p>"Say, we can have pigeon stew, or pie, if anyone knows how to make a +pie," cried Hen Dutcher.</p> + +<p>"You scoundrel!" breathed Greg fiercely. "Your stomach makes a brute of +you, Hen Dutcher!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, what's the sense of being silly about nothing but just a bird?" +insisted Hen.</p> + +<p>"I'll fight any fellow who proposes eating this poor little wayfarer," +announced Greg.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whatcher getting mad about?" snapped Hen. "Pigeons are made just for +eating, and we can——"</p> + +<p>"Hold this bird, Dan," urged Greg, passing the pigeon to Dalzell and +stepping briskly toward Hen, who, alarmed, retreated, protesting:</p> + +<p>"Huh! What are you getting red headed about? Can't you stand a joke?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like your style of jokes," retorted Greg, stopping the pursuit. +"Don't let me hear any more of 'em."</p> + +<p>"In fact, Hen," added Tom, "your continued silence would be the finest +thing you could do for us."</p> + +<p>"See here!" called Dan. "This is one of our own pigeons—right out of +dad's cote. This is the speckled one we call 'Tit-bit.'"</p> + +<p>"Say, that seems almost like a letter from home, doesn't it?" asked +Dick, his face beaming. "We'll give our friend the best we have. Put the +little fellow in a box, in some soft stuff, not too close to the fire, +Dan. And I'll start to boil some of the corn meal. That'll make good +food for the little chap when he's feeling more like himself."</p> + +<p>In less than half an hour Mr. Pigeon was feeling vastly better. He now +hopped about the place, using his wings every now and then in a short +flight. Dan was the only one who could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> get near the little creature +now. So it was Dalzell who caught the pigeon and fed it its breakfast of +corn meal mush when it was ready.</p> + +<p>Soon after the pigeon took to flying more and more. He seemed attracted +towards the windows, flying straight at them three or four times.</p> + +<p>"Your pigeon isn't showing good manners, Dan," teased Tom. "He is +showing as plainly as possible that he doesn't like this crowd."</p> + +<p>"Most likely it's Hen he objects to," murmured Dalzell, with a grin. +"But I'll tell you what I think Tit-bit wants. He's warm, fed and feels +as strong as ever. What he wants, now, is to hit up a pace for Gridley +and get back into the cote with his mates."</p> + +<p>"How long would it take him to get there?" wondered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Why, something like ten or twelve minutes, probably," Dan answered.</p> + +<p>"Whee! If we could make it that fast we'd be taking frequent trips," +sighed Reade.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't make the trip more'n one way. I'd stay in Gridley after I +got there," grumbled Hen, but no one paid any heed to him.</p> + +<p>"See here," broke in Dick suddenly, "if that pigeon wants to go home, +and is able to, why can't we make him take a message for us? I believe +we can—if some one at the other end would only see it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dad always looks the birds over when he feeds 'em in the morning," Dan +declared.</p> + +<p>"Wait until I get a piece of paper," rejoined Prescott, almost +breathless from the hold the idea had taken on him. He got the paper, +drew out a pencil, and sat down to write, calling off the words as he +wrote them:</p> + +<p>"To the home folks. We're all here at the cabin, snug as can be, with +plenty of water, firewood and food, and having a jolly time. Don't worry +about us. We're having a jolly time."</p> + +<p>"Tell 'em I'm here," begged Hen Dutcher. "My folks might like to know."</p> + +<p>So Dick added that information and signed his name. Next he rolled the +paper up into a cylinder.</p> + +<p>"Dan, catch that precious bird of yours," begged the young leader. +Dalzell presently accomplished that purpose. Dick tied a string around +the pigeon's neck, loosely enough not to choke the bird, and yet +securely enough so that the noose could not slip off. Then the paper +cylinder was made fast to the string.</p> + +<p>"Open the window on the side towards Gridley, Greg," called Dick. "When +it's open, Dan, you give your pigeon a start."</p> + +<p>As Dan let go the bird fluttered from the sill to the snow. Then, after +a moment, little Mr. Pigeon spread his wings and soared skyward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> Soon +the boys had seen the last of the small traveler, still headed in the +direction of home.</p> + +<p>"Our folks will soon have the news," declared Dan proudly.</p> + +<p>"And, oh—hang it!" gasped Dick disgustedly. "I forgot to add even a +word about Mr. Fits!"</p> + +<p>"Well, he isn't here with us, at any rate," Dave answered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE MYSTERIOUS VOICES OF THE NIGHT</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 85px;"> +<img src="images/wquote.png" width="85" height="55" alt=""W" title=""W" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>OW!</b></big> Wow-ow-ow-oo-whoo-oo-oo!"</div> + +<p>It would be impossible to convey the weird sound in words.</p> + +<p>Six boys and a whiner were asleep in their bunks in the log cabin when +that awesome sound first smote the air.</p> + +<p>Outside the wind had nearly died down. Dick Prescott, the first to +waken, felt a cold chill creep down his spine.</p> + +<p>"Wow-ow-ow-ow-ow! Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo!"</p> + +<p>"Wh-wh-what is it?" gasped Dan Dalzell, sitting up in his bunk.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Dick admitted.</p> + +<p>Again came the fearsome sound, now louder than ever. Dave Darrin and Tom +Reade were now awake and startled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What on earth can it be?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"It must be Fred Ripley's ghost party," suggested Greg.</p> + +<p>"Bosh! Fred Ripley would have to be a real ghost before he could get +over the deep snow in the woods," Dick retorted.</p> + +<p>Once more came the sound, more piercing than ever. Dick leaped from his +bunk and began to dress. Dave and Greg followed suit.</p> + +<p>"We'll do our best to find out what it is, fellows," Dick promised them.</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was chattering and half sobbing.</p> + +<p>"If I—I ever g-g-get out of this alive," he chattered, "I'll never +stick around y-y-y-you fellows again. I was a f-f-f-fool to let you +fellows coax me into staying here."</p> + +<p>"Get out, then!" retorted Tom Reade half savagely, as he landed on the +floor and began to dress. All were soon up except Hen, who, when a more +dismal and bloodcurdling wail than ever came along, hid his head under +one of the overcoats that covered him.</p> + +<p>"It's a wild cat—that's what it is," declared Greg Holmes.</p> + +<p>"Only one objection to that idea," returned Dick Prescott. "No one has +ever heard of a wild cat in these parts in forty years."</p> + +<p>"Then it's some one out perishing in the cold," suggested Dave.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whoever might be out in the cold wouldn't have much time to yell like +that about it," argued Dick. "A wayfarer, out in the cold and deep snow +to-night, would soon lie down and freeze to death."</p> + +<p>But now something happened that made the blood of all the listeners run +cold.</p> + +<p>"Dea-ath sta-a-alks through the for-r-r-rest!" came the wailing chant.</p> + +<p>"That must be the Ripley gang," contended Dick.</p> + +<p>"But how can it be? How could they get through the deep snow that won't +bear 'em?" Tom wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Then what can it be?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Fits," suggested Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"But Fits isn't in the shack, or wasn't," Dave argued. "We haven't seen +him around, outdoors or in the shack, since the night we ordered him to +go there. If Mr. Fits got away from this neighborhood it was simply +impossible for him to get back since then."</p> + +<p>"A-a-a-all who he-ear my voi-oi-oice shall die-ie within the +hou-ou-our!" came the wail once more.</p> + +<p>"O-o-o-h! Please don't!" screamed Hen Dutcher, burrowing in under the +massed overcoats. "Please spare me! I'll be a good fellow after this!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Keep quiet!" ordered Tom, striding over to the bunk and giving Hen +three or four vigorous prods. "If you don't we'll throw you outside!"</p> + +<p>"But it's just aw-aw-aw-awful!" chattered the terrified Hen.</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, none of the boys were feeling at his best, just then. +Dick's glance passed the face of the clock, showing the hour to be just +midnight.</p> + +<p>Had it been possible to travel through the forest, the Grammar School +boys would have felt sure that it was Fred Ripley's crew. Then they +would have gone forth to see what was up. But feeling sure that they +were the only living beings in this part of the forest, it was +impossible to account for the awful sounds that came from without. What +made the wailing sound still more frightful was the fact that it all +seemed a part of the wind that was now rising gradually. And the clearly +uttered, sepulchral words made it all real enough. The wind never talks +in words.</p> + +<p>Again came the wailing, though this time without words.</p> + +<p>"I never believed there were such things as real ghosts," declared Harry +Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"Then you're a fool. Everybody knows that there are ghosts—and they're +fine people that do noble work!" proclaimed chattering Hen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> from under +the weight of clothing. He was trying to win the favor of the ghosts.</p> + +<p>"If there are any ghosts around here I wish one of 'em would pick you up +in a sheet, take you away and drop you in your own home in Gridley," +declared Tom, becoming decidedly irritated by this babyish imitation of +a boy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please don't say that!" begged Hen piteously. "The ghost might hear +you."</p> + +<p>"If he does, and takes Tom's advice," hinted Dave, "we'll soon see it +happen."</p> + +<p>That was enough to send thirteen year old Hen burrowing more frantically +than before.</p> + +<p>The cabin was warm and bright inside. Dick, while trying to puzzle out +the matter to his satisfaction, carried four more logs to the fire, one +after another, and placed them.</p> + +<p>Not one of the Grammar School boys had any desire to go to bed at that +time, save Hen, who wouldn't dare to be anywhere else. In fact, the +Dutcher youngster may have wondered whether he could stand on his feet +if he slipped out and into his clothes.</p> + +<p>One by one the boys found seats. Dan picked up the air rifle and sat +with it across his lap.</p> + +<p>"Whoever it is that's doing this trick has surely got us going," laughed +Dick uneasily.</p> + +<p>"He has," affirmed Dave. "I don't believe in ghosts, but, under the +circumstances, this thing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> that's annoying us is more than some creepy. +If we could explain it I don't believe we'd let it worry us any. But I +suppose human beings are always most afraid of what they cannot +understand."</p> + +<p>The wailings came at less frequent intervals now, though they continued +to be sufficiently awesome. But when the clock showed two minutes before +the hour of one in the morning these words came in a blast:</p> + +<p>"The hou-ou-our of de-eath is at hand. The Gr-r-rim Rea-eaper is at the +doo-oor!"</p> + +<p>"Then please, please, please—GO AWAY!" screamed Hen, his teeth clacking +a bone solo.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>DICK STRIKES A REAL FIND</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 69px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="69" height="55" alt="W" title="W" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HEN</b></big> half an hour passed, a quarter-gale of wind making the only sound +that came from outside.</div> + +<p>"I think that must have been a sailor's ghost," remarked Prescott, at +last, "and he got his bearings wrong. He said, half an hour ago, that he +was coming in—but he didn't."</p> + +<p>"How can you t-t-talk about g-g-g-ghosts like that?" shuddered Dutcher, +whose face was still invisible to the others.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We might as well go to bed," proposed Dave, using one hand to cover an +imitation yawn that was intended to urge the others to courage. +"Whatever wild spirit was traveling around here has wandered off in some +other direction."</p> + +<p>"Don't go to bed," pleaded Hen. "I won't have any one to talk to if all +you fellows go to sleep."</p> + +<p>For answer Tom Reade climbed up into his bunk, though he kept his shirt +and trousers on.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what," offered Dick. "We'll take turns staying up on +guard, just in case something real should happen. The fellow who stays +up will walk back and forth, to be sure of remaining awake. He'll also +see to it that the fire is kept up."</p> + +<p>"Who'll take the first watch?" Harry wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Let Hen do it!" came, in the same breath, from Dave, Tom and Greg.</p> + +<p>"I—I wouldn't be any good at that," pleaded Dutcher anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No," smiled Dick dryly, "I don't believe you would. As I proposed the +guard stunt, I'll take the first dose of my own medicine. Later in the +night I'll call Dave, and when he's through he'll call Tom. All you +fellows pile back into bed and get some sleep."</p> + +<p>"You take the air rifle, then," urged Dan,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> passing it over. As this +rather insignificant weapon might <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'possiby'">possibly</ins> be of some use, in the event +of more definite trouble, Dick accepted it.</p> + +<p>One after another the fellows dropped off to sleep, all except Hen, who +lay very still, with heart thumping wildly.</p> + +<p>Half an hour after Prescott's tour of guard duty began three wild wails, +wordless, smote the air, one after the other. Dave, Tom and Dan awoke.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," Dick called to them, softly. "Nothing but noises. +Don't be afraid but I'll call you if its needed."</p> + +<p>So those who had a chance, dozed off. Hen didn't have any chance; his +cowardly soul wasn't made for sleep when there was any danger about.</p> + +<p>It was twenty minutes past three when Dick stepped over and nudged Dave +gently, next whispering:</p> + +<p>"It's about time for you, now. You call Tom at a little after five, and +then tell him to call us all at seven o'clock."</p> + +<p>Dave hurriedly dressed and took the air rifle from Dick, the latter then +getting back into his bunk and soon dropping off in sleep.</p> + +<p>"Seven o'clock! All out! Step lively! Change cars for breakfast!" were +the next words that Dick Prescott heard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>By the time that the fellows had dressed, in the warm cabin, and had +started to pry the shutters back, the first dim promise of daylight was +showing in the east. A little later it was broad daylight.</p> + +<p>By this time, too, after most of the fellows had slept soundly for +hours, the situation seemed altogether different. Even Dutcher slipped +out of his bunk and began to dress briskly.</p> + +<p>"Say," he grinned, "but you fellows were somewhat scared last night."</p> + +<p>"Yes," admitted Dave. "Weren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit," asserted Hen bravely. "Sa-ay——"</p> + +<p>He paused, looking around him in wonderment, then demanded tartly:</p> + +<p>"What on earth are you fellows laughing at?"</p> + +<p>"Laughing just to—to think what boobies we were when we had the brave +Hen Dutcher with us to set us a better example," answered Tom Reade +sarcastically. "No use in talking, Hen! You're the only fellow in this +outfit that has any sand."</p> + +<p>"Say, you needn't try to get too funny, now," remarked Hen suspiciously. +"You fellows were all so scared that maybe you thought I was as bad as +you. But I was only putting it on, just to see how far you'd all go."</p> + +<p>"You must have been satisfied, then," re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>turned Dick grimly, "for we +surely were uneasy."</p> + +<p>Hen blandly took to himself all the credit that was offered him for his +"courage," seeing which the Grammar School boys winked slyly one at +another, then busied themselves with the tasks of getting breakfast.</p> + +<p>"To-day's programme will be more work, I suppose," began Tom, as the +lads seated themselves around the table.</p> + +<p>"As I see it, it will have to be a day of work," Dick nodded. "For that +matter, we're learning that it's no use for boys to go camping, +especially in the winter, unless they're willing to work."</p> + +<p>"What's to be done first?" Dave wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll need more wood, and more water," Prescott replied.</p> + +<p>"As it doesn't make much difference which we do first, I'm for getting +the wood, if that suits the rest of you. Our path of yesterday is blown +over a bit with snow, but we can dig it out again in a little while. +And, while we're at that, we may as well dig through to the cook shack +again. I want to get a good look in there this time."</p> + +<p>"Expect to find Mr. Fits there?" Dave asked.</p> + +<p>"Hardly, if we didn't find him there yester<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>day. But, the more I think +about it, the more I feel certain that the noises of last night were in +some way connected with the shack."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to believe that," muttered Tom. "If that's the case, some of +us might sleep in there to-night and catch hold of the noise maker."</p> + +<p>"Who'd sleep there?" grimaced Dan.</p> + +<p>"Well," responded Reade slowly, "we might let Hen sleep there. He's the +bravest of the lot, you know, and so he's just the fellow for the job."</p> + +<p>Dutcher choked over the food he was swallowing, and shifted his feet +uneasily.</p> + +<p>Soon after breakfast was over Dick, Dave and Tom stepped outside with +the shovels. Here and there the path had been left fairly clear, though +at other points they had to shovel industriously through the new drifts. +At last, however, they reached the same window through which they had +looked in the day before.</p> + +<p>"No sign of any one inside," muttered Dick. "Nor have we seen any signs +of fire from the chimney. I can see the stove, now, but there doesn't +seem to be any sign of fire in it."</p> + +<p>"Let's dig around to the door," proposed Dave, "and go inside."</p> + +<p>Accordingly the three bent to the new work. A few minutes later Dick +gave a tug at the latch-string and the door swung open.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem as cold in here as you'd expect to find it," murmured +Reade.</p> + +<p>"That's because we've just come from where it's a good deal colder," Tom +answered.</p> + +<p>Dick stepped over to the cook stove, raising a lid.</p> + +<p>"Look, fellows; here are a few live coals left here yet."</p> + +<p>Dave and Tom joined him, staring at the embers in some astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yet there's no one here, and no tracks in the snow outside," observed +Tom. "Say, if the tenant of this place can go over the snow without +leaving a trail, it does look rather ghostly, eh?"</p> + +<p>"A ghost wouldn't need warmth," Dick retorted promptly.</p> + +<p>"Then what's the answer?" challenged Dave.</p> + +<p>Dick shook his head, but went to one window after the other.</p> + +<p>"No one left or entered here by way of the window," Prescott soon +announced. "It struck me that Mr. Fits might have used a window, instead +of a door, but if so, there'd be tracks under the windows."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Fits hasn't been here at all," Dave replied, with a good deal of +positiveness. "When we turned him out into the storm he went somewhere +else."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then how about the ghostly noises, and the embers in the stove?" Reade +wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Ask Dick," prompted Dave.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you," laughed Prescott. "I guess you'll have to ask Hen +Dutcher."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no one here but ourselves," Tom went on, as the boys +stood staring about the tiny shack. "As far as finding anything here is +concerned we may as well go about our task of wood gathering."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could get at the bottom of the ghost mystery," muttered Dick +wistfully.</p> + +<p>"So do I," agreed Reade, "but wishes aren't snow plows, and never were. +Fred Ripley and his cronies would be mean enough to come down here and +spoil our rest at night, but they'd never be brave enough to face the +long trip through the deep snow."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's go along and get in the wood," Dick urged. So they went, +and more than an hour was spent in carrying logs into the main cabin. Of +course Greg, Dan and Harry assisted in this, while Hen was put to his +usual morning task of washing dishes and straightening things in the +cabin.</p> + +<p>For dinner the main dish was a platter of steak, broiled over the wood +ashes in the fireplace, where the fire was briefly allowed to burn +nearly out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the afternoon water hauling was the main occupation, as well as the +only sport, for the boys had tried the slight crust on the snow, and had +found that it would not bear.</p> + +<p>"If it grows colder, and stays so for twenty four hours," declared +Dalzell, "then we'll have a crust on all this white stuff that will be +strong enough to bear our weight. Then ho for tramping, and for hunting +with the air rifle!"</p> + +<p>"Huh-m-m-m!" answered Harry. "Rabbits and rabbit stew!"</p> + +<p>After the water hauling the Grammar School boys settled themselves for +some quiet enjoyment inside the cabin. Dave, Tom, Harry and Greg picked +out books and sat down to read near the windows. Dick, on the other +hand, elected to rove about the interior of the cabin, looking into odd +nooks.</p> + +<p>"This water barrel might be a little nearer the fire," proposed +Prescott. "Then we wouldn't have to break a crust of ice mornings. Dan, +you don't seem to be doing anything. Suppose you come and help move the +barrel."</p> + +<p>"All right," nodded Dalzell, jumping up. "Where do you want to put it?"</p> + +<p>Dick pointed to the spot. As the barrel was two thirds full of water it +had to be rolled carefully, to avoid upsetting or spilling. It was no +easy task for the two boys.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hen, you might come and help us a minute," Dick proposed.</p> + +<p>"Whatcher take me for?" Dutcher grumbled. Whereat Tom Reade glanced +grimly up from his book to remark:</p> + +<p>"Son, when you're spoken to, say 'yes, sir,' and hustle!"</p> + +<p>Something in Tom's look induced Hen to move rather promptly. The three +boys succeeded in moving the barrel a couple of feet toward the spot +desired.</p> + +<p>"Hullo," muttered Dick, halting and glancing down at the ground where +the barrel had stood since their arrival. "Look at that stone."</p> + +<p>The stone lay partly imbedded in the dirt flooring of the cabin. It was +a flat, nearly round stone, some fifteen inches in diameter.</p> + +<p>"That stone looks like a lid, doesn't it?" Dick asked.</p> + +<p>"Cover to a gold mine," sneered Hen.</p> + +<p>Dick did not answer, but stepped over, bent and began to pry at the +edges of the stone. It did not move easily. Dan brought the crowbar and +quietly handed it to his chum.</p> + +<p>"What have you got?" demanded Tom, glancing up from his book.</p> + +<p>"Don't know yet," Dick laughed.</p> + +<p>By the aid of the crowbar Dick pried the stone loose from its setting in +the ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's a hole underneath, anyway," announced Dick. +"And—Geewhillikins! Fellows, drop everything but your good names, and +come here—quick! Hustle!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>KEEN ON THE TRAIL OF THE PUZZLE</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 44px;"> +<img src="images/b.png" width="44" height="55" alt="B" title="B" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>REATHLESS</b></big> with excitement, Dick crouched over the hole in the dirt +floor, unwilling to make a move until the other fellows had joined him. +That didn't take long.</div> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was one of the first to get a glimpse at what had filled +Prescott with so much excitement.</p> + +<p>"Gracious! It must be Captain Kidd's treasure!" gasped Hen.</p> + +<p>"Guess again," replied Tom Reade. "A pirate would be doing a poor +business who didn't get a bigger lot of loot than that together."</p> + +<p>"But this is a valuable lot of stuff," argued Harry Hazelton, as he took +a look.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who could have buried it here?" demanded Dan.</p> + +<p>"I think I know," nodded Dick. "Now, then, stand back a little and I'll +take the stuff out."</p> + +<p>The first thing that Prescott drew out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> hole was a paper parcel. +This he unwrapped, then gave a whoop of joy.</p> + +<p>"The fan I bought mother for Christmas!" he almost shouted.</p> + +<p>Something yellowish glinted and caught his eye down in the hole. Dick +fished the object out.</p> + +<p>"Who's is this?" he queried, holding up a curiously engraved gold watch.</p> + +<p>"It looks like Dr. Bentley's," replied Dave Darrin, eying the timepiece. +"I saw it often enough when I had diphtheria and he was taking my +pulse."</p> + +<p>"Yes; it's Dr. Bentley's," glowed Dick. "Won't he be the happy man, +though?"</p> + +<p>"He will if we manage to get it back to him," assented Tom dryly.</p> + +<p>Then a dozen rings, some of them set with gems, and all tied on a +string, came to light. There were half a dozen boxes containing jewelry; +these boxes undoubtedly had been stolen from women in stores or on the +street. A few more rather valuable articles came to light, and then +Dick, after opening one jeweler's box and looking inside, emitted a +whoop of wild joy.</p> + +<p>"This must be the very watch that Fits stole from our parlor—the watch +intended for my Christmas present," Prescott cried. "Yes, sir; I'll +wager this is my watch."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>But at last Dick put it aside with the other loot, and then applied +himself to emptying the hole of its few remaining treasures.</p> + +<p>"There must be five or six hundred dollars' worth of stuff in the lot," +guessed Tom.</p> + +<p>"More than that," said Dave.</p> + +<p>"So, now, of course, you fellows can guess who hid the stuff here," Dick +went on. "It was Mr. Fits who stole Dr. Bentley's watch, and who stole +mine, too. So Mr. Fits must have hidden here all this stuff, which +represents Mr. Fits's stealings."</p> + +<p>"Then all I have to say," observed Tom, "is that if our friend Fits +would apply the same amount of industry to honest work he'd be a +successful man."</p> + +<p>"Until the day before Christmas," Dick continued, "Fits had at least two +confederates, whom we helped to put in jail. Probably this stuff was +stolen by them all, and then hidden."</p> + +<p>"And that was why Fits came back here, and was so anxious to get us +out," muttered Dave. "Now, I begin to understand why Fits wanted a +hiding place for his plunder even more than for himself. He wanted to +leave the stuff in this lonely cabin, and be sure it was safe, until he +could find a place where he could sell it. Naturally our coming here +upset Mr. Fits's plans, and so bothered him into the bargain."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>While the other boys were busy with examining the other pieces of loot, +Dick took many an alternate glance at his mother's fan and his own +watch.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could get this back to Gridley at once, and turn it over to +the rightful owners," sighed Greg.</p> + +<p>"That wouldn't be the way to go about it, though," Dick responded.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because stolen property, when recovered, has to be turned over to the +police first of all. Then, if the thief is caught, the police have the +loot as evidence against the thief."</p> + +<p>"How long do the police keep the stuff?" demanded Greg.</p> + +<p>"Until the thief's trial, if there is one, is over."</p> + +<p>"Then, if Fits is caught, Mr. Dick, it may be a long time before you'll +have the right to wear your own watch."</p> + +<p>"I can wear it now, out here," retorted Prescott, slipping the silver +watch into a vest pocket and passing the chain through a buttonhole.</p> + +<p>"On second thought, though, I won't. We're not sure that Mr. Fits may +not reappear. If he did, and found me wearing a watch, he would +understand, and might get fighting mad. If Fits had a fellow rascal or +two along with him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> they could put up more fight than we boys could +take care of. If Fits should come along, and not see any proof that we +had found his plunder, he might wait until we are all out of the way +before he made any effort to find it. Oh! While I think of it, Greg, I +wish you and Hen would take buckets and go to the spring for water."</p> + +<p>Dutcher grumbled a bit, though he felt that it wasn't safe to rebel +openly. He and Greg were gone some time, for, as usual, the ice over the +top of the spring had to be chopped away before the water could be +obtained.</p> + +<p>So, when Hen came in, after pouring his bucketful into the barrel, he +noted that the plunder had vanished.</p> + +<p>"What did you do with all the stuff?" Greg demanded curiously.</p> + +<p>"It has vanished," smiled Dick.</p> + +<p>Greg said no more, but started outside, followed by Hen. Later in the +afternoon Greg was told, in whispers, where the plunder had been hidden +anew. Hen, too, demanded this information, but the Grammar School boys +thought it best not to enlighten him. If Dutcher were caught alone in +the cabin by a fellow like Mr. Fits, Hen wasn't likely to hold out his +knowledge against threats, and Fits must not be given another chance at +the plunder he had first stolen and then hidden.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon after darkness came on supper was ready.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we're going to hear the ghosts to-night," muttered Greg.</p> + +<p>"No one knows that," Dick answered. "But I think we'd better keep one +fellow on guard when the rest go to bed. The guard can take a two hour +trick. He can keep the fire going, and, if anything happens, he can warn +the other fellows in turn."</p> + +<p>So, at nine o'clock, when the others turned in, Greg, the air rifle in +one hand, paced softly up and down the cabin, watching, listening.</p> + +<p>But nothing happened during Greg's watch. At eleven he called Tom Reade +to relieve him.</p> + +<p>Just before midnight the same wailings as on the night before started in +again. Within sixty seconds all of the Grammar School boys were awake +and listening. The wailings continued, and soon came the same sepulchral +warnings of death approaching.</p> + +<p>"Queer that the racket doesn't bother us the way it did last night, +isn't it?" smiled Dick Prescott.</p> + +<p>"It's awful enough!" shivered Hen Dutcher. But he was the only one in +the cabin who was much alarmed.</p> + +<p>"We went all through it last night, and nothing happened," chuckled +Dave. "To-night our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> address is Missouri, and we'll have to be shown +what we're asked to believe."</p> + +<p>"Call us promptly, Tom, if anything real happens," Dick urged, and sank +back in his bedding to compose himself for more sleep. Soon Reade's +watch was a lonely one, for most of his companions were either snoring +or breathing heavily.</p> + +<p>"Whoever got this trick up will have to think of something newer and +more 'scary,'" thought Reade, as he paced the floor.</p> + +<p>"Well, you fellows might as well wake up," called Dick, after what +seemed to Greg like an interval of possibly five minutes. Greg was the +only boy, beside Dutcher, who hadn't been called in the night for a +share in the watch duty.</p> + +<p>"Say, I thought you didn't go on guard until five o'clock, Dick," +remarked Greg drowsily.</p> + +<p>"I didn't, but it's seven, now," Dick laughed. "It'll be broad daylight +in a few minutes more. Move! Get a hustle on!"</p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher, though awake, didn't stir. Greg and Harry Hazelton soon +tumbled out of their bunks. Then something odd dawned upon them.</p> + +<p>"Where are the rest of the fellows?" questioned Greg. "I don't see Dave, +Tom or Dan."</p> + +<p>"You should have long range vision to see them," smiled Dick. "They've +been gone nearly an hour."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Gone? Where?" Harry wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"To the nearest house—for help."</p> + +<p>"Help against what?" This from Holmes.</p> + +<p>"Greg, the shack behind us had a tenant last night," Dick went on +rapidly. "Mr. Fits was in the shack. At a little after five this morning +I saw him as plainly as I now see you. He was standing by the nearest +window of the shack, and there were sparks traveling up the chimney."</p> + +<p>"How on earth did you see him?" demanded Harry. "Did you shove a shutter +back?"</p> + +<p>"Come with me, and I'll show you."</p> + +<p>That caught even Hen, who made up in curiosity what he lacked in +courage. Dutcher was out of his bunk in an instant, slipping on shoes +and some clothing before he followed the others.</p> + +<p>"You see," Dick was explaining, "I've been thinking of this matter ever +since we heard the first 'ghost' noises. I knew the noises had to come +from something. Now, while I was scared, I don't believe in such things +as ghosts. Well, then, the noise must have come from some human throat. +When I got up at five this morning I began to think harder than ever. +Then I went and got this gimlet out of the little tool box and bored a +tiny hole through the wood in this shutter. When I peeped I saw a light, +surely enough, in the shack. There were sparks, too, coming up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> out of +the chimney. Then I saw a shadow, and next I saw Mr. Fits himself at the +window for a moment. Next I waked up Dave, Tom and Dan, and they dressed +as quietly as they could, and took some peeps, too. Then Dave said it +was so cold that perhaps the snow had a real crust on it. He went to the +door and opened it. We all went out on the snow. We found the crust so +hard and thick that we could stamp on it with force. Dave said that that +was a good enough crust for him. So off he started, and Tom and Dan went +with him. They ought to be back, with men to help, in an hour more."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" glowed Greg. "Oh, I do hope that the constables get here in +time to nab Mr. Fits."</p> + +<p>"It'll be a good thing, all around, if that happens," nodded Dick. "But +now—are you fellows hungry?"</p> + +<p>Greg and Harry scurried away to wash hands and faces.</p> + +<p>"I think you had a cheek to let three fellows go after help," grumbled +Hen.</p> + +<p>"Well, why?" asked Dick patiently.</p> + +<p>"S'pose old Fitsey takes it into his head to come over here, on top of +the crust, while there's just us four here?" shuddered Hen.</p> + +<p>"There are only three of us here, Dutcher. You don't count," interposed +Greg ironically.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fitsey'd eat us up alive if he guessed the truth and came over here," +contended Dutcher stubbornly. "Hey, Dick! What on earth are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"Shoving one of the shutters back," Prescott answered, going on with his +task.</p> + +<p>"Hey! Don't do that!" pleaded Hen hoarsely, running over to Dick and +grabbing one of the latter's arms. "Why, this is—it's suicide, that's +what it is!"</p> + +<p>"Yes?" Dick queried calmly, shaking off Hen's hold and going on with his +task.</p> + +<p>"It certainly is," Dutcher maintained fearfully. "Why, with a shutter +open, Fitsey can jump right through the window glass and be in here on +top of us in a jiffy. Please close the shutter."</p> + +<p>"Not much!" Prescott rejoined energetically, and threw back the shutter +in question. "This window doesn't look out upon the shack, but it does +look out the way that Dave and the others will return. I want to see the +fellows when they come."</p> + +<p>"Of course; we all do," Greg broke in. "Dick you keep your eye mainly on +the landscape beyond the window. Harry and I will get breakfast."</p> + +<p>Dutcher groaned over the risk he knew they were taking, but he felt +certain that no word of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> his would change the plan, so he wisely held +his peace after that.</p> + +<p>But breakfast was on and eaten, and still there was no sign of returning +Grammar School boys.</p> + +<p>"Dave and his crowd must-'a' gone through the deep snow at some point +where it was soft," wailed Hen. "That's just what they've done."</p> + +<p>"Oh—dry up!" Greg retorted.</p> + +<p>"If they ain't back here in another hour you fellows will feel the same +way I do about it," Hen Dutcher predicted stubbornly.</p> + +<p>Dick Prescott made no answer, though, truth to tell, he was beginning to +worry inwardly. A mishap in the forest, on this bitterly freezing +morning, would be no simple matter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>HEN TURNS HIS VOICE LOOSE</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 44px;"> +<img src="images/iquote.png" width="44" height="55" alt=""I" title=""I" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /> <big><b>SEE</b></big> some one coming!" called Greg, who, after breakfast, had taken up +the post by the unshuttered window.</div> + +<p>Crash! Hen Dutcher dropped the crockery plate he was drying, then +plunged headlong into Dick's bunk, burrowing under the blankets.</p> + +<p>"It's our crowd!" cried Dick joyously, as he leaped to Greg Holmes's +side. "And there are two men with 'em."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! Why didn't you say so before?" came in a half smothered +voice as Dutcher thrust his head partly from under the blankets. Then he +added, suddenly, in a quaking voice:</p> + +<p>"Say, you fellows better hide—quick! If old Fitsey is in the cook shack +there's bound to be some shooting."</p> + +<p>With that Dutcher hid his head once more. But Dick, Greg and Harry paid +no heed to him. They were busy getting on coats, caps and mittens. A few +moments later they had the door open, and stood out on the hard crust of +snow, waiting to receive the approaching party.</p> + +<p>Dave espied them, and waved one hand without calling.</p> + +<p>"You'd better get back in here! You'll get hurt!" warned Hen Dutcher, +standing well back from the doorway.</p> + +<p>Like a flash Dick leaped for the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Hen, you keep quiet in there. Don't set up a yell at the very time when +a little stealth is needed."</p> + +<p>"But it's dangerous to fool with people like Fitsey!" choked Hen.</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet! If you can't help, don't hinder. Don't be an utter pinhead, +Hen."</p> + +<p>Now that they were in sight of the cabin, Dave and his companions, and +the two men with them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> put on extra speed. Dick stole off to meet the +approaching ones.</p> + +<p>"Fits hasn't gotten away, has he?" hailed Dave, in a hoarse undertone.</p> + +<p>"We haven't seen him go," Dick replied. "For all we know he's still in +the shack. Officers?"</p> + +<p>Dick indicated the two men.</p> + +<p>"One of them is a constable," nodded Dave; "the other is a neighbor +sworn in as a deputy."</p> + +<p>"If your thief is around here, sonny," grinned the constable, "we'll +soon have him where he won't trouble you. Easy, now, with the talk. We +don't want to give the fellow any warning."</p> + +<p>The constable and his deputy slipped down in front of the log cabin, +followed by the boys.</p> + +<p>"Look out! That rascal will shoot!" screamed Hen, in an agony of fear +about something.</p> + +<p>At that instant the door of the shack flew open. The two men were just +in time to see Mr. Fits step out, on snowshoes. In another instant Dick +& Co., behind the officers, also got a glimpse of the fellow.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, there, neighbor," advised the constable coolly. "Just wait +until we have a word with you."</p> + +<p>Officer and deputy ran over the snowcrust. Mr. Fits, looking, or +pretending to be, a bit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> dazed, stood as if he expected to wait for the +men to come up with him. But suddenly a grin appeared on the face of the +rascal.</p> + +<p>"Fine morning and fine crust for a race," he announced, and moved away a +few yards, with an easy gliding movement, on the snowshoes.</p> + +<p>"Halt, there!" called the constable firmly, reaching back to his hip +pocket.</p> + +<p>The deputy reached for his revolver, but, in his excitement, instead of +aiming or firing, he hurled the weapon at the head of Mr. Fits. The +pistol went by the head of the rascal, then struck the crust and skimmed +on ahead of him.</p> + +<p>"Much obliged!" called back Fits, now moving fast.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to pick up that weapon!" shouted the constable, running as +swiftly as he could over the crust. "If you do, I'll shoot."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you'll shoot anyway," jeered Fits, making a swoop and picking +up the revolver that had been thrown at him.</p> + +<p>Constable Dock fired promptly. But Fits wheeled, a weapon now in his own +hand.</p> + +<p>Three jets of fire leaped swiftly from the muzzle of the pistol. Three +sharp explosions followed, and bullets whistled back over the snow.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 262px;"> +<img src="images/illus03.png" width="262" height="400" alt=""Halt, there!"" title=""Halt, there!"" /> +<span class="caption">"Halt, there!"</span> +</div> + +<p>Constable Dock halted, dropping to one knee, for one of the leaden +pellets had gone close to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> his left ear. One of the bullets hit a tree +just behind Prescott with a spiteful chug. Dick felt queer, but he was +too much in motion to stop himself just then.</p> + +<p>"Stop or I'll bring you down!" bellowed Constable Dock, taking careful +aim. An instant later the officer fired, but at that very instant Mr. +Fits skimmed off at a sharp angle with his late course, and so he +escaped uninjured.</p> + +<p>A derisive shout came back from the fugitive. He was now out of range of +the officer's revolver, and knew it. The constable, too, realized the +fact. He started in pursuit as rapidly as he could make it, calling to +his deputy to follow.</p> + +<p>"Going to join the chase?" called Dave to Dick.</p> + +<p>"What's the use?" panted Prescott, halting. "Mr. Fits has a good start +and can make fine speed. We could catch only the constable."</p> + +<p>So the Grammar School boys slowed down. Constable Dock and his deputy +were now almost out of sight among the trees, and no eye among the boys +could see how much in the lead Mr. Fits was.</p> + +<p>"They'll never catch him," sighed Dave.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not," agreed Dick.</p> + +<p>"And so, one of these nights, Mr. Fits will come back, ready to pay us +back for our plan to turn him over to the police."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We took care of him before, didn't we?" Prescott wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but Fits was alone, then, and the blizzard kept him from getting +away to get help of his own choice kind. Now he can travel as much as he +likes. We'll hear from him again, all right," Dave Darrin wound up.</p> + +<p>"If we do, then we'll find a way to take care of him once more," hinted +Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Or we might vote that we've had a jolly good lot of camping, and go +home," suggested Harry.</p> + +<p>"What? Let that rascal chase us out of the woods?" flared Dick. "All who +want to go home may start. I'll stay here as long as I want to, even if +I have to camp alone."</p> + +<p>"You know pretty well, Dick, that you won't have to stay in camp alone," +offered Dave.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," agreed Tom Reade. "We'll all stick. We'll hope that +Fitsey won't come back. If he does, then we'll try to make him sorry +that he returned."</p> + +<p>From the doorway of the log cabin Hen Dutcher was seen to be peering +forth cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Say, you fellows," hailed Hen complainingly, "I thought you were never +coming back. I thought you had all got scared and ran away."</p> + +<p>"Then why didn't you run away with us?" Dave called out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That isn't my style," proclaimed Dutcher, throwing out his chest. "I'm +no baby."</p> + +<p>"No; you're the one hero of the whole outfit," grinned Tom.</p> + +<p>"Did they catch old Fitsey?" queried Hen.</p> + +<p>"Thanks to you, Hen, they didn't," Dave answered.</p> + +<p>"Me? What did I have to do with the scoundrel getting away?" demanded +Dutcher, with an offended air.</p> + +<p>"You had to turn your voice loose," Darrin informed him. "That gave Mr. +Fits warning. Then you yelled out again, just as we reached the cabin. +Fits had had time to get on his snowshoes, and then he started. Whew, +but snowshoes seem to be as swift as skates would be on the ice."</p> + +<p>"Huh! You needn't blame me," sniffed Hen. "I didn't have anything to do +with the rascal getting away. I'd have gone after him if I had had +snowshoes."</p> + +<p>The absurdity of this was so apparent that Dick & Co. burst into a +chorus of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" sneered Hen, though his face went very red. "You fellows think +you're the only winds that ever blew."</p> + +<p>"You wrong us, Hen," declared Tom solemnly. "Not one of us would lay any +claim to 'blowing' as much as you do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>One thing the boys had noted, even while carrying on their conversation, +and that was that no sounds of shots had come to their ears. The chances +were that Mr. Fits had gained so on his pursuers that the latter had +given up the chase.</p> + +<p>Presently appetite asserted itself, and dinner was prepared and eaten. +It was after the meal that Constable Dock and his deputy came by the +door.</p> + +<p>"Any thing in there to eat, youngsters?" inquired the constable, looking +in through the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Plenty, I think. Come in, sir—you and your friend," Dick made answer.</p> + +<p>The boys bustled about, making coffee, broiling steak and reheating the +potatoes that had been left over from their own meal. This, with bread +and butter, satisfied the hunger of their guests.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the constable described how he and his friend had +followed the game for some five miles or more.</p> + +<p>"It's my opinion that the scoundrel won't come back here at all," +declared the officer.</p> + +<p>"We have been afraid that he would, by night, or later," admitted Dick +Prescott.</p> + +<p>"No!" retorted the constable with emphasis. "That rascal would figure +that I would be lying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> in wait here for him. So he'll give the spot a +wide berth. He doesn't want to be arrested."</p> + +<p>"You'll be welcome to use the cook shack, if you want to wait there for +him," volunteered Dick.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of use, my boy. I'd only be wasting my time. You've seen your +last of that fellow around here. But now, another matter. One of your +mates told me, Prescott, that you had uncovered a lot of plunder here in +the cabin."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; we did," Dick admitted.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" questioned the constable.</p> + +<p>Dick started toward the new hiding place, then halted, turning.</p> + +<p>"May I ask, Mr. Dock, why you want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Because," replied the constable promptly, "as an officer of the law I +want to take that plunder in charge. In turn I'll hand it over to the +Gridley police."</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right, sir."</p> + +<p>Dick went to the hiding place, bringing forth all the plunder, including +his own watch and his mother's fan.</p> + +<p>"You'll give us a receipt for these articles, won't you, Mr. Dock?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you want one," nodded the constable. "Just place the +stuff on the table, and I'll list it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was done, and Constable Dock wrote out a receipt in due form, which +he handed to young Prescott.</p> + +<p>"And now I'll be off and away," said the constable, rising and pulling +on a heavy, short hunting coat. "I'll telephone to the Gridley police, +of course. You won't see the rascal again. Rest easy on that score."</p> + +<p>"I hope we won't see him," muttered Dave, as the boys stood outside the +cabin watching the departing officers.</p> + +<p>"If we do we'll get out of it better than Mr. Fits does, anyway," half +boasted Dick.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>YOUNG MR. COME-BACK & CO.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 55px;"> +<img src="images/squote.png" width="55" height="55" alt=""S" title=""S" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>AY,</b></big> you fellows——" began Hen, stepping out and joining Dick & Co.</div> + +<p>All six turned to gaze at Dutcher. Then they looked at each other, the +same thought in six minds. It was Dick who spoke:</p> + +<p>"Hen, we came near overlooking the fact that this is your chance to get +back to your friends. Get on your coat, your cap and mittens, and——"</p> + +<p>"Whatcher talking about?" demanded Dutcher, looking almost startled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hey! Mr. Dock!" bellowed Dave, using his hands as a megaphone.</p> + +<p>The rather distant constable turned to look back.</p> + +<p>"Please wait! There's a boy to go with you," Dave called.</p> + +<p>"A-a-a-ll right," the answer came back.</p> + +<p>"Hurry, Hen," Dick advised.</p> + +<p>"But—but I don't want to go," protested Hen.</p> + +<p>"You'd better," Dick advised him. "We housed you while it was necessary, +but now there's a chance to get back to your uncle's, so you may as well +go."</p> + +<p>"I don't want——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind about that," Dick continued firmly. "You'll be better off at +your uncle's, and Constable Dock is headed that way."</p> + +<p>"But my uncle doesn't want me," whined Hen.</p> + +<p>"Then why should you think we can endure you, Hen, if your uncle can't?" +demanded Tom Reade, with a short laugh.</p> + +<p>"Don't keep the constable waiting, Hen," Dick pressed him. "Get your +motion started."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, if you fellows want to be mean, I suppose I'll have to go," +faltered Hen. "But I was enjoying myself here."</p> + +<p>"You'll enjoy yourself better still with your aunt," Dick urged with a +smile. "Besides,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> you'll have your aunt's good cooking and a real bed to +sleep in. If the country highways aren't broken out yet, they will be in +a day or two, and then you can get back to Gridley."</p> + +<p>"All right, if you fellows bounce me out of camp," sighed Hen ruefully, +as he began to pull on his overcoat. "But I think you're about the +meanest——"</p> + +<p>"Save the rest of it, Anvil, if you please, until we're all at home in +Gridley," Dave begged him.</p> + +<p>"Say, you stop calling me Anvil," snarled Dutcher. "I don't like that +name."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" pursued Dave. "It fits you."</p> + +<p>"Tell that boy to hurry up, if he's going with us," bawled Mr. Dock from +a distance.</p> + +<p>"Brace, Hen," Tom advised. "There, now you're ready. Good-bye, and come +again when you're grown up."</p> + +<p>"Those fellows don't know much about good manners," thought Hen Dutcher +ruefully, as he started to run over the snow crust.</p> + +<p>"Now that Hen is gone we'll be able to stay here a day or two longer," +Dave announced. "We'll have the food to do it with."</p> + +<p>"There's one good point about Hen Dutcher, anyway," grimaced Tom Reade. +"He's a good, sincere eater."</p> + +<p>"He was eating us out of camp," Dick re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>plied. "Now, fellows, with Hen +and Fits gone, we're all by ourselves—just the crowd that we want. The +snowcrust will bear, and we can move about. We ought to have a jolly +time tramping about through the woods."</p> + +<p>"Hunting!" proposed Harry. "We've got the air rifle."</p> + +<p>"Fishing," added Tom. "We brought tackle on purpose. We must be able to +find some pond hereabouts."</p> + +<p>"But say!" Dick suddenly interjected. "Do you fellows realize that we +haven't been in the old shack since Mr. Fits left it? Queer as it may +seem to some of you, I believe that Fitsey had a hiding place even in +that little room. Let's go in there and see what we can root out in the +way of mystery explained."</p> + +<p>All six of the boys trooped around to the smaller structure at the rear +of their camp. The door was still partly open. Dick, in advance, pushed +his way inside.</p> + +<p>"Well of all the boobies, what do you think of us?" demanded young +Prescott, in deep disgust.</p> + +<p>"We wouldn't take any blue ribbons at a brains' show—that's certain," +affirmed Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>The cook shack went up to a pitched roof. Up under the roof some +brackets had been made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> fast to the rafters. These brackets held a +quantity of rough boards that looked as though they had been stored up +there, years ago, to season indoors. Now, a rope hung down from this +artificial garret.</p> + +<p>"Let's see what we can find up there," suggested Dick. Taking hold of +the rope, after shedding his overcoat, Prescott ascended, hand over +hand.</p> + +<p>"This is where Fitsey stayed daytimes," Dick called down. "And it's not +a bad place, either. Here are two fur robes."</p> + +<p>Dick tumbled them down below, followed by four pairs of warm blankets.</p> + +<p>"It's all stolen stuff, I'll wager," Tom called.</p> + +<p>"Likely enough," agreed Dick.</p> + +<p>"See if you can find a lot of gold and gems up there," proposed Greg +Holmes.</p> + +<p>"Nothing in that line. But stand below, two of you, and catch."</p> + +<p>Dick began to toss down canned goods, sealed paper cartons of crackers, +canned fruits and the like.</p> + +<p>"And to think that Fitsey took some of our poor food, when he had a +grocery store like that up aloft!" complained Harry Hazelton.</p> + +<p>"Well, he didn't want us to suspect what he had hidden away around the +premises," Dick answered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Anything more up there?" called Dave.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but one Grammar School boy," Dick announced, showing himself at +the edge of the simple loft. "I'm coming down. Each of you climb up +here, in turn, and see what a bully hiding place our old college chum +had."</p> + +<p>One after another the boys inspected the place. It was small, but every +inch had been made to count by the late occupant.</p> + +<p>"Fitsey pulled the rope up after him, and stayed here sleeping mostly in +the daytime," Tom called down, when aloft. "Say, fellows, after this, +when we're on the trail of a mystery, we want to look on the other side +of anything as big as a lumber pile."</p> + +<p>Blankets, fur robes and food were transferred to the log cabin.</p> + +<p>"But just how much better are we than thieves?" Greg suddenly asked. +"We've just been taking things that didn't belong to us."</p> + +<p>For a moment or two that was a poser, for every member of Dick & Co. +tried, always, to be as open and honest as the day itself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," grunted Dick at last, "we haven't been robbing Mr. Fits, for +a man of his habits never has anything of his own. All that he has he +steals from some one else."</p> + +<p>"Then ought we not to try to find owners for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> the food we've brought in +from the shack?" queried Dave.</p> + +<p>"Yes; if we can," agreed Dick. "But I doubt if the former rightful +owners of this food stuff would know their own goods. It's just such +stuff as one might find in anyone of a thousand grocery stores. We +couldn't identify any of these cans, ourselves, if we found it in any +one else's house. You see, these labels are all of common brands of +tinned foods. On the whole, fellows, I believe we have a clear right to +eat this food if we happen to need it while we're in the woods. It isn't +like stuff that a former owner could remember and identify."</p> + +<p>The more they talked it over, the clearer this view became to the +Grammar School boys.</p> + +<p>"We've time for a couple of hours of hunting, now, if any of you care to +go," Dick suggested. "We'll have daylight that long. But it won't do, +with any chance of Mr. Fits being about, for all of us to go at once. We +must leave at least two of the fellows, and they must close the shutters +and keep the bar on the door. The two fellows who stay behind can also +begin to get things ready against the supper hour. I'll be one of the +two to stay. Who'll be the other."</p> + +<p>"No, you won't, Dick Prescott," retorted Greg. "You've been taking first +tricks at all the hard work. You've worked like a horse in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> camp. +To-day you'll take the first trick at having some of the fun. I'll be +one of the two to stay in camp."</p> + +<p>Dan also volunteered. Thereupon the other four, Harry carrying the air +rifle, started off into the woods, jogging along over the solid crust. +Though the air was keenly cold, to the boys it was all delightful. They +were warmly clad, even their feet being protected by heavy overshoes. +With caps drawn down over their ears, and warm mittens on their hands, +why should they mind if the mercury stood somewhat below zero?</p> + +<p>Three of them were out on a trip of exploration. Hazelton, however, was +the young Nimrod. He wanted to bag a rabbit! Yet, seeing no game, Harry +finally persuaded Tom Reade to carry the rifle.</p> + +<p>Then at last, all unexpectedly, Hazelton caught sight of a rabbit. The +little animal had hopped briskly over the snow, coming within sight of +the Grammar School boys. Ears pointing straight up, the rabbit sat on +its haunches, curiously gazing at these humans.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Psst! ps-st! Halt!" called Harry hoarsely over the snow.</p> + +<p>"Hey?" answered Reade, and all four came to a halt.</p> + +<p>"There's a rabbit," called Harry softly, pointing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bless me, so there is," agreed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you shoot it? What are you carrying that air rifle +for?"</p> + +<p>"To oblige you, I guess," responded Tom, not making any motion to raise +the rifle. "If you want to shoot the rabbit, come here and get the +rifle."</p> + +<p>"If I move it will scare him away," protested Hazelton. "Quick! Get him +before he goes off on a run!"</p> + +<p>Sighting, Tom raised the rifle, glancing through the sights at the +little white furred thing.</p> + +<p>"Confound him! He looks too cute for anything," muttered Tom. "I haven't +the heart——"</p> + +<p>Abruptly Reade lowered the air rifle.</p> + +<p>"See here, Harry, if your mouth is watering for rabbit stew you come +here and get the gun, and do the shooting yourself. I'd feel like a +criminal, taking the life of that cute, innocent little thing!"</p> + +<p>"Huh!" growled Harry.</p> + +<p>"Come here and get the rifle, if you want to shoot," insisted Tom.</p> + +<p>Harry looked about as queer as he felt, for a moment. Then, picking up a +piece of branch that had blown from a tree, Hazelton shied it at the +rabbit, which promptly scampered away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's much the better way to go hunting," nodded Dick approvingly.</p> + +<p>After that no more was said about hunting. Tom continued to carry the +air rifle, though plainly the weapon was all for show.</p> + +<p>By and by the Grammar School boys came across a pond, an eighth of a +mile wide, with a brook emptying into it.</p> + +<p>"It will be worth while bringing the tackle to this place to-morrow, and +trying for fish," proposed Dick.</p> + +<p>"And then, if you get one, you'll get a tender hearted streak and put it +right back in the water," grumbled Harry.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," Dick laughed. "But say, fellows, the sun is setting, and +we're a good way from camp. Hadn't we better turn back?"</p> + +<p>"My empty stomach says 'yes,'" nodded Darrin. So the youngsters trudged +back over their course. It was dark before they got near the log cabin.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha!" came a croaking laugh from inside the cabin as Dick and +his chums neared the door. "That's a good one."</p> + +<p>"Hen Dutcher's voice!" muttered Dave. "How on earth did that fellow get +back here?"</p> + +<p>Dick reached for the latch-string, opening the door. Then these four +Grammar School boys received a big surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>Hen Dutcher was there, but so were Fred Ripley, Bert Dodge and a half +dozen other young fellows, all of them older and larger than the members +of Dick & Co. To make the intrusion still more impudent, Ripley's crowd +were all at table, eating the best that the cabin afforded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>NOT A LOVE FEAST</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 53px;"> +<img src="images/a.png" width="53" height="55" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>T</b></big> the same instant that Dick and his friends, all utterly astounded, +peered into the cabin from the doorway, Fred Ripley felt the draught and +looked around.</div> + +<p>"Hullo!" shouted Fred gleefully. "Here are the other babies!"</p> + +<p>"What are you fellows trying to do here?" demanded Dick sternly, as he +strode into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Minding our business, booby!" leered Fred.</p> + +<p>"You've no right here. Get out!" Dick ordered.</p> + +<p>All of the intruding feasters were now regarding Prescott mockingly. But +perhaps Hen Dutcher, who was seated on the furthest side of the table +from the door, was most pleased of all.</p> + +<p>"Now, you want to shut your mouth, Dick Prescott, and keep it shut," +advised Hen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> "You're not running this show, and you'll find it out +mighty soon if you don't keep your tongue behind your teeth."</p> + +<p>"My, how brave you've grown, Hen!" remarked Dick scornfully. "You were +taken in and looked after, and now you've brought this gang of hoodlums +down on us."</p> + +<p>"Be careful there, small boy!" warned Fred Ripley, flushing.</p> + +<p>"As for you, Ripley," Dick went on, "wouldn't your father be proud to +find you with a crowd like this, and stealing food that belongs to other +people?"</p> + +<p>"See here, you little rat," snarled Fred inelegantly, as he leaped up, +kicking his chair over and striding toward the Prescott group, "you want +to keep your tongue under control, or you're going to be sorry that you +didn't."</p> + +<p>"Let's take the kid down to the spring, break the ice and give his head +a soaking in the spring water," proposed Bert Dodge, rising, too, and +coming forward.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cheered Hen. "That's the stuff. Not a bit too good, either, +for a chump like Dick Prescott!"</p> + +<p>But Dick wouldn't pay any heed to this renegade Grammar School boy who +had gone back on his own mates.</p> + +<p>"And where are the two friends we left here?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> demanded Dick, undismayed +by the advance of Fred Ripley and Bert Dodge. Tom and Dave drew a little +closer to their chum, while Harry Hazelton flanked Dave.</p> + +<p>"What do we know about your friends?" sneered Ripley. "What do we know +about any of your cheap crowd?"</p> + +<p>"And what do you imagine we care about them, either?" demanded Dodge.</p> + +<p>"Are you fellows going to get out of here?" Dick demanded.</p> + +<p>"When we get good and ready," retorted Fred, grinning. "That may be +to-morrow or the next day."</p> + +<p>"I suppose," Dick went on angrily, "you think you have a perfect right +to stay here and to go on stealing our food?"</p> + +<p>"You call me a thief, do you?" flared Fred.</p> + +<p>"Do you consider yourself any better?" Dick asked. He was at white heat, +fighting mad, and cared little what he said to these rowdyish intruders.</p> + +<p>"Grab 'em, fellows!" ordered Fred, making a leap at Dick, while the +other intruders rose from their places at table.</p> + +<p>But Dick's right fist landed on Ripley's face, leaving a big, red mark +there, while Dave's ready foot tripped the bully, sending him to the +floor. Ripley was on his feet again in a twinkling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Get back, Ripley!" ordered Dick, making a dash at him. "See here, you +rowdy, I'm smaller <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'that'">than</ins> you are, but I'm willing to go outdoors with you +and see if I can't teach you some manners."</p> + +<p>"And I'll take pleasure in introducing myself to Bert Dodge at the same +time," announced Darrin, his eyes flashing.</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best with any other tough who'll oblige me," added Tom +Reade.</p> + +<p>"Bullies, toughs, rowdies, are we?" raged Fred Ripley, on his guard, +though just prudent enough to keep out of reach of Dick's fists. There +was a look in Prescott's eyes that the lawyer's self-willed son didn't +wholly like.</p> + +<p>"You fellows know just what you are," Dick went on bitterly. "There is +no use in our calling you names. You can supply the names yourselves. +And, if you're afraid to fight us, man to man, then you know well enough +what else you are! Now, what has become of Greg Holmes and Dan Dalzell?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, very likely they're still running as fast as they can go toward +Gridley," jeered Fred.</p> + +<p>"That's a lie, and no one knows it better than you!" flashed Dick. "Greg +and Dan are not of the running kind."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm a liar, also, am I?" choked Ripley.</p> + +<p>"You know yourself better than any one else can," was Prescott's +taunting answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come on, fellows!" urged Fred. "Rush 'em!"</p> + +<p>There was a prompt rush. Dick and his friends did not flinch, but met +the attack squarely. Hen Dutcher was the only boy present who did not +display much eagerness to get at too close quarters in the fray.</p> + +<p>"Give it to 'em!" cheered Dutcher, hopping about at a safe distance +while the scuffle went on. "They need plenty! Give Dick Prescott and +Darrin each an extra one for me."</p> + +<p>The odds against more numerous and larger boys were so heavy that it was +not long ere Dick, Dave, Tom and Harry were borne down to the dirt +floor. Nor were they handled generously. All four received many an +unfair blow. Fred's temper was up, for Dick had struck him on the nose, +bringing blood.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll give 'em the rope treatment," laughed Ripley, hoarsely, when +Dick and his chums had all been downed and were being held.</p> + +<p>First a noose was slipped over Dick's wrists, and made fast. Dave was +the next so favored. Tom and Harry rapidly shared that fate.</p> + +<p>"Now lead these cattle to the stable!" roared Fred, gripping Dick by the +collar and yanking him to his feet.</p> + +<p>The battle being lost, Dick and the others could do no more than submit +to being pushed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> outside the cabin, Hen Dutcher following and making +faces at all of the captives.</p> + +<p>Around to the cook shack the four Grammar School boys were led. The door +was flung open, and in they were thrust.</p> + +<p>There on the floor, bound hand and foot and gagged, lay Greg and Dan. +These two members of Dick & Co. had been overpowered and placed here, +but only one look at their faces was needed to show that both still had +their fighting blood up.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't let us hear anything from you boobies," commanded Fred +Ripley, "or I'll send a committee out here to attend to you in mighty +short order!"</p> + +<p>Then the door of the cook shack was closed on Dick & Co.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the downright mean tricks!" grumbled Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"That's too complimentary a name for such human truck!" cried Dave +Darrin angrily. "Their first scheme, to come down here in the night and +try to scare us, wasn't so fearfully mean, but this is assault and +robbery."</p> + +<p>"Never mind about it, now," Dick answered. "Our wrath will keep—no +doubt about that. But our first task is to get our hands free, if we +can. And Greg and Dan must feel pretty tired of being gagged as well as +tied."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>A snort, the only noise he could make, was Greg Holmes's answer.</p> + +<p>"How are we going to get ourselves free?" Tom demanded: "I've been +trying to wriggle my hands out, but I'll admit that I can't do it."</p> + +<p>"Get over here in front of me," urged Dick, "and I'll show you just how +I can free you. Fred Ripley, like other blunderers, is likely to +overlook a few things."</p> + +<p>It was not cold in the cook shack, for there was still some fire going +in the stove. The embers also threw a slight amount of illumination into +the room.</p> + +<p>Dick dropped to his knees behind Tom Reade, and, reaching for the cords +that bound Tom's wrists behind his back, began to gnaw.</p> + +<p>"Well, by hokey!" gasped Tom. "I never had head enough to think of +that."</p> + +<p>"If we were gagged like Greg and Dan, we couldn't do the trick," Dave +rejoined. "Come here, Harry; get in front of me and I'll gnaw your +wrists free."</p> + +<p>Dick paused long enough in his work to say:</p> + +<p>"No need, Dave. When Tom is once free he can use his knife and have us +all turned loose in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>Prescott possessed strong, fine teeth. He gnawed away at the cords to +such good advantage that Reade soon had the use of his hands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, I'll do as much for you, Dick," Tom proposed, reaching for his +pocket knife.</p> + +<p>Within a very short time all six were free, and Greg and Dan, their +mouths free of the gags, told indignantly how they had been engaged in +preparing supper when the door opened and Ripley and his crowd burst in.</p> + +<p>"And now I suppose the rowdies are eating up the supper," finished Greg +vengefully.</p> + +<p>"I guess they've got it about finished by now," Prescott added grimly. +"But we six are free. If we're any good we'll get our cabin back and +make it our castle against all comers."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Dave, a fiery flash in his eyes. "But how?"</p> + +<p>"That's what we've got to figure out," Dick replied thoughtfully. "But +we'll do it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE COOK SHACK DISASTER</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 63px;"> +<img src="images/fquote.png" width="63" height="55" alt=""F" title=""F" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>IRST</b></big> of all," Dick continued, "it's going to be chilly, soon, in this +shack. Put on some fuel, Harry, won't you?"</div> + +<p>Hazelton complied with the request. By a common instinct all of the +Grammar School boys gathered closely around the stove, extending their +hands and warming themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The battle can't be ours a bit too soon," observed Tom Reade dryly. +"We've simply got to eat soon. Too bad we carted all of Mr. Fits's +larder into the cabin this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"But what are we going to do about retaking our cabin," pressed that +budding young war horse, Darrin.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking fast over every plan that comes to me," Dick answered +thoughtfully. "If any of you other fellows think of one first don't be +backward with it. I'll promise not to be jealous."</p> + +<p>"Hang that Dutcher hound, anyway!" growled Tom Reade angrily. "I can't +get over his mean, dirty work."</p> + +<p>"The best way is not to mention the fellow," Dick answered coldly. "He's +not worth it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he isn't, eh?" muttered a boy who had just stolen softly to the +outside of the shack door and now stood there listening. That +eavesdropper was Hen Dutcher, who had slipped out of the cabin to see +how life fared with the boys whom he didn't like.</p> + +<p>Then Hen, still eavesdropping, listened to enough more to make sure that +Dick & Co. were all of them free of their bonds, and that these +enterprising Grammar School boys were actually discussing plans to rout +the enemy from the log cabin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll have to hustle back and tell this to Ripley's crew," chuckled +Hen gleefully. "It'll amuse 'em."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" demanded Ripley, when the informer returned to the cabin +with his news. "Prescott and his collection of babies are going to make +trouble for us, are they? Can't they stand a good joke like men? Come +along, fellows, and we'll teach 'em a little more about being real men."</p> + +<p>"We'd better take something in our hands, then," proposed Dodge firmly. +"Those little fellows are regular spitfires. They may have something +ready to throw at us when we break into the shack."</p> + +<p>"Oh, take axes, then, if you are afraid of the little kids," retorted +Fred scornfully. "My hands are enough for me."</p> + +<p>Four or five of the rowdyish crowd picked up sticks that they had +carried through the forest that afternoon. Thus prepared, they went out +of the log cabin on tip-toe, making their way stealthily to the door of +the shack.</p> + +<p>"Say, fellows," Harry was at that moment proposing to his friends +inside, "hadn't we better drop the bar across the door? We can't tell +when we may receive an unexpected visit from——"</p> + +<p>"How will now do?" roared Fred Ripley,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> throwing the shack door open +before Greg could drop the bar in place. "So you young smarties managed +to free yourselves, did you? And you thought you'd find a way to put a +trick over on us? You'll have to take to getting up earlier in the day, +if you expect to get the better of any crowd that I'm leading."</p> + +<p>Ripley's crew were now all of them in the shack, crowding the little +place.</p> + +<p>"What is it that you're scheming to do, anyway?" leered Fred, enjoying +the looks of dismay on the faces of Dick & Co. "See here, don't you +little boys think that it's about time for you all to line up and start +a footrace out of these woods?"</p> + +<p>"No; we don't," Dick retorted defiantly. "We think it's high time, +though, for your crowd to start just such a race."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, freshie!" ordered Fred roughly.</p> + +<p>"Not for you!" Dick snapped, his temper going up as the mercury climbs +on a hot day.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll make you!" offered young Ripley, making a spring at Dick.</p> + +<p>But Dick & Co. were now all together, standing in a firm fighting line. +Fred received punches from the fists belonging to three different school +boys, and fell back, red and panting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sail in, everybody!" ordered Fred. "These simpletons haven't sense +enough to stand a good joke on themselves."</p> + +<p>It was an unmanly thing to do. Some of the boys in Ripley's crowd had no +idea of going further than having rather rough "fun." However, the +shack, in an instant, was the scene of a lively mix-up. In the midst of +the excitement Bert Dodge drove Harry Hazelton against the stovepipe. It +came down, showering soot all over Fred's face and down his neck. In the +excitement that followed, and during the rush of some of the boys to get +out of the flying cloud of soot, the stove itself was overturned. Red +embers flew about in every direction. The door being open, the wind +helped to set the cabin ablaze.</p> + +<p>"Now you've done it!" panted Dick, holding up one hand and trying to put +a stop to the trouble. "Quit fighting and help put the fire out."</p> + +<p>"You youngsters put it out yourselves, then," Fred retorted. "It was all +your fault that it started."</p> + +<p>An indignant denial came to Dick's lips, but he forced it back. This +shack was another's property, and personal differences must be kept in +the background until the blaze had been extinguished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me past you," demanded Dick indignantly, but Bert Dodge barred the +doorway until the mounting flames scared Ripley, who turned and yelled +to Dodge to let the boys out. Dick & Co. raced to the log cabin, where +they caught up the water buckets, a dishpan and other utensils that +would hold water. Dick also snatched up a hatchet, for he knew that the +spring would be frozen over.</p> + +<p>Fast as they worked at the spring, the shack was well ablaze by the time +that the Grammar School boys returned with the first water.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you fellows brace up and do something, Ripley?" Dick queried, +as he ran up with water.</p> + +<p>"What is there for us to do?" Fred demanded rather soberly.</p> + +<p>"Find something to do. Show yourself a man."</p> + +<p>"Now, don't you turn impudent again," Ripley warned young Prescott +angrily. "It was that sort of thing that started the first trouble."</p> + +<p>"You'd better find something to do, for your father has charge of this +property," Dick shot back over his shoulder, as he ran toward the +spring.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 261px;"> +<img src="images/illus04.png" width="261" height="400" alt="Dick and Dave Were Boosted to the Cabin Roof." title="Dick and Dave Were Boosted to the Cabin Roof." /> +<span class="caption">Dick and Dave Were Boosted to the Cabin Roof.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Look!" called Dave, as Dick & Co. started once more for the spring. +"It's too late. This little bit of water won't do anything for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +shack. See the sparks fly! They'll fall on the roof of the cabin, and +that will go, too."</p> + +<p>The blaze was now fast reaching the roof of the shack. Blazing little +flakes of fire were soaring up toward the sky.</p> + +<p>"We can't save the shack. We can't get water fast enough!" Prescott +called. "We must try to wet down the roof of the cabin, to keep it from +getting afire."</p> + +<p>Fred Ripley and Bert Dodge now appeared to be thoroughly frightened. +Without waiting to be asked, they came forward to help boost Dick and +Dave up to the roof of the log cabin. As fast as the water came Dick or +Dave dashed it over the side of the cabin roof that was more exposed to +sparks from the shack, every particle of snow having been blown off the +roof by the furious wind that had prevailed.</p> + +<p>"Look!" called Tom. "The wind is coming up—it's carrying the sparks +away from the cabin."</p> + +<p>"No need to bring more water, then," sang out Fred Ripley, in a voice of +intense relief. "It's all right if the sparks aren't blowing toward the +cabin."</p> + +<p>"Keep bringing water," disputed Dick, "until the shack is completely +burned down. We can't take any chances."</p> + +<p>But at last even Dick Prescott was satisfied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> with the quantity of water +that had been poured over the cabin's roof. Before the new breeze the +sparks were steadily being carried the other way.</p> + +<p>"We'll stop, now," Dick announced. "We can start again at any time that +the wind changes to this quarter."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to tell your father about this, Ripley?" Dave Darrin +asked presently.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," replied Fred, with a start.</p> + +<p>"Is that all you ever tell him about your misdeeds?" inquired Tom dryly.</p> + +<p>"This isn't my misdeed," Fred snapped. "You fellows started all the +trouble."</p> + +<p>"I suppose we even invited your crowd to come over here this afternoon +and steal our food?" Dave continued.</p> + +<p>"Now, you youngsters will get trouble started all over again, if you +don't look out," Fred threatened the Grammar School boys.</p> + +<p>"You'd better leave us alone," suggested Dick, "and make up your mind +about what you're going to tell your father when he hears about this."</p> + +<p>"Who's going to tell him?" snarled young Ripley.</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Are you, Dick Prescott?" insisted Fred.</p> + +<p>"Not unless I have to."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you dare go to spreading this yarn around Gridley!"</p> + +<p>"I won't promise," Dick made answer. "I don't want to carry tales if I +can help it, but we're bound to report to your father that the cook +shack was burned down while we were here."</p> + +<p>"You can tell my father that it was your own carelessness, and let it go +at that," suggested Ripley.</p> + +<p>"Humph! I like the cool nerve of your idea," Dick jeered.</p> + +<p>"That's what you'll tell my father, if you know what's good for you," +Fred went on. "That's all I've got to say, but you'll be sorry if you +don't take my advice."</p> + +<p>Though the temperature was some degrees below zero in the forest that +evening, none of the boys near the log cabin felt at all cold. The +shack, whose roof soon fell in, still burned briskly enough to keep all +hands warm.</p> + +<p>"Watch your chance to dart into the cabin when you see me start. Move +fast when the time comes. Tell Tom and Harry when you get a chance, but +don't let the Ripley crowd suspect."</p> + +<p>Dick then found chance to pass the message to Greg and Dan.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later Dick sauntered back to the corner of the cabin at the +front side. Dave ap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>proached from another direction. Tom and the others +caught the meaning of the move. Then, all of a sudden, there was a +scampering of feet.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" yelled telltale Hen. "That crowd is up to something!"</p> + +<p>"I know what they're up to!" shouted Fred. "Follow me!"</p> + +<p>The older boys charged the cabin door, but they reached it just as Greg +was dropping the bar into place.</p> + +<p>"Get in through the windows—quick!" shouted Ripley. He himself made a +dash for one of the windows. Click! went a shutter before his face, and +the locking-pin was dropped in. In a trice all the shutters were in +place.</p> + +<p>Dick & Co. were in their castle!</p> + +<p>"You fellows open that door!" stormed Fred Ripley.</p> + +<p>"Come inside and make us!" mocked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Open that door," summoned Fred, "or we'll get a log and use it for a +battering ram. We can get the door down that way!"</p> + +<p>Dick felt a throb of dismay. It would be possible to get the door down +by the aid of a battering ram, if the boys outside could find a +sufficiently large log and had the strength to use it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>ON THE TRAIL BACKWARD</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 64px;"> +<img src="images/yquote.png" width="64" height="55" alt=""Y" title=""Y" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>OU'D</b></big> better listen to me, Fred Ripley," called Dick, through the +barred door.</div> + +<p>"Yah! You better do the listening!" snarled Ripley. "Open that door, or +trouble is going to start inside of sixty seconds."</p> + +<p>"What I want to say," Dick went on, rather calmly now, since he felt +that he was nearly master of the situation, "is that, if you break the +door down, or start anything else that is mean, we shall have to tell +your father all about it. We were given charge of this property, and +we've got to account for it. You're a lawyer's son; perhaps you know +what kind of trouble your conduct here to-night will get you into."</p> + +<p>"Telltale!" taunted Fred.</p> + +<p>Dick made no answer, deeming silence the wiser course.</p> + +<p>"Sneak!" added Ripley.</p> + +<p>Dick held up his hand as a signal to his chums to preserve silence. +Outside the other boys heard no noise save that made by Tom Reade when +he began to feed the fire, for the interior of the cabin was growing a +trifle chilly.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't say a word to them, no matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> what those fellows yell at +us," Dick whispered, circulating among his chums. "Don't even let them +hear us talking among ourselves. If everything is still in here, and +they can't get any answer from us, that may set them to guessing. If we +get them to guessing they'll be uneasy next."</p> + +<p>So silence reigned within the cabin. There was no response from Dick & +Co., even when the larger boys outside kicked and pounded on the door +and shouted abusive taunts.</p> + +<p>Every now and then one of Fred's crowd would slip around by the shack +and warm himself before the still glowing embers.</p> + +<p>"We might as well cut it, and get out of this," Fred whispered at last +to his companions, after he had summoned them by signs to join him +before the blaze that was left at the site of the shack. "Those +youngsters won't let us into their house, and we'll freeze to death +around here as soon as yonder bonfire is out. We'll get back to your +uncle's Hen. Bert and I have been paying him board money for the crowd, +and he'll be glad enough to see us back. But let's go without making any +noise, and then the youngsters in the cabin will wonder—just simply +wonder—whether we've left or are still around. The result will be that +they won't dare to show their noses outdoors."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>So General Fred marched his forces away by stealth. Had he been able to +look into the cabin, though, before departing, he would have felt +chagrined.</p> + +<p>For Messrs. Dick & Co. were far from feeling uncomfortable. They had +suddenly discovered, all over again, that they were hungry. The hour +being late, they had put together a light repast, and were now enjoying +it. Then, not having heard anything of the enemy for an hour, Dick +decided upon opening the door to take a peep outside. His five chums, +however, stood at his back, while Greg Holmes held the bar, ready to +drop it into place instantly at need.</p> + +<p>As Dick looked out he saw all clear before the cabin. He stole down to +the corner of the log structure, gazing at what was left of the shack +blaze. There was but little of that.</p> + +<p>Then Prescott ran around the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Nobody in sight," he reported. "The rowdy crowd has gone home—or +probably up to Hen's uncle's house. We won't see 'em again to-night."</p> + +<p>"Let's go to bed, then," proposed Tom. "If they come back they can't get +in without making a noise that will wake us."</p> + +<p>"Bed will be a first rate idea," nodded Dick, "as soon as we have got in +some wood and water."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>This took barely ten minutes. The same space of time was devoted to +building up the fire for the night. Then, well tired, despite all their +excitement, all the members of Dick & Co. were soon sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It was eight in the morning when the first one of them awoke.</p> + +<p>"Well, we got through the night without having any more of either Ripley +or Fits," remarked Tom, as he dressed.</p> + +<p>"Which is worse?" inquired Dave.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Fits, by all means," Dick replied. "We can come very close to +thrashing Fred Ripley and his crew. And they can be scared away, too. +But Mr. Fits is downright dangerous."</p> + +<p>"If all outsiders, intruders and enemies will only keep away from here +we can have a splendid time after this," sighed Tom.</p> + +<p>"We're going to have a good time, anyway," Dick declared stoutly. "So +far, those who have tried to annoy us have succeeded only in furnishing +some excitement for us. Although we've been snowbound most of the time +here we've had anything but a dull time."</p> + +<p>"Is it safe for us all to leave camp at one time?" inquired Greg.</p> + +<p>"If you're asking me," Dick replied, "I don't believe it is. We can't be +sure that Fits, or Fred Ripley's crowd, won't swoop down here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> at any +moment. It is just the doubt that will make us feel unwise in leaving +the camp without any one to guard it. As far as Ripley is concerned, I +don't believe he's going to show up here again. The burning of the cook +shack, accidental though it was, has probably been enough to frighten +Fred Ripley so that he and his crowd will soon start for Gridley, if +they haven't headed in that direction already."</p> + +<p>"Then suppose you and I stay here this morning," proposed Dave Darrin, +"and let the other fellows get out for this morning?"</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Dick.</p> + +<p>"And you'd better keep the shutters over all but one window," suggested +Tom. "You can close and fasten that one quickly, at need. And, when +you're inside the cabin, have the bar on the door and don't open, even +to us, unless you recognize our voices."</p> + +<p>"Why, we'll feel as if we were living in a fort, at that rate," Dick +laughed.</p> + +<p>"One has to, in the face of an enemy," Greg asserted. "But you can call +it a blockhouse, instead of a fort, Dick, and the logs will look more in +keeping."</p> + +<p>Before four of the Grammar School boys departed on a forenoon tramp all +hands turned to and laid in a goodly supply of firewood and water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the afternoon Dick and Dave headed a party of young explorers, +leaving Tom and Greg on guard at the cabin.</p> + +<p>The day after, morning and afternoon, the Grammar School boys fished +through the ice on the pond, catching enough pickerel and trout to last +famished boys for two meals.</p> + +<p>During these two days neither Mr. Fits nor the Ripley crew made an +appearance. Still, the camp was not left unguarded. A few more days of +rare life and sport followed. Then there came a day when, an hour after +sun up, the crust proved too weak to support the Grammar School boys.</p> + +<p>"We've a thaw coming," hinted Dave.</p> + +<p>"Or else a storm," added Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Whatever is coming will be all right," announced Tom, "if it isn't +another big blizzard. A second blizzard, and we'll be snowbound here for +the rest of the winter!"</p> + +<p>The softness of the snow kept the Grammar School boys at the camp that +day. Their stock of books came in handy now. By four o'clock that +afternoon it began to rain. Soon it poured, and the downfall kept coming +all night long. It was still raining heavily when the new day came. That +warm rainstorm lasted until nearly evening of the second day. With every +hour of continued rain some of the snow vanished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We're going to lose the last bit of the good white stuff," predicted +Tom gloomily.</p> + +<p>When the rain ceased at last the prophecy was verified. Throughout the +forest the recent "big snow" was visible only in small patches here and +there.</p> + +<p>"The best part of our good time is gone," grumbled Dan.</p> + +<p>"Have you fellows been watching the state of provisions lately, I +wonder?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"What about 'em?" demanded Harry.</p> + +<p>"Well, just look over the stock."</p> + +<p>"We've enough for two days yet, haven't we?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe what we have will last us through to-morrow," Dick went +on. "Let's appoint ourselves a committee to take account of stock."</p> + +<p>"We made a big mistake when we were figuring on what we'd need," +grumbled Dan.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Dick, with a shake of his head. "What we didn't allow for, +in the first place, was boarding a huge eater like Hen Dutcher for a +while. Nor did we plan to have Ripley's crowd here in our absence, +helping themselves and wasting almost as much as they used."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" grunted Tom disconsolately. "We've soon got to be hitting the +home trail, haven't we?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Or else go to bed to-morrow night on a small allowance of food," nodded +Dick, "and prepared to do without food the day after that."</p> + +<p>There was much discussion that night. Tom was for "sticking it out," +doing the best possible on a diet of fish that might be caught in the +pond. But wiser counsel prevailed. Early next morning Dick and Dave +started out over the bare ground on their way to the nearest house that +had a telephone. It proved to be Constable Dock's house, though the +officer himself was away. Calling up Miller's grocery store, Mr. +Miller's son, Joe, was engaged to come out to camp at once with a wagon.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon, however, when Joe arrived. It took another +hour for the boys to get their outfit packed on to the wagon. Then they +seated themselves on top of the load and Joe clucked to the horses.</p> + +<p>"So you boys ran across the fit thrower out in the woods, and he gave +you plenty of excitement?" queried Joe, after the start homeward had +been made.</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Dick, "and we were afraid he'd show up again before we got +through in the woods."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Joe, bringing the whip down lazily on the flanks of the +horses.</p> + +<p>"Because," Dick answered, "we found his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> loot, and he knew we had found +it. We feared that he'd make another big effort to get back the stuff, +which was valuable."</p> + +<p>"But the police have the stuff," Joe went on.</p> + +<p>"How do you know that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Ripley's crowd knew it when they got back to Gridley, and the +newspapers got the fact from the Gridley police."</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Fits read the Gridley papers," remarked Prescott, thoughtfully, +"then of course he knew he couldn't recover any of his plunder by paying +us a visit. That, I guess, was the only reason why he didn't pay the +cabin another visit."</p> + +<p>"That, and the other fact, perhaps," Joe went on, "that the Gridley +papers hinted that the cabin was being shadowed by the police."</p> + +<p>"But it wasn't."</p> + +<p>"No matter; if your fit throwing gentleman thought he was going to take +any chances of running into police out in these woods, then he wasn't +going to slip his neck into a noose."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad he kept away," muttered Tom Reade.</p> + +<p>"Unless we could have had the pleasure of jumping on the rascal and +getting the glory of capturing him," flashed Dave Darrin.</p> + +<p>"I feel a bit blue over leaving the good old cabin," complained Greg +Holmes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So would I," returned Dick, "if it weren't for the fact that Lawyer +Ripley told us we could use the place whenever we choose. That means +that we can go camping there again."</p> + +<p>"Maybe Lawyer Ripley will take back what he said when he hears about the +cook shack being burned to the ground," suggested Harry solemnly.</p> + +<p>"But we didn't burn it down, anyway," retorted Dick.</p> + +<p>"Who did, then?" asked Joe curiously.</p> + +<p>None of Dick & Co., however, offered an answer.</p> + +<p>After glancing at the boys in turn, Joe decided to hold his peace on +that topic.</p> + +<p>It was well after dark when the outfit arrived in Gridley. Joe drove to +Dick's first, with that youngster's belongings. The other boys jumped +from the "rig" and scurried homeward for supper.</p> + +<p>"Young man," was Mr. Prescott's greeting of his son, "from all I hear, +you boys went in for a bigger list of adventure than you outlined to us +before starting away."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't on account of any wishes of ours, Dad," laughed Dick. "We +fairly had the extra excitement thrust on us."</p> + +<p>"I hope you've had a good time, my son, and supper is ready for you," +remarked Mrs. Prescott practically.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Run upstairs with your mother and have your meal," directed the elder +Prescott. "I'll watch the store while your mother is thrilling over the +doings of the week."</p> + +<p>"Mother," was one of Dick's first questions upstairs, "did Dan's homing +pigeon get back with our message?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes."</p> + +<p>"Then all you parents were easy about our safety."</p> + +<p>"Quite. But I can't tell you how worried I was when I heard of your +adventures with that terrible thief."</p> + +<p>"He didn't bother us much, mother. We were small boys, but there were +too many of us."</p> + +<p>"But suppose he had shot one of you?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't have any firearms, mother, until one of the officers made the +mistake of throwing a pistol at him."</p> + +<p>Then Dick had to go over all the adventures of the snowbound days.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I clear up here," said Mrs. Prescott, "I'm going down into +the store and tell your father some of the exciting things you've been +telling me. And I know, Richard, that you're anxious to get out on the +street and see some of your schoolmates. So run along."</p> + +<p>Dick had not been out five minutes before he encountered Dave Darrin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let's go up Main Street and see if we can't run into Tom and some of +the other fellows," proposed Dave.</p> + +<p>"Good enough," Dick nodded. But they went a good many blocks without +encountering any of their own crowd.</p> + +<p>"Wait; I want to step into this doorway and tie my shoe," said Dave. +Dick took a few steps ahead. Just at the corner he encountered a man +slinking around into Main Street.</p> + +<p>"You here?" gasped Dick, then instantly he went down under a blow on his +chest.</p> + +<p>"Dave!" gasped Prescott, rather badly winded.</p> + +<p>"What?" demanded Darrin, racing up.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Fits knocked me down and bolted around that corner," flashed Dick +Prescott.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>HEN DUTCHER IS MODEST</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 46px;"> +<img src="images/f.png" width="46" height="55" alt="F" title="F" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>OR</b></big> an instant Dave hesitated, reluctant to leave a comrade injured.</div> + +<p>"Get after him!" ordered young Prescott, rising somewhat slowly. "Don't +let the fellow get out of sight."</p> + +<p>At that direct command Dave Darrin darted around the corner, going fast +down the side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> street. A moment later Dick hove into sight, though some +distance to the rear of his now more agile chum.</p> + +<p>As he ran Darrin felt like rubbing his eyes. By the aid of the street +lamps he could see fairly well down to the next corner. The fugitive +hadn't had time to cover all that distance in the few moments that he +had been out of view.</p> + +<p>"Dave!" called Dick, though his voice at first wasn't very loud. Darrin +didn't hear, though a moment later he halted, glancing about him and +back at his chum. Prescott was beckoning.</p> + +<p>"He has darted in somewhere on this block," muttered Dick, as his chum +reached him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Dave agreed; "but where?"</p> + +<p>"That's too much for us to guess."</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Dick confessed disappointedly. "I hate to see Mr. Fits +slip away from us like this, though."</p> + +<p>"Well, he has done it, anyway," Dave declared. "I'm afraid there isn't +much that we can do now."</p> + +<p>"We can go down to the next corner, and back on the other side," Dick +Prescott proposed. "Look back frequently, Dave, and, if you see Mr. Fits +dart out of any house or doorway, then yell to me, and we'll both turn +and race after the fellow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A nice sprinter you'll make, after that knock down blow on the chest," +remarked Darrin dryly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm getting a little more wind back every minute," Dick declared +cheerily. "I could run, now, if I had to, and in two minutes from now +I'll be able to do a whole lot better. Come along. You do the turning to +look backward, and I'll use my eyes in front of us."</p> + +<p>In this fashion they explored the entire block on both sides. Their +slow, thorough search at last brought them back to Main Street, much +puzzled and not a little discouraged.</p> + +<p>"What now?" inquired Dave.</p> + +<p>"We've done all we can," Dick replied, "except find a policeman and tell +him that we've seen Fits back in town."</p> + +<p>"It's strange that he should come back to Gridley," murmured Darrin. +"You'd think that the fellow would be anxious to give the town a wide +berth."</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly he has his reasons. But—Dave, there's a policeman. Let's +hurry and tell him."</p> + +<p>In another moment the two Grammar School boys were engaged in reciting +what had happened to a uniformed member of the night police force of +Gridley.</p> + +<p>"There's no time to be lost," declared the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> policeman. "For a matter as +important as this I'll leave my beat and notify the station house."</p> + +<p>"Can we give you any further help?" Dick asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit, my lad, thank you, unless you see Fitsey again."</p> + +<p>As soon as the policeman had gone, Darrin asked rather seriously:</p> + +<p>"Dick, are you sure that it really was Fits, and no mistake?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I am. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing, only it seems so strange to me that the fellow should +really venture back into the one town where the police are really +anxious to land him."</p> + +<p>"It was Mr. Fits that I saw," Prescott insisted. "Besides, no one else +would want to knock me down."</p> + +<p>"That's so," Dave admitted. "Well, I hope that the police find the +rascal."</p> + +<p>"It's a lot more likely that we, or some of our fellows, will do the +finding," laughed Prescott. "We've done all the finding so far."</p> + +<p>At this moment a hand smote Dick heavily between the shoulders, while +Tom Reade's laughing voice demanded:</p> + +<p>"Fellows, how does home cooking seem again? Isn't it great?"</p> + +<p>Harry Hazelton was with Tom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We've almost forgotten how good the home cooking is," Dick answered. +"We've just had something else to think about."</p> + +<p>Then the story of the latest meeting with Mr. Fits was told.</p> + +<p>"Jupiter!" breathed Tom excitedly. "Say, I wish we could run that fellow +down. I'm just aching to pay him back for the night of ghost scare that +he gave us out in the forest!"</p> + +<p>"I'd like well enough to see him caught," Dick agreed. "But I can't say +that I want to do it myself."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" challenged Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, he's a powerful big brute, and I doubt if we four could handle +Mr. Fits."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" retorted Tom. "I'd like to try it, anyway. And, if we had the +chance, and missed, four of us could make noise enough to bring a few +men to our aid."</p> + +<p>"That part would be all right," Dick agreed. "If we see the rascal again +it will be our best move to capture him by yelling for a few men to come +up to where we are."</p> + +<p>"Hullo, you!" was the greeting of Toby Ross, as that schoolboy stopped +and looked at the returned campers. "Have a good time?"</p> + +<p>"Fine!" answered four voices at once.</p> + +<p>"But," Toby continued, "I never thought there was that much stuff in Hen +Dutcher."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What stuff? What kind of stuff!" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Why, Hen is back in Gridley," Toby answered, "and, from the tales he +has been telling, he was the whole life and safety of your crowd out in +the forest."</p> + +<p>"Come to think of it," Tom replied soberly, "I believe he was."</p> + +<p>"Then Hen's yarns are true?" asked Toby.</p> + +<p>"They must be," Dick responded. "Who ever knew Hen to tell an untruth?"</p> + +<p>"Say, stop your fooling, won't you?" begged Toby. "What did Hen actually +do out in the forest."</p> + +<p>"Why, he ate at least his share," asserted Tom.</p> + +<p>"And got his share of sleep," Darrin added.</p> + +<p>"He also did his full share of housework," Hazelton supplied, with a +grin.</p> + +<p>"We're glad he had such a good time," Dick went on politely.</p> + +<p>"But did he really do any of the hero stunts that he's telling about?" +Toby persisted.</p> + +<p>"Not knowing what he's telling about, I really can't say," Prescott +answered.</p> + +<p>"What is Hen claiming to have done, anyway?" Darrin inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hen says—but come along and hear him for yourselves," Toby +finished. "Hen is just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> a little way down the street, holding forth to a +lot of fellows."</p> + +<p>"Come along, then," nodded Tom. "Perhaps we can slip in behind Hen +without his seeing us, and then we'll know all that he did while we were +snowbound."</p> + +<p>Toby piloted them. A block and a half down Main Street a group of some +twenty Grammar School boys stood, gathered closely around a central +object. When Dick and his chums slipped up to the outer edge of the +crowd they discovered that central object to be Hen Dutcher, whose back +was turned to them.</p> + +<p>Though Hen didn't know who was now near him, several of the other boys +did, and they passed the wink.</p> + +<p>"Hen, tell us again just how it was that you cowed Mr. Fits when he +first showed up at the cabin," urged one of the juvenile bystanders.</p> + +<p>"Huh! There wasn't much to cow," retorted Hen airily. "Dick Prescott and +his chums were pretty well scared, I can tell you. But there was an air +rifle standing in the corner, and I knew I could get it if I needed it. +So, when Fits ordered Dick Prescott to get him some supper, and Dick was +just going to do it, I stepped up, as cool as anything, and I said: 'No, +sir; Dick Prescott won't get you any supper in this camp. You'll get out +of here, mister,' says I,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> 'and you'll be quick about it, too.' Well, +when Fits looked into my eyes and saw that he couldn't scare me any, he +began to whine, and says: 'All right, sir; I won't insist about any +supper, but I must sleep here to-night. I'd freeze to death out in the +big snowstorm.' 'You won't sleep here, any more than you'll eat here,' +says I to Fits. 'But you can sleep out in the cook shack behind this +cabin, if you want to.' Fits, he tried to beg off, but when he found he +couldn't, he just marched out of the cabin like a man and went to the +cook shack."</p> + +<p>"Was Fits the one who set fire to the cook shack?" asked another boy in +the crowd.</p> + +<p>"I—er—I'm not going to tell you anything about that," retorted Hen, +trying to conceal his embarrassment under an air of mystery.</p> + +<p>"But say, Hen," put in another boy, across the crowd, after winking at +Dick, "I really don't see how you could help being scared when you heard +those ghost noises the first time."</p> + +<p>"Huh! Me? Scared?" responded Dutcher indignantly. "No, sir! Being scared +isn't in my line. But the other fellows were tremendously scared. I told +'em, again and again, that the noises were wholly human, and that we +hadn't any call to be afraid of any man who used his voice, instead of +his hands, against us."</p> + +<p>"Was Dick Prescott much scared?" asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> one of the auditors, with a +quick side glance at Dick.</p> + +<p>"Was he?" repeated Hen. "Huh! But, after all, Tom Reade was the biggest +boo——"</p> + +<p>Here Reade could control himself no longer. His deep chuckle broke on +the night air, causing Hen Dutcher to turn with a start.</p> + +<p>"Go on, Hen!" Tom encouraged him. "Go on and tell all about it. I'll +admit that I was scared. So were all the rest of our crowd. I guess, +Hen, you really were the only brave one in the cabin when the blood +curdling noises broke loose on us and spoiled our night's sleep."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wasn't scared, was I?" challenged Dutcher.</p> + +<p>Hen's eye roved until it rested on Dick's face.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether you were, or not," Prescott replied soberly. "I +had too much of my own alarm on hand to notice just how you were +acting."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wasn't scared," Hen asserted vehemently. "And I'd like to see +any one dare to say that I was."</p> + +<p>"How did you come to get invited with Dick's crowd, anyway?" asked Hoof +Sadby.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't—just exactly—invited," hesitated Hen Dutcher. "But I was +going through the forest when the big snowstorm came up, and——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And you made Prescott's crowd invite you into the cabin?" pressed Spoff +Henderson.</p> + +<p>"Ye-es," claimed Hen reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"What have you got to say about all this yarn, Dick Prescott?" called +Wrecker Lane.</p> + +<p>"Why, from all we've heard," Dick answered dryly, "I don't see any need +of adding anything to Hen's story of events. He seems capable of telling +all about it himself."</p> + +<p>"And Hen really was brave when Mr. Fits was around?"</p> + +<p>"He says so, doesn't he?" inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>Several laughs answered this question, and Hen began to fidget.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what has become of Fits, anyway?" suggested Ned Allen.</p> + +<p>"We saw him here in Gridley, not ten minutes ago," broke in Dave Darrin. +"We notified the police, too."</p> + +<p>"Is that right?" demanded a dozen boys at once.</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Dick.</p> + +<p>"And Fits knocked Dick down," said Harry Hazelton, "but," continued he, +"maybe it was that Dutcher boy that he was really looking for."</p> + +<p>Hen's face became very pallid and his jaw dropped. He didn't look the +hero that he had been claiming to be a minute before. Most of the boys +in the crowd began to laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've a good mind to tell the crowd that Hen really came out to the +forest to help Fred Ripley's crew against us," whispered Harry in +Prescott's ear.</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it," Dick warned him sternly. "We don't have to blab. Give +Hen Dutcher a little time and he'll let it all out himself, without +meaning to do it."</p> + +<p>"Sa-ay, weren't—weren't you stringing me about—Mr. Fits?" Hen +questioned.</p> + +<p>"Say, you fellows—hustle!" breathed Greg excitedly, as he joined the +crowd. "There's Mr. Fits over at the corner opposite. There—he's +turning and running down Abbott Street!"</p> + +<p>Like a shot the crowd of boys wheeled and was off in chase. But Hen +didn't go with them. Toby Ross, who brought up the rear, saw young +Dutcher turn and speed homeward as fast as his legs would carry him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>"THIS TIME IS AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER"</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 65px;"> +<img src="images/tquote.png" width="65" height="55" alt=""T" title=""T" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>HERE</b></big> he is!" breathed Greg, who ran with the foremost rank of pursuing +boys, as they turned into Abbott Street.</div> + +<p>A policeman saw the commotion and ran fast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> after the crowd of +youngsters. As the officer caught up with Ross he found out that they +were "chasing Fits."</p> + +<p>Though the man ahead ran rapidly, the foremost boys gradually overtook +him. The policeman, too, was well in the front of the running.</p> + +<p>Then the fugitive stumbled and fell to the ground. He sat up, but made +no further move to get away.</p> + +<p>"I may as well give meself up," remarked the recent fugitive resignedly. +"The law is always sure to git a feller."</p> + +<p>"Why, this isn't Mr. Fits!" ejaculated Dick and Greg in the same accent +of disgust.</p> + +<p>"Who's going to gimme fits?" demanded the man, looking stupidly about +him, while the crowd circled him and the policeman peered down into his +face. "Who's going to gimme fits, I ask? Will it be Jack Ryan?"</p> + +<p>"This fellow is Dock Breslin, a teamster," muttered the policeman +disgustedly. "Who said it was the thief that the chief wants so badly?"</p> + +<p>"I—I thought it was, when I saw him," stammered Greg Holmes, rather +abashed now. "He's the same build as Fits, and looked like him at a +distance. And this man, Breslin, was peering around the corner and +acting suspiciously. He ran away, too, when we started after him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll go with ye, peaceable like," promised Dock Breslin, getting upon +his feet and addressing the blue coated one. "'Twas Jack himself swore +out the warrant, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"What warrant?" demanded the policeman.</p> + +<p>"Didn't he swear out one?" insisted Breslin.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Jack Ryan. 'Twas meself that gave Ryan a big wallopin' this afternoon, +all on account of a bit of a dispute we had. Jack swore he'd be even +with me, and I heard he'd sworn out a warrant against me," explained +Breslin, who had the air of one stupidly rejoicing that his suspense was +ended.</p> + +<p>"I heard of no warrant for you, Dock, when the night watch had the +orders read before we came out to-night," replied the policeman.</p> + +<p>"Then Jack didn't do it?" demanded Breslin.</p> + +<p>"If he did, he didn't let the police know about it," laughed the +policeman. "If there'd been a warrant against you, Dock, the orders +would have been read to the night watch at the station house. Did you +run from the boys because you thought there was a warrant against you?"</p> + +<p>"I did," the teamster admitted.</p> + +<p>"Then Jack Ryan will be laughing at you to-morrow," grinned the officer. +"Go home, Breslin, and behave yourself. Boys, you'd better scatter."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was not long after that that Gridley Grammar School boys were at home +and in bed. By morning they were on the street again, as there was still +some of the holiday vacation left.</p> + +<p>There was news, too, this morning. The Dodge house had been entered late +in the night, but the Dodge coachman, returning late, had caught sight +of a burglar near an open dining room window. In investigating more +closely the coachman had scared the burglar, who leaped from the window, +struck the coachman over the head, and then vanished. But the coachman's +description of his assailant tallied with the personal appearance of Mr. +Fits.</p> + +<p>"Then the bold scoundrel is still operating in Gridley?" passed from +mouth to mouth. "What nerve!"</p> + +<p>"The thief is likely to stay here for a night or two longer," the chief +of police warned business men along Main Street. "The truth appears to +be that the rascal whom the boys have named Mr. Fits is without funds to +get away. The loot that Dick & Co. found out at the camp was what the +scoundrel had expected to take away with him and sell. That stuff not +being in his possession, he must steal something else on which to raise +money before he can go far from here."</p> + +<p>"Why doesn't the rascal try some other town,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> then, where he's not as +well known?" inquired Mr. Dodge.</p> + +<p>"Because he has houses that he and his confederates, now locked up in +jail, had spotted for robbery," replied the police chief. "Burglars +don't usually enter a house until they've looked it well over and know +just about what they expect to find. I'll have all my men alert +to-night, and well to do people will do well to be on the lookout, too. +As soon as this 'Mr. Fits' gets loot enough he'll probably leave +Gridley."</p> + +<p>That same forenoon Dick, Dave and Tom, acting as a self-appointed +committee, called on Lawyer Ripley at that gentleman's office. They +thanked the lawyer for the use of the camp, and mentioned the burning +down of the cook shack.</p> + +<p>Hardly had they begun to speak when Fred Ripley sauntered into his +father's office. Silently Fred stepped over to a part of the office that +lay behind his father's back.</p> + +<p>"How did the fire happen?" inquired the lawyer. "Some of you young men +just a bit frisky and careless?"</p> + +<p>Fred, from behind his father, scowled at the three Grammar School boys. +It was plain enough that he dreaded having his father told the truth. +Nor did Dick and his chums want to tell if it could be avoided. They had +all of a schoolboy's aversion to carrying tales.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir; it wasn't carelessness on the part of any of our party," +Prescott answered truthfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, it doesn't matter, at any rate," the lawyer assured them. +"The whole camp is worth nothing in these days, and the shack was the +least valuable part of all. If it's burned down, then it's gone. Mrs. +Dexter wouldn't want any of you boys made uncomfortable over the affair +for a moment, so you needn't tell me another word about it. But the +cabin is still standing, and you may want to use it again. As Mrs. +Dexter's <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'atttorney'">attorney</ins> and agent, I offer you the use of it at any time when +you please. You needn't even come to ask my permission. The use of the +cabin belongs solely to you boys, and it's yours at any time without +asking."</p> + +<p>Dick & Co. took their leave promptly, and Fred escaped, for the time +being, an investigation by his stern father.</p> + +<p>"I hear that word is going around to the wealthy people in town to look +out for Mr. Fits to-night," remarked Tom, as the trio of Grammar School +boys returned to the street.</p> + +<p>"That lets our families out," laughed Dick.</p> + +<p>"Are you so very sure of that?" Dave inquired. "Fits might pay one of +our homes a visit by way of revenge—yours, for instance, Dick."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't believe he'll do it, just for revenge," Prescott replied, with +a shake of his head. "Fits is probably superstitious, and he has most +likely come to the conclusion that he runs to bad luck in pursuing our +crowd. All of his ill luck, and that of his confederates, now in jail, +has come through bothering us."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure that you won't have another visit from the rascal," +warned Tom. "Dick, Mr. Fits knows you're the leader of our crowd, and +that's why he'll single out your house, if any, for a visit of revenge."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to stay awake and see," smiled Dick. "Yet I'm almost certain +that I'd fall into a sound doze before midnight."</p> + +<p>During the day there were a lot of the Central Grammar School boys to be +met, and each one had to have some account of the wonderful snowbound +days. By evening Dick had very nearly forgotten the possible danger from +Mr. Fits.</p> + +<p>After supper Dave sauntered into the Prescott store.</p> + +<p>"Dan wasn't out to-day," Dave announced. "At least, if he was, he failed +to see any of us. Let's walk down to his house and see if anything is +wrong with him."</p> + +<p>Dick agreeing, the two chums turned down a dark side street on their way +to Dalzell's.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the darkest point on the street the two boys had to pass a collection +of shanty like buildings, which contained a contractor's offices, a +junk-shop, a second hand dealer's storehouse and a big stable in which +the contractor's work-horses were kept.</p> + +<p>"These old rookeries will go by when Gridley real estate gets to be just +a little more valuable," grunted Dave, as he picked his way gingerly in +the darksome spot.</p> + +<p>"It's really a disgrace to the town, this place," replied Dick. "Hullo! +Who's moving there? O-o-oh—say!"</p> + +<p>They were just at the head of the narrow alley-way leading down to the +stable. Up this alley-way a man had been picking his prowling way in the +dark. At the hail from Dick Prescott the man turned, as though to glide +back into the shadow.</p> + +<p>But now, suddenly, the fellow wheeled like a flash and bounded into the +path of the two Grammar School boys.</p> + +<p>"I reckon this time will be as good as any other!" announced Mr. Fits, +with an ugly laugh that showed his fang like teeth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 46px;"> +<img src="images/jqutoe.png" width="46" height="55" alt=""J" title=""J" /> +</div> +<div class='unindent'><br /><big><b>UPITER!</b></big> But we've got you!" flared Dave Darrin.</div> + +<p>"Have you?" retorted Mr. Fits sarcastically. "Hold me tight, then. But +this is a lucky meeting for me. I can settle all the old scores with you +two. Yell, if you think it will bring any help to you."</p> + +<p>"We know better," replied Dick coolly, though he was tingling inside. +"We've got to handle you ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Get busy at handling me, then," leered Mr. Fits. "Prescott, I'm going +to begin by handling you in a way that'll make Darrin run."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it!" retorted Dave angrily. "I may be killed, but I +promise you that I won't run except to chase you, you ugly brute!"</p> + +<p>"We'll see!" chuckled the wretch.</p> + +<p>With that he reached out for Dick, who was standing his ground. Just +then a lithe figure shot in between the boys and their promised +assailant.</p> + +<p>"Stand back, you hound!" ordered the newcomer angrily. "This is a matter +for men. You and I will attend to each other!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Old Dut!" breathed Dick Prescott in the intensity of his astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's I," announced the principal of the Central Grammar coolly. +"This is more in my line."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fits had been pushed back from the spot by the energetic fist of Mr. +E. Dutton Jones. But now the brute came back, cautiously, crouching and +leering.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, anyway!" demanded Mr. Fits.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm one of the town's schoolmasters," replied Old Dut dryly. "As +for you, I imagine you're that doubtful celebrity, Mr. Fits—otherwise a +thief."</p> + +<p>"Get out of this!" warned the rascal darkly. "This is no place for +schoolmasters."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary," retorted Old Dut, as coolly as before, "this is just +the proper place for me, for I've appointed myself to teach you a +lesson, my man. Throw off your overcoat, I don't want to take you +unfairly."</p> + +<p>As Old Dut spoke he "shucked" his own coat, tossing it to the curb.</p> + +<p>"Wait, Mr. Jones, and we'll get a policeman," urged Dick.</p> + +<p>"Wait and see how badly I'm going to need one," returned the +schoolmaster.</p> + +<p>"This affair is none of your business," growled Mr. Fits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it is!" insisted the principal of Central Grammar. "You were going +to attack two of my boys. If you'll go along peaceably to the police +station with me, then I'll let you off from a thrashing. But don't try +to run away, for I warn you that I've kept up fairly well the sprinting +of my old college days."</p> + +<p>"I won't go with you, and I won't run," uttered Mr. Fits defiantly.</p> + +<p>"Then get off your coat, for I'm going to start in," Old Dut warned the +wretch.</p> + +<p>Something in the schoolmaster's eye and voice told Fits that he would do +well to get himself in trim at once. Off came his hat and coat.</p> + +<p>"Look out, you ferrule-tosser!" jeered Mr. Fits, and led off with one +fist after the other.</p> + +<p>It had often been remarked, in undertones by Grammar School boys, that +Old Dut was fine at thrashing boys, but that it would be different if he +had a man of his own size to tackle.</p> + +<p>Right now Dick Prescott and Dave Darrin were treated to a sight that +they never forgot. In point of size Old Dut was somewhat over-matched. +At the same time his opponent was a younger man. Yet it looked like a +battle of giants. For some moments Old Dut had all he could do to hold +his own. He took severe punishment, but gave back the same kind. Then, +all of a sudden, Fits showed signs of wanting to get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> away. But Mr. E. +Dutton Jones followed him up persistently, and at last a hard blow +stretched the thief on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to get up," Old Dut warned the fellow, "until I announce that +I am ready for you."</p> + +<p>With that the principal put on his coat once more, while Dave, with a +very respectful air, passed the principal's hat.</p> + +<p>"Now, you may get up," nodded Old Dut. "Put on your hat and coat."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fits obeyed, next remarking whiningly:</p> + +<p>"As you got the best of it, now I suppose you are ready to let me go."</p> + +<p>"I never let a thief go, if I can help it," Old Dut retorted, gripping +one of the fellow's wrists. "We'll walk along together, my friend, until +we reach the police station. And woe unto you if you start anything +funny!"</p> + +<p>So it happened that, within five minutes, Mr. Fits was turned over to +the members of a rejoicing police force. At the station house Mr. Fits +described himself more especially as being one John Clark. Whether that +was really his own name no one in Gridley ever found out.</p> + +<p>Clark took his arrest philosophically enough. Now that he was behind +bars, with no help for his situation, he became almost goodnatured. Ere +long he admitted all of the charges against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> him. It was he who had +entered the Prescott flat and had taken away Dick's watch and the fan +intended for Dick's mother. Clark told freely how he and his +confederates had taken toll from the Christmas shoppers, confessing also +that they had had a number of houses "located" for burglary.</p> + +<p>The prisoner told, also how he had found a megaphone in the little +"lumber loft" of the cook shack, and how, with this, he had improvised +the ghostly sounds. He had also found in that loft the snowshoes on +which he had escaped from Constable Dock.</p> + +<p>Clark—Mr. Fits—went away to prison for a long term, and Gridley heard +no more about him. The recovered stolen property was turned over to the +owners after the trial. Dr. Bentley was so overjoyed at the recovery of +his prized heirloom watch that he presented each member of Dick & Co., +except the leader, with a silver watch and chain. As Dick now had the +watch bought for him by his parents, he received from Dr. Bentley a +handsome pair of racing skates.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Prescott wore her fan proudly the next time that she attended a +performance at the local opera house. Other Gridley folks whose property +had been recovered by the Grammar School boys were equally delighted.</p> + +<p>The reader may be disappointed that Fred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> Ripley was not immediately +punished for his meanness to the young campers, but it may be remarked +in passing that fellows of Ripley's kind are always caught up with and +punished sooner or later.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Boys filed in from one coatroom, girls from another, at the stroke of +nine on the following Monday morning.</p> + +<p>Tap! sounded a bell, and instantly the young people in their seats came +to order, hands folded on desks before them.</p> + +<p>"Young ladies and gentlemen," began Old Dut, in his usual schoolmaster +tone, "I trust that you have all enjoyed your mid-winter vacation +immensely. I hope that you have brought back here refreshed bodies and +minds. Have you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," came from all quarters of the schoolroom.</p> + +<p>"The report cards given the pupils on the first of February will show +whether you have answered accurately or impulsively," continued the +principal. "I shall not expect too great performance from you this +morning, but I warn you all that I shall not be jovially inclined to +overlooking inattention or skylarking. Master Dalzell, were you +whispering?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," Dan answered truthfully.</p> + +<p>"That is well. Any young man who has just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> spent many days communing +with grand old Nature should feel it beneath his dignity to whisper to +mere mortals. Master Hazelton, you are moving uneasily in your seat. Be +calm; you will not have to cook your own dinner to-day. Miss Bentley, it +is hardly fair to smile so knowingly. For aught of evidence that may be +presented, Master Hazelton may be a very excellent cook. Only his late +camping comrades really know—and I'm certain they won't expose him. +Attention! Turn to page 46 of your singing books."</p> + +<p>After the singing exercises had been finished Old Dut announced:</p> + +<p>"Master Reade and Miss Kimball will pass around with this composition +paper. Each member of the class will have twenty minutes in which he +will write a brief but interesting description of something that he saw, +and which impressed him, during the vacation just closed."</p> + +<p>Then, for some minutes, all was quiet save the scratching of pens +through the room. Yet Old Dut, expert reader of pupils' eyes and +glances, presently cast a bombshell by declaring in his dryest tone:</p> + +<p>"Any pupil who writes anything believed to be funny will be required to +explain before the class just what he considers the joke to be. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> will +then also be required to laugh three times at his own joke."</p> + +<p>Here we will leave the Grammar School boys—and girls—for the present. +However, we shall catch up with them again in the next volume in this +series, which deals with spring sports, adventures and mysteries, and +with a jolly good round of all the phases of public school life that +interest young readers. This next volume is published under the title, +"<span class="smcap">The Grammar School Boys in the Woods</span>; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and +Knowledge."</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap">The End</span></h2> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S</h2> + +<h3>CATALOGUE OF</h3> + +<h2> +The Best and Least Expensive<br /> +Books for Real Boys<br /> +and Girls<br /> +</h2> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not plentiful. Many +stories, too, are so highly improbable as to bring a grin of derision to +the young reader's face before he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a +distinctive brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring the buyer of +having a book that is up-to-date and fine throughout. No buyer of an +ALTEMUS book is ever disappointed.</p> + +<p>Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness of books. Go into any +bookstore and ask for an Altemus book. Compare the price charged you for +Altemus books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. You will +at once discover that a given outlay of money will buy more of the +ALTEMUS books than of those published by other houses.</p> + +<p>Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price<br /> + +<br /> +<big><b>Henry Altemus Company</b></big><br /> +<b>1326-1336 Vine Street, Philadelphia</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Motor Boat Club Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<p>The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully +entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. No boy +will willingly lay down an unfinished book in this series.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Motor Boat Club Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or, The Secret of Smugglers' Island.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or, A Daring Marine Game at Racing Speed.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or, The Dot, Dash and Dare Cruise.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghost of Alligator Swamp.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or, A Thrilling Capture in the Great Fog.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or, The Flying Dutchman of the Big Fresh Water.</td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Range and Grange Hustlers</h2> + +<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3> + + +<p>Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great +ranches in the West? Any bright boy will "devour" the books of this +series, once he has made a start with the first volume.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Range and Grange Hustlers"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH; Or, The Boy Shepherds of the Great Divide.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS' GREATEST ROUND-UP; Or, Pitting Their Wits Against a Packers' Combine.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS; Or, Following the Steam Plows Across the Prairie.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO; Or, The Conspiracy of the Wheat Pit.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Submarine Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By VICTOR G. DURHAM</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Submarine Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; Or, "Making Good" as Young Experts.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or, The Prize Detail at Annapolis.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or, Dodging the Sharks of the Deep.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or, The Young Kings of the Deep.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey Customs Frauds.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Square Dollar Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Square Dollar Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise Steal.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or, In the Lists Against the Crooked Land Deal.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The College Girls Series</h2> + +<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M.</h3> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The College Girls Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5 GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Dave Darrin Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<div class="center">1 DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; Or, Fighting With the +U. S. Navy in Mexico.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt +of only 50 cents each.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Pony Rider Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3> + + +<div class='center'>These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The +Secret of the Lost Claim.—2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS +IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains.—3 +THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of +the Old Custer Trail.—4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN +THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain.—5 +THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a +Key to the Desert Maze.—6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN +NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of the Silver Trail.—7 +THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The +Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch.</div> + + + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Boys of Steel Series</h2> + +<h3>By JAMES R. MEARS</h3> + + +<div class='center'>Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is +full of adventure and fascination.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the +Bottom of the Shaft.—2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; +Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.—3 THE IRON +BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the +Great Lakes.—4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; +Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits.</div> + + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Madge Morton Books</h2> + +<h3>By AMY D. V. CHALMERS</h3> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Madge Morton Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 MADGE MORTON—CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>West Point Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<div class='center'>The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans +whose doings will inspire all boy readers.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="West Point Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet Gray.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag and Honor.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Annapolis Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<div class='center'>The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in +these volumes.<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Annapolis Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Young Engineers Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<p>The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys +Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of +all the traditions of Dick & Co.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Young Engineers Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer" Quicksand.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Boys in the Army Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<p>These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of +to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Boys in the Army Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United States Army.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag Against the Moros.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />(<i>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</i>) +<br /> +<br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Battleship Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3> + + +<div class='center'>These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge +drab Dreadnaughts.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Battleship Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New Ratings in European Seas.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American Flag in a Honduras Revolution.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />(<i>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</i>)<br /> +<br /> +<br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Meadow-Brook Girls Series</h2> + +<h3>By JANET ALDRIDGE</h3> + + +<div class='center'>Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Meadow-Brook Girls Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>High School Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<div class='center'>In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck.<br /> +<br /> +Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating +volumes.</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="High School Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Grammar School Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<div class='center'>This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school +boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Grammar School Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start Things Moving.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>High School Boys' Vacation Series</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + + +<p>"Give us more Dick Prescott books!"</p> + +<p>This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country +over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers, +making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and +the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in +the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these +splendid narratives.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="High School Boys' Vacation Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on Lake Pleasant.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six Training for the Gridley Eleven.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. in the Wilderness.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & Co. Making Themselves "Hard as Nails."</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Circus Boys Series</h2> + +<h3>By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON</h3> + + +<div class='center'>Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely +interesting and exciting life.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The Circus Boys Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the Sawdust Life.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>The High School Girls Series</h2> + +<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</h3> + + +<div class='center'>These breezy stones of the American High School Girl take the reader +fairly by storm.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="The High School Girls Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the Ways.</td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Automobile Girls Series</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA DENT CRANE</h3> + + +<p>No girl's library—no family book-case can be considered at all complete +unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching +the Summer Parade.—2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE +BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's Trail.—3 +THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, +Fighting Fire in Sleepy Hollow.—4 THE AUTOMOBILE +GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy +Odds.—5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, +Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies.—6 THE +AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; Or, Checkmating +the Plots of Foreign Spies.</div> + + + +<div class='center'><br />Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c.</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>Both "someone" and "some one" were used in this text. This was retained.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grammar School Boys Snowbound, by +H. 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Irving Hancock + +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: The Grammar School Boys Snowbound + or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: March 10, 2007 [EBook #20789] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +The Grammar School Boys Snowbound + +OR + +Dick & Co. at Winter Sports + +By + +H. IRVING HANCOCK + +Author of The Grammar School Boys of Gridley, The Grammar School +Boys in the Woods, The High School Boys' Series, The West Point + Series, The Annapolis Series, The Boys of the Army + Series, The Motor Boat Club Series, Etc., Etc. + +Illustrated + +PHILADELPHIA + +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS + +[Illustration: "It's Fits--Mr. Fits Himself!"] + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. REALLY A GREAT PLAN, BUT---- 7 + + II. DICK AND CO. FIND CAUSE FOR GLEE 25 + + III. THE CAMPAIGN TO COAX PARENTS 38 + + IV. "REMEMBERED"--BY MR. FITS? 52 + + V. DICK TRIES STRATEGY 62 + + VI. THE LOG CABIN'S TELLTALE HEARTH 68 + + VII. THE PROWLER OF THE NIGHT 79 + + VIII. WORMING THE TRUTH FROM A WHINER 88 + + IX. THE INTRUDER WHO TRIED TO BE BOSS 100 + + X. IN THE GRIP OF THE BIG BLIZZARD 107 + + XI. SIX BOYS AND ANOTHER IN COLD STORAGE 120 + + XII. BLIZZARD TOIL AND A MYSTERY 129 + + XIII. A VISITOR BY THE AIR ROUTE 140 + + XIV. THE MYSTERIOUS NOISES OF THE NIGHT 150 + + XV. DICK STRIKES A REAL FIND 155 + + XVI. KEEN ON THE TRAIL OF THE PUZZLE 165 + + XVII. HEN TURNS HIS VOICE LOOSE 175 + + XVIII. YOUNG MR. COME-BACK & CO. 186 + + XIX. NOT A LOVE FEAST 196 + + XX. THE COOK SHACK DISASTER 203 + + XXI. ON THE TRAIL BACKWARD 215 + + XXII. HEN DUTCHER IS MODEST 226 + + XXIII. THIS TIME IS AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER 236 + + XXIV. CONCLUSION 244 + + + + +The Grammar School Boys Snowbound + + + + +CHAPTER I + +REALLY A GREAT PLAN, BUT---- + + +As Hen Dutcher came up to a group of boys on the ice, and slowed down +his speed, he stuck the point of his right skate in the ice to bring +himself to a full stop. + +"Huh! You fellows think you're some smart on fancy skating, don't you?" +he demanded rather scornfully. + +"No," replied Dave Darrin shortly. + +"You been showing off a lot, then." + +"Hen," grimaced Dave, "I'm afraid you're going to miss your calling in +life." + +"Didn't know I had any," grunted Hen. + +"Yes, you have; one of your own choosing, too." + +"What is it?" asked Hen curiously. + +"You're a walking anvil chorus." + +"An anvil chorus?" repeated Hen Dutcher, the puzzled expression +deepening in his face. + +"Yes; wherever you go the fellows are sure to hear the sounds of +'hammering' and 'knocking.'" + +A score of boys grinned, a dozen laughed outright. But Hen wasn't bright +enough to see the point. + +"What's an anvil got to do with it all?" demanded Hen in a puzzled tone. +"An anvil belongs in a blacksmith shop." + +"And that's where you ought to go, to do all your 'hammering' and +'knocking,'" explained Dave, as he skated slowly away. + +"Huh! You think you're smart!" growled Hen, who still couldn't see why +the other fellows had laughed. + +"Hen," remarked Dick Prescott, "I'm afraid you're not up to concert +pitch." + +"Concert pitch?" repeated the dense one. "No, I know I'm not. Did I ever +make any claim to being musical?" + +"You see," hinted Greg Holmes, "the trouble with the Dutcher kid is that +he's all ivory, from his collar-button up." + +Another laugh greeted this assertion, but Hen only glared stupidly. + +"Ivory is all white, anyway," Hen muttered. "So am I." + +He swelled out his chest, did one or two fancy little things on skates, +and tried to look important. But none of the other fellows in the group +on the ice seemed inclined to take young Dutcher at his own valuation. + +Hen Dutcher was a peculiar chap, at any rate. His worst fault, +probably--but one that led to other faults--was his egotism. He was +always thinking about himself and his own puny little interests. For the +life of him, Hen couldn't understand why he wasn't popular with other +fellows. He sometimes realized that he wasn't, but charged the fact up +to the other fellows being "too stuck on themselves, or on those +'boobs,' Dick Prescott and Dave Darrin." + +"Let's run Hen ashore and rub his face in the snow!" proposed one boy +gleefully. + +"You dassent!" flared up Hen. But half a dozen boys uttered a whoop and +skated toward him. Hen wobbled on his skates an instant, then turned, +intent on escape. + +"Oh, say, fellows," called Dick, "don't be all the time picking on poor +old Hen." + +"We'll just wash his face," shouted back one of the pursuers. + +Hen knew they meant it, and he was traveling down the ice, now, under +full steam. + +"Come on, fellows," called Dick, to Greg and to Tom Reade. "We don't +want to see Hen abused." + +"Why does he get so fresh, then?" demanded Greg, but he started, as did +Tom. Dick & Co. were all fleet skaters. They surged to the front of the +pursuers, who took it for granted that Dick and his friends were going +to aid them, and therefore set up a shout of joy. + +Hen Dutcher was traveling with so much effort that he panted hard as he +skated. + +"Get him, Dick!" sang out Ben Alvord, as Prescott shot ahead of the +others. + +Hen, looking back, saw Dick gaining on him swiftly, while Greg and Tom +were just behind. + +"They're mean as all-git-out!" sputtered panting Hen. "Why can't they +let a fellow alone? Don't they think I've got as much right to talk as +the rest of 'em? Well, I'll show 'em that I have!" + +At this moment Dick overtook the fugitive, linking arms with him. + +"You let me alone!" snarled Hen. "You're meaner'n poison!" + +"Am I?" smiled Dick. "See here, Hen, face about and don't let the +fellows bluff you out of a week's growth. Just turn on them. They won't +do anything to you." + +"If they try it on, I'll fix 'em, no matter what desperate thing I have +to do to get square," snarled Hen. + +"Oh, cut out all the war talk," Dick advised him gently. "Now, wheel +about." + +"You lemme alone! I know where I'm going," snapped Hen, making a big +effort to break loose from Dick's hold. The effort proved a disastrous +one, for Hen tripped himself, slid along for a few feet and then sat +down with a jarring bump on the ice. Dick Prescott all but shared the +same fate. + +"Now, we've got him!" chuckled Ben Alvord, racing in and reaching out +for the luckless Dutcher. + +The unexpected happened. Hen swung around, as on a pivot, extending a +foot in such a way as to trip Ben and send him down on his own face. + +In the gasp of astonishment that followed Hen got upon his feet, gave a +swift push with his left skate and was away. + +"After him, fellows!" roared Toby Ross. "We'll hold him and let Ben do +the face-washing." + +Dick, Tom and Greg had shot past the scene. Now they circled and came +back, their faces aglow with the fast sport and the keen air. + +Hen tried to make for the shore, but got in where the surface of the ice +was rough and choppy. Ned Allen and Toby reached out to grasp Hen as +they neared him. Young Dutcher made a switching-away movement, and the +next instant he had fallen flat on his face. He let out a howl. + +"We've got him!" declared Toby, as he and Allen pounced on the prostrate +one. + +"Yes, but let him alone, fellows," urged Dick, reaching the scene and +halting. "Hen may have his faults, but it's time we chose another fellow +to pick on for a while." + +"We're going to wash his face," insisted Ben Alvord, skating up and +looking belligerent. "Don't you interfere, Dick Prescott!" + +Hen, making no effort to do more than sit up, was blubbering softly. + +"Lemme alone, fellows," he pleaded. "Can't you see I'm hurt?" + +Hen had his right mitten off, and was gingerly applying that hand to the +narrow stretch of upper lip. There was blood there. Hen, catching only +an imperfect view as he gazed down past the end of his nose, was sure +that he had been badly injured by his fall. + +Some of the other boys set up a yell of laughter. + +"Why, you big baby!" blurted Toby. "You've only scratched your lip on +the ice." + +"A handful of snow will heal it!" asserted Ben Alvord. "Come, get up, +bone-head! Come on to your dousing." + +"You lemme alone, I tell you!" screamed Dutcher, blubbering. "I've got +to go home and get myself attended to." + +"Come on, booby!" jeered Alvord, forcing a hand under one of Hen's +shoulders and trying to lift him. + +"Lemme alone. Can't you see I'm badly hurt?" + +"Let Hen alone," broke in Dick quietly. + +"He's got to come ashore and have his face washed in the snow," insisted +Alvord. "Come, fellows, help me take him there." + +"You'd better step back and let him alone, Ben!" spoke Dick, more +quietly than before, but there was a sound of command in his voice as he +moved over between Hen and Alvord. + +"Get out of the way," growled Ben. "This ivory-top has got to have his +face washed in the snow." + +"And I say you're not going to do it," warned Dick. + +"He's too fresh, Hen is." + +"No committee of citizens has asked you to reform any one, Ben," Dick +went on good-humoredly. "You've got a few faults of your own that you +might remedy, and I guess we all have." + +"Come on, fellows, and rush Dutcher," called Ben Alvord. Ross, Allen and +others moved as though to help, but Dick was flanked by Tom and Greg. In +the distance Dave Darrin could be seen skating back. + +"All right, if you fellows insist on it," partly agreed Dick. "But if +trouble starts Hen is going to have some backing on his side, too." + +"I guess that's right," nodded Tom Reade. + +"Now, who's fresh?" challenged Ben Alvord hotly. "You, Dick Prescott." + +"Well, if I am," sighed Dick, "I'm ready to take my punishment for it. +At all events, I'll look after myself." + +"Yah, you will!" growled Ben angrily. "I notice that, just as soon as +anything starts, your gang always jump in on the scene!" + +"Dick will fight you, all alone, I know, Ben, if you want him to," +proposed Dave Darrin, coming slowly into the circle. "But perhaps you +don't want to fight Dick. You tried it once before, and got most +beautifully pounded." + +"Yah!" snarled Ben. + +"Well, didn't you?" demanded Dave. + +"Yah!" sneered Ben. "See here, Darrin, Prescott may be fresh, but he +ain't as bad as you are!" + +"So it's I you want to fight with, is it?" laughed Dave. "Come right on +to the shore, then, and don't try any bluffing." + +But Ben Alvord didn't care about putting up his guard before either of +these spirited youngsters of the Central Grammar School. After +sputtering a little Ben skated away by himself. Hen got up, after +dabbing his upper lip with his handkerchief and finding that the scratch +amounted to nothing. No further effort was made to molest Hen. + +"Now, when you talk, say something pleasant. Don't talk so disagreeably +all the time," advised Prescott in a low tone. "At least, not unless +you're really hunting trouble." + +"This is the meanest crowd I ever saw," declared Hen Dutcher stiffly. +"And you started it all, Dave Darrin, by nicknaming me 'Anvil Chorus!'" + +"You're at it again, Hen," sighed Dick. "Why can't you stop saying +disagreeable things?" + +Toby Ross, who had skated close enough to hear this last, now skated +away again to join a crowd of boys a little way off. Toby spoke to them +laughingly. Then, over the ice, came a mocking chorus: + +"Oh, you Anvil!" + +"There, you see," muttered Dutcher angrily, "you've gone and fastened +the nickname on me!" + +"Anvil! Anvil!" yelled other tormentors. + +"You're all of you about the meanest crowd of fellows I ever saw," +grunted Hen, as he started slowly to skate away. + +"And that's all the thanks you get, Dick, for trying to use him a bit +decently," jeered Greg Holmes. + +"Oh, well, I'm sorry for the fellow," muttered Prescott. "Hen is one of +those fellows who are never popular with any crowd and can never +understand why." + +Harry Hazelton and Dan Dalzell now skated up from town and joined their +chums. Dick & Co. were at last united. + +"Let's try a two-mile swift skate up river, fellows," urged Dick. +"Ready? Go!" + +Away went the six, moving along over the ice like young human +whirlwinds. Dick & Co. were known to be the best skaters of all the +Grammar School boys in town. + +Dick & Co. will need no introduction to the readers of the first volume +in this series, entitled "THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY." Our +readers have met all six of the young men, namely, Dick Prescott, Dave +Darrin, Greg Holmes, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton. It would +be hard to find six manlier boys of thirteen--now all of them close to +their fourteenth birthdays. + +Readers of the previous volume know on what grounds it can be claimed +that these six were real leaders of the little Grammar School world of +Gridley. Dick & Co. were ardent lovers of all forms of outdoor sports. +All were keen for baseball. As runners these six youngsters were just +beginning to develop as a result of self-training. The September before +Dick Prescott had organized, at the Central Grammar School, a football +squad. Things were moving well in this line until delegations came over +from the North and South Grammars, to see about organizing a Grammar +School football league. The delegates from the two other schools, +however, displayed lack of harmony, and the football idea fell through. + +Now, however, winter was on in earnest, and Dick & Co. were in their +element, for, of all sports, they loved those that went with winter. All +six were fearless coasters; no hill was too steep, too long or too +dangerous. On the ice Dick & Co. felt all the bounding pulse of life. + +This day was the twenty-fourth of December. School had closed in order +to give the Gridley youngsters a free hand on the last day before +Christmas. + +The river had been frozen in fine condition for more than a week. Not +more than four inches of snow had fallen, but all the boys knew that the +season gave promise of more snow ere long. + +As Dick & Co. skated along the number of other skaters became fewer. At +last they reached a part of the river where they had the ice all to +themselves. + +"There's Payson's orchard, Greg," sang out Dave Darrin. "The place where +you got grabbed last fall, by Dexter and Driggs, and carried off to be +shut up in that cave." + +"Say, we ought to hunt up that cave, fellows," called Greg. "Whee! It +might make a bully place for a winter camp. Now, that we've got the two +weeks and more of holiday vacation, wouldn't it be fine to slip off and +camp a few days in that cave?" + +"Nothing doing," retorted Tom Reade. + +"Why not?" Dan asked. + +"You remember that I went off, yesterday after school, on a sleigh ride +with Jim Foley?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, we went by that cave," Tom continued. "Nothing would do but that +we stop. Jim had a lantern on the sleigh. We lit the lantern and got +into the cave. Whew! We nearly got drowned. I meant to tell you fellows +about it, but forgot it." + +"How did you come near getting drowned in a cave?" Greg demanded. + +"Why, the outlandish place isn't weather-tight," responded Tom. "You +know, the flooring slopes slightly upward from the entrance. There are a +lot of cracks that rain and snow-water leak through. It was all little +rivulets inside the place. Camp? Huh! It'd make a better extra +reservoir for the town water-works, that place would!" + +"Too bad!" muttered Greg. "I have had a notion that it would be huge fun +to camp out in such a place." + +"I've got another idea about that," spoke up Dan. + +"Fire away!" begged Reade. + +"A cousin of mine who visited me last summer told me about the kind of +camp he and some of his chums had. It was a sort of manufactured cave. +The fellows dug an oblong hole in the ground. Just like a cellar in +shape, you know. It was eight feet wide and twelve feet long. When they +had it all dug out the fellows laid boards over the hole for a roof. +Then they piled dirt back on top of the boards, and on top of the dirt +they laid the sods that they first dug up. At a corner in one end the +fellows left a square hole in the roof, to use for an entrance. For a +door they made a square board cover to fit over the entrance hole. At +the upper end of the cave they dug into the dirt wall and made a stove. +They dug another hole down from above to connect with it, and that made +a dandy stove and chimney. My cousin and his chums used to do a lot of +cooking there. Then they laid down more old boards to make a floor, and +boarded most of the wall space, too. Last of all, they took up an old +table and old chairs, and they had just a dandy camp! Say, fellows, why +couldn't we have a camp like that?" + +"It would do all right for springtime," declared Tom Reade, "but we +couldn't work it in winter." + +"Why not?" challenged Dan. + +"Not unless, Danny, you want to be the strong man who's going to dig +down into the ground through two or three feet of frost." + +Dan looked a bit crestfallen. + +"Besides," declared Dick thoughtfully, "every time there was a thaw or a +big rain the cave you're talking about making would be nothing but a big +cistern, half-full of water. But we could dig and fit up such a cave +somewhere in the woods in springtime, fellows." + +"Only we don't have much vacation in the spring," broke in Greg +disappointedly, "and it certainly would be grand to go into camp right +after Christmas Day, if we could be warm enough and have enough to eat." + +"It would be great sport," nodded Dick. + +"Then let's do it," glowed Greg. + +"I suppose you have the camping place all picked out, and permission to +use it," smiled Prescott. + +"Well, no," admitted Greg. "But why can't we fix up some sort of +place?" + +"How?" Dave Darrin wanted to know. "If we try going into camp at this +time of the year we want, first of all, some place above ground, with +enough daylight and sunlight. We want a weather-tight place that we can +keep properly warm." + +"All of that," agreed Dick. + +"Why can't we build a place, out in the woods somewhere?" Greg insisted. + +"For one thing," objected Tom Reade quizzically, "there are no leaves at +this time of the year." + +"What do we want leaves for?" queried Greg. + +"To lay on the roof, like shingles." + +"Bosh!" snapped Holmes. "We'd build our camp of wood." + +"Well, where'll we get the wood?" came from Dave. + +"We can carry it from home," proposed Greg. + +"No lumber pile in our yard. Is there in yours?" Dave insisted. + +"We can use the boards from old boxes and things," went on Greg +desperately. + +"Oh, excuse me!" mimicked Tom Reade. "I am not camping out in any +grocery boxes at this cold time of the year." + +"You might go home nights, then," hinted Greg disdainfully. + +"The whole camping idea is a great one, if we could only put it +through," declared Dick. + +"Then let's put it through," pressed Greg Holmes. "Where there's a will +there's a way, you know." + +"The trouble is that we need a pocketbook more than a will," returned +Prescott doubtfully. "It would take lumber to build a winter camp, even +if we could prove ourselves good enough carpenters." + +"How much money would it take?" + +"Well, I don't believe a hundred dollars would go far," declared Reade. + +"Make it a thousand, then," laughed Darrin. "We fellows couldn't raise +either sum in a year." + +"It's too bad," sighed Harry Hazelton. "A good camp, at this time of the +year, would be huge fun!" + +"Yes; it would," agreed Dick. "I don't see the way now, but we may find +it. We can keep on hoping." + +"Hey, you boobs!" called a disagreeable voice across the ice. + +All of the six Grammar School boys slowed down and turned around. They +found themselves looking at a solitary skater who had slowed down. He +was Fred Ripley, son of Lawyer Ripley, one of the wealthy men of the +town. Fred was never over polite to those whom he considered as his +"inferiors." Besides, young Ripley was now in his freshman year at the +Gridley High School. As such, he naturally looked down on mere Grammar +School boys, none of whom, perhaps, would ever reach the dignity of +"attending High." + +"What do you want, Ripley?" called Dick. "Planning to give us a lesson +in the art of polite speech?" + +"Cut the funny talk," grumbled Fred. "Prescott, did you get a letter +from my guv'nor this morning?" + +"Why, no; I didn't know your father was in the habit of writing me +letters. Anyway, I left home before the mail carrier was due." + +"Guv'nor said that was likely to happen," continued Fred. "So he told +me, if I saw you fellows on the ice, to say that he wanted to see you." + +"All of us?" Dave wanted to know. + +"I reckon so. And the guv'nor said it was important, too. You boobs had +better crank up your skates and make fast time. Guv'nor won't be at his +office late to-day." + +"What----" began Dick. + +"The guv'nor gave me a message to you fellows, and I've delivered it," +cut in Fred airily, as he started to skate away. "That's all I've got +to do in the matter. I don't care to stand here all day. Somebody that +knew me might come along and catch me talking with you." + +"The snob!" muttered Dave indignantly. + +"What on earth can the lawyer want of us?" pondered Greg. + +"Generally, when a lawyer sends for you, it means trouble," guessed +Dalzell. + +"Or else some relative has died and left you a lot of money," added +Harry Hazelton. + +"Well, in any case," replied Dick, "we six fellows haven't the same +relative, anywhere, and Fred said his father wanted to see all of us." + +"We haven't been doing anything--nothing wrong, anyway," declared Dan +virtuously. + +"We won't know the answer until we've seen Mr. Ripley," declared Dick. +"We'll have to go around there after dinner to-day." + +"Why not go now?" proposed Tom Reade. "We haven't anything special to do +with our time." + +"You fellows haven't much imagination, have you?" laughed Dave, his eyes +twinkling mysteriously. + +"Have you guessed?" demanded Dick Prescott. + +"Well, it's only a guess, of course, and it may be a wild one." + +"Out with it!" ordered Tom Reade sharply. + +"You know, fellows," Dave continued, "that we did some service for Mrs. +Dexter last fall, and that she tried to reward us. Now that she's gone +away to parts unknown, perhaps you also know that Lawyer Ripley is +managing her money affairs these days." + +"Then----" gasped Greg. + +"Why, fellows, now that Mrs. Dexter is away, and we can't stop her, and +as to-morrow will be Christmas, why, perhaps----" + +Not one single member of Dick & Co. was at all lacking in imagination +now! + +"Why, do you think----" + +"I wonder if----" + +"Fellows," hinted Dick Prescott dryly, and in a tone that hid the +excitement going on within him, "it won't take us long to skate back to +Gridley!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +DICK & CO. FIND CAUSE FOR GLEE + + +Lawyer Ripley was one of the important men of the little city of +Gridley. His law practice, which he did not now follow on account of the +need of an income, put him in touch with all the wealthier people of the +place. + +In manner the lawyer was rather severe and austere. He was a good deal +of an aristocrat. While he did not seek to repel people, he had little +of the knack of drawing people to him in democratic fashion. + +"Come in!" he called, in answer to the knock that Dick gave on the door. + +As the boys entered they saw the lawyer pausing beside his coat rack. + +"I am afraid we have gotten along a little too late, sir," apologized +Dick Prescott. + +"I can spare you two or three minutes," said the lawyer, turning and +going back to his desk. + +"Your son said you wished to see us," Prescott continued. + +"Yes," said the lawyer, pulling a drawer in his desk open and glancing +inside. "Late yesterday afternoon I received a letter from my client, +Mrs. Dexter, who directed me to hand you each a new ten-dollar bill, +with her best wishes for a Merry Christmas added." + +"I am afraid that Mrs. Dexter intends that as a reward for what we were +able to do for her last fall," cried Dick, flushing. "We tried to tell +her, at the time, that we didn't want any reward and that we wouldn't +feel comfortable in taking one." + +"Nothing was said in Mrs. Dexter's letter about a reward," replied the +lawyer dryly. "She directed me to hand you the banknotes in place of +Christmas cards. I suppose you young gentlemen have no objection to +receiving Christmas cards?" + +Lawyer Ripley took out several banknotes. One of these he now held out +to Prescott. + +Dick flushed again, looked embarrassed, then reached out his hand slowly +and took the money. + +"Will you send Mrs. Dexter our thanks, sir, and tell her that we enjoyed +the cards very much?" + +"Especially the pictures on them," added Dan Dalzell, as he received his +banknote. + +"I will send all your messages," nodded the lawyer, as he continued the +distribution. + +"Say--whoop!" suddenly exploded Greg Holmes. + +"What's the matter--yours counterfeit?" laughed Dan. + +"Say, fellows," Greg went on, "we were wishing we had the funds to build +some sort of a camp. We can do it, now, can't we?" + +"What kind of camp?" inquired Lawyer Ripley, looking mildly interested. +"And for what would you use a camp?" + +"Why, for camping, I suppose," confessed Greg. + +"You wouldn't live in a tent, at this time of the year, would you?" + +"If we had to," assented young Holmes. "What we were talking about was +building some kind of a shack in the woods somewhere." + +"Rather a bad time of the year for building operations," smiled Lawyer +Ripley dryly. + +"But this wouldn't be so very much of an operation, sir," urged Greg. +"Now that we've sixty dollars between us, we ought to be able to buy +enough lumber to put up quite a shanty." + +"Yes; and probably have enough money left to pay for the teaming of the +lumber a few miles," agreed the man of law. "But there wouldn't be +enough to pay the carpenters." + +"We might be able to build a small shack ourselves," proposed Tom Reade. + +"Why, so you might," admitted the lawyer, half smiling. "However, any +task that is worth doing is much better done by one used to that kind of +work. When do you want to go camping?" + +"Why, right after to-morrow, Christmas," replied Dick. "We could stay in +the woods, if our parents let us go, until about the end of the present +vacation." + +"It would take you at least that length of time to build the shack, I +should think," suggested the lawyer. "Until you had it built you might +have to wrap up in the snow at night for your sleep. And, then, when you +had it all built, you would discover that the shack didn't belong to +you, but to the owner of the land on which you built it. He could order +you away from the shack if he were so disposed." + +"I hadn't thought of that," admitted Greg, looking crestfallen. + +"I'm afraid we won't camp," spoke up Harry Hazelton. + +"The greatest difficulty," suggested the lawyer, "would be getting the +consent of your parents to any such madcap scheme as going off into the +woods to camp, day after day, in mid-winter." + +"There might be some difficulty about that, sir," replied Prescott. "But +now it looks as though the one really big problem would be to get a camp +on the money that we now have, and to be ready to go into it in season +during this school vacation." + +"That would really be but a very slight difficulty," rejoined the +lawyer. + +"I wish I could see how you make that out, sir." + +"Why, as it happens, in the property that Mrs. Dexter's grandfather left +her there's the strip called Hobson's woods, you know. The forest is a +pretty big affair. In fact, it's what's generally called wild country. +But there are a thousand acres of the woods, worth about four dollars +an acre, that now belong to Mrs. Dexter. She authorized me to find a +buyer for that bit of the forest, but it seems to be out of the +question. Now, on Mrs. Dexter's land, in about the middle of it, and +less than two hundred feet off the main trail, is one of the few real +old log cabins left in this part of the United States. The cabin is in +pretty good repair, too, I fancy, for Mrs. Dexter's grandfather used to +do logging out that way. Later in his life, when he had amassed money, +the old gentleman used to go out to that cabin to live for a while, two +or three times in every year. The place was in excellent repair when he +died. It is still, I imagine." + +There was a breathless silence as the lawyer ceased speaking. How the +thought of that log cabin, out in the deep forest, appealed to the +imaginations of such Grammar School boys as these! + +"Well, sir?" asked Greg breathlessly, at last. + +"Young men, if your parents should consent to your going on such a wild, +madcap picnic in mid-winter, I would let you have the use of that cabin. +But you may have the use of the cabin at any other time, as long as the +cabin remains in Mrs. Dexter's name, so I would suggest your going in +the spring or summer." + +"Oh, pshaw!" leaped to Greg Holmes's lips, but he choked back the +exclamation. What use would boys have for a log cabin in summer, when +there was a chance to use it in mid-winter? Besides, the summer seemed a +long way off. + +"Is there any water near the cabin, Mr. Ripley?" asked Tom Reade, who +possessed a practical head in such matters. + +"Yes; a spring, within perhaps twenty or thirty feet of the doorway," +nodded the lawyer. "Inside the cabin is one of the big, old-fashioned +fire-places----" + +"O-o-oh! A-a-ah!" gasped the youngsters in chorus. + +"There are also eight bunks in the place, each with a straw or dry-leaf +mattress," continued Mr. Ripley. "There are table and chairs, hand made +and of the crudest kind, and some few tools." + +"Say, wouldn't that make an ideal camp?" demanded Dick Prescott, turning +to his chums, his eyes glowing. + +All their faces were flushed with the excitement of the thing. Now that +it was so close, and practical, all the boys of Dick & Co. felt a wild +desire to be up and away for camp at once. + +"And you say we may have the cabin, sir, and the right to cut some +firewood in the forest?" Dick asked. + +"I said you could, if you had your parents' full and free permission to +go," replied Lawyer Ripley. "That, I fancy, is a very different thing." + +"But if we get that permission, sir," urged Dick, "and come back and +tell you so, then you will let us----" + +"If you get home permission, you won't need to come back to me at all," +replied Lawyer Ripley, smiling, as he rose. "Just go and help yourselves +to the cabin and what few improvements it contains. But I am afraid, +boys, you are going to be very much disappointed if you expect that your +parents will consent. I think it very unlikely that you'll get any such +permission. I will send your thanks to Mrs. Dexter, and will also tell +her what I have told you about the use of the camp. As to-morrow will be +Christmas, I shall not be back here to-day. If you go camping, +boys--which I don't believe you will--don't burn the old cabin down +unless you find it necessary in order to keep warm enough." + +As Lawyer Ripley now made it plain that he was about to leave, the boys +hastily repeated their thanks and left the office. + +Not until they got down into the street did any of them feel like +speaking. + +"Say, fellows, if that isn't the grandest----" suddenly blazed forth +Greg. + +"It's all right," nodded Tom. + +"I'm going camping, if I can get any of you fellows to go with me," +announced Dave Darrin. + +"If your folks will let you, you mean," interrupted Hazelton. + +"They will," Dave contended. "And so will yours, Dick." + +"I--I hope so," sighed Dick, his eyes dancing. "I never before in my +life wanted to do anything as much as I now want to go camping." + +"With the still woods, all snow-covered!" cried Dan enthusiastically. + +"And the cold nights, with the great fire roaring up the chimney!" +supplied Greg. + +"And some hunting!" + +"And the jolly fun of cooking our own food!" + +These youngsters, as they hurried along the street, were in grave danger +of being lost in the depths of their own excitement. + +"Say, I wonder if there'd be any fishing out there--through the ice?" +demanded Harry Hazelton. + +"There'd be some rabbit hunting, anyway," supplied Dan. + +"If we can only get leave to go!" groaned Greg anxiously. + +"See here, fellows," muttered Dick, halting suddenly. "We've simply got +to get that leave from our parents!" + +"But how?" challenged Dan. + +"That's what we've got to think out right now. And, by hookey! I believe +I have an idea. Fellows, we have ten dollars apiece." + +"My mother will say that I must put that in bank," grunted Dan. + +"Wait! Of course, with ten dollars apiece, we've got to consult our +parents as to how the money is to be spent," Dick went on. "Now, that is +a matter that will call for a little diplomacy. Some of what our +principal, Old Dut, calls 'finish'--no, '_finesse_.'" + +"What's that?" Dan wanted to know. + +"Oh, it's a Latin or a Greek word, or something of the sort, meaning to +put a fine edge on a piece of business," Dick explained tranquilly. +"What I mean is this, fellows: Each one of us will go home and show the +money to his father--his father only. Then each one of us will ask +permission to spend five dollars of the money on a present for his +mother, to be given to her to-morrow morning as a surprise. Then we'll +ask our dads for leave to use the other five dollars towards +provisioning our camp. Fellows, if you go about it the right way, I'm +sure you can each get leave for the camping expedition! I feel just +about sure on my own account." + +"But how about our mothers?" inquired Dan dubiously. + +"Don't you think the present will smooth the way with the mothers?" +laughed Dave Darrin. + +"It ought to," smiled Tom Reade. + +"Don't you think we could get our mothers something pretty nice with two +dollars apiece?" asked Harry Hazelton speculatively. + +"I couldn't get anything nice enough for my mother with two dollars, +when I have more money," Dick replied promptly. + +Hazelton's money-saving plan was promptly voted down. + +"So now," proposed Dick, "all we have to do is to hurry home and hustle! +Beat your way to it, fellows!" + +"Hurrah!" Greg gasped. + +Hurrying along Main Street, through the crowds of Christmas shoppers, +the Grammar School boys were on the point of parting, to go their +several ways homeward, when they came upon a scene that halted them. + +More than two dozen people, mostly women, had gathered around a +shabby-looking man who was clutching wildly at a lamp post, and yet +seemed in momentary danger of falling. His lips were thickly covered +with foam, his eyes glaring, and the fellow was talking wildly, in low +tones, as though to himself. + +"Come away and leave him. He's intoxicated," announced one woman +shrilly. + +"He's not intoxicated," responded another matron indignantly. "There is +no odor of liquor about the poor man. And drunken men don't froth at the +mouth. This poor fellow is ill--very ill. It must be a fit--maybe +epilepsy. Some of you women who have a little more brains and heart than +others help me to take this poor fellow to the drug store." + +There were willing hands enough, now, among the women. Three or four +tried to take hold of the sufferer at once. That victim of an unknown +malady clutched and gripped at the good Samaritans as they tried to +steer him along the street toward the drug store. To hold him up was all +four women could do together, so progress along the street was slow +indeed. + +"Here comes Dr. Bentley in his auto. Stop him, some one!" + +The doctor quickly ran his car in toward the curb and leaped out. A fine +man and a busy physician, Dr. Bentley was never too much occupied to +stop and help an unfortunate man. + +Dr. Bentley's big frame and broad shoulders loomed up in the crowd. + +"Let me have the man on one side," urged the doctor. "One of you ladies +might help hold him on the other side." + +"What's the matter with the man, doctor?" cried several. + +"Really, ladies, I can't tell until I've had a chance to examine the +man. It may be a fit of some sort. I think likely it is. But we will get +him to the drug store first, and into the back room. Then I can examine +the poor chap comfortably." + +Though seemingly "out of his head," the sufferer succeeded in throwing +his arms about a great deal. + +Then, suddenly, Dick, who had been following and watching with wide-open +eyes, called out lustily: + +"Dr. Bentley, your overcoat is open, your chain is hanging with no watch +on it, and your scarf pin is gone!" + +That announcement electrified the situation. Dr. Bentley glanced down +swiftly, then threw one hand up to his necktie. + +"My purse is gone from my chatelaine!" cried one of the women who had +been helping. + +"My purse is gone, too!" + +It was amazing to see how quickly the sufferer from the fit galvanized +into action. He straightened up suddenly, gave himself a violent wrench +and shook himself free of those who had sought to aid him. + +With a bound the fellow was off and away. As he sprang he spat from his +mouth the piece of soap that had supplied the foam to his lips. + +"Catch him, fellows!" yelled Dick. + +But only Tom and young Prescott were near enough to the path of flight. +Tom Reade leaped valiantly in, but was shoved off and sent spinning by +one of the burly fists of the rough. + +It was up to Dick to make the catch. + +Dick had his skates, strapped together, swinging from his right wrist. +He swung the skates back to strike at the fugitive. Ere he could do it +the man drove a big, hammer-like fist straight between Dick Prescott's +eyes in a way that sent that boy down like a log. + +The impact of that blow was heard by all. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CAMPAIGN TO COAX PARENTS + + +In another moment the fleeing one had darted around the corner. + +Five members of Dick & Co., angry all the way through, were the first to +reach that corner. + +"There he goes, down the alley-way to the livery stable!" roared Dave +Darrin. "After him, fellows!" + +But by the time that the five reached the stable yard the fugitive was +out of sight. Men hurried up, and a quick search was made of the +neighborhood. It was soon certain, however, that the fellow had made +good use of his time and had gotten away. Two policemen who were among +the latest arrivals on the scene gave it as their opinion that further +chase would be worse than useless. + +So Dick's chums turned back, to see how their leader had fared. + +Dr. Bentley was leaning over the boy, who, white and lifeless, lay at +the edge of the sidewalk. + +"Take him to the drug store, doctor," urged one of the women. + +"He'll revive quicker in the open air, madam," answered the physician. + +"Is young Prescott very badly hurt?" + +"I can't tell yet," said Dr. Bentley. "There doesn't seem to be any +fracture of the bone at the point where he was struck. And the back of +his head seems to be sound and whole. I think Master Dick is simply +stunned." + +Dr. Bentley stepped over to his auto, took out a drug case and selected +a vial from it. + +"Get me a glass of water, someone, and promptly," he directed. + +The water was quickly brought. After pouring a few drops from the vial +into it, the medical man supported Dick's head and poured some of the +stuff into his mouth. + +After a short time Dick opened his eyes. + +"Wh-what kicked me?" he asked slowly. + +"The fist of that gentleman with soap-made fits," replied the physician +dryly. "Take a few deep breaths, Prescott. Now, a little more from the +glass. Breathe hard again. There, do you feel as though you'd like to +get on your feet?" + +"Certainly," Dick replied. + +Dr. Bentley helped him to his feet, supporting him and urging him to try +to walk a little. At about this time Dave and the others returned at a +trot. + +"Dick, I guess you saved some of us from losing more in the way of +valuables," smiled the medical man grimly. "For one, I'm ashamed of +myself. A man who has been practising medicine more than twenty years +should know too much to be taken in by sham fits on the part of a thief +who plays his trick in order to rob a crowd of Christmas shoppers." + +"You think he meant to rob us, then, doctor?" pressed a woman in the +crowd. + +"That fellow certainly did mean to do it," replied Dr. Bentley with +emphasis. "It's an old trick in a crowd--this sort of sham sickness." + +"And he got all my Christmas money--every cent of it--and carried it off +with him!" wailed one woman, who looked as though she could not afford +to lose much money. + +"He snatched my locket with the diamond in it!" vengefully exclaimed +another woman, exhibiting the broken ends of a neck chain. + +"My purse is gone. I had forty-two dollars in it." + +"I didn't get off very lightly, ladies," replied Dr. Bentley. "My scarf +pin wasn't so extremely valuable, but I feel badly about the watch, and +I shall feel worse when I realize its loss more fully. That was my +father's watch, and I valued it above money." + +"The police ought to catch that scoundrel," declared one of the women +losers. + +"Of course they ought," cried another. "If they don't catch the thief +what good are the police, anyway?" + +"I don't care much about their finding him, unless they also find my +forty-two dollars on him," mournfully proclaimed another of the losers. + +"I am sorry for you, ladies. I don't deserve any sympathy, or very +little, for myself. Well, as the scoundrel has gotten away, and as young +Prescott is growing stronger, I shall go on my way to other patients who +need me." + +Dick was still rather dizzy and weak, but Dave's right arm supported +him. + +"Does your head ache?" inquired Greg. + +"Guess," advised Dick dryly. + +As the two policemen had given up looking for the fugitive, and had gone +back to their posts, the crowd was melting. It was nearly noon, and most +people on the streets were moving homeward. + +"Guess you won't have a large appetite for the coming meal," observed +Tom Reade to Dick. "Whew! What a crack that sounded like when the +scoundrel struck you! It must have jarred away some of your appetite." + +"I can't tell about that until I try to eat," Dick answered. + +"No matter whether you eat much or not, but you want to be sure to ask +your mother for two cups of strong coffee with your dinner," advised +Darrin, with all the readiness of the amateur physician. + +"I guess I'll go home, fellows," announced Dick, as the noon whistles +blew. "I advise the rest of you to hustle, too. Remember what you've got +to spring on your fathers when you get home. We want to have the whole +thing settled when we meet this afternoon. Try to put it through, all of +you, won't you?" + +"I'm going to see you as far as your door, Dick, old fellow," Dave +insisted. + +"Oh, I'll be feeling fine in another hour," Dick protested. "It just +knocked my senses for a minute or two." + +Shortly after one o'clock the chums gathered again on Main Street. Dick +now looked as keen as ever, and his eyes were shining. + +"It's all settled for me," he announced. "I can go camping." + +"So can I," Dave reported with satisfaction. + +"Dad almost as good as said I could go," Tom declared. "He'll agree to +it by to-night." + +"How about you, Dan?" queried Dick. + +"I can go--_not_," groaned Dalzell. + +"I hope to go," announced Greg. "All I could get out of my father was +that he was in a rush, but that he'd talk it over with me to-morrow and +let me know what he had to say." + +Hazelton admitted that he was in the same plight, as to a delayed +decision, but he did not speak as though he were very hopeful of being +permitted to go. + +"It'll just be a shame if we can't all go," Dave declared seriously. "It +won't be a quarter as much fun unless we have the whole crowd." + +"Say, watch that slim, well-dressed fellow with the brown derby," +whispered Hazelton. "See him coming along behind the two women. I'm sure +I saw him, earlier this morning, talking with the same fit-thrower that +bumped Dick." + +"Humph! So did I," muttered Dick. "I remember. This slim fellow was with +a short, thick-set man with a black moustache." + +"Right!" nodded Harry. + +"They must all be members of the same gang of thieves, then," flashed +Dick. "I've read in the newspapers that the thieves who work the +Christmas trade generally go in gangs. By crackey! Did you see that?" + +"Yes!" muttered Tom Reade excitedly. + +"What?" questioned Greg. + +"Why," explained Dick, "Mr. Slim put his hand in a woman's skirt pocket. +He slipped a wallet from her pocket to his." + +"That's what he did," nodded Tom. + +"Come along," urged Dick. "We'll see if we can come across a policeman +before Mr. Slim gets all the money in the town." + +Falling in by twos the Grammar School boys, full of excitement, trailed +after the slim, neatly dressed thief. + +Two blocks lower down the boys ran across Policeman Whalen, who, in +citizen's clothes, had been turned out to watch for thieves. + +In an undertone Dick called attention to the slim fellow, who was still +moving along in the moving crowds of shopping women. Whalen cautiously +took up the trail, while Dick & Co. fell back somewhat. + +Two minutes later Whalen made a sudden leap forward, seizing the +suspected young man by the coat collar. + +"Stand by, till I shake ye down!" roared the policeman, thrashing the +thief about until the slim one's teeth chattered. A small morocco purse +fell to the sidewalk. + +"Why, that's mine!" cried a woman. + +"I know it, ma'am. I saw this spalpeen take it from your pocket," nodded +Policeman Whalen. "Come along with me, lad! And ye come, too, ma'am, and +claim your pocketbook." + +"Oh, I'm so glad you saw him do it," quivered the young woman, her face +white from the shock caused by the thought of losing her Christmas +money. + +"I wouldn't have seen him do it," admitted Whalen honestly, "only Dick +Prescott called my attention to the spalpeen." + +The prisoner, who realized that he could not twist himself away from the +strong clutch of the policeman, scowled at Dick as the young woman +thanked him. + +A crowd formed in an instant, but Whalen broke up the excitement by +starting promptly along with his captive. + +Dick & Co. turned and followed a little way. The crowd that kept in the +wake of the policeman was soon a dense one. + +"You'll be sorry for this, youngster!" growled a low, angry voice just +behind Dick. + +Like a flash Prescott wheeled. It was not plain, however, who, in all +that throng, had spoken to him. But Dick's roving gaze soon made out, +several yards away, a man in brown, wearing a gray overcoat. The fellow +was marching along with the throng as though he, too, were an idle +spectator. + +"That's the fit-thrower's other friend," flashed through Dick's mind. +"He must have been the fellow who spoke behind me just now, too." + +"Oh, let's not go any further," proposed Tom Reade. "We've seen folks +arrested before this." + +"Come along," said Dick shortly, not caring to explain his reasons just +at this moment. + +So the chums kept on in the wake of the crowd. A block further on a +uniformed policeman stepped forward to have a look at Whalen's prisoner. + +"Moll-buzzer," explained Policeman Whalen briefly to his brother of the +force. A "moll-buzzer" is a thief who robs women in crowds. + +The uniformed policeman fell back and the crowd moved forward, but Dick +seized the second policeman's coat sleeve. + +"There's another of the gang," whispered Dick, pointing to the +black-moustached man in the gray overcoat. + +"Are you sure?" demanded officer number two. + +"Positive," whispered Dick. "At least, we saw them talking together +early this morning." + +At this moment the man in the gray overcoat turned. He saw Dick and the +policeman talking in low tones. Without waiting an instant the man in +the gray overcoat darted forward, trying to break through the crowd. + +"Grab him!" shouted the policeman. + +Three or four men moved closer to obey. + +"Look out!" yelled some one frantically. "He's got a pistol." + +The citizen helpers drew away quickly at that information, but the delay +had been enough to enable the policeman to close in on his man. With his +locust stick the officer struck down the pistol hand and snatched away +the weapon. An instant later two prisoners were marching toward the +police station, the second one having been taken only on suspicion. + +"Bully for you, Dick Prescott!" cried Grocer Smith, laying a heavy but +approving hand across Dick's shoulders. + +"Oh, we all recognized the pair," Prescott answered modestly. "They were +together this morning, and the fit-thrower was with them." + +"You boys will be sorry for making unfounded charges of this sort," +called back the black-moustached prisoner angrily. "Wait and see if +you're not." + +"Cut out the gloom, man!" ordered the uniformed policeman, giving his +captive a twist that hurt. "Don't be trying to frighten small boys." + +At the station house the crowd hung about outside. + +"Going inside, Dick!" asked Dave eagerly. + +"No one has asked us to. I guess we'd better wait out here unless we're +invited inside." + +The young woman, whose pocketbook had been taken, went inside. She +identified her property and made a charge against the pick-pocket. Both +prisoners again heard the name of Dick Prescott mentioned. + +The crowd melted after a little. Later the two prisoners were taken +before Justice Lee. Mr. Slim was sent away for six months on the charge +of pocket picking. The thick set captive in the gray overcoat, because +he could not give a good account of himself, was sentenced to ninety +days in the workhouse for vagrancy. Police and court were determined to +do all in their power to protect the Christmas shoppers. + + * * * * * + +"Now, as to our camping plans," Dick resumed, a little later in the +afternoon. "You fellows who aren't yet sure that you can get leave to +go, will have to keep right on the trail until that permission is given. +You can say that some of us are going, and that may help you some at +home." + +"It may help the rest," suggested Dan Dalzell mournfully, "but nothing +will do me any good. I'm dished. No camping out in winter is going to +come my way." + +"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure," urged Dick. "But, at least, you can be +sure you won't go if you don't try some more coaxing." + +"Say, you come and do the coaxing yourself to-night, when dad is home," +begged Dan. + +"I will, if you think it will do any good, Danny," Prescott agreed. + +"At any rate, your little speech can't put the matter any further back +than it stands right now," Dalzell declared. "And, oh, dear! I do want +so badly to go with you fellows! I never wanted anything as much +before." + +"Say, we'll all go together, early this evening," proposed Dick, his +eyes now snapping. "We'll call in a body at the house of each fellow who +hasn't yet secured leave to go on the winter camping party. We will all +present the case. Perhaps we can put it through for the whole six. If we +can't all go there won't be nearly as much fun." + +Very soon, indeed, after supper, Dick & Co. were all assembled once +more. + +"You won't need to go to my house," Tom explained triumphantly. "My +father says I can go and he has brought mother around to agree to it." + +"Whose house shall we go to first, then?" asked Dick. + +"Come to mine," begged Dan woefully. + +So to the Dalzell home they went. The boys pleaded their case both with +Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell. Neither parent, however, would do more than say +that "they would see." + +At Greg Holmes's house victory was quickly won, and Greg was happy. Next +Dick & Co. went in force to Harry Hazelton's home, where the coaxing was +renewed. + +"I want to sleep over this scheme, Harry," said Mr. Hazelton finally, +"and I think your mother does, too. We don't want to see you miss any +good times that you really ought to have, so I think, if the rest are +going, we shall probably decide to let you go, too. But I won't say +'yes' to-night. I'll wait and see how the idea strikes me to-morrow." + +"Oh, I guess you're fixed, all right, Harry," grunted Dan when the +Grammar School boys had filed out of the Hazelton house. "But--oh, poor +me!" + +"And now, see here, fellows, we want to get around into the stores +before we lose any more time," suggested Dick. "We don't want to forget +that each fellow is to spend half his money in buying the best present +he can get for his mother." + +"Do you think it will pay--in my case?" asked Dan dolefully. + +"Shame on you, Danny boy!" growled Dave Darrin, giving Dalzell a sturdy +shaking. + +"Was there ever a time that it didn't pay a fellow to remember his +mother whenever he had a chance?" demanded Dick. "If my mother had said +'no' and had stuck to it, I'd be mighty glad over being able to get her +a solid Christmas present just the same." + +Within another hour the presents had been bought, the crowd sticking +together and giving collective advice for the benefit of each +individual. + +Then Dick went home. Instead of passing through the store, where both +his parents were, he took out his key and made for the door that +admitted to the living rooms above. Over the knob was tacked a piece of +paper. Dick took it off and carried it upstairs with him, where, in the +light of the parlor, he read this message, in scrawling print: + +"Wait and see if you ain't sorry!" + +"This must be from the fit-thrower!" thought young Prescott, with an +inward jump. + +He was soon to know. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +"REMEMBERED"--BY MR. FITS? + + +Through the night Dick slept as only an active, tired out boy can sleep. +If he woke once he had no recollection of it in the morning. + +This, too, despite the fact that it was Christmas, and he had all of a +boy's natural desire to know what the day was to bring him. + +Rat-tat-tat! sounded Mrs. Prescott's soft fist on Dick's bedroom door +that morning. + +"Wake up, son!" Mrs. Prescott called for the second time. + +"I--I'm awake," gasped Dick sleepily. + +"Get up, then, son. Have you forgotten that this is Christmas?" + +"No'm; I haven't." Dick's feet struck the floor heavily, and he reached +out for his clothing. "Merry Christmas, mother! Is dad there?" + +"He's out in the kitchen, raking the fire. Don't you hear him?" + +"Yes'm. Say, mother, have you seen your presents yet?" + +"I found a handsome gold chain from your father on my bureau." + +"Was that all you found?" + +"Yes." + +"Where did you look?" chuckled Dick. + +"Why, on the parlor table, as usual, to be sure." + +"Better look again, mother," laughed Dick. + +By this time he was nearly dressed. He heard Mrs. Prescott going back +into the parlor. + +"I don't find anything else here for me," Mrs. Prescott called back in a +puzzled voice. + +"Mother, at this rate, you'll soon be needing specs," called Dick, +throwing open his bedroom door and looking out. + +"But I don't see anything else for me, Richard," insisted his mother, as +the boy entered the parlor. + +"Look again, mother. Surely, you----" + +Then Dick halted suddenly, staring hard at the table, and at the mantel +beyond. + +"Why, I left----" he began, and then looked more puzzled. At last he +grinned as the solution of the mystery came into his mind. + +"It's just one of dad's jokes," he laughed. "Or else dad forgot. I gave +it to him last night, to lay on the table after you had gone to bed. You +see, mother, this is the first Christmas that I have had money of my own +with which to buy you something really nice. I'll ask dad where it is." + +"Who's taking my name in vain?" called Mr. Prescott, as he came through +the hallway and looked in the parlor. "Merry Christmas, Dick." + +"Same to you, sir. But, say, what happened to that little package I +handed you for mother?" + +"I put it on the table before retiring last night," replied Mr. +Prescott. "It must be there--but it isn't, is it?" + +"Honest, now, dad, this isn't a joke, is it?" + +"Not on my part, anyway," replied the elder Prescott rather blankly. + +"Now, I suppose that you're both playing a little joke on me, trying to +make me curious and impatient," laughed Dick's mother. + +"But where is the package?" demanded Dick, exploring all around. His +father lent a helping hand in the search. + +"Oh, never mind, Dick, dear," urged his mother. "My surprise is bound to +turn up. It couldn't have walked out of these rooms. Look at your own +package, my boy." + +Dick turned to glance eagerly at a not very large box, against which +rested a card bearing his own name. He saw, at a glance, that the box +bore the imprint of one of the Gridley jewelers. + +"I can guess!" cried Dick. "I know what's in the box!" + +"Suppose you made a wrong guess?" laughed his mother teasingly. "Better +open it and make sure." + +Dick picked up the box with trembling fingers. + +"Mighty light, whatever it is," he murmured. Then he took off the cover. + +"What's this?" choked Dick. "O-o-o-h!" + +For all he saw resting in the box was a slip of white paper on which had +been poorly printed, in lead pencil, the words: + +"Merry Christmas, Master Butt-in!" + +"Some of Dad's fooling," laughed Dick a moment later. + +"Not much it isn't," retorted Mr. Prescott, taking a quick step forward. +"Let me see that paper." + +Dick handed it over, and his father read the words. + +"What on earth does this mean?" he demanded. "What we put in that box +was your first watch, Dick. A silver-cased watch and a very neat +gold-plated chain." + +One look at his father and a swift glance at his mother convinced the +boy that they had not been parties to any joke. Yet where were the watch +and chain? + +"Who could have left this slip of paper here?" asked Mrs. Prescott. + +"Hardly any one outside of the family," replied Mr. Prescott. "I don't +understand this at all." + +"And mother's gift, too?" pondered Dick aloud, growing more puzzled +every instant. + +"Well, certainly no one else has been in this flat," went on Mrs. +Prescott. + +But Dick flew first to one parlor window, and then to the other. Next he +crossed the parlor in two bounds, dashing to his bedroom. He came back, +holding the slip of paper he had taken from the outer door the night +before. + +"The two slips look as though they had been printed by the same fellow, +don't they?" inquired the boy. + +"Yes," nodded Mr. Prescott. Dick told him about finding the other slip +on the door the evening before. + +"But who could play such a mean trick?" insisted Mrs. Prescott. + +"The fit-thrower, very likely," Dick answered. + +"The fit--what?" + +Then Dick hastily recalled to them his adventures of the day before. + +"And one parlor window is fastened," Dick went on. "The other has its +catch slipped. The fit-thrower must have climbed up in the night, +slipped the catch with a thin blade and prowled around in here just to +spoil our Christmas." + +"It looks that way," nodded Mr. Prescott slowly, his usually calm eyes +filled with disappointment. Then he added, to his wife: "My dear, I'm +very glad, indeed, that I placed your chain on your bureau last night, +instead of leaving it here on the parlor table." + +"And poor Dick doesn't get any present!" cried Mrs. Prescott, her eyes +filling a bit. "O Dick, this year we thought we'd please you more by +putting all the money we could spare into one present, so we got your +watch and chain that you've wanted for so long. It's--it's too, too +bad!" + +Mrs. Prescott, though seldom given to tears, now sank to the sofa, +pulled out her handkerchief and gave brief vent to her own great +disappointment. + +"Never mind, mother; it may turn up all right yet," urged Dick +soothingly, as he rested one arm around her waist. "But if Mr. Fits +really did break in here and take your present, then I feel as though +I'd enjoy trailing him to the end of the earth and seeing him shoved +away behind strong bars!" + +"It seems almost fantastic," declared Mr. Prescott, "but I'm afraid, +Dick, that the scoundrel you've told us about really did break in here +on purpose to spoil your Christmas. If he didn't come in person he must +have sent someone." + +"Oh, well, anyway," protested Dick, trying to stifle his disappointment, +both on his mother's account and his own, "probably we'll all live to +see more Christmases. But, mother, I'm awfully sorry about the loss of +your gift. Dad thought, too, that I had made a fine choice." + +"Indeed you did, young man," remarked Mr. Prescott. "You know, my dear, +that the last time you went to the opera house it was a gala occasion, +and you regretted that you didn't have a really nice fan to carry? Dick +remembered that, and he got you a fan. It was a handsome one. I didn't +believe that a young boy could have as much taste as our son displayed +in choosing that fan. And now--it isn't here!" + +Then each tried to cheer the other up, but despite their best efforts it +started in as a gloomy Christmas morning. The Prescotts, while not by +any means poverty stricken, were yet in very moderate circumstances. +Dick knew well enough that his parents would not be able to duplicate +his much-wanted Christmas gift, and that he would have to wait until +some dim time in the future before he could hope to carry a watch of his +own. + +So all three went out to the breakfast table. Dick, to do him justice, +thought more of his mother's loss than of his own. + +"Are you going to the police about this, my dear?" Mrs. Prescott asked +her husband presently. + +"I could," the elder Prescott replied, "but I don't imagine it would do +much good. The stuff that has been taken isn't likely to be restored to +us. I doubt if the police would think it even worth any effort. It isn't +an important robbery, as crime goes. It was just a little trick of +revenge." + +"Mr. Fits is revenged all right, then," admitted Dick, with a bitter +smile. "Oh, I only hope that I get a fair chance to pay him back one of +these near days! But, at any rate, my Christmas isn't going to be +spoiled. You have already agreed to my going away on the camping trip +to-morrow, and that is going to be more fun for me than two +Christmases." + +"I'm glad you're looking forward so to enjoying your vacation in the +forest," smiled Mrs. Prescott. "It does seem fortunate that you have +such a treat at hand to repay you for your disappointment." + +Suddenly Dick looked blank for an instant. Laying down his knife he +employed his right hand in making a frantic thrust into one of his +trousers' pockets. Then he fished up a banknote. + +"Thank goodness that is all right," he gasped. "Mr. Fits didn't think to +look for that. It's my five dollars left out of Mrs. Dexter's present, +and is the money that I'm going to pay my share of the camp expenses +with. But, on second thought, I believe I'll drop out of that camping +scheme." + +"Why?" asked Mr. Prescott, in a rather sharp, queer voice. + +"Because this five dollars will fool Mr. Fits in another way. I can go +to-morrow and get mother another fan like the first one." + +Mr. Prescott's eyes flashed proudly for a moment as he answered, a bit +huskily. + +"You could do that, of course, young man, but your mother would never +forgive you for cheating yourself out of the one pleasure you want +most." + +"Sometimes," spoke Dick gravely, "there's more fun in doing without a +pleasure, when you can find another that is worth more to you." + +The tears stood in Mrs. Prescott's eyes. She rose and dropped both arms +around her boy. + +"If we absolutely needed your money, Dick," she said, "I know how +cheerfully you would do without your pleasure for our sakes. But this is +a case where your going camping will be worth more to us all than +anything else that five dollars would buy. Besides, think how +disappointed your friends would be over not having their leader." + +"I appreciate your mother's feelings so much, lad," went on Mr. +Prescott, "that I forbid you to spend your remaining money on anything +for your mother. She has had her greatest happiness in knowing that you +spent half of the first considerable sum of money you ever had in buying +something for her. That is as far as you can go. Illness alone +preventing, Dick, you'll go camping, and you'll pay your full share into +the camping fund. Besides, I'm glad to say that the indications are that +a much better business year is coming, and that probably we'll soon be +able to have all the things within reason that we may want." + +So Christmas, if it ran rather shy on presents in the Prescott +household, was at least a season of extremely good feeling among three +people whose sympathies ran staunchly together. + +"The fellows will be waiting to see me," laughed Dick after breakfast. +"So, if I haven't anything to show 'em, at least I've got something to +tell them that will make their hair stand up. And I wonder if Mr. Fits +visited any of their homes last night?" + +Laughing, though doubtless he felt quite unlike it, Dick Prescott put on +coat and hat and went out into the Gridley streets. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DICK TRIES STRATEGY + + +"Hey! Hear about Dick Prescott?" + +"What?" + +"His Christmas got 'pinched'!" + +"No!" + +"Sure." + +Rapidly indeed did the news travel about. Dick told it to his own chums +first. The news "leaked" and traveled up and down the streets as Gridley +boys began to come forth to compare their Christmas experiences. + +Just as certainly, too, the news didn't lose any on its rounds. By the +time that the yarn had been carried to the further end of Main Street, +Dick's holiday losses had mounted up to a total of: A gold watch and +chain, a diamond stickpin, a twenty dollar gold piece, a suit of +clothes, silver plated racing skates, a camera, a cornet and a host of +lesser articles. + +"Whee! The Prescotts must have been making money this year," commented +Ben Alvord, when he heard the long list of presents named. + +"Say," proposed Dave Darrin indignantly, "we'll hike all over Gridley +and just see if we can't run into Mr. Fits somewhere. If we find him +we'll jump him all together, and then holler for the police." + +Quite a bit of searching the six members of Dick & Co. did that morning, +though all without the least success. It presently dawned on these +Grammar School boys that Mr. Fits must have left Gridley far behind. + +"We'll keep our mind on the camping, anyway," proposed Dick. "We want to +start to-morrow morning. We ought to meet at eight o'clock, and then get +away together as soon after as we can." + +"And hoof it twelve miles?" asked Hazelton. + +"No; as we'll have so much stuff to carry, we'll have to pay someone to +drive the stuff out there for us. If we have a wagon we may as well ride +on it." + +"I hope you fellows will all have a good time," suggested Dan Dalzell +generously, though his own face still wore a doleful look. For his +father and mother had held out against his going. All of the other boys +had secured permission. + +"It's a shame you can't go, Dan," blazed Dave. + +"That's what I think," muttered Dan. "Huh! I've a good mind to run away +from home." + +"You'd get spanked when you went back," laughed Tom Reade. + +"Huh! I ought to run away and never come back," growled Dan. + +"Oh, cut that out--do!" urged Dick. "Be a fellow of good sense, Danny. +Your father and mother have their own reasons for not wanting you to +go." + +"Their reasons don't do me any good," uttered Dan resentfully. + +"Would it do any good if we all went down to your house and tried +coaxing for you?" asked Greg Holmes. + +"Not a bit," declared Danny gloomily. + +"Say, will you fellows wait here a little while?" begged Dick. "I want +to run home a minute. I'll be right back." + +"Go ahead," nodded Dave. + +Dick started on a trot, for he had a new thought as to a possible way of +securing Dan's happiness. + +As young Prescott turned a corner and raced homeward, he was espied by a +boy on the other side of the street. + +"Hey, Dick!" challenged Hen Dutcher gleefully. "What time is it?" + +Dick flushed, but wisely made no answer. + +"Humph!" muttered Hen to himself. "Just as well his watch did get the +run-off. Now Dick Prescott won't be hauling his old timepiece out every +two minutes in school to see what time it is." + +Dick reached home somewhat out of breath. + +"Who's been chasing you?" demanded Mr. Prescott, snatching up a cane +that stood in the corner of the parlor. He assumed a ferocious +expression, which, with one of as peaceable a disposition as Dick's +father possessed, looked more than out of place. + +"I haven't got time to joke, dad," objected the boy, dropping into a +chair. "But I've got something very particular that I want you to do for +me, and it will make Christmas really jolly after all if you can do it." + +Then Dick unfolded his plan, while Mr. Prescott looked uneasy. + +"Why, Dick, my boy, if Dalzell's parents don't want him to go camping it +would look very strange in me to call on them and urge them to exchange +their own good judgment for mine. It would look like an impertinence on +my part. Dan's father and mother are the very best judges as to whether +he should be allowed to go away several days camping. In fact, although +I've consented to it, I'm not sure that I have shown the best kind of +judgment in the matter." + +"Oh, I don't want you to urge the Dalzells very hard, dad. I'm not just +asking that. But I think, if you talk it over with them, perhaps----" + +"It's a queer bit of business for me," remarked Mr. Prescott. + +"But will you go, Dad? Please." + +"Yes," agreed Mr. Prescott very reluctantly. + +"Can you--can you just as easily go soon, dad?" + +"Ye-es. I'll go now. It's such a queer piece of business that I shall be +thankful when I have it over with." + +"And you'll say the best word you can think of, won't you?" + +"If you don't stop soon, young man, I may change my mind and back out +altogether." + +But Dick, who knew well enough that his father's promise, once given, +was never gone back on, thanked him and then danced joyously out into +the street again. + +"What was the matter, Dick?" asked Tom Reade, curiously, when he +rejoined his chums. "Did you forget something?" + +"There was something I wanted to talk to dad about," responded Dick +evasively. + +"What----" began Dan, without an inkling of a true guess. + +"Be still, you Danny boy," ordered Dave Darrin bluntly. "The family +affairs of the Prescotts should be no concern of yours." + +Though, very much to his regret, Dick did not possess a watch, he +nevertheless managed to keep very good track of the time. Something more +than an hour later he led the fellows around to his own corner. He was +just in time to see Mr. Prescott returning. + +"You stay here a minute," young Prescott directed, then set off at a run +to join his father. + +"Did you--did you----" he panted, as he reached his parent. + +"Yes," replied the head of the family, a bit stiffly. "I made a nuisance +of myself over at the Dalzells. I talked and talked. They talked, too, +and both Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell asked me if I thought it at all safe to +let such a busy little gang of hooligans as you boys go off on such an +expedition. All I could say was to point out the fact that I had given +you leave. Well, Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell gave their consent to Dan's going. +So now I hope you're satisfied." + +"Satisfied? Oh, dad, thank you! This is the best Christmas ever. Thank +you! Whoop!" + +With that young Prescott executed an about-face and went charging back +to where he had left his chums. + +"Are you crazy?" demanded Dan curiously. + +"No; but you'll be, in a minute. Dad went over to see your folks, and +they've given in. You're to go with us." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE LOG CABIN'S TELLTALE HEARTH + + +"Have we got everything?" demanded Tom Reade anxiously. + +"I think so," nodded Dick. + +"No one ever yet started off on any big jaunt without forgetting +something, you know," Greg explained. + +"Well, let every fellow take a look around and see if he can find +anything that we ought to have, and haven't," suggested Dick. + +Six pairs of eyes did some anxious searching. + +It was nearly ten o'clock on the morning after Christmas. Dick & Co. +stood in Miller's grocery store, having mounted guard over an extensive +supply of groceries, meat and personal belongings. What a stack of stuff +there was! + +Dick and Dave had been delegated to do the buying. Starting with a +capital of thirty dollars, they had expended a little more than nineteen +dollars with the butcher and grocer. Joe Miller, the grocer's son, had +gone to hitch up a pair of horses to a roomy truck wagon. Their +conveyance to camp, some twelve miles distant, was to cost them four +dollars, and Miller had made a low price at that. Dave, as the +treasurer of the outfit, now had nearly seven dollars left, but of +this, four would be required to pay Joe Miller for the return trip. + +In addition to food supplies, each of the six boys had brought along +underclothing, shirts and an extra pair of shoes. These personal +belongings were packed in bags. + +Then, besides, each boy had a roll of bedding--a pillow, sheets and old +blankets and comforters for each. There were also, either in bedding +rolls or in bags, some few toilet articles. There was also a box of old +kitchen ware. Tom Reade had brought a Rochester lamp; Greg and Dan had +contributed lanterns and Dick a dark lantern. + +"I see one thing we haven't got, but ought to have," said Harry Hazelton +to Dick. + +"What's that?" asked the latter. + +"A shotgun. Joe Miller has a good one, and I know he'd lend it to us if +we asked him." + +"We won't ask him," Dick replied. + +"Now, why not? We have money enough so we can afford to buy some shells, +and----" + +"Harry, did you tell your folks you expected there'd be a shotgun along +on this trip?" + +"'Course not. I didn't know there would be one." + +"Do you think your folks would have let you come if they had thought of +such a thing?" + +"Maybe not. But they didn't say a word against our having one." + +"Harry, if our parents were to hear that we had taken a shotgun along +they'd be worried to death," said Dick gravely. + +"Humph! We're old enough to manage a gun," remonstrated Hazelton. + +"Perhaps we are, but it would worry our home folks just the same. Boys +are always believed to be careless with firearms. We don't want any +shotgun along, and then we won't have any need to be sorry about it +afterwards." + +"But there'll be rabbits and other game that we might get." + +"Dave has brought his air-rifle, and has plenty of 'pills' for it. And +Tom brought along his bow and half a dozen arrows. We can take care of +the little game we may see." + +"That's right," broke in Dave, who had been listening. "If we were fools +enough to take along a shotgun it'd be many a day before we'd get leave +to go on another camping jaunt." + +So better counsel prevailed, and Joe Miller was not asked to loan his +shotgun. In due time Joe drove around to the door of the store, and the +work of loading began. + +"Hey, you fellows, where are you going?" hailed Ben Alvord, stopping and +gaping in wonder. + +"Camping," replied Dick with an air of importance. + +"Whee! Say, take me along?" coaxed Ben. + +Dick hated the task of refusing, but Dave came to his rescue. + +"Got five dollars, Ben?" + +"Quit your kidding," retorted Alvord. + +"That's what each fellow paid to get into this outfit," Dave went on. +"We couldn't feed any more fellows unless they contributed their share +in cash." + +"How long you going to be gone?" asked Ben. + +"Maybe two weeks." + +"Whee!" + +"It will depend somewhat on how long it takes us to eat up our table +stuff," laughed Dick. + +"My, but you fellows are in luck!" + +A few more of the Grammar School fellows happened along. There was much +envious talk. There were also several pleas to be taken along, but the +mention of the five dollar assessment silenced all such requests. + +"All ready!" called out Joe Miller at last. "You youngsters jump on +lively, for we've got a long way to go." + +With a glad whoop Dick & Co. piled aboard the truck, stowing themselves +away as comfortably as might be. + +"Giddap!" grumbled Joe at the horses. + +"Say!" shouted Ben Alvord as the start was made. + +"Well?" answered Dan. + +"Who's going to do your cookin'?" + +"We are." + +"Wow! You won't all live to tell the tale, then. Got any medicines with +you?" + +"There, I knew we'd forgotten something," declared Tom Reade solemnly. +"S'posing any of us should get sick?" + +"We'll make up our minds that we're not going to," replied Dave. +"Fellows camping out in winter haven't any right to get sick." + +"Still, we might. Might have colds, especially," remarked Dick +thoughtfully. "Oh, I say, Joe! Haul up, quick!" + +Dick was standing up, using his arms to signal an automobile that was +coming toward them. + +"Well, who's sick?" smiled Dr. Bentley, stopping his auto. + +"Doctor, I have six free patients here for you," Dick announced +solemnly. + +"Good!" laughed the physician. "That's the kind I like best. What are +you boys up to?" + +"We're going camping, doctor, out in the forest, and may be gone a +fortnight. Just this minute it struck us that we hadn't a bit of +medicine with us in case any of us got sick. We don't expect to be, of +course, but----" + +"I see," nodded the doctor, smiling pleasantly. "One thing is sure. If +you have a few simple remedies along with you you're less likely to be +ill than if you had forgotten to make any preparation. In that case +worry might do its share. Now, let me see." + +Dr. Bentley reached up a drug case from the bottom of his car. + +"Here's a bottle of stuff for colds," he went on, selecting a bottle and +writing on the label. "There, the directions are straight. Going to cook +for yourselves?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then indigestion is your most likely trouble." Dr. Bentley began to +write on the label of a second bottle. "And here's a little vial, in +case any of you get a real fever. Be careful to follow the directions +closely." + +Then Dr. Bentley took out his prescription book and wrote on two leaves. + +"Here's a prescription for a liniment, and something else," he added, +tearing out the two pages and passing them to Dick. "You'll notice that +I've written on these that the druggist is to give you the goods with +all discounts off. That'll make the stuff come cheap, for I don't +suppose you're overburdened with wealth on this trip." + +"And now, doctor, how much for the stuff you've given us?" asked Dick. + +"Giddap," retorted Dr. Bentley, giving his machine a start. "I helped +introduce four of you boys to this world, so I'm in a measure +responsible for you." + +"Stop at the drug store, Joe," Dick called out, as the horses were +started. + +"Say, wasn't that fine of Dr. Bentley?" glowed Dick, as they rode along. + +"Sure," nodded Dan, "but our folks will find it somewhere in their +bills, between now and summer." + +"Dan, for that," warned Prescott, "we'll wash your face in the first +snow that falls out in the woods." + +"We surely will," confirmed Tom Reade. + +The stop at the drug store was made, whereby the cash capital was +lowered by eighty cents. Then Dick & Co. were off in earnest. + +So late had the start been made that the boys did not expect to reach +their log cabin until after two o'clock. Over Christmas most of the snow +had disappeared. There was not enough for good sledding, but just enough +to make the going on wheels rather difficult. + +Before noon, appetite asserted itself. Fortunately the boys had brought +along lunches for use on the road. These were devoured with much relish, +Joe Miller, of course, being invited to share with them. + +By one o'clock the horses headed into the forest. For the first mile or +so there was a fair sort of road, but after that it dwindled down to +something more like a trail. + +"Isn't this grand, Joe?" exclaimed Greg. + +"What?" demanded Joe. + +"This great old forest, this silence, this grandeur of solitary nature?" + +"It ought to do first rate for lunatics, and such like," answered Joe, +gazing with disfavor at the bare trees and desolate looking bushes. +"What have you boys been doing that you've got to spend a fortnight away +from comfortable livin'?" + +"Why, we're doing this for pleasure," said Dan Dalzell. + +"Humph!" muttered Joe, and there the matter rested. + +It was nearly half past two when the horses were finally hauled up +before the log cabin. But now the truck was bare of boys. Dick & Co. had +leaped overboard the instant they came in sight of the cabin, and had +scampered on before for a look at the place. + +"Say, this is great!" cried Greg. "The old cabin looks good and solid, +too." + +"But how do you get in?" queried Dan, bracing his shoulder against the +door and pushing hard. "The place seems to be locked." + +More boys tried their shoulders against the door, but it did not yield. + +"We'll have to try the windows," proposed Dave. "Hurry and see if +they're fastened. This one is." + +All the windows proved to be fastened. + +"We don't want to break any glass," said Tom Reade ruefully. "We might +have a big freeze around here, and then we'd appreciate window glass." + +Here was a poser, indeed. + +"There doesn't seem to be any keyhole, and yet the door is locked," +muttered Dick, studying the door. "Hold on! What's this string for?" + +He took hold of a cord that appeared to run through the wooden barrier. +Giving the cord a hard pull, Dick once more pushed against the door. It +yielded and swung open. + +"Hurrah!" sounded the chorus. + +"We're bright ones," laughed Dick. "Thought we knew a lot about log +cabins, and we clean, plumb forgot the latch-string." + +"Let's get inside and get warm," begged Dan. + +"Let's get warm by tumbling the things off the wagon," dissented +Prescott. "I know Joe is in a big hurry to get started back." + +So the stuff was bundled off in rapid order, after which Joe backed his +team and swung it around. + +"I hope you fellows have a real, nice, loony time!" was Joe's parting +salute. + +"Now, let's get the stuff inside," urged Dave. This was done with speed, +if not with order. + +"Now, I'll go out and chop firewood," proposed Dave. "Who'll go with +me?" + +"Let's all go out and take a look around," suggested Dick. "We want to +know all of our surroundings before dark, which isn't a great way off." + +"We can't have a fire too soon to suit me," grumbled Dan. + +Outside one of the first sights that met their eyes, back of the cabin, +was a pile of four foot logs that would have measured five or six cords. + +"Now, that's what I call bully," gloated Dalzell. "It won't take us long +to have a real fire going in that big chimney-place." + +"Let's see what this other little shack is," urged Dick, leading the way +to a log shanty some eight feet by ten. Again it was necessary to pull a +latch-string, after which the door of the shanty yielded. + +"Why, there's a cook stove in here, and a table and a couple of chairs," +cried Tom. "This must have been the summer cook house." + +"We'll use it for our jail to lock up the bad ones in," jested Dick. +"There are no bunks here for sleeping." + +"What do you say if we get some of those logs and start a fire in the +big cabin?" pleaded Dan. "I'm getting chilled." + +The idea prevailed. But the youngsters found snow between the logs, +which were tightly frozen in place. After a good deal of work and much +panting, Dick and Dave succeeded in freeing one log. + +"Huh!" grunted Dan, who had not done any of the work. "Getting these +logs is going to be harder work than chopping down young trees." + +Whistling, Tom Reade had gone around to the cabin. Now, with a whoop of +glee he returned, bearing a crowbar. + +"Found this in one corner of the cabin," he explained. "Now, we'll pry +logs loose in fast order." + +His prediction turned out a good one. Within five minutes more than a +dozen of the logs had been loosened and Dick & Co. busied themselves in +carrying the logs around and into the cabin. + +"Now, Danny Coldfeet, we'll soon have your flame red medicine ready," +laughed Dave Darrin jovially. "Get one of the coal oil tins, Danny boy. +Greg, tear off some of the paper to stuff under the logs. Hurry! Then +I'll lay the fire. Tom, you and Harry bring the logs closer." + +Some nearly burned bits of log lay in the broad fireplace under the +chimney. Dave bent over to lift these charred bits out. Three or four he +tossed back of him. Then suddenly he stiffened up, sticking a finger in +his mouth. + +"Ouch!" he grunted. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tom. + +"I burned my finger," sighed Dave. + +"Burned your finger--in a dead fire?" + +But Dick, stirring the burned bits of wood with his shoe, suddenly lay +bare some dull red coals. + +"Look-a-here, fellows," hailed Dan in the same moment. "Here's meat and +bread, and part of a can of tomatoes on the table. The bread ain't old +enough to be mouldy." + +"Fellows," announced Dick Prescott, moving about, "there's some one +living here--some one besides ourselves!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE PROWLER OF THE NIGHT + + +The six youngsters stood looking curiously at one another. + +"I wonder who it can be?" muttered Dan. + +"Some one who has no business here, anyway," returned Tom Reade +bluntly. + +"I wonder if it's some one who did live here, or some one who thinks +he's going to keep on living here?" asked Dave Darrin dryly. + +"Just the same, I'd like to know who has been living here," Dick went +on. "For that matter, who would want to live here, in the depths of the +woods in winter?" + +"Well, we do, for one crowd," Greg reminded him. + +"Yes; but we're boys with a craze for open air and something different," +Prescott maintained. "Now, if men have been living here, the case is +different. Men don't care about schoolboy junkets. If the man or men who +have been living here are honest, I don't mind. Such men will move on if +they find that we're here, and that we alone have the proper authority +to live here. But suppose the men are not honest? Or rough characters?" + +"It will depend on how many there are of them," responded Dan, with one +of his broad grins. + +"Why?" challenged Dick. "If we had to fight for the right to live in +this cabin, how many do you think we could thrash?" + +"Oh, I guess it won't come to that," remarked Tom Reade coolly. + +"And I hope it won't come to that, or anything like it," Dick replied. + +"But just the same, you're going to be scared until you find out? Is +that it?" laughed Harry Hazelton. + +Dick flushed, but he answered honestly: + +"Until something happens I can't tell whether I'm going to be scared or +not. Anyway, perhaps I won't show the greatest amount of fright that is +displayed around here." + +"Now, you're answered, Harry," muttered Dave in a low voice, his eyes +flashing. "No fellow in this crowd has any right to doubt that Dick +Prescott is all there with the grit when it's called for." + +"Can't a fellow joke?" asked Hazelton. + +"But, while all this talk is going on," chattered Dan, "I'm not growing +any warmer." + +"All lend a hand, and we'll get the fireplace cleaned out and the fire +going," urged Dick. + +After that they made matters fly. The old ashes and hot embers were +taken outside and spread. Logs were laid and coal oil spread over them. +A match was touched, flames leaped up in response to the heavy draft of +the broad chimney, and the interior of the old cabin seemed ablaze. + +"My, but that's going to be plenty hot, and some more," chuckled Dan. + +"Who'll chop the ice at the spring and get two buckets of water?" called +Dick. + +"I will," Harry answered, and departed, Greg going along to help him. In +a short time Dick had water boiling in a kettle that hung over the fire. + +"I don't suppose anyone cares for coffee?" proposed Dick, glancing about +him. + +In a very short time the beverage was ready. + +"Aren't we going to have something to eat, too?" Dan wanted to know, as +the young campers gathered at the table. + +"What's the use of spoiling our supper, which is only a couple of hours +or so away?" asked Dave sensibly. + +Though the coffee was weak, it was hot. The youngsters soon began to +warm up, and all became cheery. + +"Oh, but this life is going to be great!" sighed Greg exultantly. "Say, +fellows, I'm glad I thought of this way of putting in a vacation. Won't +the other fellows in town be crazy when they hear what a great time +we've had?" + +"What I want to know," Harry broke in, "is whether rabbits really do run +in the woods in winter? My mouth is made up for some rabbit stew." + +"Maybe we can buy a couple of rabbits, then, from some farmer's son," +suggested Dick dryly. + +"Buy 'em?" sniffed Hazelton scornfully. "Huh! Next thing we know you'll +want some one to come in and do the housework!" + +"It would be better done, then, I don't doubt," laughed Dick. "Now, +fellows, the clock tells us that it's quarter of four. That means +something like an hour more of daylight. I guess we've a few things to +do, haven't we?" + +"Get supper!" proposed Dan. + +"That's one of the things," nodded Dick. "Then there's water to be +brought in. In this nipping air I'll bet there's already more ice over +the spring. Then we ought to bring in a lot more logs for the fire. +It'll be harder work after dark. And some one ought to get potatoes +ready to put on over the fire. Then we ought to select our bunks and get +bedding in them. After that we want to tidy up this hard dirt floor. +Some one will need to wash the cups and saucers, and have 'em ready for +supper." + +"Let's have some system to it, then," urged Dave. "Dick, you look about +and see what's needed. Then set each fellow to his task--and all the +rest will take any kicker down to the spring and duck him!" + +"Lemme fix the potatoes, then," begged Dan. That being one of the +"disagreeable" tasks, no one objected. Dick parceled out the tasks, and +things were soon humming. While they were still busy, darkness had +settled down. But Greg had filled the lamp and the lantern, and had +them going, though the big, red fire filled the whole cabin with light. + +"Whee! But this is jolly!" cried Greg, as he stood arranging his bedding +in the bunk he had chosen. + +"It'll be more like fun to-morrow, though," suggested Dick, "when we can +have a whole, daylight day out in the woods. But I think we're all going +to be mighty comfortable here." + +That was the general feeling. The Grammar School boys found themselves +filled with contentment. + +"How are the potatoes coming on, Danny?" inquired Tom. "I'm so hungry I +can hardly stand up." + +"Ready in ten minutes more, I reckon," Dan answered cheerily. + +"Bully!" + +Greg was cutting bread and getting butter out of a glass jar. Dave had +busied himself with opening two tins of meat. They had fresh meat, but +the latter was to be used on the morrow when their housekeeping +arrangements had been better made. For the present the meat and some +other perishable articles of food rested on the ground outdoors, under +an overturned box on which three large stones had been placed as +weights. + +"It's six o'clock," called Dick at last. "Are we going to eat on time?" + +"I'm all ready with the potatoes," Dan called back. + +Dick once more busied himself with making weak coffee. Tom and Harry set +the dishes on the table with a cheery clatter. Then six fearfully hungry +boys sat down to table. + +"There's no jam on the table," grunted Harry. + +"Oh, wait until we get outside of the solid stuff before we bother with +sweets," begged Darrin. + +It was nearly seven when the glorious meal was over. As nothing but +potatoes and coffee had depended on a cook, nothing went wrong with the +meal. + +"Now, we can clean up and wash the dishes," proposed Dick Prescott. + +"What's that?" demanded Tom Reade belligerently. "Work? Right on top of +a supper like that?" + +"I guess we do all feel more like taking a nap," laughed Dick. "Well, +we'll rest for half an hour and see if we feel more like effort then. +What do you say if we all pull our chairs up to the fire?" + +"How close to the fire?" asked Dan, screening his eyes with his fingers +as he glanced at the blazing logs. + +"Oh, not too close for comfort, of course," agreed Dick. "But come on. +We can swap stories." + +"Will they be anything like the spanking story that good Old Dut told +you last September, Dick?" teased Dave. + +"Not right away, I guess," smiled Dick. "I don't believe any fellow, +after that big supper, feels as if he had energy enough to tell a +spanking story. But what kind of stories shall we tell?" + +"I'll wait for some one else to start it," yawned Tom, as he took his +seat in the semi-circle at a respectful distance from the blaze. + +"Who else is going to be a quitter or a loafer?" inquired Dave +scornfully. + +There was a pause. No one appeared to have a story that he wanted to try +out on such a critical audience. + +At last Dick remarked thoughtfully: + +"As the man on the clubhouse steps said----" + +Then he paused, as if he had forgotten the matter. + +"Well," insisted Greg presently, "what did the man on the clubhouse +steps say?" + +"Eh?" inquired Dick, gazing at him with mock blankness. + +"What did the man on the clubhouse steps say?" repeated Greg. + +"Oh--er--that is--it's really a secret," Dick replied provokingly. + +"Now, see here, none of that!" growled Tom. + +"Eh?" demanded Dan, awaking from a light doze, with a start and a +subdued snore. + +"Dick Prescott, you tell us what the man on the clubhouse steps said!" +ordered Tom. + +"But I've just told you that it's a secret." + +"None of that, now!" + +"But I can't tell secrets!" pleaded Dick. + +"It isn't a secret at all. It's a good story, and you've got to let it +come out. We need a good one to get us started." + +All now joined in the demand, but Dick shook his head protestingly. + +"Honestly, fellows, it wouldn't be right for me to tell secrets," he +insisted. + +The inner bar that locked the door by night had been dropped into place +ere the boys sat down to supper. But now Harry rose, went over to the +door and raised the bar. + +"Fellows," he called back, "give Dick Prescott just one more swift +chance to tell us what the man on the clubhouse steps said. If he won't, +then grab him and fire him out into the night until he knocks on the +door and promises to be good." + +Tom, Greg and Dave made a laughing bolt for their young leader. + +"Some one's pulling the latch-string from outside," reported Harry +Hazelton, too startled, for the moment, to let the bar fall. But Tom +wheeled like a flash, leaped forward and dropped the bar back into +place. + +"It's the fellow, or fellows, who have been living here before we came," +whispered Dan in a half-scared voice. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WORMING THE TRUTH FROM A WHINER + + +"Let me in--quick!" demanded a voice. + +"Move on!" ordered Dave. + +"Whoever they are, they can break in through the windows, at any rate," +muttered Harry Hazelton, in a voice that was just a trifle unsteady. + +"We have legal right to occupy this cabin," called Dick through the +door. "No one else has any right to be here." + +"I know that," answered the voice, "but let me in before I freeze!" + +To the amazement of some of the others, Dick Prescott raised the bar and +swung the door open. + +In came a figure--that of a boy. His cap was pulled down over his ears, +and a big tippet obscured most of his face. But Dick grasped him by the +shoulder as the youngster started to enter, followed by a heavy swirl of +snow. + +"What in the world are you doing here, Hen Dutcher?" Dick demanded. + +"Yes! What are you doing here?" chorused the rest. + +"Lemme get near the fire?" begged Hen, in a choking, sobbing voice. "I'm +nearly frozen." + +"Don't shut that door yet," called Dan, moving forward. "We didn't know +it was snowing. I want to see if it's a big snow." + +"You bet it is," chattered Hen. "It's a blizzard, and I don't care how +soon that door is shut." + +"You're not giving orders here, remember," retorted Dan crisply, as he +went to the open doorway. The others, too, crowded to the doorway. It +certainly was a big snow. The flakes were of the largest size, and +coming down thickly to the tune of a moaning wind. + +"It wasn't snowing at dark, and now there are at least four inches," +cried Greg. + +"Five inches," hazarded Dave. + +"How many, Dick?" + +"Say, are you fellows going to freeze me to death?" called Hen Dutcher, +his teeth chattering. He was facing the fire, roasting in front, but +with chills running down his spine. + +"Close the door, fellows. We can't see much to-night at any rate, and +we'll see the whole storm in the morning," proposed Dick. "We don't want +to see Hen freeze to death." + +"Nobody invited him here!" + +Dick turned, wondering who had made that remark, but he could not make +up his mind. + +"Take off your coat, Hen, and have some hot coffee. We have some left, +and it will warm you," Dick went on, after the door had been closed and +barred. + +"I'll have supper and the whole thing," declared Hen promptly. "Don't +you fellows expect to feed your visitors?" + +"We'll feed you," Dick agreed, "though we had made no plans for visitors +and didn't expect any." + +Hen had some difficulty in getting off his coat. + +"Are you as stiff as that?" asked Prescott, going to the other fellow's +assistance. + +"I tell you, I'm just about frozen to death," moaned Hen. "My, how cold +it came on, just after dark! The wind began to howl, and I could feel +the ice forming on my chin every time I breathed. I thought sure I was +going to freeze to death in the woods. I'd about given up when I saw +your lights." + +"How long has it been snowing?" Dave asked. + +"Don't you fellows know?" Hen demanded. + +"No; we were in here, getting supper and then eating it. We didn't know +that it had even started to snow." + +"It wasn't snowing at dark, but it began some time after," replied Hen, +as he took the chair Dick offered and sank into it before the warming +glow. + +"Don't get too close to the fire until you thaw out a bit," advised +Dick. "If you do you'll feel it more." + +"I feel it now," groaned Hen, beginning to moan. "My hands are frozen +stiff." + +They weren't really frozen, though the hands had been badly nipped. It +was twenty minutes before Hen Dutcher cared to move over to the table. +Even then he complained severely of the "stinging" in his hands, feet +and chin. + +"I'm going out," proposed Dave, reaching for his cap and coat. "I'm +going to see for myself just how cold it is." + +No one offered to accompany Darrin. He paused, outside, to tap on one of +the window panes. Two minutes after that he was back, pounding for +admittance. + +"Br-r-r-r!" Dave greeted his comrades, as he stepped inside. "Say, I +don't want any more of being out to-night. I'll bet it's away down below +zero. And how the wind howls and cuts!" + +It took Hen Dutcher, after he got started, considerable time to eat his +fill. In the meantime the others, restrained by a sense of what was due +from hosts, held back their curiosity. + +"There, I don't believe I could eat another mouthful," declared Dutcher, +at last, pushing back from the table. + +"Now, Hen," invited Dick, "come over to the fire and tell us how you +came to be here." + +"Why, I just naturally was hereabouts," declared Hen evasively. + +"That won't quite do," replied Dick, shaking his head. "What brought you +into these woods to-night? Did you expect that we'd invite you in to +join us?" + +"Nope. Not quite," Hen replied, a crafty look in his eyes. + +"Then out with the truth, Hen Dutcher!" broke in Dave. + +"I don't have to tell you fellows, do I?" + +"Yes, if you want to stay here to-night!" blurted Tom Reade. + +"You fellows wouldn't put me out in the cold again!" dared Hen. + +"Wouldn't we?" retorted Greg Holmes. + +"I just wanted a tramp, and took one," replied Hen sulkily. + +"That's too thin!" snapped Dan Dalzell. + +"Then you fellows can invent your own story," offered Hen. + +"Out with him, fellows!" called Harry Hazelton, making a dive for Hen. + +"Don't you dare!" blustered Dutcher tremulously. + +"Out with Hen, if he doesn't tell the truth, and the whole of it," +advised Tom Reade. + +"Dick, you ain't going to let these fellows do anything of the sort, are +you?" quavered Hen. "Why, I'd die if I had to be put out into the storm +again." + +"Why can't you tell us the truth, Hen?" asked Dick quietly, fixing a +searching gaze on Dutcher. Then, with a sudden flash of inspiration, +Dick added, "Who was out this way with you?" + +"No one," Hen replied. + +"Don't tell us that," warned young Prescott. "Who were the other fellows +in the crowd?" + +"I tell you I came alone," Hen insisted, with rising color, as he +shifted under Dick's steady gaze. "Fred and----" + +"Fred--who?" cross-examined Dick. + +"Nobody," Dutcher answered, his eyes on the floor. + +Dick thought a moment before a great light dawned on him. + +"So, Hen Dutcher, Fred Ripley and some of his crowd knew we were coming +out here, and so they came along, too, and you with 'em, eh?" + +"I tell you I wasn't with 'em," protested Dutcher. + +"You walked all the way?" + +"Most of the way." + +"And how did Fred Ripley and his crowd come?" + +"On a wagon, and----" + +Here Hen Dutcher paused suddenly. + +"I came alone," he bellowed wrathfully. "There weren't any other +fellows." + +"Don't you call Ripley a fellow?" pressed Dick. "You said that he and +his crowd came on a wagon. So they're going to play pranks on us, are +they?" + +"I don't know what you're talking about," protested Hen hoarsely. + +Dave, Tom and Greg fastened on Dutcher, dragging him out of his chair. +This time Dick did not feel called upon to interfere. + +"Now, you tell us all about this queer game!" commanded Dave Darrin, his +eyes flashing warningly. "If you don't, we'll shake it out of you; or +we'll roll you in the snow until we soak the truth out of you! What do +Fred Ripley and his crowd mean to do out here to-night?" + +"I--I don't know," gasped Hen. + +"Yes, you do," warned Dave Darrin crisply. + +"No, I don't!" + +"Hen Dutcher," Dick interrupted firmly, "we are out here to enjoy +ourselves, and we don't propose to be interfered with. We have a right +to be here, and no one else has. We've wormed it out of you that Fred +Ripley and some other fellows have come out here to torment us. Fred +Ripley has no right to come here and play mean tricks on us." + +"Who gave you the right to be here?" demanded Hen sullenly. "Wasn't it +Fred Ripley's father?" + +"Yes; but that gives Fred no right to be mean in the matter, and Lawyer +Ripley would be the first to say so, if I went and told him." + +"And then you'd be 'Sneak Prescott,'" taunted Hen. + +"I didn't say I was going to tell Fred's father," Dick answered, his +color rising, "and I haven't any thought of it, either. Any fellow of +anywhere near my own size who calls me a sneak can have his answer--two +of them," Dick went on, displaying his fists. "You know that well +enough, Hen Dutcher. You're one of our own crowd--that is, you go to the +Central Grammar with us, and yet you've joined in with some High School +boys to bother us and spoil our fun. Who's the sneak, Hen? Who will the +fellows at the Central Grammar call the sneak when they hear about +this?" + +Hen began to look decidedly uneasy. He was well aware what the Grammar +School boys in Gridley did to one of their own number who was voted a +sneak. + +"I--I didn't mean any harm," muttered Hen, almost whimpering. + +"See here," demanded Dick, another idea coming to him, "how much did +Fred Ripley pay you to help work against us." + +"He didn't pay me nothing," young Dutcher protested ungrammatically. + +"How much did he agree to pay you, then? Come--out with it!" insisted +Dick. + +Hen saw the other chums pressing about him threateningly, so he almost +blubbered: + +"Said he'd give me a dollar if I did the trick right." + +"So there was a trick?" cried Dick quickly; then added ironically: "Hen, +you ought never to tell lies. You don't do it skilfully. You let out the +truth, despite yourself. You've admitted that you've been hired to work +against us--to help spoil our peace and comfort. Now, you've got to tell +us all the rest of it, or you'll have to take the consequences!" + +"Say, don't be mean with a feller!" pleaded Dutcher, ready to snivel. + +"We're not mean with you," Dick insisted. "We've a right to protect +ourselves, and we're going to do it. Besides, you joined us, and now +you've got to be one of us and tell us the whole scheme against us." + +"I didn't join you!" + +"Do you belong to Fred Ripley's crowd, then? If so, you'd better join +that choice gang! Grab hold of him, fellows!" + +Dave Darrin and Tom Reade gripped Hen, on either side, with great +heartiness. Dan Dalzell ran to unbar the door, after accomplishing which +he turned to view what might follow. + +"Are you going to tell us, Hen, what Ripley and his crew are plotting +against us?" Dick insisted once more. + +"They were going to come down here to-night," confessed Hen. + +"What were they going to do here?" + +"Scare you fellers." + +"How?" + +"Oh, they've got a lot of sheets, and a frame to rig up on Bert Dodge's +shoulders. With the frame above him, and covered with sheets, Bert will +make a 'ghost' about ten feet high." + +"What else?" pressed Dick. + +"Well, they've got a queer kind of whistle they can blow on, and it +makes a long, loud moan, or a wail," explained Hen. "Whee! It gave me +the creepy shivers the first time I heard it." + +"Has Ripley's ghost party got anything else to make the night merry +with?" questioned Dick. + +"Some kinder colored fire, that they were going to light at quite a +distance from here, to give an 'unearthly' glow through the woods." + +"What else?" + +"Oh, some other things," confessed Hen vaguely. "I can't tell you all +that crowd has, for I didn't see it and they wouldn't tell me about it." + +"And you turned on Central Grammar boys to help a lot of High School +fellows out?" asked Dick in fine scorn. + +"Well, I was crazy to have a day or two out here in the woods, and you +fellows didn't ask me," protested Hen. "The other crowd did." + +"Yes; because they wanted to use you for a tool against us. They wanted +to make you their catspaw, Hen Dutcher. Oh, you must feel fine! And the +other Central Grammar fellows back in Gridley will be so proud of you!" + +"You don't have to tell 'em," urged Hen Dutcher pleadingly. + +"No; we don't have to," confirmed Tom Reade. "But we can. And most +likely we will. We want to separate the wheat from the chaff at the old +Central Gram." + +"But, please don't tell 'em," whined Hen. + +"We'll see about that," said Dick Prescott. "We won't make a solitary +promise. It may depend on how you act, Hen. Now, is there anything more +you ought to tell us about what Fred Ripley's crowd intends to do?" + +"No-o-o. I don't believe so." + +"Who's with Fred Ripley?" + +"Bert Dodge." + +"Who else?" + +Hen named five other young fellows, two of whom were rather worthless +High School sophomores. + +"And their plan," added Hen, unburdening himself, "was to swoop down +here this evening, lay the lines for a first class ghost scare and then +see you fellows start running and never stop till you reached Gridley. +They've brought some provisions along with them, and they were going to +move in here and camp, and laugh, and have a great joke about how the +Grammar School kids got cold feet, and----" + +"Where are they now?" Dick queried. + +"They were going to my Uncle Joel's for a few hours, have supper there +and then slip down here. But Uncle Joel's place must be four miles from +here, and even he didn't know just where this camp was. So the fellows +made me get the best idea I could from my uncle, and then sent me down +here to find the place. They'll be mad 'cause I ain't back." + +"More likely they'll come, without waiting for you, Hen," observed Dave +Darrin grimly. + +At this moment the latch-string moved; there was a click of wood against +wood as the latch was raised. + +"Fellows, it's our ghost party!" whispered Dick, hoarsely. "Stand close +by me and sail in when I give the word. We'll do our best to make it hot +for the ghost!" + +There were varying degrees of bravery shown in that instant. Not one of +the Grammar School boys dreamed that they could best Fred Ripley's crew +in a rough-and-tumble, but Dick & Co. were all determined to be as +"game" as possible. + +It was different with Hen Dutcher. He turned pale and shook like a leaf. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE INTRUDER WHO TRIED TO BE "BOSS" + + +The heavy door was thrust open--and then the Grammar School boys had the +surprise of their lives. + +No swarm had invaded their camp. Instead a solitary man, clad in heavy +overcoat, and with a cap pulled down over his ears, stamped into the +cabin. + +In his astonishment and dismay Dick Prescott could not repress the cry +of: + +"It's Fits--Mr. Fits himself!" + +"I see you hain't forgot me!" snarled the fellow, as he slammed the door +shut, dropped the bar in the place, and then stood with his back to that +barrier. + +"See here, you can't stay here," declared Dick, his eyes flashing. + +"Can't, eh?" jeered the fellow. "And what's going to stop me?" + +"We are. You've no business here." + +"And if I don't see fit to go, my young bantam?" + +"Then we'll put you out. We're smaller than you are, but there are seven +of us--six, I mean," Dick corrected, after a glance at quaking Hen. +"You'll find we can take care of you!" + +"You kids, eh?" laughed Mr. Fits hoarsely. "Why, if you boys started in +to climb over me I'd pick you off and scrunch you, like so many ants. +Just try it and see!" + +To make his bragging good, Mr. Fits crossed the cabin, helping himself +to the chair by the table. + +"I see you've got plenty of grub here," the big fellow went on. "I'll +bother you to make me some hot coffee and get me the best you have to +eat. Step lively, too! Any younker that doesn't move fast enough I'll +pick up and swat, and then I'll throw him out in the snow to stay." + +Saying which, with a savage snort, Mr. Fits rose and took off his +overcoat, tossing it on to the next chair. + +"What are you two whispering about?" demanded the rough intruder, eyeing +Prescott and Darrin, who were now at the further end of the log cabin. + +"Never you mind," Dave retorted tartly. + +"Don't give me any impudence, younker!" growled Fits. + +"Then don't talk to us," Dick advised. + +"I can see that I've got to trim a couple of you," muttered the intruder +sourly. "And then, too, I reckon my supper will be coming along faster." + +"You'll get no supper here," Dick warned him. + +"I won't, hey? Why not, I wonder?" leered the fellow. + +"Because we have no poison to mix with the food," Dave retorted. + +"I'll have that grub, and some good coffee, set on mighty quick!" +growled the visitor. "If that doesn't happen, then I'll run you all out +into the snow. You won't last long out there, I warrant you! It's a +fearful night." + +"Wait!" begged Hen Dutcher. "I'll wait on you, sir." + +"No, you won't, Hen," spoke Dick sharply, firmly. "This man doesn't stay +here. He's going to leave mighty soon, or he'll wish he had. If you do +anything that we can't stand for, Hen, we'll put you outdoors with Mr. +Fits." + +"You wait on me, boy," ordered Fits gruffly. + +"Yes, sir, I----" + +"----won't," Dave finished for him snappily. "See here, Hen, you are of +no account here. Look out that you don't make yourself too unpopular to +be allowed to remain here to-night." + +"I see that I've got to teach some of you young cubs a lesson," remarked +Fits, rising from the chair. + +"Look out that we don't teach you one!" cried Dick. "Watch him, fellows. +If Mr. Fits gets too familiar, then sail into him!" + +Dick snatched up one hatchet, Greg another. Dan made a rush for the bow +and arrow, fitting a steel tipped arrow to the string. Tom Reade espied +the crowbar, and reached it in two bounds. Dave Darrin caught up a stick +of firewood, Harry Hazelton following suit. + +Hen Dutcher didn't do anything except to slink away to one side of the +big room. His bravery didn't go beyond the risk of telling lies. + +"If Fits makes a move towards any of us, fellows," commanded Dick, in a +tone whose steadiness surprised even young Prescott himself, "then the +rest close in on all sides and give this big bully the best you've +got." + +"I wish there was a hatchet for me," growled Dave, whose eyes were +flashing dangerously. + +"Take this one," replied Dick, passing over his own hastily snatched-up +weapon. Thereupon Prescott fell back for an instant, darting over to a +pile of boxes and picking up the air rifle that had been brought along. + +"Let's see if this air rifle is working?" pondered Dick aloud. He took +quick aim and pressed the trigger. + +"You dratted little pirate!" roared Mr. Fits, tensing for a leap +forward. "I'll show you----" + +"You'll get a lot more, if you don't quit trying to run things here," +Dick threatened coolly. + +Mr. Fits was waving his right hand aloft. Dick had struck the back of +that hand with one of the pellets that the rifle carried in its +magazine. The skin wasn't broken on that right hand, but the place +stung, just the same, as Mr. Fits well knew. + +"Hold on! Give him his supper, if he'll quiet down," urged Dave Darrin, +aloud, adding, in a whisper to Dick: + +"And while he's eating it I'll try to find the nearest house, and get +men to come down here and grab him." + +As cautiously as Dave spoke the big fellow heard him. + +"Oh, you will, will you?" leered Fits. "Younker, how long do you think +you'd live in the storm that's going on outside? It's a blizzard. If you +don't believe me, go out and see. I'll wait till you come back." + +For answer Dave ran to the door and opened it. A swirl of snow greeted +Darrin in the face, and another big swirl of the white fluff blew in on +the floor. + +"Go right on out in the snow," jeered Mr. Fits. Dave did so, but the +other five chums kept their gaze steadily on the unwelcome intruder. + +"By Jove, fellows," muttered Dave, as he stamped back into the cabin, +"the storm has grown so that I don't believe any of us could get through +it for a distance of three or four miles." + +"And you see," continued Mr. Fits, "I stay here to-night for one very +good reason, if I didn't have any others. It would be plain manslaughter +to make me go out into the storm. I'd simply die in it before going a +mile." + +"The snow is already up over my knees," confirmed Dave Darrin dismally, +"and I believe it would be twice as deep before I'd been gone an hour." + +"So you see it wouldn't be decent to put me out," jeered the big bully, +"even if I were afraid of you younkers and your wild west outfit of toy +guns and archery." + +Dave closed and barred the door with a grim tightening around the corner +of his lips. + +"Now I'll trouble you boys to stow your amateur theatrical outfit in a +corner and get me a whopping big supper," continued the big fellow, with +a grin, as he returned to his former seat. "If you don't----" + +He paused impressively, then added: + +"If you don't I'll start something moving here that'll show you who's +boss. Or, if you feel too respectable to like my company, then you can +all put on your overcoats and step outdoors. Maybe you can find your way +to some pleasanter place for the night." + +"If we could get through the storm," whispered Dick to Dave, "then we +might leave him here, and get to help who would come down and grab the +scoundrel." + +"We'd get along all right at the start," muttered Dave, shaking his +head. "But I don't believe, the way the blizzard is coming now, that +we'd get more than a mile or so before we'd all lie down in the snow and +have to give up the fight. You've no idea, Dick, what a howler and piler +this storm is. You ought to go out and try it." + +"If you say it can't be done, Dave, I'll take your word. You've as much +sand and fight as any of us." + +"Supper!" yelled the intruder lustily. + +"It's the cook's night off," jeered young Prescott. + +"Oh, it is, hey?" roared the big fellow. "I'll show you." + +Jumping to his feet, snatching up the chair on which he had been +sitting, and holding it above his head, Mr. Fits charged. + +The crisis in the affair had arrived. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +IN THE GRIP OF THE BIG BLIZZARD + + +Dick Prescott was squarely in the way. He didn't flinch or dodge, +either. + +Like a flash he brought the air rifle up for use. But there was nothing +wicked in Dick Prescott. Even against such a foe as this big intruder; +Dick felt that it would be wrong, wicked, to aim for the face of Mr. +Fits. + +Instead, Dick aimed for one of the fellow's legs. The little buckshot +went where aimed, but through the thick trousers and underwear the +little missile had no painful effect. + +"Get back, you lunatic!" quivered Dan, in the same instant, drawing the +arrow to the head, ready to let drive. + +But at that interesting moment another of the Grammar School boys saved +the situation. It was Tom Reade, who, just as Mr. Fits started forward, +and was still moving, thrust the crowbar between his legs. + +Flop! Fits struck the earthen floor rather heavily, the chair flying +over the head of Dick Prescott and landing beyond. + +"Good chance!" cheered Harry Hazelton, bringing down his stick of +firewood with a blow that resounded. + +Tom Reade now raised the crowbar once more, standing where he could aim +at the fellow's head. Tom was both too generous and too tender hearted +to have struck a human being over the head with such an implement, even +had Fits given provocation. + +"Don't get up, Mr. Fits," warned Dick, still gripping the air rifle. "If +you start to do so, it will be the signal for something to happen." + +Their nerves tense from the peril of their surroundings, the Grammar +School boys, none of whom were cowards at heart, even though they were +pretty young, looked positively fierce in the eyes of the prostrate foe. + +"You don't any of you dare hit me," he sneered, with an attempt at +bluster. + +"Don't we?" scowled Dave Darrin. "Then start something--we'll do the +rest." + +"Get back with that crowbar!" ordered the fellow sullenly. "Put that air +rifle down, and drop that bow and arrow." + +"Get up and make us," advised Dick Prescott almost placidly. "Now, Mr. +Fits, I hope you realize that we're a few too many for you. As we +suggested some time ago, we're going to order you out of here--and at +once. And we're not going to take any fooling, either." + +"But I can't go out," protested the big fellow. "Why, I'd be found +frozen to death in the blizzard." + +"You won't have to go far," Dick informed him. "You of course know, as +well as we do, that there's a little cook shack at the rear of this +cabin. There's a stove there, some firewood and two barrels of coal. +Now, you're going there----" + +"I won't." + +"Yes, you are," Prescott asserted. "Unless you want us to beat you up +and simply throw you outside into a snowdrift." + +"But I'm hungry," protested Mr. Fits. "Also, it's mighty cold lying +here." + +"Stay right where you are," Dick went on sternly. "Hen, get this +fellow's overcoat and throw it on the floor near the door." + +Dutcher obeyed, though he seemed to feel decidedly nervous about it. + +"Now, Hen," continued the young leader, "go to the food supplies and +pick out two tins of corn beef. Got 'em? Also a loaf of bread. Put the +stuff on the coat." + +This was done. + +"Now, Mr. Fits," went on Dick more steadily still, "it would be unwise +for you to rise and walk to the door. We'd bother you if you did. But +you can crawl over to your coat. Start!" + +"What are you trying to do with me?" appealed the recent bully, in a +voice that was now full of concern. + +"Crawl over to your coat, and we'll tell you the rest of it. If you +don't obey, promptly, we'll take the food part away. Start--crawl!" + +Mr. Fits obeyed. He appeared wholly to have lost his nerve, but Dick +wasn't so sure, for he ordered sharply: + +"Watch out, fellows, that he doesn't play 'possum on us. We can't risk +that, you know." + +Mr. Fits, however, by dint of crawling, reached his overcoat and the +food. + +"Throw the door open, Dave," desired young Prescott. "Now, Mr. Fits, +rise, get your things and hustle around to the shack at the rear. Woe +unto you, if you try to turn and come back into this cabin! We won't +stand any more of you." + +Like one beaten, and knowing it, Fits shambled out into the storm. No +one followed him to see that he reached the shack safely. Any man in +good health could do far more than perform that feat. + +"Shut the door and bar it, please," chattered Dan Dalzell. "Whew, but +having that door open has made this place a cold storage plant!" + +"Fellows," spoke up Dick, "if this blizzard is to continue, we'll +presently freeze to death in here unless we get more firewood while we +can." + +"All right," grinned Dalzell. "I've a suggestion, and it's a bully one. +We'll appoint Hen Dutcher a committee of one on the woodpile. Go out and +study your subject, Hen, and bring in your report--I mean, a cord of +wood." + +"No, you don't!" protested Hen sullenly. + +"Get on, now! Beat your way to the wood pile," ordered Tom Reade. + +"No slang, please," mocked Dave. "How can a fellow who's going to work +hard beat his way, I'd like to know?" + +"If you don't think you'd have to beat your way, to reach the wood pile +to-night," retorted Tom, "then just go out again and face the wind and +storm. Hen, are you going?" + +"No, I'm not," snapped Dutcher. + +"Then I'm a prophet," declared Reade solemnly. "I can see you and me +having trouble." + +"I won't go," cried Hen, with an ugly leer. "I know what you want to +do. You want to drive me out to that shanty, so that big fellow will +jump on me. Go yourself, Mr. Tom Reade." + +"It's too hard a storm for any one fellow to bring in the wood alone," +interjected Dick. "I'll go, and so will Greg. Hen, you'll come with us." + +"No, I won't." + +"Yes, you will," Dick informed him. "We've got to leave some of the +fellows here, to guard the doorway against Mr. Fits. We three will go +and attend to it all, and the rest of the fellows will stay right by the +door and see that Mr. Fits, who has been kind enough to go, stays gone. +Get on your coat, Greg, and you, too, Hen." + +"I'll stay and help guard," proposed Dutcher. + +"A bully guard you'd make," jeered Tom. "Into your coat--or else you'll +go without one." + +Tom took hold of Hen by the collar, propelling him rapidly across the +cabin floor. Dick and Greg were slipping rapidly into coats, caps, +overshoes and mittens. Dick picked up the crowbar and Greg the lantern. +Hen Dutcher, making the gloomy discovery that it must be work or fight, +submitted sulkily. + +"Don't hold the door open. Open it when we holler," was Dick's parting +direction. + +"Whew!" muttered Greg, as they stepped outside. The wind blew in their +faces as they went around the end of the cabin, nearly taking their +breath, while the snow proved, even now, to be above their knees. + +"We can do this in the morning just as well," cried Hen, panting in the +effort to make himself heard. "Let's go back." + +"You try it, if you dare!" challenged Greg, waving the lantern in the +other boy's face. + +Even with that short distance to go, it took the three youngsters some +little time to reach the great pile of logs. Sparks were flying from the +chimney-top of the shack, showing that Mr. Fits was preparing to warm +himself. + +"And that's the way we've treated the fellow who stole mother's +Christmas present, and mine," muttered Dick. + +At last the boys reached the pile of logs. Dick tackled it bravely with +the crowbar. Shortly he had half a dozen logs clear, though he was +panting, both from the beating of the storm and from the hard labor he +had taken upon himself. + +"Get those in," called Dick. "While you're at it I'll pry more loose." + +Hen Dutcher picked up the smallest of the logs, starting for the cabin, +but Greg caught him by the shoulder. + +"See here, Mr. Lazy, if you're going to pick out such easy ones as that, +take two at a time." + +"I can't," sputtered Hen. + +"Then I'll turn you over to Dave Darrin when you get inside." + +Hen thereupon picked up another small log, though he pretended to +stagger under the double burden. Greg also carried two logs, and he +staggered with good reason, for the weight was more than he should have +attempted in the deep snow. + +In the very little time that had passed the snow seemed to have grown +much deeper. By the time the two wood-carriers reached the doorway and +were admitted they felt as though they had done an hour's work of the +hardest kind. + +Dave Darrin stood just inside, booted and capped. + +"Good enough," muttered Dave, holding out the air rifle. "Now, Greg, you +take this pill-shooter and let me go out for the next wood. We'll send a +new fellow every time." + +"Then you can take my place, Darrin," proposed Hen readily. "Give me +that air rifle." + +"Humph!" was all Dave said, as he poked Hen outdoors before him, while +Dalzell and Hazelton took the logs and stacked them at the further end +of the cabin. + +When Dave and Hen returned they carried but a log apiece. + +"Dick says each fellow is to take only one log at a time," reported +Dave. "In that way he thinks we'll last longer and get in more wood. +Now, Hen will stay back. Tom, I see you're in your overcoat and ready. +Come along with me. Dalzell get ready for the next trip, when I come +back with my second log." + +"And I'll be ready to help Dick with the crowbar," called out Hazelton, +running for his coat. + +In this way the Grammar School boys worked rapidly and effectively. Hen +was the only one in the crowd who made any objection to the amount of +work put upon him. Yet it was an hour and a half, from the start, before +Dick would agree that there was wood enough in the cabin. + +"For it may snow for three days, and grow colder all the time," Prescott +explained. "By morning it may be impossible to get out at all. We don't +want to freeze to death." + +Truth to tell, the exercise had put all of the Grammar School boys in a +fine glow. When, at last, the big lot of wood had been moved and stacked +up inside, and they closed the door for good at last, not one of them, +despite his hard work in the biting storm, felt really chilled. + +"Now, what shall we do?" demanded Dave, his eyes dancing. + +"Do you know what time it is?" asked Dick. + +"Not far from ten o'clock." + +"Yes; past bed time for all of us." + +"Do you feel sleepy?" demanded Dave. + +"I don't," chorused four or five. + +"Let's sit up as late as we like, for once," proposed Greg Holmes. +"That's part of the fun of camping." + +"Humph! I want to go to bed," gaped Dutcher. + +"Well, there's nothing to stop you, Hen," responded Dick pleasantly. "If +you're really sleepy our chatting won't keep you awake." + +"What bed shall I take?" inquired Hen. + +"Any one that you like best. There are eight bunks to only seven +fellows, you know." + +Hen took a look, finally deciding on one of the two that were nearest to +the chimney. + +"What blankets shall I use?" he asked. + +Dick looked rather blank at that question. + +"Use the ones you brought with you," advised Harry Hazelton. + +"But I didn't bring any with me," grunted Hen. "Hurry up, for I'm awful +sleepy." + +"Well, you see, Hen," Dick went on, "we're in something of a fix on the +blanket question. Each fellow brought his own, and on a night like this +any fellow who lends any of his bedding is bound to catch cold when the +fire runs lower and the place gets chilly." + +"But I gotter have blankets," whined Dutcher. "I can't freeze, either." + +"I'll tell you what you do, Hen," Dick went on. "There are seven +overcoats in the crowd. They'll keep you warm enough." + +"But there's snow on the coats, or where the snow has melted its water," +objected Hen. "I'll tell you what you do. You fellows are going to sit +up and you can wait for the coats to dry. Let me have a set of blankets, +and some other fellow take the coats when they're dry." + +"Well, of all the nerve!" gasped Tom Reade. + +"Hen," spoke Dave sternly, "if you can't wait for the coats to dry, then +you can sit up in a chair by the fire and throw on another log or two +every time you wake up with a chill!" + +Finding that he couldn't have his own selfish way, Hen, with much +grumbling, arranged the coats on two chairs not far from the fire. When +he considered the coats dry enough he crawled into his chosen bunk, +grumbling at the coarse tick filled only with dried leaves, and was +covered by Dick and Greg. Then the other fellows, after replenishing the +fire, sat down to spin stories. + +"You tell the first yarn, Dick," proposed Tom. + +"Too bad," replied Dick, with a shake of the head. "All I can think of +is what the man on the clubhouse steps said." + +"And what was that?" demanded Tom Reade, leaning forward. + +"I can't tell you, just yet," replied Prescott. + +"Go on! Yes, you can." + +"No; it's a secret." + +"What did the man on the clubhouse steps say?" insisted Dan, jumping up, +seizing the crowbar and poising it over Dick's head. + +"Put down the curling iron, Danny," laughed Prescott. "What the man on +the clubhouse steps said is a secret, and I'm not going to tell you, +just yet, anyway. Some day I'll tell you." + +So Harry Hazelton started the ball rolling with a story. When it was +finished Greg rose and went to the window at the rear of the cabin. + +"I can't see any lights in the shack," he called back. "I guess Fits +must have turned in." + +"I wish we had something better than glass windows between that +scoundrel and ourselves," muttered Hazelton. "After we're asleep all +Fits would have to do would be to smash a light of glass and jump right +in here on us. Chances are that we'd all go on sleeping soundly, too, +while he gathered up the tools and then he'd have us by the hair when we +did wake up." + +"Well, then," proposed Darrin quietly, "we'll fasten the shutters." + +"Quit your kidding," begged Dan. + +"I'm not kidding." + +"But you talk of closing the shutters. There aren't any--worse luck for +us." + +"Aren't there?" challenged Dave. "Say, didn't you fellows know that the +cabin windows have shutters?" + +"Have they?" asked Dick, jumping up. + +"Surest thing going," Dave answered. "Come along and I'll show you." + +He went over to one of the windows, which was set to run sidewise in top +and bottom grooves. On account of the snow and the cold the window stuck +a bit, but at last Dave had it open. Then he reached out and tried to +pull the outside shutter along in its own grooves. + +"Stuck with a bit of ice," Dave reported. "Harry, just bring the +kettle." + +Darrin then poured some of the boiling water upon the sill, where the +shutter stuck. At his next effort the shutter moved. Dave closed it and +pegged it so securely that no trick from the outside could loosen that +shutter. + +This was done in turn to all the other windows. Feeling secure now, the +Grammar School boys found themselves drowsy. Between them they fixed up +the fire. Then blankets were spread in six bunks, after which the tired +youngsters undressed and crawled in under the bedding. + +Silence and slumber reigned in that cosy log cabin in the center of the +forest that was in the grip of one of the biggest blizzards in years. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SIX BOYS AND ANOTHER IN COLD STORAGE + + +When the chatter had ceased and the fellows were all dropping off to +sleep, the interior of the tight old log cabin was still aglow from the +light of the fire. That light was so bright that, one after another, the +boys turned over, their faces to the wall. + +And then no sound was heard, save the weird howling of the wind outside, +with an occasional sputter as a stray gust of snow swept down the broad +chimney to the roaring fire. Every Grammar School boy, as he dropped off +to sleep, knew that a big blizzard was still in progress. + +"I wonder if I'll sleep a wink, for thinking of Mr. Fits, and what he may +try to do to us in the night," thought Dan Dalzell, while his lids fell +heavily. "If I do sleep, it will be to wake every little while with a +start. Well, so much the better. If I wake often I'm likely to hear the +scoundrel if he starts anything around here--when he--thinks--we're--so +drowsy that we're dead to the world--and--_gullup_!" + +That last exclamation was a snore. Dan was conscious of waking once, +though at what time he did not know. He noted that the fire seemed to +have burned very low, and that it was almost wholly dark within the +cabin. Then he dozed. When he awoke once more he could see no glow +whatever from the fire. The lantern that had been left lighted had +flickered out. Dan felt oppressed by a sense of something awesome. + +"What on earth can the time be?" Dan wondered, now quite wide awake and +just slightly uneasy. As he peered about through the dark he made out +what looked very much like a narrow ray of daylight through a crack in +one of the closed shutters. + +"It can't be morning," muttered Dan. "And yet--why is the fire out? We +left a bully one going." + +Dan had thrown his jacket on to the bunk before retiring. Now, he sat +up, reaching for the jacket. + +"Gracious but it's cold!" gasped Dan, as the chill struck him. + +"Shut up!" growled Dave Darrin's drowsy voice. "Don't wake everybody." + +"What's the matter?" chimed in Dick Prescott sleepily. + +"It's--it's cold," chattered Dan, as he sank back under the blankets. +Here he quickly warmed. And he had gotten what he had looked for, a +battered old dollar watch and a box of matches. + +"Keep under the clothes and you'll be all right," returned Dick +soothingly. "But, my! With that fire out some of the fellows are going +to have a cold time getting up and building one in the morning." + +Dan's teeth chattered for a minute or two. Then he sat up once more, +striking a match and holding up his watch. Dalzell stared incredulously +at the hands and the dial before he tossed the extinguished match to the +floor and sank back once more under the blankets. + +"S-s-say, do you fellows know what time it is?" shivered Dan. + +"What time?" called Dick and Dave softly. + +"It's half past nine." + +"Nonsense," ridiculed Dave. "It was after ten when we went to bed." + +"It's after half past nine--in the morning," retorted Dan impressively. + +"Glory, but I believe you're right," ejaculated Prescott. "I can see +just a tiny crack of daylight over by one of the shutters." + +"It's morning, all right," Dan insisted. "And the fire's out. Wake up, +fellows! Who's going to start a new fire?" + +"I will," volunteered Tom Reade. "Great Scott! No; I won't, either," he +ejaculated, after having thrust his legs out of his bunk preparatory to +jumping up. "Oh, don't I wish we could carry a million freight carloads +of this cold air back with us! We could make our fortunes selling it to +a cold storage company." + +"I guess we'll have to call for two volunteers," laughed Dick, after +having thrust a foot out. "I'll volunteer, for one. Who'll be the +other?" + +"Hen Dutcher!" came with wonderful unanimity from the others. + +"Not on your life I won't!" retorted Hen with vigor. "I won't freeze +myself for any gang of fellows, and that's flat. I'm going to dress by a +warm fire when I dress." + +"Well," said Dan ruefully, "as I woke all the others up, I guess it's up +to me to volunteer. Say when you're ready, Dick." + +"Now!" answered Prescott. + +"Please don't be so sudden," pleaded Dan. "Give a fellow just a bit of +warning. Count three; no, make it ten." + +So Dick counted. At ten both he and Dan leaped from their bunks. They +were sorry, the instant their feet struck the floor, which seemed at +least twenty degrees colder than ice. Both shook and shivered as they +pulled on their underclothes, shoes which they did not stop to lace, +then shirts, trousers, vests and jackets. + +"Br-r-r-r-r! M-m-m-m--!" was all the sound Dan could make. He was trying +to frame words, but his teeth wouldn't stop long enough. Dick made a +dive for a lot of excelsior that had come around some of their goods the +day before. This he threw into the dead, cold fireplace. Dan, shaking as +though with ague, brought a log and laid it across the excelsior. Dick +brought some more firewood. In a short time they had it well heaped. +Then Dick poured coal oil over the whole, and Dan, with palsied fingers, +made three attempts before he could open his match box and strike a +match. The temperature in the cabin must have been around zero, for it +was twenty below outside that same morning. + +At last the lighted match reached the oil soaked excelsior, but before +it could ignite, the cold wind that was roaring down the chimney blew it +out. + +Dick was too cold to talk, but he made a dive for his cap, and held it +in place over some of the excelsior, while shaking Dan miserably felt +for another match. This time the tiny flame caught in the excelsior. + +"It's a g-g-g-g-go!" chattered Dick. + +"M-m-m-me for b-b-b-b-bed!" chattered Dan, racing back to his bunk in +the starting light of the fire and diving in under the blankets. + +But Dick Prescott stuck at his post. He saw the excelsior blaze briskly. +Then the flames licked at the oil over the logs. Thirty seconds after +that, and the cabin interior was fairly well lighted by the increasing +blaze. Dick wouldn't go back to his bunk, but stood with his back as +close as he dared to the fire. Yet the cold air was all around him, and, +while his back baked the rest of his body was so cold that his teeth +continued to play against each other in six eight time. + +"Why don't you get back into bed?" called Tom Reade lazily from his +warmth under blankets. But Dick stuck it out. When the first logs were a +seething mass of ruddy fire Dick, now chattering less, brought more +short logs and piled them on in place. The wind, that day, would take +all the wood that was fed to the fire. Gradually Dick stopped +chattering. At last he even felt comfortable. + +"You fellows can get up now just as well as not," he announced. + +Dan was the first to try it. + +"Something like," he announced. That brought Dave Darrin out. One by one +the other fellows followed--all except Hen. + +"You don't catch me out of my bunk until breakfast is ready," announced +young Dutcher. + +Dick wheeled impatiently, at this hint, but Dave Darrin whispered in his +ear: + +"Let it go at that, Dick. But after breakfast we'll make him wash all +the dishes--every one--and spend the rest of the forenoon slicking up +around the place. If he refuses--well, we'll know how to bring him to +time." + +So Hen was ignored for the time being. Dan and Greg busied themselves in +the first breakfast preparations. Dick and Dave, presently, went over to +one of the windows, forcing it back and tugging at the shutter, which +proved to be frozen in place. + +"Bring some hot water, Dan, the minute you get it," urged Dick. This was +soon ready and a small amount of it was poured around the sill, +loosening the shutter, which was shoved back. + +"Glory! Look at the storm!" cried Dick. There was a rush after the glass +window had been closed. + +Never had a prettier snow scene been exposed to view. The snow was still +swirling down, while what had fallen was up level with the window. + +"It's a good four feet deep, already!" cried Dave. + +"And looks as though it would go on snowing for a week," added Tom Reade +joyously. + +"Fellows," announced Dick, "we're surely snowbound. That's something +that we've often dreamed about. Say, wouldn't it be queer if we had a +long spell of this sort of thing, and couldn't--simply couldn't--get +back to Central Grammar by the time school opens again after the +holidays?" + +"If the food holds out it'll be fun," assented Tom Reade. + +Soon another shutter was opened, admitting more daylight. When they got +around to the rear window, and got it open, Dick pointed to the shack in +the rear. + +"Well, we know that Mr. Fits hasn't been out to-day," Prescott laughed. +"Just look at his door. The drifts have piled against it, higher than +the door itself." + +Snow scenes, however, do not feed any one. So the boys turned back to +the kitchen preparations. What if the bacon and eggs didn't look quite +neat enough to suit a real housekeeper? The mess tasted good. So did the +fried potatoes, made out of the left overs from last night's boiled +ones. Coffee, bread and butter and "store pie." No wonder the +youngsters, when they were through with breakfast, and in a cabin now +warm from one end to the other, felt, as Dick expressed it: + +"Say, we're at peace with the whole world, aren't we?" he asked. + +"Yes," agreed Dan solemnly. "Mr. Fits is snowed in tight." + +"We're even at peace with Hen Dutcher, the miserable shirk," rumbled Tom +Reade. + +"That reminds me," said Dick, turning. "Hen, it's up to you to wash all +the dishes, and to do it tidily, too." + +"I won't," retorted Hen defiantly. "I'm no servant to you fellows." + +"Hen," observed Dick, with a light in his eyes that meant business, +"it's past the time now for you to tell us what you'll do and what you +won't do. We didn't invite you here, and you didn't pay any share of the +expenses that we have been under. Accident made you our guest; we didn't +really want you here at all. The same accident that makes it necessary +for you to stay here for the present has kept away the rest of your +crowd--Fred Ripley and his pals. While you stay here you'll do your full +share of the work. If you don't, you'll soon wish you had. Now, your +first job is to wash and dry the dishes. After that you'll tidy up the +cabin. I'll show you what's needed in that line. Get to work!" + +Hen had grown meeker during this address, for he saw that the other +fellows approved all that their leader was saying. + +"All right," he muttered; "I'll do it, but it ain't a square deal. I'm +your guest and I ought not to work." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BLIZZARD TOIL AND A MYSTERY + + +"Our old college chum, Mr. Fits, isn't stirring yet," reported Greg +Holmes, after looking out through the rear window that offered the best +view of the cook shack at the rear. + +"Too bad," muttered Tom Reade, turning away from a front window where he +was watching only the steady fall of the flakes. "If he were a neighbor +worth having he'd come out and offer to shovel the paths." + +"I wonder how cold it is outdoors?" pondered Hazelton aloud. + +"Somewhere below zero, certainly," rejoined Tom. "Suppose we call that +definite enough?" + +"I'd like to get out into this storm," hinted Dave. + +"So would I," nodded Dick with energy. "It would be fine to be out in +the grandest storm that we've ever seen! Down in Gridley I suppose the +folks have the sidewalks cleaned off." + +"Don't you believe it," objected Dan Dalzell. "Not in this storm. Horses +couldn't get through it to drag a plow, and it would take an army of men +to shovel the snow away, for the wind will blow the snow back as fast +as a fellow gets a few bushelfuls moved." + +"Let's try it and see!" proposed Dick, jumping up and going for his +overshoes. + +"Mean it?" demanded Dave joyously. + +"Surely I do." + +"Then I'm with you." Dave ran to where his outdoor apparel lay. "Going +with us, Tom?" + +"It's a bad example to set some of these small boys," gaped Tom with his +most venerable air, "but I'm afraid I can't stay inside while you +fellows are enjoying yourselves." + +Greg, too, hurried to get on his arctic overshoes and his overcoat. Then +he pulled his toboggan cap well down over his ears and neck and donned +his mittens. + +"There are only two snow shovels," announced Dick. "What are the rest of +you going to use?" + +"Here's the fire shovel," answered Greg, producing it. "That will be +good enough for me." + +"Get the door open, Dave," called Dick. + +Darrin unbarred the door, trying to swing it open. Tom Reade sprang to +his aid, for the bottom of the door was frozen to the sill. + +"Bring the hot water, Hen," called Reade. + +"Get it yourself," grumbled Hen. But when Tom turned, and Hen saw his +face, the latter made haste to bring the tea-kettle. + +[Illustration: Dick Plied His Shovel Vigorously.] + +"I'd better pour the water," proposed Tom, taking the kettle. "Dick, you +and Dave begin to yank on the door as soon as you see the hot stream +trickling on below." + +Reade made economical use of the water, yet it took considerable pouring +to loosen up the door at the sill. + +"Better go slow with that water," warned Dutcher. "It's the last there +is in the place." + +"Humph!" retorted Tom. "Once we get outside I guess we can dig our way +to the spring." + +At last the door yielded and swung open. A mass of snow blew in upon +them. Dick leaped at the white wall beyond and began plying his shovel +vigorously. + +"It's light, and can be easily handled," he called back over his +shoulder. + +So Dave waited until Dick had made a start of three or four feet. Then +he moved out beside his chum, while Greg, the iron shovel in hand, stood +at hand waiting for the other two to make room enough for him to be able +to help them. + +Bump! went the door, for those inside, without coats or exercise, felt +the cold that rushed into the cabin. + +"Where to?" called Dave, for the wind carried their voices off in the +howling blast. "To the spring?" + +"We'd better," Dick replied, "as we're out of water." + +Between the depth of the snow and the fury of the storm the Grammar +School boys quickly discovered that they had taken a huge task upon +themselves. After more than ten minutes of laborious shoveling all three +paused, as by common consent, and looked at the work accomplished. They +had gone barely a dozen feet, and under foot, all the way back to the +cabin door, the snow was still some two feet deep. + +The distance from the door to the spring being some ninety feet, it was +plain that more than an hour would be needed for digging the way to the +spring. + +"What's the use of all this trouble?" shouted Greg. "We can melt snow, +anyway." + +"Snow water doesn't taste very good," objected Dave Darrin. + +"Besides, we don't want to admit ourselves stumped by a little snow," +urged Dick. "Come on, fellows; we can make it if we have grit and +industry enough. Here goes!" + +With that Dick Prescott began to shovel harder than ever, so the two +chums added their efforts. Truth to tell, however, ere they had gone +another six feet through the big drifts, their backs were aching. They +could have progressed more rapidly, but for the fact that the wind blew +much of the snow back into the trench they were cutting through the +great banks of white stuff. + +"Are we going to make it?" asked Dave dubiously at last. + +"We've got to," Dick retorted. + +"The other fellows ought to come out and help us," proposed Greg. + +"That's not a very bad idea, either," Dick agreed, as he started +shoveling once more. "Greg, go back and tell them what we want." + +Prescott and Darrin went on shoveling, manfully, until Tom, Dan and +Harry came wallowing along over what there was of a path and took the +shovels. + +After that, with twenty minute shifts, the work went along more rapidly, +though once in a while one of the shovelers had to go back over the +path, digging out where more snow had blown in. + +Hen Dutcher was not asked to share in this strenuous work. He had enough +to do in the cabin, and this outdoor performance was no work, anyway, +for a whiner. + +"Get the axe and some of the buckets," called Dick finally, as he, at +the head of a shift, reached and located the spring. The water was, of +course, covered with a thick armor of ice. Greg moved into position with +the axe, striking fast and hard. Dave and Tom, with the snow shovels, +moved back over the opened way, keeping it clear in defiance of the +gale. As soon as Greg had the ice chopped away sufficiently, Dick, Dan +and Harry began to carry water. There was a water barrel in the cabin. + +"If we had filled this yesterday we wouldn't have had to work so hard +to-day," half grumbled Dan. + +"Well, we want to do something, don't we?" retorted Prescott. "What did +we come out into the woods for? Just to sit around indoors and eat and +sleep?" + +With the utmost industry it took a long time for the youngsters to fill +the water barrel. + +"Now, we've enough for a week, anyway," remarked Dan, as he and Dick +poured the last pailfuls into the barrel. + +"Perhaps enough for forty eight hours, though we don't want to be too +sure," replied Prescott. "We want water enough for cleanliness, for +cooking and for drinking. That will be quite a lot, I guess." + +The others now came in, for their outdoor exercise had taken up more +than two hours of morning time. + +"Wood, next, I suppose," remarked Tom, gazing regretfully at the already +diminished pile of wood. + +"No; there's wood enough to last until to-morrow; probably until the +day after," Dave answered. + +"But do any of you fellows see the storm stopping?" queried Dick. + +"No," Dave and Tom both admitted. + +"Then, as there's no telling how long this good old blizzard will last, +we'll do well to stack all the wood we can carry into this cabin." + +"Why not take a little rest first?" urged Dan. "I'll do my share of the +work, all the time, but I'll admit that I'm tired just now." + +"We can divide into two shifts, then," suggested Dick. "As I don't feel +very tired, I'll get into the first shift. Tom, do you feel plenty +strong?" + +"Strong?" sniffed young Reade. "Humph! I'm ready, right now, to meet and +vanquish the biggest Bermuda onion that you can produce." + +Dave had already started for the door. These three leaders of boydom in +Gridley began to ply their shovels vigorously, starting from a point in +the path already made to the spring. Working through drifts, in some +instances more than six feet deep, it was slow work. After twenty +minutes they went back to the cabin, Greg, Harry and Dan coming out to +take up the work. + +Hen Dutcher was still toiling hard, for he had concluded that industry +was the only way to save himself unpleasant happenings. + +"How soon are you fellows going to knock off and begin to think about +dinner?" demanded Hen. + +"When we get good enough appetites, I suppose," laughed Dick. + +"Appetites?" sniffed Dutcher. "Huh! I could eat one side of a beef +critter, right now." + +"Go out in the snow and help one of the fellows, then," advised Tom +dryly. "After that you'll be able to eat the whole critter." + +"But when are you going to eat?" insisted Hen. "It's noon now." + +"We'll eat in another hour, I guess, if that suits the crowd," replied +Dick. + +"I'm ready to eat right now," coaxed Dutcher. + +"But you don't belong to the crowd," retorted Dave Darrin grimly. +"Unless you want to put up with bread you'll have to wait until the +crowd is ready." + +"Potatoes will be the first thing ready for dinner, Hen," observed +Prescott mildly. "As you're not doing anything outdoors, you might get +busy peeling a big pan of potatoes." + +"See here," flared Dutcher, "I told you before that I'm no servant, +and----" + +But Dick had risen, for the clock informed him that it was time to +relieve the shift out in the deep snow. + +"Suit yourself, Hen," replied Prescott. "If you don't peel the +potatoes, and some one else has to do it, then you won't eat any hot +dinner to-day. That's flat." + +"Isn't Dick Prescott just a mean bully?" growled Hen to himself, as the +"relief" stepped outdoors to resume work. + +"See that Hen keeps busy peeling and washing potatoes," Dick advised +Greg in passing. + +Then the three rested shovelers took up the task. The path was now +approaching the cook shack at the rear of the cabin. + +"Queer, isn't it," inquired Dave, "that we don't see a blessed thing of +Mr. Fits to-day, and that there's no smoke going up his chimney." + +"Perhaps he has left these parts," suggested Tom, rather hopefully. + +"How could he?" Dave wanted to know. + +"Maybe he went last night." + +"I doubt if he could get away, even last night, at the hour when we +turned him adrift," Darrin contended. "A man might have gone a quarter +of a mile, but he couldn't go a whole mile." + +"He hasn't been out to-day, at any rate," declared Dick. "There isn't a +trace of a track anywhere near the shack." + +"Let's dig up to that window and look in," suggested Dave. + +This was done. A few minutes later the three boys stood at the window, +glancing in at all they could see of the small interior. Beyond the +stove and chairs there appeared to be nothing to see. + +"Well, our dear friend Fits isn't on the premises--that's certain," +remarked Dave Darrin. + +Which conclusion might be true, or, again, might not. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A VISITOR BY THE AIR ROUTE + + +When the boys awoke next morning the fire was still burning, though +there was not enough of it left to prevent a thin layer of ice forming +over the surface of the water in the barrel. Tom Reade slipped from his +bunk, drawing on shoes and trousers, and quickly placed a few more logs +over the embers. A few minutes after that it was warm enough for the +rest to slip out of their bunks and dress hurriedly--all except Hen +Dutcher. + +Greg soon busied himself, tea-kettle in hand, with thawing the ice +around the bottoms of the sliding shutters. + +"No tracks at the cook shack," announced young Holmes. "And say, +fellows, it has stopped snowing." + +"Well, for once in my life," smiled Dick, "I think I've seen enough +snow. I just wonder how the folks in Gridley are getting through it." + +"Oh, they must have the streets broken, after a fashion, and some sort +of paths on the main sidewalks," responded Tom Reade judicially. + +All were now at the windows, looking out over the scene. At only two of +the windows, however, could a level view be obtained; the two others +were completely blocked by piled up snow. The rest of the windows could +be used for observation purposes when the Grammar School lads placed +boxes on which to stand. + +"The snow looks soft yet," declared Dave. + +"It is soft; you can see that in the way that the wind catches it up in +flurries," Dick argued. + +"Then we can't get far in it to-day," decided Tom Reade. "We can't +travel far over the snow until we have a cold spell for twenty-four +hours that will freeze the top of the snow into a hard crust." + +"When that crust comes we just will travel," muttered Dave. + +"Getting tired of camp?" grinned Dalzell. + +"No, Danny Grin; but you forget something." + +"What?" + +"We've got a duty to perform. As soon as we can get where there's a +telephone, we've got to send word to the Gridley folks that Mr. Fits is +in these parts." + +"But Mr. Fits isn't here," Greg objected. + +"That's so," Darrin admitted slowly. "And yet the rascal must be +somewhere around, for he couldn't get far in such a blizzard as we've +been going through." + +"What I'm even more anxious about than Mr. Fits is telephoning the news +to the home folks that we're all safe here, and as snug and comfortable +as can be," Dick interposed. "Whee! But our folks must be worried about +us. They'll never let us go camping again in winter." + +"Oh, I don't know about that," argued Dave. "If we only prove to them +that we can weather such a time as this, without sickness or disaster, +they'll be ready to believe that we can take care of ourselves anywhere +on earth." + +"Why, there isn't anything very hard about taking care of ourselves +here," Dick continued. "All we have to do is to show a little industry. +We've got everything at hand that we could possibly need. But I wish the +home folks knew how comfy and happy we are." + +"I'd like to see myself out of this," grumbled Hen Dutcher, lying +huddled in his bunk under the pile of overcoats. "Say, fellows, is it +warm enough for me to get up yet?" + +As all of the real boys in the party were already up, none of them +thought it necessary to answer Hen, who presently slid out of his bunk +and began to dress rapidly. + +"What are we going to have to eat this morning, and when?" Hen wanted to +know. + +"I guess we'll have a light breakfast this morning," hinted Reade. + +"Why?" demanded Dutcher, his jaw dropping. + +"So we can have a better appetite for the turkey we brought along. +Fellows, don't you think we'd better eat that turkey to-day? It may not +keep." + +"Turkey?" blurted Hen Dutcher, his eyes dancing with anticipated +pleasure. "I didn't know you had any grub as fine as that." + +"I've been thinking," proposed Prescott, "that we might as well have +some of that turkey for breakfast this morning." + +"Why, is it already cooked?" cried Hen. + +"Oh, no," Dick admitted. + +"Then let's have something else for breakfast and keep the turkey until +noon," suggested Dutcher. "I can't wait for my breakfast." + +"What do you fellows say?" asked Dick, putting it to a vote, but +ignoring Hen. "Shall it be turkey for breakfast?" + +"Turkey!" solemnly voted five Grammar School boys. + +"I call it a shame to treat a fellow like this," grumbled Hen. "To make +a fellow wait so long for his breakfast when he's starving to death!" + +But none of the others gave any sign that they heard. Dick went to a +shelf on which lay many packages of the food they had brought with them +two days before. Dick took down a plain little wooden box and stepped to +the table. + +"Put on about eight eggs, and boil 'em hard, will you, Greg?" Dick +asked. "Tom might tackle the coffee-making this morning. Dan and Harry +can get potatoes ready." + +"But where's the turkey, then?" queried Hen, watching Dick as he opened +the box. + +"Right here," proclaimed young Prescott, removing the lid. + +"Why, that's--that's codfish, salted and dried!" exploded Hen. + +"Well, isn't codfish Cape Cod turkey?" demanded Reade, with a grin. + +"Is that the only kind of turkey you have with you?" asked Hen. + +"The only kind," smiled Dick. "Don't you like codfish, Hen?" + +"Not a little bit," grumbled Dutcher. + +"Then you can cut out breakfast, and you'll have a fine appetite at +noon," offered Dan consolingly. + +"It seems to me that you fellows use me as meanly as you know how," +flared Hen. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves." + +"We are," Tom assured the grumbler. + +Though the codfish should have been soaked over night, Dick accomplished +much the same effect by repeatedly scalding it. Then he put it on to +cook in boiling water, and next made a flour sauce in the way that his +mother had patiently taught him. The hard boiled eggs, after being +cooled in cold water, were sliced up and put over the dish when it was +ready. This, with potatoes, bread and butter and weak coffee with +condensed milk, made a meal that satisfied all hands. Hen didn't like +the meal, but he ate more of it than any one else. + +"What are we going to do to-day for fun?" Dan wanted to know as +breakfast drew to a close. + +"Shovel paths and stock up with water and firewood, I guess," smiled +Dick. + +"Pshaw! I'm sorry it has to be all work, and that we can't have any +fun," remarked Harry Hazelton. "I've just been longing to go hunting and +get a rabbit for a stew." + +"We'll be here for days and days yet," answered Dick. "I guess we'll be +able to find plenty of fun before our camping frolic is over." + +"It's fun, just being here and living this way," Darrin declared. + +Something beat against one of the windows, causing the boys to look +around curiously. + +"Just a twig blown off from some tree," declared Tom. + +"Is it?" floated back from Greg, who had leaped up and was now hurrying +toward the window in question. "It's a pigeon--that's what it is. And +the poor thing looks perishing, too." + +In truth Mr. Pigeon did seem to be about spent. The poor thing huddled +against the sash, as if trying to shelter itself from the biting wind +and the fine dust of blown snow. + +"Bring the tea-kettle, some one," called Greg, and Dick did so. + +"Pour the water on so that I can get the window open," Greg directed. +"Just enough to soften the ice so that the sash will move back. Be +careful not to let any of the hot water scald the pigeon's feet." + +Working gently, in order not to alarm the spent bird, Dick and Greg soon +had the window open, and Greg drew in the all but frozen little flyer. + +"Say, we can have pigeon stew, or pie, if anyone knows how to make a +pie," cried Hen Dutcher. + +"You scoundrel!" breathed Greg fiercely. "Your stomach makes a brute of +you, Hen Dutcher!" + +"Oh, what's the sense of being silly about nothing but just a bird?" +insisted Hen. + +"I'll fight any fellow who proposes eating this poor little wayfarer," +announced Greg. + +"Whatcher getting mad about?" snapped Hen. "Pigeons are made just for +eating, and we can----" + +"Hold this bird, Dan," urged Greg, passing the pigeon to Dalzell and +stepping briskly toward Hen, who, alarmed, retreated, protesting: + +"Huh! What are you getting red headed about? Can't you stand a joke?" + +"I don't like your style of jokes," retorted Greg, stopping the pursuit. +"Don't let me hear any more of 'em." + +"In fact, Hen," added Tom, "your continued silence would be the finest +thing you could do for us." + +"See here!" called Dan. "This is one of our own pigeons--right out of +dad's cote. This is the speckled one we call 'Tit-bit.'" + +"Say, that seems almost like a letter from home, doesn't it?" asked +Dick, his face beaming. "We'll give our friend the best we have. Put the +little fellow in a box, in some soft stuff, not too close to the fire, +Dan. And I'll start to boil some of the corn meal. That'll make good +food for the little chap when he's feeling more like himself." + +In less than half an hour Mr. Pigeon was feeling vastly better. He now +hopped about the place, using his wings every now and then in a short +flight. Dan was the only one who could get near the little creature +now. So it was Dalzell who caught the pigeon and fed it its breakfast of +corn meal mush when it was ready. + +Soon after the pigeon took to flying more and more. He seemed attracted +towards the windows, flying straight at them three or four times. + +"Your pigeon isn't showing good manners, Dan," teased Tom. "He is +showing as plainly as possible that he doesn't like this crowd." + +"Most likely it's Hen he objects to," murmured Dalzell, with a grin. +"But I'll tell you what I think Tit-bit wants. He's warm, fed and feels +as strong as ever. What he wants, now, is to hit up a pace for Gridley +and get back into the cote with his mates." + +"How long would it take him to get there?" wondered Tom. + +"Why, something like ten or twelve minutes, probably," Dan answered. + +"Whee! If we could make it that fast we'd be taking frequent trips," +sighed Reade. + +"I wouldn't make the trip more'n one way. I'd stay in Gridley after I +got there," grumbled Hen, but no one paid any heed to him. + +"See here," broke in Dick suddenly, "if that pigeon wants to go home, +and is able to, why can't we make him take a message for us? I believe +we can--if some one at the other end would only see it." + +"Dad always looks the birds over when he feeds 'em in the morning," Dan +declared. + +"Wait until I get a piece of paper," rejoined Prescott, almost +breathless from the hold the idea had taken on him. He got the paper, +drew out a pencil, and sat down to write, calling off the words as he +wrote them: + +"To the home folks. We're all here at the cabin, snug as can be, with +plenty of water, firewood and food, and having a jolly time. Don't worry +about us. We're having a jolly time." + +"Tell 'em I'm here," begged Hen Dutcher. "My folks might like to know." + +So Dick added that information and signed his name. Next he rolled the +paper up into a cylinder. + +"Dan, catch that precious bird of yours," begged the young leader. +Dalzell presently accomplished that purpose. Dick tied a string around +the pigeon's neck, loosely enough not to choke the bird, and yet +securely enough so that the noose could not slip off. Then the paper +cylinder was made fast to the string. + +"Open the window on the side towards Gridley, Greg," called Dick. "When +it's open, Dan, you give your pigeon a start." + +As Dan let go the bird fluttered from the sill to the snow. Then, after +a moment, little Mr. Pigeon spread his wings and soared skyward. Soon +the boys had seen the last of the small traveler, still headed in the +direction of home. + +"Our folks will soon have the news," declared Dan proudly. + +"And, oh--hang it!" gasped Dick disgustedly. "I forgot to add even a +word about Mr. Fits!" + +"Well, he isn't here with us, at any rate," Dave answered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MYSTERIOUS VOICES OF THE NIGHT + + +"Wow! Wow-ow-ow-oo-whoo-oo-oo!" + +It would be impossible to convey the weird sound in words. + +Six boys and a whiner were asleep in their bunks in the log cabin when +that awesome sound first smote the air. + +Outside the wind had nearly died down. Dick Prescott, the first to +waken, felt a cold chill creep down his spine. + +"Wow-ow-ow-ow-ow! Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo!" + +"Wh-wh-what is it?" gasped Dan Dalzell, sitting up in his bunk. + +"I don't know," Dick admitted. + +Again came the fearsome sound, now louder than ever. Dave Darrin and Tom +Reade were now awake and startled. + +"What on earth can it be?" demanded Tom. + +"It must be Fred Ripley's ghost party," suggested Greg. + +"Bosh! Fred Ripley would have to be a real ghost before he could get +over the deep snow in the woods," Dick retorted. + +Once more came the sound, more piercing than ever. Dick leaped from his +bunk and began to dress. Dave and Greg followed suit. + +"We'll do our best to find out what it is, fellows," Dick promised them. + +Hen Dutcher was chattering and half sobbing. + +"If I--I ever g-g-get out of this alive," he chattered, "I'll never +stick around y-y-y-you fellows again. I was a f-f-f-fool to let you +fellows coax me into staying here." + +"Get out, then!" retorted Tom Reade half savagely, as he landed on the +floor and began to dress. All were soon up except Hen, who, when a more +dismal and bloodcurdling wail than ever came along, hid his head under +one of the overcoats that covered him. + +"It's a wild cat--that's what it is," declared Greg Holmes. + +"Only one objection to that idea," returned Dick Prescott. "No one has +ever heard of a wild cat in these parts in forty years." + +"Then it's some one out perishing in the cold," suggested Dave. + +"Whoever might be out in the cold wouldn't have much time to yell like +that about it," argued Dick. "A wayfarer, out in the cold and deep snow +to-night, would soon lie down and freeze to death." + +But now something happened that made the blood of all the listeners run +cold. + +"Dea-ath sta-a-alks through the for-r-r-rest!" came the wailing chant. + +"That must be the Ripley gang," contended Dick. + +"But how can it be? How could they get through the deep snow that won't +bear 'em?" Tom wanted to know. + +"Then what can it be?" + +"Mr. Fits," suggested Harry Hazelton. + +"But Fits isn't in the shack, or wasn't," Dave argued. "We haven't seen +him around, outdoors or in the shack, since the night we ordered him to +go there. If Mr. Fits got away from this neighborhood it was simply +impossible for him to get back since then." + +"A-a-a-all who he-ear my voi-oi-oice shall die-ie within the +hou-ou-our!" came the wail once more. + +"O-o-o-h! Please don't!" screamed Hen Dutcher, burrowing in under the +massed overcoats. "Please spare me! I'll be a good fellow after this!" + +"Keep quiet!" ordered Tom, striding over to the bunk and giving Hen +three or four vigorous prods. "If you don't we'll throw you outside!" + +"But it's just aw-aw-aw-awful!" chattered the terrified Hen. + +Truth to tell, none of the boys were feeling at his best, just then. +Dick's glance passed the face of the clock, showing the hour to be just +midnight. + +Had it been possible to travel through the forest, the Grammar School +boys would have felt sure that it was Fred Ripley's crew. Then they +would have gone forth to see what was up. But feeling sure that they +were the only living beings in this part of the forest, it was +impossible to account for the awful sounds that came from without. What +made the wailing sound still more frightful was the fact that it all +seemed a part of the wind that was now rising gradually. And the clearly +uttered, sepulchral words made it all real enough. The wind never talks +in words. + +Again came the wailing, though this time without words. + +"I never believed there were such things as real ghosts," declared Harry +Hazelton. + +"Then you're a fool. Everybody knows that there are ghosts--and they're +fine people that do noble work!" proclaimed chattering Hen from under +the weight of clothing. He was trying to win the favor of the ghosts. + +"If there are any ghosts around here I wish one of 'em would pick you up +in a sheet, take you away and drop you in your own home in Gridley," +declared Tom, becoming decidedly irritated by this babyish imitation of +a boy. + +"Oh, please don't say that!" begged Hen piteously. "The ghost might hear +you." + +"If he does, and takes Tom's advice," hinted Dave, "we'll soon see it +happen." + +That was enough to send thirteen year old Hen burrowing more frantically +than before. + +The cabin was warm and bright inside. Dick, while trying to puzzle out +the matter to his satisfaction, carried four more logs to the fire, one +after another, and placed them. + +Not one of the Grammar School boys had any desire to go to bed at that +time, save Hen, who wouldn't dare to be anywhere else. In fact, the +Dutcher youngster may have wondered whether he could stand on his feet +if he slipped out and into his clothes. + +One by one the boys found seats. Dan picked up the air rifle and sat +with it across his lap. + +"Whoever it is that's doing this trick has surely got us going," laughed +Dick uneasily. + +"He has," affirmed Dave. "I don't believe in ghosts, but, under the +circumstances, this thing that's annoying us is more than some creepy. +If we could explain it I don't believe we'd let it worry us any. But I +suppose human beings are always most afraid of what they cannot +understand." + +The wailings came at less frequent intervals now, though they continued +to be sufficiently awesome. But when the clock showed two minutes before +the hour of one in the morning these words came in a blast: + +"The hou-ou-our of de-eath is at hand. The Gr-r-rim Rea-eaper is at the +doo-oor!" + +"Then please, please, please--GO AWAY!" screamed Hen, his teeth clacking +a bone solo. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +DICK STRIKES A REAL FIND + + +Then half an hour passed, a quarter-gale of wind making the only sound +that came from outside. + +"I think that must have been a sailor's ghost," remarked Prescott, at +last, "and he got his bearings wrong. He said, half an hour ago, that he +was coming in--but he didn't." + +"How can you t-t-talk about g-g-g-ghosts like that?" shuddered Dutcher, +whose face was still invisible to the others. + +"We might as well go to bed," proposed Dave, using one hand to cover an +imitation yawn that was intended to urge the others to courage. +"Whatever wild spirit was traveling around here has wandered off in some +other direction." + +"Don't go to bed," pleaded Hen. "I won't have any one to talk to if all +you fellows go to sleep." + +For answer Tom Reade climbed up into his bunk, though he kept his shirt +and trousers on. + +"I'll tell you what," offered Dick. "We'll take turns staying up on +guard, just in case something real should happen. The fellow who stays +up will walk back and forth, to be sure of remaining awake. He'll also +see to it that the fire is kept up." + +"Who'll take the first watch?" Harry wanted to know. + +"Let Hen do it!" came, in the same breath, from Dave, Tom and Greg. + +"I--I wouldn't be any good at that," pleaded Dutcher anxiously. + +"No," smiled Dick dryly, "I don't believe you would. As I proposed the +guard stunt, I'll take the first dose of my own medicine. Later in the +night I'll call Dave, and when he's through he'll call Tom. All you +fellows pile back into bed and get some sleep." + +"You take the air rifle, then," urged Dan, passing it over. As this +rather insignificant weapon might possibly be of some use, in the event +of more definite trouble, Dick accepted it. + +One after another the fellows dropped off to sleep, all except Hen, who +lay very still, with heart thumping wildly. + +Half an hour after Prescott's tour of guard duty began three wild wails, +wordless, smote the air, one after the other. Dave, Tom and Dan awoke. + +"It's all right," Dick called to them, softly. "Nothing but noises. +Don't be afraid but I'll call you if its needed." + +So those who had a chance, dozed off. Hen didn't have any chance; his +cowardly soul wasn't made for sleep when there was any danger about. + +It was twenty minutes past three when Dick stepped over and nudged Dave +gently, next whispering: + +"It's about time for you, now. You call Tom at a little after five, and +then tell him to call us all at seven o'clock." + +Dave hurriedly dressed and took the air rifle from Dick, the latter then +getting back into his bunk and soon dropping off in sleep. + +"Seven o'clock! All out! Step lively! Change cars for breakfast!" were +the next words that Dick Prescott heard. + +By the time that the fellows had dressed, in the warm cabin, and had +started to pry the shutters back, the first dim promise of daylight was +showing in the east. A little later it was broad daylight. + +By this time, too, after most of the fellows had slept soundly for +hours, the situation seemed altogether different. Even Dutcher slipped +out of his bunk and began to dress briskly. + +"Say," he grinned, "but you fellows were somewhat scared last night." + +"Yes," admitted Dave. "Weren't you?" + +"Not a bit," asserted Hen bravely. "Sa-ay----" + +He paused, looking around him in wonderment, then demanded tartly: + +"What on earth are you fellows laughing at?" + +"Laughing just to--to think what boobies we were when we had the brave +Hen Dutcher with us to set us a better example," answered Tom Reade +sarcastically. "No use in talking, Hen! You're the only fellow in this +outfit that has any sand." + +"Say, you needn't try to get too funny, now," remarked Hen suspiciously. +"You fellows were all so scared that maybe you thought I was as bad as +you. But I was only putting it on, just to see how far you'd all go." + +"You must have been satisfied, then," returned Dick grimly, "for we +surely were uneasy." + +Hen blandly took to himself all the credit that was offered him for his +"courage," seeing which the Grammar School boys winked slyly one at +another, then busied themselves with the tasks of getting breakfast. + +"To-day's programme will be more work, I suppose," began Tom, as the +lads seated themselves around the table. + +"As I see it, it will have to be a day of work," Dick nodded. "For that +matter, we're learning that it's no use for boys to go camping, +especially in the winter, unless they're willing to work." + +"What's to be done first?" Dave wanted to know. + +"Well, we'll need more wood, and more water," Prescott replied. + +"As it doesn't make much difference which we do first, I'm for getting +the wood, if that suits the rest of you. Our path of yesterday is blown +over a bit with snow, but we can dig it out again in a little while. +And, while we're at that, we may as well dig through to the cook shack +again. I want to get a good look in there this time." + +"Expect to find Mr. Fits there?" Dave asked. + +"Hardly, if we didn't find him there yesterday. But, the more I think +about it, the more I feel certain that the noises of last night were in +some way connected with the shack." + +"I'd like to believe that," muttered Tom. "If that's the case, some of +us might sleep in there to-night and catch hold of the noise maker." + +"Who'd sleep there?" grimaced Dan. + +"Well," responded Reade slowly, "we might let Hen sleep there. He's the +bravest of the lot, you know, and so he's just the fellow for the job." + +Dutcher choked over the food he was swallowing, and shifted his feet +uneasily. + +Soon after breakfast was over Dick, Dave and Tom stepped outside with +the shovels. Here and there the path had been left fairly clear, though +at other points they had to shovel industriously through the new drifts. +At last, however, they reached the same window through which they had +looked in the day before. + +"No sign of any one inside," muttered Dick. "Nor have we seen any signs +of fire from the chimney. I can see the stove, now, but there doesn't +seem to be any sign of fire in it." + +"Let's dig around to the door," proposed Dave, "and go inside." + +Accordingly the three bent to the new work. A few minutes later Dick +gave a tug at the latch-string and the door swung open. + +"It doesn't seem as cold in here as you'd expect to find it," murmured +Reade. + +"That's because we've just come from where it's a good deal colder," Tom +answered. + +Dick stepped over to the cook stove, raising a lid. + +"Look, fellows; here are a few live coals left here yet." + +Dave and Tom joined him, staring at the embers in some astonishment. + +"Yet there's no one here, and no tracks in the snow outside," observed +Tom. "Say, if the tenant of this place can go over the snow without +leaving a trail, it does look rather ghostly, eh?" + +"A ghost wouldn't need warmth," Dick retorted promptly. + +"Then what's the answer?" challenged Dave. + +Dick shook his head, but went to one window after the other. + +"No one left or entered here by way of the window," Prescott soon +announced. "It struck me that Mr. Fits might have used a window, instead +of a door, but if so, there'd be tracks under the windows." + +"Mr. Fits hasn't been here at all," Dave replied, with a good deal of +positiveness. "When we turned him out into the storm he went somewhere +else." + +"Then how about the ghostly noises, and the embers in the stove?" Reade +wanted to know. + +"Ask Dick," prompted Dave. + +"I can't tell you," laughed Prescott. "I guess you'll have to ask Hen +Dutcher." + +"Well, there's no one here but ourselves," Tom went on, as the boys +stood staring about the tiny shack. "As far as finding anything here is +concerned we may as well go about our task of wood gathering." + +"I wish we could get at the bottom of the ghost mystery," muttered Dick +wistfully. + +"So do I," agreed Reade, "but wishes aren't snow plows, and never were. +Fred Ripley and his cronies would be mean enough to come down here and +spoil our rest at night, but they'd never be brave enough to face the +long trip through the deep snow." + +"Well, let's go along and get in the wood," Dick urged. So they went, +and more than an hour was spent in carrying logs into the main cabin. Of +course Greg, Dan and Harry assisted in this, while Hen was put to his +usual morning task of washing dishes and straightening things in the +cabin. + +For dinner the main dish was a platter of steak, broiled over the wood +ashes in the fireplace, where the fire was briefly allowed to burn +nearly out. + +In the afternoon water hauling was the main occupation, as well as the +only sport, for the boys had tried the slight crust on the snow, and had +found that it would not bear. + +"If it grows colder, and stays so for twenty four hours," declared +Dalzell, "then we'll have a crust on all this white stuff that will be +strong enough to bear our weight. Then ho for tramping, and for hunting +with the air rifle!" + +"Huh-m-m-m!" answered Harry. "Rabbits and rabbit stew!" + +After the water hauling the Grammar School boys settled themselves for +some quiet enjoyment inside the cabin. Dave, Tom, Harry and Greg picked +out books and sat down to read near the windows. Dick, on the other +hand, elected to rove about the interior of the cabin, looking into odd +nooks. + +"This water barrel might be a little nearer the fire," proposed +Prescott. "Then we wouldn't have to break a crust of ice mornings. Dan, +you don't seem to be doing anything. Suppose you come and help move the +barrel." + +"All right," nodded Dalzell, jumping up. "Where do you want to put it?" + +Dick pointed to the spot. As the barrel was two thirds full of water it +had to be rolled carefully, to avoid upsetting or spilling. It was no +easy task for the two boys. + +"Hen, you might come and help us a minute," Dick proposed. + +"Whatcher take me for?" Dutcher grumbled. Whereat Tom Reade glanced +grimly up from his book to remark: + +"Son, when you're spoken to, say 'yes, sir,' and hustle!" + +Something in Tom's look induced Hen to move rather promptly. The three +boys succeeded in moving the barrel a couple of feet toward the spot +desired. + +"Hullo," muttered Dick, halting and glancing down at the ground where +the barrel had stood since their arrival. "Look at that stone." + +The stone lay partly imbedded in the dirt flooring of the cabin. It was +a flat, nearly round stone, some fifteen inches in diameter. + +"That stone looks like a lid, doesn't it?" Dick asked. + +"Cover to a gold mine," sneered Hen. + +Dick did not answer, but stepped over, bent and began to pry at the +edges of the stone. It did not move easily. Dan brought the crowbar and +quietly handed it to his chum. + +"What have you got?" demanded Tom, glancing up from his book. + +"Don't know yet," Dick laughed. + +By the aid of the crowbar Dick pried the stone loose from its setting in +the ground. + +"There's a hole underneath, anyway," announced Dick. +"And--Geewhillikins! Fellows, drop everything but your good names, and +come here--quick! Hustle!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +KEEN ON THE TRAIL OF THE PUZZLE + + +Breathless with excitement, Dick crouched over the hole in the dirt +floor, unwilling to make a move until the other fellows had joined him. +That didn't take long. + +Hen Dutcher was one of the first to get a glimpse at what had filled +Prescott with so much excitement. + +"Gracious! It must be Captain Kidd's treasure!" gasped Hen. + +"Guess again," replied Tom Reade. "A pirate would be doing a poor +business who didn't get a bigger lot of loot than that together." + +"But this is a valuable lot of stuff," argued Harry Hazelton, as he took +a look. + +"I wonder who could have buried it here?" demanded Dan. + +"I think I know," nodded Dick. "Now, then, stand back a little and I'll +take the stuff out." + +The first thing that Prescott drew out of the hole was a paper parcel. +This he unwrapped, then gave a whoop of joy. + +"The fan I bought mother for Christmas!" he almost shouted. + +Something yellowish glinted and caught his eye down in the hole. Dick +fished the object out. + +"Who's is this?" he queried, holding up a curiously engraved gold watch. + +"It looks like Dr. Bentley's," replied Dave Darrin, eying the timepiece. +"I saw it often enough when I had diphtheria and he was taking my +pulse." + +"Yes; it's Dr. Bentley's," glowed Dick. "Won't he be the happy man, +though?" + +"He will if we manage to get it back to him," assented Tom dryly. + +Then a dozen rings, some of them set with gems, and all tied on a +string, came to light. There were half a dozen boxes containing jewelry; +these boxes undoubtedly had been stolen from women in stores or on the +street. A few more rather valuable articles came to light, and then +Dick, after opening one jeweler's box and looking inside, emitted a +whoop of wild joy. + +"This must be the very watch that Fits stole from our parlor--the watch +intended for my Christmas present," Prescott cried. "Yes, sir; I'll +wager this is my watch." + +But at last Dick put it aside with the other loot, and then applied +himself to emptying the hole of its few remaining treasures. + +"There must be five or six hundred dollars' worth of stuff in the lot," +guessed Tom. + +"More than that," said Dave. + +"So, now, of course, you fellows can guess who hid the stuff here," Dick +went on. "It was Mr. Fits who stole Dr. Bentley's watch, and who stole +mine, too. So Mr. Fits must have hidden here all this stuff, which +represents Mr. Fits's stealings." + +"Then all I have to say," observed Tom, "is that if our friend Fits +would apply the same amount of industry to honest work he'd be a +successful man." + +"Until the day before Christmas," Dick continued, "Fits had at least two +confederates, whom we helped to put in jail. Probably this stuff was +stolen by them all, and then hidden." + +"And that was why Fits came back here, and was so anxious to get us +out," muttered Dave. "Now, I begin to understand why Fits wanted a +hiding place for his plunder even more than for himself. He wanted to +leave the stuff in this lonely cabin, and be sure it was safe, until he +could find a place where he could sell it. Naturally our coming here +upset Mr. Fits's plans, and so bothered him into the bargain." + +While the other boys were busy with examining the other pieces of loot, +Dick took many an alternate glance at his mother's fan and his own +watch. + +"I wish we could get this back to Gridley at once, and turn it over to +the rightful owners," sighed Greg. + +"That wouldn't be the way to go about it, though," Dick responded. + +"Why not?" + +"Because stolen property, when recovered, has to be turned over to the +police first of all. Then, if the thief is caught, the police have the +loot as evidence against the thief." + +"How long do the police keep the stuff?" demanded Greg. + +"Until the thief's trial, if there is one, is over." + +"Then, if Fits is caught, Mr. Dick, it may be a long time before you'll +have the right to wear your own watch." + +"I can wear it now, out here," retorted Prescott, slipping the silver +watch into a vest pocket and passing the chain through a buttonhole. + +"On second thought, though, I won't. We're not sure that Mr. Fits may +not reappear. If he did, and found me wearing a watch, he would +understand, and might get fighting mad. If Fits had a fellow rascal or +two along with him, they could put up more fight than we boys could +take care of. If Fits should come along, and not see any proof that we +had found his plunder, he might wait until we are all out of the way +before he made any effort to find it. Oh! While I think of it, Greg, I +wish you and Hen would take buckets and go to the spring for water." + +Dutcher grumbled a bit, though he felt that it wasn't safe to rebel +openly. He and Greg were gone some time, for, as usual, the ice over the +top of the spring had to be chopped away before the water could be +obtained. + +So, when Hen came in, after pouring his bucketful into the barrel, he +noted that the plunder had vanished. + +"What did you do with all the stuff?" Greg demanded curiously. + +"It has vanished," smiled Dick. + +Greg said no more, but started outside, followed by Hen. Later in the +afternoon Greg was told, in whispers, where the plunder had been hidden +anew. Hen, too, demanded this information, but the Grammar School boys +thought it best not to enlighten him. If Dutcher were caught alone in +the cabin by a fellow like Mr. Fits, Hen wasn't likely to hold out his +knowledge against threats, and Fits must not be given another chance at +the plunder he had first stolen and then hidden. + +Soon after darkness came on supper was ready. + +"I wonder if we're going to hear the ghosts to-night," muttered Greg. + +"No one knows that," Dick answered. "But I think we'd better keep one +fellow on guard when the rest go to bed. The guard can take a two hour +trick. He can keep the fire going, and, if anything happens, he can warn +the other fellows in turn." + +So, at nine o'clock, when the others turned in, Greg, the air rifle in +one hand, paced softly up and down the cabin, watching, listening. + +But nothing happened during Greg's watch. At eleven he called Tom Reade +to relieve him. + +Just before midnight the same wailings as on the night before started in +again. Within sixty seconds all of the Grammar School boys were awake +and listening. The wailings continued, and soon came the same sepulchral +warnings of death approaching. + +"Queer that the racket doesn't bother us the way it did last night, +isn't it?" smiled Dick Prescott. + +"It's awful enough!" shivered Hen Dutcher. But he was the only one in +the cabin who was much alarmed. + +"We went all through it last night, and nothing happened," chuckled +Dave. "To-night our address is Missouri, and we'll have to be shown +what we're asked to believe." + +"Call us promptly, Tom, if anything real happens," Dick urged, and sank +back in his bedding to compose himself for more sleep. Soon Reade's +watch was a lonely one, for most of his companions were either snoring +or breathing heavily. + +"Whoever got this trick up will have to think of something newer and +more 'scary,'" thought Reade, as he paced the floor. + +"Well, you fellows might as well wake up," called Dick, after what +seemed to Greg like an interval of possibly five minutes. Greg was the +only boy, beside Dutcher, who hadn't been called in the night for a +share in the watch duty. + +"Say, I thought you didn't go on guard until five o'clock, Dick," +remarked Greg drowsily. + +"I didn't, but it's seven, now," Dick laughed. "It'll be broad daylight +in a few minutes more. Move! Get a hustle on!" + +Hen Dutcher, though awake, didn't stir. Greg and Harry Hazelton soon +tumbled out of their bunks. Then something odd dawned upon them. + +"Where are the rest of the fellows?" questioned Greg. "I don't see Dave, +Tom or Dan." + +"You should have long range vision to see them," smiled Dick. "They've +been gone nearly an hour." + +"Gone? Where?" Harry wanted to know. + +"To the nearest house--for help." + +"Help against what?" This from Holmes. + +"Greg, the shack behind us had a tenant last night," Dick went on +rapidly. "Mr. Fits was in the shack. At a little after five this morning +I saw him as plainly as I now see you. He was standing by the nearest +window of the shack, and there were sparks traveling up the chimney." + +"How on earth did you see him?" demanded Harry. "Did you shove a shutter +back?" + +"Come with me, and I'll show you." + +That caught even Hen, who made up in curiosity what he lacked in +courage. Dutcher was out of his bunk in an instant, slipping on shoes +and some clothing before he followed the others. + +"You see," Dick was explaining, "I've been thinking of this matter ever +since we heard the first 'ghost' noises. I knew the noises had to come +from something. Now, while I was scared, I don't believe in such things +as ghosts. Well, then, the noise must have come from some human throat. +When I got up at five this morning I began to think harder than ever. +Then I went and got this gimlet out of the little tool box and bored a +tiny hole through the wood in this shutter. When I peeped I saw a light, +surely enough, in the shack. There were sparks, too, coming up out of +the chimney. Then I saw a shadow, and next I saw Mr. Fits himself at the +window for a moment. Next I waked up Dave, Tom and Dan, and they dressed +as quietly as they could, and took some peeps, too. Then Dave said it +was so cold that perhaps the snow had a real crust on it. He went to the +door and opened it. We all went out on the snow. We found the crust so +hard and thick that we could stamp on it with force. Dave said that that +was a good enough crust for him. So off he started, and Tom and Dan went +with him. They ought to be back, with men to help, in an hour more." + +"Hurrah!" glowed Greg. "Oh, I do hope that the constables get here in +time to nab Mr. Fits." + +"It'll be a good thing, all around, if that happens," nodded Dick. "But +now--are you fellows hungry?" + +Greg and Harry scurried away to wash hands and faces. + +"I think you had a cheek to let three fellows go after help," grumbled +Hen. + +"Well, why?" asked Dick patiently. + +"S'pose old Fitsey takes it into his head to come over here, on top of +the crust, while there's just us four here?" shuddered Hen. + +"There are only three of us here, Dutcher. You don't count," interposed +Greg ironically. + +"Fitsey'd eat us up alive if he guessed the truth and came over here," +contended Dutcher stubbornly. "Hey, Dick! What on earth are you doing?" + +"Shoving one of the shutters back," Prescott answered, going on with his +task. + +"Hey! Don't do that!" pleaded Hen hoarsely, running over to Dick and +grabbing one of the latter's arms. "Why, this is--it's suicide, that's +what it is!" + +"Yes?" Dick queried calmly, shaking off Hen's hold and going on with his +task. + +"It certainly is," Dutcher maintained fearfully. "Why, with a shutter +open, Fitsey can jump right through the window glass and be in here on +top of us in a jiffy. Please close the shutter." + +"Not much!" Prescott rejoined energetically, and threw back the shutter +in question. "This window doesn't look out upon the shack, but it does +look out the way that Dave and the others will return. I want to see the +fellows when they come." + +"Of course; we all do," Greg broke in. "Dick you keep your eye mainly on +the landscape beyond the window. Harry and I will get breakfast." + +Dutcher groaned over the risk he knew they were taking, but he felt +certain that no word of his would change the plan, so he wisely held +his peace after that. + +But breakfast was on and eaten, and still there was no sign of returning +Grammar School boys. + +"Dave and his crowd must-'a' gone through the deep snow at some point +where it was soft," wailed Hen. "That's just what they've done." + +"Oh--dry up!" Greg retorted. + +"If they ain't back here in another hour you fellows will feel the same +way I do about it," Hen Dutcher predicted stubbornly. + +Dick Prescott made no answer, though, truth to tell, he was beginning to +worry inwardly. A mishap in the forest, on this bitterly freezing +morning, would be no simple matter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HEN TURNS HIS VOICE LOOSE + + +"I see some one coming!" called Greg, who, after breakfast, had taken up +the post by the unshuttered window. + +Crash! Hen Dutcher dropped the crockery plate he was drying, then +plunged headlong into Dick's bunk, burrowing under the blankets. + +"It's our crowd!" cried Dick joyously, as he leaped to Greg Holmes's +side. "And there are two men with 'em." + +"Oh, pshaw! Why didn't you say so before?" came in a half smothered +voice as Dutcher thrust his head partly from under the blankets. Then he +added, suddenly, in a quaking voice: + +"Say, you fellows better hide--quick! If old Fitsey is in the cook shack +there's bound to be some shooting." + +With that Dutcher hid his head once more. But Dick, Greg and Harry paid +no heed to him. They were busy getting on coats, caps and mittens. A few +moments later they had the door open, and stood out on the hard crust of +snow, waiting to receive the approaching party. + +Dave espied them, and waved one hand without calling. + +"You'd better get back in here! You'll get hurt!" warned Hen Dutcher, +standing well back from the doorway. + +Like a flash Dick leaped for the doorway. + +"Hen, you keep quiet in there. Don't set up a yell at the very time when +a little stealth is needed." + +"But it's dangerous to fool with people like Fitsey!" choked Hen. + +"Keep quiet! If you can't help, don't hinder. Don't be an utter pinhead, +Hen." + +Now that they were in sight of the cabin, Dave and his companions, and +the two men with them, put on extra speed. Dick stole off to meet the +approaching ones. + +"Fits hasn't gotten away, has he?" hailed Dave, in a hoarse undertone. + +"We haven't seen him go," Dick replied. "For all we know he's still in +the shack. Officers?" + +Dick indicated the two men. + +"One of them is a constable," nodded Dave; "the other is a neighbor +sworn in as a deputy." + +"If your thief is around here, sonny," grinned the constable, "we'll +soon have him where he won't trouble you. Easy, now, with the talk. We +don't want to give the fellow any warning." + +The constable and his deputy slipped down in front of the log cabin, +followed by the boys. + +"Look out! That rascal will shoot!" screamed Hen, in an agony of fear +about something. + +At that instant the door of the shack flew open. The two men were just +in time to see Mr. Fits step out, on snowshoes. In another instant Dick +& Co., behind the officers, also got a glimpse of the fellow. + +"Hold on, there, neighbor," advised the constable coolly. "Just wait +until we have a word with you." + +Officer and deputy ran over the snowcrust. Mr. Fits, looking, or +pretending to be, a bit dazed, stood as if he expected to wait for the +men to come up with him. But suddenly a grin appeared on the face of the +rascal. + +"Fine morning and fine crust for a race," he announced, and moved away a +few yards, with an easy gliding movement, on the snowshoes. + +"Halt, there!" called the constable firmly, reaching back to his hip +pocket. + +The deputy reached for his revolver, but, in his excitement, instead of +aiming or firing, he hurled the weapon at the head of Mr. Fits. The +pistol went by the head of the rascal, then struck the crust and skimmed +on ahead of him. + +"Much obliged!" called back Fits, now moving fast. + +"Don't try to pick up that weapon!" shouted the constable, running as +swiftly as he could over the crust. "If you do, I'll shoot." + +"I reckon you'll shoot anyway," jeered Fits, making a swoop and picking +up the revolver that had been thrown at him. + +Constable Dock fired promptly. But Fits wheeled, a weapon now in his own +hand. + +Three jets of fire leaped swiftly from the muzzle of the pistol. Three +sharp explosions followed, and bullets whistled back over the snow. + +[Illustration: "Halt, there!"] + +Constable Dock halted, dropping to one knee, for one of the leaden +pellets had gone close to his left ear. One of the bullets hit a tree +just behind Prescott with a spiteful chug. Dick felt queer, but he was +too much in motion to stop himself just then. + +"Stop or I'll bring you down!" bellowed Constable Dock, taking careful +aim. An instant later the officer fired, but at that very instant Mr. +Fits skimmed off at a sharp angle with his late course, and so he +escaped uninjured. + +A derisive shout came back from the fugitive. He was now out of range of +the officer's revolver, and knew it. The constable, too, realized the +fact. He started in pursuit as rapidly as he could make it, calling to +his deputy to follow. + +"Going to join the chase?" called Dave to Dick. + +"What's the use?" panted Prescott, halting. "Mr. Fits has a good start +and can make fine speed. We could catch only the constable." + +So the Grammar School boys slowed down. Constable Dock and his deputy +were now almost out of sight among the trees, and no eye among the boys +could see how much in the lead Mr. Fits was. + +"They'll never catch him," sighed Dave. + +"I'm afraid not," agreed Dick. + +"And so, one of these nights, Mr. Fits will come back, ready to pay us +back for our plan to turn him over to the police." + +"We took care of him before, didn't we?" Prescott wanted to know. + +"Yes; but Fits was alone, then, and the blizzard kept him from getting +away to get help of his own choice kind. Now he can travel as much as he +likes. We'll hear from him again, all right," Dave Darrin wound up. + +"If we do, then we'll find a way to take care of him once more," hinted +Prescott. + +"Or we might vote that we've had a jolly good lot of camping, and go +home," suggested Harry. + +"What? Let that rascal chase us out of the woods?" flared Dick. "All who +want to go home may start. I'll stay here as long as I want to, even if +I have to camp alone." + +"You know pretty well, Dick, that you won't have to stay in camp alone," +offered Dave. + +"Of course not," agreed Tom Reade. "We'll all stick. We'll hope that +Fitsey won't come back. If he does, then we'll try to make him sorry +that he returned." + +From the doorway of the log cabin Hen Dutcher was seen to be peering +forth cautiously. + +"Say, you fellows," hailed Hen complainingly, "I thought you were never +coming back. I thought you had all got scared and ran away." + +"Then why didn't you run away with us?" Dave called out. + +"That isn't my style," proclaimed Dutcher, throwing out his chest. "I'm +no baby." + +"No; you're the one hero of the whole outfit," grinned Tom. + +"Did they catch old Fitsey?" queried Hen. + +"Thanks to you, Hen, they didn't," Dave answered. + +"Me? What did I have to do with the scoundrel getting away?" demanded +Dutcher, with an offended air. + +"You had to turn your voice loose," Darrin informed him. "That gave Mr. +Fits warning. Then you yelled out again, just as we reached the cabin. +Fits had had time to get on his snowshoes, and then he started. Whew, +but snowshoes seem to be as swift as skates would be on the ice." + +"Huh! You needn't blame me," sniffed Hen. "I didn't have anything to do +with the rascal getting away. I'd have gone after him if I had had +snowshoes." + +The absurdity of this was so apparent that Dick & Co. burst into a +chorus of laughter. + +"Huh!" sneered Hen, though his face went very red. "You fellows think +you're the only winds that ever blew." + +"You wrong us, Hen," declared Tom solemnly. "Not one of us would lay any +claim to 'blowing' as much as you do." + +One thing the boys had noted, even while carrying on their conversation, +and that was that no sounds of shots had come to their ears. The chances +were that Mr. Fits had gained so on his pursuers that the latter had +given up the chase. + +Presently appetite asserted itself, and dinner was prepared and eaten. +It was after the meal that Constable Dock and his deputy came by the +door. + +"Any thing in there to eat, youngsters?" inquired the constable, looking +in through the doorway. + +"Plenty, I think. Come in, sir--you and your friend," Dick made answer. + +The boys bustled about, making coffee, broiling steak and reheating the +potatoes that had been left over from their own meal. This, with bread +and butter, satisfied the hunger of their guests. + +In the meantime the constable described how he and his friend had +followed the game for some five miles or more. + +"It's my opinion that the scoundrel won't come back here at all," +declared the officer. + +"We have been afraid that he would, by night, or later," admitted Dick +Prescott. + +"No!" retorted the constable with emphasis. "That rascal would figure +that I would be lying in wait here for him. So he'll give the spot a +wide berth. He doesn't want to be arrested." + +"You'll be welcome to use the cook shack, if you want to wait there for +him," volunteered Dick. + +"Not a bit of use, my boy. I'd only be wasting my time. You've seen your +last of that fellow around here. But now, another matter. One of your +mates told me, Prescott, that you had uncovered a lot of plunder here in +the cabin." + +"Yes, sir; we did," Dick admitted. + +"Where is it?" questioned the constable. + +Dick started toward the new hiding place, then halted, turning. + +"May I ask, Mr. Dock, why you want to know?" + +"Because," replied the constable promptly, "as an officer of the law I +want to take that plunder in charge. In turn I'll hand it over to the +Gridley police." + +"Oh, all right, sir." + +Dick went to the hiding place, bringing forth all the plunder, including +his own watch and his mother's fan. + +"You'll give us a receipt for these articles, won't you, Mr. Dock?" + +"Certainly, if you want one," nodded the constable. "Just place the +stuff on the table, and I'll list it." + +This was done, and Constable Dock wrote out a receipt in due form, which +he handed to young Prescott. + +"And now I'll be off and away," said the constable, rising and pulling +on a heavy, short hunting coat. "I'll telephone to the Gridley police, +of course. You won't see the rascal again. Rest easy on that score." + +"I hope we won't see him," muttered Dave, as the boys stood outside the +cabin watching the departing officers. + +"If we do we'll get out of it better than Mr. Fits does, anyway," half +boasted Dick. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +YOUNG MR. COME-BACK & CO. + + +"Say, you fellows----" began Hen, stepping out and joining Dick & Co. + +All six turned to gaze at Dutcher. Then they looked at each other, the +same thought in six minds. It was Dick who spoke: + +"Hen, we came near overlooking the fact that this is your chance to get +back to your friends. Get on your coat, your cap and mittens, and----" + +"Whatcher talking about?" demanded Dutcher, looking almost startled. + +"Hey! Mr. Dock!" bellowed Dave, using his hands as a megaphone. + +The rather distant constable turned to look back. + +"Please wait! There's a boy to go with you," Dave called. + +"A-a-a-ll right," the answer came back. + +"Hurry, Hen," Dick advised. + +"But--but I don't want to go," protested Hen. + +"You'd better," Dick advised him. "We housed you while it was necessary, +but now there's a chance to get back to your uncle's, so you may as well +go." + +"I don't want----" + +"Never mind about that," Dick continued firmly. "You'll be better off at +your uncle's, and Constable Dock is headed that way." + +"But my uncle doesn't want me," whined Hen. + +"Then why should you think we can endure you, Hen, if your uncle can't?" +demanded Tom Reade, with a short laugh. + +"Don't keep the constable waiting, Hen," Dick pressed him. "Get your +motion started." + +"Oh, well, if you fellows want to be mean, I suppose I'll have to go," +faltered Hen. "But I was enjoying myself here." + +"You'll enjoy yourself better still with your aunt," Dick urged with a +smile. "Besides, you'll have your aunt's good cooking and a real bed to +sleep in. If the country highways aren't broken out yet, they will be in +a day or two, and then you can get back to Gridley." + +"All right, if you fellows bounce me out of camp," sighed Hen ruefully, +as he began to pull on his overcoat. "But I think you're about the +meanest----" + +"Save the rest of it, Anvil, if you please, until we're all at home in +Gridley," Dave begged him. + +"Say, you stop calling me Anvil," snarled Dutcher. "I don't like that +name." + +"Why not?" pursued Dave. "It fits you." + +"Tell that boy to hurry up, if he's going with us," bawled Mr. Dock from +a distance. + +"Brace, Hen," Tom advised. "There, now you're ready. Good-bye, and come +again when you're grown up." + +"Those fellows don't know much about good manners," thought Hen Dutcher +ruefully, as he started to run over the snow crust. + +"Now that Hen is gone we'll be able to stay here a day or two longer," +Dave announced. "We'll have the food to do it with." + +"There's one good point about Hen Dutcher, anyway," grimaced Tom Reade. +"He's a good, sincere eater." + +"He was eating us out of camp," Dick replied. "Now, fellows, with Hen +and Fits gone, we're all by ourselves--just the crowd that we want. The +snowcrust will bear, and we can move about. We ought to have a jolly +time tramping about through the woods." + +"Hunting!" proposed Harry. "We've got the air rifle." + +"Fishing," added Tom. "We brought tackle on purpose. We must be able to +find some pond hereabouts." + +"But say!" Dick suddenly interjected. "Do you fellows realize that we +haven't been in the old shack since Mr. Fits left it? Queer as it may +seem to some of you, I believe that Fitsey had a hiding place even in +that little room. Let's go in there and see what we can root out in the +way of mystery explained." + +All six of the boys trooped around to the smaller structure at the rear +of their camp. The door was still partly open. Dick, in advance, pushed +his way inside. + +"Well of all the boobies, what do you think of us?" demanded young +Prescott, in deep disgust. + +"We wouldn't take any blue ribbons at a brains' show--that's certain," +affirmed Tom Reade. + +The cook shack went up to a pitched roof. Up under the roof some +brackets had been made fast to the rafters. These brackets held a +quantity of rough boards that looked as though they had been stored up +there, years ago, to season indoors. Now, a rope hung down from this +artificial garret. + +"Let's see what we can find up there," suggested Dick. Taking hold of +the rope, after shedding his overcoat, Prescott ascended, hand over +hand. + +"This is where Fitsey stayed daytimes," Dick called down. "And it's not +a bad place, either. Here are two fur robes." + +Dick tumbled them down below, followed by four pairs of warm blankets. + +"It's all stolen stuff, I'll wager," Tom called. + +"Likely enough," agreed Dick. + +"See if you can find a lot of gold and gems up there," proposed Greg +Holmes. + +"Nothing in that line. But stand below, two of you, and catch." + +Dick began to toss down canned goods, sealed paper cartons of crackers, +canned fruits and the like. + +"And to think that Fitsey took some of our poor food, when he had a +grocery store like that up aloft!" complained Harry Hazelton. + +"Well, he didn't want us to suspect what he had hidden away around the +premises," Dick answered. + +"Anything more up there?" called Dave. + +"Nothing but one Grammar School boy," Dick announced, showing himself at +the edge of the simple loft. "I'm coming down. Each of you climb up +here, in turn, and see what a bully hiding place our old college chum +had." + +One after another the boys inspected the place. It was small, but every +inch had been made to count by the late occupant. + +"Fitsey pulled the rope up after him, and stayed here sleeping mostly in +the daytime," Tom called down, when aloft. "Say, fellows, after this, +when we're on the trail of a mystery, we want to look on the other side +of anything as big as a lumber pile." + +Blankets, fur robes and food were transferred to the log cabin. + +"But just how much better are we than thieves?" Greg suddenly asked. +"We've just been taking things that didn't belong to us." + +For a moment or two that was a poser, for every member of Dick & Co. +tried, always, to be as open and honest as the day itself. + +"Oh, well," grunted Dick at last, "we haven't been robbing Mr. Fits, for +a man of his habits never has anything of his own. All that he has he +steals from some one else." + +"Then ought we not to try to find owners for the food we've brought in +from the shack?" queried Dave. + +"Yes; if we can," agreed Dick. "But I doubt if the former rightful +owners of this food stuff would know their own goods. It's just such +stuff as one might find in anyone of a thousand grocery stores. We +couldn't identify any of these cans, ourselves, if we found it in any +one else's house. You see, these labels are all of common brands of +tinned foods. On the whole, fellows, I believe we have a clear right to +eat this food if we happen to need it while we're in the woods. It isn't +like stuff that a former owner could remember and identify." + +The more they talked it over, the clearer this view became to the +Grammar School boys. + +"We've time for a couple of hours of hunting, now, if any of you care to +go," Dick suggested. "We'll have daylight that long. But it won't do, +with any chance of Mr. Fits being about, for all of us to go at once. We +must leave at least two of the fellows, and they must close the shutters +and keep the bar on the door. The two fellows who stay behind can also +begin to get things ready against the supper hour. I'll be one of the +two to stay. Who'll be the other." + +"No, you won't, Dick Prescott," retorted Greg. "You've been taking first +tricks at all the hard work. You've worked like a horse in this camp. +To-day you'll take the first trick at having some of the fun. I'll be +one of the two to stay in camp." + +Dan also volunteered. Thereupon the other four, Harry carrying the air +rifle, started off into the woods, jogging along over the solid crust. +Though the air was keenly cold, to the boys it was all delightful. They +were warmly clad, even their feet being protected by heavy overshoes. +With caps drawn down over their ears, and warm mittens on their hands, +why should they mind if the mercury stood somewhat below zero? + +Three of them were out on a trip of exploration. Hazelton, however, was +the young Nimrod. He wanted to bag a rabbit! Yet, seeing no game, Harry +finally persuaded Tom Reade to carry the rifle. + +Then at last, all unexpectedly, Hazelton caught sight of a rabbit. The +little animal had hopped briskly over the snow, coming within sight of +the Grammar School boys. Ears pointing straight up, the rabbit sat on +its haunches, curiously gazing at these humans. + +"Tom! Psst! ps-st! Halt!" called Harry hoarsely over the snow. + +"Hey?" answered Reade, and all four came to a halt. + +"There's a rabbit," called Harry softly, pointing. + +"Bless me, so there is," agreed Tom. + +"Well, why don't you shoot it? What are you carrying that air rifle +for?" + +"To oblige you, I guess," responded Tom, not making any motion to raise +the rifle. "If you want to shoot the rabbit, come here and get the +rifle." + +"If I move it will scare him away," protested Hazelton. "Quick! Get him +before he goes off on a run!" + +Sighting, Tom raised the rifle, glancing through the sights at the +little white furred thing. + +"Confound him! He looks too cute for anything," muttered Tom. "I haven't +the heart----" + +Abruptly Reade lowered the air rifle. + +"See here, Harry, if your mouth is watering for rabbit stew you come +here and get the gun, and do the shooting yourself. I'd feel like a +criminal, taking the life of that cute, innocent little thing!" + +"Huh!" growled Harry. + +"Come here and get the rifle, if you want to shoot," insisted Tom. + +Harry looked about as queer as he felt, for a moment. Then, picking up a +piece of branch that had blown from a tree, Hazelton shied it at the +rabbit, which promptly scampered away. + +"That's much the better way to go hunting," nodded Dick approvingly. + +After that no more was said about hunting. Tom continued to carry the +air rifle, though plainly the weapon was all for show. + +By and by the Grammar School boys came across a pond, an eighth of a +mile wide, with a brook emptying into it. + +"It will be worth while bringing the tackle to this place to-morrow, and +trying for fish," proposed Dick. + +"And then, if you get one, you'll get a tender hearted streak and put it +right back in the water," grumbled Harry. + +"Perhaps," Dick laughed. "But say, fellows, the sun is setting, and +we're a good way from camp. Hadn't we better turn back?" + +"My empty stomach says 'yes,'" nodded Darrin. So the youngsters trudged +back over their course. It was dark before they got near the log cabin. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" came a croaking laugh from inside the cabin as Dick and +his chums neared the door. "That's a good one." + +"Hen Dutcher's voice!" muttered Dave. "How on earth did that fellow get +back here?" + +Dick reached for the latch-string, opening the door. Then these four +Grammar School boys received a big surprise. + +Hen Dutcher was there, but so were Fred Ripley, Bert Dodge and a half +dozen other young fellows, all of them older and larger than the members +of Dick & Co. To make the intrusion still more impudent, Ripley's crowd +were all at table, eating the best that the cabin afforded. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +NOT A LOVE FEAST + + +At the same instant that Dick and his friends, all utterly astounded, +peered into the cabin from the doorway, Fred Ripley felt the draught and +looked around. + +"Hullo!" shouted Fred gleefully. "Here are the other babies!" + +"What are you fellows trying to do here?" demanded Dick sternly, as he +strode into the cabin. + +"Minding our business, booby!" leered Fred. + +"You've no right here. Get out!" Dick ordered. + +All of the intruding feasters were now regarding Prescott mockingly. But +perhaps Hen Dutcher, who was seated on the furthest side of the table +from the door, was most pleased of all. + +"Now, you want to shut your mouth, Dick Prescott, and keep it shut," +advised Hen. "You're not running this show, and you'll find it out +mighty soon if you don't keep your tongue behind your teeth." + +"My, how brave you've grown, Hen!" remarked Dick scornfully. "You were +taken in and looked after, and now you've brought this gang of hoodlums +down on us." + +"Be careful there, small boy!" warned Fred Ripley, flushing. + +"As for you, Ripley," Dick went on, "wouldn't your father be proud to +find you with a crowd like this, and stealing food that belongs to other +people?" + +"See here, you little rat," snarled Fred inelegantly, as he leaped up, +kicking his chair over and striding toward the Prescott group, "you want +to keep your tongue under control, or you're going to be sorry that you +didn't." + +"Let's take the kid down to the spring, break the ice and give his head +a soaking in the spring water," proposed Bert Dodge, rising, too, and +coming forward. + +"Hurrah!" cheered Hen. "That's the stuff. Not a bit too good, either, +for a chump like Dick Prescott!" + +But Dick wouldn't pay any heed to this renegade Grammar School boy who +had gone back on his own mates. + +"And where are the two friends we left here?" demanded Dick, undismayed +by the advance of Fred Ripley and Bert Dodge. Tom and Dave drew a little +closer to their chum, while Harry Hazelton flanked Dave. + +"What do we know about your friends?" sneered Ripley. "What do we know +about any of your cheap crowd?" + +"And what do you imagine we care about them, either?" demanded Dodge. + +"Are you fellows going to get out of here?" Dick demanded. + +"When we get good and ready," retorted Fred, grinning. "That may be +to-morrow or the next day." + +"I suppose," Dick went on angrily, "you think you have a perfect right +to stay here and to go on stealing our food?" + +"You call me a thief, do you?" flared Fred. + +"Do you consider yourself any better?" Dick asked. He was at white heat, +fighting mad, and cared little what he said to these rowdyish intruders. + +"Grab 'em, fellows!" ordered Fred, making a leap at Dick, while the +other intruders rose from their places at table. + +But Dick's right fist landed on Ripley's face, leaving a big, red mark +there, while Dave's ready foot tripped the bully, sending him to the +floor. Ripley was on his feet again in a twinkling. + +"Get back, Ripley!" ordered Dick, making a dash at him. "See here, you +rowdy, I'm smaller than you are, but I'm willing to go outdoors with you +and see if I can't teach you some manners." + +"And I'll take pleasure in introducing myself to Bert Dodge at the same +time," announced Darrin, his eyes flashing. + +"I'll do my best with any other tough who'll oblige me," added Tom +Reade. + +"Bullies, toughs, rowdies, are we?" raged Fred Ripley, on his guard, +though just prudent enough to keep out of reach of Dick's fists. There +was a look in Prescott's eyes that the lawyer's self-willed son didn't +wholly like. + +"You fellows know just what you are," Dick went on bitterly. "There is +no use in our calling you names. You can supply the names yourselves. +And, if you're afraid to fight us, man to man, then you know well enough +what else you are! Now, what has become of Greg Holmes and Dan Dalzell?" + +"Oh, very likely they're still running as fast as they can go toward +Gridley," jeered Fred. + +"That's a lie, and no one knows it better than you!" flashed Dick. "Greg +and Dan are not of the running kind." + +"Oh, I'm a liar, also, am I?" choked Ripley. + +"You know yourself better than any one else can," was Prescott's +taunting answer. + +"Come on, fellows!" urged Fred. "Rush 'em!" + +There was a prompt rush. Dick and his friends did not flinch, but met +the attack squarely. Hen Dutcher was the only boy present who did not +display much eagerness to get at too close quarters in the fray. + +"Give it to 'em!" cheered Dutcher, hopping about at a safe distance +while the scuffle went on. "They need plenty! Give Dick Prescott and +Darrin each an extra one for me." + +The odds against more numerous and larger boys were so heavy that it was +not long ere Dick, Dave, Tom and Harry were borne down to the dirt +floor. Nor were they handled generously. All four received many an +unfair blow. Fred's temper was up, for Dick had struck him on the nose, +bringing blood. + +"Now we'll give 'em the rope treatment," laughed Ripley, hoarsely, when +Dick and his chums had all been downed and were being held. + +First a noose was slipped over Dick's wrists, and made fast. Dave was +the next so favored. Tom and Harry rapidly shared that fate. + +"Now lead these cattle to the stable!" roared Fred, gripping Dick by the +collar and yanking him to his feet. + +The battle being lost, Dick and the others could do no more than submit +to being pushed outside the cabin, Hen Dutcher following and making +faces at all of the captives. + +Around to the cook shack the four Grammar School boys were led. The door +was flung open, and in they were thrust. + +There on the floor, bound hand and foot and gagged, lay Greg and Dan. +These two members of Dick & Co. had been overpowered and placed here, +but only one look at their faces was needed to show that both still had +their fighting blood up. + +"Now, don't let us hear anything from you boobies," commanded Fred +Ripley, "or I'll send a committee out here to attend to you in mighty +short order!" + +Then the door of the cook shack was closed on Dick & Co. + +"Well, of all the downright mean tricks!" grumbled Tom Reade. + +"That's too complimentary a name for such human truck!" cried Dave +Darrin angrily. "Their first scheme, to come down here in the night and +try to scare us, wasn't so fearfully mean, but this is assault and +robbery." + +"Never mind about it, now," Dick answered. "Our wrath will keep--no +doubt about that. But our first task is to get our hands free, if we +can. And Greg and Dan must feel pretty tired of being gagged as well as +tied." + +A snort, the only noise he could make, was Greg Holmes's answer. + +"How are we going to get ourselves free?" Tom demanded: "I've been +trying to wriggle my hands out, but I'll admit that I can't do it." + +"Get over here in front of me," urged Dick, "and I'll show you just how +I can free you. Fred Ripley, like other blunderers, is likely to +overlook a few things." + +It was not cold in the cook shack, for there was still some fire going +in the stove. The embers also threw a slight amount of illumination into +the room. + +Dick dropped to his knees behind Tom Reade, and, reaching for the cords +that bound Tom's wrists behind his back, began to gnaw. + +"Well, by hokey!" gasped Tom. "I never had head enough to think of +that." + +"If we were gagged like Greg and Dan, we couldn't do the trick," Dave +rejoined. "Come here, Harry; get in front of me and I'll gnaw your +wrists free." + +Dick paused long enough in his work to say: + +"No need, Dave. When Tom is once free he can use his knife and have us +all turned loose in a jiffy." + +Prescott possessed strong, fine teeth. He gnawed away at the cords to +such good advantage that Reade soon had the use of his hands. + +"Now, I'll do as much for you, Dick," Tom proposed, reaching for his +pocket knife. + +Within a very short time all six were free, and Greg and Dan, their +mouths free of the gags, told indignantly how they had been engaged in +preparing supper when the door opened and Ripley and his crowd burst in. + +"And now I suppose the rowdies are eating up the supper," finished Greg +vengefully. + +"I guess they've got it about finished by now," Prescott added grimly. +"But we six are free. If we're any good we'll get our cabin back and +make it our castle against all comers." + +"Good!" cried Dave, a fiery flash in his eyes. "But how?" + +"That's what we've got to figure out," Dick replied thoughtfully. "But +we'll do it." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE COOK SHACK DISASTER + + +"First of all," Dick continued, "it's going to be chilly, soon, in this +shack. Put on some fuel, Harry, won't you?" + +Hazelton complied with the request. By a common instinct all of the +Grammar School boys gathered closely around the stove, extending their +hands and warming themselves. + +"The battle can't be ours a bit too soon," observed Tom Reade dryly. +"We've simply got to eat soon. Too bad we carted all of Mr. Fits's +larder into the cabin this afternoon." + +"But what are we going to do about retaking our cabin," pressed that +budding young war horse, Darrin. + +"I'm thinking fast over every plan that comes to me," Dick answered +thoughtfully. "If any of you other fellows think of one first don't be +backward with it. I'll promise not to be jealous." + +"Hang that Dutcher hound, anyway!" growled Tom Reade angrily. "I can't +get over his mean, dirty work." + +"The best way is not to mention the fellow," Dick answered coldly. "He's +not worth it." + +"Oh, he isn't, eh?" muttered a boy who had just stolen softly to the +outside of the shack door and now stood there listening. That +eavesdropper was Hen Dutcher, who had slipped out of the cabin to see +how life fared with the boys whom he didn't like. + +Then Hen, still eavesdropping, listened to enough more to make sure that +Dick & Co. were all of them free of their bonds, and that these +enterprising Grammar School boys were actually discussing plans to rout +the enemy from the log cabin. + +"Oh, I'll have to hustle back and tell this to Ripley's crew," chuckled +Hen gleefully. "It'll amuse 'em." + +"What's that?" demanded Ripley, when the informer returned to the cabin +with his news. "Prescott and his collection of babies are going to make +trouble for us, are they? Can't they stand a good joke like men? Come +along, fellows, and we'll teach 'em a little more about being real men." + +"We'd better take something in our hands, then," proposed Dodge firmly. +"Those little fellows are regular spitfires. They may have something +ready to throw at us when we break into the shack." + +"Oh, take axes, then, if you are afraid of the little kids," retorted +Fred scornfully. "My hands are enough for me." + +Four or five of the rowdyish crowd picked up sticks that they had +carried through the forest that afternoon. Thus prepared, they went out +of the log cabin on tip-toe, making their way stealthily to the door of +the shack. + +"Say, fellows," Harry was at that moment proposing to his friends +inside, "hadn't we better drop the bar across the door? We can't tell +when we may receive an unexpected visit from----" + +"How will now do?" roared Fred Ripley, throwing the shack door open +before Greg could drop the bar in place. "So you young smarties managed +to free yourselves, did you? And you thought you'd find a way to put a +trick over on us? You'll have to take to getting up earlier in the day, +if you expect to get the better of any crowd that I'm leading." + +Ripley's crew were now all of them in the shack, crowding the little +place. + +"What is it that you're scheming to do, anyway?" leered Fred, enjoying +the looks of dismay on the faces of Dick & Co. "See here, don't you +little boys think that it's about time for you all to line up and start +a footrace out of these woods?" + +"No; we don't," Dick retorted defiantly. "We think it's high time, +though, for your crowd to start just such a race." + +"Hold your tongue, freshie!" ordered Fred roughly. + +"Not for you!" Dick snapped, his temper going up as the mercury climbs +on a hot day. + +"Then I'll make you!" offered young Ripley, making a spring at Dick. + +But Dick & Co. were now all together, standing in a firm fighting line. +Fred received punches from the fists belonging to three different school +boys, and fell back, red and panting. + +"Sail in, everybody!" ordered Fred. "These simpletons haven't sense +enough to stand a good joke on themselves." + +It was an unmanly thing to do. Some of the boys in Ripley's crowd had no +idea of going further than having rather rough "fun." However, the +shack, in an instant, was the scene of a lively mix-up. In the midst of +the excitement Bert Dodge drove Harry Hazelton against the stovepipe. It +came down, showering soot all over Fred's face and down his neck. In the +excitement that followed, and during the rush of some of the boys to get +out of the flying cloud of soot, the stove itself was overturned. Red +embers flew about in every direction. The door being open, the wind +helped to set the cabin ablaze. + +"Now you've done it!" panted Dick, holding up one hand and trying to put +a stop to the trouble. "Quit fighting and help put the fire out." + +"You youngsters put it out yourselves, then," Fred retorted. "It was all +your fault that it started." + +An indignant denial came to Dick's lips, but he forced it back. This +shack was another's property, and personal differences must be kept in +the background until the blaze had been extinguished. + +"Let me past you," demanded Dick indignantly, but Bert Dodge barred the +doorway until the mounting flames scared Ripley, who turned and yelled +to Dodge to let the boys out. Dick & Co. raced to the log cabin, where +they caught up the water buckets, a dishpan and other utensils that +would hold water. Dick also snatched up a hatchet, for he knew that the +spring would be frozen over. + +Fast as they worked at the spring, the shack was well ablaze by the time +that the Grammar School boys returned with the first water. + +"Why don't you fellows brace up and do something, Ripley?" Dick queried, +as he ran up with water. + +"What is there for us to do?" Fred demanded rather soberly. + +"Find something to do. Show yourself a man." + +"Now, don't you turn impudent again," Ripley warned young Prescott +angrily. "It was that sort of thing that started the first trouble." + +"You'd better find something to do, for your father has charge of this +property," Dick shot back over his shoulder, as he ran toward the +spring. + +[Illustration: Dick and Dave Were Boosted to the Cabin Roof.] + +"Look!" called Dave, as Dick & Co. started once more for the spring. +"It's too late. This little bit of water won't do anything for the +shack. See the sparks fly! They'll fall on the roof of the cabin, and +that will go, too." + +The blaze was now fast reaching the roof of the shack. Blazing little +flakes of fire were soaring up toward the sky. + +"We can't save the shack. We can't get water fast enough!" Prescott +called. "We must try to wet down the roof of the cabin, to keep it from +getting afire." + +Fred Ripley and Bert Dodge now appeared to be thoroughly frightened. +Without waiting to be asked, they came forward to help boost Dick and +Dave up to the roof of the log cabin. As fast as the water came Dick or +Dave dashed it over the side of the cabin roof that was more exposed to +sparks from the shack, every particle of snow having been blown off the +roof by the furious wind that had prevailed. + +"Look!" called Tom. "The wind is coming up--it's carrying the sparks +away from the cabin." + +"No need to bring more water, then," sang out Fred Ripley, in a voice of +intense relief. "It's all right if the sparks aren't blowing toward the +cabin." + +"Keep bringing water," disputed Dick, "until the shack is completely +burned down. We can't take any chances." + +But at last even Dick Prescott was satisfied with the quantity of water +that had been poured over the cabin's roof. Before the new breeze the +sparks were steadily being carried the other way. + +"We'll stop, now," Dick announced. "We can start again at any time that +the wind changes to this quarter." + +"What are you going to tell your father about this, Ripley?" Dave Darrin +asked presently. + +"Nothing," replied Fred, with a start. + +"Is that all you ever tell him about your misdeeds?" inquired Tom dryly. + +"This isn't my misdeed," Fred snapped. "You fellows started all the +trouble." + +"I suppose we even invited your crowd to come over here this afternoon +and steal our food?" Dave continued. + +"Now, you youngsters will get trouble started all over again, if you +don't look out," Fred threatened the Grammar School boys. + +"You'd better leave us alone," suggested Dick, "and make up your mind +about what you're going to tell your father when he hears about this." + +"Who's going to tell him?" snarled young Ripley. + +"I don't know." + +"Are you, Dick Prescott?" insisted Fred. + +"Not unless I have to." + +"Don't you dare go to spreading this yarn around Gridley!" + +"I won't promise," Dick made answer. "I don't want to carry tales if I +can help it, but we're bound to report to your father that the cook +shack was burned down while we were here." + +"You can tell my father that it was your own carelessness, and let it go +at that," suggested Ripley. + +"Humph! I like the cool nerve of your idea," Dick jeered. + +"That's what you'll tell my father, if you know what's good for you," +Fred went on. "That's all I've got to say, but you'll be sorry if you +don't take my advice." + +Though the temperature was some degrees below zero in the forest that +evening, none of the boys near the log cabin felt at all cold. The +shack, whose roof soon fell in, still burned briskly enough to keep all +hands warm. + +"Watch your chance to dart into the cabin when you see me start. Move +fast when the time comes. Tell Tom and Harry when you get a chance, but +don't let the Ripley crowd suspect." + +Dick then found chance to pass the message to Greg and Dan. + +Five minutes later Dick sauntered back to the corner of the cabin at the +front side. Dave approached from another direction. Tom and the others +caught the meaning of the move. Then, all of a sudden, there was a +scampering of feet. + +"Look out!" yelled telltale Hen. "That crowd is up to something!" + +"I know what they're up to!" shouted Fred. "Follow me!" + +The older boys charged the cabin door, but they reached it just as Greg +was dropping the bar into place. + +"Get in through the windows--quick!" shouted Ripley. He himself made a +dash for one of the windows. Click! went a shutter before his face, and +the locking-pin was dropped in. In a trice all the shutters were in +place. + +Dick & Co. were in their castle! + +"You fellows open that door!" stormed Fred Ripley. + +"Come inside and make us!" mocked Dick. + +"Open that door," summoned Fred, "or we'll get a log and use it for a +battering ram. We can get the door down that way!" + +Dick felt a throb of dismay. It would be possible to get the door down +by the aid of a battering ram, if the boys outside could find a +sufficiently large log and had the strength to use it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ON THE TRAIL BACKWARD + + +"You'd better listen to me, Fred Ripley," called Dick, through the +barred door. + +"Yah! You better do the listening!" snarled Ripley. "Open that door, or +trouble is going to start inside of sixty seconds." + +"What I want to say," Dick went on, rather calmly now, since he felt +that he was nearly master of the situation, "is that, if you break the +door down, or start anything else that is mean, we shall have to tell +your father all about it. We were given charge of this property, and +we've got to account for it. You're a lawyer's son; perhaps you know +what kind of trouble your conduct here to-night will get you into." + +"Telltale!" taunted Fred. + +Dick made no answer, deeming silence the wiser course. + +"Sneak!" added Ripley. + +Dick held up his hand as a signal to his chums to preserve silence. +Outside the other boys heard no noise save that made by Tom Reade when +he began to feed the fire, for the interior of the cabin was growing a +trifle chilly. + +"Now, don't say a word to them, no matter what those fellows yell at +us," Dick whispered, circulating among his chums. "Don't even let them +hear us talking among ourselves. If everything is still in here, and +they can't get any answer from us, that may set them to guessing. If we +get them to guessing they'll be uneasy next." + +So silence reigned within the cabin. There was no response from Dick & +Co., even when the larger boys outside kicked and pounded on the door +and shouted abusive taunts. + +Every now and then one of Fred's crowd would slip around by the shack +and warm himself before the still glowing embers. + +"We might as well cut it, and get out of this," Fred whispered at last +to his companions, after he had summoned them by signs to join him +before the blaze that was left at the site of the shack. "Those +youngsters won't let us into their house, and we'll freeze to death +around here as soon as yonder bonfire is out. We'll get back to your +uncle's Hen. Bert and I have been paying him board money for the crowd, +and he'll be glad enough to see us back. But let's go without making any +noise, and then the youngsters in the cabin will wonder--just simply +wonder--whether we've left or are still around. The result will be that +they won't dare to show their noses outdoors." + +So General Fred marched his forces away by stealth. Had he been able to +look into the cabin, though, before departing, he would have felt +chagrined. + +For Messrs. Dick & Co. were far from feeling uncomfortable. They had +suddenly discovered, all over again, that they were hungry. The hour +being late, they had put together a light repast, and were now enjoying +it. Then, not having heard anything of the enemy for an hour, Dick +decided upon opening the door to take a peep outside. His five chums, +however, stood at his back, while Greg Holmes held the bar, ready to +drop it into place instantly at need. + +As Dick looked out he saw all clear before the cabin. He stole down to +the corner of the log structure, gazing at what was left of the shack +blaze. There was but little of that. + +Then Prescott ran around the cabin. + +"Nobody in sight," he reported. "The rowdy crowd has gone home--or +probably up to Hen's uncle's house. We won't see 'em again to-night." + +"Let's go to bed, then," proposed Tom. "If they come back they can't get +in without making a noise that will wake us." + +"Bed will be a first rate idea," nodded Dick, "as soon as we have got in +some wood and water." + +This took barely ten minutes. The same space of time was devoted to +building up the fire for the night. Then, well tired, despite all their +excitement, all the members of Dick & Co. were soon sound asleep. + +It was eight in the morning when the first one of them awoke. + +"Well, we got through the night without having any more of either Ripley +or Fits," remarked Tom, as he dressed. + +"Which is worse?" inquired Dave. + +"Mr. Fits, by all means," Dick replied. "We can come very close to +thrashing Fred Ripley and his crew. And they can be scared away, too. +But Mr. Fits is downright dangerous." + +"If all outsiders, intruders and enemies will only keep away from here +we can have a splendid time after this," sighed Tom. + +"We're going to have a good time, anyway," Dick declared stoutly. "So +far, those who have tried to annoy us have succeeded only in furnishing +some excitement for us. Although we've been snowbound most of the time +here we've had anything but a dull time." + +"Is it safe for us all to leave camp at one time?" inquired Greg. + +"If you're asking me," Dick replied, "I don't believe it is. We can't be +sure that Fits, or Fred Ripley's crowd, won't swoop down here at any +moment. It is just the doubt that will make us feel unwise in leaving +the camp without any one to guard it. As far as Ripley is concerned, I +don't believe he's going to show up here again. The burning of the cook +shack, accidental though it was, has probably been enough to frighten +Fred Ripley so that he and his crowd will soon start for Gridley, if +they haven't headed in that direction already." + +"Then suppose you and I stay here this morning," proposed Dave Darrin, +"and let the other fellows get out for this morning?" + +"All right," agreed Dick. + +"And you'd better keep the shutters over all but one window," suggested +Tom. "You can close and fasten that one quickly, at need. And, when +you're inside the cabin, have the bar on the door and don't open, even +to us, unless you recognize our voices." + +"Why, we'll feel as if we were living in a fort, at that rate," Dick +laughed. + +"One has to, in the face of an enemy," Greg asserted. "But you can call +it a blockhouse, instead of a fort, Dick, and the logs will look more in +keeping." + +Before four of the Grammar School boys departed on a forenoon tramp all +hands turned to and laid in a goodly supply of firewood and water. + +In the afternoon Dick and Dave headed a party of young explorers, +leaving Tom and Greg on guard at the cabin. + +The day after, morning and afternoon, the Grammar School boys fished +through the ice on the pond, catching enough pickerel and trout to last +famished boys for two meals. + +During these two days neither Mr. Fits nor the Ripley crew made an +appearance. Still, the camp was not left unguarded. A few more days of +rare life and sport followed. Then there came a day when, an hour after +sun up, the crust proved too weak to support the Grammar School boys. + +"We've a thaw coming," hinted Dave. + +"Or else a storm," added Prescott. + +"Whatever is coming will be all right," announced Tom, "if it isn't +another big blizzard. A second blizzard, and we'll be snowbound here for +the rest of the winter!" + +The softness of the snow kept the Grammar School boys at the camp that +day. Their stock of books came in handy now. By four o'clock that +afternoon it began to rain. Soon it poured, and the downfall kept coming +all night long. It was still raining heavily when the new day came. That +warm rainstorm lasted until nearly evening of the second day. With every +hour of continued rain some of the snow vanished. + +"We're going to lose the last bit of the good white stuff," predicted +Tom gloomily. + +When the rain ceased at last the prophecy was verified. Throughout the +forest the recent "big snow" was visible only in small patches here and +there. + +"The best part of our good time is gone," grumbled Dan. + +"Have you fellows been watching the state of provisions lately, I +wonder?" asked Dick. + +"What about 'em?" demanded Harry. + +"Well, just look over the stock." + +"We've enough for two days yet, haven't we?" + +"I don't believe what we have will last us through to-morrow," Dick went +on. "Let's appoint ourselves a committee to take account of stock." + +"We made a big mistake when we were figuring on what we'd need," +grumbled Dan. + +"No," replied Dick, with a shake of his head. "What we didn't allow for, +in the first place, was boarding a huge eater like Hen Dutcher for a +while. Nor did we plan to have Ripley's crowd here in our absence, +helping themselves and wasting almost as much as they used." + +"Whew!" grunted Tom disconsolately. "We've soon got to be hitting the +home trail, haven't we?" + +"Or else go to bed to-morrow night on a small allowance of food," nodded +Dick, "and prepared to do without food the day after that." + +There was much discussion that night. Tom was for "sticking it out," +doing the best possible on a diet of fish that might be caught in the +pond. But wiser counsel prevailed. Early next morning Dick and Dave +started out over the bare ground on their way to the nearest house that +had a telephone. It proved to be Constable Dock's house, though the +officer himself was away. Calling up Miller's grocery store, Mr. +Miller's son, Joe, was engaged to come out to camp at once with a wagon. + +It was late in the afternoon, however, when Joe arrived. It took another +hour for the boys to get their outfit packed on to the wagon. Then they +seated themselves on top of the load and Joe clucked to the horses. + +"So you boys ran across the fit thrower out in the woods, and he gave +you plenty of excitement?" queried Joe, after the start homeward had +been made. + +"Yes," nodded Dick, "and we were afraid he'd show up again before we got +through in the woods." + +"Why?" asked Joe, bringing the whip down lazily on the flanks of the +horses. + +"Because," Dick answered, "we found his loot, and he knew we had found +it. We feared that he'd make another big effort to get back the stuff, +which was valuable." + +"But the police have the stuff," Joe went on. + +"How do you know that?" + +"Why, Ripley's crowd knew it when they got back to Gridley, and the +newspapers got the fact from the Gridley police." + +"If Mr. Fits read the Gridley papers," remarked Prescott, thoughtfully, +"then of course he knew he couldn't recover any of his plunder by paying +us a visit. That, I guess, was the only reason why he didn't pay the +cabin another visit." + +"That, and the other fact, perhaps," Joe went on, "that the Gridley +papers hinted that the cabin was being shadowed by the police." + +"But it wasn't." + +"No matter; if your fit throwing gentleman thought he was going to take +any chances of running into police out in these woods, then he wasn't +going to slip his neck into a noose." + +"I'm glad he kept away," muttered Tom Reade. + +"Unless we could have had the pleasure of jumping on the rascal and +getting the glory of capturing him," flashed Dave Darrin. + +"I feel a bit blue over leaving the good old cabin," complained Greg +Holmes. + +"So would I," returned Dick, "if it weren't for the fact that Lawyer +Ripley told us we could use the place whenever we choose. That means +that we can go camping there again." + +"Maybe Lawyer Ripley will take back what he said when he hears about the +cook shack being burned to the ground," suggested Harry solemnly. + +"But we didn't burn it down, anyway," retorted Dick. + +"Who did, then?" asked Joe curiously. + +None of Dick & Co., however, offered an answer. + +After glancing at the boys in turn, Joe decided to hold his peace on +that topic. + +It was well after dark when the outfit arrived in Gridley. Joe drove to +Dick's first, with that youngster's belongings. The other boys jumped +from the "rig" and scurried homeward for supper. + +"Young man," was Mr. Prescott's greeting of his son, "from all I hear, +you boys went in for a bigger list of adventure than you outlined to us +before starting away." + +"It wasn't on account of any wishes of ours, Dad," laughed Dick. "We +fairly had the extra excitement thrust on us." + +"I hope you've had a good time, my son, and supper is ready for you," +remarked Mrs. Prescott practically. + +"Run upstairs with your mother and have your meal," directed the elder +Prescott. "I'll watch the store while your mother is thrilling over the +doings of the week." + +"Mother," was one of Dick's first questions upstairs, "did Dan's homing +pigeon get back with our message?" + +"Oh, yes." + +"Then all you parents were easy about our safety." + +"Quite. But I can't tell you how worried I was when I heard of your +adventures with that terrible thief." + +"He didn't bother us much, mother. We were small boys, but there were +too many of us." + +"But suppose he had shot one of you?" + +"He didn't have any firearms, mother, until one of the officers made the +mistake of throwing a pistol at him." + +Then Dick had to go over all the adventures of the snowbound days. + +"As soon as I clear up here," said Mrs. Prescott, "I'm going down into +the store and tell your father some of the exciting things you've been +telling me. And I know, Richard, that you're anxious to get out on the +street and see some of your schoolmates. So run along." + +Dick had not been out five minutes before he encountered Dave Darrin. + +"Let's go up Main Street and see if we can't run into Tom and some of +the other fellows," proposed Dave. + +"Good enough," Dick nodded. But they went a good many blocks without +encountering any of their own crowd. + +"Wait; I want to step into this doorway and tie my shoe," said Dave. +Dick took a few steps ahead. Just at the corner he encountered a man +slinking around into Main Street. + +"You here?" gasped Dick, then instantly he went down under a blow on his +chest. + +"Dave!" gasped Prescott, rather badly winded. + +"What?" demanded Darrin, racing up. + +"Mr. Fits knocked me down and bolted around that corner," flashed Dick +Prescott. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +HEN DUTCHER IS MODEST + + +For an instant Dave hesitated, reluctant to leave a comrade injured. + +"Get after him!" ordered young Prescott, rising somewhat slowly. "Don't +let the fellow get out of sight." + +At that direct command Dave Darrin darted around the corner, going fast +down the side street. A moment later Dick hove into sight, though some +distance to the rear of his now more agile chum. + +As he ran Darrin felt like rubbing his eyes. By the aid of the street +lamps he could see fairly well down to the next corner. The fugitive +hadn't had time to cover all that distance in the few moments that he +had been out of view. + +"Dave!" called Dick, though his voice at first wasn't very loud. Darrin +didn't hear, though a moment later he halted, glancing about him and +back at his chum. Prescott was beckoning. + +"He has darted in somewhere on this block," muttered Dick, as his chum +reached him. + +"Yes," Dave agreed; "but where?" + +"That's too much for us to guess." + +"What are we going to do about it?" + +"I don't know," Dick confessed disappointedly. "I hate to see Mr. Fits +slip away from us like this, though." + +"Well, he has done it, anyway," Dave declared. "I'm afraid there isn't +much that we can do now." + +"We can go down to the next corner, and back on the other side," Dick +Prescott proposed. "Look back frequently, Dave, and, if you see Mr. Fits +dart out of any house or doorway, then yell to me, and we'll both turn +and race after the fellow." + +"A nice sprinter you'll make, after that knock down blow on the chest," +remarked Darrin dryly. + +"Oh, I'm getting a little more wind back every minute," Dick declared +cheerily. "I could run, now, if I had to, and in two minutes from now +I'll be able to do a whole lot better. Come along. You do the turning to +look backward, and I'll use my eyes in front of us." + +In this fashion they explored the entire block on both sides. Their +slow, thorough search at last brought them back to Main Street, much +puzzled and not a little discouraged. + +"What now?" inquired Dave. + +"We've done all we can," Dick replied, "except find a policeman and tell +him that we've seen Fits back in town." + +"It's strange that he should come back to Gridley," murmured Darrin. +"You'd think that the fellow would be anxious to give the town a wide +berth." + +"Undoubtedly he has his reasons. But--Dave, there's a policeman. Let's +hurry and tell him." + +In another moment the two Grammar School boys were engaged in reciting +what had happened to a uniformed member of the night police force of +Gridley. + +"There's no time to be lost," declared the policeman. "For a matter as +important as this I'll leave my beat and notify the station house." + +"Can we give you any further help?" Dick asked. + +"Not a bit, my lad, thank you, unless you see Fitsey again." + +As soon as the policeman had gone, Darrin asked rather seriously: + +"Dick, are you sure that it really was Fits, and no mistake?" + +"Of course I am. Why?" + +"Oh, nothing, only it seems so strange to me that the fellow should +really venture back into the one town where the police are really +anxious to land him." + +"It was Mr. Fits that I saw," Prescott insisted. "Besides, no one else +would want to knock me down." + +"That's so," Dave admitted. "Well, I hope that the police find the +rascal." + +"It's a lot more likely that we, or some of our fellows, will do the +finding," laughed Prescott. "We've done all the finding so far." + +At this moment a hand smote Dick heavily between the shoulders, while +Tom Reade's laughing voice demanded: + +"Fellows, how does home cooking seem again? Isn't it great?" + +Harry Hazelton was with Tom. + +"We've almost forgotten how good the home cooking is," Dick answered. +"We've just had something else to think about." + +Then the story of the latest meeting with Mr. Fits was told. + +"Jupiter!" breathed Tom excitedly. "Say, I wish we could run that fellow +down. I'm just aching to pay him back for the night of ghost scare that +he gave us out in the forest!" + +"I'd like well enough to see him caught," Dick agreed. "But I can't say +that I want to do it myself." + +"Why not?" challenged Tom. + +"Well, he's a powerful big brute, and I doubt if we four could handle +Mr. Fits." + +"Huh!" retorted Tom. "I'd like to try it, anyway. And, if we had the +chance, and missed, four of us could make noise enough to bring a few +men to our aid." + +"That part would be all right," Dick agreed. "If we see the rascal again +it will be our best move to capture him by yelling for a few men to come +up to where we are." + +"Hullo, you!" was the greeting of Toby Ross, as that schoolboy stopped +and looked at the returned campers. "Have a good time?" + +"Fine!" answered four voices at once. + +"But," Toby continued, "I never thought there was that much stuff in Hen +Dutcher." + +"What stuff? What kind of stuff!" demanded Tom. + +"Why, Hen is back in Gridley," Toby answered, "and, from the tales he +has been telling, he was the whole life and safety of your crowd out in +the forest." + +"Come to think of it," Tom replied soberly, "I believe he was." + +"Then Hen's yarns are true?" asked Toby. + +"They must be," Dick responded. "Who ever knew Hen to tell an untruth?" + +"Say, stop your fooling, won't you?" begged Toby. "What did Hen actually +do out in the forest." + +"Why, he ate at least his share," asserted Tom. + +"And got his share of sleep," Darrin added. + +"He also did his full share of housework," Hazelton supplied, with a +grin. + +"We're glad he had such a good time," Dick went on politely. + +"But did he really do any of the hero stunts that he's telling about?" +Toby persisted. + +"Not knowing what he's telling about, I really can't say," Prescott +answered. + +"What is Hen claiming to have done, anyway?" Darrin inquired. + +"Oh, Hen says--but come along and hear him for yourselves," Toby +finished. "Hen is just a little way down the street, holding forth to a +lot of fellows." + +"Come along, then," nodded Tom. "Perhaps we can slip in behind Hen +without his seeing us, and then we'll know all that he did while we were +snowbound." + +Toby piloted them. A block and a half down Main Street a group of some +twenty Grammar School boys stood, gathered closely around a central +object. When Dick and his chums slipped up to the outer edge of the +crowd they discovered that central object to be Hen Dutcher, whose back +was turned to them. + +Though Hen didn't know who was now near him, several of the other boys +did, and they passed the wink. + +"Hen, tell us again just how it was that you cowed Mr. Fits when he +first showed up at the cabin," urged one of the juvenile bystanders. + +"Huh! There wasn't much to cow," retorted Hen airily. "Dick Prescott and +his chums were pretty well scared, I can tell you. But there was an air +rifle standing in the corner, and I knew I could get it if I needed it. +So, when Fits ordered Dick Prescott to get him some supper, and Dick was +just going to do it, I stepped up, as cool as anything, and I said: 'No, +sir; Dick Prescott won't get you any supper in this camp. You'll get out +of here, mister,' says I, 'and you'll be quick about it, too.' Well, +when Fits looked into my eyes and saw that he couldn't scare me any, he +began to whine, and says: 'All right, sir; I won't insist about any +supper, but I must sleep here to-night. I'd freeze to death out in the +big snowstorm.' 'You won't sleep here, any more than you'll eat here,' +says I to Fits. 'But you can sleep out in the cook shack behind this +cabin, if you want to.' Fits, he tried to beg off, but when he found he +couldn't, he just marched out of the cabin like a man and went to the +cook shack." + +"Was Fits the one who set fire to the cook shack?" asked another boy in +the crowd. + +"I--er--I'm not going to tell you anything about that," retorted Hen, +trying to conceal his embarrassment under an air of mystery. + +"But say, Hen," put in another boy, across the crowd, after winking at +Dick, "I really don't see how you could help being scared when you heard +those ghost noises the first time." + +"Huh! Me? Scared?" responded Dutcher indignantly. "No, sir! Being scared +isn't in my line. But the other fellows were tremendously scared. I told +'em, again and again, that the noises were wholly human, and that we +hadn't any call to be afraid of any man who used his voice, instead of +his hands, against us." + +"Was Dick Prescott much scared?" asked one of the auditors, with a +quick side glance at Dick. + +"Was he?" repeated Hen. "Huh! But, after all, Tom Reade was the biggest +boo----" + +Here Reade could control himself no longer. His deep chuckle broke on +the night air, causing Hen Dutcher to turn with a start. + +"Go on, Hen!" Tom encouraged him. "Go on and tell all about it. I'll +admit that I was scared. So were all the rest of our crowd. I guess, +Hen, you really were the only brave one in the cabin when the blood +curdling noises broke loose on us and spoiled our night's sleep." + +"Well, I wasn't scared, was I?" challenged Dutcher. + +Hen's eye roved until it rested on Dick's face. + +"I don't know whether you were, or not," Prescott replied soberly. "I +had too much of my own alarm on hand to notice just how you were +acting." + +"Well, I wasn't scared," Hen asserted vehemently. "And I'd like to see +any one dare to say that I was." + +"How did you come to get invited with Dick's crowd, anyway?" asked Hoof +Sadby. + +"I wasn't--just exactly--invited," hesitated Hen Dutcher. "But I was +going through the forest when the big snowstorm came up, and----" + +"And you made Prescott's crowd invite you into the cabin?" pressed Spoff +Henderson. + +"Ye-es," claimed Hen reluctantly. + +"What have you got to say about all this yarn, Dick Prescott?" called +Wrecker Lane. + +"Why, from all we've heard," Dick answered dryly, "I don't see any need +of adding anything to Hen's story of events. He seems capable of telling +all about it himself." + +"And Hen really was brave when Mr. Fits was around?" + +"He says so, doesn't he?" inquired Dick. + +Several laughs answered this question, and Hen began to fidget. + +"I wonder what has become of Fits, anyway?" suggested Ned Allen. + +"We saw him here in Gridley, not ten minutes ago," broke in Dave Darrin. +"We notified the police, too." + +"Is that right?" demanded a dozen boys at once. + +"Yes," nodded Dick. + +"And Fits knocked Dick down," said Harry Hazelton, "but," continued he, +"maybe it was that Dutcher boy that he was really looking for." + +Hen's face became very pallid and his jaw dropped. He didn't look the +hero that he had been claiming to be a minute before. Most of the boys +in the crowd began to laugh. + +"I've a good mind to tell the crowd that Hen really came out to the +forest to help Fred Ripley's crew against us," whispered Harry in +Prescott's ear. + +"Don't you do it," Dick warned him sternly. "We don't have to blab. Give +Hen Dutcher a little time and he'll let it all out himself, without +meaning to do it." + +"Sa-ay, weren't--weren't you stringing me about--Mr. Fits?" Hen +questioned. + +"Say, you fellows--hustle!" breathed Greg excitedly, as he joined the +crowd. "There's Mr. Fits over at the corner opposite. There--he's +turning and running down Abbott Street!" + +Like a shot the crowd of boys wheeled and was off in chase. But Hen +didn't go with them. Toby Ross, who brought up the rear, saw young +Dutcher turn and speed homeward as fast as his legs would carry him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +"THIS TIME IS AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER" + + +"There he is!" breathed Greg, who ran with the foremost rank of pursuing +boys, as they turned into Abbott Street. + +A policeman saw the commotion and ran fast after the crowd of +youngsters. As the officer caught up with Ross he found out that they +were "chasing Fits." + +Though the man ahead ran rapidly, the foremost boys gradually overtook +him. The policeman, too, was well in the front of the running. + +Then the fugitive stumbled and fell to the ground. He sat up, but made +no further move to get away. + +"I may as well give meself up," remarked the recent fugitive resignedly. +"The law is always sure to git a feller." + +"Why, this isn't Mr. Fits!" ejaculated Dick and Greg in the same accent +of disgust. + +"Who's going to gimme fits?" demanded the man, looking stupidly about +him, while the crowd circled him and the policeman peered down into his +face. "Who's going to gimme fits, I ask? Will it be Jack Ryan?" + +"This fellow is Dock Breslin, a teamster," muttered the policeman +disgustedly. "Who said it was the thief that the chief wants so badly?" + +"I--I thought it was, when I saw him," stammered Greg Holmes, rather +abashed now. "He's the same build as Fits, and looked like him at a +distance. And this man, Breslin, was peering around the corner and +acting suspiciously. He ran away, too, when we started after him." + +"I'll go with ye, peaceable like," promised Dock Breslin, getting upon +his feet and addressing the blue coated one. "'Twas Jack himself swore +out the warrant, I suppose." + +"What warrant?" demanded the policeman. + +"Didn't he swear out one?" insisted Breslin. + +"Who?" + +"Jack Ryan. 'Twas meself that gave Ryan a big wallopin' this afternoon, +all on account of a bit of a dispute we had. Jack swore he'd be even +with me, and I heard he'd sworn out a warrant against me," explained +Breslin, who had the air of one stupidly rejoicing that his suspense was +ended. + +"I heard of no warrant for you, Dock, when the night watch had the +orders read before we came out to-night," replied the policeman. + +"Then Jack didn't do it?" demanded Breslin. + +"If he did, he didn't let the police know about it," laughed the +policeman. "If there'd been a warrant against you, Dock, the orders +would have been read to the night watch at the station house. Did you +run from the boys because you thought there was a warrant against you?" + +"I did," the teamster admitted. + +"Then Jack Ryan will be laughing at you to-morrow," grinned the officer. +"Go home, Breslin, and behave yourself. Boys, you'd better scatter." + +It was not long after that that Gridley Grammar School boys were at home +and in bed. By morning they were on the street again, as there was still +some of the holiday vacation left. + +There was news, too, this morning. The Dodge house had been entered late +in the night, but the Dodge coachman, returning late, had caught sight +of a burglar near an open dining room window. In investigating more +closely the coachman had scared the burglar, who leaped from the window, +struck the coachman over the head, and then vanished. But the coachman's +description of his assailant tallied with the personal appearance of Mr. +Fits. + +"Then the bold scoundrel is still operating in Gridley?" passed from +mouth to mouth. "What nerve!" + +"The thief is likely to stay here for a night or two longer," the chief +of police warned business men along Main Street. "The truth appears to +be that the rascal whom the boys have named Mr. Fits is without funds to +get away. The loot that Dick & Co. found out at the camp was what the +scoundrel had expected to take away with him and sell. That stuff not +being in his possession, he must steal something else on which to raise +money before he can go far from here." + +"Why doesn't the rascal try some other town, then, where he's not as +well known?" inquired Mr. Dodge. + +"Because he has houses that he and his confederates, now locked up in +jail, had spotted for robbery," replied the police chief. "Burglars +don't usually enter a house until they've looked it well over and know +just about what they expect to find. I'll have all my men alert +to-night, and well to do people will do well to be on the lookout, too. +As soon as this 'Mr. Fits' gets loot enough he'll probably leave +Gridley." + +That same forenoon Dick, Dave and Tom, acting as a self-appointed +committee, called on Lawyer Ripley at that gentleman's office. They +thanked the lawyer for the use of the camp, and mentioned the burning +down of the cook shack. + +Hardly had they begun to speak when Fred Ripley sauntered into his +father's office. Silently Fred stepped over to a part of the office that +lay behind his father's back. + +"How did the fire happen?" inquired the lawyer. "Some of you young men +just a bit frisky and careless?" + +Fred, from behind his father, scowled at the three Grammar School boys. +It was plain enough that he dreaded having his father told the truth. +Nor did Dick and his chums want to tell if it could be avoided. They had +all of a schoolboy's aversion to carrying tales. + +"No, sir; it wasn't carelessness on the part of any of our party," +Prescott answered truthfully. + +"Oh, well, it doesn't matter, at any rate," the lawyer assured them. +"The whole camp is worth nothing in these days, and the shack was the +least valuable part of all. If it's burned down, then it's gone. Mrs. +Dexter wouldn't want any of you boys made uncomfortable over the affair +for a moment, so you needn't tell me another word about it. But the +cabin is still standing, and you may want to use it again. As Mrs. +Dexter's attorney and agent, I offer you the use of it at any time when +you please. You needn't even come to ask my permission. The use of the +cabin belongs solely to you boys, and it's yours at any time without +asking." + +Dick & Co. took their leave promptly, and Fred escaped, for the time +being, an investigation by his stern father. + +"I hear that word is going around to the wealthy people in town to look +out for Mr. Fits to-night," remarked Tom, as the trio of Grammar School +boys returned to the street. + +"That lets our families out," laughed Dick. + +"Are you so very sure of that?" Dave inquired. "Fits might pay one of +our homes a visit by way of revenge--yours, for instance, Dick." + +"I don't believe he'll do it, just for revenge," Prescott replied, with +a shake of his head. "Fits is probably superstitious, and he has most +likely come to the conclusion that he runs to bad luck in pursuing our +crowd. All of his ill luck, and that of his confederates, now in jail, +has come through bothering us." + +"Don't be too sure that you won't have another visit from the rascal," +warned Tom. "Dick, Mr. Fits knows you're the leader of our crowd, and +that's why he'll single out your house, if any, for a visit of revenge." + +"I'd like to stay awake and see," smiled Dick. "Yet I'm almost certain +that I'd fall into a sound doze before midnight." + +During the day there were a lot of the Central Grammar School boys to be +met, and each one had to have some account of the wonderful snowbound +days. By evening Dick had very nearly forgotten the possible danger from +Mr. Fits. + +After supper Dave sauntered into the Prescott store. + +"Dan wasn't out to-day," Dave announced. "At least, if he was, he failed +to see any of us. Let's walk down to his house and see if anything is +wrong with him." + +Dick agreeing, the two chums turned down a dark side street on their way +to Dalzell's. + +At the darkest point on the street the two boys had to pass a collection +of shanty like buildings, which contained a contractor's offices, a +junk-shop, a second hand dealer's storehouse and a big stable in which +the contractor's work-horses were kept. + +"These old rookeries will go by when Gridley real estate gets to be just +a little more valuable," grunted Dave, as he picked his way gingerly in +the darksome spot. + +"It's really a disgrace to the town, this place," replied Dick. "Hullo! +Who's moving there? O-o-oh--say!" + +They were just at the head of the narrow alley-way leading down to the +stable. Up this alley-way a man had been picking his prowling way in the +dark. At the hail from Dick Prescott the man turned, as though to glide +back into the shadow. + +But now, suddenly, the fellow wheeled like a flash and bounded into the +path of the two Grammar School boys. + +"I reckon this time will be as good as any other!" announced Mr. Fits, +with an ugly laugh that showed his fang like teeth. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + + +"Jupiter! But we've got you!" flared Dave Darrin. + +"Have you?" retorted Mr. Fits sarcastically. "Hold me tight, then. But +this is a lucky meeting for me. I can settle all the old scores with you +two. Yell, if you think it will bring any help to you." + +"We know better," replied Dick coolly, though he was tingling inside. +"We've got to handle you ourselves." + +"Get busy at handling me, then," leered Mr. Fits. "Prescott, I'm going +to begin by handling you in a way that'll make Darrin run." + +"Don't you believe it!" retorted Dave angrily. "I may be killed, but I +promise you that I won't run except to chase you, you ugly brute!" + +"We'll see!" chuckled the wretch. + +With that he reached out for Dick, who was standing his ground. Just +then a lithe figure shot in between the boys and their promised +assailant. + +"Stand back, you hound!" ordered the newcomer angrily. "This is a matter +for men. You and I will attend to each other!" + +"Old Dut!" breathed Dick Prescott in the intensity of his astonishment. + +"Yes, it's I," announced the principal of the Central Grammar coolly. +"This is more in my line." + +Mr. Fits had been pushed back from the spot by the energetic fist of Mr. +E. Dutton Jones. But now the brute came back, cautiously, crouching and +leering. + +"Who are you, anyway!" demanded Mr. Fits. + +"Oh, I'm one of the town's schoolmasters," replied Old Dut dryly. "As +for you, I imagine you're that doubtful celebrity, Mr. Fits--otherwise a +thief." + +"Get out of this!" warned the rascal darkly. "This is no place for +schoolmasters." + +"On the contrary," retorted Old Dut, as coolly as before, "this is just +the proper place for me, for I've appointed myself to teach you a +lesson, my man. Throw off your overcoat, I don't want to take you +unfairly." + +As Old Dut spoke he "shucked" his own coat, tossing it to the curb. + +"Wait, Mr. Jones, and we'll get a policeman," urged Dick. + +"Wait and see how badly I'm going to need one," returned the +schoolmaster. + +"This affair is none of your business," growled Mr. Fits. + +"Yes, it is!" insisted the principal of Central Grammar. "You were going +to attack two of my boys. If you'll go along peaceably to the police +station with me, then I'll let you off from a thrashing. But don't try +to run away, for I warn you that I've kept up fairly well the sprinting +of my old college days." + +"I won't go with you, and I won't run," uttered Mr. Fits defiantly. + +"Then get off your coat, for I'm going to start in," Old Dut warned the +wretch. + +Something in the schoolmaster's eye and voice told Fits that he would do +well to get himself in trim at once. Off came his hat and coat. + +"Look out, you ferrule-tosser!" jeered Mr. Fits, and led off with one +fist after the other. + +It had often been remarked, in undertones by Grammar School boys, that +Old Dut was fine at thrashing boys, but that it would be different if he +had a man of his own size to tackle. + +Right now Dick Prescott and Dave Darrin were treated to a sight that +they never forgot. In point of size Old Dut was somewhat over-matched. +At the same time his opponent was a younger man. Yet it looked like a +battle of giants. For some moments Old Dut had all he could do to hold +his own. He took severe punishment, but gave back the same kind. Then, +all of a sudden, Fits showed signs of wanting to get away. But Mr. E. +Dutton Jones followed him up persistently, and at last a hard blow +stretched the thief on the ground. + +"Don't try to get up," Old Dut warned the fellow, "until I announce that +I am ready for you." + +With that the principal put on his coat once more, while Dave, with a +very respectful air, passed the principal's hat. + +"Now, you may get up," nodded Old Dut. "Put on your hat and coat." + +Mr. Fits obeyed, next remarking whiningly: + +"As you got the best of it, now I suppose you are ready to let me go." + +"I never let a thief go, if I can help it," Old Dut retorted, gripping +one of the fellow's wrists. "We'll walk along together, my friend, until +we reach the police station. And woe unto you if you start anything +funny!" + +So it happened that, within five minutes, Mr. Fits was turned over to +the members of a rejoicing police force. At the station house Mr. Fits +described himself more especially as being one John Clark. Whether that +was really his own name no one in Gridley ever found out. + +Clark took his arrest philosophically enough. Now that he was behind +bars, with no help for his situation, he became almost goodnatured. Ere +long he admitted all of the charges against him. It was he who had +entered the Prescott flat and had taken away Dick's watch and the fan +intended for Dick's mother. Clark told freely how he and his +confederates had taken toll from the Christmas shoppers, confessing also +that they had had a number of houses "located" for burglary. + +The prisoner told, also how he had found a megaphone in the little +"lumber loft" of the cook shack, and how, with this, he had improvised +the ghostly sounds. He had also found in that loft the snowshoes on +which he had escaped from Constable Dock. + +Clark--Mr. Fits--went away to prison for a long term, and Gridley heard +no more about him. The recovered stolen property was turned over to the +owners after the trial. Dr. Bentley was so overjoyed at the recovery of +his prized heirloom watch that he presented each member of Dick & Co., +except the leader, with a silver watch and chain. As Dick now had the +watch bought for him by his parents, he received from Dr. Bentley a +handsome pair of racing skates. + +Mrs. Prescott wore her fan proudly the next time that she attended a +performance at the local opera house. Other Gridley folks whose property +had been recovered by the Grammar School boys were equally delighted. + +The reader may be disappointed that Fred Ripley was not immediately +punished for his meanness to the young campers, but it may be remarked +in passing that fellows of Ripley's kind are always caught up with and +punished sooner or later. + + * * * * * + +Boys filed in from one coatroom, girls from another, at the stroke of +nine on the following Monday morning. + +Tap! sounded a bell, and instantly the young people in their seats came +to order, hands folded on desks before them. + +"Young ladies and gentlemen," began Old Dut, in his usual schoolmaster +tone, "I trust that you have all enjoyed your mid-winter vacation +immensely. I hope that you have brought back here refreshed bodies and +minds. Have you?" + +"Yes, sir," came from all quarters of the schoolroom. + +"The report cards given the pupils on the first of February will show +whether you have answered accurately or impulsively," continued the +principal. "I shall not expect too great performance from you this +morning, but I warn you all that I shall not be jovially inclined to +overlooking inattention or skylarking. Master Dalzell, were you +whispering?" + +"No, sir," Dan answered truthfully. + +"That is well. Any young man who has just spent many days communing +with grand old Nature should feel it beneath his dignity to whisper to +mere mortals. Master Hazelton, you are moving uneasily in your seat. Be +calm; you will not have to cook your own dinner to-day. Miss Bentley, it +is hardly fair to smile so knowingly. For aught of evidence that may be +presented, Master Hazelton may be a very excellent cook. Only his late +camping comrades really know--and I'm certain they won't expose him. +Attention! Turn to page 46 of your singing books." + +After the singing exercises had been finished Old Dut announced: + +"Master Reade and Miss Kimball will pass around with this composition +paper. Each member of the class will have twenty minutes in which he +will write a brief but interesting description of something that he saw, +and which impressed him, during the vacation just closed." + +Then, for some minutes, all was quiet save the scratching of pens +through the room. Yet Old Dut, expert reader of pupils' eyes and +glances, presently cast a bombshell by declaring in his dryest tone: + +"Any pupil who writes anything believed to be funny will be required to +explain before the class just what he considers the joke to be. He will +then also be required to laugh three times at his own joke." + +Here we will leave the Grammar School boys--and girls--for the present. +However, we shall catch up with them again in the next volume in this +series, which deals with spring sports, adventures and mysteries, and +with a jolly good round of all the phases of public school life that +interest young readers. This next volume is published under the title, +"THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and +Knowledge." + + +THE END + + + + + +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S + +CATALOGUE OF + + The Best and Least Expensive + Books for Real Boys + and Girls + + * * * * * + +Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not plentiful. Many +stories, too, are so highly improbable as to bring a grin of derision to +the young reader's face before he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a +distinctive brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring the buyer of +having a book that is up-to-date and fine throughout. No buyer of an +ALTEMUS book is ever disappointed. + +Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness of books. Go into any +bookstore and ask for an Altemus book. Compare the price charged you for +Altemus books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. You will +at once discover that a given outlay of money will buy more of the +ALTEMUS books than of those published by other houses. + +Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books. + + * * * * * + +Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price + + Henry Altemus Company + 1326-1336 Vine Street, Philadelphia + + + + +The Motor Boat Club Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully +entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. 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Navy in Mexico. + + * * * * * + +All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt +of only 50 cents each. + + + + +Pony Rider Boys Series + +By FRANK GEE PATCHIN + + +These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls. + + 1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The + Secret of the Lost Claim.--2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS + IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the Plains.--3 + THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of + the Old Custer Trail.--4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN + THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain.--5 + THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a + Key to the Desert Maze.--6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN + NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of the Silver Trail.--7 + THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The + Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Boys of Steel Series + +By JAMES R. MEARS + + +Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is +full of adventure and fascination. + + 1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the + Bottom of the Shaft.--2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; + Or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.--3 THE IRON + BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the + Great Lakes.--4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; + Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Madge Morton Books + +By AMY D. V. CHALMERS + + + 1 MADGE MORTON--CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID. + 2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET. + 3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST. + 4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +West Point Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans +whose doings will inspire all boy readers. + + 1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, + Two Chums in the Cadet Gray. + + 2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, + Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life. + + 3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, + Standing Firm for Flag and Honor. + + 4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, + Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Annapolis Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in +these volumes. + + 1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two + Plebe Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy. + + 2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two + Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters." + + 3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, + Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen. + + 4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, + Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Young Engineers Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys +Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of +all the traditions of Dick & Co. + + 1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad + Building in Earnest. + + 2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks + on the "Man-Killer" Quicksand. + + 3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune + on the Turn of a Pick. + + 4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the + Mine Swindlers. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Boys in the Army Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of +to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen. + + 1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in + the United States Army. + + 2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's + Chevrons. + + 3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their + First Real Commands. + + 4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following + the Flag Against the Moros. + + + (_Other volumes to follow rapidly._) + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Battleship Boys Series + +By FRANK GEE PATCHIN + + +These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge +drab Dreadnaughts. + + 1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in + Uncle Sam's Navy. + + 2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, + Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers. + + 3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, + Earning New Ratings in European Seas. + + 4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding + the American Flag in a Honduras Revolution. + + + (_Other volumes to follow rapidly._) + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Meadow-Brook Girls Series + +By JANET ALDRIDGE + + +Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life. + + 1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS. + 2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY. + 3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT. + 4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS. + 5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA. + 6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +High School Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck. + +Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating +volumes. + + 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First + Year Pranks and Sports. + + 2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the + Gridley Diamond. + + 3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on + the Football Gridiron. + + 4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & + Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Grammar School Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school +boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy. + + 1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick + & Co. Start Things Moving. + + 2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick + & Co. at Winter Sports. + + 3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, + Dick & Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge. + + 4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; + Or, Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +High School Boys' Vacation Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +"Give us more Dick Prescott books!" + +This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country +over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers, +making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and +the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in +the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these +splendid narratives. + + 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s + Rivals on Lake Pleasant. + + 2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The + Dick Prescott Six Training for the Gridley Eleven. + + 3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. + in the Wilderness. + + 4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & + Co. Making Themselves "Hard as Nails." + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Circus Boys Series + +By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON + + +Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely +interesting and exciting life. + + 1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making + the Start in the Sawdust Life. + + 2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning + New Laurels on the Tanbark. + + 3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the + Plaudits of the Sunny South. + + 4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with + the Big Show on the Big River. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + +The High School Girls Series + +By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M. + + +These breezy stones of the American High School Girl take the reader +fairly by storm. + + 1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls. + + 2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH + SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and + Athletics. + + 3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities. + + 4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; + Or, The Parting of the Ways. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + + +The Automobile Girls Series + +By LAURA DENT CRANE + + +No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at all complete +unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books. + + 1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching + the Summer Parade.--2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE + BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's Trail.--3 + THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, + Fighting Fire in Sleepy Hollow.--4 THE AUTOMOBILE + GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy + Odds.--5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, + Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies.--6 THE + AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; Or, Checkmating + the Plots of Foreign Spies. + + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Both "someone" and "some one" were used in this text. This was retained. + +Page 73, "it's" changed to "its" (do its share) + +Page 117, "it's" changed to "its" (melted its water) + +Page 157, "possiby" changed to "possibly" (might possibly be) + +Page 199, "that" changed to "than" (smaller than you) + +Page 241, "atttorney" changed to "attorney" (Dexter's attorney and) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grammar School Boys Snowbound, by +H. 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