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+Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone
+
+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: Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys
+       The Birch Bark Lodge
+
+Author: Silas K. Boone
+
+Release Date: August 8, 2007 [EBook #22279]
+[Last updated: March 15, 2011]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[Illustration: HAVING SECURED A GOOD SUPPLY OF BAIT, THEY STARTED FOR
+THE CANOE]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The Mountain Boys Series
+
+PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+
+Or
+The Birch Bark Lodge
+
+By
+SILAS K. BOONE
+
+The New York Book Company
+New York
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1915, by
+The New York Book Company
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                  PAGE
+
+   I Bound for Lake Surprise               11
+  II Lub and the Mother Bobcat             21
+ III A Mystery, to Start with              33
+  IV The Figure in the Moonlight           46
+   V The Sudden Awakening                  59
+  VI Getting Rid of an Intruder            72
+ VII On the Border of the Lake             84
+VIII The Mountain Boys in Camp             97
+  IX The 'Coon Photographer               112
+   X Finding a Sunbeam                    121
+  XI An Encounter in the Pine Woods       134
+ XII When Two Played the Game             143
+XIII How "Daddy" Came Back                156
+ XIV The Puzzle of It All                 169
+  XV After the Storm                      181
+ XVI Peace After Strife--Conclusion       194
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+BOUND FOR LAKE SURPRISE
+
+
+"Phil, _please_ tell me we're nearly there!"
+
+"I'd like to, Lub, for your sake; but the fact of the matter is we've
+got about another hour of climbing before us, as near as I can reckon."
+
+"Oh! dear, that means sixty long minutes of this everlasting scrambling
+over logs, and crashing through tangled underbrush. Why, I reckon I'll
+have the map of Ireland in red streaks on my face before I'm done with
+it."
+
+At that the other three boys laughed. They were not at all unfeeling,
+and could appreciate the misery of their fat companion; but then Lub had
+such a comical way of expressing himself, and made so many ludicrous
+faces, that they could never take him seriously.
+
+They were making their way through one of the loneliest parts of the
+great Adirondack regions. There might not be a living soul within miles
+of them, unless possibly some guide were wandering in search of new
+fields.
+
+The regular fishermen and tourists never came this way for many reasons;
+and the only thing that had brought these four well-grown boys in the
+region of Surprise Lake was the fact that one of them, Phil Bradley,
+owned a large mountain estate of wild land that abutted on the western
+shore of the lake.
+
+All of the lads carried regular packs on their backs, secured with bands
+that passed across their foreheads, thus giving them additional
+advantages. In their hands they seemed to be gripping fishing rods in
+their cases, as well as some other things in the way of tackle boxes and
+bait pails.
+
+Apparently Phil and his chums were bent on having the time of their
+lives upon this outing. Laden in this fashion, it was no easy task they
+had taken upon themselves to "tote" such burdens from the little
+jumping-off station up the side of the mountain, and then across the
+wooded plateau. There was no other way of getting to Lake Surprise, as
+yet, no wagon road at all; which accounted for its being visited only
+by an occasional fisherman or hunter.
+
+Each year such places become fewer and fewer in the Adirondacks; and in
+time to come doubtless a modern hotel would be erected where just then
+only primitive solitude reigned.
+
+Of course Lub (who at home in school rejoiced in the more aristocratic
+name of Osmond Fenwick) being heavily built, suffered more than any of
+his comrades in this long and arduous tramp. He puffed, and groaned, but
+stuck everlastingly at it, for Lub was not the one to give in easily, no
+matter how he complained.
+
+Besides these two there was Raymond Tyson, a tall, thin chap, who was so
+quick to see through nearly everything on the instant that his friends
+had long ago dubbed him "X-Ray," and as such he was generally known.
+
+The last of the quartette was Ethan Allan. He claimed to be a lineal
+descendant of the famous Revolutionary hero who captured Ticonderoga
+from the British by an early morning surprise. Ethan was very fond of
+boasting of his illustrious ancestor, and on that account found himself
+frequently "joshed" by his chums.
+
+It happened that Ethan's folks were not as well off in this world's
+goods as those of his chums; and he was exceedingly sensitive about this
+fact. Charity was his bugbear; and he would never listen to any of the
+others standing for his share of the expense, when they undertook an
+expedition like the present.
+
+Ethan was a smart chap. He knew considerable about the woods, and all
+sorts of things that could be found there. And he had hit upon an
+ingenious method for laying up a nice little store of money whereby he
+could keep his savings bank well filled with ready cash, and thus
+proudly meet his share of expenses.
+
+In the winter he used to spend all his spare time out at a farm owned by
+an uncle, where he had traps, and managed to catch quite a few little
+fur-bearing denizens of the woods. Then in the summer and fall he knew
+just where the choicest mushrooms could be picked day after day in the
+early morning. He also had several deposits of wild ginseng and golden
+seal marked down, and many pounds of the dried roots did he ship to a
+distant city to be sold.
+
+His success was enough to turn any boy's head, since he seemed to
+receive a price far above the top-notch quotations for such things. The
+head of the firm even took occasion to write, congratulating him on
+having sent a fox skin (really a dark red), which he claimed was as fine
+a _black_ fox as he had ever seen, and worth a large sum of money. On
+another occasion it was to say that the dried ginseng Ethan had shipped
+was simply "magnificent," and that they took pleasure in remitting a
+price that they hoped would inspire him to renewed efforts.
+
+Alas! how poor Ethan's pride would have taken a sad tumble had he ever
+so much as guessed that this very accommodating fur and root dealer was
+in reality an uncle of Phil Bradley, and that the whole thing was only a
+nice little plot on the part of the other three boys to assist Ethan
+without his knowing it.
+
+That proved how much they thought of their chum; but should he ever
+discover the humiliating truth there was likely to be some trouble, on
+account of that pride of Ethan's.
+
+It happened that Phil was an orphan, and had been left a very large
+property, the income from which he could never begin to spend in any
+sensible fashion. That accounted for his desire to assist Ethan; and
+while he felt that it was too bad to play such a trick, there seemed to
+be no other way in which the end they sought might be attained.
+
+Raymond's folks, too, were wealthy, and he had really been sent up into
+the clear atmosphere of the Adirondacks to improve his health. Although
+the doctors did not really say he was threatened with signs of lung
+trouble, they advised that the boy, who had grown so fast at the expense
+of his strength, should live out of doors all he could for a year or
+two. He would then be able to catch up in school duties with little
+trouble.
+
+The other three had by degrees come to look upon Phil as their leader;
+and indeed, he had all the qualities that go to make a successful pilot.
+They delighted to call themselves the "Mountain Boys." Really it had
+been Ethan Allan who originated that name, and no doubt at the time he
+had in mind those daring heroes of Revolutionary days who made
+themselves such a terror to the British under the title of "Green
+Mountain Boys."
+
+Among other properties of which the Bradley estate consisted there was a
+tract of several thousand acres of wild land bordering on this
+mysterious Lake Surprise. Phil had heard a number of things about it
+that excited his curiosity. He had so far never set eyes on the place;
+when one of the other chums happened to suggest that it might make a
+splendid little outing, if they started to look in on the lonely estate.
+
+One thing led to another, with the result that here they were heading
+toward the lake, and following a dim trail which had been described by
+an old guide who could not accompany them on account of other pressing
+engagements.
+
+The boys were pretty good woodsmen, all but Lub, and they had not
+doubted their ability to find the lake.
+
+"I think we're in luck about one thing," X-Ray was saying, as he toiled
+along sturdily, and wishing that he had as much stamina as Phil or
+Ethan; for somehow his legs seemed a bit shaky after so long and
+difficult a tramp, with all that burden piled on his back.
+
+"As what?" asked Ethan, giving Phil a nudge, and thus calling attention
+to the fact that by degrees the puffing Lub had actually gone ahead,
+fastening his eyes on the winding trail, and evidently feeling that he
+was becoming quite a woodsman.
+
+"Why, about that cabin the old guide Jerry Kane told us was on the shore
+of the lake. It'll save us building one, you know, if it's in any kind
+of a decent condition," the tall boy went on to say.
+
+"Yes, that's a fact," Phil himself remarked; "I've been thinking so
+right along. I only hope we won't find some fishermen camped in it. Kane
+said that once in a long while some guide took a party over to Surprise;
+but that the tramp was so hard few gentlemen cared to try for it. There
+are lakes all around that offer just about as good fishing."
+
+"I should think there'd be some pretty fine hunting around up here,"
+remarked Ethan. "I've noticed quite a few signs of deer, and that was
+certainly the track of a big moose we saw. I'd like to run across one of
+that stripe. Never saw a wild moose in all my life."
+
+"I wouldn't be surprised if some of us do meet one while we roam the
+woods around the little lake," Phil told him. "If I'm that lucky I want
+to take a picture of the beast, to add to my collection."
+
+"And I reckon, now," suggested X-Ray, "that nearly every night you'll be
+setting traps, not to catch wild animals, but to make them take their
+own pictures. That's the main reason why you've come up here, isn't it,
+Phil?"
+
+"Well, you know it's a sort of hobby of mine, and I've got all the
+apparatus for taking flashlight pictures along with me. I started in to
+the business just to kill time; but let me tell you it grows on a
+fellow like everything. I'm something of a hunter myself, but this
+shooting with a camera beats anything else all hollow. Besides, you get
+your game, and yet don't injure it, which is the best of all."
+
+Ethan laughed, and shook his head.
+
+"But your pelts don't bring you in the hard cash, Phil, like mine do,"
+he went on to say, with a touch of genuine pride in his voice. "S'pose
+now I'd just snapped off that black fox's picture instead of getting his
+paw in my steel Newhouse trap--it might have been all very well, but I'd
+be several hundred dollars shy right now."
+
+X-Ray Tyson chuckled; but the other frowned and shook his head. It would
+never do to get Ethan's suspicions aroused. He was terribly persistent,
+and once on the scent would never give up until he had unearthed their
+clever little plot. Then good-by to peace among the Mountain Boys, for
+Ethan would never be apt to forgive them the deception.
+
+"That's the main thing, after all, Ethan," Phil added. "One man's food
+is another man's poison. You enjoy your way of doing things, and I
+understand how that is, for I'm something of a hunter of small game
+myself; but I find more real delight in surprising a keen-nosed fox, or
+a night-roaming raccoon, and getting his photo than in blowing them over
+with a charge of shot."
+
+"Think there could be any bear up around here, Phil?" asked Lub, over
+his shoulder.
+
+"I wouldn't be surprised, and if we run across tracks I'll add to my
+collection."
+
+"Mebbe we ought to have fetched a gun along," suggested X-Ray, who was
+not much of a hunter himself, though fond of any kind of game when it
+was cooked at a camp-fire.
+
+"Well, that would have brought us into trouble with the game wardens,"
+Phil replied.
+
+At this point they were interrupted by a cry from Lub, who was on his
+hands and knees in the midst of the scrub, where he had evidently caught
+his foot in a vine, and gone sprawling down on account of his
+clumsiness.
+
+High above the exclamation from the lips of their fat companion they
+could hear a fierce growling sound, and about ten feet beyond Lub they
+saw the crouching body of a very large and angry bobcat, with blazing
+yellow eyes, and every hair on its back standing up on edge, as it got
+ready to spring.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+LUB, AND THE MOTHER BOBCAT
+
+
+"Keep still, everybody!" said Phil, grasping the perilous situation
+instantly.
+
+"Gee whiz! look at its eyes staring, will you?" gasped X-Ray, appalled
+by the ferocious aspect of the crouching beast, which was squatted on a
+log just a few paces beyond poor kneeling and terrorized Lub.
+
+"Phil, oh! Phil, tell me what I ought to do!" they heard the fat chum
+saying in rather a faint voice; all the while doubtless keeping his
+strained eyes glued on that dreadful apparition.
+
+"It's a mother wildcat, and she's got kits somewhere near by," Phil was
+saying steadily. "That's what makes her so fierce in the daytime. Lub,
+can you hear me plainly?"
+
+He did not elevate his voice in the least, not wishing to do anything
+out of the ordinary so as to excite the angry beast further, and cause
+it to jump.
+
+"Yes, sure I can; go on and tell me, Phil," whined the other,
+appealingly, and remaining on his hands and knees as though absolutely
+incapable of moving.
+
+"Don't be alarmed," Phil went on to say. "I've got my revolver in my
+hand, and if it comes to the worst I'll shoot. The other boys will yell
+like everything, too, and that might make her sheer off. But first try
+and back up, just as you are. Careful now, and do it as easy as you can,
+Lub."
+
+They saw the fat boy begin to cautiously extend one foot backwards. When
+there came a warning snarl he instantly stiffened out as though he had
+been turned into stone.
+
+"Try it some more," Phil told him, "go carefully, but never mind the
+growls. When she sees you're retreating she'll be satisfied, let's
+hope."
+
+So Lub did as he was told, for his nature was rather docile. It could be
+seen that he was holding himself in readiness to flatten out on his
+stomach in case of hostile demonstrations on the part of the wildcat. No
+doubt he expected that he could in this way manage to protect his face
+from her claws; while the pack on his back would serve him in good stead
+there.
+
+Phil, however, had rightly gauged the intention of the mother beast.
+She was only standing up for her whelps, and so long as they were not
+placed in peril she did not mean to attack that crowd of two-legged
+enemies.
+
+The further Lub got away from the danger zone the more rapidly he began
+to move his plump legs. Presently he felt Ethan lay hold of his foot, at
+which he gave a gasping cry, under the impression that it must be the
+mate of the enraged bobcat which had attacked him from the rear.
+
+"It's all right, Lub," Ethan hastened to say, reassuringly, for he had
+not intended to frighten the other; "you're among friends now; and see
+there how the old cat slinks away, still growling and looking daggers at
+us with those yellow eyes of hers. Wow! she would have given us a warm
+time of it, I'm telling you!"
+
+"Did you get her photo, Phil?" demanded X-Ray; "because I heard the
+click, after you'd swung your little camera around."
+
+"Yes, when I saw that she didn't mean to tackle us," replied the other,
+"I remembered that I ought to have something to show for Lub's
+adventure. Guess you'll be glad to have a print of your friend, Lub;
+it'll be a nice thing to look at on a hot summer day; because you'll
+always have a chill chase up and down your spinal column, when you
+think what would have happened if you'd come to close quarters with that
+cat."
+
+"And talk about the map of Ireland on your face," added Ethan; "more'n
+likely you'd call it one of Europe, with every river plainly marked."
+
+Lub was mopping his face with his red bandanna. All the color had fled,
+leaving him as white as a ghost; but under the manipulation of his
+handkerchief that was being speedily rectified.
+
+"I think I'll drop back a bit, and let some of the rest of you fellows
+take the lead from now on," Lub told them, contritely, "I ought to have
+known better than to try and show off when I'm such a greeny about
+following a trail."
+
+"You were doing all right," Phil told him, "and making a good job of it
+up to that time. Who'd ever expect that we'd run across a bobcat in the
+middle of the afternoon; and one that had kits at that? I'd have had
+just as bad a shock as you got, Lub, if it was me in the lead. No need
+of feeling ashamed; the sight of that thing was enough to give any
+hunter a bad scare, especially if he had no gun along."
+
+This sort of consolation served to make poor Lub better satisfied;
+though doubtless he would continue to feel unusually nervous for some
+little time. If a chipmunk stirred in the trash under a dead tree Lub
+was apt to draw a long breath, and involuntarily shrink back behind one
+of his companions.
+
+"Guess we'd better make a detour around that bunch of scrub, eh, Phil?"
+remarked Ethan, sagely.
+
+"Well, it would be a wise thing to do," chuckled the other; "because
+just now we haven't lost any bobcat that we know about. The trail seems
+to be heading pretty straight right here; and chances are we'll have
+little trouble running across the same some little ways on."
+
+Both he and Ethan took a good survey of their surroundings, but
+evidently the wildcat was still hiding amidst that scrub, for they saw
+nothing of her again while making the half circuit.
+
+"Now keep your eyes peeled for the trail again, Ethan," advised Phil,
+when they were well around on the other side of the danger spot.
+
+Lub managed to push along until he could find himself in the midst of
+the bunch. He cast numerous side glances in the direction of that
+disputed ground, as though half anticipating seeing a whole army of
+ferocious bobcats come leaping forth, all with blazing yellow eyes and
+stubby tails.
+
+Nothing of the kind happened, however, and presently Ethan was heard
+calling:
+
+"Here's your old trail, Phil, as plain as print. And d'ye know, there's
+only one thing I'm sorry about, which is that you didn't think to snap
+off a picture with our chum on his hands and knees backing off, and the
+cat on the log."
+
+"Well, I'm glad myself there wasn't any chance to keep that accidental
+tumble of mine as a perpetual joke," said Lub, indignantly.
+
+"Nothing to be ashamed about at all, Lub," remarked X-Ray; "and I reckon
+now if it had been Ethan himself who stumbled when he caught his foot in
+a vine, and then found himself face to face with a mad cat he'd have
+been near paralyzed too."
+
+This seemed to mollify Lub somewhat, though he hardly liked that
+reference to his having been paralyzed very much.
+
+They pushed on resolutely and the minutes passed. Phil on hearing Lub
+puffing and seeing that X-Ray lagged a little, cheered both of them up
+by declaring that the time was now short.
+
+"It wouldn't surprise me a whit," he said, cheerily, "to get a glimpse
+of the lake any time now, through the trees. Unless all my calculations
+are faulty we must be on my land right now."
+
+"That sounds good to me, Phil," asserted X-Ray, joyously, as he took a
+fresh spurt, and no longer limped as though he had a stone bruise on his
+heel.
+
+Even Lub grinned until his red face looked like a newly risen sun.
+
+"We'll all be mighty glad to get there, believe me!" he declared; "and
+think of the jolly time we'll have preparing our first supper in the
+woods. This big aluminum frying pan of Phil's has kept digging me in the
+ribs right along, until I'm afraid there's a black and blue spot there;
+but I mean to take my revenge good and plenty when we fill it full of
+onions and potatoes and such fine things. Take another squint ahead,
+Phil, and see if you can't give us real good news."
+
+"Well, just as sure as anything I see what looks like water!" called out
+Phil, with an eager tremor in his voice.
+
+"Whereabouts, Phil? Oh! I hope now, you're not joshing us?" Lub
+demanded.
+
+"Stop just where you are, everybody," the pilot of the expedition told
+them, "and watch where I'm pointing. If you follow my finger you can see
+if I've made a mistake or not. How about it, X-Ray? You've got the best
+eyes of the crowd, I guess."
+
+"It's water, all right, Phil," replied the other, glad that he could be
+accounted as best in something.
+
+"And that means Lake Surprise, doesn't it?" questioned Ethan Allan.
+
+"Yes, because it's the only body of water for miles around here," Phil
+continued. "That's one reason they let it alone so much. Other lakes lie
+in bunches, and a canoe can be taken over a carry from one to another in
+the chain; but Surprise is an awful lonely sheet of water."
+
+"And that's how it must have got its name," added Ethan. "All the while
+nobody dreamed there was any such lake up here; and then all at once a
+wandering guide must have run headlong on the same, to his surprise."
+
+"Wish we were there on the bank right now," grunted Lub.
+
+"Another mile, perhaps half of that, ought to take us to the water," he
+was assured by Phil; "and you see we are coming in from the west, which
+is all right, too, because my land lies on the western shore; and that
+cabin must be somewhere just ahead of us."
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Ethan, unable to keep from giving expression to his
+delight any longer.
+
+The others felt pretty much the same way, and joined in a series of
+joyous whoops.
+
+"Now, everybody put his best foot forward, and we'll soon be there,"
+urged Phil; "the worst is behind us, you know."
+
+"That's a heap better than having it yet to come!" declared X-Ray,
+feeling that with the goal in sight he should be able to hold out.
+
+They plodded along for some eight minutes or more, frequently catching
+glimpses of the lake beyond, and knowing that they were rapidly
+approaching its border. All at once X-Ray gave a cry.
+
+"Tell me, what is that I can see over there, Phil; looks for all the
+world like a shack made of silver birches! See how the sun shines on its
+side, will you? Is that your cabin, do you think, Phil?"
+
+"Just what it must be, X-Ray," the other told him; "they've nailed birch
+bark all over the sides of the log hut, you see, just to make it look
+rustic."
+
+"Then we'll have to call it Birch Bark Lodge!" burst out Lub, who had a
+little vein of the romantic in his disposition.
+
+"That sounds good to me!" declared Ethan.
+
+"It goes, then, does it?" asked the delighted Lub, beginning to believe
+he must be waking up, to have any suggestion of his so quickly and
+favorably seized upon.
+
+"Sure thing," said X-Ray Tyson. "Hurrah for Birch Bark Lodge, the home
+in the wilderness of the Mountain Boys."
+
+"Don't be too quick to settle that sort of thing," advised the more
+cautious Phil. "For all we know there may be somebody ahead of us in the
+shack; and you know we couldn't well chase 'em out."
+
+"But see here, Phil, if the cabin stands on your ground of course it's
+your property by right of law, no matter whoever built the shack in the
+start. He was only a squatter at the best," and Lub looked wise when he
+laid down this principle in common law which is often so exceedingly
+difficult to practice in the backwoods, where right of possession is
+nine points of the law.
+
+"Yes," Phil told him, "but there's always a rule in the woods that
+governs cases like this, no matter who owns the land. First come, first
+served. If we find that shack occupied by some sportsmen and their
+guides, why, we'll have to chase along and put up one for ourselves
+somewhere else."
+
+"Huh! I don't like to hear you say that," remarked Lub, who would
+possibly have liked to enter into a discussion along the line of right
+of property, only none of the others cared to bother with such a
+question, particularly after what Phil had said.
+
+They pushed on and approached the cabin. One and all were looking
+eagerly to discover any signs of occupancy, and greatly to their
+satisfaction no dog came barking toward them, nor was there even a
+smudge of smoke oozing out of the mud-and-slab chimney that had been
+built up alongside the back of the shack.
+
+"I guess it's all hunk," admitted Ethan, with a sigh of relief, as they
+drew near the partly open door. "See that gray squirrel running along
+the roof, would you? He wouldn't be doing that same if folks were
+around."
+
+"Oh! that depends on what kind of folks," remarked Phil. "For my part I
+never yet would shoot little animals around camp. I like to see them
+frisking about too much to want to eat them up. But as you say, it looks
+as if we had the cabin to ourselves, after all, for which I'm glad."
+
+"Tell me about that, will you?" muttered Lub, also showing positive
+signs of satisfaction.
+
+All of them pushed into the cabin.
+
+"Why, this is _just_ the thing!" cried Ethan Allan; "see the bunks along
+one side of the wall, boys,--two, three, four of them, if you please."
+
+"Just one apiece for us, and I choose this because it looks more roomy,
+and better fitted for a fellow of my heft than any of the rest!" Lub was
+heard to say.
+
+They immediately began to unfasten the straps that held their packs in
+place.
+
+"Hey! what're you doing, starting a fire already, Phil?" called out
+Ethan, noticing that the other was bending over the hearth.
+
+For answer Phil beckoned to the others to approach closer.
+
+"There's something queer happened," he told them, with a frown on his
+face; "just bend down here, Ethan, and put your hand in these ashes,
+will you?"
+
+"Why!" exclaimed Ethan, immediately, "they're warm right now, would you
+believe it?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+A MYSTERY, TO START WITH
+
+
+While Ethan, Phil and X-Ray Tyson seemed to grasp the true significance
+of this astonishing discovery, Lub as yet had not managed to get it
+through his head. He was a little dense about some things, although a
+clever enough scholar when at school.
+
+"The ashes warm, you say, Ethan?" he burst out with. "Now, that's a
+funny thing. What would make them hold heat that way, when there's not a
+sign of anybody around?"
+
+"There _has_ been somebody here, and only a short time ago, don't you
+see?" explained Phil.
+
+"And like as not they heard us cheering when we glimpsed the lake, and
+cleared out in a big hurry," Ethan went on to say.
+
+"Cleared out?" echoed Lub'. "Well, why should they run from us, tell me?
+We don't look dangerous, as far as I can see. We wouldn't bother hurting
+anybody; and didn't Phil say a while back that if we found some
+fishermen in his shack we'd just shy off, and build one for ourselves?"
+
+"Yes, but these people didn't hear Phil say that; we were half a mile
+and more away from here at the time," explained X-Ray.
+
+"And they couldn't begin to tell just who was coming," added Phil.
+
+"It might be!" exclaimed Ethan, "that they took us for game wardens.
+Mebbe now they've been shooting deer out of season, and got cold feet
+when they knew some people were coming in to the lake."
+
+Phil nodded his head in the affirmative, when he saw that Ethan was
+looking to find out just how that suggestion struck him.
+
+"I rather think you've struck the right nail on the head there, Ethan,"
+he told the other. "It seems the most reasonable explanation for their
+clearing out in such a big hurry."
+
+"They tried to put the fire out too, didn't they, Phil?"
+
+It was X-Ray Tyson who asked this. Those keen eyes of his had made
+another discovery, and he was even then pointing the same out to his
+chums.
+
+"Yes, I had noticed that some one had certainly thrown water on the
+fire," said Phil. "You can see where it washed the ashes off this
+charred piece of wood; and besides, it made little furrows in the
+ashes."
+
+"That's an old trick in the woods," remarked Ethan, with a superior air;
+"fact is, no true woodsman would think of breaking camp without first
+making sure every spark of his fire was put out. Lots of forest fires
+have come from carelessness in guides leaving red cinders behind them."
+
+"Yes," Phil added, "because often the wind rises, and whirls those same
+cinders to leeward, where they fall in a bunch of dry leaves, and begin
+to get their work in. But when people live in cabins they seldom bother
+wetting the ashes, unless they've got a mighty good reason for wanting
+to hide the facts."
+
+"And these people did," added Ethan, conclusively.
+
+"Let's look around some," suggested X-Ray.
+
+Two of the others thought this a good idea, for they immediately started
+a search of the interior of the cabin, their idea being to find some
+clue that might tell just who the late mysterious inmates were, and why
+they had fled so hurriedly.
+
+Lub may have been just as curious as his mates; but he was very tired
+after the long and arduous walk, so that apparently he believed three
+could cover the field just as thoroughly as four. At any rate he showed
+no sign of meaning to quit his seat upon the rude stool he had found;
+but leaning forward, watched operations, at the same time rubbing his
+shins sympathetically.
+
+"What's this on the peg up here?" exclaimed X-Ray, the very first thing.
+
+"Looks like some sort of a hat to me," remarked Ethan.
+
+"Just what it is; but say, take notice of the size, will you? It's a
+_child's_ hat, as sure as you live! Why, there must have been a child
+along with the lot!"
+
+"That's queer!" Lub observed, not wanting to be wholly ignored.
+
+"Game poachers they may have been," muttered Ethan, "but if there was a
+little chap along, there must have been a family of 'em. See if you
+could pick up such a thing now as a hair-pin, or any other woman
+business."
+
+They went to scrutinizing the cracks of the floor more closely than
+ever. That suggestion on the part of Ethan was worth trying out. Of
+course the presence of any little article like a hair-pin would show
+that a woman had been there.
+
+"I don't hear anybody sing out!" remarked X-Ray Tyson, presently; "and
+on that account it looks like we hadn't discovered anything worth
+mentioning. What gets me is, however could they have cleaned the old
+shack out so quick, and never left anything worth mentioning behind
+'em?"
+
+"From the time we sighted the cabin, back to when we first whooped,
+couldn't have been more'n eight minutes, I should think," Lub gravely
+announced.
+
+"Lots could be done in that time," asserted Phil; "but all the same I am
+bothered to know why they'd be in such a rattling big hurry. It might be
+they knew about us being on the way longer than eight minutes."
+
+"Who would have called 'em up on the phone, and mentioned the fact?"
+asked X-Ray, meaning to be humorous.
+
+"Well, one of the lot may have seen us miles back, and put for the cabin
+by some short-cut we don't know anything about," Phil told him.
+
+"That could be, of course," admitted Ethan, after considering the matter
+seriously.
+
+"Mebbe we'll never know the truth, which would be too bad," Lub
+continued; for a mystery was a source of constant anxiety to him; he was
+so frank and straightforward himself that double dealing seemed foreign
+to his nature.
+
+"Well, as we didn't come all the way up here just to worry our heads
+over guessing hard problems, I guess we won't lose any sleep," Ethan
+went on to say, in his easy-going way.
+
+"I'm wondering what made all these burns on the floor," Phil told them;
+"and on this table, too. In these days people don't mold bullets like
+they used to years ago, when the pioneers were settling the wilderness;
+and yet that's what it looks like to me."
+
+"The place isn't as clean as it might be," Ethan now remarked, "and the
+first thing we'll have to do in the morning will be to tidy up. I'll
+make a broom out of twigs, like I've seen poor emigrants do. It answers
+the purpose pretty well, too."
+
+He was prying around in one of the bunks while saying this, as though he
+had suspicions; which Lub, who was anxiously watching him, hoped in his
+heart might turn out to be groundless.
+
+Phil had turned to other things, and was proceeding to undo his pack.
+This caught Lub's eye, and caused the worried expression on his face to
+give way to one of pleasure. He knew that such a move meant it was
+getting time for them to think of supper; and Lub was always ready to do
+his part toward providing a meal; oh, yes, and in disposing of the same,
+too.
+
+"Wow! you quit too soon!" suddenly yelped X-Ray, who had continued
+prowling on hands and knees after Phil and Ethan had stopped searching
+the floor.
+
+"Found something, have you?" asked the former, without looking up from
+his job of opening the contents of his pack.
+
+"Is it worth a hair-pin, X-Ray?" chirped Ethan, who had been gathering a
+handful of timber in a corner where a lot of wood lay in a pile, ready
+for burning.
+
+"You could buy a thousand with it, I reckon!" was the astonishing
+declaration of the finder, which remark caused every one to immediately
+take notice.
+
+The boy with the sharp eyes was holding something up between thumb and
+forefinger. It shone in the last rays of the setting sun, as they came
+into the cabin through a small window in the western side.
+
+"Why, what's this mean?" ejaculated Ethan; "looks like you've gone and
+struck a silver mine, X-Ray! That's a half dollar, ain't it? D'ye mean
+to say you found it on this same floor?"
+
+"Just what I did, and deep down in a crack, where it must have slid, so
+nobody noticed it!" exclaimed the other, exultantly. "Now, needn't all
+get busy looking, because I reckon it's the only coin there is. That's
+my reward for keeping everlastingly at it. You fellows are ready to give
+up too easy. Say, did you ever see a brighter half dollar than that?
+Looks like she just came from the mint, hey?"
+
+"Perhaps it did!" said Phil, solemnly.
+
+When he said that the others all focussed their eyes on Phil's face.
+They knew he would not have spoken in such a strain unless he had some
+good reason for saying what he did.
+
+"Explain what you mean, please, Phil; that's a good fellow," urged Lub.
+
+X-Ray was not so dense, for he instantly exclaimed.
+
+"Why, don't you see, Phil reckons that this half-dollar may have been
+coined right here in this birch bark cabin!"
+
+"Whew! counterfeit, is it?" gasped Ethan, whose breath had almost been
+taken away with the momentous discovery. "Then I guess I ain't going to
+bother getting down on my knees, and doing any hunting for bogus money."
+
+The finder apparently did not much fancy having his prize counted so
+meanly. He immediately proceeded to bite the coin, and then started to
+ringing it on the hard surface of the oak table that had all the
+scorched spots on it, mentioned by Phil.
+
+"It _tastes_ good; and listen to the sweet ring, would you, fellows?"
+X-Ray hastened to say. "If it's a punk fifty-center, then it's the
+greatest imitation ever was. I'd just like to have a cartload of the
+same; I think I'd call myself rich."
+
+"If there's any suspicion fixed on the coin," Lub observed, ponderously,
+just as he had heard his father, the judge, deliver an opinion in court,
+"I'd rather be excused from carrying it around on _my_ person. The law,
+you know, does not look upon ignorance as innocence. Better toss that
+thing as far away as you can in the morning, X-Ray. I'd hate to think of
+you doing time for having it in your possession."
+
+"Hanged if I do," muttered the other. "I'm all worked up now over it,
+and mean to get the opinion of Mr. Budge, the cashier of our bank. He
+can smell a counterfeit as soon as he sets eyes on one. He'll fix all
+that up, believe me."
+
+"But, Phil," Ethan remarked, just then, "what was that you were saying
+about all the scorched places on the table? If these people were not
+molding bullets they may have been using melted metal for another
+purpose, and one not quite so lawful, eh?"
+
+"It looks a little that way, I must say," Phil admitted.
+
+"Give us something to do prying around while we're up here," suggested
+X-Ray; "seeing if we can run across their _cache_ where they've gone and
+hid away their molds, and other stuff."
+
+"Oh! now you're only guessing," Lub told him. "It may be they were game
+poachers after all, no matter if the coin is a bad one. I'm sorry this
+had to crop up the first thing, when we aimed to have such a jolly time
+of it here."
+
+"We'll have that, all right, whether or no," said Phil; "and first of
+all let's get busy with our duffle. If we're going to live in this shack
+it's our duty to make it look like home to us. Ethan, suppose you attend
+to the fire, and the rest of us will take care of the cooking."
+
+"That's the ticket!" Lub ventured; "if I can do anything to help just
+let me sit here, and peel potatoes, or make the coffee. I'm pretty
+tired, you know; and besides it seems to me I get in everybody's way
+when I move around."
+
+"Because you occupy so much room, Lub," X-Ray told him, cheerfully; "but
+it's all right, and we'll find some use for your hands. How about water;
+shall I take our collapsible pail and fetch some from the lake?"
+
+Upon being told that some one must go, the spry lad darted out of the
+door, and reappeared a few minutes later with a brimming pail.
+
+"I want to tell you all that it's going to be a dandy night," he
+chortled as he set the pail carefully down so that Lub, who was holding
+the aluminum coffee pot in his hands, could easily reach it; "moon's
+just coming up over across the lake, and about as full as could be."
+
+"Well, some of the rest of us are hoping to be in the same condition
+before a great while," Ethan ventured, as he stepped over to the door,
+and looked out, to immediately add: "I should say it is a glorious
+sight, with that yellow streak shining across the water, and the little
+wavelets dancing like silver. Phil, this is the greatest place ever. If
+you hunted a whole year you couldn't beat it. And we ought to have the
+time of our lives while we're up at Birch Bark Lodge."
+
+All of them were filled with delight. Being only boys, and with no
+particular cares weighing heavily on their minds, they refused to see
+any cloud on the horizon. Everything was as clear and lovely as the sky
+into which that full moon was climbing so sturdily.
+
+Soon the delightful odors of supper began to pervade the atmosphere.
+That made it seem more than ever like a real camp. Lub was doing his
+share of the work like a hero. They had found a place where he could sit
+at one side of the fire, and here he attended to the coffee, as well as
+looked after the big saucepan of potatoes and onions that had been
+placed on the red coals. Lub's round face was about as fiery as the
+blaze that crackled and danced at the back of the hearth; and he often
+had to mop his streaming brow; but he stuck heroically at his task to
+the bitter end.
+
+Then came his reward when they sat around, and every fellow had a
+heaping pannikin between his knees, or on the small table, flanked by a
+cup, also of light aluminum, filled with coffee.
+
+Seeing that they were all helped Phil knocked on the table, and held up
+his cup.
+
+"Before we take our first bite, fellows," he went on to say, solemnly;
+"I think we ought to drink to the success of our camping trip up here
+in the Adirondacks proper. Coffee is the only proper liquid to drink
+that toast in, so up with your cups, every one. Here's to the Mountain
+Boys, and may they enjoy every minute of their stay at Birch Bark
+Cabin!"
+
+"Drink it down!" cried X-Ray Tyson, noisily.
+
+With that they took the first swallow of the nectar that Lub had brewed.
+Never had its like been tasted at home, amidst prosaic surroundings;
+there was something in the atmosphere of the mountains that made
+ordinary things assume a different aspect; their hard tramp had aroused
+their appetites amazingly, and just then those four boys were ready to
+admit that this was the life worth while.
+
+For the next half-hour they sat there on such stools as they could find,
+and proceeded to "lick the platter clean;" inasmuch as there was not a
+particle left when they had finished supper. But even Lub confessed that
+he had had quite enough.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE FIGURE IN THE MOONLIGHT
+
+
+"You couldn't beat this much, I'd say, if you want to know my opinion,"
+Ethan was remarking, after they had finished the meal and were taking
+things easy.
+
+"Of course we all feel pretty much the same way," admitted X-Ray Tyson;
+"but I'd be a whole lot better satisfied if I knew about that bright new
+half-dollar. Is it a good one, or a bunker?"
+
+"Chances are we'll hear no end to that squall all the time we're up
+here," Ethan went on to say, with a pretended look of disgust on his
+thin Yankee face. "Whenever you do get a thing on your mind, X-Ray, you
+sure beat all creation to keep yawping about it. Forget that you ever
+picked up the fifty, and let's be thinking only of the royal good times
+we're meaning to have."
+
+"What can that sound be?" suddenly remarked Lub, who had been listening
+more or less apprehensively for some little time now; "seems like some
+one might be sawing a hole through the wall. Course, though, I don't
+believe that for a minute; but all the same it's a queer noise. There,
+don't you hear it?"
+
+There did come a distinct little "rat-tat-tat," several times repeated.
+No one who was not deaf could have helped hearing such a distinct sound;
+but Lub could not see that any of his mates seemed bothered.
+
+"May be that old gray squirrel gnawing somewhere," suggested X-Ray;
+"they've got long teeth like a rat, and can chew a hole through any sort
+of board."
+
+"Now, I'd rather believe it was the wind," said Ethan, who had a pretty
+good knowledge of woodcraft in all its branches, and was therefore well
+fitted to give an opinion.
+
+"Why, how could the night wind make that sort of scratching sound?"
+asked Lub, doubtless wondering whether the other were simply guying him
+because of his being a greenhorn.
+
+"Oh! the broken end of a branch might be rubbing against the roof of the
+cabin," Ethan told him. "I've known that to happen lots of times. There
+she hits up the tune again, you notice, Lub."
+
+"Yes," added Phil, nodding his head approvingly, "and if you listen,
+every time that scratching sound comes you can hear the wind soughing
+through the tree-tops. That ought to prove it."
+
+Still Lub seemed hard to convince, seeing which Ethan jumped up.
+
+"Just stir your stumps, Lub, and come outside with me," he said,
+positively. "I want to prove what I said, and you've got to be shown."
+
+Lub saw there was no getting around it, and much as he disliked making a
+move when he was settled so comfortably, he managed to scramble to his
+feet.
+
+Once out in the bright moonlight and practical Ethan was quick to
+discover the source of the peculiar and often recurring noise.
+
+"You see, Lub," he went on to say, "there's your saw at work right now.
+Just as I told you it's a branch that's been worn off to a stub by this
+scraping. Every time there's a fresh gust of wind it waves back and
+forth, and scraping against the roof makes that funny sound. Now, I hope
+your mind's easy, Lub, and that you'll sleep decent to-night."
+
+"I hope I will," replied Lub, earnestly, at the same time remembering
+about the bunks, and what one of the others had said with regard to
+house-cleaning in the morning; "but say, it is a fine night, ain't it,
+Ethan. Listen to the frogs singing their chorus in some little bay of
+the lake."
+
+"Yes," remarked Ethan, quickly, "I was listening to their serenade. Some
+busters in that lot, too, because you can hear 'em calling more-rum,
+more-rum' in the deepest bass. That always stands for the big bullfrogs.
+I ought to know, because I'm an experienced frog-raiser. Cleared
+sixty-seven dollars from my little pond this very summer; but I've never
+seen frogs'-legs quoted _quite_ so high as that Mr. Brandon the
+restaurant man down in New York pays me. I guess he favors me a mite
+just because he happens to know some friends of Phil's."
+
+Lub knew all about it, but he never let even a chuckle escape from his
+lips.
+
+"Well, in that letter you had from him which you showed me," he
+observed, "he said he'd never had such fine frogs'-legs before, and
+wanted to make sure to keep getting all you had to sell. A dollar a
+pound is a cracking high sum, sure it is, but then good things always
+bring fancy prices."
+
+That frog pond of Ethan's went with his many other ways for making
+spending money. It required almost no time at all to run it. When he
+found an opportunity he caught frogs wherever he could find them, and
+put them into his preserve. Then, on feeling that he had the right kind
+of goods for a gilt-edge market he would make a shipment of a box of
+"saddles" neatly arranged, so that they were attractive to the eye of
+the proprietor of the fashionable restaurant in far-off New York.
+
+Phil had recommended Ethan to try that place, and had even given him
+permission to use his name as a recommendation. Ethan never knew that
+the same mail had carried a letter from Phil to Mr. Brandon, who was an
+old friend of his, making arrangements to stand for the difference
+between the market price of frogs'-legs and the fancy sum he was to send
+Ethan every time he shipped him a box.
+
+While Lub was standing there, and apparently enjoying the sight of the
+moonlight dancing on the water of the lake near by, he was at the same
+time casting occasional apprehensive glances around him.
+
+The woods looked mysterious enough and gloomy too, for the moon had not
+risen far in the heavens, and the shadows were long and abundant.
+
+Several times he fancied he saw something moving there on the border of
+the dense growth. Finally he appealed to Ethan, because he had
+considerable respect for the opinions of his chum, who had studied woods
+lore so long.
+
+"You don't think now, that any of that crowd we scared away from the
+cabin would come sneaking back to spy on us, or try to steal any of our
+things?" he asked, trying to appear as though such an idea was furthest
+from his own thoughts.
+
+"Well, I hadn't bothered with such a thing as that, Lub, but now that
+you mention the same I can't see why they should. We haven't got
+anything along worth stealing; and if they are afraid of the officers of
+the law, as counterfeiters, or game poachers, why, they'd want to get as
+far away as they could. So I wouldn't let that keep me from sleeping a
+wink."
+
+"Oh! I don't mean to," Lub hastened to exclaim, stoutly; but all the
+same as he followed Ethan back through the cabin doorway the very last
+thing he did was to take a parting survey of the forest fringe, and
+shrug his fat shoulders.
+
+"Seems like it was getting right noisy out there, Ethan," remarked
+X-Ray, when Lub had carefully pushed the door shut, and both of those
+who had just entered found places again in the half circle before the
+red embers of the fire.
+
+The interior was only dimly lighted, because they only had a single
+lantern to do duty. But then it served them amply, because no one meant
+to try and read; and whenever a fresh lot of wood was thrown on the
+coals it flashed up brilliantly.
+
+That firelight was a part of the charm of the whole thing. They could
+have lamps, gas, or even electric light at home any time they wanted;
+but only under such conditions as these was it possible to enjoy the
+mystic firelight.
+
+"Why, yes," Ethan replied, "I guess the woods folks are waking up. You
+can hear crickets a fiddling away for dear life, and other sorts of
+insects besides. Then there's a pair of screech owls calling to each
+other; a whip-poor-will whooping things up; and most of all the frogs
+have started in to get busy with their chorus. And say, I'm going to
+promise you a feast to-morrow night."
+
+"Frogs'-legs, you mean, I take it, Ethan." Phil quickly exclaimed,
+looking pleased at the prospect.
+
+"Yes, because there's some corkers out there; and leave it to me to get
+'em. I'm an authority on frogs'-legs, you know. And when they fetch a
+dollar a pound every time, you c'n see that they ought to be reckoned a
+treat."
+
+"A dollar a pound, did you say?" demanded X-Ray, as if he fancied he had
+not heard aright; whereat he had his shins kicked by Lub, who happened
+to sit next to him, as a warning that he was treading on perilous
+ground.
+
+"Why, yes, that's the price I always get!" declared Ethan, loftily. "You
+see, it pays to do things up in style. My shipments look so attractive
+to Mr. Brandon that he says it is a pleasure to just open my box. Of
+course all of you fellows like frogs'-legs?"
+
+Phil and X-Ray Tyson immediately declared they believed they could never
+get enough of the dainty.
+
+"To tell you the honest truth," said Lub, contritely, "I never tasted
+any that I know of. My folks don't seem to care for queer things."
+
+"Queer things!" almost shouted Ethan; "well, I like that now! Why, don't
+you know that frogs'-legs are as delicate as squab. You'd think you had
+a spring chicken, only when you come to think, it has just a _little_
+taste of fish about it."
+
+"Oh! my, I don't know as I'd fancy that very much," complained Lub.
+
+"Huh! I know you better than to believe that, Lub," he was told by the
+other; "and I'll just have to make sure to lay in a plenty, because I
+c'n see you passing in your platter seven times, to say: 'Please see if
+there isn't just one more helping for me, won't you, Ethan; they're the
+finest things I ever set my teeth in, and that's no lie!'"
+
+"Well, wait and see, that's all," Lub concluded. "I'm willing to be
+convinced. I mightn't care for a thing like that at home, with a white
+tablecloth, silver, and cut glass all around me; but then it's a
+different case when you're up in the woods, with your camp appetite
+along, and going just half crazy because supper is so slow cooking, with
+all those odors stealing to your nose. Try it on me, Ethan; I'd be
+willing to taste even dog just once, if I was hungry, and met up with a
+bunch of Indians."
+
+"I'm not afraid of the verdict," announced the boy who raised frogs, and
+thought he had a right to know considerable about them, since he topped
+the market with the gilt-edge prices he received.
+
+So they talked, and joked, as the evening wore along. Several times
+they caught Lub in the act of yawning, and he was of course immediately
+poked in the ribs as they besought him to please not swallow the cabin
+while about it.
+
+"But I tell you I am sleepy; and no matter what the rest of you say I'm
+going to get my bunk made up. I want to be in apple-pie shape for
+to-morrow, for I expect it's going to be a red-letter day with us."
+
+Each of them had carried a warm blanket in their pack, which was one
+reason for the bulk of these burdens. They had not been quite as heavy
+as they looked; doubtless the greatest load consisted of canned goods,
+and food of various kinds, which they would not have to pack out of the
+woods again.
+
+Lub was somewhat fastidious about how he wanted his bed made up. Three
+separate times did he pull it to pieces again, to start in afresh.
+
+"Hey, stop bothering so much with that!" X-Ray Tyson called out, having
+been observing what the other was doing. "You certainly are the greatest
+old woman I ever ran across, Lub."
+
+"And you'll never make a woodsman, as long as you're so finicky,
+either," Ethan warned him. "'The happy-go-lucky kind is best in the
+end. They give their blanket a fling, and just crawl under. And they
+sleep the soundest too."
+
+"Oh! well, I'll learn some day, perhaps," said Lub, not at all
+disconcerted by all this raillery, for it fell from him as water does
+from a duck's back. "But I've got it fixed to suit me at last. This
+bunch of dead grass rolled in the pillow slip I fetched will make me a
+dandy pillow. I'm glad you gave me a hint to bring one along, Phil."
+
+"Old woodsmen use then? boots for a pillow," chuckled Ethan, which
+remark caused the particular Lub to shudder, and shake his head, as
+though he began to despair of ever reaching that point where he could
+claim to be a seasoned veteran.
+
+While the others were again indulging in some sort of discussion, Lub,
+thinking he was unobserved, sauntered over to one of the little windows
+which the builder of the birch cabin had arranged so that he might have
+light, and yet shut out the cold air of winter.
+
+"Oh, come here, won't you, Phil; there's somebody walking along by the
+trees, and standing still to watch the cabin every once in a while!"
+
+When Lub said this in a voice that trembled with excitement the other
+three boys of course hastened to scramble to their feet and reach his
+side.
+
+"Whereabouts, Lub?" demanded X-Ray Tyson, eagerly, as he pressed his
+nose against the glass, and occupied so much space in doing so that he
+prevented the others from having a chance to see fairly; so that Phil
+and Ethan deliberately drew him to one side.
+
+"There, over yonder where the moon shines between the little
+second-growth trees!" the discoverer went on to say, huskily, and
+pointing a trembling stubby finger as he spoke. "There, didn't you see
+then, boys?"
+
+"There certainly is something, and it moved!" admitted Ethan.
+
+"Oh! it's a man, I'm telling you!" hissed Lub; "didn't I see him plain
+as the nose on your face, X-Ray, and that's going some. He was moving
+along where the shadows die out. Now he's past that place. It's a man,
+believe me; and he's meaning to sneak in here to-night, to rob us.
+There, see him moving again, will you?"
+
+"Yes, I do believe it is a man, bending over at that," agreed Phil.
+
+"He's moving off, seems like," observed X-Ray, who had not altogether
+fancied Lub's allusion to his nose, because it _was_ rather large.
+
+"Mebbe he's seen us peeking out and thinks it's time he sheered off?"
+suggested Ethan.
+
+"Had we better collar him, Phil?" asked X-Ray, who was inclined to be
+very quick in his actions, and often without due thought making some
+move he was likely to regret later.
+
+"No, that would be silly," decided Phil. "The only weapons we've got
+consist of one revolver, a couple of camp hatchets, and some hunting
+knives. How do we know what he might do, or how many of them there may
+be? Let him look at the cabin, and then go away. I don't think we'll be
+bothered by anybody."
+
+"And I'm not going to lie awake thinking about it," said Ethan. "If he
+comes in here, and finds anything worth while, we could surround him and
+make him go shares, you know."
+
+"There, he's moving off at last," said Lub; "but I don't like all this
+mystery. Who is he, and what does he want? We'd be happier if we moved
+on, and built a cabin somewhere else."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the belligerent X-Ray, "clear out when Phil owns the
+whole shebang, and has invited us up? Well, I guess not!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE SUDDEN AWAKENING
+
+
+"Thought you meant to go to bed, Lub?" said Ethan, some little time
+afterwards, as they were all sitting around again.
+
+"Oh! somehow I seem to have gotten over my sleepy spell," admitted the
+other, frankly; "perhaps it was the excitement over seeing that prowler
+outside that did it. I'm as wide awake as a hawk right now."
+
+"Well, it's just the other way with me," X-Ray remarked, yawning almost
+as furiously as Lub had been doing before; "I'm getting dopey, and mean
+to turn in pretty soon. If nothing else happens to bother, nobody's
+going to hear a word from me after I hit the hay."
+
+Lub looked at him painfully, but he did not think it best to ask further
+questions lest he stir up a hornets' nest. There was something on Lub's
+mind. Phil understood this from various signs. He began to get an
+inkling as to what its nature might prove to be, when several times he
+saw the other lean forward and look long and earnestly up the chimney.
+
+"What d'ye expect to see up there, Lub?" asked Ethan, who had also it
+seemed been watching the other. "This isn't the time for old Santa Claus
+to come down with his pack of toys. His reindeer need snow for their
+sledge, you know."
+
+"Will you let the fire go out when we turn in, Phil?" asked Lub,
+ignoring all such little annoyances as this.
+
+"Why, I suppose so," he was told. "If it was cold weather it might be a
+different thing; but to-night is pretty warm, and we'll get little air
+in here, with the door closed. Yes, the last wood has been thrown on the
+fire; and to tell the truth there's only a handful more in the house,
+which we'll save to start things with in the morning."
+
+"What did you ask that for, Lub?"
+
+X-Ray made this inquiry. He realized that the other must have something
+on his mind, or he would not have spoken as he did. And X-Ray was
+curious to know what its character might turn out to be.
+
+"Oh, nothing much; only it strikes me that's a whopping big chimney,
+that's all," replied the other, a little confused.
+
+"I see what you mean," said Phil; "you're thinking that even if we do
+close the door as we intend, if a thief wanted to get in here he could
+creep down such a wide-throated chimney? Well, I shouldn't be at all
+surprised if he could, providing he took the notion."
+
+"I hate to think of being sound asleep, and not know a single thing
+about it," pursued Lub, "You know how I caught that darky stealing our
+chickens last winter? I set a trap for him, and gave him such a scare
+that he just crouched in a corner of the coop with all the hens cackling
+like mad, till father went out and got him by the scruff of the neck."
+
+"Mebbe you'd like to set one of your fine traps here then, Lub,"
+suggested Ethan.
+
+"I think I could do it, if the rest of you didn't object," Lub pursued.
+
+"Please yourself," said Phil.
+
+"I'm off to bed right now," added X-Ray Tyson, "so you c'n have the
+whole blooming field to yourself. Be sure you don't get nabbed in your
+own contraption, Lub. Now, you may smile at my saying that, but it
+wouldn't be the first time a bitter got bitten."
+
+Both Phil and Ethan began to stretch, and exhibited other positive signs
+of being ready to turn in. It would appear that none of the rest of them
+gave much thought to the possibility of their having unwelcome visitors
+during the night. Lub envied them their calm indifference; but he felt
+that he would not be doing his whole duty unless he carried out that
+idea of the trap.
+
+He saw Phil saunter over to the door, which, with something of an effort
+he managed to get to close tight enough so that the bar could be dropped
+into place. That avenue seemed quite safe; and as the windows had each
+one a couple of stout bars fastened across them, it looked as though
+there could be no ingress unless the intruder were a mere child, or else
+made use of that wide-throated slab-and-hard-mud chimney.
+
+The other boys were more or less amused to see what the ingenious Lub
+was doing, in order to further his plot. First of all he arranged the
+stools and other bulky objects that he could gather about the room in
+such fashion that they formed a species of rude barricade on either side
+of the hearth, where the red embers still held forth.
+
+"Looks like a regular wild animal trap, all right!" Ethan sang out, as
+though more or less surprised that Lub should know as much as he did
+about such things. "That forces the intruder to step out in the middle;
+and I guess now that's where you're going to fix things to give him a
+warm reception, eh, Lub?"
+
+"You wait and see," was all the other would say.
+
+They quickly understood what he had in mind. Everything they had along
+in the shape of cooking utensils, that would be apt to make a jangling
+noise if thrown down, was utilized. The big frying pan crowned the
+pyramid, and Lub was very particular just how he placed this, so that
+the least jar was apt to dislodge the aluminum skillet, which would be
+certain to arouse even the soundest sleeper when it rattled on the
+floor.
+
+"Don't kick over our grub that we've got piled up close by you there,
+Lub," warned X-Ray, after chuckling to see how the other was making such
+elaborate arrangements; for he did not have the remotest idea they would
+amount to anything in the end.
+
+"That ought to finish your trap, Lub, I should think," said Phil, who
+was almost ready to climb into his bunk, having removed most of his
+clothing, and arranged his sleeping quarters in a jiffy; he too had a
+small pillow-slip filled with some of the hay, upon which he expected to
+rest his head comfortably.
+
+"Why, yes, I don't seem to think of anything else we've got that would
+help to make a big noise," the other replied, soberly; "what with four
+cups, as many platters, the coffeepot, and the frying pan ought to make
+plenty of racket. But say, you should have seen the heap of tin-pans I
+piled up the time I caught that chicken thief."
+
+"If you had much more than this lot," Ethan announced, "I don't wonder
+the poor critter was scared nearly stiff, and could only crouch there
+till your dad came and arrested him."
+
+"And on my part," said X-Ray Tyson, with another wide yawn, "I only hope
+there doesn't anything happen to start that pyramid tumbling, that's
+all. If I was dreaming of something lovely it'd sure be a shame to get
+waked up by such a row, and to find that it was all brought about by a
+pannikin slipping out of place."
+
+"No danger of that happening," Lub told him; "I've tested it all, and
+you can depend on things holding."
+
+By slow degrees all of them managed to get settled down. Even slow
+moving Lub was finally snug in his bunk, though he had to shuffle around
+for some time while settling himself into the most comfortable position.
+Ethan threatened all sorts of dire things unless he stopped moving
+about, because it happened that the sleeping place chosen by the fat
+camper was just above his.
+
+"I c'n hear it creakin' like anything," announced Ethan; "and if you
+keep up that squirming business much longer, Lub, I tell you she'll come
+down on me. Think I'm hankering about being smashed flatter'n a pancake,
+do you? I don't see why you had to go and pick out one of the upper
+berths, just because you imagined it was a mite bigger'n any other.
+'Tain't fair, I tell you. Go easy now, and quit that moving about. If
+you've got the itch say so, and we'll rub you down with something. Stop
+it, right now!"
+
+Perhaps being scolded in this fashion had some effect upon Lub. At any
+rate he concluded that what couldn't be cured would have to be endured.
+So he did his level best to forget all about possible night visitors of
+all types, and tried to lose himself in sleep.
+
+Phil had put out the lantern the last thing. He kept it close by his
+hand, with matches where he could produce a light in a hurry, in case
+one was required.
+
+The fire had burned low. Now and then a little flame would spring up and
+make a faint buzzing sound. Once or twice when this occurred Phil saw
+Lub raise his head and look earnestly toward the chimney; but he must
+have finally decided that it was an innocent noise, for with its second
+repetition he failed to move.
+
+"He's off," Phil told himself, with a slight sigh of satisfaction, for
+from the way Lub was acting he had begun to fear they were in for a bad
+night of it.
+
+Lying there Phil rested his head on his arm and looked out into the
+cabin. When the dying flame occasionally leaped up and burned fitfully
+for a dozen seconds or so he liked to watch it, and also glance around
+him as well as he was able.
+
+Phil fairly loved everything that had to do with outdoor life. The dank
+odor of the woods filled him with a sense of delight that he could never
+find words to describe. He believed it must have come down to him from
+some long line of ancestors, this love for Nature, and a desire to
+commune with her.
+
+Fortune had been kind to him in giving him the means to enjoy such
+outings; and it added much to his satisfaction to have these fine
+fellows along with him. They were very dear to Phil. Not one of them
+would he have willingly missed if such a disaster could be avoided.
+
+Then as he lay there waiting until the drowsiness overtook him again, he
+allowed his fugitive thoughts to once more wrestle with the mystery
+connected with the late occupants of that birch bark cabin. Who could
+they be, and whither had they flown at the approach of himself and three
+chums?
+
+It was hardly any accident, for all the signs pointed to a flight that
+bordered on panic. Whoever they were they must have some good and
+sufficient reason for fearing the advent of strangers. That could only
+mean they dreaded the strong arm of the law; that there was _some_
+reason why they wished to keep from contact with all whom they did not
+know.
+
+Well, Phil concluded, there was no use of bothering about them. They had
+taken a hurried departure, and that was the end of it. He had reason to
+believe that a child had been there, and possibly a woman as well.
+While they had not found such tell-tale evidence as a hair-pin, still
+the little silver thimble which he himself had discovered on a shelf
+just before retiring, and which he had not mentioned to the others,
+because he hated to get Lub wide-awake again, seemed to be pretty strong
+evidence that way.
+
+When he found himself yawning again Phil decided it was time he closed
+his eyes, and allowed his senses to steal away. The fire had ceased
+flaring up, and was dying out rapidly, though the ashes would likely
+retain some of their heat until well on toward dawn.
+
+The last Phil remembered was listening to the weird call of that
+persistent whip-poor-will, perched in some neighboring tree, and sending
+forth its shrill discordant cries.
+
+Twice after that he awoke, and found all well. He could hear the steady
+breathing of his comrades near by; and Lub, lying flat on his back
+perhaps, was making a grating noise not unlike a snore.
+
+The second time Phil struck a match, one of the silent kind, and took a
+look at his watch, curious to know how the night was wearing away. He
+found it was two o'clock, and that the guess he had made was not far
+amiss.
+
+It took him some little time to get asleep again after that, but in the
+end he managed to accomplish it. Daylight would be coming by four
+o'clock and as the novelty of the outing was still upon them, it was to
+be expected that the boys would want to be up with the birds--that is,
+all but Lub, who loved sleeping better than plunging into the lake for
+an early morning swim.
+
+It was fated, however, that they were not to be allowed to slumber
+calmly on until the approach of the sun hurried the round moon out of
+sight below the western horizon.
+
+A most unearthly racket sounding awoke every one. If an earthquake had
+occurred it could hardly have created a greater noise. And the big
+frying pan proved that the supreme confidence which Lub had placed in
+its ability to jangle had not been in the least overdone; for it
+certainly played a fandango as it pitched over on the hard floor of the
+cabin, and danced some sort of jig, with other things adding their
+little mite to swell the chorus.
+
+Four fellows came tumbling out of their bunks as one.
+
+"Phil, oh! Phil, strike a light!" cried one.
+
+"Where's my gun?" growled X-Ray Tyson, thinking that in this way he
+must give fresh alarm to the bold intruder, whoever he might prove to
+be.
+
+"Phil, the thief has come down the chimney, just as I feared!" called
+Lub, who in the darkness hardly knew which way to look.
+
+As he managed to get his bearings to some degree he was sure he could
+detect a man on his hands and knees crawling over the floor. At the same
+time he heard a whining sound, as well as what seemed to be scratching;
+and it struck terror to the heart of poor Lub. He fancied that others
+were without, waiting for the first thief to open the door, in order
+that they too might rush in, and help make prisoners of the four
+Mountain Boys.
+
+Just then Lub to his great relief saw a tiny flame spring up close by.
+This he knew must be a match in the hand of Phil Bradley, who was
+meaning to light his lantern.
+
+To Lub it seemed an age before the flame was communicated to the wick,
+and yet it could only have been a comparatively few seconds, no longer
+than Phil would have taken under ordinary conditions. His hand did not
+tremble appreciably; and while in an undoubted hurry he went about his
+self appointed task with a deliberation that promised a successful
+result.
+
+Then came the snap as the globe was pressed into place. The room was no
+longer in darkness. It was possible to see; and with his heart feeling
+as though it were trying to climb up in his throat Lub fixed his eyes on
+the spot where he had discovered that moving, creeping object.
+
+What he saw thrilled him through and through, so that for the life of
+him Lub could not move, or even utter a sound above a whisper. Nor were
+the other boys much better off, to tell the truth, for they all stood
+there as though rooted firmly to the spot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+GETTING RID OF AN INTRUDER
+
+
+"Whoo! it's a bear!" yelped Lub, who looked as though his eyes were
+trying to pop out of his head.
+
+"Tell me, am I seeing things? Is this a wild dream, or am I gazing on a
+real, live, woolly bear?" cried X-Ray Tyson.
+
+Just then, as though suspecting that the clustered boys had evil designs
+on him, the small black bear actually growled, and showed its white
+teeth.
+
+"Here, keep back, you!" exclaimed Ethan; "we haven't lost any bear that
+we know about. Where'd you come from anyhow, and what d'ye want here?"
+
+"Ethan--don't you see, he came down the chimney!" gasped Lub.
+
+"Just what he must have done," added Phil, who was gripping the only
+firearm they owned, and wondering what effect a peppering of its tiny
+missiles would have on the tough hide of a black bear.
+
+"I bet you he was nosing around up there, and smelled our grub,"
+suggested X-Ray, a sudden gleam of light dawning upon him.
+
+"And leaning too far over while he sniffed, he just _fell in_; that's
+what you mean, don't you?" demanded Lub.
+
+"Looks that way," assented the other; "but what under the sun are we
+going to do about it, I'd like to know? He don't mean to crawl up again
+like he came down. See how he acts; I bet you he got scorched, because
+there's still some red coals in the fireplace, you notice."
+
+The four boys were huddled in a bunch. It seemed like a case of "in
+union there is strength" with them just then. And the bear stood where
+he had been at the time of first discovery. He had his snout thrust out,
+and was "sniffing" at a great rate. Perhaps it was the human odor that
+interested him, though Lub got an idea in his head it may have been the
+food that was so close by.
+
+"Phil, do you think he'll attack us?" Lub asked.
+
+"I hardly think so," replied the other, steadily, after closely
+examining the appearance of the intruder; "that is, if we keep from
+making him more furious than he is now."
+
+"Guess he's some surprised to find himself shut in with four husky
+boys?" suggested Ethan.
+
+"And say, he looks kind of small to me," observed X-Ray.
+
+"I was just going to tell you that," Phil went on to say; "I believe
+it's only a two-thirds grown cub after all."
+
+"But even at that he's a dangerous customer, with those sharp claws, and
+his ugly white teeth," protested Lub.
+
+"That's right," added Ethan. "If we tackled him, chances are we'd be
+sorry for it, unless we had something to knock him on the head with.
+That makes me think of my bully little camp hatchet. Watch me sneak it
+right now!"
+
+He started to move softly toward the spot where he had discovered the
+article in question. The bear began to growl more fiercely than ever.
+
+"Careful, Ethan," cautioned Phil; "take it slow, and duck back just as
+soon as you've hitched on to the hatchet. Stop and wait till he cools
+down. Now, only one more step; then you can lean over and reach it."
+
+All of them fairly held their breath, for it was a toss-up as to whether
+the suspicious bear would conclude to attack Ethan or not. The growls
+and sniffing continued, but the boy managed to get his fingers fastened
+upon the handle of his tool.
+
+"Now, back up!" Phil told him.
+
+Step by step Ethan pushed away from the dangerous locality. The bear did
+not attempt to follow, but resumed his former way of pushing out his
+snout, and sniffing. Something evidently smelled mighty good to him, Lub
+thought.
+
+"This is all very well," ventured X-Ray Tyson, who had also managed to
+arm himself with a billet of wood, "but somebody tell me what the end's
+going to be. Do we have to camp outside in the cold, cold world; or will
+we invite Mr. Bear to skip? That's what I want to know. Phil, how about
+it?"
+
+By now Phil had realized that unless they did something to provoke the
+bear to extremes they did not need to fear an encounter with his sharp
+claws. A bright idea had struck him, which he hastened to bring to the
+notice of his chums.
+
+"If ever we go to tell this story, lots of fellows will give us the
+merry laugh, you understand, boys," he remarked; "and if you're all
+willing, I'd like to settle it so we'd have the best of proof that a
+bear _did_ come down our chimney in the night time."
+
+"Phil, do you mean that you want to snap off a flashlight picture of
+the beast backed up against our fireplace?" demanded X-Ray Tyson, as
+quick as anything.
+
+"That's what I meant," he was immediately told. "See, here's the whole
+apparatus ready for business. All I'd want you to do would be to turn
+down the lantern when I gave the word."
+
+"I'll look after that part of it," agreed X-Ray, instantly.
+
+"And I'll hold my hatchet, ready to whack him square between the eyes if
+he tries any football rush on us," Ethan remarked, grimly.
+
+"What can I do to help?" demanded Lub, weakly, yet evidently not
+relishing the idea of being utterly ignored in all these valorous
+preparations.
+
+"If you want to have a place in the lime light, Lub," ventured X-Ray,
+sarcastically, "s'pose then you just step up and engage the bear in a
+catch-as-catch-can wrestling match. It'll be a splendid chance to prove
+to every fellow at home how you had more nerve than any of the rest of
+us!"
+
+Of course Lub knew this was all spoken in satire.
+
+"You'll have to excuse me this time, X-Ray; I wouldn't want to run a
+chance of spoiling Phil's picture for anything. Guess I'll crawl up in
+my bunk again, so as not to take up so much space. I'm afraid that if
+Ethan gets to swinging that wood chopper around recklessly he might
+gouge me."
+
+Meanwhile Phil had arranged his little apparatus as he wanted, aiming
+directly at the bear. He knew that it was focussed just right for a
+short distance, because all that had been fixed previously, it being his
+intention to have small animals snap off their own pictures at about the
+same focussing point, by pulling at a baited trigger that was attached
+to the flashlight cartridge by a cord.
+
+"All ready, X-Ray?" he asked, presently.
+
+"Yep--let her go, Phil!"
+
+As he spoke the holder of the lantern turned down the flame. Immediately
+the interior of the cabin became almost pitch dark. The bear could be
+heard sniffing as before, and evidently regaining some of his courage,
+which must have received a rude jolt following that plunge down the
+chimney.
+
+Suddenly there was a blinding flash. It was all over in a second, but
+the boys could hear the bear scrambling on the hearth. Perhaps the
+coals burned his feet again, and forced him to abandon any idea of
+trying to escape by the same means he had employed in reaching the
+interior of the shack.
+
+"Light up again!" ordered Phil; "it's all over!"
+
+So X-Ray again turned up the wick of the lantern. The bear was standing
+there, growling, and looking more belligerent than before. Evidently he
+did not altogether like this sort of treatment. That dazzling flash had
+blinded him. It may have made him think of the lightning that went with
+a storm; and there was now no friendly hollow tree into which he could
+creep; only those strange, two-legged creatures whom instinct told him
+were enemies of his race.
+
+"Looks almost ready to tackle us, don't he, Phil?" chirped Lub, from the
+security of the second-story bunk.
+
+Ethan was swinging that shining hatchet wickedly back and forth.
+
+"He'd better not, if he knows what's good for him," he was saying, with
+determination written upon his set jaws and flashing eyes; "I'd just
+like to get one good belt at him square between those wicked little eyes
+of his. We'd have bear steak for breakfast, let me tell you."
+
+"But remember that the law is on bears yet, and if we killed him we
+might run up against a game warden and be arrested!" Lub warned him; for
+Lub was always well posted on all matter that pertained to the law, as
+became the son and heir of a well-known judge.
+
+"We don't want to fight except there's no other way," said Phil; who
+wished to restrain both Ethan and X-Ray; for he knew they were apt to be
+impulsive, and it would not take much to precipitate a battle royal with
+the four-legged visitor.
+
+"But what's the answer, then?" demanded the latter chum, indignantly;
+"do we sit down and watch him gobble all our fine grub without lifting a
+hand to stop him? Say, I'd be ashamed to tell the story afterwards; and
+him only a half-grown bear in the bargain."
+
+"He don't seem to like that smoke you made, Phil?" remarked Lub, who had
+an unusually fine place for observation, being elevated above the heads
+of his crouching chums. "Couldn't you keep that going, and just force
+him to climb up the chimney again?"
+
+"My flashlight cartridges are too valuable to be wasted like that, Lub,"
+he was informed by the other boy.
+
+"Then isn't there some way he could be made to retreat?" asked X-Ray.
+"What if the whole four of us started to advance, shooing with our
+hands, and whooping things up, wouldn't he just understand that he _had_
+to climb, whether he got his toes scorched again or not?"
+
+Phil shook his head.
+
+"I've got another idea, and it's so simple I only wonder nobody thought
+of it before," he told them. "The rest of you stay here where you are."
+
+"I object, if you're meaning to tackle the varmint alone and
+single-handed, Phil!" X-Ray burst out with.
+
+"I'm not quite so simple as all that," Phil flashed back at him; "you
+can see I'm heading the other way."
+
+"Oh! I know what he means," burst out Lub just then; "it's the door!
+Phil's going to take down that bar we pushed in place, and open up.
+Hurrah! that sounds good to me! Phil knows how to do the trick. You
+trust him every time, and you'll never get left."
+
+Of course it was all simple enough now, and if Lub could see through it
+the other pair could also. To be sure, Phil meant to swing wide the
+door, and thus invite the departure of their unwelcome guest.
+
+They saw him reach the front of the cabin. The bear was apparently
+suspicious of any sort of movement, and continued to growl
+threateningly. So long as he did not actually start to make an attack
+Ethan believed he could afford to remain idle, and hold his ground.
+
+Phil appeared to be having some little trouble about getting the bar
+loose. The door did not shut closely, and it had taken the combined
+strength of two of them to fasten it securely.
+
+"Give it a hunch, and then slip the bar up, quick, Phil!" called out
+Lub; for as he had helped close it he knew best how the thing could be
+done.
+
+Phil made a third attempt, and this time succeeded, for they saw him
+open the door, and then back away, still gripping the stout bar in his
+hands, as though he considered it worth having in an emergency.
+
+"There you are, Mister; now please get a move on you!" called Lub.
+
+The animal must have already sniffed the outer air, to judge from his
+actions. He may have also suspected some sort of cunning trap, for he
+did not immediately start on a rush toward the gap in the wall.
+
+"He guesses you're laying for him, Phil," Ethan remarked; "p'raps you'd
+better back up and join our squad here. There's another upper berth, if
+so be you think you'd like to join our brave chum Lub."
+
+"Huh! think you're smart, don't you?" muttered the one referred to; but
+evidently the slur cut to the quick, for what did Lub do but bundle out
+of his bunk and actually take his place in line with the others, as
+though to show them that at least it was not _fear_ that had caused him
+to climb up out of the way.
+
+"I guess he's going to make the run for it!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.
+"Everybody start to waving their arms when he comes, and keep him going.
+Whoop! hurry up your stumps, old bear; this is a white man's cabin, and
+you're not wanted!"
+
+All at once the beast concluded it would be wise for him to accept of
+the one lone chance for escape. That open door, and the sweet smell of
+the outside air appealed irresistibly to his nature.
+
+"There he comes, boys!" snapped Ethan; and with that they all began to
+make extravagant gestures, at the same time using threatening language
+that must have appalled the poor bear, could he have understood its
+meaning.
+
+Snapping and growling he scuttled past the line of excited boys, headed
+for the open door. He presented such a ferocious aspect that none of
+them cared to do the slightest thing to bar his forward progress;
+indeed, just the contrary seemed to be the case. Something must have
+influenced Lub, for that worthy actually stepped forward out of line;
+and as the beast shuffled hastily past he let drive with his right foot,
+just for all the world as though he were trying for a drop kick on the
+gridiron, with three thousand breathless spectators watching to see if
+he would make the goal.
+
+Then the bear, thus urged on by every possible means, went hastily
+through the open door, and was seen no more. The cabin was once again in
+their undisputed possession.
+
+"Three cheers!" shouted X-Ray Tyson, who after the manner of boys in
+general, was so completely filled with enthusiasm that he could only
+think of one way in which to get rid of the surplus "steam," which was
+by shouting.
+
+The others joined in the noise, and if any one happened to be within a
+mile of that birch bark cabin just then, before the break of day, he
+must have been greatly mystified to understand what all the racket could
+be about.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+ON THE BORDER OF THE LAKE
+
+
+"Did you all see me kick him out?" proudly demanded Lub, who evidently
+believed that by this action he had established his reputation for
+bravery beyond all dispute.
+
+"Sure, we did," declared Ethan, "and he must have been some surprised
+bear when he felt your heft slam up against him. You'd better look out
+if ever you meet up with that chap again, Lub; they say bears have got
+wonderful memories, and he'll never forgive such an insult."
+
+The door was fastened again, and the boys climbed into their blankets,
+for the night air coming in had given them something of a chill.
+
+"No need of trying to go to sleep again," announced Phil; "because
+daylight'll be along in seven winks. Fact is, I thought it looked that
+way in the east when I shut the door, though the moon shining like it
+does fools you some. But it's after four, and dawn comes early these
+summer days."
+
+Leaving the lantern burning, they lay there and talked matters over. All
+of them had been so worked up, what with that sudden awakening, and the
+row that followed, that they would have found it difficult to have
+resumed their interrupted sleep even though several more hours must
+elapse before morning.
+
+Lub felt that he had been fully vindicated.
+
+"You fellows thought it smart to laugh at me when I hinted we might have
+a thief come down the chimney, but see what happened!" he went on to
+say, desiring to rub it in a little.
+
+"Well, of course none of us ever thought a yearling bear would drop on
+the roof from a limb of a tree, and smelling our grub down the chimney
+lean so far over that he'd pitch headlong in," ventured Ethan, who had
+apparently figured it all out, and knew just about how the thing
+happened.
+
+"If a bear can do it, any sort of animal, or even a bad man might follow
+suit," suggested X-Ray Tyson, wickedly.
+
+Lub took up the dare instantly.
+
+"Just what I was thinking," he hastened to say; "and you mark me that
+when morning comes I'm going to climb up on the roof and look around.
+Leave it to me to fix something across the vent of that old chimney, so
+even a 'coon couldn't squeeze through."
+
+"Like as not you'll smother us with the smoke!" grumbled Ethan.
+
+"Not much I will," he was promptly assured; "I know enough for that. If
+I had a piece of heavy wire-mesh like's on the windows of our stable at
+home, it'd be the ticket; but as it is I'll have to use something else.
+I mean to sleep nights without thinking that all sorts of ferocious wild
+beasts are aiming to drop in on us without invitations."
+
+When they saw that the dawn had really come the boys began to move
+around. Phil led the way to the border of the lake near by and they took
+an early morning duck. The water was pretty chilly, but then growing
+lads can stand almost anything. No doubt some of them may even on a dare
+have braved a skim of new ice on a pond in the early spring.
+
+After a bit, when they had finished their dressing, preparations for
+breakfast came next in order. Things began to look decidedly comfortable
+about that time. They forgot all unpleasant things, and the rattle of
+tongues would have made any one believe in the story of the Tower of
+Babel.
+
+Every one had his plans laid out, and numerous pet schemes to work. Phil
+of course meant to roam around the neighborhood, and see what
+discoveries he could make in connection with the haunts of small
+animals, or places where they "used," to speak after the manner of a
+hunter or trapper.
+
+If he could find such a favorite spot it was his plan to set his trap on
+the succeeding night, with the intention, not of harming the creature,
+but getting him to touch off the flashlight, and thus take his own
+picture.
+
+Lub's enthusiasm seemed to have petered out, in that he manifested no
+immediate intention of climbing to the roof of the cabin. The truth of
+the matter was, Lub always showed a disposition to put things off;
+procrastination was one of his greatest faults, even as too much haste
+had always been X-Ray Tyson's besetting sin. There was the whole day
+before him; so what need of undue speed. Taking things easy had become
+second nature with Lub. Besides, as a final argument, he had gorged
+himself with the fine breakfast, which of course he had helped to cook;
+and it would be too bad to risk indigestion while on this outing.
+
+So Lub just lay around, and bothered some of the others by asking
+innumerable questions. Still, he was always willing to assist if called
+upon, and for that he was forgiven his lazy habits.
+
+It was toward the middle of the morning when Phil came back again, after
+roaming around. His manner gave them to understand that he had met with
+some success.
+
+"Find any place to make your lay-out to-night, Phil?" asked Lub.
+
+"Yes, one splendid spot where a 'coon seems to travel down to the
+water's edge, to fish, or something or other," Phil replied. "You can
+see his tracks going and coming as plain as anything. I've marked a
+place where I can tie my camera, and fix the bait so he'll have to be in
+range when the flash comes. This afternoon I'm meaning to go further
+afoot, and see if I can run across bigger game."
+
+"You certainly look as if you enjoyed this sort of thing," ventured Lub,
+a little enviously; for he often wished that he had it in him to love
+tramping, and all that pertained to woodland sports.
+
+"Why, it seems to grow on you," admitted Phil, with considerable
+animation. "In the start I didn't care a great deal about it, and
+sometimes called myself silly to want to spend so much time trying to
+circumvent little animals, and get a flashlight picture of them. It's
+hard work, too, because they're not only shy but cunning as well. What
+little I've managed to do along that line has made me keen on the
+subject. And right now I believe I'd rather shoot a moose with a camera
+than with my Marlin rifle."
+
+Ethan laughed a little, and shook his head.
+
+"I confess that I don't understand it, Phil," he went on to say. "The
+real thrill must be lacking. You can only get it when you're bent on
+bagging your game. That's the thrill that comes down to us from our
+savage ancestors who had to live by hunting."
+
+"I'm able to judge of that, Ethan, because I've tried both ways; and I
+give you my word I feel just as much pleasure when I'm trying to outwit
+a cunning fox as you do when you trap one. I get his picture, and you
+have his pelt, that's all the difference."
+
+"Well," replied Ethan with a grin, "when that same pelt brings you in
+more than a cool three hundred, it makes considerable difference in the
+end."
+
+Lub began to make faces, and swallow very fast at hearing that, as
+though he had come near choking; but in fact it was to keep from
+chuckling, and thus arousing suspicion in the mind of the hoodwinked
+Ethan.
+
+"I noticed you down on your hands and knees, Ethan, over where we
+thought we saw that moving figure of a man last night," Phil went on to
+say, changing the subject hastily, partly from the same reason that
+influenced Lub to cough and gasp; "did you find out anything?"
+
+At that the other assumed a mysterious air.
+
+"Well, first of all, we weren't mistaken, you want to know, boys," he
+remarked.
+
+"Then it was a sure-enough man?" asked Lub, beginning to be deeply
+interested.
+
+"That's what it was," Ethan assured him. "I found his trail as easy as
+turning over my hand. Even followed it some ways off, but lost the same
+among the rocks. When we saw him turn away he didn't come back again,
+but kept straight on."
+
+"He must have been watching us through one of the windows?" suggested
+Lub.
+
+"If he was, he made up his mind we were too many for him to tackle, and
+that he had better clear out for good," Ethan continued, as though he
+had been figuring it all out beforehand, and had his mind made up.
+
+"Do you think he could have been the same party who was in our cabin
+before we came along, Phil?" asked Lub.
+
+"It looks that way," the other told him. "If this man had just been a
+stranger, up here to try the fishing, or something like that, he would
+have knocked on the door, and tried to make our acquaintance. As it was,
+he watched us, and then cleared out."
+
+"Let's hope he won't think to come back again," Lub pursued.
+
+"Better hurry and get that strainer fixed on the top of our chimney,
+Lub," advised Ethan, a little maliciously; "first a bear, and the next
+thing to drop down on us might be a real man."
+
+"Oh! leave that to me," the other assured him; "I haven't quite figured
+it out in my mind just how I'll fix it, but after lunch I'll get busy.
+And believe me, when the Fenwick screen is applied, not even a 'possum
+or a squirrel can invade our cabin home. It'll be impervious to man or
+beast."
+
+"Better get out a patent right away on the thing then, Lub," he was
+advised by the scoffing Ethan, "or some wise duck will be stealing the
+idea from you."
+
+"Where's X-Ray?" asked Phil, suddenly noticing that the fourth member of
+the camping expedition was missing.
+
+Ethan looked at Lub, inquiringly.
+
+"You see I was so busy reading the signs of that trail I never once
+thought a thing about any one else. Lub, you must have seen where he
+went, didn't you?"
+
+"Last I saw of him he was down on the lake shore," replied the other.
+"He had his fishing rod along, and I understood him to say he meant to
+look for some grasshoppers or crickets or something for bait, because he
+felt trout hungry."
+
+"X-Ray has a weakness for fish, you know," Ethan declared. "He said he'd
+be the boss fisherman of the bunch while we were up here, and even dared
+me to take him up, the one to win who could show the greatest number,
+biggest variety, and the heaviest fish of all that were taken. I think
+I'll go him, if I can find time to bother."
+
+"And I'll encourage you both to the limit," chuckled Lub; "because that
+means we're bound to have all the fine trout we can eat while we're
+here. May the best man win. I know how to cook 'em to beat the band, by
+rolling each trout in cracker crumbs, and then frying in hot grease from
+fat salt pork. Makes my mouth fairly water just to mention it."
+
+"We won't forget that, Lub," Ethan told him; "and you can consider that
+you're hereby appointed the official fish frying man of the lot. For if
+there's anything I hate to cook it's fish. Eating's another story, and I
+always try to do my duty there."
+
+"I thought I heard some one call out then," said Lub, looking around
+him.
+
+"Must have been a crow cawing, or a gray squirrel barking," suggested
+Ethan.
+
+They listened for a dozen seconds, but heard nothing.
+
+"I reckon I was mistaken about it," admitted Lub, finally; "only I
+wondered if X-Ray could have tumbled into any sort of trouble. He's spry
+enough as a rule, and not built like me."
+
+"No danger of him not letting off a whoop if he ran up against anything
+like a rough deal," Ethan ventured.
+
+"Still, no harm done if we stepped down to the edge of the water, and
+took a little look around," suggested Phil. "We've none of us paid any
+attention to the lake so far, only to take that early morning dip in the
+same. It seems to be about a quarter of a mile across to the further
+shore, and with lots of bays and nooks, as well as points of land
+jutting out like fingers. I'd think it was a splendid piece of water for
+trout; and I'm glad I own some land fronting on Lake Surprise."
+
+As they turned in the direction of the edge of the water Lub's eyes were
+frequently cast upward toward the rude chimney that surmounted the back
+of the cabin wall. Evidently he was endeavoring to figure out just how
+he might accomplish the task he had taken upon his shoulders, and
+arrange things, so that while the smoke had free access to the open air,
+all manner of intruders would be kept out.
+
+When Lub did undertake anything, no matter how simple, he was apt to
+throw his whole heart and soul into the accomplishment of the same. To
+him it meant that his reputation was at stake; unless he made good his
+chums would have the laugh on him for a long time to come.
+
+Ethan happened to be in the lead as they advanced. That may have
+accounted for the fact that it was him who brought them to a sudden
+standstill by throwing up a warning hand, and exclaiming sharply:
+
+"What's that I hear? Sounds mighty like the drip of a paddle to me!"
+
+"And there's a line moving out from the shore!" added Phil, pointing;
+"there's _something_ back of that point, and moving in the water.
+Perhaps it may only be an old mother duck with her little brood. No,
+there it goes again. Ethan, you're right about it; that's the dip of a
+paddle!"
+
+"Whoever's got a canoe up here, they're heading this way, because you
+can see from the ripples," Ethan continued, eagerly; for versed in many
+of the secrets of woodcraft the boy was quick to notice which way the
+successive ripples were moving.
+
+"Watch now, because he's going to push out from behind that tongue of
+wooded land!" said Phil, sharply.
+
+All of them stood there as if rooted to the spot. Their eyes were glued
+on the point mentioned by Phil, and back of which must be the canoe that
+was sending all those ripples forth, away from the land.
+
+"There it comes!" breathed Lub, who was holding his breath, and
+consequently getting, frightfully red in the face.
+
+They could see the raised prow of what looked to be a genuine birch bark
+canoe poke in sight. In these modern days when even the Indians up in
+Maine manufacture up-to-date canvas canoes by the thousand, it is a rare
+event to run across one made of birch bark. The trees that are large
+enough for the purpose have about all been destroyed, so the Indians
+claim, which accounts for the revolution in canoes.
+
+Further and further moved the boat. Now half of its length was seen,
+then two-thirds, and finally the stern had passed the end of the point.
+The three watchers could now see that it was being softly driven by a
+paddler who sat in the stern, and wielded a single blade.
+
+All of them stared, and Lub, strange to say was the first to find
+utterance so as to voice his surprise.
+
+"Why, Phil, Ethan, don't you see who it is?" he ejaculated; "who but our
+chum, X-Ray Tyson, sitting there as big as life, and heading straight
+toward us! Where under the sun d'ye reckon he found that canoe; and
+whose can it be?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE MOUNTAIN BOYS IN CAMP
+
+
+"Whoopee! Hello, X-Ray, where'd you pick it up?"
+
+When Ethan called this out the paddler waved at them, and laughed.
+
+"Wait till I push her nose up on that fine sandy beach, and I'll tell
+you all about it, boys," he answered.
+
+Two minutes later and the prow of the birch bark canoe glided softly up
+on the shore. Laying his paddle down in the boat X-Ray proceeded to pass
+along toward the bow, so that he could step out without getting his feet
+wet. Meanwhile Lub was looking the canoe over, noting that it seemed to
+be in very good condition, and not at all weather worn, as though it had
+been lying in the bushes for several winters and summers.
+
+"I ran across her," the finder started in to explain, "while I was
+pushing along through the scrub, meaning to get to a certain point. I'd
+picked up some hoppers and crickets, and wanted to give the trout a try,
+to see if they were hungry. Whoever owned the boat had hid her away; and
+not so long ago, either, for there was a wet streak on her keel that no
+rain had made. She was lying bottom-up, of course."
+
+"Have you been fishing in the canoe all this time?" asked Phil, sniffing
+the air, and then stepping forward to look for himself; upon which X-Ray
+bent over and lifted out a string of a dozen pretty fair-sized trout.
+
+"How's that for a starter, eh, Ethan?" he demanded joyously. "Think you
+can beat that for a beginning? Right back of that point there's the boss
+bay; and say, you couldn't drop in a stone without hitting a trout,
+they're that thick. I stuck right in the same place all along; no need
+to move around."
+
+"You got a fine mess, though I believe I could eat that many myself,"
+ventured Lub, eyeing the string hungrily.
+
+"Oh! we can get all we want," he was told; "it's only a question of
+finding the bait. They're just asking to be taken on. It's hit and come
+with them as soon as you drop your line in. The bait hardly sinks a foot
+before it's taken. I never saw anything like it in all my life. And
+fight, say, they bent my rod double lots of times. I lost more'n I
+saved."
+
+"But about the canoe," Phil went on to say, "the chances are it must
+belong to whoever was in our cabin before we came."
+
+"That stands to reason, seems to me," Ethan agreed.
+
+"Well, he had the use of your shack, goodness knows how long, Phil,"
+said Lub, with an imitation of his father's solemn manner when
+delivering an opinion from the bench; "and it's only fair you have the
+use of his boat. Tit for tat, you know. One balances the other. Besides,
+we are not supposed to know whose boat it is."
+
+"There's something else I wanted to tell you about," remarked X-Ray.
+
+He was thrusting a hand inside his coat as he spoke; and when it came
+out again the others saw that it held something like a buff colored
+envelope, torn open.
+
+"Now, I found this same when I was nosing around," he explained. "It was
+caught tight away under this seat in the bow, and must have been blown
+there by the wind."
+
+"Looks like one of those telegraph envelopes," remarked Lub.
+
+"Which is exactly what it is," said X-Ray Tyson, as he offered the
+object in question to Phil. "There's an enclosure inside; read it, and
+see what you can make of the same. It got me balled up a whole lot, I'm
+telling you."
+
+Phil quickly had the enclosure out. It was a printed form, and had a
+message written upon it.
+
+     "John Newton:
+      Winchester, N. Y. (hold until called for).
+
+     "Stay where you are. Search grows warmer daily. Too bad for
+      both you can't compromise.
+
+                                                      "RUTGERS."
+
+Phil read it all out slowly, and Lub listened very seriously.
+
+"First," Phil went on to say, "the man's name, or the one he goes by
+right now, is John Newton. It may be assumed, and I 'reckon the chances
+are all that way. He seems to be in hiding, just as we thought. This is
+a friend who's warning him not to think of leaving his nest yet awhile.
+The question is, what terrible thing has he done, and who's hunting for
+him?"
+
+"If you asked me," ventured Lub, composedly, "I'd say it was all as
+plain as print. This man must be a counterfeit money-maker. The Secret
+Service people are looking for him everywhere, because, like as not he's
+big game. And you can see how this Rutgers, who is of course a chap of
+the same kind, is telling him how hot the hunt is getting to be."
+
+"It does look a little that way," admitted Phil; "there's only one thing
+that bothers me."
+
+"Go on and explain what you mean," urged Ethan.
+
+"The last part of the message doesn't seem to go with that sort of an
+explanation," said Phil.
+
+"As how? Read it again, and let us see, Phil," Lub requested.
+
+"'Too bad for both you can't compromise.' Now, the Government never
+allows itself to enter into any bargain where a rascal can get off. He
+may turn State's evidence against his pals, and in that way get lighter
+punishment; but there can be no such a thing as compromising a felony
+against the United States Government!"
+
+"Phil, you're right about that, and I know it!" declared Lub,
+ponderously.
+
+"I'll keep this telegram, if you've no objection," Phil continued; "and
+try to hit on some other sort of explanation later on. If we only had
+the key, this mystery would all be simple enough, I'm thinking."
+
+"Well, what matters most to us is that we've got the canoe, and can find
+lots of uses for the same while we're up here at Lake Surprise,"
+commented X-Ray.
+
+It was decided a little later on, after the trout had been prepared,
+that as the fish looked so inviting, they might as well start right in
+by having a feast at noon.
+
+"Well, anyway, it'll get us fixed for better things later on," sighed
+Lub, as he contemplated the three that would fall to his portion, and
+noted how small a mess that was going to be.
+
+However, he did prove that he knew how to cook them splendidly. When
+handed around they were well browned, and as sweet as could be. Every
+one complimented Lub on his feat, and begged him to keep up the good
+work, which he readily agreed to do, never once appearing to realize
+that he was proving an "easy mark."
+
+During the meal he was joked more or less about not having made a start
+with his screen on top of the chimney, and this must have spurred him
+on to showing his chums that he had conceived a clever scheme looking to
+that end.
+
+First of all he managed to roll several logs against the lower part of
+the cabin. These upon being lifted in a pile formed a means for climbing
+up on to the roof. Without some such assistance Lub would have had no
+end of trouble in getting started on his self chosen job.
+
+The others paid little or no attention to what he was doing, since they
+had various plans for passing the afternoon away. In fact, while Phil
+meant to take a wider detour of the neighborhood, to look for signs of
+game he could photograph, X-Ray had badgered Ethan into agreeing to
+accompany him out on the lake, to see which would catch the greater
+number of fish before evening came on.
+
+They were now industriously searching for grubs, crickets, grasshoppers,
+or even angle worms, so as to tempt the fat trout to take hold.
+
+It was while this was going on that a muffled cry came to their ears.
+
+"Listen! wasn't that some one calling for help?" demanded Ethan,
+scrambling to his feet, with a can that had held Boston baked beans in
+his hand, into which he had been introducing crickets, and such things,
+it having only small holes punched in its sides, besides the larger one
+which he kept stopped with a handful of grass.
+
+"There it goes again," said X-Ray, turning all around, as though so
+bewildered that he could not place the direction from which the call
+came.
+
+"Look at Phil, will you, how he's putting for the cabin!" ejaculated
+Ethan.
+
+"Do you think it can be a bear, or a panther, or anything like that; and
+is he meaning to shut himself in?" asked the other, his voice showing
+signs of trembling in spite of his well known bravery.
+
+"Shucks! no, don't you see he's aiming to reach the back of the cabin,
+where Lub's heaped up that stuff? He's meaning to climb on the roof! It
+must be Lub's fallen part-way down the old chimney, and stuck there.
+Hurry and let's get along to help pull him out!"
+
+With that they started on a mad run. As the shack was close at hand they
+managed to arrive at almost the same time Phil clambered on the roof.
+
+For such nimble fellows the task of mounting to the roof was not a
+difficult one. When they reached there they found that Phil was leaning
+over, and seemed to be giving directions.
+
+"Is it Lub; and has he fallen down inside?" asked X-Ray, quickly, hardly
+knowing whether to burst out into a laugh, or look sorrowful.
+
+"Yes, and it happens that he's stuck there in such a way he can't go
+down any further, and isn't able to climb up. You hold on to me, both of
+you, while I lean in and see if I can get hold of his hands."
+
+"Tell us when to yo-heave-o, will you, Phil?"
+
+"Something'll have to come; only I hope we don't pull his arms off!"
+chuckled Ethan, beginning to see the humor of the situation, now that it
+looked as though Lub was not hurt in any way, only "discommoded," as he
+afterwards called it.
+
+So while Phil leaned over, and thrust himself part-way down into the
+gaping aperture, his two comrades, seizing hold of his lower
+extremities, prepared to pull with might and main.
+
+"Now, get busy!" they heard a half-muffled voice say, and at that X-Ray
+and Ethan began to tug.
+
+There was heard considerable groaning and puffing, but they were not to
+be denied. Slowly but surely Phil's body was coming upward, until
+finally the head of Lub appeared above the top of the slab-and-hard-mud
+chimney.
+
+"I know it's a tough joke on me, boys," he said, humbly enough, after he
+had clambered on to the roof, and rubbed some of his scraped joints with
+more or less feeling; "but after all it was an accident."
+
+"How was that, Lub?" asked X-Ray, examining a number of stout stakes
+which apparently had been cut to certain lengths, and were intended to
+be fastened crossways in the chimney, being pounded into position with
+the hatchet.
+
+"Why, I had one of those prison bars in position, and unfortunately
+leaned too hard on the same," Lub explained.
+
+"The pesky thing betrayed your confidence, did it?" demanded Ethan.
+
+"Just about how it happened," the other continued, frankly. "I must have
+tried to save myself, more through intuition than because I had time to
+think about it. Anyway I got doubled up somehow; and that's the reason I
+stuck in the flue. One thing I'm glad of, and that is you fellows were
+close by, and could hear me yelp. If you'd gone off I might have had to
+stay there all afternoon; and let me tell you it would have been no
+joke."
+
+"Ready to give it up as a bad job, are you, Lub?" questioned X-Ray.
+
+"What, me quit for a little thing like that?" burst out the other; "I
+should hope I was a better stayer than that, boys. It only makes me
+clinch my teeth, and resolve to conquer or die."
+
+"Well, please don't die in our chimney flue," begged Ethan; "because you
+know we need it to keep our fire going, so we can cook three meals a
+day. I think you must have pounded that first bar down a little too far,
+that's all, Lub. Better luck next time!"
+
+They left him industriously at work. Having found to his sorrow where
+his mistake was, Lub would be more careful in the near future. And when
+he finished his task no 'coon or squirrel would find it possible to have
+access to the cabin by means of the chimney, unless they first gnawed
+through the parallel bars.
+
+Shortly afterwards, having succeeded in procuring a good supply of bait,
+the two ambitious fishermen pushed off in the bark canoe. Ethan held the
+paddle, for he was a master-hand at this sort of work, and could propel
+such a light running boat with the deftness of an Adirondack guide,
+hardly a ripple being stirred, with the paddle never once taken from the
+water.
+
+Then Phil wandered off, after giving Lub directions for summoning them
+back should any necessity arise, which of course they had no reason to
+believe would be the case.
+
+Engrossed in his work of hunting high and low for signs of his quarry
+Phil passed an hour or more. Then he returned to camp, and found Lub
+resting after his labors, having completed his task. From his manner it
+was easy to see that he felt quite well satisfied with what he had done.
+
+Later on they heard loud calls, and saw the other boys coming in. X-Ray
+was wielding the spruce blade now; and in the bow Ethan held up two long
+strings of glistening and still squirming trout, as trophies to their
+united prowess with hook, rod and line.
+
+"It's beginning to get pretty warm work between us," said X-Ray, as they
+stepped ashore. "I got nineteen this afternoon while Ethan he reached
+twenty-six; so even with my twelve before that I'm only five ahead in
+the count. All trout, so variety isn't in the game yet. He hooked a
+sockdolager, but his line broke. Yet I'm willing to admit he's got one
+there that goes ahead of any I've taken. Get the scales and we'll
+measure up, Ethan."
+
+Lub rubbed his hands together when he learned how much in earnest the
+rivals were becoming.
+
+"I reckon now, Phil," he said aside to the other, "we're just going to
+feast on these here trout all the time we're stopping at your hotel.
+Encourage 'em to keep the game going. First we'll make out to think
+Ethan is bound to win; and then we can switch off on to X-Ray."
+
+"You're getting to be a regular schemer, Lub," commented Phil, though he
+took occasion later on to follow out the advice given, and thus increase
+the seeds of rivalry between the fishermen.
+
+They had a glorious mess of trout for supper, and even Lub owned up that
+it was utterly impossible for him to stow away another one, so that
+several had to be wasted. None of them had yet shown any signs of
+becoming tired of the deliciously browned trout, and Lub even declared
+that if they would get him up betimes in the morning he would fry
+another batch.
+
+"The night favors my plan, because you see how it's clouded up," Phil
+was saying, as he prepared to go and set his trap.
+
+"That is, you mean you need darkness, because your camera has to be set
+ready to take the picture," Lub remarked.
+
+"Well," said Phil, "that's the way photographers do when taking an
+interior, but I've got an arrangement attached to my camera that works
+different. When the animal pulls the string that is connected with the
+flash light apparatus he does something more. He exposes the plate for
+just a quarter of a minute."
+
+"A time exposure, you mean," remarked Ethan. "If you've no objections,
+Phil, I think I'd like to go along, and see how you set the thing."
+
+Phil looked pleased.
+
+"Only too glad to have you, Ethan," he told the other.
+
+Ethan had been the one who only lately had scorned the idea that any
+hunter could find so much delight in "shooting" game with a camera as in
+other days he had done with a gun.
+
+Phil began to feel encouraged. He knew only too well, from his own
+personal experience, that once the seed had taken root it was bound to
+sprout and grow rapidly.
+
+Ethan's genuine love of all out-doors, together with a nature that could
+not be called cruel, would make it fallow ground that the seed had
+fallen upon. Results were sure to follow.
+
+So Phil led the way to the place where he had discovered that one or
+more of a colony of 'coons had actually made a trail leading to the
+lake, going and coming so many times.
+
+He had half jokingly declared that they went down when fish hungry to
+look for an unwary trout. Whether this could really be so or not Phil of
+course was in no position to prove.
+
+"But they do eat fish," Ethan remarked, as they walked along together;
+"I've seen a big buck 'coon snatch one out of the water. Some people say
+they bob the end of their striped tail on the surface as they sit on a
+log, and in that way lure a fish close in. As I never saw such a thing
+you'll have to take the story with a grain of salt."
+
+He was really very much interested in the way Phil set his trap, and
+asked a lot of questions, all of which the other obligingly answered.
+
+And after everything had been arranged the two chums who had such a
+mutual love for the Great Outdoors walked back to the Birch Bark Lodge
+in company.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE 'COON PHOTOGRAPHER
+
+
+"Lightning! Why, we're going to have a storm!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.
+
+They were all beginning to feel somewhat tired, and Lub must have had as
+many as six or seven little "cat-naps." The fire was burning cheerily
+and the interior of the cabin pretty close, despite the fact that the
+door had been left wide open.
+
+"Well, let her rain," muttered Lub. "We haven't anything to get wet,
+outside of our canoe, and it won't hurt that."
+
+Phil had arisen to his feet. There was a peculiar smile on his face,
+Ethan saw. He looked satisfied about something.
+
+"I hope you fellows can spare me the lantern for a little while," he
+said.
+
+"Well, that's queer!" observed Lub, in bewilderment.
+
+"What's doing, Phil?" demanded X-Ray Tyson.
+
+"I think I'll go out and get my camera," the other returned.
+
+Then Ethan chuckled.
+
+"I thought that was what it must have been, Phil," he observed, dryly.
+
+"Oh! I see," Lub went on to say; "afraid of the rain, of course. Well, I
+suppose it would ruin the thing to get it wet."
+
+"Too bad you've had all that work for nothing, Phil," yawning as he said
+this X-Ray tried to look sympathetic; but was really too sleepy to be
+anything but ridiculous.
+
+"Oh! I don't know about that," Phil told him, as he picked up the
+lantern; "I've got a hunch that the thing's been played to the end of
+the string."
+
+Ethan chuckled some more. Both Lub and X-Ray opened their eyes and began
+to realize that there was something more to this thing than they had
+grasped.
+
+"Whatever can you mean by that?" asked Lub; while the fourth boy,
+quicker to catch things, cried out:
+
+"Oh! then that wasn't a flash of lightning after all, Phil?"
+
+"After a kind, it was," Phil went on to say. "In fact, I believe my trap
+has been sprung. Mr. 'Coon was early on the trail to-night. I'd better
+go and see. If the thing's happened, no need of leaving the camera out
+all night, and take chances of a shower. Coming along with me, Ethan?"
+
+"Sure thing!" declared the other, who had only been waiting for an
+invitation, as Phil very well knew from the eager look in his eyes.
+
+They soon arrived on the spot.
+
+"It's all right," observed Phil, immediately.
+
+"Trap's sprung, you mean?" asked his comrade.
+
+"Yes, you can see where the bait has been carried away from the place
+where I fixed it," he was told, as Phil pointed out where the cord ran.
+
+"I guess the flash gave the poor old 'coon the scare of his life," Ethan
+went on to say, considerably amused.
+
+It was an object with Phil to encourage this interest on the part of his
+chum. Accordingly, after gathering up the camera and flashlight
+apparatus he had Ethan closely examine the marks that were plainly seen
+about the place where the bait had attracted the attention of the little
+animal.
+
+As has been said before, Ethan was a practical woodsman, and knew a
+great deal about all things connected with outdoor life. Trailing had
+long been one of his particular hobbies; hence, he was able to tell just
+what must have happened there.
+
+"Here's where the 'coon came along, just as he'd likely done on many
+another night when he felt fish hungry. And about here, Phil, he began
+to get a whiff of that green corn you fetched with you to use as bait."
+
+"How do you make that out?" asked the other, partly for information, and
+also with the idea of keeping up Ethan's interest, which he could easily
+see was growing right along.
+
+"Why, the marks have a different look," Ethan explained. "He stopped
+right here to sniff, and then went forward on the run, all caution
+thrown to the winds."
+
+"That took him up to the bait?" suggested Phil.
+
+"Yes, and you bet he didn't waste a single second laying hold of the
+same," Ethan ventured, positively, just as though he might be watching
+the entire performance with his own eyes, instead of figuring it out.
+
+"Like as not it's been a long time since this particular 'coon had a
+chance at an ear of juicy green corn," observed Phil. "Perhaps he never
+even saw one before, but his instinct told him what a good thing was
+when he ran across it."
+
+"As he began to pull at the cob, meaning to carry it off to his den,
+there came that dazzling white flash," Ethan continued.
+
+"It petrified the 'coon for the instant," explained Phil, "that happens
+in nearly every case. If you look close you'll find that the animal
+always has a startled expression. I rather think any of us would if a
+flash like that blinded us just when we'd started to pick up the biggest
+watermelon in the patch."
+
+"It frightened Mr. 'Coon away, of course," said Ethan.
+
+"But he may sneak back here again before morning," laughed Phil. "You
+can see where his teeth cut into the green corn, and the memory of that
+one taste will make him ready to take chances again."
+
+He dropped the half ear of corn on the ground as he spoke.
+
+"You mean that the poor old chap isn't going to be cheated out of his
+fine treat, eh, Phil?"
+
+"He deserves something," was the reply, "because I reckon he's given me
+a cracking good picture. I want him to know I appreciate his pull at my
+latch string."
+
+This closed the incident, but on the way back Ethan continued to ask
+numerous questions. These the other always answered to the best of his
+ability, for it was his desire to interest Ethan more and more.
+
+And Phil felt satisfied when, just before they arrived at the cabin
+Ethan gave expression to an admission:
+
+"Well, I'm ready to own up, Phil, that if for any reason I couldn't have
+a gun, or use one because the law was on all game, I _might_ take some
+stock in hunting by flashlight, and with a camera."
+
+"And the knowledge you have, Ethan, of wild animals' ways would make you
+a master hand at the game, if ever you bothered taking it up."
+
+"Think so?" remarked the other, naturally pleased at this sort of
+appreciation on Phil's part.
+
+"I'm sure of it," he was told.
+
+Nothing more was said at the time. Phil felt positive, however, that he
+could count on Ethan's coöperation so long as they remained at Birch
+Bark Lodge.
+
+It was not long before they all sought their bunks.
+
+The night passed without any alarm. Lub had assured his comrades they
+need have no fear of any unwelcome guest dropping down the chimney
+again. He had insured against such an event happening; and apparently
+felt the utmost confidence in his own invention, for he seemed to drop
+asleep almost as soon as he settled down in his blanket.
+
+Again in the morning they enjoyed their plunge in the lake, although Lub
+had to be strongly urged before he consented to join them.
+
+When he mentioned trout he was gently but firmly told that it was folly
+to whip a willing horse.
+
+"Don't let's have fish every meal," urged X-Ray Tyson, "or we'll all be
+sprouting gills and dorsal fins and scales. Once a day after this ought
+to satisfy the trout hunger. Now it seems to me that's a bully good fire
+for camp flapjacks."
+
+"Just what it is," agreed Ethan with enthusiasm.
+
+"That suits me all right," Phil agreed, "and we all know the kind you
+can make, Lub. If you want any help, call on me."
+
+"Oh! it's only a pleasure to me, so long as I know my efforts are
+appreciated," said Lub, just as they all knew he would.
+
+The flapjacks must have been good, for not a piece of one was left after
+the four boys had finished breakfast. And they even had the audacity to
+bait Lub on top of it.
+
+"Don't care how soon you repeat that mess, Lub," observed Phil.
+
+"Never tasted their equal," confessed Ethan.
+
+"And as for me," said the wicked X-Ray, "I'll sure dream of the treat
+to-night, see if I don't."
+
+Whereupon, of course, Lub set about figuring out just how the little
+sack of self-raising flour would hold out, if he made flapjacks every
+single morning of their stay in camp.
+
+Lub was a lovable camp mate, and so easily imposed upon. But then his
+chums were just as ready to do things for him in turn.
+
+Later on in the morning, seeing that the rival fishermen had started out
+again to depopulate the lake, and Lub was busy cleaning up around the
+cabin, Phil took a notion to wander off.
+
+He meant to cover quite some little territory this time, his object
+being to see if he could catch a glimpse of a deer. Of course he carried
+his camera along, because it was always possible that some good chance
+might arise where he could use it to advantage.
+
+Phil believed in being ready. He was a hunter, and knew how exasperating
+it was to run across tempting game when one's gun had been left at home.
+
+Half an hour later he found himself wandering through a section of woods
+that looked very promising. He fancied he caught a sound, and it was of
+such a peculiar nature that Phil stopped still to listen.
+
+Yes, it was not the "whiff" of a startled deer or moose, but struck the
+astonished boy more like the wailing cry of a distressed child.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+FINDING A SUNBEAM
+
+
+At first Phil found it hard to believe he heard aright.
+
+"I've known cats to make sounds like a baby crying, when they were
+facing each other, and ready to scrap," he told himself.
+
+The more he listened the stronger grew his conviction.
+
+"Even if it turns out to be a pair of spitting young bobcats," he
+concluded, "I'd like to snap 'em off. As to a child, what would one be
+doing away up here in this wilderness, unless--by George, now, that
+might be it."
+
+He had suddenly remembered how they found the little cap, yes, and a
+baby silver thimble in the cabin.
+
+It was no trouble at all to locate the source of the sounds. The sobs
+continued as he advanced. In a few minutes Phil was gazing with
+considerable surprise upon a figure outstretched on the ground.
+
+He could see it was a little girl, possibly four years old. She had
+golden curls, and when she looked up suddenly at hearing his footsteps
+Phil discovered that she was as pretty as a fairy.
+
+Just then she looked a little forlorn, since her face was soiled from
+the dirt, and tears had made furrows down her cheeks.
+
+She scrambled to her feet, and seemed hardly to know whether to try and
+run away, or put her childish trust in this strange boy.
+
+Now Phil was always a favorite with younger children. They all loved him
+because he had such a pleasant face, engaging laugh, and seemed to know
+just how to appeal to a child's heart.
+
+Few boys care to bother with little tots; they only appear as a nuisance
+in their eyes. Phil, however, was different.
+
+"Hello! here, little girl, what's all the trouble about?" he asked,
+cheerily; and somehow there must have been magic in his voice, for the
+look of fear left the child's face immediately.
+
+She recognized a friend in need. As a rule children, just the same as
+most dogs do, have an instinct that tells them who to trust.
+
+"I'se losted!" she said, simply, with a little sob in her voice.
+
+Phil had now reached her side. She did not shrink from him as he bent
+down and put his hand gently on her curly head. Something that she saw
+in his kind eyes, perhaps the vein of sympathy so pronounced in his
+tones, told her this strange boy could be safely trusted.
+
+"Now, that's too bad," Phil went on to say, just as if he himself had
+been "losted" and hence knew how it felt. "But who are you lost from?"
+
+"Daddy," she said, simply, as though taking it for granted that every
+one must know who was implied by that term; because to her mind there
+was only one "daddy" on earth.
+
+Phil believed he saw it all now. The man who had occupied the cabin, had
+this child with him. For some unknown reason he had taken alarm, perhaps
+because of their coming to the lonely lake, and made a hurried change of
+base.
+
+Why he had prowled around on that first night it was of course
+impossible for the boy to say, unless he simply meant to satisfy himself
+with regard to their intentions.
+
+And now the little girl had managed to lose herself in the woods. No
+doubt the father would be searching everywhere for her.
+
+Phil thought it all over, even while he was soothing the child and
+telling her he would see to it that she found "daddy" again.
+
+He could not leave her there in the open pine woods, that was sure, and
+since there could be no immediate way of learning the present abode of
+the mysterious man, the only thing left for Phil to do was to take the
+little girl to camp with him.
+
+In due time no doubt the father was sure to turn up there to claim the
+child. They would try to convince him that it was none of their business
+what made him hide away from his fellows as he was doing.
+
+So Phil made up his mind.
+
+He had by this time managed to distract the child's thoughts from her
+troubles. Indeed, this was no difficult task for Phil Bradley. Already
+she had laughed at something he had said. When Phil heard what a sweet
+laugh that was he immediately told himself:
+
+"I warrant that there's a man chasing wild through the woods right now,
+trying to find this little sunbeam. I know I'd be, if I missed a merry
+laugh like that at my fireside."
+
+"My name is Phil," he told her, "and won't you tell me yours?"
+
+"Why, it's Mazie," she quickly answered.
+
+"Mazie what?" he continued.
+
+"No, just only Mazie," the little girl told him positively.
+
+Phil was baffled, for he had hoped to learn "daddy's" name. He did not
+attempt anything further along that line.
+
+"Now, Mazie," he went on to say, "you'll come with me, won't you? You
+must be hungry, and want some lunch. We'll find daddy pretty soon, you
+know, and you wouldn't want to stay out here in the woods all by
+yourself?"
+
+She looked alarmed at the mere suggestion of such a thing. It pleased
+the boy to notice how eagerly she seized his outstretched hand, to which
+she clung confidingly.
+
+"Oh! no, 'cause I'm afraid. I saw a bear, a big bear once. Daddy shooed
+it away from our house. And oh! it whiffed and whiffed just awful.
+Please take me with you--Phil."
+
+"Just what I'll do, Mazie. You see I have three friends, all boys who
+will be glad to see you. And when daddy comes he can take you back
+home."
+
+"Home!"
+
+The child repeated the word after him. There was a bewildered look on
+her face. Phil judged from this that some memory was awakening.
+
+"Home--daddy--muzzer!" he heard her say almost in a whisper.
+
+"Oh! you didn't tell me that your mother was up here, too; is she with
+daddy, Mazie?" Phil asked her, as they walked slowly along.
+
+She looked up. The wistful glow in her eyes gave the boy a strange
+feeling.
+
+"Oh! no. Muzzer gone far away. She never come to her little girl now,"
+he heard her say; and somehow the thought that she meant her mother was
+dead kept Phil from questioning her any further.
+
+The little thing had evidently already recovered from her recent grief.
+She trusted in Phil, and believed that it would only be a matter of a
+short time before he would bring "daddy."
+
+In her eyes Phil was a magician. Nothing could be beyond his power to
+accomplish. That is what the faith of a child means.
+
+She prattled all the way along, and yet it was pretty much about the
+woods, the flowers she liked to pick, the noisy scolding squirrels, and
+how daddy had always watched over her so carefully since they came up
+here, ever and ever so long ago.
+
+Not once did she refer to any former life. It seemed to be in the nature
+of a closed book with the child.
+
+Phil was waiting to see how she acted when they came in sight of the
+cabin, for he felt sure she must recognize it. She pointed to several
+things, even telling him that the tree with the dead top was where
+"bushy-tail" lived and had a family, so daddy said, and daddy knew
+everything.
+
+All at once the child gave a cry. She had discovered the cabin.
+
+"Oh! I live here!" she burst out, and disengaging her hand from that of
+her champion she flew to the open door and burst in, shrilly crying:
+
+"Daddy! Daddy!"
+
+Imagine the astonishment of Lub. He happened to be sitting tailor
+fashion on the floor sewing a button on that he had burst off, Ethan
+told him when he gorged so much the evening before.
+
+Hearing a flutter, and then that cry in a childish voice, Lub turned to
+see what he thought at first must be a specter.
+
+The little girl was abashed to find only a stranger there. Her sudden
+hopes being so suddenly dissolved brought the tears again into her
+eyes.
+
+But Phil quickly managed to brighten her up. And Lub was ready to do
+almost anything to please the little miss, even to trying to stand on
+his head had she demanded it.
+
+Then along came the other fellows. Of course both of them were as much
+astonished as Lub had been, but at the same time showed that they were
+not sorry to have such a little sunbeam around.
+
+Among themselves, of course, they talked it all over, and knew that
+Mazie must be the child who had been the sole companion of the lonely
+occupant of the cabin.
+
+"Too bad if it turns out he's a scoundrel, and a law breaker, with such
+a bully little girl belonging to him."
+
+X-Ray Tyson said this, looking as he spoke at the suspiciously new coin
+he had picked out of a crack in the floor, and which he fully believed
+had been molded right there in that isolated cabin.
+
+"Don't count too much on that," remarked Phil; "you can tell that she
+loves daddy above everything on earth. He can't be so _very_ wicked, I
+guess."
+
+As the day wore on all of them took turns in amusing the little girl.
+She proudly showed them a number of things that she had been in the
+habit of playing with when she "lived here."
+
+Not once did she speak of a former life. Everything seemed to be
+associated with "daddy." And as the other boys had been told by Phil
+what he thought in connection with her mother being dead, of course they
+were careful not to mention the word, for fear it might cause her sudden
+grief.
+
+During the afternoon her merry laugh was heard frequently. Childish
+troubles soon fade away. And surely a little girl could not wish for a
+better lot of "big brothers" than these four boys seemed to be. They
+anticipated her every wish, and after a while Mazie even seemed to look
+upon them in the light of old and tried friends.
+
+Phil had arranged it that while their little guest honored them with her
+company she was to have his bunk. He could make himself fairly
+comfortable on the floor, somehow. A bunch of hemlock browse would do
+for a mattress, and if the fire was kept up a blanket was hardly
+necessary.
+
+Phil felt a little fearful that at night she might miss a familiar
+figure, and cry herself to sleep wanting "daddy." He was agreeably
+disappointed, however. Mazie ate supper with her protectors, and cuddled
+down in the arms of Lub, to whom she had taken a great fancy. Perhaps it
+was because he had so much to do with the getting of meals, although it
+was hardly a fair thing to say that, because Lub was kindness itself.
+
+There she was finally discovered fast asleep. Lub insisted on them
+leaving her with her head on his shoulder for a long time.
+
+Finally, Ethan and Phil having come back, after setting the flashlight
+arrangement in a new place, they managed to carry the sleeping child to
+the bunk provided, without arousing her.
+
+The night passed quietly.
+
+Phil would not have been surprised had a heavy summons on the door
+brought them all to their feet, and upon opening up to find an almost
+distracted man anxiously inquiring as to whether they had seen anything
+of a lost child.
+
+Nothing of the kind occurred.
+
+Wherever "daddy" could be searching for the missing one as yet he failed
+to turn his attention to the cabin where until recently he had lived in
+retirement, a hermit, as X-Ray Tyson called him.
+
+Another dawn came.
+
+Breakfast was prepared in almost abject silence. The little girl was
+still sleeping. All of the boys had tiptoed up and taken a peep at her
+lying there, as though hardly able to believe it could be so.
+
+Phil had washed her face and hands the first thing, and with her rosy
+cheeks and lips, with the masses of golden, natural curls she certainly
+looked, as Lub expressed it, "pretty enough to eat."
+
+So breakfast was prepared almost in silence. When any of them found
+occasion to speak it was laughable to see how they got their heads
+together and whispered.
+
+Just before Lub had breakfast ready to serve, Mazie called out to Phil,
+and was soon ready to sit down at the table with two of her newfound
+friends, there not being room for all.
+
+X-Ray, thinking to pick up some information, called the child's
+attention to the scorched places on the heavy board, apparently done
+with molten metal.
+
+"See what daddy did!" he went on to say; and immediately the others,
+guessing his game, waited to see the result.
+
+The little girl looked from X-Ray down to the scarred surface of the
+table. She shook her head vigorously in the negative, and looked
+indignant.
+
+"Daddy didn't!" she exclaimed, with a vigor that settled that question.
+
+"These marks were here when you came, were they, Mazie?" asked Phil.
+
+This time she nodded her little curly head in the affirmative.
+
+No more was said. X-Ray took out his new fifty cent piece and looked
+hard at it--but if he half intended asking the child whether she had
+ever seen any like it he changed his mind. Perhaps he did not fancy
+looking into those clear blue eyes, and coaxing the child to
+unconsciously betray her "daddy."
+
+After breakfast the boys started to do various things. Ethan and X-Ray
+Tyson were more than ever bent upon fishing. They counted exactly even
+now, and the excitement was running high.
+
+"But after this," said Ethan, who had the soul of a true sportsman, "we
+mean to put back all the ordinary trout that are uninjured. We're no
+fish hogs, you must know. We'll carry the little scales, and the foot
+rule along, so as to measure what we take."
+
+"That's a sensible arrangement," Phil told them; "but then it's only
+what I would have expected of you, Ethan."
+
+They were still gathering bait close by the cabin when there broke out a
+terrible din.
+
+"It must be Lub!" exclaimed Ethan.
+
+"Yes, I saw him wandering off in that direction a bit ago," added X-Ray.
+
+"What can have happened to him?" exclaimed Phil, his mind running to
+panthers, ferocious bobcats, hungry bears, and even an excited father,
+wild with searching for his lost child.
+
+"There he comes now!" cried Ethan.
+
+"How funny he acts," X-Ray went on to say.
+
+Indeed, Lub was carrying on as though he had gone suddenly crazy,
+leaping up into the air, threshing with his arms, and prancing madly to
+and fro. All the while they could hear him letting out hoarse yells.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+AN ENCOUNTER IN THE PINE WOODS
+
+
+"Help! Chase 'em off, somebody! Help a fellow, won't you? Ouch! they're
+murdering me by inches. Oh! my stars, what can I do?"
+
+"It's hornets!" shrieked X-Ray, always as quick as a flash.
+
+"Mebbe a swarm of yellow jackets!" suggested Ethan. "I can see something
+whirling around over his head. Gee! what if he runs here and gives us a
+dose? The cabin for mine."
+
+"Hold on," called out Phil, taking in the situation, and then raising
+his voice he shouted to the terrified Lub: "Throw off your hat as you
+run. There, that'll attract some. Now your coat. Never mind a sting or
+two, but do as I say."
+
+Lub, accustomed in matters of this kind to letting some one else do his
+thinking for him, hastened to obey.
+
+Immediately afterward he was heard calling piteously:
+
+"There's some after me yet, Phil, and oh! how they do hit you! I'm
+beginning to swell up right now. How'll I get away from the swarm, Phil?
+You tell me what to do, and quick!"
+
+"Run for the lake and jump in!" called out Phil. "Duck under, and keep
+there as long as you can stand it."
+
+Without thinking twice, and only too willing to blindly obey, Lub
+galloped straight to the shore of the lake. He happened to strike a
+little bank, where the water was quite deep.
+
+"Here I go!" they heard him shout, and then came a tremendous splash.
+
+"Oh! my!" gasped X-Ray, "that settles our fishing for this morning!
+He'll scare every trout in the lake with his threshing around!"
+
+Ethan was bubbling over with laughter, and even Phil had hard work to
+keep from giving a shout when upon reaching the shore they saw what was
+going on.
+
+Lub stood in water up to his chin. He kept bobbing his head in an
+anxious effort to locate any determined insect that still hovered near
+by. Occasionally he would duck entirely out of sight, and move along a
+dozen feet, as though in hopes of eluding the enemy in this way.
+
+Taking pity on the poor fellow Phil assured him the coast was clear,
+and that he was safe in coming out.
+
+Such a woe begone figure he presented.
+
+It seemed like a shame to laugh, but the boys could not have helped it
+had their lives depended on keeping sober faces.
+
+Besides looking like a drowned rat, poor Lub found that his face was
+already swelling up. His jaws looked as they may have done when he had
+the mumps. One eye threatened to be lost altogether, on account of the
+puffiness all around it. His nose had received due attention, and even
+his hands had failed to come through the scorching fire unscathed.
+
+Despite all this Lub tried to grin, although the effort was, as X-Ray
+said pretty much of a "ghastly failure."
+
+"I know I'm a sight to behold, fellows," whimpered Lub. "I guess I
+deserve all I got, too, for being such a fool. But how was I to know
+that old hornets' nest almost lying on the ground under the bush was
+_loaded_!"
+
+"What did you take it for?" asked Phil.
+
+"Why," replied Lub, "I supposed it was a regular giant puff-ball, one of
+the toad-stool kind that go off with a crack and a puff of smoke when
+you kick 'em."
+
+"Then you actually kicked it?" cried Phil.
+
+"Just what I did--oh! murder!" gasped Lub, feeling of his enlarged head
+in dismay.
+
+"And it went off, all right, I bet you?" asserted Ethan, uproariously.
+
+"A million of 'em came hustling out and started to eating me up," Lub
+went on to explain, plaintively. "I killed 'em in droves, but there was
+always a fresh lot. Then I ran--you saw how I had to carry on. Guess it
+wasn't any laughing matter to _me_! And it isn't right now. If I keep on
+swelling like I am I'll bust. Talk to me about having the big
+head--bein' President of the United States wouldn't make my cranium
+swell any more. Phil, ain't you going to do something for a chum that's
+had trouble?"
+
+"Sure, I am," announced Phil, readily. "Ethan, find some mud, and let it
+be clay if you can. Hurry and get it here. While you're doing it I'll
+take the sting out with ammonia. It's lucky I thought to fetch some
+along."
+
+Lub only too willingly put himself wholly in the hands of his friends.
+The ammonia smarted at first, but by degrees the pain began to
+disappear, as the poison was neutralized by the remedy.
+
+"I have to be careful not to let a drop of it get in your eyes, because
+it would smart terribly," Phil told the patient.
+
+"Yes, I know even now how a dog feels when you squirt some of this stuff
+in his eyes with those little ammonia pistols," Lub remarked.
+
+The process was continued until Ethan arrived with the clay.
+
+This was fastened on the best way possible by the use of Lub's big red
+bandanna handkerchief.
+
+Phil had insisted on taking a snap shot of the victim of the hornets
+before he had his face bound up. He also got another view after this
+operation had been completed.
+
+"I'm doing this partly for your own good, Lub," he explained. "Perhaps
+it'll make you feel bad to see how pride always swells before a fall.
+But then it's going to be a valuable lesson to you."
+
+"And you'll never kick again before you're dead certain what kind of a
+puff-ball it is, because some happen to be inhabited," X-Ray told him.
+
+As Lub would very likely not be fit for anything during the rest of that
+day, Phil took charge, while the rival fishermen were out in the canoe.
+
+All the while he enjoyed having the little girl around. She seemed like
+a real ray of sunshine.
+
+"Whatever will we do without her, Phil, if her father blows in here any
+time and carries her off?"
+
+Lub said this in a muffled tone, for he was tied up good and fast, but
+he meant every word of it.
+
+"Perhaps we might get him to let her stay with us," said Phil, showing
+that he, too, had been thinking along those lines; "if one of you
+fellows agreed to give up your bunk to 'daddy' and sleep on the floor
+with me."
+
+"I'd do that, and more, for the sake of keeping her here," declared Lub.
+
+The fishermen reported at noon.
+
+X-Ray seemed in high spirits, and Ethan correspondingly depressed. It
+was easy to see which way luck had gone that morning.
+
+"Well, there's another day coming," said Phil, hopefully.
+
+"Yes, and I mean to start in and show him a few wrinkles from now on,"
+Ethan declared; at which the other laughed scoffingly as he remarked:
+
+"Oh! so you've just been playing off all this time, have you? Seemed to
+me you put in your best licks right along. I'll have to think up a few
+dodges myself, if that's the game."
+
+"Everything square and above board, boys," warned Phil.
+
+"As fair as can be, Phil. Neither of us would want to play a mean
+trick," said Ethan, and his rival echoed his words.
+
+After lunch Phil told them it was their turn to look after the camp
+while he took a stroll.
+
+"Be careful about letting Mazie stray off," was what he told them the
+last thing, ere starting away, camera in hand.
+
+He had managed to develop his two flashlight pictures, and so far as he
+could tell from the films they appeared to be clean-cut good ones. Ethan
+after inspecting the negatives had expressed the opinion that they
+looked "fine."
+
+From various indications Phil began to believe he had the other
+interested in the work, and that it would not be long before Ethan might
+be counted as one of those who call it fascinating.
+
+Phil was thinking of all this as he walked along. Numerous other things
+came into his mind also. He even wondered whether some accident might
+not cause him to come upon Mazie's father, and what "daddy" would prove
+to be.
+
+Somehow the boy had come to believe the man could not be bad, or he
+would never have held the affection of that dear little heart; and he
+knew from many signs that Mazie certainly fairly worshiped her father.
+
+Altogether the trip up to Lake Surprise was turning out delightfully all
+around.
+
+There might be a few things associated with it that would not always be
+a happy memory with some of his chums. For instance, there was the
+episode of the hornets' nest which poor Lub had kicked on the impulse of
+the moment, thinking it only a harmless "puff-ball." He would shiver
+every time some buzzing sound reminded him of his wild flight; but even
+then Lub had learned a lesson he could never forget.
+
+Phil kept his camera ready for instantaneous use. He knew that if by any
+great good luck he "jumped" a deer that had been lying down, and
+sleeping in the heat of the day, it would require considerable presence
+of mind and a quick action in order to snapshot the animal at close
+quarters.
+
+Being somewhat of an experienced hunter, Phil had been careful when
+starting out to head into the wind. This was done so that a deer would
+not discover his presence through any sense of smell, until he was close
+up.
+
+Once given a fair chance, and he believed he was capable of handling the
+situation.
+
+As luck would have it his course took him through the very same neck of
+the woods where on the previous day he had found Mazie, only now he had
+gone half a mile and more beyond that spot.
+
+All at once as Phil carefully pushed through a screen of bushes he heard
+a scrambling sound. Some animal jumped to its feet, and Phil, as he took
+note of the dun color, the immense size, the mule-like ears, the square
+muzzle and the two-thirds grown horns knew that he was face to face with
+the king of the Adirondack woods--a bull moose!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+WHEN TWO PLAYED THE GAME
+
+
+The moose looked at Phil, and Phil stared at the moose. Both of them
+seemed to be equally surprised at the unexpected meeting.
+
+Apparently Phil was the first to recover, for the sharp little "click"
+of his camera shutter acting, after he had quickly drawn a head on the
+bulky animal, told that he was true to his instinct as a Nature
+photographer.
+
+It may be that even that little snapping sound angered the moose; or
+possibly he was just in a mood for trouble. The rutting season was well
+over by this time of year, and his horns had grown fairly stout, so that
+they could be trusted to do good service in battle.
+
+Phil never knew. In fact he had no opportunity to make inquiries, or
+conduct any sort of an investigation. All he became aware of suddenly
+was that the bull moose had lowered his head, and started toward him at
+a full gallop.
+
+Now Phil may at times have been called a bold sort of a boy, but he also
+had a pretty well defined streak of caution in his make-up. Those
+towering horns had an ugly look to him. He could easily imagine how
+inconvenient it would seem to feel them brought into personal contact
+with some part of his body, with all that muscular power of the big
+animal butting them on.
+
+There was only one thing left for Phil to do, and that was to make
+himself scarce around that neighborhood as quickly as possible.
+
+Although the boy had never in all his life witnessed such a thing as a
+genuine bull fight, he understood that the first thing to be done was to
+dodge. The moose was so close to him that he knew he had very little
+chance of outstripping those long legs in fair flight.
+
+With this partly formed plan in his head Phil ducked to the left, and
+started to run. He could have no real motive in choosing this side,
+because there was no time to take even a quick observation, and form a
+plan of action.
+
+As it turned out luck favored him in making this hasty choice on the
+spur of the moment. Had he turned to the right he would have been
+compelled to cover such an extensive strip of open ground that his
+fleet-footed enemy must have easily overtaken him. That would have
+forced Phil to make another side movement, or else be caught up in
+those branching horns.
+
+He knew what this latter must mean, and that once he found himself
+knocked down and rendered helpless, he would be rolled along, prodded
+wickedly, and even jumped upon in the endeavor to disable him.
+
+On the left, though, there were trees close to him that offered some
+sort of refuge. Phil, hearing the moose putting after him at full speed,
+hastened to swing his body around the first of the trunks he came to. It
+would offer a barrier against the attacks of the animal until he could
+get his wits about him, and figure out some plan.
+
+A minute later and the moose was chasing him around the tree in a merry
+way. All the games Phil had ever played with his schoolmates in days
+gone by were not a circumstance to the one he found himself engaged in
+with that determined animal. The more he was disappointed at reaching
+his supposed enemy the greater became the fury of the moose. He stamped,
+and whistled, and butted his head against the tree; after which he would
+start on another fast trot around it, the performance consisting of
+perhaps a dozen or a score of circles.
+
+Phil had the inner ring, and could of course move much faster around
+than the enemy. Still, it was not long before he became heartily tired
+of that continual and useless work. It began to make him dizzy, too. He
+found himself wondering whether the moose meant to keep going in these
+spirals until he had exhausted the boy; and how long it was possible to
+keep this sort of thing up before he fell over.
+
+It was in vain that he shouted in the face of the animal; the sound of a
+human voice did not seem to have any effect, unless it was to make the
+beast show fresh animation, as though spurred on to renewed vigor.
+
+"However am I to get the better of the old fool?" Phil asked himself
+between his puffs; for this happened after he had been chased another
+dozen times around the well-worn path.
+
+There was a breathing spell, as the moose halted for a brief time. Phil
+did not cherish any hope or expectation that the beast meant to retire,
+and leave him to himself. In fact he began to believe the big animal was
+having the time of his life, and enjoying it immensely.
+
+"Which is more than I can say I'm doing," Phil grumbled; "this
+ring-around-the-rosy business is played out, and I've just got to find
+some way to stop it."
+
+Taking advantage of the breathing spell he cast a hurried look back of
+him. Of course he did not dream that such a thing as help could come; on
+the contrary his only expectation was that he might find some way by
+means of which he could extricate himself from his dilemma.
+
+"Bully! if I can only make that clump of small trees I ought to manage
+it!" was what Phil exclaimed.
+
+There was no time for more just then. Mr. Bull Moose was ready for
+another frolic, having freshened up. So again they chased madly around
+that tree, the hoofs of the animal tearing up the ground until it looked
+as though he had made a regular race-track there.
+
+When finally the new inning came to a close Phil was fairly panting for
+breath, and more dizzy than ever.
+
+"A few more turns like that would do me up!" he gasped; and then gritted
+his teeth with a determination to make the break he had figured on.
+
+Fortunately the moose always seemed to come to a stand at about the same
+spot. This brought the little clump of trees exactly behind Phil, which
+fact would give him a chance to get fairly started before the moose
+became aware of his intention.
+
+Taking in a long breath the boy suddenly darted away.
+
+He instantly heard the moose rushing after him. The distance was short,
+and so Phil managed to swing around his new shelter, with those ugly
+horns not more than five feet behind him.
+
+Well, that was all the margin he needed for safety. The new barrier
+would cause him to cover much more ground with every revolution; but
+then it was not his purpose to keep this up any longer than was
+absolutely necessary.
+
+A great wave of relief swept over the boy when he managed to slip in
+between two of the small trees, and found that he was well protected on
+all sides from the enraged animal's horns.
+
+In vain did the moose attempt to insert his head between the trees. Phil
+kicked at him, and continued his shouts. By now he was beginning to feel
+that the advantage was swinging over to his side. He had done nothing to
+incur this hostility on the part of the animal, and was surely entitled
+to the privilege of defending himself as best he could, even to the
+extent of inflicting injury on his four-footed enemy.
+
+Perhaps at some time in the past a monster tree had been cut down on
+this spot, and these second-growth saplings had sprung up in a circle
+that was wide enough to afford a nimble boy shelter. The towering horns
+of the moose, more than anything else, rendered it difficult for him to
+reach Phil.
+
+This second stage of the affair was a decided improvement on the first,
+Phil assured himself. At the same time he was not satisfied. He failed
+to see the fun of being kept a prisoner, cooped up in that limited space
+for perhaps hours. It was no fault of his that the moose chanced to be
+in an ugly humor; and just then, if Phil Bradley had had any sort of
+firearm along he would have felt justified in dispatching that furious
+animal. Game laws are good things, but even they must be broken when
+one's life is placed in jeopardy.
+
+Besides his pocket knife Phil had nothing on his person that could be
+called a weapon. For once he had even left his hunting knife at the
+cabin, and bitterly he repented of his unusual thoughtlessness. It would
+never happen again he told himself, when he realized how helpless he
+was.
+
+When the moose again started trying to get at him Phil conceived a new
+hope. It was in the shape of an inspiration, and he watched eagerly in
+the expectation that such a thing might come to pass.
+
+What if the moose did find a way to crowd his head between two of the
+trees, by slanting it sideways; what if in his stupidity he was unable
+to extricate it again, and could only tug frantically backwards becoming
+excited and helpless?
+
+That would be turning the tables in great shape. Phil had seen cows
+confined in stall yokes somewhat after that fashion. He also knew how
+green turtles are captured in large mesh nets down along the Florida
+coast streams like Indian River; for the stupid creature, having passed
+its flippers through the net, and being unable to continue the forward
+movement on account of the bulging shell, simply keeps trying to urge
+itself on, and never dreaming that it could back out by reversing its
+flippers.
+
+There was one particular place where Phil thought the chances seemed
+fairly good that the horns of the moose might pass through, provided he
+turned his head the proper way.
+
+In order to try out his scheme he did all in his power to coax the
+animal to begin operations in that section. For a while it seemed as
+though the moose persistently avoided the larger opening. Everywhere
+else he struggled the best he knew how to reach the prisoner of the
+saplings, even pawing viciously at him with his hoofs.
+
+"I must make a big bluff of meaning to slip out through that hole," Phil
+told himself; "and when he gets around there perhaps he'll fall into the
+trap."
+
+This he immediately started to carry out. It worked like a charm, too,
+for he had barely time to dodge back into his asylum when his captor
+came up against the tree next the wider opening with a bang.
+
+After that Phil easily led him into making a fresh effort to insert his
+horned head through that opening. Eagerly the boy watched every move on
+the part of the determined animal. Twice it looked as though success was
+about to crown the effort of the moose.
+
+"Keep going!" Phil told him, encouragingly, as he tapped the animal's
+nose with the toe of his shoe, just to keep his temper up, so he might
+not get weary of his task; "one good turn deserves another. The third
+time takes the cake. Just manage to get your old horns through first,
+and then you can push that big head after, as easy as pie. That's the
+way. Whoop! he's really done it!"
+
+Of course the moose could not understand the explicit directions which
+Phil was only too willingly handing him; but by some chance he did
+manage to get his obstructive horns through, and then follow with his
+head; though his shoulders would prevent him from going only so far.
+Phil thought he had been neatly trapped, and his next move was of course
+to slip out of the circle by another exit.
+
+"Wonder now if I dare skip out, and leave him there?"
+
+Phil asked himself this as he saw that the moose had already taken the
+alarm over his condition, and was acting wildly, twisting his head in
+every direction, and straining to drag it out.
+
+"What if his horns gave way, or broke off? Oh! that time he came within
+an ace of getting free! He may be smarter than a turtle, and remember
+how he pushed in. I'd be in a bad box if he did get free, and chased
+after me again lickety-split!"
+
+Phil believed it was his best policy to stay there, and watch a while
+longer, just to see what the animal would do. If some time passed, and
+the moose did not seem able to extricate himself from his sad dilemma,
+then Phil believed he could take his hurried departure; though he meant
+to snap off a picture of the animal first.
+
+"Might as well do that same now, while I have the chance," he went on to
+say; and stepping well back to where he could get a fine view of the
+imprisoned moose, he again made use of his camera to advantage.
+
+Hardly had he done so than he saw the animal twisting his head again in
+a way that threatened to bring about the catastrophe which Phil dreaded.
+In fact the boy had only time to once more hurriedly gain the shelter of
+the clump of trees when he saw the moose withdraw his head from its
+yoke.
+
+"Well, it looks like you might be a smart one," muttered Phil, as he
+found himself once more fast in the trap, with the enraged animal
+striking at him with his hoofs, and making all sorts of queer noises
+that might be taken for threats.
+
+When this had gone on for nearly half an hour, and there was no sign of
+a cessation, Phil started to exercise his wits again. First he began an
+investigation of his pockets to see if there might not be some means for
+bringing this ridiculous and uncomfortable situation to an end.
+
+"What's this?" he exclaimed, as he drew forth a small package and stared
+at it, as if unable on the spur of the moment to understand what it was
+or how it came to be there; then it flashed upon him, and he gave a wild
+shout of joy.
+
+"Why, would you believe it, this must be the little paper of black
+pepper I had in my pack. Lub was asking for some this morning, while
+cooking breakfast; and when he handed it back to me I must have dropped
+it in my pocket without thinking what I was doing, meaning to put it on
+the shelf when I stood up. Hurrah! if ever a pinch of pepper was worth
+its weight in gold that time is now. It seems mighty cruel to do such a
+thing, but what else is left to me?"
+
+Of course it was an easy thing to get close enough to the moose to
+scatter some of the pepper over his head. It did seem a cruel thing to
+do, and Phil would never tell the story without a feeling of shame; but
+he considered that his life was at stake, and hence he was justified in
+going to such extreme measures.
+
+The actions of the bull moose immediately told that the siege was going
+to be called off without delay. He shook his head, snorted furiously,
+and then turning galloped away. Phil saw him collide with a tree before
+he passed from view, and the sight caused him to utter an exclamation of
+pity.
+
+"But he'll pull through it in time," the boy was saying, as he came out
+of his place of refuge; "by to-morrow it'll be pretty nearly over. I
+wonder if he's learned a lesson, and will give two-legged strangers a
+wide berth after this. Well, it was all his own fault. He had no need to
+get into such a tearing rage because I took his picture. But let me tell
+you I'm as tired as if I'd been running a ten mile race. Every muscle in
+my body aches from the sudden jumps I had to give."
+
+Phil felt that on the whole he had come out of the scrape with honors.
+And whenever he looked at that picture of the moose with his head fast
+among the saplings, it would be apt to remind him forcibly of the
+adventure.
+
+"No more tramping for me to-day," he continued, shaking his head; "I've
+had good and plenty of it. The rest can wait for another time. Even if I
+didn't snap off another view all the time I was up here I'd feel it paid
+me to come; but I've got a few more cards up my sleeve to play. That
+flashlight business is going to pan out just great, I can see. Now to
+head for home. I can imagine how the boys' eyes will stare when I tell
+them what I've been up against, and prove it with that picture."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+HOW "DADDY" CAME BACK
+
+
+In order to see more of the country Phil took a notion to change his
+course while heading for the home camp. This turned out to be another of
+those little things that occasionally happen by accident, but which
+afterwards seem to have been inspired.
+
+He had not been walking along more than ten or twelve minutes before he
+came to a sudden pause.
+
+"What under the sun could that have been," he asked himself, listening
+intently; "sounded as near like a regular groan as anything could be."
+
+Ridiculous as it might seem, Phil even thought of the suffering moose,
+and wondered whether the distressed animal could have taken shelter in
+that thick copse, to moan with pain. Then again he heard the strange
+sound.
+
+"It must be some one's lying there, and in pain!" Phil observed, though
+the idea gave him a thrill of apprehension.
+
+He stepped closer, and when for the third time the same type of noise
+welled out of the bushes he made bold to call:
+
+"Who's there? Do you need any help?"
+
+There was a rustling sound. Then the bushes parted, and he saw a man's
+face peering at him. Phil could not remember ever having seen that face
+before, and yet it struck him that he ought to be able to give a good
+guess who the other was going to turn out to be. He had Mazie in his
+mind just then; her "daddy" was the only man known to be around that
+neighborhood.
+
+The other beckoned to him, and as Phil approached he went on to say, in
+a voice that was half muffled, both with pain and anxiety:
+
+"Oh! I'm glad that you've come, boy. My leg is broken, and I've got to
+the point where I can't seem to drag myself another yard. I'm hungry
+too, and crazy for a drink of water. But I was just making up my mind I
+might as well give up, and be done with it; because if she's dead
+there's no use of my living!"
+
+That settled one thing in Phil's mind. The man was Mazie's father.
+Already the boy could see that he did not have the look of a villain.
+Pain and want had made deep lines on his face, but somehow Phil believed
+the other was all right.
+
+He could easily imagine what the father must have suffered both in body
+and mind, with his little daughter lost in that big wilderness, and a
+broken leg preventing him from searching for her, as he would have
+wanted to.
+
+Evidently he must be relieved in his mind as speedily as possible.
+
+"Do you mean Mazie?" Phil asked.
+
+The man stared hard at him. Then, as hope struggled into his almost
+broken heart he burst out with:
+
+"Why do you ask me that? How do you know her name? Oh! boy, boy, tell me
+she is safe--that you or some of your friends have found my darling
+child!"
+
+At that Phil nodded quickly in the affirmative, and the man fell
+backwards as though about to faint from sheer joy. But it was not so,
+for he struggled up once more to his former sitting posture, as Phil
+bent over him.
+
+"Safe, Mazie safe after all! Oh! it seems that I must be dreaming, it is
+too good to be true! Tell me in plain words, I beg of you, boy!"
+
+"She is at the cabin with us, and perfectly well," Phil went on to say,
+plainly. "I found her crying in the woods. Are you her 'daddy'?"
+
+"Yes, and I have been trying to crawl all the way to the cabin, dragging
+this wretched leg after me," the man told him; "it seemed as if it would
+kill me with the pain, but as long as I was able I kept it up, for
+something seemed to tell me my only hope was there. I meant to beg you
+to scour the woods, and call her name everywhere. Oh! it is a wonder my
+hair hasn't turned white with what I have suffered, mostly in mind, for
+I could stand the rest without whimpering. Mazie is safe! Oh! I see now
+what a fearful wrong I have done. I vow to repair it as soon as I can
+travel."
+
+"Will you let me take a look at your leg?" asked the boy.
+
+"Only too gladly, if you think you can do me any good," he was instantly
+told. "My one longing now is to get to where the child is. To have her
+in my arms I would endure any torture there could be."
+
+"I happen to know a little about such things, and perhaps could do you
+some good," Phil went on to tell him. "Then there happens to be a little
+spring back a short distance for I had a drink there, and the water's
+icy cold. I'll fetch you some before I hurry to the cabin to get help."
+
+"You are kind, boy; what shall I call you?" asked the man; and evidently
+from his looks, speech, and manners he was a gentleman, Phil realized.
+
+"My name is Phil Bradley," he said, as he bent down to see what he could
+do for the injured limb; "there are four of us up here for a little
+outing. I happen to own a patch of ground bordering on Lake Surprise,
+and that birch bark lodge is on it."
+
+The man muttered something to himself, and Phil thought he caught the
+one word "fool." Perhaps he was taking himself to task for acting so on
+impulse when first discovering the coming of the strangers, whom he must
+have believed were persons whom he had reason to distrust.
+
+All that could be left until later for discussion among himself and his
+three chums; Phil felt that his present business was to succor the
+wounded man.
+
+He found that there was a compound fracture of the bones of the lower
+limb, not far from the ankle. The man must have caught his foot somehow,
+and pitched forward heavily.
+
+"Once we get you to the cabin, sir, and I'm sure I can set the bones,
+and ease your pain greatly," he told the other, presently.
+
+"That satisfies me," the man remarked, closing his lips as though he
+felt that he could stand anything, now that Mazie was safe. "Please make
+all the haste you possibly can. Minutes will seem like hours to me until
+I feel her dear little arms around my neck."
+
+"First I must get you a drink," Phil told him; and without waiting to
+see or hear anything more he darted off, all his own weariness utterly
+forgotten in this one desire to render first aid to the wounded.
+
+He had no trouble doubling on his own trail, and thus finding the
+spring. Since there was no other means for carrying water Phil dipped
+his hat in, and was soon back alongside the injured man, who drank
+greedily of the cold fluid, and seemed greatly refreshed in consequence.
+
+"Now I'll run in the direction of the cabin," Phil observed, after he
+had in this fashion relieved the pressing needs of the other.
+
+"Are you sure you can find me again?" asked the man, anxiously. "If you
+are in doubt call out, and I'll try to answer. I heard shouts a little
+while back, but my throat was too dry for me to make a sound above a
+groan."
+
+"You heard me having a little circus with an angry bull moose that had
+me backed up behind a tree," Phil told him; "but never fear about my
+being able to come straight here. I'm woodsman enough for that, and take
+my bearings as I go. Look for us to come inside of an hour, sir."
+
+With that he was off on a run. Just as he had said with such assurance,
+he had his bearings, and knew just which way to go in order to reach
+home. Before twenty minutes had elapsed Phil burst upon those comrades
+who were clustered in front of the cabin, watching the little girl do
+some cunning dance steps which she could hardly have learned up there in
+that wilderness.
+
+Judging from his excited condition that Phil had met with an adventure
+of some sort, the boys began to ask numerous questions.
+
+"Never mind what it's all about, fellows," he told them. "I want Ethan
+and X-Ray to come with me right away. Lub, you look after the cabin, and
+Mazie. Ethan, fetch your camp hatchet; and we will need some ends of
+rope. Hurry, both of you! I'll explain after we're on the run!"
+
+The blank expression on poor Lub's face told better than words what he
+thought of being left out in the cold that way. Still, he was so
+accustomed to doing what he was told that such a thing as rebellion
+never once entered his head. Besides, he must have realized that some
+one had to stay with the child. And when it came to sprinting, as Phil
+seemed to think was going to be necessary, Lub was not built for quick
+action or long continued running.
+
+Phil had hardly time to draw a dozen long breaths before the other boys
+announced that they were ready to accompany him.
+
+Wonder was written in big letters all over their faces. The little Phil
+had said must certainly have aroused their curiosity until it reached
+fever heat.
+
+"Now, for goodness' sake open up, and tell what all this is about,
+please, Phil!" begged X-Ray Tyson, as they ran along in company.
+
+It was no time to even mention anything concerning the stirring
+adventure with that stubborn and combative moose bull. Later on he could
+relate the story, and perhaps show them the pictures he had taken, to
+prove his marvelous tale.
+
+"Man up in the woods here a ways, with a broken leg!" he started to say.
+
+"Whee! is that so?" exclaimed Ethan.
+
+"Mazie's 'daddy' for a cookey!" cried X-Ray, always the first to alight
+on a solution to a puzzling question.
+
+"Yes, that's who he is," Phil went on, jerking out his words somewhat,
+because he was using up his wind in running. "He broke it while hunting
+for the child; and has been nigh crazy ever since. Struck him he might
+get help from us. Started to actually drag himself all the way there.
+Petered out in the end. Bad shape, too, but think I can pull him through
+all right!"
+
+"You want us to help get him home; is that it, Phil?" demanded Ethan.
+
+"Yes, we've just got to do it. Poor fellow needs lots of attention. He'd
+likely die if left much longer. I think gangrene would set in, and
+finish him. Glad I fetched along my little medicine case, with bandages
+and such things. Thought one of us might get into trouble, and need it.
+Handy thing to have around in the woods."
+
+"It sure is," agreed X-Ray Tyson; "but how can we carry a man all the
+way to the cabin, Phil? If he's that bad hurt it's going to be a hard
+job."
+
+"Huh! see this hatchet?" demanded Ethan, flourishing the article in
+question before the eyes of the other. "Well, with that sharp edge it
+won't be a hard thing to tinker up some kind of stretcher. That's what
+Phil had in mind when he told you to fetch some rope ends along."
+
+"Just what I did," Phil assured them; "but hold on now, and save your
+breath for running; you'll need it all. We'll get there in ten minutes
+more, I think."
+
+About that time had elapsed when Phil sighted the spot where he had left
+the wounded man. He knew it from the land marks he had impressed on his
+mind. And both going and coming the boy had maintained a constant watch,
+so as to make sure that he continued in the direct line he had laid out.
+
+"There he is!" he suddenly exclaimed, as he saw a hand feebly waving
+from the covert of bushes.
+
+"Oh! I'm glad you've gotten back again!" the wounded man told Phil. "It
+has seemed ages since you left; but I watched the sun, and knew that the
+hour had not passed that you said it might take. These are your friends,
+are they?"
+
+"Yes, Ethan Allan and Raymond Tyson. We mean to get busy, and make some
+sort of a litter that will do to carry you on. Let's see, you begin and
+cut some poles, Ethan."
+
+As the boy with the camp hatchet knew just what sort to select, he was
+soon busily engaged in chopping down small saplings. As these were
+trimmed of branches, and cut in proper lengths the other boys began to
+splice them together.
+
+After all it was not a hard task. Although possibly none of them had
+ever built such a thing as a stretcher, they knew in a general way how
+it must be done in order to accommodate a wounded man. There were four
+handles by means of which it could be gripped and carried. These two
+main braces of course were extra strong, and made of hickory. Then the
+others were shorter and not so thick, so that the body of the stretcher
+might bend somewhat.
+
+When the thing was completed the boys found some hemlock browse, with
+which they made as soft a bed as possible.
+
+"Now, if you can stand for it to let us lift you, we'll soon be on our
+way," Phil went on to say to the injured man.
+
+"I can stand anything but continued suspense," the other declared,
+bravely.
+
+They could see that he had to shut his teeth tightly together in order
+to keep back his groans while they were lifting him as gently as they
+could. But despite his white face the man tried to smile at Phil when he
+saw the look of pity on the boy's face.
+
+"Don't mind me--I'm all right--you're doing famously--I'll never, never
+forget it, either!" he said, between breaths.
+
+Phil took one end, that nearer the patient's feet, while the other boys
+managed the second pair of handles between them. The stretcher had been
+made purposely narrow at the foot, so that one bearer could handle it.
+
+"If you get tired, sing out, Phil, and we'll change all around," X-Ray
+remarked.
+
+It was not hard work after all. The man happened to be of medium weight,
+and not unusually tall, so with only two short resting spells they
+carried their burden all the way to the shore of the lake.
+
+How eagerly he leaned over one side of the stretcher, and strove to
+catch a first glimpse of his child, over whose fate he had been almost
+losing his mind while lying there, wounded so grievously in the pine
+woods.
+
+Lub heard them coming. He stared almost stupidly at first, hardly
+understanding what it was they were carrying. Perhaps Lub even thought
+it might be that pugnacious half-grown bear cub, which had attacked Phil
+in the forest and suffered in consequence.
+
+He quickly understood differently, however. There was a flutter near
+him, a swift patter of childish feet flying over the ground, a gasping
+cry, and then little Mazie was clasped in the eager arms of the man on
+the litter. Regardless of the pain his exertions were causing him the
+father pressed his darling to his heart, while a look of supreme joy
+came upon his white face.
+
+Then Phil had to bend over and unwind the arms of Mazie from the neck of
+"daddy," for he suddenly discovered that what with his emotions and the
+agony of his broken limb the man had fainted dead away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE PUZZLE OF IT ALL
+
+
+"What d'ye make out of it all, Phil?"
+
+When Ethan asked this question two days had elapsed since they brought
+the wounded man to the cabin. Much had happened during this time. In the
+first place Phil had proven himself a splendid amateur surgeon, for he
+had set the broken bones, and attended to securing splices so that they
+would be kept in proper position while the mending process continued.
+
+Of course this was somewhat old-fashioned, because a doctor would have
+set the limb in a plaster cast; but Phil's way promised to answer for
+all practical purposes.
+
+The man had improved remarkably. He was even cheerful, though at times
+Phil had seen him shake his head, and could hear him sigh. This was
+always while he was watching Mazie; and it did not require much to tell
+the boy that whatever was upon the man's troubled conscience concerned
+his child.
+
+"It's pretty hard to say, Ethan," he told the other; "I can't make up my
+mind that's he's any sort of a scamp. His actions tell us that, you
+know."
+
+"And it's hard for me to believe that any man who loves a child as he
+does that one of his, can be a bad man," Ethan declared, emphatically.
+
+"Yet you saw how he turned red in the face when I handed him the
+telegram, and explained how we found it caught under the bow seat of his
+birch-bark canoe," continued Phil, looking troubled.
+
+"What was it he mumbled at the time; I didn't quite get it?" Ethan
+asked.
+
+"He admitted," the other explained, "that the message had come to him.
+He also said that was not his real name, but one assumed for a purpose,
+of which he was now heartily ashamed."
+
+"That sounds queer, don't you think, Phil?"
+
+"Why, no, I can't say that I do," Ethan was told. "Any of us might do
+something on the spur of the moment that we found reason to feel sorry
+for afterwards. Only the other day I bitterly repented of insulting that
+noble old bull moose by daring to snap my camera at him point-blank,
+didn't I? He made it pretty warm for me, I tell you."
+
+"But this mysterious man must have done something dreadful, to have him
+say he was so repentant!" persisted Ethan.
+
+"You're only jumping at conclusions," he was told, bluntly. "I heard him
+say at the time he was lying there in the pine woods and suffering, that
+he realized he had done somebody a great wrong, and that if he lived he
+meant to right it. Now, according to my notion, that was a fine thing
+for him to say."
+
+"Mebbe so," remarked Ethan. "I've heard my father say that the best men
+are those who've been through the fire, done some wrong, and repented,
+so that they think they must spend the rest of their lives making good.
+And between us I kind of fancy Mazie's daddy. He seems to be a pretty
+nice man."
+
+"Mazie evidently thinks there isn't another like him in the whole
+world," Phil told him; "look at her now as she sits there holding his
+hand. Why, Ethan, believe me, I can see what looks mighty like a tear
+running down his cheek. Yes, there, he wiped it away, and shook his
+head. That man's made up his mind to some big sacrifice, you mark my
+words."
+
+"Then it must be in connection with Mazie," added Ethan, quickly;
+"because the sun rises and sets with her, in his opinion."
+
+"I wonder now," began Phil, with lines on his forehead, as though a
+sudden idea had flashed into his mind that he hardly knew how to handle.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" inquired Ethan, who knew the signs.
+
+"But then there's no doubt he's her father, so that could hardly be,"
+Phil went on to say, as though crushing the suspicion that had arisen.
+
+"Well, what about it, Phil?"
+
+"Oh! I just happened to wonder if he could have stolen the child from
+some one, and had now made up his mind that it was wicked, and she must
+be returned. But then, how could a father be tempted to steal his own
+child? I reckon that must have been a silly notion. Let's forget it."
+
+"Like as not we'll never know," Ethan observed, a little provoked, it
+seemed, on account of not being able to solve the mystery that
+surrounded Mazie and her "daddy;" for Ethan above all things hated to
+give a puzzle up as beyond his power.
+
+"Wait and see," the other advised him. "As it is now, he feels under
+some obligations to the lot of us, and may think we deserve to hear his
+story before we get him down to civilization again."
+
+"Some obligation?" repeated Ethan. "Well, it's my honest opinion he owes
+you his life! If you hadn't found him when you did, he'd be dead right
+now. And then about that job of setting the bones in his leg, you did
+yourself proud there. It'd be a queer thing, and ungrateful in the
+bargain, if he said good-by, and never once opened up to explain
+things."
+
+"It isn't going to bother me a bit," Phil told him.
+
+"Now, is that a hint that I'm foolish to keep it on my mind?" asked
+Ethan.
+
+"If the shoe fits, put it on," his chum told him. "But one thing sure,
+he'll never be able to walk on that leg by the time we expect to start
+home."
+
+"Which I take it means we'll either have to carry him all the way down
+to the village on that stretcher, if it takes two days; or else one of
+us go after a team."
+
+"Without any road up here," Phil explained, "it would be a hard job to
+get horses to the lake. And then the going would be so tough he'd suffer
+terribly. So as near as I can see it looks as if we'd have to work that
+stretcher again."
+
+"Huh! I like that!" grunted Ethan, though he must have meant it in
+sarcasm, for his tone showed anything but enthusiasm. "We all
+congratulated ourselves on the way up here on the fact that we'd have it
+easy going out of the woods, because all that canned stuff and other
+grub would be devoured. And now by jinks! if we don't have to lug a
+_man_ out. Whee!"
+
+"But there's no other way, Ethan; and you'd be the last fellow to vote
+to leave him behind, if I know you," ventured Phil.
+
+"Sure, I would, and don't you mind how I grumble every little while,
+Phil. My grandfather on my mother's side was a whaler, and I guess now I
+must have inherited his sailor way of growling. I try to cure myself of
+the habit, but she will break out once in a while. It's harmless, you
+know; it comes from the mouth but not from the heart."
+
+Phil laughed softly.
+
+"I haven't chummed with you as long as this not to know you like a book,
+old fellow," he said, affectionately, as he laid a hand on the other's
+shoulder. "We've had some pretty good times, together with X-Ray Tyson
+and jolly old Lub; and we hope to enjoy a lot more. Wait till we get
+down there on Currituck Sound this fall, when the ducks are arriving in
+flocks. You know I've got the finest little shooting-box located there
+you ever heard tell of. And, say, perhaps we won't have the grandest
+time going."
+
+"I hope nothing will keep us from going along with you, that's all,"
+said Ethan, drawing a long breath; for gunning was his one particular
+hobby, and the prospect of a week or two on those famous ducking-grounds
+appealed irresistibly to his hunter's heart.
+
+"This has been the hottest day we've struck since we came up here," said
+X-Ray Tyson just then, as he came sauntering up, wiping his forehead
+with his big red bandanna.
+
+"Yes, and unless I'm a poor weather prophet," added Phil, taking a look
+aloft as he spoke, "we're just about due for a whacker of a storm. No
+leaving my camera out-of-doors this night, I tell you."
+
+"We'll all be glad of a decent roof over our heads, if she comes on to
+blow and rain great guns," Ethan remarked.
+
+"How about the pictures you were printing a while ago, Phil; turn out
+well?" asked the last comer.
+
+"See for yourself," he was told, as Phil drew a little book out of his
+pocket, among the leaves of which he had a number of fresh prints.
+
+"Well, that one of the moose poking his head between the little trees is
+a jim-dandy, let me tell you!" declared X-Ray Tyson. "Every wrinkle of
+his hide shows as plain as it could. And say, here's one showing Ethan
+and me carrying the litter, with Mazie's daddy on the same. I didn't
+know you snapped that off."
+
+"You've had great luck so far in all your pictures, haven't you, Phil?"
+Ethan went on to say.
+
+"No complaints from me," he was told; "and I do feel I've been in great
+luck, as you say. I've got on the track of a fox, and pretty soon I hope
+to have his smart phiz along with the rest."
+
+"It'll be a prize collection yet, take that from me," X-Ray announced.
+
+"The funny part of it," continued Ethan, "is the fact that while you'll
+have all these pictures, most of the originals you've never seen. That
+comes of fixing it so they press the button, and do the flashlight act
+themselves."
+
+"Saves a heap of trouble," commented X-Ray, sensibly.
+
+"Of course the main thing is," Phil went on to say, "that you couldn't
+get that class of Animated Nature picture in any other way. I'd hate to
+stick it out all night, waiting for Mr. 'Possum or Br'er Rabbit to
+breeze along, so I could flash him. Besides, the most wary of all, Br'er
+Fox, wouldn't come within a hundred feet of a human scent. They've got
+too keen noses for that. And yet I expect to show a fox picture soon."
+
+"I wish I had one of that dandy black fox I trapped last winter, and the
+pelt of which brought me over a cool three hundred," remarked Ethan; and
+X-Ray was heard to take a quick breath as though given a little shock;
+at the same time winking aside toward Phil, who frowned, and shook his
+head threateningly.
+
+They did not share that enthusiasm with the proud trapper, over that
+particular foxskin; simply because they knew it was a very poor specimen
+of its kind, and by rights not worth one-tenth the amount of the check
+which Ethan had received from the dealer in the distant city--Phil's
+uncle, though Ethan never dreamed of such a dreadful thing.
+
+"Well, it strikes me you're a pretty clever weather man after all, Phil,
+because I certainly heard far-away thunder right then," and X-Ray as he
+said this pointed up at the heavens, which were heavily overcast with
+dark clouds.
+
+"Let's get busy then, and see that everything is snug," Phil suggested.
+
+"First of all we must get Mazie and her daddy housed," Ethan remarked.
+"By using the pair of rough crutches I made him, and with some help, he
+manages to get about after a fashion, though he'd be better keeping
+still some days yet. But he's such an active man it's hard to tie him
+down."
+
+"He told me," Phil informed them, "he had that boat carried away up here
+on the back of a guide; and that another man brought his grub, blankets
+and outfit. You know we went and got all the duffle from the place he'd
+hidden it when he left here, a regular cave in the rocks; and everything
+looks like the party who bought the same had money to burn."
+
+"Yes, he admitted that much to me," said Phil. "He also said those marks
+were on the table when they came. One of the guides told him a story
+about some men who were up two years ago, and arrested by government
+agents. He thinks they may have been bogus money-makers. When I showed
+him the fifty-cent piece X-Ray found he tried it every which way, and
+said it was probably counterfeit, though as clever an imitation as he
+had ever seen. But there's another grumble of thunder, boys, so let's
+get to work."
+
+With the four of them hustling, things were speedily arranged. After the
+lame man and Mazie had been assisted under cover, the boys started to
+lay in plenty of fire-wood to last them a couple of days. There could be
+no telling how long the storm might linger--perhaps there would be only
+an hour of furious bombardment; and then again it was likely to rain
+heavily for days. Adirondack storms have a pretty bad name, as all will
+agree who have ever experienced their vigor and fury.
+
+X-Ray even climbed up on the roof, and proceeded to patch one corner
+that he imagined needed repairs.
+
+"I'm not like the backwoodsman who never seemed to get his leaky roof
+mended," X-Ray announced, from his elevated position; "and when they
+came to ask him the reason he says, says he: 'When it rains I carnt mend
+it; and when the weather's dry, what's the use?' The time to do it is
+when you hear the thunder warning you there's something great coming."
+
+"It's getting closer all the while," commented Phil, as a louder burst
+came to their ears.
+
+"And listen, what's that other sound we hear?" asked X-Ray Tyson, about
+ready to descend from his perch.
+
+"Why, that's wind!" announced Ethan.
+
+"Whew! it must be a hurricane then, for I thought that was a freight
+train. I'm glad we haven't any big tree hanging over us that'd be in
+danger of falling. And I'm also pleased to know our Lodge is so well
+protected by evergreens and birches. They'll serve as a wind-break."
+
+"There's the rain; and as the wind is pretty fierce, we'd better adjourn
+to the cabin," and Phil led the way, with the others at his heels.
+
+Hardly had they entered than there was a vivid flash without, followed
+by a crash that shook the humble cabin. Then with a shriek the wind
+swooped down, the rain began to fall in sheets and the storm was on.
+
+They had seen ordinary storms many times, but one and all were decidedly
+of the opinion that this was something beyond the common. When X-Ray
+called it a hurricane he was not far out of the way.
+
+Every little while they could hear a crash somewhere near by that
+sounded like a big tree falling; and in fact they understood that this
+was what was taking place; all of which made them doubly glad they had
+so good a shelter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AFTER THE STORM
+
+
+"Such a night I've passed; never slept a wink!" groaned Lub, as he
+dangled his feet over the side of an upper bunk, and held a heavy head
+between his hands.
+
+"Well, all I can say is that you made so much noise snoring I couldn't
+hear the wind blow at times; so explain that away if you can. Jump down
+there, and stop shutting off what little light there is from me."
+
+That was X-Ray Tyson talking. As Ethan had insisted on making himself a
+sleeping place on the floor alongside Phil, X-Ray had pre-empted his
+bunk, giving his own to the wounded man, while little Mazie had the
+second upper one.
+
+It had indeed been a terrible night.
+
+With little cessation the storm had held forth. At times Phil, lying
+awake because it was impossible to get the clamor out of his mind,
+wondered if there would be any decent-sized trees left in the North
+Woods by the time things settled down quiet again.
+
+He and Ethan were up and busily engaged getting some breakfast ready. It
+was as much as they could do to see, so dim was the light; and they did
+not dare use the lantern, because their supply of kerosene was limited.
+
+"How'd you like to have been caught out in that whooper, eh, Lub?" asked
+Ethan, as the other continued to yawn, and rub his reddened eyes, though
+still occupying his position there on the edge of his berth, X-Ray
+having crawled out below.
+
+"Please excuse me from answering that question," the other replied. "I
+never'd have survived it, I reckon. Bad enough to be in a dinky little
+twelve by twelve cabin, let alone a hollow tree, or a make-shift under a
+shelving rock."
+
+"Now, none of your making fun of Birch Bark Lodge," warned X-Ray; "it's
+been a hunky-dory refuge, all right, don't forget it. And say, not a
+drop leaked in on us through that bad part in the roof. Shows what a
+little common-sense can do for things, don't it?"
+
+"All I can say," remarked Phil, from over the fire, "is that I'm sorry
+for any one who might be unlucky enough as to get caught in that
+howler. If they missed being struck by lightning, they ran a big chance
+of getting crushed under a falling tree."
+
+"Yes," added Ethan, "and at the best they'd be soaked through and
+through. It's no fun to feel that way all night. You start to shivering,
+and then like as not your teeth rattle together like you've heard the
+minstrel end-man shake his bones when he sings. I've had a little
+experience, and I know what I'm talking about."
+
+The man in the lower bunk had been listening to all this conversation.
+Phil noticed he seemed to have an additional line across his forehead.
+Perhaps the storm had also kept him awake. Possibly he had often thought
+of how uncomfortable it would be for any one he happened to know, who
+might have been caught in the open woods by the howling gale.
+
+They were eating breakfast some time later, when the man from his bunk,
+since he preferred to lie there while so many were around the small
+cabin, called out to Phil. He had long since recognized the patent fact
+that the Bradley boy was a leader of his set; and that the other three
+only too gladly looked up to Phil, not on account of his being
+independent with regard to means, but because he had the attributes of
+leadership in his person.
+
+"Do you think the storm has slackened for good, Phil, or will it come
+back again for another siege? It seems to me the wind has changed, and
+is blowing much more evenly."
+
+"When I took that look out just a bit ago," Phil told him, "I noticed
+several pretty good signs that seemed to tell we had got to the wind-up.
+It wouldn't surprise me, because these hard storms are not the ones that
+last for days. We could go out now, if we didn't mind getting wet from
+the dripping of the trees."
+
+The man had something on his mind, Phil saw. During the night he must
+have been thinking deeply. Perhaps conscience was gripping him more than
+ever, and the coming of that fearful storm had been the "last straw on
+the camel's back."
+
+"I hate to ask any further favors of you, Phil," he finally said, with
+an effort, "but a great fear has taken hold of me during the night. With
+every fresh howl of the wind I seemed to hear a cry for help! It almost
+set me wild. If I had not been such a cripple I believe I must have
+dashed out of the cabin, and spent the remainder of the night wandering
+around, searching the woods."
+
+The rest of the boys stared at him. Perhaps it may have occurred to one
+or more of them that Mazie's father was losing his mind. But Phil knew
+there was something back of it all. He had been trying to study the man,
+figure out what ailed him, and why he had been hiding himself and the
+child away up in this solitude.
+
+"Were you expecting _some one_ to come up here looking for you, sir?" he
+asked, boldly, remembering what the contents of that telegraph message
+had been.
+
+"Yes, that's what has been worrying me," admitted the man, acting as
+though he knew the time had come when he must explain away at least a
+part of the mystery that surrounded him, if he expected these friendly
+lads to assist him further.
+
+"An enemy, most likely?" continued Phil, seeing the other hesitate.
+
+At that there was a heavy intaking of the breath, and then the man went
+on to say:
+
+"No, hardly that. I would not like to give it so harsh a term. Say a
+friend from whom I have been estranged, and who I believed had wronged
+me; though of late my eyes have been opened to my own faults, and I have
+repented of many things done in the heat of temper."
+
+"And you believe then that this friend may have engaged a guide--that it
+is at least possible they were not far away from here when the storm
+broke. You fear they may have been caught and made to suffer; is that
+it, sir?"
+
+Phil was handling the affair wonderfully well, his chums thought, as
+they listened to all that was being said.
+
+"That is what I have cause to fear," the other went on to say, quickly.
+"Through the livelong night of tempest I have fancied I heard their
+cries for help, and oh! how they crucified me! It would be a terrible
+punishment on my head if some tragedy had taken place in the pine woods
+last night; and Mazie--" his voice failed him in his emotion, and he did
+not finish his sentence.
+
+"Do you want us to go out and see if there are any signs of strangers on
+the trail leading up here, the one we followed all the way from the
+village many miles off?" Phil asked; and his manner was so reassuring
+that the wounded man immediately nodded his head in the affirmative.
+
+"It would be a fitting climax to all you and your fine chums have done
+for me and mine," he told them, with tears in his eyes.
+
+"Shucks! that wouldn't be such a great job," Lub hastened to say, before
+any one else could talk; "and I volunteer to be one of the party right
+now."
+
+"But you'd get all wet, Lub, you know," expostulated Ethan.
+
+"What of that?" came the indignant response; "am I made of salt, or
+sugar? Haven't I been soaked before? If I could stand jumping into the
+lake with my clothes on, when the hornets tackled me, I ought to be able
+to take a little sprinkling, hadn't I?"
+
+"We'll all go, so as to spread out considerable," suggested X-Ray Tyson,
+who, truth to tell, was a little afraid of being left to look after
+things at the lodge. "I'm needed because I've got the sharpest eyes;
+Ethan might have a chance to bring some of his woodcraft into play; Phil
+is the one to run things; and Lub, well, he spoke first, and ought to
+have a show."
+
+"Knowing what we'll be up against," said Phil, "we can arrange
+accordingly, so when we get back we'll have something dry to put on.
+Before we start we'll get Mr.--Mr. Newton out, and fixed before the
+fire, so he can feed it as often as he pleases."
+
+The man had flushed when Phil purposely hesitated about calling the name
+that had been given in that message.
+
+"Call me Alwyn Merriwell from now on," he hastily told them. "That is my
+real name. The time has passed for all deceit and assumed names. I have
+made up my mind to do what is right for--for the other party, no matter
+what pain and suffering it brings to me."
+
+A short time later the boys began to prepare to start out. Phil saw that
+their injured guest was really working himself up into a fever over the
+anxiety he was enduring. His thoughts during the night had had a strong
+effect upon him. He may even have dreamed something dreadful had really
+happened, and it haunted him.
+
+Acting on Phil's advice the others dressed lightly. This would allow of
+leaving certain parts of their clothing behind, to be resumed on their
+return.
+
+"We will be moving all the time, and can keep warm enough, even while
+wet to the skin," he told them, as they started forth, after saying
+good-by to Mazie, who was content to sit alongside her "daddy," holding
+his hand, and prattling constantly as was her pretty way.
+
+Phil had managed to cover his little camera, so that he could take it
+along.
+
+"Like as not we'll run across some effects of the hurricane that we'd
+like to remember," he explained, when X-Ray looked questioningly at the
+camera. "There must be places where trees have been thrown down in all
+sorts of twisted shapes; and those sort of things always make the boss
+pictures, you know."
+
+They followed the trail. It was very faint in many places; but then
+Ethan could be depended on to find it whenever a cry arose that it was
+lost. Phil, too, had his bearings pretty well in hand, though as a rule
+he allowed Ethan to swing things, for he saw that it was giving him no
+end of pleasure to thus exercise his knowledge of woodcraft.
+
+For a full hour they pushed on. The sun peeped out every little while,
+showing that Phil had guessed rightly when he said the storm was a thing
+of the past. The leaves still dripped, though not so copiously as at
+first. Lub even boasted that he seemed to be drying off faster than he
+got wet. That fact apparently occupied more of his attention than other
+matters.
+
+"How far ought we go, do you think, Phil?" inquired X-Ray Tyson; "not
+that I'm getting tired at all; but I just asked for information."
+
+"Another half-hour, and then we'll call it off," he was told. "By that
+time we'll have covered a number of miles. If this--er--friend of Mr.
+Merriwell's is anywhere around, and able to make us hear, we'll come on
+the party."
+
+"Beats me to understand what it all means," grumbled Lub. "And d'ye
+know, I've got a good suspicion that you've tumbled to the game, Phil."
+
+"I've been told no more than the rest of you," the other replied; "and
+my guess may be wide of the mark; so just now I'm not going to say
+anything more. But you can see from the way he keeps looking at Mazie
+she's got something to do with it all. When he talks about having to
+make a terrible sacrifice it means giving her up."
+
+"Gee whiz! I never once thought of that!" burst out Lub; "now I bet you
+the little tot's got a grandfather who's been left the child by her
+mother when she died. Is that the answer, Phil?"
+
+"I refuse to say, Lub. Ethan and I have been talking it over, and we've
+come to a certain conclusion; but wait a little, and we'll explain. We
+may find the person he seems to be expecting. Perhaps he received a
+later message, and which warned him his presence up here was known."
+
+Lub relapsed into silence. It could be seen, however, that he was
+pondering over matters, for that serious look on his usually placid face
+betrayed the fact.
+
+They continued to push forward, and kept up a constant watch for any
+sign that would indicate the presence of strangers. This might be the
+smoke of a fire, or the sound of an ax.
+
+"How would it do to let out a whoop every little while, Phil?" suggested
+X-Ray Tyson; "for all we know they might have lost the trail in the
+storm, and be somewhere to one side. It'd be a mean thing if we passed
+'em by without knowing it."
+
+"That isn't a bad idea," Phil told him; "so start in right away with a
+yodel."
+
+This was all the other was waiting for, and he accordingly lifted up his
+voice in a loud shout. Any camper hearing it would understand that the
+call was meant for a friendly one, and must hasten to reply.
+
+"There, wasn't that an answer; or do they have echoes as wonderful as
+that up here in the North Woods?" demanded X-Ray, excitedly.
+
+"It was a shout, all right," Ethan told him, positively.
+
+"And came from over on our right," added Phil, pleased at least that all
+their labor had not been for nothing.
+
+"Let's mark the trail so we can be sure to find her again," Ethan
+continued; always cautious about letting a good thing slip him.
+
+This being done by means of a certain tree that all of them felt sure
+they must easily recognize, even at some distance, the four Mountain
+Boys turned toward the spot where that faint "hallo" had come from.
+
+Presently keen-eyed X-Ray Tyson told them he saw smoke.
+
+"That's right," admitted Ethan, when he had followed the extended finger
+of the other chum; "and of course it means they've got a camp fire
+burning; though after all that rain it'd take a good woodsman to know
+where to find dry wood, except in the heart of some stump. Let's hurry
+up and get there."
+
+He kept watching as he went on. It would grieve Ethan sorely should he
+find at any time they were actually lost, and after he had taken so many
+precautions in the bargain.
+
+"I can see somebody moving around there," announced X-Ray, soon
+afterwards; "and it's a man, too. Seems to be a guide, if his looks
+count for anything."
+
+They kept heading straight toward the small cheerless camp in the
+drenched woods. All the while Phil was expecting to hear his chums,
+saving possibly Ethan, give utterance to low cries of surprise.
+
+"There's somebody lying down on the other side of the fire, boys,"
+continued the one with the hawk eyes. "That smoke keeps shifting around
+so much I don't seem to be able to glimpse as well as--say, what d'ye
+think, fellows, I declare if it ain't a _woman_!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+PEACE AFTER STRIFE--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Lub uttered a gurgle to indicate his consternation. Ethan and Phil
+exchanged knowing looks, as though to say it was coming out just as they
+had figured.
+
+The guide was a dark-faced native. He had evidently been having a hard
+time of it during that terrible storm, with possibly an hysterical woman
+on his hands, and no proper shelter. He waved his hand at the boys, and
+looked pleased to see them coming to their relief.
+
+As they entered the camp they saw that the woman was sitting up. She
+looked as though she could not have stood much more. In spite of all the
+Adirondack guide may have done in trying to shield her from the torrents
+of rain, she had been wet through and through. Even sitting close to the
+fire for a long time had not caused her to stop shivering.
+
+"We've come down here to see if we could help you any," Phil said the
+first thing, when he and his chums reached the fire.
+
+"How'd ye know we was around these diggin's?" asked the guide, as though
+puzzled.
+
+"We've got a gentleman in camp with a badly broken leg, and he asked us
+to come," Phil went on to say, narrowly watching the eager face of the
+woman, who he could see was by breeding a lady, and a very handsome one
+too no doubt, though just at that time she looked woe-begone, with her
+long hair hanging down her back to dry, and her khaki outing skirts
+bedraggled. "He's been worrying all the night, and nearly crazy because
+he was afraid some one would be caught in the storm, some one he
+expected was coming to find him."
+
+Waves of color passed over her face as she heard how the gentleman had
+been so deeply concerned.
+
+"Would you mind telling me his name?" she asked Phil; and somehow the
+boy was reminded of Mazie when he looked more closely at her.
+
+"He has been calling himself John Newton all along," he remarked; "but
+just this morning he admitted that his real name was Merriwell--Alwyn
+Merriwell."
+
+She drew a long breath. Her eyes were as bright as stars as she
+hurriedly went on to ask another question; and both Phil and Ethan knew
+exactly what this would be before she had uttered a single word.
+
+"Is there a little girl with--Mr. Merriwell? Oh! please tell me
+instantly, for I am crazy to hear!"
+
+"Yes, and her name is Mazie!" Phil immediately replied. "We found her
+lost in the woods, and took her to our camp. Then later on we ran across
+him. He had broken his leg while searching for her, and tried to crawl
+miles, thinking to get help from us so as to find her. He came near
+dying, too."
+
+She dropped her head in her hands, and they could see that she was
+crying very hard. Whether it was through sheer thankfulness because of
+what she had heard concerning the presence of the child, or from some
+other reason, Phil could not quite understand. But he believed it was
+all going to turn out splendidly.
+
+Presently she looked up, and smiled bravely through her tears. Phil
+could see that a new happiness had come upon her; and he guessed the
+cause.
+
+"I am Mazie's own mother," she said, to the astonishment of Lub, who up
+to then had not been able to figure things out correctly; "there was a
+terrible misunderstanding between my husband and myself. The court gave
+me charge of our child. His love for Mazie was an absorbing passion,
+even greater than my own. One day she disappeared, and we had reason to
+suspect that he had taken her away, so that she could be with him. Ever
+since I have sought far and wide to find them, but until lately without
+avail."
+
+She stopped speaking, and seemed to be thinking for a minute; then went
+on, for of course none of the boys had ventured to say a single word:
+
+"Of late I have learned through the death of a wicked person that I had
+wronged my husband dreadfully. I am only waiting to see him to ask his
+forgiveness; and unless he has lost all his love for me we may undo the
+wretched past, and start all over again, with Mazie the bond between
+us."
+
+She had said quite enough for them to understand. Phil was wondering
+whether they might not have to construct another litter in order to
+carry the lady all the way to the distant camp.
+
+"Oh! have no fears for me," she hastened to tell him, when he started to
+speak of such a thing. "I feel as though I could walk from now to
+sunset, and not grow weary, knowing that Mazie, and Alwyn, are at the
+end of the trail. We cannot start too soon to satisfy my yearning heart.
+I could almost fly as though I had wings."
+
+And, indeed, there was no difficulty in her keeping up with them. The
+new hope of happiness, after all these dreary months of wretchedness,
+buoyed her heart up as possibly nothing else could have done.
+
+Before noon had arrived they drew near the cabin under the hemlocks and
+birches. The sky had cleared, and the sun shone warmly. All nature
+looked bright again after the storm.
+
+"Listen!" cried the lady, suddenly.
+
+It was the sweet childish voice of Mazie they heard, singing one of her
+little songs, which the boys had never tired of hearing. Imagine how it
+affected the mother, separated from her darling so long.
+
+She could not be longer restrained, but rushing ahead passed inside the
+cabin. The boys purposely loitered. When finally they ventured to enter
+it was to find the lady on her knees, with the arms of the child tightly
+clasped about her neck. She had one of the wounded man's hands in hers;
+and apparently the breach between them had been healed, for he was
+looking upon mother and child with a love light in his eyes.
+
+This influx of guests was getting serious, X-Ray and Lub had a regular
+argument as to which one should surrender his bunk to Mazie's mother.
+She would not hear of any such thing, however, and insisted that there
+was plenty of room for both Mazie and herself in the one bunk.
+
+And after she had recovered from her exposure Mrs. Merriwell insisted on
+making herself useful, both in the way of a nurse, and in helping with
+the cooking. As for Mazie's "daddy," he no longer looked the unhappy man
+the boys had considered him; since he was not going to be called upon to
+make that terrible sacrifice which he had considered was his duty.
+
+This new arrangement left the boys more opportunity to prosecute their
+various pleasures. Lub had begun to show a decided interest in certain
+things connected with woodcraft, so that Ethan only too gladly accepted
+every chance to explain how to follow a trail, what certain signs stood
+for, what was the best way to make a fire in a storm, and dozens of
+other things equally as interesting.
+
+Of course Phil was more than ever engaged with his flashlight
+photography. He had secured a startling picture of the red fox whose
+tracks he had discovered; and this spurred him on to greater things.
+Often Ethan kept him company, and showed that he had really started to
+take a deep interest in this newer method of hunting without a gun.
+
+Mr. Merriwell steadily grew better. He hopped around by the aid of his
+crutches, and hoped to be able to walk some by the time the Mountain
+Boys thought of leaving the North Woods for their home town, which was
+further south, though still in the uplands.
+
+Josh Maxfield, the guide, stayed with them. He made himself useful, and
+Ethan managed to pick up quite a fund of information from the
+experienced native, who had been born and bred in the pine woods.
+
+Many were the cheery evenings they all spent, in front of the cabin if
+it happened to be warm, or before the fire if the night air was chilly,
+as often turned out to be the case. Josh had plenty of interesting
+stories to tell. Mazie in particular was keenly interested in his
+accounts of how the black bear outwitted the honey bees that had made
+their hive in an old hollow tree; so that he usually secured a sweet
+treat as long as he could reach in with his paw, and tear the heavily
+laden combs out.
+
+All too soon did the days pass, until finally it was decided that they
+must be starting back over the old trail.
+
+Every one would be sorry indeed to say farewell to Birch Bark Lodge. The
+Merriwells made Phil promise to send them a set of all his pictures, and
+in particular the one that showed the dear old cabin.
+
+"It stands for our new life," said the gentleman, as he sat there one
+arm around his wife, and the other about Mazie; "and every time we look
+at it our vows will be renewed. Besides, all the happy things that have
+happened here must rush over our memories. Yes, it will be our standard
+cure for the blues."
+
+Although the lame man was getting around pretty well, Phil knew he would
+never be able to stand such a long and arduous journey as the one they
+had ahead of them. Accordingly they made over the stretcher, with the
+help of Josh, and meant to carry it along. Of course once they managed
+to reach the village, where there would be a road leading out of the
+wilderness, and possibly some sort of vehicle to hire, things would be
+much easier.
+
+"One thing sure," said Phil, as they got ready to clear out one bright
+morning, "I've had glorious good luck in taking all the pictures I did.
+Why, I've beaten my highest expectations three times over. The
+collection will fill a new album; and right in front I'll have stamped
+in letters of gold: 'Memories of Birch Bark Lodge.'"
+
+"Yes, we'll never forget what a grand good time we've all had up here,"
+affirmed Lub, who seemed to feel the breaking away even more than any of
+his chums; "and often when I'm snuggled down between common every-day
+sheets at home I'll dream of my fine bunk, and the way my blanket kept
+me warm."
+
+"And what came down the chimney one night," added X-Ray Tyson; "not to
+mention what _tried_ to come down the next day. Oh! we'll all enjoy
+remembering things. And I don't believe we could ever have such a
+magnificent time together again."
+
+"Don't be too sure of that," Phil told him. "I can see some other
+outings ahead that may even turn out to be jollier than this one,
+though it seems hard to think it now. Let's give the old cabin a last
+salute, boys. Three cheers and a tiger for Birch Bark Lodge!"
+
+They were given with a will. Even little Mazie added her childish treble
+to the volume of sound that went up.
+
+So they pulled out, and left the old cabin tenantless. The gray
+squirrels could run over the roof with impunity now; Br'er 'Coon might
+wander along his trail down to the water's edge to do a little fishing,
+without having a sudden blinding flash startle him out of his seven
+senses; while Br'er Fox need not skulk in the dense covert for fear of
+meeting roving boys.
+
+But the bear that had fallen down the chimney, and the lordly moose had
+better make themselves scarce in that particular neighborhood; because
+ere many moons had waxed and waned Josh intended coming back again to
+look them up; and the law would no longer protect the shy inmates of the
+North Woods against the "sticks that spat out fire and stinging
+missiles" whenever they were pointed straight.
+
+The man with the broken leg soon gave out, and had to take to the
+stretcher. The sturdy woods guide carried one end and the boys took
+turns helping out, so they got along very well.
+
+Mazie and her mother walked alongside, though from time to time the
+little sprite would insist on taking Phil's hand; or it might be that of
+stout Lub. She had made him promise he would send her his picture when
+he got home; and Lub always grinned when X-Ray Tyson or Ethan tried to
+joke him about his "new girl."
+
+They arrived at the mountain village, and a vehicle was obtained by
+means of which all of them could get out of the region, and in touch
+with civilization. When it came to saying good-by to the Merriwells the
+boys found it very hard. The gentleman declared they would see them all
+again as soon as he found himself perfectly well; for he wanted to know
+their families; and doubtless meant to inform these good people as to
+the extent of the debt of gratitude he owed Phil Bradley and his
+Mountain Boys.
+
+That still more thrilling happenings were in store for the boys whose
+fortunes we have been following in the pages of this volume the reader
+will learn upon securing the next story of the Series, now published
+under the title of "Phil Bradley at the Wheel; or, The Mountain Boys'
+Mad Auto Chase."
+
+THE END
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The Mountain Boys Series
+
+1. PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+2. PHIL BRADLEY AT THE WHEEL
+3. PHIL BRADLEY'S SHOOTING BOX
+4. PHIL BRADLEY'S SNOW-SHOE TRAIL
+
+These books describe with interesting detail the experiences of a party
+of boys among the mountain pines.
+
+They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the elements,
+what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become self-reliant and
+manly.
+
+12mo. Cloth. 40 cents per volume; postpaid
+
+The New York Book Company
+201 East 12th Street--New York
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone
+
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+<!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 Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone.
+    </title>
+  <style type="text/css">
+    /*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
+    <!--
+    p                 {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;}
+    body              {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    table             {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;}
+    h2                {text-align: center; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em; clear: both;}
+    h3                {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; font-weight: normal; clear: both;}
+    a                 {text-decoration: none;}
+    .smcap            {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    .blockquot        {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;}
+    table p           {text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;}
+    h2.toc            {margin-top: 1em;}
+    .caption          {font-size: 80%;}
+    .figcenter        {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+    .center           {text-align:center;}
+    .pagenum          {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: x-small;
+                      font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal;
+                      text-indent: 0; color: silver; background-color: inherit;}
+    a.pagenum:after   {border: 1px solid silver; padding: 1px 3px; content: attr(title);}
+    h1                {text-align: center; clear: both;}
+    hr.major          {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.dashed         {width: 80%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; border:none; border-bottom:1px dashed;}
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+    // -->
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+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone
+
+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: Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys
+       The Birch Bark Lodge
+
+Author: Silas K. Boone
+
+Release Date: August 8, 2007 [EBook #22279]
+[Last updated: March 15, 2011]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style='width:300px;'>
+<a name="illus-000" id="illus-000"></a>
+<img src="images/illus-cvr.jpg" id="coverpage" alt="" title="" width="300" /><br />
+</div>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style='width:300px;'>
+<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a>
+<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="HAVING SECURED A GOOD SUPPLY OF BAIT, THEY STARTED FOR THE CANOE" title="" width="300" /><br />
+<span class="caption">HAVING SECURED A GOOD SUPPLY OF BAIT, THEY STARTED FOR THE CANOE</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<table style="margin: auto; width:25em" summary=""><tr><td>
+<p style=" font-size:1.2em; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; font-style:italic;">THE MOUNTAIN BOYS SERIES</p>
+<p style=" font-size:2.2em;">PHIL BRADLEY&#8217;S</p>
+<p style=" font-size:2.2em; margin-bottom:0.2em;">MOUNTAIN BOYS</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.2em;">OR</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.6em; margin-bottom:2em;">THE BIRCH BARK LODGE</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1em;">BY</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.8em; margin-bottom:2em;">SILAS K. BOONE</p>
+<p style=""><img src='images/illus-emb.jpg' alt='' /></p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.2em; margin-top:2em;">THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:2em;">NEW YORK</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<p style='margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:3em;' class='center'>
+<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1915, by</span><br />
+THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<h2 class="toc"><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2>
+<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">
+<col style="width:15%;" />
+<col style="width:5%;"  />
+<col style="width:70%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr>
+    <td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+    <td></td>
+    <td></td>
+    <td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">I</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">BOUND FOR LAKE SURPRISE</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#BOUND_FOR_LAKE_SURPRISE_75">11</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">II</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">LUB AND THE MOTHER BOBCAT</td>
+  <!-- Transcriber's note: chapter title differs on Contents page and at start of chapter. difference retained. -->
+  <td align="right"><a href="#LUB_AND_THE_MOTHER_BOBCAT_306">21</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">III</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A MYSTERY, TO START WITH</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_MYSTERY_TO_START_WITH_607">33</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">IV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">THE FIGURE IN THE MOONLIGHT</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_FIGURE_IN_THE_MOONLIGHT_922">46</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">V</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">THE SUDDEN AWAKENING</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_SUDDEN_AWAKENING_1232">59</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">GETTING RID OF AN INTRUDER</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#GETTING_RID_OF_AN_INTRUDER_1522">72</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">ON THE BORDER OF THE LAKE</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#ON_THE_BORDER_OF_THE_LAKE_1819">84</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">THE MOUNTAIN BOYS IN CAMP</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_MOUNTAIN_BOYS_IN_CAMP_2129">97</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">IX</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">THE 'COON PHOTOGRAPHER</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_COON_PHOTOGRAPHER_2495">112</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">X</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">FINDING A SUNBEAM</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#FINDING_A_SUNBEAM_2716">121</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">AN ENCOUNTER IN THE PINE WOODS</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AN_ENCOUNTER_IN_THE_PINE_WOODS_3046">134</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">WHEN TWO PLAYED THE GAME</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#WHEN_TWO_PLAYED_THE_GAME_3271">143</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">HOW "DADDY" CAME BACK</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#HOW_DADDY_CAME_BACK_3574">156</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">THE PUZZLE OF IT ALL</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_PUZZLE_OF_IT_ALL_3880">169</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">AFTER THE STORM</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AFTER_THE_STORM_4172">181</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XVI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">PEACE AFTER STRIFE&mdash;CONCLUSION</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#PEACE_AFTER_STRIFEmdashCONCLUSION_4470">194</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h1>PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS</h1>
+
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_11" id="page_11" title="11"></a>
+<a name="BOUND_FOR_LAKE_SURPRISE_75" id="BOUND_FOR_LAKE_SURPRISE_75"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>BOUND FOR LAKE SURPRISE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Phil, <i>please</i> tell me we're nearly there!"</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to, Lub, for your sake; but the fact of the matter is we've
+got about another hour of climbing before us, as near as I can reckon."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! dear, that means sixty long minutes of this everlasting scrambling
+over logs, and crashing through tangled underbrush. Why, I reckon I'll
+have the map of Ireland in red streaks on my face before I'm done with
+it."</p>
+
+<p>At that the other three boys laughed. They were not at all unfeeling,
+and could appreciate the misery of their fat companion; but then Lub had
+such a comical way of expressing himself, and made so many ludicrous
+faces, that they could never take him seriously.<a class="pagenum" name="page_12" id="page_12" title="12"></a></p>
+
+<p>They were making their way through one of the loneliest parts of the
+great Adirondack regions. There might not be a living soul within miles
+of them, unless possibly some guide were wandering in search of new
+fields.</p>
+
+<p>The regular fishermen and tourists never came this way for many reasons;
+and the only thing that had brought these four well-grown boys in the
+region of Surprise Lake was the fact that one of them, Phil Bradley,
+owned a large mountain estate of wild land that abutted on the western
+shore of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>All of the lads carried regular packs on their backs, secured with bands
+that passed across their foreheads, thus giving them additional
+advantages. In their hands they seemed to be gripping fishing rods in
+their cases, as well as some other things in the way of tackle boxes and
+bait pails.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently Phil and his chums were bent on having the time of their
+lives upon this outing. Laden in this fashion, it was no easy task they
+had taken upon themselves to "tote" such burdens from the little
+jumping-off station up the side of the mountain, and then across the
+wooded plateau. There was no other way of getting to Lake Surprise, as
+yet, no wagon road at all;<a class="pagenum" name="page_13" id="page_13" title="13"></a> which accounted for its being visited only
+by an occasional fisherman or hunter.</p>
+
+<p>Each year such places become fewer and fewer in the Adirondacks; and in
+time to come doubtless a modern hotel would be erected where just then
+only primitive solitude reigned.</p>
+
+<p>Of course Lub (who at home in school rejoiced in the more aristocratic
+name of Osmond Fenwick) being heavily built, suffered more than any of
+his comrades in this long and arduous tramp. He puffed, and groaned, but
+stuck everlastingly at it, for Lub was not the one to give in easily, no
+matter how he complained.</p>
+
+<p>Besides these two there was Raymond Tyson, a tall, thin chap, who was so
+quick to see through nearly everything on the instant that his friends
+had long ago dubbed him "X-Ray," and as such he was generally known.</p>
+
+<p>The last of the quartette was Ethan Allan. He claimed to be a lineal
+descendant of the famous Revolutionary hero who captured Ticonderoga
+from the British by an early morning surprise. Ethan was very fond of
+boasting of his illustrious ancestor, and on that account found himself
+frequently "joshed" by his chums.</p>
+
+<p>It happened that Ethan's folks were not as<a class="pagenum" name="page_14" id="page_14" title="14"></a> well off in this world's
+goods as those of his chums; and he was exceedingly sensitive about this
+fact. Charity was his bugbear; and he would never listen to any of the
+others standing for his share of the expense, when they undertook an
+expedition like the present.</p>
+
+<p>Ethan was a smart chap. He knew considerable about the woods, and all
+sorts of things that could be found there. And he had hit upon an
+ingenious method for laying up a nice little store of money whereby he
+could keep his savings bank well filled with ready cash, and thus
+proudly meet his share of expenses.</p>
+
+<p>In the winter he used to spend all his spare time out at a farm owned by
+an uncle, where he had traps, and managed to catch quite a few little
+fur-bearing denizens of the woods. Then in the summer and fall he knew
+just where the choicest mushrooms could be picked day after day in the
+early morning. He also had several deposits of wild ginseng and golden
+seal marked down, and many pounds of the dried roots did he ship to a
+distant city to be sold.</p>
+
+<p>His success was enough to turn any boy's head, since he seemed to
+receive a price far above the top-notch quotations for such things. The
+head of the firm even took occasion to write,<a class="pagenum" name="page_15" id="page_15" title="15"></a> congratulating him on
+having sent a fox skin (really a dark red), which he claimed was as fine
+a <i>black</i> fox as he had ever seen, and worth a large sum of money. On
+another occasion it was to say that the dried ginseng Ethan had shipped
+was simply "magnificent," and that they took pleasure in remitting a
+price that they hoped would inspire him to renewed efforts.</p>
+
+<p>Alas! how poor Ethan's pride would have taken a sad tumble had he ever
+so much as guessed that this very accommodating fur and root dealer was
+in reality an uncle of Phil Bradley, and that the whole thing was only a
+nice little plot on the part of the other three boys to assist Ethan
+without his knowing it.</p>
+
+<p>That proved how much they thought of their chum; but should he ever
+discover the humiliating truth there was likely to be some trouble, on
+account of that pride of Ethan's.</p>
+
+<p>It happened that Phil was an orphan, and had been left a very large
+property, the income from which he could never begin to spend in any
+sensible fashion. That accounted for his desire to assist Ethan; and
+while he felt that it was too bad to play such a trick, there seemed to
+be no other way in which the end they sought might be attained.<a class="pagenum" name="page_16" id="page_16" title="16"></a></p>
+
+<p>Raymond's folks, too, were wealthy, and he had really been sent up into
+the clear atmosphere of the Adirondacks to improve his health. Although
+the doctors did not really say he was threatened with signs of lung
+trouble, they advised that the boy, who had grown so fast at the expense
+of his strength, should live out of doors all he could for a year or
+two. He would then be able to catch up in school duties with little
+trouble.</p>
+
+<p>The other three had by degrees come to look upon Phil as their leader;
+and indeed, he had all the qualities that go to make a successful pilot.
+They delighted to call themselves the "Mountain Boys." Really it had
+been Ethan Allan who originated that name, and no doubt at the time he
+had in mind those daring heroes of Revolutionary days who made
+themselves such a terror to the British under the title of "Green
+Mountain Boys."</p>
+
+<p>Among other properties of which the Bradley estate consisted there was a
+tract of several thousand acres of wild land bordering on this
+mysterious Lake Surprise. Phil had heard a number of things about it
+that excited his curiosity. He had so far never set eyes on the place;
+when one of the other chums happened to suggest that<a class="pagenum" name="page_17" id="page_17" title="17"></a> it might make a
+splendid little outing, if they started to look in on the lonely estate.</p>
+
+<p>One thing led to another, with the result that here they were heading
+toward the lake, and following a dim trail which had been described by
+an old guide who could not accompany them on account of other pressing
+engagements.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were pretty good woodsmen, all but Lub, and they had not
+doubted their ability to find the lake.</p>
+
+<p>"I think we're in luck about one thing," X-Ray was saying, as he toiled
+along sturdily, and wishing that he had as much stamina as Phil or
+Ethan; for somehow his legs seemed a bit shaky after so long and
+difficult a tramp, with all that burden piled on his back.</p>
+
+<p>"As what?" asked Ethan, giving Phil a nudge, and thus calling attention
+to the fact that by degrees the puffing Lub had actually gone ahead,
+fastening his eyes on the winding trail, and evidently feeling that he
+was becoming quite a woodsman.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, about that cabin the old guide Jerry Kane told us was on the shore
+of the lake. It'll save us building one, you know, if it's in any kind
+of a decent condition," the tall boy went on to say.<a class="pagenum" name="page_18" id="page_18" title="18"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's a fact," Phil himself remarked; "I've been thinking so
+right along. I only hope we won't find some fishermen camped in it. Kane
+said that once in a long while some guide took a party over to Surprise;
+but that the tramp was so hard few gentlemen cared to try for it. There
+are lakes all around that offer just about as good fishing."</p>
+
+<p>"I should think there'd be some pretty fine hunting around up here,"
+remarked Ethan. "I've noticed quite a few signs of deer, and that was
+certainly the track of a big moose we saw. I'd like to run across one of
+that stripe. Never saw a wild moose in all my life."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't be surprised if some of us do meet one while we roam the
+woods around the little lake," Phil told him. "If I'm that lucky I want
+to take a picture of the beast, to add to my collection."</p>
+
+<p>"And I reckon, now," suggested X-Ray, "that nearly every night you'll be
+setting traps, not to catch wild animals, but to make them take their
+own pictures. That's the main reason why you've come up here, isn't it,
+Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you know it's a sort of hobby of mine, and I've got all the
+apparatus for taking flashlight pictures along with me. I started in to
+the<a class="pagenum" name="page_19" id="page_19" title="19"></a> business just to kill time; but let me tell you it grows on a
+fellow like everything. I'm something of a hunter myself, but this
+shooting with a camera beats anything else all hollow. Besides, you get
+your game, and yet don't injure it, which is the best of all."</p>
+
+<p>Ethan laughed, and shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"But your pelts don't bring you in the hard cash, Phil, like mine do,"
+he went on to say, with a touch of genuine pride in his voice. "S'pose
+now I'd just snapped off that black fox's picture instead of getting his
+paw in my steel Newhouse trap&mdash;it might have been all very well, but I'd
+be several hundred dollars shy right now."</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray Tyson chuckled; but the other frowned and shook his head. It would
+never do to get Ethan's suspicions aroused. He was terribly persistent,
+and once on the scent would never give up until he had unearthed their
+clever little plot. Then good-by to peace among the Mountain Boys, for
+Ethan would never be apt to forgive them the deception.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the main thing, after all, Ethan," Phil added. "One man's food
+is another man's poison. You enjoy your way of doing things, and I
+understand how that is, for I'm something of a hunter of small game
+myself; but I find<a class="pagenum" name="page_20" id="page_20" title="20"></a> more real delight in surprising a keen-nosed fox, or
+a night-roaming raccoon, and getting his photo than in blowing them over
+with a charge of shot."</p>
+
+<p>"Think there could be any bear up around here, Phil?" asked Lub, over
+his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't be surprised, and if we run across tracks I'll add to my
+collection."</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe we ought to have fetched a gun along," suggested X-Ray, who was
+not much of a hunter himself, though fond of any kind of game when it
+was cooked at a camp-fire.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that would have brought us into trouble with the game wardens,"
+Phil replied.</p>
+
+<p>At this point they were interrupted by a cry from Lub, who was on his
+hands and knees in the midst of the scrub, where he had evidently caught
+his foot in a vine, and gone sprawling down on account of his
+clumsiness.</p>
+
+<p>High above the exclamation from the lips of their fat companion they
+could hear a fierce growling sound, and about ten feet beyond Lub they
+saw the crouching body of a very large and angry bobcat, with blazing
+yellow eyes, and every hair on its back standing up on edge, as it got
+ready to spring.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_21" id="page_21" title="21"></a>
+<a name="LUB_AND_THE_MOTHER_BOBCAT_306" id="LUB_AND_THE_MOTHER_BOBCAT_306"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>LUB, AND THE MOTHER BOBCAT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Keep still, everybody!" said Phil, grasping the perilous situation
+instantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Gee whiz! look at its eyes staring, will you?" gasped X-Ray, appalled
+by the ferocious aspect of the crouching beast, which was squatted on a
+log just a few paces beyond poor kneeling and terrorized Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, oh! Phil, tell me what I ought to do!" they heard the fat chum
+saying in rather a faint voice; all the while doubtless keeping his
+strained eyes glued on that dreadful apparition.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a mother wildcat, and she's got kits somewhere near by," Phil was
+saying steadily. "That's what makes her so fierce in the daytime. Lub,
+can you hear me plainly?"</p>
+
+<p>He did not elevate his voice in the least, not wishing to do anything
+out of the ordinary so as to excite the angry beast further, and cause
+it to jump.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sure I can; go on and tell me, Phil,"<a class="pagenum" name="page_22" id="page_22" title="22"></a> whined the other,
+appealingly, and remaining on his hands and knees as though absolutely
+incapable of moving.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be alarmed," Phil went on to say. "I've got my revolver in my
+hand, and if it comes to the worst I'll shoot. The other boys will yell
+like everything, too, and that might make her sheer off. But first try
+and back up, just as you are. Careful now, and do it as easy as you can,
+Lub."</p>
+
+<p>They saw the fat boy begin to cautiously extend one foot backwards. When
+there came a warning snarl he instantly stiffened out as though he had
+been turned into stone.</p>
+
+<p>"Try it some more," Phil told him, "go carefully, but never mind the
+growls. When she sees you're retreating she'll be satisfied, let's
+hope."</p>
+
+<p>So Lub did as he was told, for his nature was rather docile. It could be
+seen that he was holding himself in readiness to flatten out on his
+stomach in case of hostile demonstrations on the part of the wildcat. No
+doubt he expected that he could in this way manage to protect his face
+from her claws; while the pack on his back would serve him in good stead
+there.</p>
+
+<p>Phil, however, had rightly gauged the intention<a class="pagenum" name="page_23" id="page_23" title="23"></a> of the mother beast.
+She was only standing up for her whelps, and so long as they were not
+placed in peril she did not mean to attack that crowd of two-legged
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p>The further Lub got away from the danger zone the more rapidly he began
+to move his plump legs. Presently he felt Ethan lay hold of his foot, at
+which he gave a gasping cry, under the impression that it must be the
+mate of the enraged bobcat which had attacked him from the rear.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all right, Lub," Ethan hastened to say, reassuringly, for he had
+not intended to frighten the other; "you're among friends now; and see
+there how the old cat slinks away, still growling and looking daggers at
+us with those yellow eyes of hers. Wow! she would have given us a warm
+time of it, I'm telling you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Did you get her photo, Phil?" demanded X-Ray; "because I heard the
+click, after you'd swung your little camera around."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, when I saw that she didn't mean to tackle us," replied the other,
+"I remembered that I ought to have something to show for Lub's
+adventure. Guess you'll be glad to have a print of your friend, Lub;
+it'll be a nice thing to look at on a hot summer day; because you'll
+always<a class="pagenum" name="page_24" id="page_24" title="24"></a> have a chill chase up and down your spinal column, when you
+think what would have happened if you'd come to close quarters with that
+cat."</p>
+
+<p>"And talk about the map of Ireland on your face," added Ethan; "more'n
+likely you'd call it one of Europe, with every river plainly marked."</p>
+
+<p>Lub was mopping his face with his red bandanna. All the color had fled,
+leaving him as white as a ghost; but under the manipulation of his
+handkerchief that was being speedily rectified.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I'll drop back a bit, and let some of the rest of you fellows
+take the lead from now on," Lub told them, contritely, "I ought to have
+known better than to try and show off when I'm such a greeny about
+following a trail."</p>
+
+<p>"You were doing all right," Phil told him, "and making a good job of it
+up to that time. Who'd ever expect that we'd run across a bobcat in the
+middle of the afternoon; and one that had kits at that? I'd have had
+just as bad a shock as you got, Lub, if it was me in the lead. No need
+of feeling ashamed; the sight of that thing was enough to give any
+hunter a bad scare, especially if he had no gun along."</p>
+
+<p>This sort of consolation served to make poor<a class="pagenum" name="page_25" id="page_25" title="25"></a> Lub better satisfied;
+though doubtless he would continue to feel unusually nervous for some
+little time. If a chipmunk stirred in the trash under a dead tree Lub
+was apt to draw a long breath, and involuntarily shrink back behind one
+of his companions.</p>
+
+<p>"Guess we'd better make a detour around that bunch of scrub, eh, Phil?"
+remarked Ethan, sagely.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it would be a wise thing to do," chuckled the other; "because
+just now we haven't lost any bobcat that we know about. The trail seems
+to be heading pretty straight right here; and chances are we'll have
+little trouble running across the same some little ways on."</p>
+
+<p>Both he and Ethan took a good survey of their surroundings, but
+evidently the wildcat was still hiding amidst that scrub, for they saw
+nothing of her again while making the half circuit.</p>
+
+<p>"Now keep your eyes peeled for the trail again, Ethan," advised Phil,
+when they were well around on the other side of the danger spot.</p>
+
+<p>Lub managed to push along until he could find himself in the midst of
+the bunch. He cast numerous side glances in the direction of that<a class="pagenum" name="page_26" id="page_26" title="26"></a>
+disputed ground, as though half anticipating seeing a whole army of
+ferocious bobcats come leaping forth, all with blazing yellow eyes and
+stubby tails.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing of the kind happened, however, and presently Ethan was heard
+calling:</p>
+
+<p>"Here's your old trail, Phil, as plain as print. And d'ye know, there's
+only one thing I'm sorry about, which is that you didn't think to snap
+off a picture with our chum on his hands and knees backing off, and the
+cat on the log."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm glad myself there wasn't any chance to keep that accidental
+tumble of mine as a perpetual joke," said Lub, indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing to be ashamed about at all, Lub," remarked X-Ray; "and I reckon
+now if it had been Ethan himself who stumbled when he caught his foot in
+a vine, and then found himself face to face with a mad cat he'd have
+been near paralyzed too."</p>
+
+<p>This seemed to mollify Lub somewhat, though he hardly liked that
+reference to his having been paralyzed very much.</p>
+
+<p>They pushed on resolutely and the minutes passed. Phil on hearing Lub
+puffing and seeing that X-Ray lagged a little, cheered both of them up
+by declaring that the time was now short.<a class="pagenum" name="page_27" id="page_27" title="27"></a></p>
+
+<p>"It wouldn't surprise me a whit," he said, cheerily, "to get a glimpse
+of the lake any time now, through the trees. Unless all my calculations
+are faulty we must be on my land right now."</p>
+
+<p>"That sounds good to me, Phil," asserted X-Ray, joyously, as he took a
+fresh spurt, and no longer limped as though he had a stone bruise on his
+heel.</p>
+
+<p>Even Lub grinned until his red face looked like a newly risen sun.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll all be mighty glad to get there, believe me!" he declared; "and
+think of the jolly time we'll have preparing our first supper in the
+woods. This big aluminum frying pan of Phil's has kept digging me in the
+ribs right along, until I'm afraid there's a black and blue spot there;
+but I mean to take my revenge good and plenty when we fill it full of
+onions and potatoes and such fine things. Take another squint ahead,
+Phil, and see if you can't give us real good news."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, just as sure as anything I see what looks like water!" called out
+Phil, with an eager tremor in his voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Whereabouts, Phil? Oh! I hope now, you're not joshing us?" Lub
+demanded.<a class="pagenum" name="page_28" id="page_28" title="28"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Stop just where you are, everybody," the pilot of the expedition told
+them, "and watch where I'm pointing. If you follow my finger you can see
+if I've made a mistake or not. How about it, X-Ray? You've got the best
+eyes of the crowd, I guess."</p>
+
+<p>"It's water, all right, Phil," replied the other, glad that he could be
+accounted as best in something.</p>
+
+<p>"And that means Lake Surprise, doesn't it?" questioned Ethan Allan.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, because it's the only body of water for miles around here," Phil
+continued. "That's one reason they let it alone so much. Other lakes lie
+in bunches, and a canoe can be taken over a carry from one to another in
+the chain; but Surprise is an awful lonely sheet of water."</p>
+
+<p>"And that's how it must have got its name," added Ethan. "All the while
+nobody dreamed there was any such lake up here; and then all at once a
+wandering guide must have run headlong on the same, to his surprise."</p>
+
+<p>"Wish we were there on the bank right now," grunted Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"Another mile, perhaps half of that, ought to take us to the water," he
+was assured by Phil; "and you see we are coming in from the west,<a class="pagenum" name="page_29" id="page_29" title="29"></a> which
+is all right, too, because my land lies on the western shore; and that
+cabin must be somewhere just ahead of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Ethan, unable to keep from giving expression to his
+delight any longer.</p>
+
+<p>The others felt pretty much the same way, and joined in a series of
+joyous whoops.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, everybody put his best foot forward, and we'll soon be there,"
+urged Phil; "the worst is behind us, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a heap better than having it yet to come!" declared X-Ray,
+feeling that with the goal in sight he should be able to hold out.</p>
+
+<p>They plodded along for some eight minutes or more, frequently catching
+glimpses of the lake beyond, and knowing that they were rapidly
+approaching its border. All at once X-Ray gave a cry.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me, what is that I can see over there, Phil; looks for all the
+world like a shack made of silver birches! See how the sun shines on its
+side, will you? Is that your cabin, do you think, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just what it must be, X-Ray," the other told him; "they've nailed birch
+bark all over the sides of the log hut, you see, just to make it look
+rustic."<a class="pagenum" name="page_30" id="page_30" title="30"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Then we'll have to call it Birch Bark Lodge!" burst out Lub, who had a
+little vein of the romantic in his disposition.</p>
+
+<p>"That sounds good to me!" declared Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"It goes, then, does it?" asked the delighted Lub, beginning to believe
+he must be waking up, to have any suggestion of his so quickly and
+favorably seized upon.</p>
+
+<p>"Sure thing," said X-Ray Tyson. "Hurrah for Birch Bark Lodge, the home
+in the wilderness of the Mountain Boys."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be too quick to settle that sort of thing," advised the more
+cautious Phil. "For all we know there may be somebody ahead of us in the
+shack; and you know we couldn't well chase 'em out."</p>
+
+<p>"But see here, Phil, if the cabin stands on your ground of course it's
+your property by right of law, no matter whoever built the shack in the
+start. He was only a squatter at the best," and Lub looked wise when he
+laid down this principle in common law which is often so exceedingly
+difficult to practice in the backwoods, where right of possession is
+nine points of the law.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Phil told him, "but there's always a rule in the woods that
+governs cases like this, no matter who owns the land. First come, first<a class="pagenum" name="page_31" id="page_31" title="31"></a>
+served. If we find that shack occupied by some sportsmen and their
+guides, why, we'll have to chase along and put up one for ourselves
+somewhere else."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! I don't like to hear you say that," remarked Lub, who would
+possibly have liked to enter into a discussion along the line of right
+of property, only none of the others cared to bother with such a
+question, particularly after what Phil had said.</p>
+
+<p>They pushed on and approached the cabin. One and all were looking
+eagerly to discover any signs of occupancy, and greatly to their
+satisfaction no dog came barking toward them, nor was there even a
+smudge of smoke oozing out of the mud-and-slab chimney that had been
+built up alongside the back of the shack.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess it's all hunk," admitted Ethan, with a sigh of relief, as they
+drew near the partly open door. "See that gray squirrel running along
+the roof, would you? He wouldn't be doing that same if folks were
+around."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! that depends on what kind of folks," remarked Phil. "For my part I
+never yet would shoot little animals around camp. I like to see them
+frisking about too much to want to eat them up. But as you say, it looks
+as if we had<a class="pagenum" name="page_32" id="page_32" title="32"></a> the cabin to ourselves, after all, for which I'm glad."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me about that, will you?" muttered Lub, also showing positive
+signs of satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>All of them pushed into the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, this is <i>just</i> the thing!" cried Ethan Allan; "see the bunks along
+one side of the wall, boys,&mdash;two, three, four of them, if you please."</p>
+
+<p>"Just one apiece for us, and I choose this because it looks more roomy,
+and better fitted for a fellow of my heft than any of the rest!" Lub was
+heard to say.</p>
+
+<p>They immediately began to unfasten the straps that held their packs in
+place.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey! what're you doing, starting a fire already, Phil?" called out
+Ethan, noticing that the other was bending over the hearth.</p>
+
+<p>For answer Phil beckoned to the others to approach closer.</p>
+
+<p>"There's something queer happened," he told them, with a frown on his
+face; "just bend down here, Ethan, and put your hand in these ashes,
+will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why!" exclaimed Ethan, immediately, "they're warm right now, would you
+believe it?"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_33" id="page_33" title="33"></a>
+<a name="A_MYSTERY_TO_START_WITH_607" id="A_MYSTERY_TO_START_WITH_607"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>A MYSTERY, TO START WITH</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>While Ethan, Phil and X-Ray Tyson seemed to grasp the true significance
+of this astonishing discovery, Lub as yet had not managed to get it
+through his head. He was a little dense about some things, although a
+clever enough scholar when at school.</p>
+
+<p>"The ashes warm, you say, Ethan?" he burst out with. "Now, that's a
+funny thing. What would make them hold heat that way, when there's not a
+sign of anybody around?"</p>
+
+<p>"There <i>has</i> been somebody here, and only a short time ago, don't you
+see?" explained Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"And like as not they heard us cheering when we glimpsed the lake, and
+cleared out in a big hurry," Ethan went on to say.</p>
+
+<p>"Cleared out?" echoed Lub'. "Well, why should they run from us, tell me?
+We don't look dangerous, as far as I can see. We wouldn't bother hurting
+anybody; and didn't Phil say a while back that if we found<a class="pagenum" name="page_34" id="page_34" title="34"></a> some
+fishermen in his shack we'd just shy off, and build one for ourselves?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but these people didn't hear Phil say that; we were half a mile
+and more away from here at the time," explained X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>"And they couldn't begin to tell just who was coming," added Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"It might be!" exclaimed Ethan, "that they took us for game wardens.
+Mebbe now they've been shooting deer out of season, and got cold feet
+when they knew some people were coming in to the lake."</p>
+
+<p>Phil nodded his head in the affirmative, when he saw that Ethan was
+looking to find out just how that suggestion struck him.</p>
+
+<p>"I rather think you've struck the right nail on the head there, Ethan,"
+he told the other. "It seems the most reasonable explanation for their
+clearing out in such a big hurry."</p>
+
+<p>"They tried to put the fire out too, didn't they, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>It was X-Ray Tyson who asked this. Those keen eyes of his had made
+another discovery, and he was even then pointing the same out to his
+chums.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I had noticed that some one had certainly thrown water on the
+fire," said Phil.<a class="pagenum" name="page_35" id="page_35" title="35"></a> "You can see where it washed the ashes off this
+charred piece of wood; and besides, it made little furrows in the
+ashes."</p>
+
+<p>"That's an old trick in the woods," remarked Ethan, with a superior air;
+"fact is, no true woodsman would think of breaking camp without first
+making sure every spark of his fire was put out. Lots of forest fires
+have come from carelessness in guides leaving red cinders behind them."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Phil added, "because often the wind rises, and whirls those same
+cinders to leeward, where they fall in a bunch of dry leaves, and begin
+to get their work in. But when people live in cabins they seldom bother
+wetting the ashes, unless they've got a mighty good reason for wanting
+to hide the facts."</p>
+
+<p>"And these people did," added Ethan, conclusively.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's look around some," suggested X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>Two of the others thought this a good idea, for they immediately started
+a search of the interior of the cabin, their idea being to find some
+clue that might tell just who the late mysterious inmates were, and why
+they had fled so hurriedly.</p>
+
+<p>Lub may have been just as curious as his<a class="pagenum" name="page_36" id="page_36" title="36"></a> mates; but he was very tired
+after the long and arduous walk, so that apparently he believed three
+could cover the field just as thoroughly as four. At any rate he showed
+no sign of meaning to quit his seat upon the rude stool he had found;
+but leaning forward, watched operations, at the same time rubbing his
+shins sympathetically.</p>
+
+<p>"What's this on the peg up here?" exclaimed X-Ray, the very first thing.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like some sort of a hat to me," remarked Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what it is; but say, take notice of the size, will you? It's a
+<i>child's</i> hat, as sure as you live! Why, there must have been a child
+along with the lot!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's queer!" Lub observed, not wanting to be wholly ignored.</p>
+
+<p>"Game poachers they may have been," muttered Ethan, "but if there was a
+little chap along, there must have been a family of 'em. See if you
+could pick up such a thing now as a hair-pin, or any other woman
+business."</p>
+
+<p>They went to scrutinizing the cracks of the floor more closely than
+ever. That suggestion on the part of Ethan was worth trying out. Of
+course the presence of any little article like a<a class="pagenum" name="page_37" id="page_37" title="37"></a> hair-pin would show
+that a woman had been there.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't hear anybody sing out!" remarked X-Ray Tyson, presently; "and
+on that account it looks like we hadn't discovered anything worth
+mentioning. What gets me is, however could they have cleaned the old
+shack out so quick, and never left anything worth mentioning behind
+'em?"</p>
+
+<p>"From the time we sighted the cabin, back to when we first whooped,
+couldn't have been more'n eight minutes, I should think," Lub gravely
+announced.</p>
+
+<p>"Lots could be done in that time," asserted Phil; "but all the same I am
+bothered to know why they'd be in such a rattling big hurry. It might be
+they knew about us being on the way longer than eight minutes."</p>
+
+<p>"Who would have called 'em up on the phone, and mentioned the fact?"
+asked X-Ray, meaning to be humorous.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, one of the lot may have seen us miles back, and put for the cabin
+by some short-cut we don't know anything about," Phil told him.</p>
+
+<p>"That could be, of course," admitted Ethan, after considering the matter
+seriously.</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe we'll never know the truth, which<a class="pagenum" name="page_38" id="page_38" title="38"></a> would be too bad," Lub
+continued; for a mystery was a source of constant anxiety to him; he was
+so frank and straightforward himself that double dealing seemed foreign
+to his nature.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, as we didn't come all the way up here just to worry our heads
+over guessing hard problems, I guess we won't lose any sleep," Ethan
+went on to say, in his easy-going way.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm wondering what made all these burns on the floor," Phil told them;
+"and on this table, too. In these days people don't mold bullets like
+they used to years ago, when the pioneers were settling the wilderness;
+and yet that's what it looks like to me."</p>
+
+<p>"The place isn't as clean as it might be," Ethan now remarked, "and the
+first thing we'll have to do in the morning will be to tidy up. I'll
+make a broom out of twigs, like I've seen poor emigrants do. It answers
+the purpose pretty well, too."</p>
+
+<p>He was prying around in one of the bunks while saying this, as though he
+had suspicions; which Lub, who was anxiously watching him, hoped in his
+heart might turn out to be groundless.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had turned to other things, and was proceeding to undo his pack.
+This caught Lub's<a class="pagenum" name="page_39" id="page_39" title="39"></a> eye, and caused the worried expression on his face to
+give way to one of pleasure. He knew that such a move meant it was
+getting time for them to think of supper; and Lub was always ready to do
+his part toward providing a meal; oh, yes, and in disposing of the same,
+too.</p>
+
+<p>"Wow! you quit too soon!" suddenly yelped X-Ray, who had continued
+prowling on hands and knees after Phil and Ethan had stopped searching
+the floor.</p>
+
+<p>"Found something, have you?" asked the former, without looking up from
+his job of opening the contents of his pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it worth a hair-pin, X-Ray?" chirped Ethan, who had been gathering a
+handful of timber in a corner where a lot of wood lay in a pile, ready
+for burning.</p>
+
+<p>"You could buy a thousand with it, I reckon!" was the astonishing
+declaration of the finder, which remark caused every one to immediately
+take notice.</p>
+
+<p>The boy with the sharp eyes was holding something up between thumb and
+forefinger. It shone in the last rays of the setting sun, as they came
+into the cabin through a small window in the western side.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what's this mean?" ejaculated Ethan;<a class="pagenum" name="page_40" id="page_40" title="40"></a> "looks like you've gone and
+struck a silver mine, X-Ray! That's a half dollar, ain't it? D'ye mean
+to say you found it on this same floor?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I did, and deep down in a crack, where it must have slid, so
+nobody noticed it!" exclaimed the other, exultantly. "Now, needn't all
+get busy looking, because I reckon it's the only coin there is. That's
+my reward for keeping everlastingly at it. You fellows are ready to give
+up too easy. Say, did you ever see a brighter half dollar than that?
+Looks like she just came from the mint, hey?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps it did!" said Phil, solemnly.</p>
+
+<p>When he said that the others all focussed their eyes on Phil's face.
+They knew he would not have spoken in such a strain unless he had some
+good reason for saying what he did.</p>
+
+<p>"Explain what you mean, please, Phil; that's a good fellow," urged Lub.</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray was not so dense, for he instantly exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, don't you see, Phil reckons that this half-dollar may have been
+coined right here in this birch bark cabin!"</p>
+
+<p>"Whew! counterfeit, is it?" gasped Ethan, whose breath had almost been
+taken away with the momentous discovery. "Then I guess I<a class="pagenum" name="page_41" id="page_41" title="41"></a> ain't going to
+bother getting down on my knees, and doing any hunting for bogus money."</p>
+
+<p>The finder apparently did not much fancy having his prize counted so
+meanly. He immediately proceeded to bite the coin, and then started to
+ringing it on the hard surface of the oak table that had all the
+scorched spots on it, mentioned by Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"It <i>tastes</i> good; and listen to the sweet ring, would you, fellows?"
+X-Ray hastened to say. "If it's a punk fifty-center, then it's the
+greatest imitation ever was. I'd just like to have a cartload of the
+same; I think I'd call myself rich."</p>
+
+<p>"If there's any suspicion fixed on the coin," Lub observed, ponderously,
+just as he had heard his father, the judge, deliver an opinion in court,
+"I'd rather be excused from carrying it around on <i>my</i> person. The law,
+you know, does not look upon ignorance as innocence. Better toss that
+thing as far away as you can in the morning, X-Ray. I'd hate to think of
+you doing time for having it in your possession."</p>
+
+<p>"Hanged if I do," muttered the other. "I'm all worked up now over it,
+and mean to get the opinion of Mr. Budge, the cashier of our bank. He
+can smell a counterfeit as soon as he sets eyes on one. He'll fix all
+that up, believe me."<a class="pagenum" name="page_42" id="page_42" title="42"></a></p>
+
+<p>"But, Phil," Ethan remarked, just then, "what was that you were saying
+about all the scorched places on the table? If these people were not
+molding bullets they may have been using melted metal for another
+purpose, and one not quite so lawful, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"It looks a little that way, I must say," Phil admitted.</p>
+
+<p>"Give us something to do prying around while we're up here," suggested
+X-Ray; "seeing if we can run across their <i>cache</i> where they've gone and
+hid away their molds, and other stuff."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! now you're only guessing," Lub told him. "It may be they were game
+poachers after all, no matter if the coin is a bad one. I'm sorry this
+had to crop up the first thing, when we aimed to have such a jolly time
+of it here."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have that, all right, whether or no," said Phil; "and first of
+all let's get busy with our duffle. If we're going to live in this shack
+it's our duty to make it look like home to us. Ethan, suppose you attend
+to the fire, and the rest of us will take care of the cooking."</p>
+
+<p>"That's the ticket!" Lub ventured; "if I can do anything to help just
+let me sit here, and peel potatoes, or make the coffee. I'm pretty<a class="pagenum" name="page_43" id="page_43" title="43"></a>
+tired, you know; and besides it seems to me I get in everybody's way
+when I move around."</p>
+
+<p>"Because you occupy so much room, Lub," X-Ray told him, cheerfully; "but
+it's all right, and we'll find some use for your hands. How about water;
+shall I take our collapsible pail and fetch some from the lake?"</p>
+
+<p>Upon being told that some one must go, the spry lad darted out of the
+door, and reappeared a few minutes later with a brimming pail.</p>
+
+<p>"I want to tell you all that it's going to be a dandy night," he
+chortled as he set the pail carefully down so that Lub, who was holding
+the aluminum coffee pot in his hands, could easily reach it; "moon's
+just coming up over across the lake, and about as full as could be."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, some of the rest of us are hoping to be in the same condition
+before a great while," Ethan ventured, as he stepped over to the door,
+and looked out, to immediately add: "I should say it is a glorious
+sight, with that yellow streak shining across the water, and the little
+wavelets dancing like silver. Phil, this is the greatest place ever. If
+you hunted a whole year you couldn't beat it. And we ought to have the
+time of our lives while we're up at Birch Bark Lodge."<a class="pagenum" name="page_44" id="page_44" title="44"></a></p>
+
+<p>All of them were filled with delight. Being only boys, and with no
+particular cares weighing heavily on their minds, they refused to see
+any cloud on the horizon. Everything was as clear and lovely as the sky
+into which that full moon was climbing so sturdily.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the delightful odors of supper began to pervade the atmosphere.
+That made it seem more than ever like a real camp. Lub was doing his
+share of the work like a hero. They had found a place where he could sit
+at one side of the fire, and here he attended to the coffee, as well as
+looked after the big saucepan of potatoes and onions that had been
+placed on the red coals. Lub's round face was about as fiery as the
+blaze that crackled and danced at the back of the hearth; and he often
+had to mop his streaming brow; but he stuck heroically at his task to
+the bitter end.</p>
+
+<p>Then came his reward when they sat around, and every fellow had a
+heaping pannikin between his knees, or on the small table, flanked by a
+cup, also of light aluminum, filled with coffee.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that they were all helped Phil knocked on the table, and held up
+his cup.</p>
+
+<p>"Before we take our first bite, fellows," he went on to say, solemnly;
+"I think we ought to<a class="pagenum" name="page_45" id="page_45" title="45"></a> drink to the success of our camping trip up here
+in the Adirondacks proper. Coffee is the only proper liquid to drink
+that toast in, so up with your cups, every one. Here's to the Mountain
+Boys, and may they enjoy every minute of their stay at Birch Bark
+Cabin!"</p>
+
+<p>"Drink it down!" cried X-Ray Tyson, noisily.</p>
+
+<p>With that they took the first swallow of the nectar that Lub had brewed.
+Never had its like been tasted at home, amidst prosaic surroundings;
+there was something in the atmosphere of the mountains that made
+ordinary things assume a different aspect; their hard tramp had aroused
+their appetites amazingly, and just then those four boys were ready to
+admit that this was the life worth while.</p>
+
+<p>For the next half-hour they sat there on such stools as they could find,
+and proceeded to "lick the platter clean;" inasmuch as there was not a
+particle left when they had finished supper. But even Lub confessed that
+he had had quite enough.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_46" id="page_46" title="46"></a>
+<a name="THE_FIGURE_IN_THE_MOONLIGHT_922" id="THE_FIGURE_IN_THE_MOONLIGHT_922"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>THE FIGURE IN THE MOONLIGHT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"You couldn't beat this much, I'd say, if you want to know my opinion,"
+Ethan was remarking, after they had finished the meal and were taking
+things easy.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course we all feel pretty much the same way," admitted X-Ray Tyson;
+"but I'd be a whole lot better satisfied if I knew about that bright new
+half-dollar. Is it a good one, or a bunker?"</p>
+
+<p>"Chances are we'll hear no end to that squall all the time we're up
+here," Ethan went on to say, with a pretended look of disgust on his
+thin Yankee face. "Whenever you do get a thing on your mind, X-Ray, you
+sure beat all creation to keep yawping about it. Forget that you ever
+picked up the fifty, and let's be thinking only of the royal good times
+we're meaning to have."</p>
+
+<p>"What can that sound be?" suddenly remarked Lub, who had been listening
+more or<a class="pagenum" name="page_47" id="page_47" title="47"></a> less apprehensively for some little time now; "seems like some
+one might be sawing a hole through the wall. Course, though, I don't
+believe that for a minute; but all the same it's a queer noise. There,
+don't you hear it?"</p>
+
+<p>There did come a distinct little "rat-tat-tat," several times repeated.
+No one who was not deaf could have helped hearing such a distinct sound;
+but Lub could not see that any of his mates seemed bothered.</p>
+
+<p>"May be that old gray squirrel gnawing somewhere," suggested X-Ray;
+"they've got long teeth like a rat, and can chew a hole through any sort
+of board."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I'd rather believe it was the wind," said Ethan, who had a pretty
+good knowledge of woodcraft in all its branches, and was therefore well
+fitted to give an opinion.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, how could the night wind make that sort of scratching sound?"
+asked Lub, doubtless wondering whether the other were simply guying him
+because of his being a greenhorn.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! the broken end of a branch might be rubbing against the roof of the
+cabin," Ethan told him. "I've known that to happen lots of times. There
+she hits up the tune again, you notice, Lub."<a class="pagenum" name="page_48" id="page_48" title="48"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Yes," added Phil, nodding his head approvingly, "and if you listen,
+every time that scratching sound comes you can hear the wind soughing
+through the tree-tops. That ought to prove it."</p>
+
+<p>Still Lub seemed hard to convince, seeing which Ethan jumped up.</p>
+
+<p>"Just stir your stumps, Lub, and come outside with me," he said,
+positively. "I want to prove what I said, and you've got to be shown."</p>
+
+<p>Lub saw there was no getting around it, and much as he disliked making a
+move when he was settled so comfortably, he managed to scramble to his
+feet.</p>
+
+<p>Once out in the bright moonlight and practical Ethan was quick to
+discover the source of the peculiar and often recurring noise.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, Lub," he went on to say, "there's your saw at work right now.
+Just as I told you it's a branch that's been worn off to a stub by this
+scraping. Every time there's a fresh gust of wind it waves back and
+forth, and scraping against the roof makes that funny sound. Now, I hope
+your mind's easy, Lub, and that you'll sleep decent to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope I will," replied Lub, earnestly, at the same time remembering
+about the bunks, and what one of the others had said with regard to<a class="pagenum" name="page_49" id="page_49" title="49"></a>
+house-cleaning in the morning; "but say, it is a fine night, ain't it,
+Ethan. Listen to the frogs singing their chorus in some little bay of
+the lake."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," remarked Ethan, quickly, "I was listening to their serenade. Some
+busters in that lot, too, because you can hear 'em calling more-rum,
+more-rum' in the deepest bass. That always stands for the big bullfrogs.
+I ought to know, because I'm an experienced frog-raiser. Cleared
+sixty-seven dollars from my little pond this very summer; but I've never
+seen frogs'-legs quoted <i>quite</i> so high as that Mr. Brandon the
+restaurant man down in New York pays me. I guess he favors me a mite
+just because he happens to know some friends of Phil's."</p>
+
+<p>Lub knew all about it, but he never let even a chuckle escape from his
+lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in that letter you had from him which you showed me," he
+observed, "he said he'd never had such fine frogs'-legs before, and
+wanted to make sure to keep getting all you had to sell. A dollar a
+pound is a cracking high sum, sure it is, but then good things always
+bring fancy prices."</p>
+
+<p>That frog pond of Ethan's went with his many other ways for making
+spending money.<a class="pagenum" name="page_50" id="page_50" title="50"></a> It required almost no time at all to run it. When he
+found an opportunity he caught frogs wherever he could find them, and
+put them into his preserve. Then, on feeling that he had the right kind
+of goods for a gilt-edge market he would make a shipment of a box of
+"saddles" neatly arranged, so that they were attractive to the eye of
+the proprietor of the fashionable restaurant in far-off New York.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had recommended Ethan to try that place, and had even given him
+permission to use his name as a recommendation. Ethan never knew that
+the same mail had carried a letter from Phil to Mr. Brandon, who was an
+old friend of his, making arrangements to stand for the difference
+between the market price of frogs'-legs and the fancy sum he was to send
+Ethan every time he shipped him a box.</p>
+
+<p>While Lub was standing there, and apparently enjoying the sight of the
+moonlight dancing on the water of the lake near by, he was at the same
+time casting occasional apprehensive glances around him.</p>
+
+<p>The woods looked mysterious enough and gloomy too, for the moon had not
+risen far in the heavens, and the shadows were long and abundant.<a class="pagenum" name="page_51" id="page_51" title="51"></a></p>
+
+<p>Several times he fancied he saw something moving there on the border of
+the dense growth. Finally he appealed to Ethan, because he had
+considerable respect for the opinions of his chum, who had studied woods
+lore so long.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't think now, that any of that crowd we scared away from the
+cabin would come sneaking back to spy on us, or try to steal any of our
+things?" he asked, trying to appear as though such an idea was furthest
+from his own thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hadn't bothered with such a thing as that, Lub, but now that
+you mention the same I can't see why they should. We haven't got
+anything along worth stealing; and if they are afraid of the officers of
+the law, as counterfeiters, or game poachers, why, they'd want to get as
+far away as they could. So I wouldn't let that keep me from sleeping a
+wink."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I don't mean to," Lub hastened to exclaim, stoutly; but all the
+same as he followed Ethan back through the cabin doorway the very last
+thing he did was to take a parting survey of the forest fringe, and
+shrug his fat shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems like it was getting right noisy out there, Ethan," remarked
+X-Ray, when Lub had carefully pushed the door shut, and both of those<a class="pagenum" name="page_52" id="page_52" title="52"></a>
+who had just entered found places again in the half circle before the
+red embers of the fire.</p>
+
+<p>The interior was only dimly lighted, because they only had a single
+lantern to do duty. But then it served them amply, because no one meant
+to try and read; and whenever a fresh lot of wood was thrown on the
+coals it flashed up brilliantly.</p>
+
+<p>That firelight was a part of the charm of the whole thing. They could
+have lamps, gas, or even electric light at home any time they wanted;
+but only under such conditions as these was it possible to enjoy the
+mystic firelight.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes," Ethan replied, "I guess the woods folks are waking up. You
+can hear crickets a fiddling away for dear life, and other sorts of
+insects besides. Then there's a pair of screech owls calling to each
+other; a whip-poor-will whooping things up; and most of all the frogs
+have started in to get busy with their chorus. And say, I'm going to
+promise you a feast to-morrow night."</p>
+
+<p>"Frogs'-legs, you mean, I take it, Ethan." Phil quickly exclaimed,
+looking pleased at the prospect.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, because there's some corkers out there;<a class="pagenum" name="page_53" id="page_53" title="53"></a> and leave it to me to get
+'em. I'm an authority on frogs'-legs, you know. And when they fetch a
+dollar a pound every time, you c'n see that they ought to be reckoned a
+treat."</p>
+
+<p>"A dollar a pound, did you say?" demanded X-Ray, as if he fancied he had
+not heard aright; whereat he had his shins kicked by Lub, who happened
+to sit next to him, as a warning that he was treading on perilous
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes, that's the price I always get!" declared Ethan, loftily. "You
+see, it pays to do things up in style. My shipments look so attractive
+to Mr. Brandon that he says it is a pleasure to just open my box. Of
+course all of you fellows like frogs'-legs?"</p>
+
+<p>Phil and X-Ray Tyson immediately declared they believed they could never
+get enough of the dainty.</p>
+
+<p>"To tell you the honest truth," said Lub, contritely, "I never tasted
+any that I know of. My folks don't seem to care for queer things."</p>
+
+<p>"Queer things!" almost shouted Ethan; "well, I like that now! Why, don't
+you know that frogs'-legs are as delicate as squab. You'd think you had
+a spring chicken, only when you come to think, it has just a <i>little</i>
+taste of fish about it."<a class="pagenum" name="page_54" id="page_54" title="54"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Oh! my, I don't know as I'd fancy that very much," complained Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! I know you better than to believe that, Lub," he was told by the
+other; "and I'll just have to make sure to lay in a plenty, because I
+c'n see you passing in your platter seven times, to say: 'Please see if
+there isn't just one more helping for me, won't you, Ethan; they're the
+finest things I ever set my teeth in, and that's no lie!'"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, wait and see, that's all," Lub concluded. "I'm willing to be
+convinced. I mightn't care for a thing like that at home, with a white
+tablecloth, silver, and cut glass all around me; but then it's a
+different case when you're up in the woods, with your camp appetite
+along, and going just half crazy because supper is so slow cooking, with
+all those odors stealing to your nose. Try it on me, Ethan; I'd be
+willing to taste even dog just once, if I was hungry, and met up with a
+bunch of Indians."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not afraid of the verdict," announced the boy who raised frogs, and
+thought he had a right to know considerable about them, since he topped
+the market with the gilt-edge prices he received.</p>
+
+<p>So they talked, and joked, as the evening wore<a class="pagenum" name="page_55" id="page_55" title="55"></a> along. Several times
+they caught Lub in the act of yawning, and he was of course immediately
+poked in the ribs as they besought him to please not swallow the cabin
+while about it.</p>
+
+<p>"But I tell you I am sleepy; and no matter what the rest of you say I'm
+going to get my bunk made up. I want to be in apple-pie shape for
+to-morrow, for I expect it's going to be a red-letter day with us."</p>
+
+<p>Each of them had carried a warm blanket in their pack, which was one
+reason for the bulk of these burdens. They had not been quite as heavy
+as they looked; doubtless the greatest load consisted of canned goods,
+and food of various kinds, which they would not have to pack out of the
+woods again.</p>
+
+<p>Lub was somewhat fastidious about how he wanted his bed made up. Three
+separate times did he pull it to pieces again, to start in afresh.</p>
+
+<p>"Hey, stop bothering so much with that!" X-Ray Tyson called out, having
+been observing what the other was doing. "You certainly are the greatest
+old woman I ever ran across, Lub."</p>
+
+<p>"And you'll never make a woodsman, as long as you're so finicky,
+either," Ethan warned<a class="pagenum" name="page_56" id="page_56" title="56"></a> him. "'The happy-go-lucky kind is best in the
+end. They give their blanket a fling, and just crawl under. And they
+sleep the soundest too."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! well, I'll learn some day, perhaps," said Lub, not at all
+disconcerted by all this raillery, for it fell from him as water does
+from a duck's back. "But I've got it fixed to suit me at last. This
+bunch of dead grass rolled in the pillow slip I fetched will make me a
+dandy pillow. I'm glad you gave me a hint to bring one along, Phil."</p>
+
+<p>"Old woodsmen use then? boots for a pillow," chuckled Ethan, which
+remark caused the particular Lub to shudder, and shake his head, as
+though he began to despair of ever reaching that point where he could
+claim to be a seasoned veteran.</p>
+
+<p>While the others were again indulging in some sort of discussion, Lub,
+thinking he was unobserved, sauntered over to one of the little windows
+which the builder of the birch cabin had arranged so that he might have
+light, and yet shut out the cold air of winter.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, come here, won't you, Phil; there's somebody walking along by the
+trees, and standing still to watch the cabin every once in a while!"<a class="pagenum" name="page_57" id="page_57" title="57"></a></p>
+
+<p>When Lub said this in a voice that trembled with excitement the other
+three boys of course hastened to scramble to their feet and reach his
+side.</p>
+
+<p>"Whereabouts, Lub?" demanded X-Ray Tyson, eagerly, as he pressed his
+nose against the glass, and occupied so much space in doing so that he
+prevented the others from having a chance to see fairly; so that Phil
+and Ethan deliberately drew him to one side.</p>
+
+<p>"There, over yonder where the moon shines between the little
+second-growth trees!" the discoverer went on to say, huskily, and
+pointing a trembling stubby finger as he spoke. "There, didn't you see
+then, boys?"</p>
+
+<p>"There certainly is something, and it moved!" admitted Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! it's a man, I'm telling you!" hissed Lub; "didn't I see him plain
+as the nose on your face, X-Ray, and that's going some. He was moving
+along where the shadows die out. Now he's past that place. It's a man,
+believe me; and he's meaning to sneak in here to-night, to rob us.
+There, see him moving again, will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I do believe it is a man, bending over at that," agreed Phil.<a class="pagenum" name="page_58" id="page_58" title="58"></a></p>
+
+<p>"He's moving off, seems like," observed X-Ray, who had not altogether
+fancied Lub's allusion to his nose, because it <i>was</i> rather large.</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe he's seen us peeking out and thinks it's time he sheered off?"
+suggested Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Had we better collar him, Phil?" asked X-Ray, who was inclined to be
+very quick in his actions, and often without due thought making some
+move he was likely to regret later.</p>
+
+<p>"No, that would be silly," decided Phil. "The only weapons we've got
+consist of one revolver, a couple of camp hatchets, and some hunting
+knives. How do we know what he might do, or how many of them there may
+be? Let him look at the cabin, and then go away. I don't think we'll be
+bothered by anybody."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'm not going to lie awake thinking about it," said Ethan. "If he
+comes in here, and finds anything worth while, we could surround him and
+make him go shares, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"There, he's moving off at last," said Lub; "but I don't like all this
+mystery. Who is he, and what does he want? We'd be happier if we moved
+on, and built a cabin somewhere else."</p>
+
+<p>"What!" exclaimed the belligerent X-Ray, "clear out when Phil owns the
+whole shebang, and has invited us up? Well, I guess not!"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_59" id="page_59" title="59"></a>
+<a name="THE_SUDDEN_AWAKENING_1232" id="THE_SUDDEN_AWAKENING_1232"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>THE SUDDEN AWAKENING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Thought you meant to go to bed, Lub?" said Ethan, some little time
+afterwards, as they were all sitting around again.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! somehow I seem to have gotten over my sleepy spell," admitted the
+other, frankly; "perhaps it was the excitement over seeing that prowler
+outside that did it. I'm as wide awake as a hawk right now."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it's just the other way with me," X-Ray remarked, yawning almost
+as furiously as Lub had been doing before; "I'm getting dopey, and mean
+to turn in pretty soon. If nothing else happens to bother, nobody's
+going to hear a word from me after I hit the hay."</p>
+
+<p>Lub looked at him painfully, but he did not think it best to ask further
+questions lest he stir up a hornets' nest. There was something on Lub's
+mind. Phil understood this from various<a class="pagenum" name="page_60" id="page_60" title="60"></a> signs. He began to get an
+inkling as to what its nature might prove to be, when several times he
+saw the other lean forward and look long and earnestly up the chimney.</p>
+
+<p>"What d'ye expect to see up there, Lub?" asked Ethan, who had also it
+seemed been watching the other. "This isn't the time for old Santa Claus
+to come down with his pack of toys. His reindeer need snow for their
+sledge, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you let the fire go out when we turn in, Phil?" asked Lub,
+ignoring all such little annoyances as this.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I suppose so," he was told. "If it was cold weather it might be a
+different thing; but to-night is pretty warm, and we'll get little air
+in here, with the door closed. Yes, the last wood has been thrown on the
+fire; and to tell the truth there's only a handful more in the house,
+which we'll save to start things with in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you ask that for, Lub?"</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray made this inquiry. He realized that the other must have something
+on his mind, or he would not have spoken as he did. And X-Ray was
+curious to know what its character might turn out to be.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nothing much; only it strikes me that's<a class="pagenum" name="page_61" id="page_61" title="61"></a> a whopping big chimney,
+that's all," replied the other, a little confused.</p>
+
+<p>"I see what you mean," said Phil; "you're thinking that even if we do
+close the door as we intend, if a thief wanted to get in here he could
+creep down such a wide-throated chimney? Well, I shouldn't be at all
+surprised if he could, providing he took the notion."</p>
+
+<p>"I hate to think of being sound asleep, and not know a single thing
+about it," pursued Lub, "You know how I caught that darky stealing our
+chickens last winter? I set a trap for him, and gave him such a scare
+that he just crouched in a corner of the coop with all the hens cackling
+like mad, till father went out and got him by the scruff of the neck."</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe you'd like to set one of your fine traps here then, Lub,"
+suggested Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I could do it, if the rest of you didn't object," Lub pursued.</p>
+
+<p>"Please yourself," said Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm off to bed right now," added X-Ray Tyson, "so you c'n have the
+whole blooming field to yourself. Be sure you don't get nabbed in your
+own contraption, Lub. Now, you may smile at my saying that, but it
+wouldn't be the first time a bitter got bitten."<a class="pagenum" name="page_62" id="page_62" title="62"></a></p>
+
+<p>Both Phil and Ethan began to stretch, and exhibited other positive signs
+of being ready to turn in. It would appear that none of the rest of them
+gave much thought to the possibility of their having unwelcome visitors
+during the night. Lub envied them their calm indifference; but he felt
+that he would not be doing his whole duty unless he carried out that
+idea of the trap.</p>
+
+<p>He saw Phil saunter over to the door, which, with something of an effort
+he managed to get to close tight enough so that the bar could be dropped
+into place. That avenue seemed quite safe; and as the windows had each
+one a couple of stout bars fastened across them, it looked as though
+there could be no ingress unless the intruder were a mere child, or else
+made use of that wide-throated slab-and-hard-mud chimney.</p>
+
+<p>The other boys were more or less amused to see what the ingenious Lub
+was doing, in order to further his plot. First of all he arranged the
+stools and other bulky objects that he could gather about the room in
+such fashion that they formed a species of rude barricade on either side
+of the hearth, where the red embers still held forth.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like a regular wild animal trap, all<a class="pagenum" name="page_63" id="page_63" title="63"></a> right!" Ethan sang out, as
+though more or less surprised that Lub should know as much as he did
+about such things. "That forces the intruder to step out in the middle;
+and I guess now that's where you're going to fix things to give him a
+warm reception, eh, Lub?"</p>
+
+<p>"You wait and see," was all the other would say.</p>
+
+<p>They quickly understood what he had in mind. Everything they had along
+in the shape of cooking utensils, that would be apt to make a jangling
+noise if thrown down, was utilized. The big frying pan crowned the
+pyramid, and Lub was very particular just how he placed this, so that
+the least jar was apt to dislodge the aluminum skillet, which would be
+certain to arouse even the soundest sleeper when it rattled on the
+floor.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't kick over our grub that we've got piled up close by you there,
+Lub," warned X-Ray, after chuckling to see how the other was making such
+elaborate arrangements; for he did not have the remotest idea they would
+amount to anything in the end.</p>
+
+<p>"That ought to finish your trap, Lub, I should think," said Phil, who
+was almost ready to climb into his bunk, having removed most of his
+clothing,<a class="pagenum" name="page_64" id="page_64" title="64"></a> and arranged his sleeping quarters in a jiffy; he too had a
+small pillow-slip filled with some of the hay, upon which he expected to
+rest his head comfortably.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes, I don't seem to think of anything else we've got that would
+help to make a big noise," the other replied, soberly; "what with four
+cups, as many platters, the coffeepot, and the frying pan ought to make
+plenty of racket. But say, you should have seen the heap of tin-pans I
+piled up the time I caught that chicken thief."</p>
+
+<p>"If you had much more than this lot," Ethan announced, "I don't wonder
+the poor critter was scared nearly stiff, and could only crouch there
+till your dad came and arrested him."</p>
+
+<p>"And on my part," said X-Ray Tyson, with another wide yawn, "I only hope
+there doesn't anything happen to start that pyramid tumbling, that's
+all. If I was dreaming of something lovely it'd sure be a shame to get
+waked up by such a row, and to find that it was all brought about by a
+pannikin slipping out of place."</p>
+
+<p>"No danger of that happening," Lub told him; "I've tested it all, and
+you can depend on things holding."<a class="pagenum" name="page_65" id="page_65" title="65"></a></p>
+
+<p>By slow degrees all of them managed to get settled down. Even slow
+moving Lub was finally snug in his bunk, though he had to shuffle around
+for some time while settling himself into the most comfortable position.
+Ethan threatened all sorts of dire things unless he stopped moving
+about, because it happened that the sleeping place chosen by the fat
+camper was just above his.</p>
+
+<p>"I c'n hear it creakin' like anything," announced Ethan; "and if you
+keep up that squirming business much longer, Lub, I tell you she'll come
+down on me. Think I'm hankering about being smashed flatter'n a pancake,
+do you? I don't see why you had to go and pick out one of the upper
+berths, just because you imagined it was a mite bigger'n any other.
+'Tain't fair, I tell you. Go easy now, and quit that moving about. If
+you've got the itch say so, and we'll rub you down with something. Stop
+it, right now!"</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps being scolded in this fashion had some effect upon Lub. At any
+rate he concluded that what couldn't be cured would have to be endured.
+So he did his level best to forget all about possible night visitors of
+all types, and tried to lose himself in sleep.<a class="pagenum" name="page_66" id="page_66" title="66"></a></p>
+
+<p>Phil had put out the lantern the last thing. He kept it close by his
+hand, with matches where he could produce a light in a hurry, in case
+one was required.</p>
+
+<p>The fire had burned low. Now and then a little flame would spring up and
+make a faint buzzing sound. Once or twice when this occurred Phil saw
+Lub raise his head and look earnestly toward the chimney; but he must
+have finally decided that it was an innocent noise, for with its second
+repetition he failed to move.</p>
+
+<p>"He's off," Phil told himself, with a slight sigh of satisfaction, for
+from the way Lub was acting he had begun to fear they were in for a bad
+night of it.</p>
+
+<p>Lying there Phil rested his head on his arm and looked out into the
+cabin. When the dying flame occasionally leaped up and burned fitfully
+for a dozen seconds or so he liked to watch it, and also glance around
+him as well as he was able.</p>
+
+<p>Phil fairly loved everything that had to do with outdoor life. The dank
+odor of the woods filled him with a sense of delight that he could never
+find words to describe. He believed it must have come down to him from
+some long<a class="pagenum" name="page_67" id="page_67" title="67"></a> line of ancestors, this love for Nature, and a desire to
+commune with her.</p>
+
+<p>Fortune had been kind to him in giving him the means to enjoy such
+outings; and it added much to his satisfaction to have these fine
+fellows along with him. They were very dear to Phil. Not one of them
+would he have willingly missed if such a disaster could be avoided.</p>
+
+<p>Then as he lay there waiting until the drowsiness overtook him again, he
+allowed his fugitive thoughts to once more wrestle with the mystery
+connected with the late occupants of that birch bark cabin. Who could
+they be, and whither had they flown at the approach of himself and three
+chums?</p>
+
+<p>It was hardly any accident, for all the signs pointed to a flight that
+bordered on panic. Whoever they were they must have some good and
+sufficient reason for fearing the advent of strangers. That could only
+mean they dreaded the strong arm of the law; that there was <i>some</i>
+reason why they wished to keep from contact with all whom they did not
+know.</p>
+
+<p>Well, Phil concluded, there was no use of bothering about them. They had
+taken a hurried departure, and that was the end of it. He had reason to
+believe that a child had been there,<a class="pagenum" name="page_68" id="page_68" title="68"></a> and possibly a woman as well.
+While they had not found such tell-tale evidence as a hair-pin, still
+the little silver thimble which he himself had discovered on a shelf
+just before retiring, and which he had not mentioned to the others,
+because he hated to get Lub wide-awake again, seemed to be pretty strong
+evidence that way.</p>
+
+<p>When he found himself yawning again Phil decided it was time he closed
+his eyes, and allowed his senses to steal away. The fire had ceased
+flaring up, and was dying out rapidly, though the ashes would likely
+retain some of their heat until well on toward dawn.</p>
+
+<p>The last Phil remembered was listening to the weird call of that
+persistent whip-poor-will, perched in some neighboring tree, and sending
+forth its shrill discordant cries.</p>
+
+<p>Twice after that he awoke, and found all well. He could hear the steady
+breathing of his comrades near by; and Lub, lying flat on his back
+perhaps, was making a grating noise not unlike a snore.</p>
+
+<p>The second time Phil struck a match, one of the silent kind, and took a
+look at his watch, curious to know how the night was wearing away. He
+found it was two o'clock, and that the guess he had made was not far
+amiss.<a class="pagenum" name="page_69" id="page_69" title="69"></a></p>
+
+<p>It took him some little time to get asleep again after that, but in the
+end he managed to accomplish it. Daylight would be coming by four
+o'clock and as the novelty of the outing was still upon them, it was to
+be expected that the boys would want to be up with the birds&mdash;that is,
+all but Lub, who loved sleeping better than plunging into the lake for
+an early morning swim.</p>
+
+<p>It was fated, however, that they were not to be allowed to slumber
+calmly on until the approach of the sun hurried the round moon out of
+sight below the western horizon.</p>
+
+<p>A most unearthly racket sounding awoke every one. If an earthquake had
+occurred it could hardly have created a greater noise. And the big
+frying pan proved that the supreme confidence which Lub had placed in
+its ability to jangle had not been in the least overdone; for it
+certainly played a fandango as it pitched over on the hard floor of the
+cabin, and danced some sort of jig, with other things adding their
+little mite to swell the chorus.</p>
+
+<p>Four fellows came tumbling out of their bunks as one.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, oh! Phil, strike a light!" cried one.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's my gun?" growled X-Ray Tyson,<a class="pagenum" name="page_70" id="page_70" title="70"></a> thinking that in this way he
+must give fresh alarm to the bold intruder, whoever he might prove to
+be.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, the thief has come down the chimney, just as I feared!" called
+Lub, who in the darkness hardly knew which way to look.</p>
+
+<p>As he managed to get his bearings to some degree he was sure he could
+detect a man on his hands and knees crawling over the floor. At the same
+time he heard a whining sound, as well as what seemed to be scratching;
+and it struck terror to the heart of poor Lub. He fancied that others
+were without, waiting for the first thief to open the door, in order
+that they too might rush in, and help make prisoners of the four
+Mountain Boys.</p>
+
+<p>Just then Lub to his great relief saw a tiny flame spring up close by.
+This he knew must be a match in the hand of Phil Bradley, who was
+meaning to light his lantern.</p>
+
+<p>To Lub it seemed an age before the flame was communicated to the wick,
+and yet it could only have been a comparatively few seconds, no longer
+than Phil would have taken under ordinary conditions. His hand did not
+tremble appreciably; and while in an undoubted hurry he<a class="pagenum" name="page_71" id="page_71" title="71"></a> went about his
+self appointed task with a deliberation that promised a successful
+result.</p>
+
+<p>Then came the snap as the globe was pressed into place. The room was no
+longer in darkness. It was possible to see; and with his heart feeling
+as though it were trying to climb up in his throat Lub fixed his eyes on
+the spot where he had discovered that moving, creeping object.</p>
+
+<p>What he saw thrilled him through and through, so that for the life of
+him Lub could not move, or even utter a sound above a whisper. Nor were
+the other boys much better off, to tell the truth, for they all stood
+there as though rooted firmly to the spot.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_72" id="page_72" title="72"></a>
+<a name="GETTING_RID_OF_AN_INTRUDER_1522" id="GETTING_RID_OF_AN_INTRUDER_1522"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>GETTING RID OF AN INTRUDER</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Whoo! it's a bear!" yelped Lub, who looked as though his eyes were
+trying to pop out of his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me, am I seeing things? Is this a wild dream, or am I gazing on a
+real, live, woolly bear?" cried X-Ray Tyson.</p>
+
+<p>Just then, as though suspecting that the clustered boys had evil designs
+on him, the small black bear actually growled, and showed its white
+teeth.</p>
+
+<p>"Here, keep back, you!" exclaimed Ethan; "we haven't lost any bear that
+we know about. Where'd you come from anyhow, and what d'ye want here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ethan&mdash;don't you see, he came down the chimney!" gasped Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what he must have done," added Phil, who was gripping the only
+firearm they owned, and wondering what effect a peppering of its tiny
+missiles would have on the tough hide of a black bear.<a class="pagenum" name="page_73" id="page_73" title="73"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I bet you he was nosing around up there, and smelled our grub,"
+suggested X-Ray, a sudden gleam of light dawning upon him.</p>
+
+<p>"And leaning too far over while he sniffed, he just <i>fell in</i>; that's
+what you mean, don't you?" demanded Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks that way," assented the other; "but what under the sun are we
+going to do about it, I'd like to know? He don't mean to crawl up again
+like he came down. See how he acts; I bet you he got scorched, because
+there's still some red coals in the fireplace, you notice."</p>
+
+<p>The four boys were huddled in a bunch. It seemed like a case of "in
+union there is strength" with them just then. And the bear stood where
+he had been at the time of first discovery. He had his snout thrust out,
+and was "sniffing" at a great rate. Perhaps it was the human odor that
+interested him, though Lub got an idea in his head it may have been the
+food that was so close by.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, do you think he'll attack us?" Lub asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I hardly think so," replied the other, steadily, after closely
+examining the appearance of the intruder; "that is, if we keep from
+making him more furious than he is now."<a class="pagenum" name="page_74" id="page_74" title="74"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Guess he's some surprised to find himself shut in with four husky
+boys?" suggested Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"And say, he looks kind of small to me," observed X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>"I was just going to tell you that," Phil went on to say; "I believe
+it's only a two-thirds grown cub after all."</p>
+
+<p>"But even at that he's a dangerous customer, with those sharp claws, and
+his ugly white teeth," protested Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"That's right," added Ethan. "If we tackled him, chances are we'd be
+sorry for it, unless we had something to knock him on the head with.
+That makes me think of my bully little camp hatchet. Watch me sneak it
+right now!"</p>
+
+<p>He started to move softly toward the spot where he had discovered the
+article in question. The bear began to growl more fiercely than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Careful, Ethan," cautioned Phil; "take it slow, and duck back just as
+soon as you've hitched on to the hatchet. Stop and wait till he cools
+down. Now, only one more step; then you can lean over and reach it."</p>
+
+<p>All of them fairly held their breath, for it was a toss-up as to whether
+the suspicious bear would conclude to attack Ethan or not. The growls
+and sniffing continued, but the boy managed to<a class="pagenum" name="page_75" id="page_75" title="75"></a> get his fingers fastened
+upon the handle of his tool.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, back up!" Phil told him.</p>
+
+<p>Step by step Ethan pushed away from the dangerous locality. The bear did
+not attempt to follow, but resumed his former way of pushing out his
+snout, and sniffing. Something evidently smelled mighty good to him, Lub
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>"This is all very well," ventured X-Ray Tyson, who had also managed to
+arm himself with a billet of wood, "but somebody tell me what the end's
+going to be. Do we have to camp outside in the cold, cold world; or will
+we invite Mr. Bear to skip? That's what I want to know. Phil, how about
+it?"</p>
+
+<p>By now Phil had realized that unless they did something to provoke the
+bear to extremes they did not need to fear an encounter with his sharp
+claws. A bright idea had struck him, which he hastened to bring to the
+notice of his chums.</p>
+
+<p>"If ever we go to tell this story, lots of fellows will give us the
+merry laugh, you understand, boys," he remarked; "and if you're all
+willing, I'd like to settle it so we'd have the best of proof that a
+bear <i>did</i> come down our chimney in the night time."<a class="pagenum" name="page_76" id="page_76" title="76"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Phil, do you mean that you want to snap off a flashlight picture of
+the beast backed up against our fireplace?" demanded X-Ray Tyson, as
+quick as anything.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I meant," he was immediately told. "See, here's the whole
+apparatus ready for business. All I'd want you to do would be to turn
+down the lantern when I gave the word."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll look after that part of it," agreed X-Ray, instantly.</p>
+
+<p>"And I'll hold my hatchet, ready to whack him square between the eyes if
+he tries any football rush on us," Ethan remarked, grimly.</p>
+
+<p>"What can I do to help?" demanded Lub, weakly, yet evidently not
+relishing the idea of being utterly ignored in all these valorous
+preparations.</p>
+
+<p>"If you want to have a place in the lime light, Lub," ventured X-Ray,
+sarcastically, "s'pose then you just step up and engage the bear in a
+catch-as-catch-can wrestling match. It'll be a splendid chance to prove
+to every fellow at home how you had more nerve than any of the rest of
+us!"</p>
+
+<p>Of course Lub knew this was all spoken in satire.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll have to excuse me this time, X-Ray;<a class="pagenum" name="page_77" id="page_77" title="77"></a> I wouldn't want to run a
+chance of spoiling Phil's picture for anything. Guess I'll crawl up in
+my bunk again, so as not to take up so much space. I'm afraid that if
+Ethan gets to swinging that wood chopper around recklessly he might
+gouge me."</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Phil had arranged his little apparatus as he wanted, aiming
+directly at the bear. He knew that it was focussed just right for a
+short distance, because all that had been fixed previously, it being his
+intention to have small animals snap off their own pictures at about the
+same focussing point, by pulling at a baited trigger that was attached
+to the flashlight cartridge by a cord.</p>
+
+<p>"All ready, X-Ray?" he asked, presently.</p>
+
+<p>"Yep&mdash;let her go, Phil!"</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke the holder of the lantern turned down the flame. Immediately
+the interior of the cabin became almost pitch dark. The bear could be
+heard sniffing as before, and evidently regaining some of his courage,
+which must have received a rude jolt following that plunge down the
+chimney.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly there was a blinding flash. It was all over in a second, but
+the boys could hear the bear scrambling on the hearth. Perhaps the<a class="pagenum" name="page_78" id="page_78" title="78"></a>
+coals burned his feet again, and forced him to abandon any idea of
+trying to escape by the same means he had employed in reaching the
+interior of the shack.</p>
+
+<p>"Light up again!" ordered Phil; "it's all over!"</p>
+
+<p>So X-Ray again turned up the wick of the lantern. The bear was standing
+there, growling, and looking more belligerent than before. Evidently he
+did not altogether like this sort of treatment. That dazzling flash had
+blinded him. It may have made him think of the lightning that went with
+a storm; and there was now no friendly hollow tree into which he could
+creep; only those strange, two-legged creatures whom instinct told him
+were enemies of his race.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks almost ready to tackle us, don't he, Phil?" chirped Lub, from the
+security of the second-story bunk.</p>
+
+<p>Ethan was swinging that shining hatchet wickedly back and forth.</p>
+
+<p>"He'd better not, if he knows what's good for him," he was saying, with
+determination written upon his set jaws and flashing eyes; "I'd just
+like to get one good belt at him square between those wicked little eyes
+of his. We'd have bear steak for breakfast, let me tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"But remember that the law is on bears yet,<a class="pagenum" name="page_79" id="page_79" title="79"></a> and if we killed him we
+might run up against a game warden and be arrested!" Lub warned him; for
+Lub was always well posted on all matter that pertained to the law, as
+became the son and heir of a well-known judge.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't want to fight except there's no other way," said Phil; who
+wished to restrain both Ethan and X-Ray; for he knew they were apt to be
+impulsive, and it would not take much to precipitate a battle royal with
+the four-legged visitor.</p>
+
+<p>"But what's the answer, then?" demanded the latter chum, indignantly;
+"do we sit down and watch him gobble all our fine grub without lifting a
+hand to stop him? Say, I'd be ashamed to tell the story afterwards; and
+him only a half-grown bear in the bargain."</p>
+
+<p>"He don't seem to like that smoke you made, Phil?" remarked Lub, who had
+an unusually fine place for observation, being elevated above the heads
+of his crouching chums. "Couldn't you keep that going, and just force
+him to climb up the chimney again?"</p>
+
+<p>"My flashlight cartridges are too valuable to be wasted like that, Lub,"
+he was informed by the other boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Then isn't there some way he could be made<a class="pagenum" name="page_80" id="page_80" title="80"></a> to retreat?" asked X-Ray.
+"What if the whole four of us started to advance, shooing with our
+hands, and whooping things up, wouldn't he just understand that he <i>had</i>
+to climb, whether he got his toes scorched again or not?"</p>
+
+<p>Phil shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got another idea, and it's so simple I only wonder nobody thought
+of it before," he told them. "The rest of you stay here where you are."</p>
+
+<p>"I object, if you're meaning to tackle the varmint alone and
+single-handed, Phil!" X-Ray burst out with.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not quite so simple as all that," Phil flashed back at him; "you
+can see I'm heading the other way."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I know what he means," burst out Lub just then; "it's the door!
+Phil's going to take down that bar we pushed in place, and open up.
+Hurrah! that sounds good to me! Phil knows how to do the trick. You
+trust him every time, and you'll never get left."</p>
+
+<p>Of course it was all simple enough now, and if Lub could see through it
+the other pair could also. To be sure, Phil meant to swing wide the
+door, and thus invite the departure of their unwelcome guest.<a class="pagenum" name="page_81" id="page_81" title="81"></a></p>
+
+<p>They saw him reach the front of the cabin. The bear was apparently
+suspicious of any sort of movement, and continued to growl
+threateningly. So long as he did not actually start to make an attack
+Ethan believed he could afford to remain idle, and hold his ground.</p>
+
+<p>Phil appeared to be having some little trouble about getting the bar
+loose. The door did not shut closely, and it had taken the combined
+strength of two of them to fasten it securely.</p>
+
+<p>"Give it a hunch, and then slip the bar up, quick, Phil!" called out
+Lub; for as he had helped close it he knew best how the thing could be
+done.</p>
+
+<p>Phil made a third attempt, and this time succeeded, for they saw him
+open the door, and then back away, still gripping the stout bar in his
+hands, as though he considered it worth having in an emergency.</p>
+
+<p>"There you are, Mister; now please get a move on you!" called Lub.</p>
+
+<p>The animal must have already sniffed the outer air, to judge from his
+actions. He may have also suspected some sort of cunning trap, for he
+did not immediately start on a rush toward the gap in the wall.</p>
+
+<p>"He guesses you're laying for him, Phil,"<a class="pagenum" name="page_82" id="page_82" title="82"></a> Ethan remarked; "p'raps you'd
+better back up and join our squad here. There's another upper berth, if
+so be you think you'd like to join our brave chum Lub."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! think you're smart, don't you?" muttered the one referred to; but
+evidently the slur cut to the quick, for what did Lub do but bundle out
+of his bunk and actually take his place in line with the others, as
+though to show them that at least it was not <i>fear</i> that had caused him
+to climb up out of the way.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess he's going to make the run for it!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.
+"Everybody start to waving their arms when he comes, and keep him going.
+Whoop! hurry up your stumps, old bear; this is a white man's cabin, and
+you're not wanted!"</p>
+
+<p>All at once the beast concluded it would be wise for him to accept of
+the one lone chance for escape. That open door, and the sweet smell of
+the outside air appealed irresistibly to his nature.</p>
+
+<p>"There he comes, boys!" snapped Ethan; and with that they all began to
+make extravagant gestures, at the same time using threatening language
+that must have appalled the poor bear, could he have understood its
+meaning.</p>
+
+<p>Snapping and growling he scuttled past the<a class="pagenum" name="page_83" id="page_83" title="83"></a> line of excited boys, headed
+for the open door. He presented such a ferocious aspect that none of
+them cared to do the slightest thing to bar his forward progress;
+indeed, just the contrary seemed to be the case. Something must have
+influenced Lub, for that worthy actually stepped forward out of line;
+and as the beast shuffled hastily past he let drive with his right foot,
+just for all the world as though he were trying for a drop kick on the
+gridiron, with three thousand breathless spectators watching to see if
+he would make the goal.</p>
+
+<p>Then the bear, thus urged on by every possible means, went hastily
+through the open door, and was seen no more. The cabin was once again in
+their undisputed possession.</p>
+
+<p>"Three cheers!" shouted X-Ray Tyson, who after the manner of boys in
+general, was so completely filled with enthusiasm that he could only
+think of one way in which to get rid of the surplus "steam," which was
+by shouting.</p>
+
+<p>The others joined in the noise, and if any one happened to be within a
+mile of that birch bark cabin just then, before the break of day, he
+must have been greatly mystified to understand what all the racket could
+be about.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_84" id="page_84" title="84"></a>
+<a name="ON_THE_BORDER_OF_THE_LAKE_1819" id="ON_THE_BORDER_OF_THE_LAKE_1819"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>ON THE BORDER OF THE LAKE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Did you all see me kick him out?" proudly demanded Lub, who evidently
+believed that by this action he had established his reputation for
+bravery beyond all dispute.</p>
+
+<p>"Sure, we did," declared Ethan, "and he must have been some surprised
+bear when he felt your heft slam up against him. You'd better look out
+if ever you meet up with that chap again, Lub; they say bears have got
+wonderful memories, and he'll never forgive such an insult."</p>
+
+<p>The door was fastened again, and the boys climbed into their blankets,
+for the night air coming in had given them something of a chill.</p>
+
+<p>"No need of trying to go to sleep again," announced Phil; "because
+daylight'll be along in seven winks. Fact is, I thought it looked that
+way in the east when I shut the door, though the moon shining like it
+does fools you some. But it's after four, and dawn comes early these
+summer days."<a class="pagenum" name="page_85" id="page_85" title="85"></a></p>
+
+<p>Leaving the lantern burning, they lay there and talked matters over. All
+of them had been so worked up, what with that sudden awakening, and the
+row that followed, that they would have found it difficult to have
+resumed their interrupted sleep even though several more hours must
+elapse before morning.</p>
+
+<p>Lub felt that he had been fully vindicated.</p>
+
+<p>"You fellows thought it smart to laugh at me when I hinted we might have
+a thief come down the chimney, but see what happened!" he went on to
+say, desiring to rub it in a little.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, of course none of us ever thought a yearling bear would drop on
+the roof from a limb of a tree, and smelling our grub down the chimney
+lean so far over that he'd pitch headlong in," ventured Ethan, who had
+apparently figured it all out, and knew just about how the thing
+happened.</p>
+
+<p>"If a bear can do it, any sort of animal, or even a bad man might follow
+suit," suggested X-Ray Tyson, wickedly.</p>
+
+<p>Lub took up the dare instantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I was thinking," he hastened to say; "and you mark me that
+when morning comes I'm going to climb up on the roof and look around.
+Leave it to me to fix something<a class="pagenum" name="page_86" id="page_86" title="86"></a> across the vent of that old chimney, so
+even a 'coon couldn't squeeze through."</p>
+
+<p>"Like as not you'll smother us with the smoke!" grumbled Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Not much I will," he was promptly assured; "I know enough for that. If
+I had a piece of heavy wire-mesh like's on the windows of our stable at
+home, it'd be the ticket; but as it is I'll have to use something else.
+I mean to sleep nights without thinking that all sorts of ferocious wild
+beasts are aiming to drop in on us without invitations."</p>
+
+<p>When they saw that the dawn had really come the boys began to move
+around. Phil led the way to the border of the lake near by and they took
+an early morning duck. The water was pretty chilly, but then growing
+lads can stand almost anything. No doubt some of them may even on a dare
+have braved a skim of new ice on a pond in the early spring.</p>
+
+<p>After a bit, when they had finished their dressing, preparations for
+breakfast came next in order. Things began to look decidedly comfortable
+about that time. They forgot all unpleasant things, and the rattle of
+tongues would have made any one believe in the story of the Tower of
+Babel.<a class="pagenum" name="page_87" id="page_87" title="87"></a></p>
+
+<p>Every one had his plans laid out, and numerous pet schemes to work. Phil
+of course meant to roam around the neighborhood, and see what
+discoveries he could make in connection with the haunts of small
+animals, or places where they "used," to speak after the manner of a
+hunter or trapper.</p>
+
+<p>If he could find such a favorite spot it was his plan to set his trap on
+the succeeding night, with the intention, not of harming the creature,
+but getting him to touch off the flashlight, and thus take his own
+picture.</p>
+
+<p>Lub's enthusiasm seemed to have petered out, in that he manifested no
+immediate intention of climbing to the roof of the cabin. The truth of
+the matter was, Lub always showed a disposition to put things off;
+procrastination was one of his greatest faults, even as too much haste
+had always been X-Ray Tyson's besetting sin. There was the whole day
+before him; so what need of undue speed. Taking things easy had become
+second nature with Lub. Besides, as a final argument, he had gorged
+himself with the fine breakfast, which of course he had helped to cook;
+and it would be too bad to risk indigestion while on this outing.</p>
+
+<p>So Lub just lay around, and bothered some<a class="pagenum" name="page_88" id="page_88" title="88"></a> of the others by asking
+innumerable questions. Still, he was always willing to assist if called
+upon, and for that he was forgiven his lazy habits.</p>
+
+<p>It was toward the middle of the morning when Phil came back again, after
+roaming around. His manner gave them to understand that he had met with
+some success.</p>
+
+<p>"Find any place to make your lay-out to-night, Phil?" asked Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, one splendid spot where a 'coon seems to travel down to the
+water's edge, to fish, or something or other," Phil replied. "You can
+see his tracks going and coming as plain as anything. I've marked a
+place where I can tie my camera, and fix the bait so he'll have to be in
+range when the flash comes. This afternoon I'm meaning to go further
+afoot, and see if I can run across bigger game."</p>
+
+<p>"You certainly look as if you enjoyed this sort of thing," ventured Lub,
+a little enviously; for he often wished that he had it in him to love
+tramping, and all that pertained to woodland sports.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, it seems to grow on you," admitted Phil, with considerable
+animation. "In the start I didn't care a great deal about it, and<a class="pagenum" name="page_89" id="page_89" title="89"></a>
+sometimes called myself silly to want to spend so much time trying to
+circumvent little animals, and get a flashlight picture of them. It's
+hard work, too, because they're not only shy but cunning as well. What
+little I've managed to do along that line has made me keen on the
+subject. And right now I believe I'd rather shoot a moose with a camera
+than with my Marlin rifle."</p>
+
+<p>Ethan laughed a little, and shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"I confess that I don't understand it, Phil," he went on to say. "The
+real thrill must be lacking. You can only get it when you're bent on
+bagging your game. That's the thrill that comes down to us from our
+savage ancestors who had to live by hunting."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm able to judge of that, Ethan, because I've tried both ways; and I
+give you my word I feel just as much pleasure when I'm trying to outwit
+a cunning fox as you do when you trap one. I get his picture, and you
+have his pelt, that's all the difference."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," replied Ethan with a grin, "when that same pelt brings you in
+more than a cool three hundred, it makes considerable difference in the
+end."</p>
+
+<p>Lub began to make faces, and swallow very<a class="pagenum" name="page_90" id="page_90" title="90"></a> fast at hearing that, as
+though he had come near choking; but in fact it was to keep from
+chuckling, and thus arousing suspicion in the mind of the hoodwinked
+Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"I noticed you down on your hands and knees, Ethan, over where we
+thought we saw that moving figure of a man last night," Phil went on to
+say, changing the subject hastily, partly from the same reason that
+influenced Lub to cough and gasp; "did you find out anything?"</p>
+
+<p>At that the other assumed a mysterious air.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, first of all, we weren't mistaken, you want to know, boys," he
+remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Then it was a sure-enough man?" asked Lub, beginning to be deeply
+interested.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what it was," Ethan assured him. "I found his trail as easy as
+turning over my hand. Even followed it some ways off, but lost the same
+among the rocks. When we saw him turn away he didn't come back again,
+but kept straight on."</p>
+
+<p>"He must have been watching us through one of the windows?" suggested
+Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"If he was, he made up his mind we were too many for him to tackle, and
+that he had better clear out for good," Ethan continued, as though<a class="pagenum" name="page_91" id="page_91" title="91"></a> he
+had been figuring it all out beforehand, and had his mind made up.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think he could have been the same party who was in our cabin
+before we came along, Phil?" asked Lub.</p>
+
+<p>"It looks that way," the other told him. "If this man had just been a
+stranger, up here to try the fishing, or something like that, he would
+have knocked on the door, and tried to make our acquaintance. As it was,
+he watched us, and then cleared out."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's hope he won't think to come back again," Lub pursued.</p>
+
+<p>"Better hurry and get that strainer fixed on the top of our chimney,
+Lub," advised Ethan, a little maliciously; "first a bear, and the next
+thing to drop down on us might be a real man."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! leave that to me," the other assured him; "I haven't quite figured
+it out in my mind just how I'll fix it, but after lunch I'll get busy.
+And believe me, when the Fenwick screen is applied, not even a 'possum
+or a squirrel can invade our cabin home. It'll be impervious to man or
+beast."</p>
+
+<p>"Better get out a patent right away on the thing then, Lub," he was
+advised by the scoffing<a class="pagenum" name="page_92" id="page_92" title="92"></a> Ethan, "or some wise duck will be stealing the
+idea from you."</p>
+
+<p>"Where's X-Ray?" asked Phil, suddenly noticing that the fourth member of
+the camping expedition was missing.</p>
+
+<p>Ethan looked at Lub, inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"You see I was so busy reading the signs of that trail I never once
+thought a thing about any one else. Lub, you must have seen where he
+went, didn't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Last I saw of him he was down on the lake shore," replied the other.
+"He had his fishing rod along, and I understood him to say he meant to
+look for some grasshoppers or crickets or something for bait, because he
+felt trout hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"X-Ray has a weakness for fish, you know," Ethan declared. "He said he'd
+be the boss fisherman of the bunch while we were up here, and even dared
+me to take him up, the one to win who could show the greatest number,
+biggest variety, and the heaviest fish of all that were taken. I think
+I'll go him, if I can find time to bother."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'll encourage you both to the limit," chuckled Lub; "because that
+means we're bound to have all the fine trout we can eat while we're<a class="pagenum" name="page_93" id="page_93" title="93"></a>
+here. May the best man win. I know how to cook 'em to beat the band, by
+rolling each trout in cracker crumbs, and then frying in hot grease from
+fat salt pork. Makes my mouth fairly water just to mention it."</p>
+
+<p>"We won't forget that, Lub," Ethan told him; "and you can consider that
+you're hereby appointed the official fish frying man of the lot. For if
+there's anything I hate to cook it's fish. Eating's another story, and I
+always try to do my duty there."</p>
+
+<p>"I thought I heard some one call out then," said Lub, looking around
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Must have been a crow cawing, or a gray squirrel barking," suggested
+Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>They listened for a dozen seconds, but heard nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon I was mistaken about it," admitted Lub, finally; "only I
+wondered if X-Ray could have tumbled into any sort of trouble. He's spry
+enough as a rule, and not built like me."</p>
+
+<p>"No danger of him not letting off a whoop if he ran up against anything
+like a rough deal," Ethan ventured.</p>
+
+<p>"Still, no harm done if we stepped down to the edge of the water, and
+took a little look around," suggested Phil. "We've none of us<a class="pagenum" name="page_94" id="page_94" title="94"></a> paid any
+attention to the lake so far, only to take that early morning dip in the
+same. It seems to be about a quarter of a mile across to the further
+shore, and with lots of bays and nooks, as well as points of land
+jutting out like fingers. I'd think it was a splendid piece of water for
+trout; and I'm glad I own some land fronting on Lake Surprise."</p>
+
+<p>As they turned in the direction of the edge of the water Lub's eyes were
+frequently cast upward toward the rude chimney that surmounted the back
+of the cabin wall. Evidently he was endeavoring to figure out just how
+he might accomplish the task he had taken upon his shoulders, and
+arrange things, so that while the smoke had free access to the open air,
+all manner of intruders would be kept out.</p>
+
+<p>When Lub did undertake anything, no matter how simple, he was apt to
+throw his whole heart and soul into the accomplishment of the same. To
+him it meant that his reputation was at stake; unless he made good his
+chums would have the laugh on him for a long time to come.</p>
+
+<p>Ethan happened to be in the lead as they advanced. That may have
+accounted for the fact that it was him who brought them to a sudden<a class="pagenum" name="page_95" id="page_95" title="95"></a>
+standstill by throwing up a warning hand, and exclaiming sharply:</p>
+
+<p>"What's that I hear? Sounds mighty like the drip of a paddle to me!"</p>
+
+<p>"And there's a line moving out from the shore!" added Phil, pointing;
+"there's <i>something</i> back of that point, and moving in the water.
+Perhaps it may only be an old mother duck with her little brood. No,
+there it goes again. Ethan, you're right about it; that's the dip of a
+paddle!"</p>
+
+<p>"Whoever's got a canoe up here, they're heading this way, because you
+can see from the ripples," Ethan continued, eagerly; for versed in many
+of the secrets of woodcraft the boy was quick to notice which way the
+successive ripples were moving.</p>
+
+<p>"Watch now, because he's going to push out from behind that tongue of
+wooded land!" said Phil, sharply.</p>
+
+<p>All of them stood there as if rooted to the spot. Their eyes were glued
+on the point mentioned by Phil, and back of which must be the canoe that
+was sending all those ripples forth, away from the land.</p>
+
+<p>"There it comes!" breathed Lub, who was<a class="pagenum" name="page_96" id="page_96" title="96"></a> holding his breath, and
+consequently getting, frightfully red in the face.</p>
+
+<p>They could see the raised prow of what looked to be a genuine birch bark
+canoe poke in sight. In these modern days when even the Indians up in
+Maine manufacture up-to-date canvas canoes by the thousand, it is a rare
+event to run across one made of birch bark. The trees that are large
+enough for the purpose have about all been destroyed, so the Indians
+claim, which accounts for the revolution in canoes.</p>
+
+<p>Further and further moved the boat. Now half of its length was seen,
+then two-thirds, and finally the stern had passed the end of the point.
+The three watchers could now see that it was being softly driven by a
+paddler who sat in the stern, and wielded a single blade.</p>
+
+<p>All of them stared, and Lub, strange to say was the first to find
+utterance so as to voice his surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Phil, Ethan, don't you see who it is?" he ejaculated; "who but our
+chum, X-Ray Tyson, sitting there as big as life, and heading straight
+toward us! Where under the sun d'ye reckon he found that canoe; and
+whose can it be?"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_97" id="page_97" title="97"></a>
+<a name="THE_MOUNTAIN_BOYS_IN_CAMP_2129" id="THE_MOUNTAIN_BOYS_IN_CAMP_2129"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>THE MOUNTAIN BOYS IN CAMP</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Whoopee! Hello, X-Ray, where'd you pick it up?"</p>
+
+<p>When Ethan called this out the paddler waved at them, and laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait till I push her nose up on that fine sandy beach, and I'll tell
+you all about it, boys," he answered.</p>
+
+<p>Two minutes later and the prow of the birch bark canoe glided softly up
+on the shore. Laying his paddle down in the boat X-Ray proceeded to pass
+along toward the bow, so that he could step out without getting his feet
+wet. Meanwhile Lub was looking the canoe over, noting that it seemed to
+be in very good condition, and not at all weather worn, as though it had
+been lying in the bushes for several winters and summers.</p>
+
+<p>"I ran across her," the finder started in to explain, "while I was
+pushing along through the scrub, meaning to get to a certain point.<a class="pagenum" name="page_98" id="page_98" title="98"></a> I'd
+picked up some hoppers and crickets, and wanted to give the trout a try,
+to see if they were hungry. Whoever owned the boat had hid her away; and
+not so long ago, either, for there was a wet streak on her keel that no
+rain had made. She was lying bottom-up, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you been fishing in the canoe all this time?" asked Phil, sniffing
+the air, and then stepping forward to look for himself; upon which X-Ray
+bent over and lifted out a string of a dozen pretty fair-sized trout.</p>
+
+<p>"How's that for a starter, eh, Ethan?" he demanded joyously. "Think you
+can beat that for a beginning? Right back of that point there's the boss
+bay; and say, you couldn't drop in a stone without hitting a trout,
+they're that thick. I stuck right in the same place all along; no need
+to move around."</p>
+
+<p>"You got a fine mess, though I believe I could eat that many myself,"
+ventured Lub, eyeing the string hungrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! we can get all we want," he was told; "it's only a question of
+finding the bait. They're just asking to be taken on. It's hit and come
+with them as soon as you drop your line in. The bait hardly sinks a foot
+before it's taken. I<a class="pagenum" name="page_99" id="page_99" title="99"></a> never saw anything like it in all my life. And
+fight, say, they bent my rod double lots of times. I lost more'n I
+saved."</p>
+
+<p>"But about the canoe," Phil went on to say, "the chances are it must
+belong to whoever was in our cabin before we came."</p>
+
+<p>"That stands to reason, seems to me," Ethan agreed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he had the use of your shack, goodness knows how long, Phil,"
+said Lub, with an imitation of his father's solemn manner when
+delivering an opinion from the bench; "and it's only fair you have the
+use of his boat. Tit for tat, you know. One balances the other. Besides,
+we are not supposed to know whose boat it is."</p>
+
+<p>"There's something else I wanted to tell you about," remarked X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>He was thrusting a hand inside his coat as he spoke; and when it came
+out again the others saw that it held something like a buff colored
+envelope, torn open.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I found this same when I was nosing around," he explained. "It was
+caught tight away under this seat in the bow, and must have been blown
+there by the wind."</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like one of those telegraph envelopes," remarked Lub.<a class="pagenum" name="page_100" id="page_100" title="100"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Which is exactly what it is," said X-Ray Tyson, as he offered the
+object in question to Phil. "There's an enclosure inside; read it, and
+see what you can make of the same. It got me balled up a whole lot, I'm
+telling you."</p>
+
+<p>Phil quickly had the enclosure out. It was a printed form, and had a
+message written upon it.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"<i>John Newton</i>:<br />
+Winchester, N. Y. (hold until called for).</p>
+
+<p>"Stay where you are. Search grows warmer daily. Too bad for
+both you can't compromise.</p>
+
+<p style='text-align:right;'><span class="smcap">"Rutgers</span>."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Phil read it all out slowly, and Lub listened very seriously.</p>
+
+<p>"First," Phil went on to say, "the man's name, or the one he goes by
+right now, is John Newton. It may be assumed, and I 'reckon the chances
+are all that way. He seems to be in hiding, just as we thought. This is
+a friend who's warning him not to think of leaving his nest yet awhile.
+The question is, what terrible thing has he done, and who's hunting for
+him?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you asked me," ventured Lub, composedly,<a class="pagenum" name="page_101" id="page_101" title="101"></a> "I'd say it was all as
+plain as print. This man must be a counterfeit money-maker. The Secret
+Service people are looking for him everywhere, because, like as not he's
+big game. And you can see how this Rutgers, who is of course a chap of
+the same kind, is telling him how hot the hunt is getting to be."</p>
+
+<p>"It does look a little that way," admitted Phil; "there's only one thing
+that bothers me."</p>
+
+<p>"Go on and explain what you mean," urged Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"The last part of the message doesn't seem to go with that sort of an
+explanation," said Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"As how? Read it again, and let us see, Phil," Lub requested.</p>
+
+<p>"'Too bad for both you can't compromise.' Now, the Government never
+allows itself to enter into any bargain where a rascal can get off. He
+may turn State's evidence against his pals, and in that way get lighter
+punishment; but there can be no such a thing as compromising a felony
+against the United States Government!"</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, you're right about that, and I know it!" declared Lub,
+ponderously.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll keep this telegram, if you've no objection," Phil continued; "and
+try to hit on some<a class="pagenum" name="page_102" id="page_102" title="102"></a> other sort of explanation later on. If we only had
+the key, this mystery would all be simple enough, I'm thinking."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what matters most to us is that we've got the canoe, and can find
+lots of uses for the same while we're up here at Lake Surprise,"
+commented X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>It was decided a little later on, after the trout had been prepared,
+that as the fish looked so inviting, they might as well start right in
+by having a feast at noon.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, anyway, it'll get us fixed for better things later on," sighed
+Lub, as he contemplated the three that would fall to his portion, and
+noted how small a mess that was going to be.</p>
+
+<p>However, he did prove that he knew how to cook them splendidly. When
+handed around they were well browned, and as sweet as could be. Every
+one complimented Lub on his feat, and begged him to keep up the good
+work, which he readily agreed to do, never once appearing to realize
+that he was proving an "easy mark."</p>
+
+<p>During the meal he was joked more or less about not having made a start
+with his screen on top of the chimney, and this must have spurred<a class="pagenum" name="page_103" id="page_103" title="103"></a> him
+on to showing his chums that he had conceived a clever scheme looking to
+that end.</p>
+
+<p>First of all he managed to roll several logs against the lower part of
+the cabin. These upon being lifted in a pile formed a means for climbing
+up on to the roof. Without some such assistance Lub would have had no
+end of trouble in getting started on his self chosen job.</p>
+
+<p>The others paid little or no attention to what he was doing, since they
+had various plans for passing the afternoon away. In fact, while Phil
+meant to take a wider detour of the neighborhood, to look for signs of
+game he could photograph, X-Ray had badgered Ethan into agreeing to
+accompany him out on the lake, to see which would catch the greater
+number of fish before evening came on.</p>
+
+<p>They were now industriously searching for grubs, crickets, grasshoppers,
+or even angle worms, so as to tempt the fat trout to take hold.</p>
+
+<p>It was while this was going on that a muffled cry came to their ears.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen! wasn't that some one calling for help?" demanded Ethan,
+scrambling to his feet, with a can that had held Boston baked beans in
+his hand, into which he had been introducing<a class="pagenum" name="page_104" id="page_104" title="104"></a> crickets, and such things,
+it having only small holes punched in its sides, besides the larger one
+which he kept stopped with a handful of grass.</p>
+
+<p>"There it goes again," said X-Ray, turning all around, as though so
+bewildered that he could not place the direction from which the call
+came.</p>
+
+<p>"Look at Phil, will you, how he's putting for the cabin!" ejaculated
+Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think it can be a bear, or a panther, or anything like that; and
+is he meaning to shut himself in?" asked the other, his voice showing
+signs of trembling in spite of his well known bravery.</p>
+
+<p>"Shucks! no, don't you see he's aiming to reach the back of the cabin,
+where Lub's heaped up that stuff? He's meaning to climb on the roof! It
+must be Lub's fallen part-way down the old chimney, and stuck there.
+Hurry and let's get along to help pull him out!"</p>
+
+<p>With that they started on a mad run. As the shack was close at hand they
+managed to arrive at almost the same time Phil clambered on the roof.</p>
+
+<p>For such nimble fellows the task of mounting to the roof was not a
+difficult one. When they reached there they found that Phil was leaning
+over, and seemed to be giving directions.<a class="pagenum" name="page_105" id="page_105" title="105"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Is it Lub; and has he fallen down inside?" asked X-Ray, quickly, hardly
+knowing whether to burst out into a laugh, or look sorrowful.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and it happens that he's stuck there in such a way he can't go
+down any further, and isn't able to climb up. You hold on to me, both of
+you, while I lean in and see if I can get hold of his hands."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell us when to yo-heave-o, will you, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Something'll have to come; only I hope we don't pull his arms off!"
+chuckled Ethan, beginning to see the humor of the situation, now that it
+looked as though Lub was not hurt in any way, only "discommoded," as he
+afterwards called it.</p>
+
+<p>So while Phil leaned over, and thrust himself part-way down into the
+gaping aperture, his two comrades, seizing hold of his lower
+extremities, prepared to pull with might and main.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, get busy!" they heard a half-muffled voice say, and at that X-Ray
+and Ethan began to tug.</p>
+
+<p>There was heard considerable groaning and puffing, but they were not to
+be denied. Slowly but surely Phil's body was coming upward, until
+finally the head of Lub appeared above the top of the slab-and-hard-mud
+chimney.<a class="pagenum" name="page_106" id="page_106" title="106"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I know it's a tough joke on me, boys," he said, humbly enough, after he
+had clambered on to the roof, and rubbed some of his scraped joints with
+more or less feeling; "but after all it was an accident."</p>
+
+<p>"How was that, Lub?" asked X-Ray, examining a number of stout stakes
+which apparently had been cut to certain lengths, and were intended to
+be fastened crossways in the chimney, being pounded into position with
+the hatchet.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I had one of those prison bars in position, and unfortunately
+leaned too hard on the same," Lub explained.</p>
+
+<p>"The pesky thing betrayed your confidence, did it?" demanded Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Just about how it happened," the other continued, frankly. "I must have
+tried to save myself, more through intuition than because I had time to
+think about it. Anyway I got doubled up somehow; and that's the reason I
+stuck in the flue. One thing I'm glad of, and that is you fellows were
+close by, and could hear me yelp. If you'd gone off I might have had to
+stay there all afternoon; and let me tell you it would have been no
+joke."<a class="pagenum" name="page_107" id="page_107" title="107"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Ready to give it up as a bad job, are you, Lub?" questioned X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>"What, me quit for a little thing like that?" burst out the other; "I
+should hope I was a better stayer than that, boys. It only makes me
+clinch my teeth, and resolve to conquer or die."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, please don't die in our chimney flue," begged Ethan; "because you
+know we need it to keep our fire going, so we can cook three meals a
+day. I think you must have pounded that first bar down a little too far,
+that's all, Lub. Better luck next time!"</p>
+
+<p>They left him industriously at work. Having found to his sorrow where
+his mistake was, Lub would be more careful in the near future. And when
+he finished his task no 'coon or squirrel would find it possible to have
+access to the cabin by means of the chimney, unless they first gnawed
+through the parallel bars.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly afterwards, having succeeded in procuring a good supply of bait,
+the two ambitious fishermen pushed off in the bark canoe. Ethan held the
+paddle, for he was a master-hand at this sort of work, and could propel
+such a light running boat with the deftness of an Adirondack<a class="pagenum" name="page_108" id="page_108" title="108"></a> guide,
+hardly a ripple being stirred, with the paddle never once taken from the
+water.</p>
+
+<p>Then Phil wandered off, after giving Lub directions for summoning them
+back should any necessity arise, which of course they had no reason to
+believe would be the case.</p>
+
+<p>Engrossed in his work of hunting high and low for signs of his quarry
+Phil passed an hour or more. Then he returned to camp, and found Lub
+resting after his labors, having completed his task. From his manner it
+was easy to see that he felt quite well satisfied with what he had done.</p>
+
+<p>Later on they heard loud calls, and saw the other boys coming in. X-Ray
+was wielding the spruce blade now; and in the bow Ethan held up two long
+strings of glistening and still squirming trout, as trophies to their
+united prowess with hook, rod and line.</p>
+
+<p>"It's beginning to get pretty warm work between us," said X-Ray, as they
+stepped ashore. "I got nineteen this afternoon while Ethan he reached
+twenty-six; so even with my twelve before that I'm only five ahead in
+the count. All trout, so variety isn't in the game yet. He hooked a
+sockdolager, but his line broke. Yet I'm willing to admit he's got one
+there that goes<a class="pagenum" name="page_109" id="page_109" title="109"></a> ahead of any I've taken. Get the scales and we'll
+measure up, Ethan."</p>
+
+<p>Lub rubbed his hands together when he learned how much in earnest the
+rivals were becoming.</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon now, Phil," he said aside to the other, "we're just going to
+feast on these here trout all the time we're stopping at your hotel.
+Encourage 'em to keep the game going. First we'll make out to think
+Ethan is bound to win; and then we can switch off on to X-Ray."</p>
+
+<p>"You're getting to be a regular schemer, Lub," commented Phil, though he
+took occasion later on to follow out the advice given, and thus increase
+the seeds of rivalry between the fishermen.</p>
+
+<p>They had a glorious mess of trout for supper, and even Lub owned up that
+it was utterly impossible for him to stow away another one, so that
+several had to be wasted. None of them had yet shown any signs of
+becoming tired of the deliciously browned trout, and Lub even declared
+that if they would get him up betimes in the morning he would fry
+another batch.</p>
+
+<p>"The night favors my plan, because you see how it's clouded up," Phil
+was saying, as he prepared to go and set his trap.<a class="pagenum" name="page_110" id="page_110" title="110"></a></p>
+
+<p>"That is, you mean you need darkness, because your camera has to be set
+ready to take the picture," Lub remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Phil, "that's the way photographers do when taking an
+interior, but I've got an arrangement attached to my camera that works
+different. When the animal pulls the string that is connected with the
+flash light apparatus he does something more. He exposes the plate for
+just a quarter of a minute."</p>
+
+<p>"A time exposure, you mean," remarked Ethan. "If you've no objections,
+Phil, I think I'd like to go along, and see how you set the thing."</p>
+
+<p>Phil looked pleased.</p>
+
+<p>"Only too glad to have you, Ethan," he told the other.</p>
+
+<p>Ethan had been the one who only lately had scorned the idea that any
+hunter could find so much delight in "shooting" game with a camera as in
+other days he had done with a gun.</p>
+
+<p>Phil began to feel encouraged. He knew only too well, from his own
+personal experience, that once the seed had taken root it was bound to
+sprout and grow rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>Ethan's genuine love of all out-doors, together with a nature that could
+not be called<a class="pagenum" name="page_111" id="page_111" title="111"></a> cruel, would make it fallow ground that the seed had
+fallen upon. Results were sure to follow.</p>
+
+<p>So Phil led the way to the place where he had discovered that one or
+more of a colony of 'coons had actually made a trail leading to the
+lake, going and coming so many times.</p>
+
+<p>He had half jokingly declared that they went down when fish hungry to
+look for an unwary trout. Whether this could really be so or not Phil of
+course was in no position to prove.</p>
+
+<p>"But they do eat fish," Ethan remarked, as they walked along together;
+"I've seen a big buck 'coon snatch one out of the water. Some people say
+they bob the end of their striped tail on the surface as they sit on a
+log, and in that way lure a fish close in. As I never saw such a thing
+you'll have to take the story with a grain of salt."</p>
+
+<p>He was really very much interested in the way Phil set his trap, and
+asked a lot of questions, all of which the other obligingly answered.</p>
+
+<p>And after everything had been arranged the two chums who had such a
+mutual love for the Great Outdoors walked back to the Birch Bark Lodge
+in company.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_112" id="page_112" title="112"></a>
+<a name="THE_COON_PHOTOGRAPHER_2495" id="THE_COON_PHOTOGRAPHER_2495"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>THE 'COON PHOTOGRAPHER</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Lightning! Why, we're going to have a storm!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.</p>
+
+<p>They were all beginning to feel somewhat tired, and Lub must have had as
+many as six or seven little "cat-naps." The fire was burning cheerily
+and the interior of the cabin pretty close, despite the fact that the
+door had been left wide open.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, let her rain," muttered Lub. "We haven't anything to get wet,
+outside of our canoe, and it won't hurt that."</p>
+
+<p>Phil had arisen to his feet. There was a peculiar smile on his face,
+Ethan saw. He looked satisfied about something.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you fellows can spare me the lantern for a little while," he
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's queer!" observed Lub, in bewilderment.</p>
+
+<p>"What's doing, Phil?" demanded X-Ray Tyson.<a class="pagenum" name="page_113" id="page_113" title="113"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I think I'll go out and get my camera," the other returned.</p>
+
+<p>Then Ethan chuckled.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought that was what it must have been, Phil," he observed, dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I see," Lub went on to say; "afraid of the rain, of course. Well, I
+suppose it would ruin the thing to get it wet."</p>
+
+<p>"Too bad you've had all that work for nothing, Phil," yawning as he said
+this X-Ray tried to look sympathetic; but was really too sleepy to be
+anything but ridiculous.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I don't know about that," Phil told him, as he picked up the
+lantern; "I've got a hunch that the thing's been played to the end of
+the string."</p>
+
+<p>Ethan chuckled some more. Both Lub and X-Ray opened their eyes and began
+to realize that there was something more to this thing than they had
+grasped.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever can you mean by that?" asked Lub; while the fourth boy,
+quicker to catch things, cried out:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! then that wasn't a flash of lightning after all, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"After a kind, it was," Phil went on to say. "In fact, I believe my trap
+has been sprung.<a class="pagenum" name="page_114" id="page_114" title="114"></a> Mr. 'Coon was early on the trail to-night. I'd better
+go and see. If the thing's happened, no need of leaving the camera out
+all night, and take chances of a shower. Coming along with me, Ethan?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure thing!" declared the other, who had only been waiting for an
+invitation, as Phil very well knew from the eager look in his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>They soon arrived on the spot.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all right," observed Phil, immediately.</p>
+
+<p>"Trap's sprung, you mean?" asked his comrade.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you can see where the bait has been carried away from the place
+where I fixed it," he was told, as Phil pointed out where the cord ran.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess the flash gave the poor old 'coon the scare of his life," Ethan
+went on to say, considerably amused.</p>
+
+<p>It was an object with Phil to encourage this interest on the part of his
+chum. Accordingly, after gathering up the camera and flashlight
+apparatus he had Ethan closely examine the marks that were plainly seen
+about the place where the bait had attracted the attention of the little
+animal.</p>
+
+<p>As has been said before, Ethan was a practical<a class="pagenum" name="page_115" id="page_115" title="115"></a> woodsman, and knew a
+great deal about all things connected with outdoor life. Trailing had
+long been one of his particular hobbies; hence, he was able to tell just
+what must have happened there.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's where the 'coon came along, just as he'd likely done on many
+another night when he felt fish hungry. And about here, Phil, he began
+to get a whiff of that green corn you fetched with you to use as bait."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you make that out?" asked the other, partly for information, and
+also with the idea of keeping up Ethan's interest, which he could easily
+see was growing right along.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the marks have a different look," Ethan explained. "He stopped
+right here to sniff, and then went forward on the run, all caution
+thrown to the winds."</p>
+
+<p>"That took him up to the bait?" suggested Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and you bet he didn't waste a single second laying hold of the
+same," Ethan ventured, positively, just as though he might be watching
+the entire performance with his own eyes, instead of figuring it out.</p>
+
+<p>"Like as not it's been a long time since this particular 'coon had a
+chance at an ear of juicy<a class="pagenum" name="page_116" id="page_116" title="116"></a> green corn," observed Phil. "Perhaps he never
+even saw one before, but his instinct told him what a good thing was
+when he ran across it."</p>
+
+<p>"As he began to pull at the cob, meaning to carry it off to his den,
+there came that dazzling white flash," Ethan continued.</p>
+
+<p>"It petrified the 'coon for the instant," explained Phil, "that happens
+in nearly every case. If you look close you'll find that the animal
+always has a startled expression. I rather think any of us would if a
+flash like that blinded us just when we'd started to pick up the biggest
+watermelon in the patch."</p>
+
+<p>"It frightened Mr. 'Coon away, of course," said Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"But he may sneak back here again before morning," laughed Phil. "You
+can see where his teeth cut into the green corn, and the memory of that
+one taste will make him ready to take chances again."</p>
+
+<p>He dropped the half ear of corn on the ground as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean that the poor old chap isn't going to be cheated out of his
+fine treat, eh, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"He deserves something," was the reply, "because I reckon he's given me
+a cracking good<a class="pagenum" name="page_117" id="page_117" title="117"></a> picture. I want him to know I appreciate his pull at my
+latch string."</p>
+
+<p>This closed the incident, but on the way back Ethan continued to ask
+numerous questions. These the other always answered to the best of his
+ability, for it was his desire to interest Ethan more and more.</p>
+
+<p>And Phil felt satisfied when, just before they arrived at the cabin
+Ethan gave expression to an admission:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm ready to own up, Phil, that if for any reason I couldn't have
+a gun, or use one because the law was on all game, I <i>might</i> take some
+stock in hunting by flashlight, and with a camera."</p>
+
+<p>"And the knowledge you have, Ethan, of wild animals' ways would make you
+a master hand at the game, if ever you bothered taking it up."</p>
+
+<p>"Think so?" remarked the other, naturally pleased at this sort of
+appreciation on Phil's part.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure of it," he was told.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing more was said at the time. Phil felt positive, however, that he
+could count on Ethan's co&ouml;peration so long as they remained at Birch
+Bark Lodge.<a class="pagenum" name="page_118" id="page_118" title="118"></a></p>
+
+<p>It was not long before they all sought their bunks.</p>
+
+<p>The night passed without any alarm. Lub had assured his comrades they
+need have no fear of any unwelcome guest dropping down the chimney
+again. He had insured against such an event happening; and apparently
+felt the utmost confidence in his own invention, for he seemed to drop
+asleep almost as soon as he settled down in his blanket.</p>
+
+<p>Again in the morning they enjoyed their plunge in the lake, although Lub
+had to be strongly urged before he consented to join them.</p>
+
+<p>When he mentioned trout he was gently but firmly told that it was folly
+to whip a willing horse.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let's have fish every meal," urged X-Ray Tyson, "or we'll all be
+sprouting gills and dorsal fins and scales. Once a day after this ought
+to satisfy the trout hunger. Now it seems to me that's a bully good fire
+for camp flapjacks."</p>
+
+<p>"Just what it is," agreed Ethan with enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>"That suits me all right," Phil agreed, "and<a class="pagenum" name="page_119" id="page_119" title="119"></a> we all know the kind you
+can make, Lub. If you want any help, call on me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! it's only a pleasure to me, so long as I know my efforts are
+appreciated," said Lub, just as they all knew he would.</p>
+
+<p>The flapjacks must have been good, for not a piece of one was left after
+the four boys had finished breakfast. And they even had the audacity to
+bait Lub on top of it.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't care how soon you repeat that mess, Lub," observed Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Never tasted their equal," confessed Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"And as for me," said the wicked X-Ray, "I'll sure dream of the treat
+to-night, see if I don't."</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon, of course, Lub set about figuring out just how the little
+sack of self-raising flour would hold out, if he made flapjacks every
+single morning of their stay in camp.</p>
+
+<p>Lub was a lovable camp mate, and so easily imposed upon. But then his
+chums were just as ready to do things for him in turn.</p>
+
+<p>Later on in the morning, seeing that the rival fishermen had started out
+again to depopulate the lake, and Lub was busy cleaning up around the
+cabin, Phil took a notion to wander off.<a class="pagenum" name="page_120" id="page_120" title="120"></a></p>
+
+<p>He meant to cover quite some little territory this time, his object
+being to see if he could catch a glimpse of a deer. Of course he carried
+his camera along, because it was always possible that some good chance
+might arise where he could use it to advantage.</p>
+
+<p>Phil believed in being ready. He was a hunter, and knew how exasperating
+it was to run across tempting game when one's gun had been left at home.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later he found himself wandering through a section of woods
+that looked very promising. He fancied he caught a sound, and it was of
+such a peculiar nature that Phil stopped still to listen.</p>
+
+<p>Yes, it was not the "whiff" of a startled deer or moose, but struck the
+astonished boy more like the wailing cry of a distressed child.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_121" id="page_121" title="121"></a>
+<a name="FINDING_A_SUNBEAM_2716" id="FINDING_A_SUNBEAM_2716"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>FINDING A SUNBEAM</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>At first Phil found it hard to believe he heard aright.</p>
+
+<p>"I've known cats to make sounds like a baby crying, when they were
+facing each other, and ready to scrap," he told himself.</p>
+
+<p>The more he listened the stronger grew his conviction.</p>
+
+<p>"Even if it turns out to be a pair of spitting young bobcats," he
+concluded, "I'd like to snap 'em off. As to a child, what would one be
+doing away up here in this wilderness, unless&mdash;by George, now, that
+might be it."</p>
+
+<p>He had suddenly remembered how they found the little cap, yes, and a
+baby silver thimble in the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>It was no trouble at all to locate the source of the sounds. The sobs
+continued as he advanced. In a few minutes Phil was gazing with
+considerable surprise upon a figure outstretched on the ground.<a class="pagenum" name="page_122" id="page_122" title="122"></a></p>
+
+<p>He could see it was a little girl, possibly four years old. She had
+golden curls, and when she looked up suddenly at hearing his footsteps
+Phil discovered that she was as pretty as a fairy.</p>
+
+<p>Just then she looked a little forlorn, since her face was soiled from
+the dirt, and tears had made furrows down her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>She scrambled to her feet, and seemed hardly to know whether to try and
+run away, or put her childish trust in this strange boy.</p>
+
+<p>Now Phil was always a favorite with younger children. They all loved him
+because he had such a pleasant face, engaging laugh, and seemed to know
+just how to appeal to a child's heart.</p>
+
+<p>Few boys care to bother with little tots; they only appear as a nuisance
+in their eyes. Phil, however, was different.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello! here, little girl, what's all the trouble about?" he asked,
+cheerily; and somehow there must have been magic in his voice, for the
+look of fear left the child's face immediately.</p>
+
+<p>She recognized a friend in need. As a rule children, just the same as
+most dogs do, have an instinct that tells them who to trust.</p>
+
+<p>"I'se losted!" she said, simply, with a little sob in her voice.<a class="pagenum" name="page_123" id="page_123" title="123"></a></p>
+
+<p>Phil had now reached her side. She did not shrink from him as he bent
+down and put his hand gently on her curly head. Something that she saw
+in his kind eyes, perhaps the vein of sympathy so pronounced in his
+tones, told her this strange boy could be safely trusted.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, that's too bad," Phil went on to say, just as if he himself had
+been "losted" and hence knew how it felt. "But who are you lost from?"</p>
+
+<p>"Daddy," she said, simply, as though taking it for granted that every
+one must know who was implied by that term; because to her mind there
+was only one "daddy" on earth.</p>
+
+<p>Phil believed he saw it all now. The man who had occupied the cabin, had
+this child with him. For some unknown reason he had taken alarm, perhaps
+because of their coming to the lonely lake, and made a hurried change of
+base.</p>
+
+<p>Why he had prowled around on that first night it was of course
+impossible for the boy to say, unless he simply meant to satisfy himself
+with regard to their intentions.</p>
+
+<p>And now the little girl had managed to lose herself in the woods. No
+doubt the father would be searching everywhere for her.</p>
+
+<p>Phil thought it all over, even while he was<a class="pagenum" name="page_124" id="page_124" title="124"></a> soothing the child and
+telling her he would see to it that she found "daddy" again.</p>
+
+<p>He could not leave her there in the open pine woods, that was sure, and
+since there could be no immediate way of learning the present abode of
+the mysterious man, the only thing left for Phil to do was to take the
+little girl to camp with him.</p>
+
+<p>In due time no doubt the father was sure to turn up there to claim the
+child. They would try to convince him that it was none of their business
+what made him hide away from his fellows as he was doing.</p>
+
+<p>So Phil made up his mind.</p>
+
+<p>He had by this time managed to distract the child's thoughts from her
+troubles. Indeed, this was no difficult task for Phil Bradley. Already
+she had laughed at something he had said. When Phil heard what a sweet
+laugh that was he immediately told himself:</p>
+
+<p>"I warrant that there's a man chasing wild through the woods right now,
+trying to find this little sunbeam. I know I'd be, if I missed a merry
+laugh like that at my fireside."</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Phil," he told her, "and won't you tell me yours?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, it's Mazie," she quickly answered.<a class="pagenum" name="page_125" id="page_125" title="125"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Mazie what?" he continued.</p>
+
+<p>"No, just only Mazie," the little girl told him positively.</p>
+
+<p>Phil was baffled, for he had hoped to learn "daddy's" name. He did not
+attempt anything further along that line.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Mazie," he went on to say, "you'll come with me, won't you? You
+must be hungry, and want some lunch. We'll find daddy pretty soon, you
+know, and you wouldn't want to stay out here in the woods all by
+yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked alarmed at the mere suggestion of such a thing. It pleased
+the boy to notice how eagerly she seized his outstretched hand, to which
+she clung confidingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! no, 'cause I'm afraid. I saw a bear, a big bear once. Daddy shooed
+it away from our house. And oh! it whiffed and whiffed just awful.
+Please take me with you&mdash;Phil."</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I'll do, Mazie. You see I have three friends, all boys who
+will be glad to see you. And when daddy comes he can take you back
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"Home!"</p>
+
+<p>The child repeated the word after him. There<a class="pagenum" name="page_126" id="page_126" title="126"></a> was a bewildered look on
+her face. Phil judged from this that some memory was awakening.</p>
+
+<p>"Home&mdash;daddy&mdash;muzzer!" he heard her say almost in a whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you didn't tell me that your mother was up here, too; is she with
+daddy, Mazie?" Phil asked her, as they walked slowly along.</p>
+
+<p>She looked up. The wistful glow in her eyes gave the boy a strange
+feeling.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! no. Muzzer gone far away. She never come to her little girl now,"
+he heard her say; and somehow the thought that she meant her mother was
+dead kept Phil from questioning her any further.</p>
+
+<p>The little thing had evidently already recovered from her recent grief.
+She trusted in Phil, and believed that it would only be a matter of a
+short time before he would bring "daddy."</p>
+
+<p>In her eyes Phil was a magician. Nothing could be beyond his power to
+accomplish. That is what the faith of a child means.</p>
+
+<p>She prattled all the way along, and yet it was pretty much about the
+woods, the flowers she liked to pick, the noisy scolding squirrels, and
+how daddy had always watched over her so carefully since they came up
+here, ever and ever so long ago.<a class="pagenum" name="page_127" id="page_127" title="127"></a></p>
+
+<p>Not once did she refer to any former life. It seemed to be in the nature
+of a closed book with the child.</p>
+
+<p>Phil was waiting to see how she acted when they came in sight of the
+cabin, for he felt sure she must recognize it. She pointed to several
+things, even telling him that the tree with the dead top was where
+"bushy-tail" lived and had a family, so daddy said, and daddy knew
+everything.</p>
+
+<p>All at once the child gave a cry. She had discovered the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I live here!" she burst out, and disengaging her hand from that of
+her champion she flew to the open door and burst in, shrilly crying:</p>
+
+<p>"Daddy! Daddy!"</p>
+
+<p>Imagine the astonishment of Lub. He happened to be sitting tailor
+fashion on the floor sewing a button on that he had burst off, Ethan
+told him when he gorged so much the evening before.</p>
+
+<p>Hearing a flutter, and then that cry in a childish voice, Lub turned to
+see what he thought at first must be a specter.</p>
+
+<p>The little girl was abashed to find only a stranger there. Her sudden
+hopes being so<a class="pagenum" name="page_128" id="page_128" title="128"></a> suddenly dissolved brought the tears again into her
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>But Phil quickly managed to brighten her up. And Lub was ready to do
+almost anything to please the little miss, even to trying to stand on
+his head had she demanded it.</p>
+
+<p>Then along came the other fellows. Of course both of them were as much
+astonished as Lub had been, but at the same time showed that they were
+not sorry to have such a little sunbeam around.</p>
+
+<p>Among themselves, of course, they talked it all over, and knew that
+Mazie must be the child who had been the sole companion of the lonely
+occupant of the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>"Too bad if it turns out he's a scoundrel, and a law breaker, with such
+a bully little girl belonging to him."</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray Tyson said this, looking as he spoke at the suspiciously new coin
+he had picked out of a crack in the floor, and which he fully believed
+had been molded right there in that isolated cabin.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't count too much on that," remarked Phil; "you can tell that she
+loves daddy above everything on earth. He can't be so <i>very</i> wicked, I
+guess."<a class="pagenum" name="page_129" id="page_129" title="129"></a></p>
+
+<p>As the day wore on all of them took turns in amusing the little girl.
+She proudly showed them a number of things that she had been in the
+habit of playing with when she "lived here."</p>
+
+<p>Not once did she speak of a former life. Everything seemed to be
+associated with "daddy." And as the other boys had been told by Phil
+what he thought in connection with her mother being dead, of course they
+were careful not to mention the word, for fear it might cause her sudden
+grief.</p>
+
+<p>During the afternoon her merry laugh was heard frequently. Childish
+troubles soon fade away. And surely a little girl could not wish for a
+better lot of "big brothers" than these four boys seemed to be. They
+anticipated her every wish, and after a while Mazie even seemed to look
+upon them in the light of old and tried friends.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had arranged it that while their little guest honored them with her
+company she was to have his bunk. He could make himself fairly
+comfortable on the floor, somehow. A bunch of hemlock browse would do
+for a mattress, and if the fire was kept up a blanket was hardly
+necessary.</p>
+
+<p>Phil felt a little fearful that at night she might<a class="pagenum" name="page_130" id="page_130" title="130"></a> miss a familiar
+figure, and cry herself to sleep wanting "daddy." He was agreeably
+disappointed, however. Mazie ate supper with her protectors, and cuddled
+down in the arms of Lub, to whom she had taken a great fancy. Perhaps it
+was because he had so much to do with the getting of meals, although it
+was hardly a fair thing to say that, because Lub was kindness itself.</p>
+
+<p>There she was finally discovered fast asleep. Lub insisted on them
+leaving her with her head on his shoulder for a long time.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, Ethan and Phil having come back, after setting the flashlight
+arrangement in a new place, they managed to carry the sleeping child to
+the bunk provided, without arousing her.</p>
+
+<p>The night passed quietly.</p>
+
+<p>Phil would not have been surprised had a heavy summons on the door
+brought them all to their feet, and upon opening up to find an almost
+distracted man anxiously inquiring as to whether they had seen anything
+of a lost child.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing of the kind occurred.</p>
+
+<p>Wherever "daddy" could be searching for the missing one as yet he failed
+to turn his attention<a class="pagenum" name="page_131" id="page_131" title="131"></a> to the cabin where until recently he had lived in
+retirement, a hermit, as X-Ray Tyson called him.</p>
+
+<p>Another dawn came.</p>
+
+<p>Breakfast was prepared in almost abject silence. The little girl was
+still sleeping. All of the boys had tiptoed up and taken a peep at her
+lying there, as though hardly able to believe it could be so.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had washed her face and hands the first thing, and with her rosy
+cheeks and lips, with the masses of golden, natural curls she certainly
+looked, as Lub expressed it, "pretty enough to eat."</p>
+
+<p>So breakfast was prepared almost in silence. When any of them found
+occasion to speak it was laughable to see how they got their heads
+together and whispered.</p>
+
+<p>Just before Lub had breakfast ready to serve, Mazie called out to Phil,
+and was soon ready to sit down at the table with two of her newfound
+friends, there not being room for all.</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray, thinking to pick up some information, called the child's
+attention to the scorched places on the heavy board, apparently done
+with molten metal.</p>
+
+<p>"See what daddy did!" he went on to say;<a class="pagenum" name="page_132" id="page_132" title="132"></a> and immediately the others,
+guessing his game, waited to see the result.</p>
+
+<p>The little girl looked from X-Ray down to the scarred surface of the
+table. She shook her head vigorously in the negative, and looked
+indignant.</p>
+
+<p>"Daddy didn't!" she exclaimed, with a vigor that settled that question.</p>
+
+<p>"These marks were here when you came, were they, Mazie?" asked Phil.</p>
+
+<p>This time she nodded her little curly head in the affirmative.</p>
+
+<p>No more was said. X-Ray took out his new fifty cent piece and looked
+hard at it&mdash;but if he half intended asking the child whether she had
+ever seen any like it he changed his mind. Perhaps he did not fancy
+looking into those clear blue eyes, and coaxing the child to
+unconsciously betray her "daddy."</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast the boys started to do various things. Ethan and X-Ray
+Tyson were more than ever bent upon fishing. They counted exactly even
+now, and the excitement was running high.</p>
+
+<p>"But after this," said Ethan, who had the soul of a true sportsman, "we
+mean to put back all the ordinary trout that are uninjured.<a class="pagenum" name="page_133" id="page_133" title="133"></a> We're no
+fish hogs, you must know. We'll carry the little scales, and the foot
+rule along, so as to measure what we take."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a sensible arrangement," Phil told them; "but then it's only
+what I would have expected of you, Ethan."</p>
+
+<p>They were still gathering bait close by the cabin when there broke out a
+terrible din.</p>
+
+<p>"It must be Lub!" exclaimed Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I saw him wandering off in that direction a bit ago," added X-Ray.</p>
+
+<p>"What can have happened to him?" exclaimed Phil, his mind running to
+panthers, ferocious bobcats, hungry bears, and even an excited father,
+wild with searching for his lost child.</p>
+
+<p>"There he comes now!" cried Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"How funny he acts," X-Ray went on to say.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed, Lub was carrying on as though he had gone suddenly crazy,
+leaping up into the air, threshing with his arms, and prancing madly to
+and fro. All the while they could hear him letting out hoarse yells.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_134" id="page_134" title="134"></a>
+<a name="AN_ENCOUNTER_IN_THE_PINE_WOODS_3046" id="AN_ENCOUNTER_IN_THE_PINE_WOODS_3046"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+<h3>AN ENCOUNTER IN THE PINE WOODS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Help! Chase 'em off, somebody! Help a fellow, won't you? Ouch! they're
+murdering me by inches. Oh! my stars, what can I do?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's hornets!" shrieked X-Ray, always as quick as a flash.</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe a swarm of yellow jackets!" suggested Ethan. "I can see something
+whirling around over his head. Gee! what if he runs here and gives us a
+dose? The cabin for mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on," called out Phil, taking in the situation, and then raising
+his voice he shouted to the terrified Lub: "Throw off your hat as you
+run. There, that'll attract some. Now your coat. Never mind a sting or
+two, but do as I say."</p>
+
+<p>Lub, accustomed in matters of this kind to letting some one else do his
+thinking for him, hastened to obey.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately afterward he was heard calling piteously:</p>
+
+<p>"There's some after me yet, Phil, and oh!<a class="pagenum" name="page_135" id="page_135" title="135"></a> how they do hit you! I'm
+beginning to swell up right now. How'll I get away from the swarm, Phil?
+You tell me what to do, and quick!"</p>
+
+<p>"Run for the lake and jump in!" called out Phil. "Duck under, and keep
+there as long as you can stand it."</p>
+
+<p>Without thinking twice, and only too willing to blindly obey, Lub
+galloped straight to the shore of the lake. He happened to strike a
+little bank, where the water was quite deep.</p>
+
+<p>"Here I go!" they heard him shout, and then came a tremendous splash.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! my!" gasped X-Ray, "that settles our fishing for this morning!
+He'll scare every trout in the lake with his threshing around!"</p>
+
+<p>Ethan was bubbling over with laughter, and even Phil had hard work to
+keep from giving a shout when upon reaching the shore they saw what was
+going on.</p>
+
+<p>Lub stood in water up to his chin. He kept bobbing his head in an
+anxious effort to locate any determined insect that still hovered near
+by. Occasionally he would duck entirely out of sight, and move along a
+dozen feet, as though in hopes of eluding the enemy in this way.</p>
+
+<p>Taking pity on the poor fellow Phil assured<a class="pagenum" name="page_136" id="page_136" title="136"></a> him the coast was clear,
+and that he was safe in coming out.</p>
+
+<p>Such a woe begone figure he presented.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed like a shame to laugh, but the boys could not have helped it
+had their lives depended on keeping sober faces.</p>
+
+<p>Besides looking like a drowned rat, poor Lub found that his face was
+already swelling up. His jaws looked as they may have done when he had
+the mumps. One eye threatened to be lost altogether, on account of the
+puffiness all around it. His nose had received due attention, and even
+his hands had failed to come through the scorching fire unscathed.</p>
+
+<p>Despite all this Lub tried to grin, although the effort was, as X-Ray
+said pretty much of a "ghastly failure."</p>
+
+<p>"I know I'm a sight to behold, fellows," whimpered Lub. "I guess I
+deserve all I got, too, for being such a fool. But how was I to know
+that old hornets' nest almost lying on the ground under the bush was
+<i>loaded</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>"What did you take it for?" asked Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Why," replied Lub, "I supposed it was a regular giant puff-ball, one of
+the toad-stool kind that go off with a crack and a puff of smoke when
+you kick 'em."<a class="pagenum" name="page_137" id="page_137" title="137"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Then you actually kicked it?" cried Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I did&mdash;oh! murder!" gasped Lub, feeling of his enlarged head
+in dismay.</p>
+
+<p>"And it went off, all right, I bet you?" asserted Ethan, uproariously.</p>
+
+<p>"A million of 'em came hustling out and started to eating me up," Lub
+went on to explain, plaintively. "I killed 'em in droves, but there was
+always a fresh lot. Then I ran&mdash;you saw how I had to carry on. Guess it
+wasn't any laughing matter to <i>me</i>! And it isn't right now. If I keep on
+swelling like I am I'll bust. Talk to me about having the big
+head&mdash;bein' President of the United States wouldn't make my cranium
+swell any more. Phil, ain't you going to do something for a chum that's
+had trouble?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure, I am," announced Phil, readily. "Ethan, find some mud, and let it
+be clay if you can. Hurry and get it here. While you're doing it I'll
+take the sting out with ammonia. It's lucky I thought to fetch some
+along."</p>
+
+<p>Lub only too willingly put himself wholly in the hands of his friends.
+The ammonia smarted at first, but by degrees the pain began to
+disappear, as the poison was neutralized by the remedy.<a class="pagenum" name="page_138" id="page_138" title="138"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I have to be careful not to let a drop of it get in your eyes, because
+it would smart terribly," Phil told the patient.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know even now how a dog feels when you squirt some of this stuff
+in his eyes with those little ammonia pistols," Lub remarked.</p>
+
+<p>The process was continued until Ethan arrived with the clay.</p>
+
+<p>This was fastened on the best way possible by the use of Lub's big red
+bandanna handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had insisted on taking a snap shot of the victim of the hornets
+before he had his face bound up. He also got another view after this
+operation had been completed.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm doing this partly for your own good, Lub," he explained. "Perhaps
+it'll make you feel bad to see how pride always swells before a fall.
+But then it's going to be a valuable lesson to you."</p>
+
+<p>"And you'll never kick again before you're dead certain what kind of a
+puff-ball it is, because some happen to be inhabited," X-Ray told him.</p>
+
+<p>As Lub would very likely not be fit for anything during the rest of that
+day, Phil took<a class="pagenum" name="page_139" id="page_139" title="139"></a> charge, while the rival fishermen were out in the canoe.</p>
+
+<p>All the while he enjoyed having the little girl around. She seemed like
+a real ray of sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever will we do without her, Phil, if her father blows in here any
+time and carries her off?"</p>
+
+<p>Lub said this in a muffled tone, for he was tied up good and fast, but
+he meant every word of it.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps we might get him to let her stay with us," said Phil, showing
+that he, too, had been thinking along those lines; "if one of you
+fellows agreed to give up your bunk to 'daddy' and sleep on the floor
+with me."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd do that, and more, for the sake of keeping her here," declared Lub.</p>
+
+<p>The fishermen reported at noon.</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray seemed in high spirits, and Ethan correspondingly depressed. It
+was easy to see which way luck had gone that morning.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there's another day coming," said Phil, hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I mean to start in and show him a few wrinkles from now on,"
+Ethan declared;<a class="pagenum" name="page_140" id="page_140" title="140"></a> at which the other laughed scoffingly as he remarked:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! so you've just been playing off all this time, have you? Seemed to
+me you put in your best licks right along. I'll have to think up a few
+dodges myself, if that's the game."</p>
+
+<p>"Everything square and above board, boys," warned Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"As fair as can be, Phil. Neither of us would want to play a mean
+trick," said Ethan, and his rival echoed his words.</p>
+
+<p>After lunch Phil told them it was their turn to look after the camp
+while he took a stroll.</p>
+
+<p>"Be careful about letting Mazie stray off," was what he told them the
+last thing, ere starting away, camera in hand.</p>
+
+<p>He had managed to develop his two flashlight pictures, and so far as he
+could tell from the films they appeared to be clean-cut good ones. Ethan
+after inspecting the negatives had expressed the opinion that they
+looked "fine."</p>
+
+<p>From various indications Phil began to believe he had the other
+interested in the work, and that it would not be long before Ethan might
+be counted as one of those who call it fascinating.<a class="pagenum" name="page_141" id="page_141" title="141"></a></p>
+
+<p>Phil was thinking of all this as he walked along. Numerous other things
+came into his mind also. He even wondered whether some accident might
+not cause him to come upon Mazie's father, and what "daddy" would prove
+to be.</p>
+
+<p>Somehow the boy had come to believe the man could not be bad, or he
+would never have held the affection of that dear little heart; and he
+knew from many signs that Mazie certainly fairly worshiped her father.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether the trip up to Lake Surprise was turning out delightfully all
+around.</p>
+
+<p>There might be a few things associated with it that would not always be
+a happy memory with some of his chums. For instance, there was the
+episode of the hornets' nest which poor Lub had kicked on the impulse of
+the moment, thinking it only a harmless "puff-ball." He would shiver
+every time some buzzing sound reminded him of his wild flight; but even
+then Lub had learned a lesson he could never forget.</p>
+
+<p>Phil kept his camera ready for instantaneous use. He knew that if by any
+great good luck he "jumped" a deer that had been lying down, and
+sleeping in the heat of the day, it would<a class="pagenum" name="page_142" id="page_142" title="142"></a> require considerable presence
+of mind and a quick action in order to snapshot the animal at close
+quarters.</p>
+
+<p>Being somewhat of an experienced hunter, Phil had been careful when
+starting out to head into the wind. This was done so that a deer would
+not discover his presence through any sense of smell, until he was close
+up.</p>
+
+<p>Once given a fair chance, and he believed he was capable of handling the
+situation.</p>
+
+<p>As luck would have it his course took him through the very same neck of
+the woods where on the previous day he had found Mazie, only now he had
+gone half a mile and more beyond that spot.</p>
+
+<p>All at once as Phil carefully pushed through a screen of bushes he heard
+a scrambling sound. Some animal jumped to its feet, and Phil, as he took
+note of the dun color, the immense size, the mule-like ears, the square
+muzzle and the two-thirds grown horns knew that he was face to face with
+the king of the Adirondack woods&mdash;a bull moose!</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_143" id="page_143" title="143"></a>
+<a name="WHEN_TWO_PLAYED_THE_GAME_3271" id="WHEN_TWO_PLAYED_THE_GAME_3271"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+<h3>WHEN TWO PLAYED THE GAME</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The moose looked at Phil, and Phil stared at the moose. Both of them
+seemed to be equally surprised at the unexpected meeting.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently Phil was the first to recover, for the sharp little "click"
+of his camera shutter acting, after he had quickly drawn a head on the
+bulky animal, told that he was true to his instinct as a Nature
+photographer.</p>
+
+<p>It may be that even that little snapping sound angered the moose; or
+possibly he was just in a mood for trouble. The rutting season was well
+over by this time of year, and his horns had grown fairly stout, so that
+they could be trusted to do good service in battle.</p>
+
+<p>Phil never knew. In fact he had no opportunity to make inquiries, or
+conduct any sort of an investigation. All he became aware of suddenly
+was that the bull moose had lowered his head, and started toward him at
+a full gallop.</p>
+
+<p>Now Phil may at times have been called a bold sort of a boy, but he also
+had a pretty well<a class="pagenum" name="page_144" id="page_144" title="144"></a> defined streak of caution in his make-up. Those
+towering horns had an ugly look to him. He could easily imagine how
+inconvenient it would seem to feel them brought into personal contact
+with some part of his body, with all that muscular power of the big
+animal butting them on.</p>
+
+<p>There was only one thing left for Phil to do, and that was to make
+himself scarce around that neighborhood as quickly as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Although the boy had never in all his life witnessed such a thing as a
+genuine bull fight, he understood that the first thing to be done was to
+dodge. The moose was so close to him that he knew he had very little
+chance of outstripping those long legs in fair flight.</p>
+
+<p>With this partly formed plan in his head Phil ducked to the left, and
+started to run. He could have no real motive in choosing this side,
+because there was no time to take even a quick observation, and form a
+plan of action.</p>
+
+<p>As it turned out luck favored him in making this hasty choice on the
+spur of the moment. Had he turned to the right he would have been
+compelled to cover such an extensive strip of open ground that his
+fleet-footed enemy must have easily overtaken him. That would have
+forced Phil to make another side movement, or<a class="pagenum" name="page_145" id="page_145" title="145"></a> else be caught up in
+those branching horns.</p>
+
+<p>He knew what this latter must mean, and that once he found himself
+knocked down and rendered helpless, he would be rolled along, prodded
+wickedly, and even jumped upon in the endeavor to disable him.</p>
+
+<p>On the left, though, there were trees close to him that offered some
+sort of refuge. Phil, hearing the moose putting after him at full speed,
+hastened to swing his body around the first of the trunks he came to. It
+would offer a barrier against the attacks of the animal until he could
+get his wits about him, and figure out some plan.</p>
+
+<p>A minute later and the moose was chasing him around the tree in a merry
+way. All the games Phil had ever played with his schoolmates in days
+gone by were not a circumstance to the one he found himself engaged in
+with that determined animal. The more he was disappointed at reaching
+his supposed enemy the greater became the fury of the moose. He stamped,
+and whistled, and butted his head against the tree; after which he would
+start on another fast trot around it, the performance consisting of
+perhaps a dozen or a score of circles.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had the inner ring, and could of course<a class="pagenum" name="page_146" id="page_146" title="146"></a> move much faster around
+than the enemy. Still, it was not long before he became heartily tired
+of that continual and useless work. It began to make him dizzy, too. He
+found himself wondering whether the moose meant to keep going in these
+spirals until he had exhausted the boy; and how long it was possible to
+keep this sort of thing up before he fell over.</p>
+
+<p>It was in vain that he shouted in the face of the animal; the sound of a
+human voice did not seem to have any effect, unless it was to make the
+beast show fresh animation, as though spurred on to renewed vigor.</p>
+
+<p>"However am I to get the better of the old fool?" Phil asked himself
+between his puffs; for this happened after he had been chased another
+dozen times around the well-worn path.</p>
+
+<p>There was a breathing spell, as the moose halted for a brief time. Phil
+did not cherish any hope or expectation that the beast meant to retire,
+and leave him to himself. In fact he began to believe the big animal was
+having the time of his life, and enjoying it immensely.</p>
+
+<p>"Which is more than I can say I'm doing," Phil grumbled; "this
+ring-around-the-rosy business is played out, and I've just got to find
+some way to stop it."<a class="pagenum" name="page_147" id="page_147" title="147"></a></p>
+
+<p>Taking advantage of the breathing spell he cast a hurried look back of
+him. Of course he did not dream that such a thing as help could come; on
+the contrary his only expectation was that he might find some way by
+means of which he could extricate himself from his dilemma.</p>
+
+<p>"Bully! if I can only make that clump of small trees I ought to manage
+it!" was what Phil exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>There was no time for more just then. Mr. Bull Moose was ready for
+another frolic, having freshened up. So again they chased madly around
+that tree, the hoofs of the animal tearing up the ground until it looked
+as though he had made a regular race-track there.</p>
+
+<p>When finally the new inning came to a close Phil was fairly panting for
+breath, and more dizzy than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"A few more turns like that would do me up!" he gasped; and then gritted
+his teeth with a determination to make the break he had figured on.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately the moose always seemed to come to a stand at about the same
+spot. This brought the little clump of trees exactly behind Phil, which
+fact would give him a chance to get fairly started before the moose
+became aware of his intention.<a class="pagenum" name="page_148" id="page_148" title="148"></a></p>
+
+<p>Taking in a long breath the boy suddenly darted away.</p>
+
+<p>He instantly heard the moose rushing after him. The distance was short,
+and so Phil managed to swing around his new shelter, with those ugly
+horns not more than five feet behind him.</p>
+
+<p>Well, that was all the margin he needed for safety. The new barrier
+would cause him to cover much more ground with every revolution; but
+then it was not his purpose to keep this up any longer than was
+absolutely necessary.</p>
+
+<p>A great wave of relief swept over the boy when he managed to slip in
+between two of the small trees, and found that he was well protected on
+all sides from the enraged animal's horns.</p>
+
+<p>In vain did the moose attempt to insert his head between the trees. Phil
+kicked at him, and continued his shouts. By now he was beginning to feel
+that the advantage was swinging over to his side. He had done nothing to
+incur this hostility on the part of the animal, and was surely entitled
+to the privilege of defending himself as best he could, even to the
+extent of inflicting injury on his four-footed enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps at some time in the past a monster tree had been cut down on
+this spot, and these<a class="pagenum" name="page_149" id="page_149" title="149"></a> second-growth saplings had sprung up in a circle
+that was wide enough to afford a nimble boy shelter. The towering horns
+of the moose, more than anything else, rendered it difficult for him to
+reach Phil.</p>
+
+<p>This second stage of the affair was a decided improvement on the first,
+Phil assured himself. At the same time he was not satisfied. He failed
+to see the fun of being kept a prisoner, cooped up in that limited space
+for perhaps hours. It was no fault of his that the moose chanced to be
+in an ugly humor; and just then, if Phil Bradley had had any sort of
+firearm along he would have felt justified in dispatching that furious
+animal. Game laws are good things, but even they must be broken when
+one's life is placed in jeopardy.</p>
+
+<p>Besides his pocket knife Phil had nothing on his person that could be
+called a weapon. For once he had even left his hunting knife at the
+cabin, and bitterly he repented of his unusual thoughtlessness. It would
+never happen again he told himself, when he realized how helpless he
+was.</p>
+
+<p>When the moose again started trying to get at him Phil conceived a new
+hope. It was in the shape of an inspiration, and he watched<a class="pagenum" name="page_150" id="page_150" title="150"></a> eagerly in
+the expectation that such a thing might come to pass.</p>
+
+<p>What if the moose did find a way to crowd his head between two of the
+trees, by slanting it sideways; what if in his stupidity he was unable
+to extricate it again, and could only tug frantically backwards becoming
+excited and helpless?</p>
+
+<p>That would be turning the tables in great shape. Phil had seen cows
+confined in stall yokes somewhat after that fashion. He also knew how
+green turtles are captured in large mesh nets down along the Florida
+coast streams like Indian River; for the stupid creature, having passed
+its flippers through the net, and being unable to continue the forward
+movement on account of the bulging shell, simply keeps trying to urge
+itself on, and never dreaming that it could back out by reversing its
+flippers.</p>
+
+<p>There was one particular place where Phil thought the chances seemed
+fairly good that the horns of the moose might pass through, provided he
+turned his head the proper way.</p>
+
+<p>In order to try out his scheme he did all in his power to coax the
+animal to begin operations in that section. For a while it seemed as
+though the moose persistently avoided the larger opening. Everywhere
+else he struggled the best he<a class="pagenum" name="page_151" id="page_151" title="151"></a> knew how to reach the prisoner of the
+saplings, even pawing viciously at him with his hoofs.</p>
+
+<p>"I must make a big bluff of meaning to slip out through that hole," Phil
+told himself; "and when he gets around there perhaps he'll fall into the
+trap."</p>
+
+<p>This he immediately started to carry out. It worked like a charm, too,
+for he had barely time to dodge back into his asylum when his captor
+came up against the tree next the wider opening with a bang.</p>
+
+<p>After that Phil easily led him into making a fresh effort to insert his
+horned head through that opening. Eagerly the boy watched every move on
+the part of the determined animal. Twice it looked as though success was
+about to crown the effort of the moose.</p>
+
+<p>"Keep going!" Phil told him, encouragingly, as he tapped the animal's
+nose with the toe of his shoe, just to keep his temper up, so he might
+not get weary of his task; "one good turn deserves another. The third
+time takes the cake. Just manage to get your old horns through first,
+and then you can push that big head after, as easy as pie. That's the
+way. Whoop! he's really done it!"</p>
+
+<p>Of course the moose could not understand the<a class="pagenum" name="page_152" id="page_152" title="152"></a> explicit directions which
+Phil was only too willingly handing him; but by some chance he did
+manage to get his obstructive horns through, and then follow with his
+head; though his shoulders would prevent him from going only so far.
+Phil thought he had been neatly trapped, and his next move was of course
+to slip out of the circle by another exit.</p>
+
+<p>"Wonder now if I dare skip out, and leave him there?"</p>
+
+<p>Phil asked himself this as he saw that the moose had already taken the
+alarm over his condition, and was acting wildly, twisting his head in
+every direction, and straining to drag it out.</p>
+
+<p>"What if his horns gave way, or broke off? Oh! that time he came within
+an ace of getting free! He may be smarter than a turtle, and remember
+how he pushed in. I'd be in a bad box if he did get free, and chased
+after me again lickety-split!"</p>
+
+<p>Phil believed it was his best policy to stay there, and watch a while
+longer, just to see what the animal would do. If some time passed, and
+the moose did not seem able to extricate himself from his sad dilemma,
+then Phil believed he could take his hurried departure; though he meant
+to snap off a picture of the animal first.<a class="pagenum" name="page_153" id="page_153" title="153"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Might as well do that same now, while I have the chance," he went on to
+say; and stepping well back to where he could get a fine view of the
+imprisoned moose, he again made use of his camera to advantage.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had he done so than he saw the animal twisting his head again in
+a way that threatened to bring about the catastrophe which Phil dreaded.
+In fact the boy had only time to once more hurriedly gain the shelter of
+the clump of trees when he saw the moose withdraw his head from its
+yoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it looks like you might be a smart one," muttered Phil, as he
+found himself once more fast in the trap, with the enraged animal
+striking at him with his hoofs, and making all sorts of queer noises
+that might be taken for threats.</p>
+
+<p>When this had gone on for nearly half an hour, and there was no sign of
+a cessation, Phil started to exercise his wits again. First he began an
+investigation of his pockets to see if there might not be some means for
+bringing this ridiculous and uncomfortable situation to an end.</p>
+
+<p>"What's this?" he exclaimed, as he drew forth a small package and stared
+at it, as if unable on<a class="pagenum" name="page_154" id="page_154" title="154"></a> the spur of the moment to understand what it was
+or how it came to be there; then it flashed upon him, and he gave a wild
+shout of joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, would you believe it, this must be the little paper of black
+pepper I had in my pack. Lub was asking for some this morning, while
+cooking breakfast; and when he handed it back to me I must have dropped
+it in my pocket without thinking what I was doing, meaning to put it on
+the shelf when I stood up. Hurrah! if ever a pinch of pepper was worth
+its weight in gold that time is now. It seems mighty cruel to do such a
+thing, but what else is left to me?"</p>
+
+<p>Of course it was an easy thing to get close enough to the moose to
+scatter some of the pepper over his head. It did seem a cruel thing to
+do, and Phil would never tell the story without a feeling of shame; but
+he considered that his life was at stake, and hence he was justified in
+going to such extreme measures.</p>
+
+<p>The actions of the bull moose immediately told that the siege was going
+to be called off without delay. He shook his head, snorted furiously,
+and then turning galloped away. Phil saw him collide with a tree before
+he passed from view, and the sight caused him to utter an exclamation of
+pity.<a class="pagenum" name="page_155" id="page_155" title="155"></a></p>
+
+<p>"But he'll pull through it in time," the boy was saying, as he came out
+of his place of refuge; "by to-morrow it'll be pretty nearly over. I
+wonder if he's learned a lesson, and will give two-legged strangers a
+wide berth after this. Well, it was all his own fault. He had no need to
+get into such a tearing rage because I took his picture. But let me tell
+you I'm as tired as if I'd been running a ten mile race. Every muscle in
+my body aches from the sudden jumps I had to give."</p>
+
+<p>Phil felt that on the whole he had come out of the scrape with honors.
+And whenever he looked at that picture of the moose with his head fast
+among the saplings, it would be apt to remind him forcibly of the
+adventure.</p>
+
+<p>"No more tramping for me to-day," he continued, shaking his head; "I've
+had good and plenty of it. The rest can wait for another time. Even if I
+didn't snap off another view all the time I was up here I'd feel it paid
+me to come; but I've got a few more cards up my sleeve to play. That
+flashlight business is going to pan out just great, I can see. Now to
+head for home. I can imagine how the boys' eyes will stare when I tell
+them what I've been up against, and prove it with that picture."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_156" id="page_156" title="156"></a>
+<a name="HOW_DADDY_CAME_BACK_3574" id="HOW_DADDY_CAME_BACK_3574"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+<h3>HOW "DADDY" CAME BACK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>In order to see more of the country Phil took a notion to change his
+course while heading for the home camp. This turned out to be another of
+those little things that occasionally happen by accident, but which
+afterwards seem to have been inspired.</p>
+
+<p>He had not been walking along more than ten or twelve minutes before he
+came to a sudden pause.</p>
+
+<p>"What under the sun could that have been," he asked himself, listening
+intently; "sounded as near like a regular groan as anything could be."</p>
+
+<p>Ridiculous as it might seem, Phil even thought of the suffering moose,
+and wondered whether the distressed animal could have taken shelter in
+that thick copse, to moan with pain. Then again he heard the strange
+sound.</p>
+
+<p>"It must be some one's lying there, and in<a class="pagenum" name="page_157" id="page_157" title="157"></a> pain!" Phil observed, though
+the idea gave him a thrill of apprehension.</p>
+
+<p>He stepped closer, and when for the third time the same type of noise
+welled out of the bushes he made bold to call:</p>
+
+<p>"Who's there? Do you need any help?"</p>
+
+<p>There was a rustling sound. Then the bushes parted, and he saw a man's
+face peering at him. Phil could not remember ever having seen that face
+before, and yet it struck him that he ought to be able to give a good
+guess who the other was going to turn out to be. He had Mazie in his
+mind just then; her "daddy" was the only man known to be around that
+neighborhood.</p>
+
+<p>The other beckoned to him, and as Phil approached he went on to say, in
+a voice that was half muffled, both with pain and anxiety:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I'm glad that you've come, boy. My leg is broken, and I've got to
+the point where I can't seem to drag myself another yard. I'm hungry
+too, and crazy for a drink of water. But I was just making up my mind I
+might as well give up, and be done with it; because if she's dead
+there's no use of my living!"</p>
+
+<p>That settled one thing in Phil's mind. The man was Mazie's father.
+Already the boy could see that he did not have the look of a villain.<a class="pagenum" name="page_158" id="page_158" title="158"></a>
+Pain and want had made deep lines on his face, but somehow Phil believed
+the other was all right.</p>
+
+<p>He could easily imagine what the father must have suffered both in body
+and mind, with his little daughter lost in that big wilderness, and a
+broken leg preventing him from searching for her, as he would have
+wanted to.</p>
+
+<p>Evidently he must be relieved in his mind as speedily as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean Mazie?" Phil asked.</p>
+
+<p>The man stared hard at him. Then, as hope struggled into his almost
+broken heart he burst out with:</p>
+
+<p>"Why do you ask me that? How do you know her name? Oh! boy, boy, tell me
+she is safe&mdash;that you or some of your friends have found my darling
+child!"</p>
+
+<p>At that Phil nodded quickly in the affirmative, and the man fell
+backwards as though about to faint from sheer joy. But it was not so,
+for he struggled up once more to his former sitting posture, as Phil
+bent over him.</p>
+
+<p>"Safe, Mazie safe after all! Oh! it seems that I must be dreaming, it is
+too good to be true! Tell me in plain words, I beg of you, boy!"</p>
+
+<p>"She is at the cabin with us, and perfectly<a class="pagenum" name="page_159" id="page_159" title="159"></a> well," Phil went on to say,
+plainly. "I found her crying in the woods. Are you her 'daddy'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I have been trying to crawl all the way to the cabin, dragging
+this wretched leg after me," the man told him; "it seemed as if it would
+kill me with the pain, but as long as I was able I kept it up, for
+something seemed to tell me my only hope was there. I meant to beg you
+to scour the woods, and call her name everywhere. Oh! it is a wonder my
+hair hasn't turned white with what I have suffered, mostly in mind, for
+I could stand the rest without whimpering. Mazie is safe! Oh! I see now
+what a fearful wrong I have done. I vow to repair it as soon as I can
+travel."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you let me take a look at your leg?" asked the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Only too gladly, if you think you can do me any good," he was instantly
+told. "My one longing now is to get to where the child is. To have her
+in my arms I would endure any torture there could be."</p>
+
+<p>"I happen to know a little about such things, and perhaps could do you
+some good," Phil went on to tell him. "Then there happens to be a little
+spring back a short distance for I had a drink<a class="pagenum" name="page_160" id="page_160" title="160"></a> there, and the water's
+icy cold. I'll fetch you some before I hurry to the cabin to get help."</p>
+
+<p>"You are kind, boy; what shall I call you?" asked the man; and evidently
+from his looks, speech, and manners he was a gentleman, Phil realized.</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Phil Bradley," he said, as he bent down to see what he could
+do for the injured limb; "there are four of us up here for a little
+outing. I happen to own a patch of ground bordering on Lake Surprise,
+and that birch bark lodge is on it."</p>
+
+<p>The man muttered something to himself, and Phil thought he caught the
+one word "fool." Perhaps he was taking himself to task for acting so on
+impulse when first discovering the coming of the strangers, whom he must
+have believed were persons whom he had reason to distrust.</p>
+
+<p>All that could be left until later for discussion among himself and his
+three chums; Phil felt that his present business was to succor the
+wounded man.</p>
+
+<p>He found that there was a compound fracture of the bones of the lower
+limb, not far from the ankle. The man must have caught his foot somehow,
+and pitched forward heavily.</p>
+
+<p>"Once we get you to the cabin, sir, and I'm<a class="pagenum" name="page_161" id="page_161" title="161"></a> sure I can set the bones,
+and ease your pain greatly," he told the other, presently.</p>
+
+<p>"That satisfies me," the man remarked, closing his lips as though he
+felt that he could stand anything, now that Mazie was safe. "Please make
+all the haste you possibly can. Minutes will seem like hours to me until
+I feel her dear little arms around my neck."</p>
+
+<p>"First I must get you a drink," Phil told him; and without waiting to
+see or hear anything more he darted off, all his own weariness utterly
+forgotten in this one desire to render first aid to the wounded.</p>
+
+<p>He had no trouble doubling on his own trail, and thus finding the
+spring. Since there was no other means for carrying water Phil dipped
+his hat in, and was soon back alongside the injured man, who drank
+greedily of the cold fluid, and seemed greatly refreshed in consequence.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I'll run in the direction of the cabin," Phil observed, after he
+had in this fashion relieved the pressing needs of the other.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure you can find me again?" asked the man, anxiously. "If you
+are in doubt call out, and I'll try to answer. I heard shouts a little
+while back, but my throat was too dry for me to make a sound above a
+groan."<a class="pagenum" name="page_162" id="page_162" title="162"></a></p>
+
+<p>"You heard me having a little circus with an angry bull moose that had
+me backed up behind a tree," Phil told him; "but never fear about my
+being able to come straight here. I'm woodsman enough for that, and take
+my bearings as I go. Look for us to come inside of an hour, sir."</p>
+
+<p>With that he was off on a run. Just as he had said with such assurance,
+he had his bearings, and knew just which way to go in order to reach
+home. Before twenty minutes had elapsed Phil burst upon those comrades
+who were clustered in front of the cabin, watching the little girl do
+some cunning dance steps which she could hardly have learned up there in
+that wilderness.</p>
+
+<p>Judging from his excited condition that Phil had met with an adventure
+of some sort, the boys began to ask numerous questions.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind what it's all about, fellows," he told them. "I want Ethan
+and X-Ray to come with me right away. Lub, you look after the cabin, and
+Mazie. Ethan, fetch your camp hatchet; and we will need some ends of
+rope. Hurry, both of you! I'll explain after we're on the run!"</p>
+
+<p>The blank expression on poor Lub's face told better than words what he
+thought of being left<a class="pagenum" name="page_163" id="page_163" title="163"></a> out in the cold that way. Still, he was so
+accustomed to doing what he was told that such a thing as rebellion
+never once entered his head. Besides, he must have realized that some
+one had to stay with the child. And when it came to sprinting, as Phil
+seemed to think was going to be necessary, Lub was not built for quick
+action or long continued running.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had hardly time to draw a dozen long breaths before the other boys
+announced that they were ready to accompany him.</p>
+
+<p>Wonder was written in big letters all over their faces. The little Phil
+had said must certainly have aroused their curiosity until it reached
+fever heat.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, for goodness' sake open up, and tell what all this is about,
+please, Phil!" begged X-Ray Tyson, as they ran along in company.</p>
+
+<p>It was no time to even mention anything concerning the stirring
+adventure with that stubborn and combative moose bull. Later on he could
+relate the story, and perhaps show them the pictures he had taken, to
+prove his marvelous tale.</p>
+
+<p>"Man up in the woods here a ways, with a broken leg!" he started to say.</p>
+
+<p>"Whee! is that so?" exclaimed Ethan.<a class="pagenum" name="page_164" id="page_164" title="164"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Mazie's 'daddy' for a cookey!" cried X-Ray, always the first to alight
+on a solution to a puzzling question.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's who he is," Phil went on, jerking out his words somewhat,
+because he was using up his wind in running. "He broke it while hunting
+for the child; and has been nigh crazy ever since. Struck him he might
+get help from us. Started to actually drag himself all the way there.
+Petered out in the end. Bad shape, too, but think I can pull him through
+all right!"</p>
+
+<p>"You want us to help get him home; is that it, Phil?" demanded Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we've just got to do it. Poor fellow needs lots of attention. He'd
+likely die if left much longer. I think gangrene would set in, and
+finish him. Glad I fetched along my little medicine case, with bandages
+and such things. Thought one of us might get into trouble, and need it.
+Handy thing to have around in the woods."</p>
+
+<p>"It sure is," agreed X-Ray Tyson; "but how can we carry a man all the
+way to the cabin, Phil? If he's that bad hurt it's going to be a hard
+job."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! see this hatchet?" demanded Ethan,<a class="pagenum" name="page_165" id="page_165" title="165"></a> flourishing the article in
+question before the eyes of the other. "Well, with that sharp edge it
+won't be a hard thing to tinker up some kind of stretcher. That's what
+Phil had in mind when he told you to fetch some rope ends along."</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I did," Phil assured them; "but hold on now, and save your
+breath for running; you'll need it all. We'll get there in ten minutes
+more, I think."</p>
+
+<p>About that time had elapsed when Phil sighted the spot where he had left
+the wounded man. He knew it from the land marks he had impressed on his
+mind. And both going and coming the boy had maintained a constant watch,
+so as to make sure that he continued in the direct line he had laid out.</p>
+
+<p>"There he is!" he suddenly exclaimed, as he saw a hand feebly waving
+from the covert of bushes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I'm glad you've gotten back again!" the wounded man told Phil. "It
+has seemed ages since you left; but I watched the sun, and knew that the
+hour had not passed that you said it might take. These are your friends,
+are they?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Ethan Allan and Raymond Tyson. We mean to get busy, and make some
+sort of a<a class="pagenum" name="page_166" id="page_166" title="166"></a> litter that will do to carry you on. Let's see, you begin and
+cut some poles, Ethan."</p>
+
+<p>As the boy with the camp hatchet knew just what sort to select, he was
+soon busily engaged in chopping down small saplings. As these were
+trimmed of branches, and cut in proper lengths the other boys began to
+splice them together.</p>
+
+<p>After all it was not a hard task. Although possibly none of them had
+ever built such a thing as a stretcher, they knew in a general way how
+it must be done in order to accommodate a wounded man. There were four
+handles by means of which it could be gripped and carried. These two
+main braces of course were extra strong, and made of hickory. Then the
+others were shorter and not so thick, so that the body of the stretcher
+might bend somewhat.</p>
+
+<p>When the thing was completed the boys found some hemlock browse, with
+which they made as soft a bed as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, if you can stand for it to let us lift you, we'll soon be on our
+way," Phil went on to say to the injured man.</p>
+
+<p>"I can stand anything but continued suspense," the other declared,
+bravely.</p>
+
+<p>They could see that he had to shut his teeth<a class="pagenum" name="page_167" id="page_167" title="167"></a> tightly together in order
+to keep back his groans while they were lifting him as gently as they
+could. But despite his white face the man tried to smile at Phil when he
+saw the look of pity on the boy's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mind me&mdash;I'm all right&mdash;you're doing famously&mdash;I'll never, never
+forget it, either!" he said, between breaths.</p>
+
+<p>Phil took one end, that nearer the patient's feet, while the other boys
+managed the second pair of handles between them. The stretcher had been
+made purposely narrow at the foot, so that one bearer could handle it.</p>
+
+<p>"If you get tired, sing out, Phil, and we'll change all around," X-Ray
+remarked.</p>
+
+<p>It was not hard work after all. The man happened to be of medium weight,
+and not unusually tall, so with only two short resting spells they
+carried their burden all the way to the shore of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>How eagerly he leaned over one side of the stretcher, and strove to
+catch a first glimpse of his child, over whose fate he had been almost
+losing his mind while lying there, wounded so grievously in the pine
+woods.</p>
+
+<p>Lub heard them coming. He stared almost stupidly at first, hardly
+understanding what it<a class="pagenum" name="page_168" id="page_168" title="168"></a> was they were carrying. Perhaps Lub even thought
+it might be that pugnacious half-grown bear cub, which had attacked Phil
+in the forest and suffered in consequence.</p>
+
+<p>He quickly understood differently, however. There was a flutter near
+him, a swift patter of childish feet flying over the ground, a gasping
+cry, and then little Mazie was clasped in the eager arms of the man on
+the litter. Regardless of the pain his exertions were causing him the
+father pressed his darling to his heart, while a look of supreme joy
+came upon his white face.</p>
+
+<p>Then Phil had to bend over and unwind the arms of Mazie from the neck of
+"daddy," for he suddenly discovered that what with his emotions and the
+agony of his broken limb the man had fainted dead away.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_169" id="page_169" title="169"></a>
+<a name="THE_PUZZLE_OF_IT_ALL_3880" id="THE_PUZZLE_OF_IT_ALL_3880"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+<h3>THE PUZZLE OF IT ALL</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"What d'ye make out of it all, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>When Ethan asked this question two days had elapsed since they brought
+the wounded man to the cabin. Much had happened during this time. In the
+first place Phil had proven himself a splendid amateur surgeon, for he
+had set the broken bones, and attended to securing splices so that they
+would be kept in proper position while the mending process continued.</p>
+
+<p>Of course this was somewhat old-fashioned, because a doctor would have
+set the limb in a plaster cast; but Phil's way promised to answer for
+all practical purposes.</p>
+
+<p>The man had improved remarkably. He was even cheerful, though at times
+Phil had seen him shake his head, and could hear him sigh. This was
+always while he was watching Mazie; and it did not require much to tell
+the boy that whatever<a class="pagenum" name="page_170" id="page_170" title="170"></a> was upon the man's troubled conscience concerned
+his child.</p>
+
+<p>"It's pretty hard to say, Ethan," he told the other; "I can't make up my
+mind that's he's any sort of a scamp. His actions tell us that, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"And it's hard for me to believe that any man who loves a child as he
+does that one of his, can be a bad man," Ethan declared, emphatically.</p>
+
+<p>"Yet you saw how he turned red in the face when I handed him the
+telegram, and explained how we found it caught under the bow seat of his
+birch-bark canoe," continued Phil, looking troubled.</p>
+
+<p>"What was it he mumbled at the time; I didn't quite get it?" Ethan
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"He admitted," the other explained, "that the message had come to him.
+He also said that was not his real name, but one assumed for a purpose,
+of which he was now heartily ashamed."</p>
+
+<p>"That sounds queer, don't you think, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, no, I can't say that I do," Ethan was told. "Any of us might do
+something on the spur of the moment that we found reason to feel sorry
+for afterwards. Only the other day I bitterly repented of insulting that
+noble old bull moose by daring to snap my camera at him<a class="pagenum" name="page_171" id="page_171" title="171"></a> point-blank,
+didn't I? He made it pretty warm for me, I tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"But this mysterious man must have done something dreadful, to have him
+say he was so repentant!" persisted Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"You're only jumping at conclusions," he was told, bluntly. "I heard him
+say at the time he was lying there in the pine woods and suffering, that
+he realized he had done somebody a great wrong, and that if he lived he
+meant to right it. Now, according to my notion, that was a fine thing
+for him to say."</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe so," remarked Ethan. "I've heard my father say that the best men
+are those who've been through the fire, done some wrong, and repented,
+so that they think they must spend the rest of their lives making good.
+And between us I kind of fancy Mazie's daddy. He seems to be a pretty
+nice man."</p>
+
+<p>"Mazie evidently thinks there isn't another like him in the whole
+world," Phil told him; "look at her now as she sits there holding his
+hand. Why, Ethan, believe me, I can see what looks mighty like a tear
+running down his cheek. Yes, there, he wiped it away, and shook his
+head. That man's made up his mind to some big sacrifice, you mark my
+words."<a class="pagenum" name="page_172" id="page_172" title="172"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Then it must be in connection with Mazie," added Ethan, quickly;
+"because the sun rises and sets with her, in his opinion."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder now," began Phil, with lines on his forehead, as though a
+sudden idea had flashed into his mind that he hardly knew how to handle.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you thinking about?" inquired Ethan, who knew the signs.</p>
+
+<p>"But then there's no doubt he's her father, so that could hardly be,"
+Phil went on to say, as though crushing the suspicion that had arisen.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what about it, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I just happened to wonder if he could have stolen the child from
+some one, and had now made up his mind that it was wicked, and she must
+be returned. But then, how could a father be tempted to steal his own
+child? I reckon that must have been a silly notion. Let's forget it."</p>
+
+<p>"Like as not we'll never know," Ethan observed, a little provoked, it
+seemed, on account of not being able to solve the mystery that
+surrounded Mazie and her "daddy;" for Ethan above all things hated to
+give a puzzle up as beyond his power.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait and see," the other advised him. "As it is now, he feels under
+some obligations to the<a class="pagenum" name="page_173" id="page_173" title="173"></a> lot of us, and may think we deserve to hear his
+story before we get him down to civilization again."</p>
+
+<p>"Some obligation?" repeated Ethan. "Well, it's my honest opinion he owes
+you his life! If you hadn't found him when you did, he'd be dead right
+now. And then about that job of setting the bones in his leg, you did
+yourself proud there. It'd be a queer thing, and ungrateful in the
+bargain, if he said good-by, and never once opened up to explain
+things."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't going to bother me a bit," Phil told him.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, is that a hint that I'm foolish to keep it on my mind?" asked
+Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"If the shoe fits, put it on," his chum told him. "But one thing sure,
+he'll never be able to walk on that leg by the time we expect to start
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"Which I take it means we'll either have to carry him all the way down
+to the village on that stretcher, if it takes two days; or else one of
+us go after a team."</p>
+
+<p>"Without any road up here," Phil explained, "it would be a hard job to
+get horses to the lake. And then the going would be so tough he'd suffer
+terribly. So as near as I can see it looks as if we'd have to work that
+stretcher again."<a class="pagenum" name="page_174" id="page_174" title="174"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Huh! I like that!" grunted Ethan, though he must have meant it in
+sarcasm, for his tone showed anything but enthusiasm. "We all
+congratulated ourselves on the way up here on the fact that we'd have it
+easy going out of the woods, because all that canned stuff and other
+grub would be devoured. And now by jinks! if we don't have to lug a
+<i>man</i> out. Whee!"</p>
+
+<p>"But there's no other way, Ethan; and you'd be the last fellow to vote
+to leave him behind, if I know you," ventured Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Sure, I would, and don't you mind how I grumble every little while,
+Phil. My grandfather on my mother's side was a whaler, and I guess now I
+must have inherited his sailor way of growling. I try to cure myself of
+the habit, but she will break out once in a while. It's harmless, you
+know; it comes from the mouth but not from the heart."</p>
+
+<p>Phil laughed softly.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't chummed with you as long as this not to know you like a book,
+old fellow," he said, affectionately, as he laid a hand on the other's
+shoulder. "We've had some pretty good times, together with X-Ray Tyson
+and jolly old Lub; and we hope to enjoy a lot more. Wait till we get
+down there on Currituck Sound this fall,<a class="pagenum" name="page_175" id="page_175" title="175"></a> when the ducks are arriving in
+flocks. You know I've got the finest little shooting-box located there
+you ever heard tell of. And, say, perhaps we won't have the grandest
+time going."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope nothing will keep us from going along with you, that's all,"
+said Ethan, drawing a long breath; for gunning was his one particular
+hobby, and the prospect of a week or two on those famous ducking-grounds
+appealed irresistibly to his hunter's heart.</p>
+
+<p>"This has been the hottest day we've struck since we came up here," said
+X-Ray Tyson just then, as he came sauntering up, wiping his forehead
+with his big red bandanna.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and unless I'm a poor weather prophet," added Phil, taking a look
+aloft as he spoke, "we're just about due for a whacker of a storm. No
+leaving my camera out-of-doors this night, I tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll all be glad of a decent roof over our heads, if she comes on to
+blow and rain great guns," Ethan remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"How about the pictures you were printing a while ago, Phil; turn out
+well?" asked the last comer.</p>
+
+<p>"See for yourself," he was told, as Phil drew a<a class="pagenum" name="page_176" id="page_176" title="176"></a> little book out of his
+pocket, among the leaves of which he had a number of fresh prints.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that one of the moose poking his head between the little trees is
+a jim-dandy, let me tell you!" declared X-Ray Tyson. "Every wrinkle of
+his hide shows as plain as it could. And say, here's one showing Ethan
+and me carrying the litter, with Mazie's daddy on the same. I didn't
+know you snapped that off."</p>
+
+<p>"You've had great luck so far in all your pictures, haven't you, Phil?"
+Ethan went on to say.</p>
+
+<p>"No complaints from me," he was told; "and I do feel I've been in great
+luck, as you say. I've got on the track of a fox, and pretty soon I hope
+to have his smart phiz along with the rest."</p>
+
+<p>"It'll be a prize collection yet, take that from me," X-Ray announced.</p>
+
+<p>"The funny part of it," continued Ethan, "is the fact that while you'll
+have all these pictures, most of the originals you've never seen. That
+comes of fixing it so they press the button, and do the flashlight act
+themselves."</p>
+
+<p>"Saves a heap of trouble," commented X-Ray, sensibly.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course the main thing is," Phil went on to say, "that you couldn't
+get that class of Animated Nature picture in any other way. I'd<a class="pagenum" name="page_177" id="page_177" title="177"></a> hate to
+stick it out all night, waiting for Mr. 'Possum or Br'er Rabbit to
+breeze along, so I could flash him. Besides, the most wary of all, Br'er
+Fox, wouldn't come within a hundred feet of a human scent. They've got
+too keen noses for that. And yet I expect to show a fox picture soon."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I had one of that dandy black fox I trapped last winter, and the
+pelt of which brought me over a cool three hundred," remarked Ethan; and
+X-Ray was heard to take a quick breath as though given a little shock;
+at the same time winking aside toward Phil, who frowned, and shook his
+head threateningly.</p>
+
+<p>They did not share that enthusiasm with the proud trapper, over that
+particular foxskin; simply because they knew it was a very poor specimen
+of its kind, and by rights not worth one-tenth the amount of the check
+which Ethan had received from the dealer in the distant city&mdash;Phil's
+uncle, though Ethan never dreamed of such a dreadful thing.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it strikes me you're a pretty clever weather man after all, Phil,
+because I certainly heard far-away thunder right then," and X-Ray as he
+said this pointed up at the heavens, which were heavily overcast with
+dark clouds.<a class="pagenum" name="page_178" id="page_178" title="178"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Let's get busy then, and see that everything is snug," Phil suggested.</p>
+
+<p>"First of all we must get Mazie and her daddy housed," Ethan remarked.
+"By using the pair of rough crutches I made him, and with some help, he
+manages to get about after a fashion, though he'd be better keeping
+still some days yet. But he's such an active man it's hard to tie him
+down."</p>
+
+<p>"He told me," Phil informed them, "he had that boat carried away up here
+on the back of a guide; and that another man brought his grub, blankets
+and outfit. You know we went and got all the duffle from the place he'd
+hidden it when he left here, a regular cave in the rocks; and everything
+looks like the party who bought the same had money to burn."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he admitted that much to me," said Phil. "He also said those marks
+were on the table when they came. One of the guides told him a story
+about some men who were up two years ago, and arrested by government
+agents. He thinks they may have been bogus money-makers. When I showed
+him the fifty-cent piece X-Ray found he tried it every which way, and
+said it was probably counterfeit, though as clever an imitation as he
+had ever seen. But there's<a class="pagenum" name="page_179" id="page_179" title="179"></a> another grumble of thunder, boys, so let's
+get to work."</p>
+
+<p>With the four of them hustling, things were speedily arranged. After the
+lame man and Mazie had been assisted under cover, the boys started to
+lay in plenty of fire-wood to last them a couple of days. There could be
+no telling how long the storm might linger&mdash;perhaps there would be only
+an hour of furious bombardment; and then again it was likely to rain
+heavily for days. Adirondack storms have a pretty bad name, as all will
+agree who have ever experienced their vigor and fury.</p>
+
+<p>X-Ray even climbed up on the roof, and proceeded to patch one corner
+that he imagined needed repairs.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not like the backwoodsman who never seemed to get his leaky roof
+mended," X-Ray announced, from his elevated position; "and when they
+came to ask him the reason he says, says he: 'When it rains I carnt mend
+it; and when the weather's dry, what's the use?' The time to do it is
+when you hear the thunder warning you there's something great coming."</p>
+
+<p>"It's getting closer all the while," commented Phil, as a louder burst
+came to their ears.</p>
+
+<p>"And listen, what's that other sound we hear?"<a class="pagenum" name="page_180" id="page_180" title="180"></a> asked X-Ray Tyson, about
+ready to descend from his perch.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, that's wind!" announced Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"Whew! it must be a hurricane then, for I thought that was a freight
+train. I'm glad we haven't any big tree hanging over us that'd be in
+danger of falling. And I'm also pleased to know our Lodge is so well
+protected by evergreens and birches. They'll serve as a wind-break."</p>
+
+<p>"There's the rain; and as the wind is pretty fierce, we'd better adjourn
+to the cabin," and Phil led the way, with the others at his heels.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had they entered than there was a vivid flash without, followed
+by a crash that shook the humble cabin. Then with a shriek the wind
+swooped down, the rain began to fall in sheets and the storm was on.</p>
+
+<p>They had seen ordinary storms many times, but one and all were decidedly
+of the opinion that this was something beyond the common. When X-Ray
+called it a hurricane he was not far out of the way.</p>
+
+<p>Every little while they could hear a crash somewhere near by that
+sounded like a big tree falling; and in fact they understood that this
+was what was taking place; all of which made them doubly glad they had
+so good a shelter.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_181" id="page_181" title="181"></a>
+<a name="AFTER_THE_STORM_4172" id="AFTER_THE_STORM_4172"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+<h3>AFTER THE STORM</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Such a night I've passed; never slept a wink!" groaned Lub, as he
+dangled his feet over the side of an upper bunk, and held a heavy head
+between his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, all I can say is that you made so much noise snoring I couldn't
+hear the wind blow at times; so explain that away if you can. Jump down
+there, and stop shutting off what little light there is from me."</p>
+
+<p>That was X-Ray Tyson talking. As Ethan had insisted on making himself a
+sleeping place on the floor alongside Phil, X-Ray had pre-empted his
+bunk, giving his own to the wounded man, while little Mazie had the
+second upper one.</p>
+
+<p>It had indeed been a terrible night.</p>
+
+<p>With little cessation the storm had held forth. At times Phil, lying
+awake because it was impossible to get the clamor out of his mind,
+wondered if there would be any decent-sized trees<a class="pagenum" name="page_182" id="page_182" title="182"></a> left in the North
+Woods by the time things settled down quiet again.</p>
+
+<p>He and Ethan were up and busily engaged getting some breakfast ready. It
+was as much as they could do to see, so dim was the light; and they did
+not dare use the lantern, because their supply of kerosene was limited.</p>
+
+<p>"How'd you like to have been caught out in that whooper, eh, Lub?" asked
+Ethan, as the other continued to yawn, and rub his reddened eyes, though
+still occupying his position there on the edge of his berth, X-Ray
+having crawled out below.</p>
+
+<p>"Please excuse me from answering that question," the other replied. "I
+never'd have survived it, I reckon. Bad enough to be in a dinky little
+twelve by twelve cabin, let alone a hollow tree, or a make-shift under a
+shelving rock."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, none of your making fun of Birch Bark Lodge," warned X-Ray; "it's
+been a hunky-dory refuge, all right, don't forget it. And say, not a
+drop leaked in on us through that bad part in the roof. Shows what a
+little common-sense can do for things, don't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"All I can say," remarked Phil, from over the fire, "is that I'm sorry
+for any one who might be unlucky enough as to get caught in that
+howler.<a class="pagenum" name="page_183" id="page_183" title="183"></a> If they missed being struck by lightning, they ran a big chance
+of getting crushed under a falling tree."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," added Ethan, "and at the best they'd be soaked through and
+through. It's no fun to feel that way all night. You start to shivering,
+and then like as not your teeth rattle together like you've heard the
+minstrel end-man shake his bones when he sings. I've had a little
+experience, and I know what I'm talking about."</p>
+
+<p>The man in the lower bunk had been listening to all this conversation.
+Phil noticed he seemed to have an additional line across his forehead.
+Perhaps the storm had also kept him awake. Possibly he had often thought
+of how uncomfortable it would be for any one he happened to know, who
+might have been caught in the open woods by the howling gale.</p>
+
+<p>They were eating breakfast some time later, when the man from his bunk,
+since he preferred to lie there while so many were around the small
+cabin, called out to Phil. He had long since recognized the patent fact
+that the Bradley boy was a leader of his set; and that the other three
+only too gladly looked up to Phil, not on account of his being
+independent with regard to<a class="pagenum" name="page_184" id="page_184" title="184"></a> means, but because he had the attributes of
+leadership in his person.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think the storm has slackened for good, Phil, or will it come
+back again for another siege? It seems to me the wind has changed, and
+is blowing much more evenly."</p>
+
+<p>"When I took that look out just a bit ago," Phil told him, "I noticed
+several pretty good signs that seemed to tell we had got to the wind-up.
+It wouldn't surprise me, because these hard storms are not the ones that
+last for days. We could go out now, if we didn't mind getting wet from
+the dripping of the trees."</p>
+
+<p>The man had something on his mind, Phil saw. During the night he must
+have been thinking deeply. Perhaps conscience was gripping him more than
+ever, and the coming of that fearful storm had been the "last straw on
+the camel's back."</p>
+
+<p>"I hate to ask any further favors of you, Phil," he finally said, with
+an effort, "but a great fear has taken hold of me during the night. With
+every fresh howl of the wind I seemed to hear a cry for help! It almost
+set me wild. If I had not been such a cripple I believe I must have
+dashed out of the cabin, and spent the remainder<a class="pagenum" name="page_185" id="page_185" title="185"></a> of the night wandering
+around, searching the woods."</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the boys stared at him. Perhaps it may have occurred to one
+or more of them that Mazie's father was losing his mind. But Phil knew
+there was something back of it all. He had been trying to study the man,
+figure out what ailed him, and why he had been hiding himself and the
+child away up in this solitude.</p>
+
+<p>"Were you expecting <i>some one</i> to come up here looking for you, sir?" he
+asked, boldly, remembering what the contents of that telegraph message
+had been.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's what has been worrying me," admitted the man, acting as
+though he knew the time had come when he must explain away at least a
+part of the mystery that surrounded him, if he expected these friendly
+lads to assist him further.</p>
+
+<p>"An enemy, most likely?" continued Phil, seeing the other hesitate.</p>
+
+<p>At that there was a heavy intaking of the breath, and then the man went
+on to say:</p>
+
+<p>"No, hardly that. I would not like to give it so harsh a term. Say a
+friend from whom I have been estranged, and who I believed had<a class="pagenum" name="page_186" id="page_186" title="186"></a> wronged
+me; though of late my eyes have been opened to my own faults, and I have
+repented of many things done in the heat of temper."</p>
+
+<p>"And you believe then that this friend may have engaged a guide&mdash;that it
+is at least possible they were not far away from here when the storm
+broke. You fear they may have been caught and made to suffer; is that
+it, sir?"</p>
+
+<p>Phil was handling the affair wonderfully well, his chums thought, as
+they listened to all that was being said.</p>
+
+<p>"That is what I have cause to fear," the other went on to say, quickly.
+"Through the livelong night of tempest I have fancied I heard their
+cries for help, and oh! how they crucified me! It would be a terrible
+punishment on my head if some tragedy had taken place in the pine woods
+last night; and Mazie&mdash;" his voice failed him in his emotion, and he did
+not finish his sentence.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want us to go out and see if there are any signs of strangers on
+the trail leading up here, the one we followed all the way from the
+village many miles off?" Phil asked; and his manner was so reassuring
+that the wounded man immediately nodded his head in the affirmative.<a class="pagenum" name="page_187" id="page_187" title="187"></a></p>
+
+<p>"It would be a fitting climax to all you and your fine chums have done
+for me and mine," he told them, with tears in his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Shucks! that wouldn't be such a great job," Lub hastened to say, before
+any one else could talk; "and I volunteer to be one of the party right
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"But you'd get all wet, Lub, you know," expostulated Ethan.</p>
+
+<p>"What of that?" came the indignant response; "am I made of salt, or
+sugar? Haven't I been soaked before? If I could stand jumping into the
+lake with my clothes on, when the hornets tackled me, I ought to be able
+to take a little sprinkling, hadn't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll all go, so as to spread out considerable," suggested X-Ray Tyson,
+who, truth to tell, was a little afraid of being left to look after
+things at the lodge. "I'm needed because I've got the sharpest eyes;
+Ethan might have a chance to bring some of his woodcraft into play; Phil
+is the one to run things; and Lub, well, he spoke first, and ought to
+have a show."</p>
+
+<p>"Knowing what we'll be up against," said Phil, "we can arrange
+accordingly, so when we get back we'll have something dry to put on.
+Before we start we'll get Mr.&mdash;Mr. Newton<a class="pagenum" name="page_188" id="page_188" title="188"></a> out, and fixed before the
+fire, so he can feed it as often as he pleases."</p>
+
+<p>The man had flushed when Phil purposely hesitated about calling the name
+that had been given in that message.</p>
+
+<p>"Call me Alwyn Merriwell from now on," he hastily told them. "That is my
+real name. The time has passed for all deceit and assumed names. I have
+made up my mind to do what is right for&mdash;for the other party, no matter
+what pain and suffering it brings to me."</p>
+
+<p>A short time later the boys began to prepare to start out. Phil saw that
+their injured guest was really working himself up into a fever over the
+anxiety he was enduring. His thoughts during the night had had a strong
+effect upon him. He may even have dreamed something dreadful had really
+happened, and it haunted him.</p>
+
+<p>Acting on Phil's advice the others dressed lightly. This would allow of
+leaving certain parts of their clothing behind, to be resumed on their
+return.</p>
+
+<p>"We will be moving all the time, and can keep warm enough, even while
+wet to the skin," he told them, as they started forth, after saying
+good-by to Mazie, who was content to sit alongside<a class="pagenum" name="page_189" id="page_189" title="189"></a> her "daddy," holding
+his hand, and prattling constantly as was her pretty way.</p>
+
+<p>Phil had managed to cover his little camera, so that he could take it
+along.</p>
+
+<p>"Like as not we'll run across some effects of the hurricane that we'd
+like to remember," he explained, when X-Ray looked questioningly at the
+camera. "There must be places where trees have been thrown down in all
+sorts of twisted shapes; and those sort of things always make the boss
+pictures, you know."</p>
+
+<p>They followed the trail. It was very faint in many places; but then
+Ethan could be depended on to find it whenever a cry arose that it was
+lost. Phil, too, had his bearings pretty well in hand, though as a rule
+he allowed Ethan to swing things, for he saw that it was giving him no
+end of pleasure to thus exercise his knowledge of woodcraft.</p>
+
+<p>For a full hour they pushed on. The sun peeped out every little while,
+showing that Phil had guessed rightly when he said the storm was a thing
+of the past. The leaves still dripped, though not so copiously as at
+first. Lub even boasted that he seemed to be drying off faster than he
+got wet. That fact apparently occupied more of his attention than other
+matters.<a class="pagenum" name="page_190" id="page_190" title="190"></a></p>
+
+<p>"How far ought we go, do you think, Phil?" inquired X-Ray Tyson; "not
+that I'm getting tired at all; but I just asked for information."</p>
+
+<p>"Another half-hour, and then we'll call it off," he was told. "By that
+time we'll have covered a number of miles. If this&mdash;er&mdash;friend of Mr.
+Merriwell's is anywhere around, and able to make us hear, we'll come on
+the party."</p>
+
+<p>"Beats me to understand what it all means," grumbled Lub. "And d'ye
+know, I've got a good suspicion that you've tumbled to the game, Phil."</p>
+
+<p>"I've been told no more than the rest of you," the other replied; "and
+my guess may be wide of the mark; so just now I'm not going to say
+anything more. But you can see from the way he keeps looking at Mazie
+she's got something to do with it all. When he talks about having to
+make a terrible sacrifice it means giving her up."</p>
+
+<p>"Gee whiz! I never once thought of that!" burst out Lub; "now I bet you
+the little tot's got a grandfather who's been left the child by her
+mother when she died. Is that the answer, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"I refuse to say, Lub. Ethan and I have been talking it over, and we've
+come to a certain<a class="pagenum" name="page_191" id="page_191" title="191"></a> conclusion; but wait a little, and we'll explain. We
+may find the person he seems to be expecting. Perhaps he received a
+later message, and which warned him his presence up here was known."</p>
+
+<p>Lub relapsed into silence. It could be seen, however, that he was
+pondering over matters, for that serious look on his usually placid face
+betrayed the fact.</p>
+
+<p>They continued to push forward, and kept up a constant watch for any
+sign that would indicate the presence of strangers. This might be the
+smoke of a fire, or the sound of an ax.</p>
+
+<p>"How would it do to let out a whoop every little while, Phil?" suggested
+X-Ray Tyson; "for all we know they might have lost the trail in the
+storm, and be somewhere to one side. It'd be a mean thing if we passed
+'em by without knowing it."</p>
+
+<p>"That isn't a bad idea," Phil told him; "so start in right away with a
+yodel."</p>
+
+<p>This was all the other was waiting for, and he accordingly lifted up his
+voice in a loud shout. Any camper hearing it would understand that the
+call was meant for a friendly one, and must hasten to reply.<a class="pagenum" name="page_192" id="page_192" title="192"></a></p>
+
+<p>"There, wasn't that an answer; or do they have echoes as wonderful as
+that up here in the North Woods?" demanded X-Ray, excitedly.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a shout, all right," Ethan told him, positively.</p>
+
+<p>"And came from over on our right," added Phil, pleased at least that all
+their labor had not been for nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's mark the trail so we can be sure to find her again," Ethan
+continued; always cautious about letting a good thing slip him.</p>
+
+<p>This being done by means of a certain tree that all of them felt sure
+they must easily recognize, even at some distance, the four Mountain
+Boys turned toward the spot where that faint "hallo" had come from.</p>
+
+<p>Presently keen-eyed X-Ray Tyson told them he saw smoke.</p>
+
+<p>"That's right," admitted Ethan, when he had followed the extended finger
+of the other chum; "and of course it means they've got a camp fire
+burning; though after all that rain it'd take a good woodsman to know
+where to find dry wood, except in the heart of some stump. Let's hurry
+up and get there."</p>
+
+<p>He kept watching as he went on. It would<a class="pagenum" name="page_193" id="page_193" title="193"></a> grieve Ethan sorely should he
+find at any time they were actually lost, and after he had taken so many
+precautions in the bargain.</p>
+
+<p>"I can see somebody moving around there," announced X-Ray, soon
+afterwards; "and it's a man, too. Seems to be a guide, if his looks
+count for anything."</p>
+
+<p>They kept heading straight toward the small cheerless camp in the
+drenched woods. All the while Phil was expecting to hear his chums,
+saving possibly Ethan, give utterance to low cries of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"There's somebody lying down on the other side of the fire, boys,"
+continued the one with the hawk eyes. "That smoke keeps shifting around
+so much I don't seem to be able to glimpse as well as&mdash;say, what d'ye
+think, fellows, I declare if it ain't a <i>woman</i>!"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_194" id="page_194" title="194"></a>
+<a name="PEACE_AFTER_STRIFEmdashCONCLUSION_4470" id="PEACE_AFTER_STRIFEmdashCONCLUSION_4470"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+<h3>PEACE AFTER STRIFE&mdash;CONCLUSION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Lub uttered a gurgle to indicate his consternation. Ethan and Phil
+exchanged knowing looks, as though to say it was coming out just as they
+had figured.</p>
+
+<p>The guide was a dark-faced native. He had evidently been having a hard
+time of it during that terrible storm, with possibly an hysterical woman
+on his hands, and no proper shelter. He waved his hand at the boys, and
+looked pleased to see them coming to their relief.</p>
+
+<p>As they entered the camp they saw that the woman was sitting up. She
+looked as though she could not have stood much more. In spite of all the
+Adirondack guide may have done in trying to shield her from the torrents
+of rain, she had been wet through and through. Even sitting close to the
+fire for a long time had not caused her to stop shivering.</p>
+
+<p>"We've come down here to see if we could<a class="pagenum" name="page_195" id="page_195" title="195"></a> help you any," Phil said the
+first thing, when he and his chums reached the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"How'd ye know we was around these diggin's?" asked the guide, as though
+puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>"We've got a gentleman in camp with a badly broken leg, and he asked us
+to come," Phil went on to say, narrowly watching the eager face of the
+woman, who he could see was by breeding a lady, and a very handsome one
+too no doubt, though just at that time she looked woe-begone, with her
+long hair hanging down her back to dry, and her khaki outing skirts
+bedraggled. "He's been worrying all the night, and nearly crazy because
+he was afraid some one would be caught in the storm, some one he
+expected was coming to find him."</p>
+
+<p>Waves of color passed over her face as she heard how the gentleman had
+been so deeply concerned.</p>
+
+<p>"Would you mind telling me his name?" she asked Phil; and somehow the
+boy was reminded of Mazie when he looked more closely at her.</p>
+
+<p>"He has been calling himself John Newton all along," he remarked; "but
+just this morning he admitted that his real name was Merriwell&mdash;Alwyn
+Merriwell."</p>
+
+<p>She drew a long breath. Her eyes were as<a class="pagenum" name="page_196" id="page_196" title="196"></a> bright as stars as she
+hurriedly went on to ask another question; and both Phil and Ethan knew
+exactly what this would be before she had uttered a single word.</p>
+
+<p>"Is there a little girl with&mdash;Mr. Merriwell? Oh! please tell me
+instantly, for I am crazy to hear!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and her name is Mazie!" Phil immediately replied. "We found her
+lost in the woods, and took her to our camp. Then later on we ran across
+him. He had broken his leg while searching for her, and tried to crawl
+miles, thinking to get help from us so as to find her. He came near
+dying, too."</p>
+
+<p>She dropped her head in her hands, and they could see that she was
+crying very hard. Whether it was through sheer thankfulness because of
+what she had heard concerning the presence of the child, or from some
+other reason, Phil could not quite understand. But he believed it was
+all going to turn out splendidly.</p>
+
+<p>Presently she looked up, and smiled bravely through her tears. Phil
+could see that a new happiness had come upon her; and he guessed the
+cause.</p>
+
+<p>"I am Mazie's own mother," she said, to the astonishment of Lub, who up
+to then had not<a class="pagenum" name="page_197" id="page_197" title="197"></a> been able to figure things out correctly; "there was a
+terrible misunderstanding between my husband and myself. The court gave
+me charge of our child. His love for Mazie was an absorbing passion,
+even greater than my own. One day she disappeared, and we had reason to
+suspect that he had taken her away, so that she could be with him. Ever
+since I have sought far and wide to find them, but until lately without
+avail."</p>
+
+<p>She stopped speaking, and seemed to be thinking for a minute; then went
+on, for of course none of the boys had ventured to say a single word:</p>
+
+<p>"Of late I have learned through the death of a wicked person that I had
+wronged my husband dreadfully. I am only waiting to see him to ask his
+forgiveness; and unless he has lost all his love for me we may undo the
+wretched past, and start all over again, with Mazie the bond between
+us."</p>
+
+<p>She had said quite enough for them to understand. Phil was wondering
+whether they might not have to construct another litter in order to
+carry the lady all the way to the distant camp.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! have no fears for me," she hastened to tell him, when he started to
+speak of such a<a class="pagenum" name="page_198" id="page_198" title="198"></a> thing. "I feel as though I could walk from now to
+sunset, and not grow weary, knowing that Mazie, and Alwyn, are at the
+end of the trail. We cannot start too soon to satisfy my yearning heart.
+I could almost fly as though I had wings."</p>
+
+<p>And, indeed, there was no difficulty in her keeping up with them. The
+new hope of happiness, after all these dreary months of wretchedness,
+buoyed her heart up as possibly nothing else could have done.</p>
+
+<p>Before noon had arrived they drew near the cabin under the hemlocks and
+birches. The sky had cleared, and the sun shone warmly. All nature
+looked bright again after the storm.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen!" cried the lady, suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>It was the sweet childish voice of Mazie they heard, singing one of her
+little songs, which the boys had never tired of hearing. Imagine how it
+affected the mother, separated from her darling so long.</p>
+
+<p>She could not be longer restrained, but rushing ahead passed inside the
+cabin. The boys purposely loitered. When finally they ventured to enter
+it was to find the lady on her knees, with the arms of the child tightly
+clasped about her neck. She had one of the wounded<a class="pagenum" name="page_199" id="page_199" title="199"></a> man's hands in hers;
+and apparently the breach between them had been healed, for he was
+looking upon mother and child with a love light in his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>This influx of guests was getting serious, X-Ray and Lub had a regular
+argument as to which one should surrender his bunk to Mazie's mother.
+She would not hear of any such thing, however, and insisted that there
+was plenty of room for both Mazie and herself in the one bunk.</p>
+
+<p>And after she had recovered from her exposure Mrs. Merriwell insisted on
+making herself useful, both in the way of a nurse, and in helping with
+the cooking. As for Mazie's "daddy," he no longer looked the unhappy man
+the boys had considered him; since he was not going to be called upon to
+make that terrible sacrifice which he had considered was his duty.</p>
+
+<p>This new arrangement left the boys more opportunity to prosecute their
+various pleasures. Lub had begun to show a decided interest in certain
+things connected with woodcraft, so that Ethan only too gladly accepted
+every chance to explain how to follow a trail, what certain signs stood
+for, what was the best way to make a fire<a class="pagenum" name="page_200" id="page_200" title="200"></a> in a storm, and dozens of
+other things equally as interesting.</p>
+
+<p>Of course Phil was more than ever engaged with his flashlight
+photography. He had secured a startling picture of the red fox whose
+tracks he had discovered; and this spurred him on to greater things.
+Often Ethan kept him company, and showed that he had really started to
+take a deep interest in this newer method of hunting without a gun.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Merriwell steadily grew better. He hopped around by the aid of his
+crutches, and hoped to be able to walk some by the time the Mountain
+Boys thought of leaving the North Woods for their home town, which was
+further south, though still in the uplands.</p>
+
+<p>Josh Maxfield, the guide, stayed with them. He made himself useful, and
+Ethan managed to pick up quite a fund of information from the
+experienced native, who had been born and bred in the pine woods.</p>
+
+<p>Many were the cheery evenings they all spent, in front of the cabin if
+it happened to be warm, or before the fire if the night air was chilly,
+as often turned out to be the case. Josh had plenty of interesting
+stories to tell. Mazie in particular was keenly interested in his
+accounts<a class="pagenum" name="page_201" id="page_201" title="201"></a> of how the black bear outwitted the honey bees that had made
+their hive in an old hollow tree; so that he usually secured a sweet
+treat as long as he could reach in with his paw, and tear the heavily
+laden combs out.</p>
+
+<p>All too soon did the days pass, until finally it was decided that they
+must be starting back over the old trail.</p>
+
+<p>Every one would be sorry indeed to say farewell to Birch Bark Lodge. The
+Merriwells made Phil promise to send them a set of all his pictures, and
+in particular the one that showed the dear old cabin.</p>
+
+<p>"It stands for our new life," said the gentleman, as he sat there one
+arm around his wife, and the other about Mazie; "and every time we look
+at it our vows will be renewed. Besides, all the happy things that have
+happened here must rush over our memories. Yes, it will be our standard
+cure for the blues."</p>
+
+<p>Although the lame man was getting around pretty well, Phil knew he would
+never be able to stand such a long and arduous journey as the one they
+had ahead of them. Accordingly they made over the stretcher, with the
+help of Josh, and meant to carry it along. Of course once they managed
+to reach the village, where there<a class="pagenum" name="page_202" id="page_202" title="202"></a> would be a road leading out of the
+wilderness, and possibly some sort of vehicle to hire, things would be
+much easier.</p>
+
+<p>"One thing sure," said Phil, as they got ready to clear out one bright
+morning, "I've had glorious good luck in taking all the pictures I did.
+Why, I've beaten my highest expectations three times over. The
+collection will fill a new album; and right in front I'll have stamped
+in letters of gold: 'Memories of Birch Bark Lodge.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we'll never forget what a grand good time we've all had up here,"
+affirmed Lub, who seemed to feel the breaking away even more than any of
+his chums; "and often when I'm snuggled down between common every-day
+sheets at home I'll dream of my fine bunk, and the way my blanket kept
+me warm."</p>
+
+<p>"And what came down the chimney one night," added X-Ray Tyson; "not to
+mention what <i>tried</i> to come down the next day. Oh! we'll all enjoy
+remembering things. And I don't believe we could ever have such a
+magnificent time together again."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be too sure of that," Phil told him. "I can see some other
+outings ahead that may even turn out to be jollier than this one,
+though<a class="pagenum" name="page_203" id="page_203" title="203"></a> it seems hard to think it now. Let's give the old cabin a last
+salute, boys. Three cheers and a tiger for Birch Bark Lodge!"</p>
+
+<p>They were given with a will. Even little Mazie added her childish treble
+to the volume of sound that went up.</p>
+
+<p>So they pulled out, and left the old cabin tenantless. The gray
+squirrels could run over the roof with impunity now; Br'er 'Coon might
+wander along his trail down to the water's edge to do a little fishing,
+without having a sudden blinding flash startle him out of his seven
+senses; while Br'er Fox need not skulk in the dense covert for fear of
+meeting roving boys.</p>
+
+<p>But the bear that had fallen down the chimney, and the lordly moose had
+better make themselves scarce in that particular neighborhood; because
+ere many moons had waxed and waned Josh intended coming back again to
+look them up; and the law would no longer protect the shy inmates of the
+North Woods against the "sticks that spat out fire and stinging
+missiles" whenever they were pointed straight.</p>
+
+<p>The man with the broken leg soon gave out, and had to take to the
+stretcher. The sturdy woods guide carried one end and the boys took
+turns helping out, so they got along very well.<a class="pagenum" name="page_204" id="page_204" title="204"></a></p>
+
+<p>Mazie and her mother walked alongside, though from time to time the
+little sprite would insist on taking Phil's hand; or it might be that of
+stout Lub. She had made him promise he would send her his picture when
+he got home; and Lub always grinned when X-Ray Tyson or Ethan tried to
+joke him about his "new girl."</p>
+
+<p>They arrived at the mountain village, and a vehicle was obtained by
+means of which all of them could get out of the region, and in touch
+with civilization. When it came to saying good-by to the Merriwells the
+boys found it very hard. The gentleman declared they would see them all
+again as soon as he found himself perfectly well; for he wanted to know
+their families; and doubtless meant to inform these good people as to
+the extent of the debt of gratitude he owed Phil Bradley and his
+Mountain Boys.</p>
+
+<p>That still more thrilling happenings were in store for the boys whose
+fortunes we have been following in the pages of this volume the reader
+will learn upon securing the next story of the Series, now published
+under the title of "Phil Bradley at the Wheel; or, The Mountain Boys'
+Mad Auto Chase."</p>
+
+<p style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:3em; text-align:center;'>THE END</p>
+
+<hr class='full' />
+
+<table style="margin: auto; border:1px solid; width:22em; padding:10px;" summary="">
+  <tr><td align='center' colspan='2' style='padding-bottom:0.7em'>
+    <span style='font-size: x-large; text-decoration:underline;'>The</span>&nbsp;
+    <span style='font-size: x-large;text-decoration:underline;'>Mountain</span>&nbsp;
+    <span style='font-size: x-large;text-decoration:underline;'>Boys</span>&nbsp;
+    <span style='font-size: x-large;text-decoration:underline;'>Series</span>
+  </td></tr>
+  <tr><td colspan="2">
+    1. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys</span><br />
+    2. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley at the Wheel</span><br />
+    3. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley's Shooting Box</span><br />
+    4. <span class="smcap">Phil Bradley's Snow-shoe Trail</span>
+  </td></tr>
+  <tr><td colspan="2">These books describe with interesting detail the experiences of a party
+    of boys among the mountain pines.</td></tr>
+  <tr><td colspan="2">They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the elements,
+    what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become self-reliant and
+    manly.</td></tr>
+  <tr><td align='center' colspan="2"><i>12mo. Cloth. 40 cents per volume; postpaid</i></td></tr>
+  <tr><td align='center' colspan="2"><span style='font-size:larger'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</span></td></tr>
+  <tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">201 East 12th Street</span></td>
+  <td align='right'><span class="smcap">New York</span></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone
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+</body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,5083 @@
+Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone
+
+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: Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys
+       The Birch Bark Lodge
+
+Author: Silas K. Boone
+
+Release Date: August 8, 2007 [EBook #22279]
+[Last updated: March 15, 2011]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[Illustration: HAVING SECURED A GOOD SUPPLY OF BAIT, THEY STARTED FOR
+THE CANOE]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The Mountain Boys Series
+
+PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+
+Or
+The Birch Bark Lodge
+
+By
+SILAS K. BOONE
+
+The New York Book Company
+New York
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1915, by
+The New York Book Company
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                  PAGE
+
+   I Bound for Lake Surprise               11
+  II Lub and the Mother Bobcat             21
+ III A Mystery, to Start with              33
+  IV The Figure in the Moonlight           46
+   V The Sudden Awakening                  59
+  VI Getting Rid of an Intruder            72
+ VII On the Border of the Lake             84
+VIII The Mountain Boys in Camp             97
+  IX The 'Coon Photographer               112
+   X Finding a Sunbeam                    121
+  XI An Encounter in the Pine Woods       134
+ XII When Two Played the Game             143
+XIII How "Daddy" Came Back                156
+ XIV The Puzzle of It All                 169
+  XV After the Storm                      181
+ XVI Peace After Strife--Conclusion       194
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+BOUND FOR LAKE SURPRISE
+
+
+"Phil, _please_ tell me we're nearly there!"
+
+"I'd like to, Lub, for your sake; but the fact of the matter is we've
+got about another hour of climbing before us, as near as I can reckon."
+
+"Oh! dear, that means sixty long minutes of this everlasting scrambling
+over logs, and crashing through tangled underbrush. Why, I reckon I'll
+have the map of Ireland in red streaks on my face before I'm done with
+it."
+
+At that the other three boys laughed. They were not at all unfeeling,
+and could appreciate the misery of their fat companion; but then Lub had
+such a comical way of expressing himself, and made so many ludicrous
+faces, that they could never take him seriously.
+
+They were making their way through one of the loneliest parts of the
+great Adirondack regions. There might not be a living soul within miles
+of them, unless possibly some guide were wandering in search of new
+fields.
+
+The regular fishermen and tourists never came this way for many reasons;
+and the only thing that had brought these four well-grown boys in the
+region of Surprise Lake was the fact that one of them, Phil Bradley,
+owned a large mountain estate of wild land that abutted on the western
+shore of the lake.
+
+All of the lads carried regular packs on their backs, secured with bands
+that passed across their foreheads, thus giving them additional
+advantages. In their hands they seemed to be gripping fishing rods in
+their cases, as well as some other things in the way of tackle boxes and
+bait pails.
+
+Apparently Phil and his chums were bent on having the time of their
+lives upon this outing. Laden in this fashion, it was no easy task they
+had taken upon themselves to "tote" such burdens from the little
+jumping-off station up the side of the mountain, and then across the
+wooded plateau. There was no other way of getting to Lake Surprise, as
+yet, no wagon road at all; which accounted for its being visited only
+by an occasional fisherman or hunter.
+
+Each year such places become fewer and fewer in the Adirondacks; and in
+time to come doubtless a modern hotel would be erected where just then
+only primitive solitude reigned.
+
+Of course Lub (who at home in school rejoiced in the more aristocratic
+name of Osmond Fenwick) being heavily built, suffered more than any of
+his comrades in this long and arduous tramp. He puffed, and groaned, but
+stuck everlastingly at it, for Lub was not the one to give in easily, no
+matter how he complained.
+
+Besides these two there was Raymond Tyson, a tall, thin chap, who was so
+quick to see through nearly everything on the instant that his friends
+had long ago dubbed him "X-Ray," and as such he was generally known.
+
+The last of the quartette was Ethan Allan. He claimed to be a lineal
+descendant of the famous Revolutionary hero who captured Ticonderoga
+from the British by an early morning surprise. Ethan was very fond of
+boasting of his illustrious ancestor, and on that account found himself
+frequently "joshed" by his chums.
+
+It happened that Ethan's folks were not as well off in this world's
+goods as those of his chums; and he was exceedingly sensitive about this
+fact. Charity was his bugbear; and he would never listen to any of the
+others standing for his share of the expense, when they undertook an
+expedition like the present.
+
+Ethan was a smart chap. He knew considerable about the woods, and all
+sorts of things that could be found there. And he had hit upon an
+ingenious method for laying up a nice little store of money whereby he
+could keep his savings bank well filled with ready cash, and thus
+proudly meet his share of expenses.
+
+In the winter he used to spend all his spare time out at a farm owned by
+an uncle, where he had traps, and managed to catch quite a few little
+fur-bearing denizens of the woods. Then in the summer and fall he knew
+just where the choicest mushrooms could be picked day after day in the
+early morning. He also had several deposits of wild ginseng and golden
+seal marked down, and many pounds of the dried roots did he ship to a
+distant city to be sold.
+
+His success was enough to turn any boy's head, since he seemed to
+receive a price far above the top-notch quotations for such things. The
+head of the firm even took occasion to write, congratulating him on
+having sent a fox skin (really a dark red), which he claimed was as fine
+a _black_ fox as he had ever seen, and worth a large sum of money. On
+another occasion it was to say that the dried ginseng Ethan had shipped
+was simply "magnificent," and that they took pleasure in remitting a
+price that they hoped would inspire him to renewed efforts.
+
+Alas! how poor Ethan's pride would have taken a sad tumble had he ever
+so much as guessed that this very accommodating fur and root dealer was
+in reality an uncle of Phil Bradley, and that the whole thing was only a
+nice little plot on the part of the other three boys to assist Ethan
+without his knowing it.
+
+That proved how much they thought of their chum; but should he ever
+discover the humiliating truth there was likely to be some trouble, on
+account of that pride of Ethan's.
+
+It happened that Phil was an orphan, and had been left a very large
+property, the income from which he could never begin to spend in any
+sensible fashion. That accounted for his desire to assist Ethan; and
+while he felt that it was too bad to play such a trick, there seemed to
+be no other way in which the end they sought might be attained.
+
+Raymond's folks, too, were wealthy, and he had really been sent up into
+the clear atmosphere of the Adirondacks to improve his health. Although
+the doctors did not really say he was threatened with signs of lung
+trouble, they advised that the boy, who had grown so fast at the expense
+of his strength, should live out of doors all he could for a year or
+two. He would then be able to catch up in school duties with little
+trouble.
+
+The other three had by degrees come to look upon Phil as their leader;
+and indeed, he had all the qualities that go to make a successful pilot.
+They delighted to call themselves the "Mountain Boys." Really it had
+been Ethan Allan who originated that name, and no doubt at the time he
+had in mind those daring heroes of Revolutionary days who made
+themselves such a terror to the British under the title of "Green
+Mountain Boys."
+
+Among other properties of which the Bradley estate consisted there was a
+tract of several thousand acres of wild land bordering on this
+mysterious Lake Surprise. Phil had heard a number of things about it
+that excited his curiosity. He had so far never set eyes on the place;
+when one of the other chums happened to suggest that it might make a
+splendid little outing, if they started to look in on the lonely estate.
+
+One thing led to another, with the result that here they were heading
+toward the lake, and following a dim trail which had been described by
+an old guide who could not accompany them on account of other pressing
+engagements.
+
+The boys were pretty good woodsmen, all but Lub, and they had not
+doubted their ability to find the lake.
+
+"I think we're in luck about one thing," X-Ray was saying, as he toiled
+along sturdily, and wishing that he had as much stamina as Phil or
+Ethan; for somehow his legs seemed a bit shaky after so long and
+difficult a tramp, with all that burden piled on his back.
+
+"As what?" asked Ethan, giving Phil a nudge, and thus calling attention
+to the fact that by degrees the puffing Lub had actually gone ahead,
+fastening his eyes on the winding trail, and evidently feeling that he
+was becoming quite a woodsman.
+
+"Why, about that cabin the old guide Jerry Kane told us was on the shore
+of the lake. It'll save us building one, you know, if it's in any kind
+of a decent condition," the tall boy went on to say.
+
+"Yes, that's a fact," Phil himself remarked; "I've been thinking so
+right along. I only hope we won't find some fishermen camped in it. Kane
+said that once in a long while some guide took a party over to Surprise;
+but that the tramp was so hard few gentlemen cared to try for it. There
+are lakes all around that offer just about as good fishing."
+
+"I should think there'd be some pretty fine hunting around up here,"
+remarked Ethan. "I've noticed quite a few signs of deer, and that was
+certainly the track of a big moose we saw. I'd like to run across one of
+that stripe. Never saw a wild moose in all my life."
+
+"I wouldn't be surprised if some of us do meet one while we roam the
+woods around the little lake," Phil told him. "If I'm that lucky I want
+to take a picture of the beast, to add to my collection."
+
+"And I reckon, now," suggested X-Ray, "that nearly every night you'll be
+setting traps, not to catch wild animals, but to make them take their
+own pictures. That's the main reason why you've come up here, isn't it,
+Phil?"
+
+"Well, you know it's a sort of hobby of mine, and I've got all the
+apparatus for taking flashlight pictures along with me. I started in to
+the business just to kill time; but let me tell you it grows on a
+fellow like everything. I'm something of a hunter myself, but this
+shooting with a camera beats anything else all hollow. Besides, you get
+your game, and yet don't injure it, which is the best of all."
+
+Ethan laughed, and shook his head.
+
+"But your pelts don't bring you in the hard cash, Phil, like mine do,"
+he went on to say, with a touch of genuine pride in his voice. "S'pose
+now I'd just snapped off that black fox's picture instead of getting his
+paw in my steel Newhouse trap--it might have been all very well, but I'd
+be several hundred dollars shy right now."
+
+X-Ray Tyson chuckled; but the other frowned and shook his head. It would
+never do to get Ethan's suspicions aroused. He was terribly persistent,
+and once on the scent would never give up until he had unearthed their
+clever little plot. Then good-by to peace among the Mountain Boys, for
+Ethan would never be apt to forgive them the deception.
+
+"That's the main thing, after all, Ethan," Phil added. "One man's food
+is another man's poison. You enjoy your way of doing things, and I
+understand how that is, for I'm something of a hunter of small game
+myself; but I find more real delight in surprising a keen-nosed fox, or
+a night-roaming raccoon, and getting his photo than in blowing them over
+with a charge of shot."
+
+"Think there could be any bear up around here, Phil?" asked Lub, over
+his shoulder.
+
+"I wouldn't be surprised, and if we run across tracks I'll add to my
+collection."
+
+"Mebbe we ought to have fetched a gun along," suggested X-Ray, who was
+not much of a hunter himself, though fond of any kind of game when it
+was cooked at a camp-fire.
+
+"Well, that would have brought us into trouble with the game wardens,"
+Phil replied.
+
+At this point they were interrupted by a cry from Lub, who was on his
+hands and knees in the midst of the scrub, where he had evidently caught
+his foot in a vine, and gone sprawling down on account of his
+clumsiness.
+
+High above the exclamation from the lips of their fat companion they
+could hear a fierce growling sound, and about ten feet beyond Lub they
+saw the crouching body of a very large and angry bobcat, with blazing
+yellow eyes, and every hair on its back standing up on edge, as it got
+ready to spring.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+LUB, AND THE MOTHER BOBCAT
+
+
+"Keep still, everybody!" said Phil, grasping the perilous situation
+instantly.
+
+"Gee whiz! look at its eyes staring, will you?" gasped X-Ray, appalled
+by the ferocious aspect of the crouching beast, which was squatted on a
+log just a few paces beyond poor kneeling and terrorized Lub.
+
+"Phil, oh! Phil, tell me what I ought to do!" they heard the fat chum
+saying in rather a faint voice; all the while doubtless keeping his
+strained eyes glued on that dreadful apparition.
+
+"It's a mother wildcat, and she's got kits somewhere near by," Phil was
+saying steadily. "That's what makes her so fierce in the daytime. Lub,
+can you hear me plainly?"
+
+He did not elevate his voice in the least, not wishing to do anything
+out of the ordinary so as to excite the angry beast further, and cause
+it to jump.
+
+"Yes, sure I can; go on and tell me, Phil," whined the other,
+appealingly, and remaining on his hands and knees as though absolutely
+incapable of moving.
+
+"Don't be alarmed," Phil went on to say. "I've got my revolver in my
+hand, and if it comes to the worst I'll shoot. The other boys will yell
+like everything, too, and that might make her sheer off. But first try
+and back up, just as you are. Careful now, and do it as easy as you can,
+Lub."
+
+They saw the fat boy begin to cautiously extend one foot backwards. When
+there came a warning snarl he instantly stiffened out as though he had
+been turned into stone.
+
+"Try it some more," Phil told him, "go carefully, but never mind the
+growls. When she sees you're retreating she'll be satisfied, let's
+hope."
+
+So Lub did as he was told, for his nature was rather docile. It could be
+seen that he was holding himself in readiness to flatten out on his
+stomach in case of hostile demonstrations on the part of the wildcat. No
+doubt he expected that he could in this way manage to protect his face
+from her claws; while the pack on his back would serve him in good stead
+there.
+
+Phil, however, had rightly gauged the intention of the mother beast.
+She was only standing up for her whelps, and so long as they were not
+placed in peril she did not mean to attack that crowd of two-legged
+enemies.
+
+The further Lub got away from the danger zone the more rapidly he began
+to move his plump legs. Presently he felt Ethan lay hold of his foot, at
+which he gave a gasping cry, under the impression that it must be the
+mate of the enraged bobcat which had attacked him from the rear.
+
+"It's all right, Lub," Ethan hastened to say, reassuringly, for he had
+not intended to frighten the other; "you're among friends now; and see
+there how the old cat slinks away, still growling and looking daggers at
+us with those yellow eyes of hers. Wow! she would have given us a warm
+time of it, I'm telling you!"
+
+"Did you get her photo, Phil?" demanded X-Ray; "because I heard the
+click, after you'd swung your little camera around."
+
+"Yes, when I saw that she didn't mean to tackle us," replied the other,
+"I remembered that I ought to have something to show for Lub's
+adventure. Guess you'll be glad to have a print of your friend, Lub;
+it'll be a nice thing to look at on a hot summer day; because you'll
+always have a chill chase up and down your spinal column, when you
+think what would have happened if you'd come to close quarters with that
+cat."
+
+"And talk about the map of Ireland on your face," added Ethan; "more'n
+likely you'd call it one of Europe, with every river plainly marked."
+
+Lub was mopping his face with his red bandanna. All the color had fled,
+leaving him as white as a ghost; but under the manipulation of his
+handkerchief that was being speedily rectified.
+
+"I think I'll drop back a bit, and let some of the rest of you fellows
+take the lead from now on," Lub told them, contritely, "I ought to have
+known better than to try and show off when I'm such a greeny about
+following a trail."
+
+"You were doing all right," Phil told him, "and making a good job of it
+up to that time. Who'd ever expect that we'd run across a bobcat in the
+middle of the afternoon; and one that had kits at that? I'd have had
+just as bad a shock as you got, Lub, if it was me in the lead. No need
+of feeling ashamed; the sight of that thing was enough to give any
+hunter a bad scare, especially if he had no gun along."
+
+This sort of consolation served to make poor Lub better satisfied;
+though doubtless he would continue to feel unusually nervous for some
+little time. If a chipmunk stirred in the trash under a dead tree Lub
+was apt to draw a long breath, and involuntarily shrink back behind one
+of his companions.
+
+"Guess we'd better make a detour around that bunch of scrub, eh, Phil?"
+remarked Ethan, sagely.
+
+"Well, it would be a wise thing to do," chuckled the other; "because
+just now we haven't lost any bobcat that we know about. The trail seems
+to be heading pretty straight right here; and chances are we'll have
+little trouble running across the same some little ways on."
+
+Both he and Ethan took a good survey of their surroundings, but
+evidently the wildcat was still hiding amidst that scrub, for they saw
+nothing of her again while making the half circuit.
+
+"Now keep your eyes peeled for the trail again, Ethan," advised Phil,
+when they were well around on the other side of the danger spot.
+
+Lub managed to push along until he could find himself in the midst of
+the bunch. He cast numerous side glances in the direction of that
+disputed ground, as though half anticipating seeing a whole army of
+ferocious bobcats come leaping forth, all with blazing yellow eyes and
+stubby tails.
+
+Nothing of the kind happened, however, and presently Ethan was heard
+calling:
+
+"Here's your old trail, Phil, as plain as print. And d'ye know, there's
+only one thing I'm sorry about, which is that you didn't think to snap
+off a picture with our chum on his hands and knees backing off, and the
+cat on the log."
+
+"Well, I'm glad myself there wasn't any chance to keep that accidental
+tumble of mine as a perpetual joke," said Lub, indignantly.
+
+"Nothing to be ashamed about at all, Lub," remarked X-Ray; "and I reckon
+now if it had been Ethan himself who stumbled when he caught his foot in
+a vine, and then found himself face to face with a mad cat he'd have
+been near paralyzed too."
+
+This seemed to mollify Lub somewhat, though he hardly liked that
+reference to his having been paralyzed very much.
+
+They pushed on resolutely and the minutes passed. Phil on hearing Lub
+puffing and seeing that X-Ray lagged a little, cheered both of them up
+by declaring that the time was now short.
+
+"It wouldn't surprise me a whit," he said, cheerily, "to get a glimpse
+of the lake any time now, through the trees. Unless all my calculations
+are faulty we must be on my land right now."
+
+"That sounds good to me, Phil," asserted X-Ray, joyously, as he took a
+fresh spurt, and no longer limped as though he had a stone bruise on his
+heel.
+
+Even Lub grinned until his red face looked like a newly risen sun.
+
+"We'll all be mighty glad to get there, believe me!" he declared; "and
+think of the jolly time we'll have preparing our first supper in the
+woods. This big aluminum frying pan of Phil's has kept digging me in the
+ribs right along, until I'm afraid there's a black and blue spot there;
+but I mean to take my revenge good and plenty when we fill it full of
+onions and potatoes and such fine things. Take another squint ahead,
+Phil, and see if you can't give us real good news."
+
+"Well, just as sure as anything I see what looks like water!" called out
+Phil, with an eager tremor in his voice.
+
+"Whereabouts, Phil? Oh! I hope now, you're not joshing us?" Lub
+demanded.
+
+"Stop just where you are, everybody," the pilot of the expedition told
+them, "and watch where I'm pointing. If you follow my finger you can see
+if I've made a mistake or not. How about it, X-Ray? You've got the best
+eyes of the crowd, I guess."
+
+"It's water, all right, Phil," replied the other, glad that he could be
+accounted as best in something.
+
+"And that means Lake Surprise, doesn't it?" questioned Ethan Allan.
+
+"Yes, because it's the only body of water for miles around here," Phil
+continued. "That's one reason they let it alone so much. Other lakes lie
+in bunches, and a canoe can be taken over a carry from one to another in
+the chain; but Surprise is an awful lonely sheet of water."
+
+"And that's how it must have got its name," added Ethan. "All the while
+nobody dreamed there was any such lake up here; and then all at once a
+wandering guide must have run headlong on the same, to his surprise."
+
+"Wish we were there on the bank right now," grunted Lub.
+
+"Another mile, perhaps half of that, ought to take us to the water," he
+was assured by Phil; "and you see we are coming in from the west, which
+is all right, too, because my land lies on the western shore; and that
+cabin must be somewhere just ahead of us."
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Ethan, unable to keep from giving expression to his
+delight any longer.
+
+The others felt pretty much the same way, and joined in a series of
+joyous whoops.
+
+"Now, everybody put his best foot forward, and we'll soon be there,"
+urged Phil; "the worst is behind us, you know."
+
+"That's a heap better than having it yet to come!" declared X-Ray,
+feeling that with the goal in sight he should be able to hold out.
+
+They plodded along for some eight minutes or more, frequently catching
+glimpses of the lake beyond, and knowing that they were rapidly
+approaching its border. All at once X-Ray gave a cry.
+
+"Tell me, what is that I can see over there, Phil; looks for all the
+world like a shack made of silver birches! See how the sun shines on its
+side, will you? Is that your cabin, do you think, Phil?"
+
+"Just what it must be, X-Ray," the other told him; "they've nailed birch
+bark all over the sides of the log hut, you see, just to make it look
+rustic."
+
+"Then we'll have to call it Birch Bark Lodge!" burst out Lub, who had a
+little vein of the romantic in his disposition.
+
+"That sounds good to me!" declared Ethan.
+
+"It goes, then, does it?" asked the delighted Lub, beginning to believe
+he must be waking up, to have any suggestion of his so quickly and
+favorably seized upon.
+
+"Sure thing," said X-Ray Tyson. "Hurrah for Birch Bark Lodge, the home
+in the wilderness of the Mountain Boys."
+
+"Don't be too quick to settle that sort of thing," advised the more
+cautious Phil. "For all we know there may be somebody ahead of us in the
+shack; and you know we couldn't well chase 'em out."
+
+"But see here, Phil, if the cabin stands on your ground of course it's
+your property by right of law, no matter whoever built the shack in the
+start. He was only a squatter at the best," and Lub looked wise when he
+laid down this principle in common law which is often so exceedingly
+difficult to practice in the backwoods, where right of possession is
+nine points of the law.
+
+"Yes," Phil told him, "but there's always a rule in the woods that
+governs cases like this, no matter who owns the land. First come, first
+served. If we find that shack occupied by some sportsmen and their
+guides, why, we'll have to chase along and put up one for ourselves
+somewhere else."
+
+"Huh! I don't like to hear you say that," remarked Lub, who would
+possibly have liked to enter into a discussion along the line of right
+of property, only none of the others cared to bother with such a
+question, particularly after what Phil had said.
+
+They pushed on and approached the cabin. One and all were looking
+eagerly to discover any signs of occupancy, and greatly to their
+satisfaction no dog came barking toward them, nor was there even a
+smudge of smoke oozing out of the mud-and-slab chimney that had been
+built up alongside the back of the shack.
+
+"I guess it's all hunk," admitted Ethan, with a sigh of relief, as they
+drew near the partly open door. "See that gray squirrel running along
+the roof, would you? He wouldn't be doing that same if folks were
+around."
+
+"Oh! that depends on what kind of folks," remarked Phil. "For my part I
+never yet would shoot little animals around camp. I like to see them
+frisking about too much to want to eat them up. But as you say, it looks
+as if we had the cabin to ourselves, after all, for which I'm glad."
+
+"Tell me about that, will you?" muttered Lub, also showing positive
+signs of satisfaction.
+
+All of them pushed into the cabin.
+
+"Why, this is _just_ the thing!" cried Ethan Allan; "see the bunks along
+one side of the wall, boys,--two, three, four of them, if you please."
+
+"Just one apiece for us, and I choose this because it looks more roomy,
+and better fitted for a fellow of my heft than any of the rest!" Lub was
+heard to say.
+
+They immediately began to unfasten the straps that held their packs in
+place.
+
+"Hey! what're you doing, starting a fire already, Phil?" called out
+Ethan, noticing that the other was bending over the hearth.
+
+For answer Phil beckoned to the others to approach closer.
+
+"There's something queer happened," he told them, with a frown on his
+face; "just bend down here, Ethan, and put your hand in these ashes,
+will you?"
+
+"Why!" exclaimed Ethan, immediately, "they're warm right now, would you
+believe it?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+A MYSTERY, TO START WITH
+
+
+While Ethan, Phil and X-Ray Tyson seemed to grasp the true significance
+of this astonishing discovery, Lub as yet had not managed to get it
+through his head. He was a little dense about some things, although a
+clever enough scholar when at school.
+
+"The ashes warm, you say, Ethan?" he burst out with. "Now, that's a
+funny thing. What would make them hold heat that way, when there's not a
+sign of anybody around?"
+
+"There _has_ been somebody here, and only a short time ago, don't you
+see?" explained Phil.
+
+"And like as not they heard us cheering when we glimpsed the lake, and
+cleared out in a big hurry," Ethan went on to say.
+
+"Cleared out?" echoed Lub'. "Well, why should they run from us, tell me?
+We don't look dangerous, as far as I can see. We wouldn't bother hurting
+anybody; and didn't Phil say a while back that if we found some
+fishermen in his shack we'd just shy off, and build one for ourselves?"
+
+"Yes, but these people didn't hear Phil say that; we were half a mile
+and more away from here at the time," explained X-Ray.
+
+"And they couldn't begin to tell just who was coming," added Phil.
+
+"It might be!" exclaimed Ethan, "that they took us for game wardens.
+Mebbe now they've been shooting deer out of season, and got cold feet
+when they knew some people were coming in to the lake."
+
+Phil nodded his head in the affirmative, when he saw that Ethan was
+looking to find out just how that suggestion struck him.
+
+"I rather think you've struck the right nail on the head there, Ethan,"
+he told the other. "It seems the most reasonable explanation for their
+clearing out in such a big hurry."
+
+"They tried to put the fire out too, didn't they, Phil?"
+
+It was X-Ray Tyson who asked this. Those keen eyes of his had made
+another discovery, and he was even then pointing the same out to his
+chums.
+
+"Yes, I had noticed that some one had certainly thrown water on the
+fire," said Phil. "You can see where it washed the ashes off this
+charred piece of wood; and besides, it made little furrows in the
+ashes."
+
+"That's an old trick in the woods," remarked Ethan, with a superior air;
+"fact is, no true woodsman would think of breaking camp without first
+making sure every spark of his fire was put out. Lots of forest fires
+have come from carelessness in guides leaving red cinders behind them."
+
+"Yes," Phil added, "because often the wind rises, and whirls those same
+cinders to leeward, where they fall in a bunch of dry leaves, and begin
+to get their work in. But when people live in cabins they seldom bother
+wetting the ashes, unless they've got a mighty good reason for wanting
+to hide the facts."
+
+"And these people did," added Ethan, conclusively.
+
+"Let's look around some," suggested X-Ray.
+
+Two of the others thought this a good idea, for they immediately started
+a search of the interior of the cabin, their idea being to find some
+clue that might tell just who the late mysterious inmates were, and why
+they had fled so hurriedly.
+
+Lub may have been just as curious as his mates; but he was very tired
+after the long and arduous walk, so that apparently he believed three
+could cover the field just as thoroughly as four. At any rate he showed
+no sign of meaning to quit his seat upon the rude stool he had found;
+but leaning forward, watched operations, at the same time rubbing his
+shins sympathetically.
+
+"What's this on the peg up here?" exclaimed X-Ray, the very first thing.
+
+"Looks like some sort of a hat to me," remarked Ethan.
+
+"Just what it is; but say, take notice of the size, will you? It's a
+_child's_ hat, as sure as you live! Why, there must have been a child
+along with the lot!"
+
+"That's queer!" Lub observed, not wanting to be wholly ignored.
+
+"Game poachers they may have been," muttered Ethan, "but if there was a
+little chap along, there must have been a family of 'em. See if you
+could pick up such a thing now as a hair-pin, or any other woman
+business."
+
+They went to scrutinizing the cracks of the floor more closely than
+ever. That suggestion on the part of Ethan was worth trying out. Of
+course the presence of any little article like a hair-pin would show
+that a woman had been there.
+
+"I don't hear anybody sing out!" remarked X-Ray Tyson, presently; "and
+on that account it looks like we hadn't discovered anything worth
+mentioning. What gets me is, however could they have cleaned the old
+shack out so quick, and never left anything worth mentioning behind
+'em?"
+
+"From the time we sighted the cabin, back to when we first whooped,
+couldn't have been more'n eight minutes, I should think," Lub gravely
+announced.
+
+"Lots could be done in that time," asserted Phil; "but all the same I am
+bothered to know why they'd be in such a rattling big hurry. It might be
+they knew about us being on the way longer than eight minutes."
+
+"Who would have called 'em up on the phone, and mentioned the fact?"
+asked X-Ray, meaning to be humorous.
+
+"Well, one of the lot may have seen us miles back, and put for the cabin
+by some short-cut we don't know anything about," Phil told him.
+
+"That could be, of course," admitted Ethan, after considering the matter
+seriously.
+
+"Mebbe we'll never know the truth, which would be too bad," Lub
+continued; for a mystery was a source of constant anxiety to him; he was
+so frank and straightforward himself that double dealing seemed foreign
+to his nature.
+
+"Well, as we didn't come all the way up here just to worry our heads
+over guessing hard problems, I guess we won't lose any sleep," Ethan
+went on to say, in his easy-going way.
+
+"I'm wondering what made all these burns on the floor," Phil told them;
+"and on this table, too. In these days people don't mold bullets like
+they used to years ago, when the pioneers were settling the wilderness;
+and yet that's what it looks like to me."
+
+"The place isn't as clean as it might be," Ethan now remarked, "and the
+first thing we'll have to do in the morning will be to tidy up. I'll
+make a broom out of twigs, like I've seen poor emigrants do. It answers
+the purpose pretty well, too."
+
+He was prying around in one of the bunks while saying this, as though he
+had suspicions; which Lub, who was anxiously watching him, hoped in his
+heart might turn out to be groundless.
+
+Phil had turned to other things, and was proceeding to undo his pack.
+This caught Lub's eye, and caused the worried expression on his face to
+give way to one of pleasure. He knew that such a move meant it was
+getting time for them to think of supper; and Lub was always ready to do
+his part toward providing a meal; oh, yes, and in disposing of the same,
+too.
+
+"Wow! you quit too soon!" suddenly yelped X-Ray, who had continued
+prowling on hands and knees after Phil and Ethan had stopped searching
+the floor.
+
+"Found something, have you?" asked the former, without looking up from
+his job of opening the contents of his pack.
+
+"Is it worth a hair-pin, X-Ray?" chirped Ethan, who had been gathering a
+handful of timber in a corner where a lot of wood lay in a pile, ready
+for burning.
+
+"You could buy a thousand with it, I reckon!" was the astonishing
+declaration of the finder, which remark caused every one to immediately
+take notice.
+
+The boy with the sharp eyes was holding something up between thumb and
+forefinger. It shone in the last rays of the setting sun, as they came
+into the cabin through a small window in the western side.
+
+"Why, what's this mean?" ejaculated Ethan; "looks like you've gone and
+struck a silver mine, X-Ray! That's a half dollar, ain't it? D'ye mean
+to say you found it on this same floor?"
+
+"Just what I did, and deep down in a crack, where it must have slid, so
+nobody noticed it!" exclaimed the other, exultantly. "Now, needn't all
+get busy looking, because I reckon it's the only coin there is. That's
+my reward for keeping everlastingly at it. You fellows are ready to give
+up too easy. Say, did you ever see a brighter half dollar than that?
+Looks like she just came from the mint, hey?"
+
+"Perhaps it did!" said Phil, solemnly.
+
+When he said that the others all focussed their eyes on Phil's face.
+They knew he would not have spoken in such a strain unless he had some
+good reason for saying what he did.
+
+"Explain what you mean, please, Phil; that's a good fellow," urged Lub.
+
+X-Ray was not so dense, for he instantly exclaimed.
+
+"Why, don't you see, Phil reckons that this half-dollar may have been
+coined right here in this birch bark cabin!"
+
+"Whew! counterfeit, is it?" gasped Ethan, whose breath had almost been
+taken away with the momentous discovery. "Then I guess I ain't going to
+bother getting down on my knees, and doing any hunting for bogus money."
+
+The finder apparently did not much fancy having his prize counted so
+meanly. He immediately proceeded to bite the coin, and then started to
+ringing it on the hard surface of the oak table that had all the
+scorched spots on it, mentioned by Phil.
+
+"It _tastes_ good; and listen to the sweet ring, would you, fellows?"
+X-Ray hastened to say. "If it's a punk fifty-center, then it's the
+greatest imitation ever was. I'd just like to have a cartload of the
+same; I think I'd call myself rich."
+
+"If there's any suspicion fixed on the coin," Lub observed, ponderously,
+just as he had heard his father, the judge, deliver an opinion in court,
+"I'd rather be excused from carrying it around on _my_ person. The law,
+you know, does not look upon ignorance as innocence. Better toss that
+thing as far away as you can in the morning, X-Ray. I'd hate to think of
+you doing time for having it in your possession."
+
+"Hanged if I do," muttered the other. "I'm all worked up now over it,
+and mean to get the opinion of Mr. Budge, the cashier of our bank. He
+can smell a counterfeit as soon as he sets eyes on one. He'll fix all
+that up, believe me."
+
+"But, Phil," Ethan remarked, just then, "what was that you were saying
+about all the scorched places on the table? If these people were not
+molding bullets they may have been using melted metal for another
+purpose, and one not quite so lawful, eh?"
+
+"It looks a little that way, I must say," Phil admitted.
+
+"Give us something to do prying around while we're up here," suggested
+X-Ray; "seeing if we can run across their _cache_ where they've gone and
+hid away their molds, and other stuff."
+
+"Oh! now you're only guessing," Lub told him. "It may be they were game
+poachers after all, no matter if the coin is a bad one. I'm sorry this
+had to crop up the first thing, when we aimed to have such a jolly time
+of it here."
+
+"We'll have that, all right, whether or no," said Phil; "and first of
+all let's get busy with our duffle. If we're going to live in this shack
+it's our duty to make it look like home to us. Ethan, suppose you attend
+to the fire, and the rest of us will take care of the cooking."
+
+"That's the ticket!" Lub ventured; "if I can do anything to help just
+let me sit here, and peel potatoes, or make the coffee. I'm pretty
+tired, you know; and besides it seems to me I get in everybody's way
+when I move around."
+
+"Because you occupy so much room, Lub," X-Ray told him, cheerfully; "but
+it's all right, and we'll find some use for your hands. How about water;
+shall I take our collapsible pail and fetch some from the lake?"
+
+Upon being told that some one must go, the spry lad darted out of the
+door, and reappeared a few minutes later with a brimming pail.
+
+"I want to tell you all that it's going to be a dandy night," he
+chortled as he set the pail carefully down so that Lub, who was holding
+the aluminum coffee pot in his hands, could easily reach it; "moon's
+just coming up over across the lake, and about as full as could be."
+
+"Well, some of the rest of us are hoping to be in the same condition
+before a great while," Ethan ventured, as he stepped over to the door,
+and looked out, to immediately add: "I should say it is a glorious
+sight, with that yellow streak shining across the water, and the little
+wavelets dancing like silver. Phil, this is the greatest place ever. If
+you hunted a whole year you couldn't beat it. And we ought to have the
+time of our lives while we're up at Birch Bark Lodge."
+
+All of them were filled with delight. Being only boys, and with no
+particular cares weighing heavily on their minds, they refused to see
+any cloud on the horizon. Everything was as clear and lovely as the sky
+into which that full moon was climbing so sturdily.
+
+Soon the delightful odors of supper began to pervade the atmosphere.
+That made it seem more than ever like a real camp. Lub was doing his
+share of the work like a hero. They had found a place where he could sit
+at one side of the fire, and here he attended to the coffee, as well as
+looked after the big saucepan of potatoes and onions that had been
+placed on the red coals. Lub's round face was about as fiery as the
+blaze that crackled and danced at the back of the hearth; and he often
+had to mop his streaming brow; but he stuck heroically at his task to
+the bitter end.
+
+Then came his reward when they sat around, and every fellow had a
+heaping pannikin between his knees, or on the small table, flanked by a
+cup, also of light aluminum, filled with coffee.
+
+Seeing that they were all helped Phil knocked on the table, and held up
+his cup.
+
+"Before we take our first bite, fellows," he went on to say, solemnly;
+"I think we ought to drink to the success of our camping trip up here
+in the Adirondacks proper. Coffee is the only proper liquid to drink
+that toast in, so up with your cups, every one. Here's to the Mountain
+Boys, and may they enjoy every minute of their stay at Birch Bark
+Cabin!"
+
+"Drink it down!" cried X-Ray Tyson, noisily.
+
+With that they took the first swallow of the nectar that Lub had brewed.
+Never had its like been tasted at home, amidst prosaic surroundings;
+there was something in the atmosphere of the mountains that made
+ordinary things assume a different aspect; their hard tramp had aroused
+their appetites amazingly, and just then those four boys were ready to
+admit that this was the life worth while.
+
+For the next half-hour they sat there on such stools as they could find,
+and proceeded to "lick the platter clean;" inasmuch as there was not a
+particle left when they had finished supper. But even Lub confessed that
+he had had quite enough.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE FIGURE IN THE MOONLIGHT
+
+
+"You couldn't beat this much, I'd say, if you want to know my opinion,"
+Ethan was remarking, after they had finished the meal and were taking
+things easy.
+
+"Of course we all feel pretty much the same way," admitted X-Ray Tyson;
+"but I'd be a whole lot better satisfied if I knew about that bright new
+half-dollar. Is it a good one, or a bunker?"
+
+"Chances are we'll hear no end to that squall all the time we're up
+here," Ethan went on to say, with a pretended look of disgust on his
+thin Yankee face. "Whenever you do get a thing on your mind, X-Ray, you
+sure beat all creation to keep yawping about it. Forget that you ever
+picked up the fifty, and let's be thinking only of the royal good times
+we're meaning to have."
+
+"What can that sound be?" suddenly remarked Lub, who had been listening
+more or less apprehensively for some little time now; "seems like some
+one might be sawing a hole through the wall. Course, though, I don't
+believe that for a minute; but all the same it's a queer noise. There,
+don't you hear it?"
+
+There did come a distinct little "rat-tat-tat," several times repeated.
+No one who was not deaf could have helped hearing such a distinct sound;
+but Lub could not see that any of his mates seemed bothered.
+
+"May be that old gray squirrel gnawing somewhere," suggested X-Ray;
+"they've got long teeth like a rat, and can chew a hole through any sort
+of board."
+
+"Now, I'd rather believe it was the wind," said Ethan, who had a pretty
+good knowledge of woodcraft in all its branches, and was therefore well
+fitted to give an opinion.
+
+"Why, how could the night wind make that sort of scratching sound?"
+asked Lub, doubtless wondering whether the other were simply guying him
+because of his being a greenhorn.
+
+"Oh! the broken end of a branch might be rubbing against the roof of the
+cabin," Ethan told him. "I've known that to happen lots of times. There
+she hits up the tune again, you notice, Lub."
+
+"Yes," added Phil, nodding his head approvingly, "and if you listen,
+every time that scratching sound comes you can hear the wind soughing
+through the tree-tops. That ought to prove it."
+
+Still Lub seemed hard to convince, seeing which Ethan jumped up.
+
+"Just stir your stumps, Lub, and come outside with me," he said,
+positively. "I want to prove what I said, and you've got to be shown."
+
+Lub saw there was no getting around it, and much as he disliked making a
+move when he was settled so comfortably, he managed to scramble to his
+feet.
+
+Once out in the bright moonlight and practical Ethan was quick to
+discover the source of the peculiar and often recurring noise.
+
+"You see, Lub," he went on to say, "there's your saw at work right now.
+Just as I told you it's a branch that's been worn off to a stub by this
+scraping. Every time there's a fresh gust of wind it waves back and
+forth, and scraping against the roof makes that funny sound. Now, I hope
+your mind's easy, Lub, and that you'll sleep decent to-night."
+
+"I hope I will," replied Lub, earnestly, at the same time remembering
+about the bunks, and what one of the others had said with regard to
+house-cleaning in the morning; "but say, it is a fine night, ain't it,
+Ethan. Listen to the frogs singing their chorus in some little bay of
+the lake."
+
+"Yes," remarked Ethan, quickly, "I was listening to their serenade. Some
+busters in that lot, too, because you can hear 'em calling more-rum,
+more-rum' in the deepest bass. That always stands for the big bullfrogs.
+I ought to know, because I'm an experienced frog-raiser. Cleared
+sixty-seven dollars from my little pond this very summer; but I've never
+seen frogs'-legs quoted _quite_ so high as that Mr. Brandon the
+restaurant man down in New York pays me. I guess he favors me a mite
+just because he happens to know some friends of Phil's."
+
+Lub knew all about it, but he never let even a chuckle escape from his
+lips.
+
+"Well, in that letter you had from him which you showed me," he
+observed, "he said he'd never had such fine frogs'-legs before, and
+wanted to make sure to keep getting all you had to sell. A dollar a
+pound is a cracking high sum, sure it is, but then good things always
+bring fancy prices."
+
+That frog pond of Ethan's went with his many other ways for making
+spending money. It required almost no time at all to run it. When he
+found an opportunity he caught frogs wherever he could find them, and
+put them into his preserve. Then, on feeling that he had the right kind
+of goods for a gilt-edge market he would make a shipment of a box of
+"saddles" neatly arranged, so that they were attractive to the eye of
+the proprietor of the fashionable restaurant in far-off New York.
+
+Phil had recommended Ethan to try that place, and had even given him
+permission to use his name as a recommendation. Ethan never knew that
+the same mail had carried a letter from Phil to Mr. Brandon, who was an
+old friend of his, making arrangements to stand for the difference
+between the market price of frogs'-legs and the fancy sum he was to send
+Ethan every time he shipped him a box.
+
+While Lub was standing there, and apparently enjoying the sight of the
+moonlight dancing on the water of the lake near by, he was at the same
+time casting occasional apprehensive glances around him.
+
+The woods looked mysterious enough and gloomy too, for the moon had not
+risen far in the heavens, and the shadows were long and abundant.
+
+Several times he fancied he saw something moving there on the border of
+the dense growth. Finally he appealed to Ethan, because he had
+considerable respect for the opinions of his chum, who had studied woods
+lore so long.
+
+"You don't think now, that any of that crowd we scared away from the
+cabin would come sneaking back to spy on us, or try to steal any of our
+things?" he asked, trying to appear as though such an idea was furthest
+from his own thoughts.
+
+"Well, I hadn't bothered with such a thing as that, Lub, but now that
+you mention the same I can't see why they should. We haven't got
+anything along worth stealing; and if they are afraid of the officers of
+the law, as counterfeiters, or game poachers, why, they'd want to get as
+far away as they could. So I wouldn't let that keep me from sleeping a
+wink."
+
+"Oh! I don't mean to," Lub hastened to exclaim, stoutly; but all the
+same as he followed Ethan back through the cabin doorway the very last
+thing he did was to take a parting survey of the forest fringe, and
+shrug his fat shoulders.
+
+"Seems like it was getting right noisy out there, Ethan," remarked
+X-Ray, when Lub had carefully pushed the door shut, and both of those
+who had just entered found places again in the half circle before the
+red embers of the fire.
+
+The interior was only dimly lighted, because they only had a single
+lantern to do duty. But then it served them amply, because no one meant
+to try and read; and whenever a fresh lot of wood was thrown on the
+coals it flashed up brilliantly.
+
+That firelight was a part of the charm of the whole thing. They could
+have lamps, gas, or even electric light at home any time they wanted;
+but only under such conditions as these was it possible to enjoy the
+mystic firelight.
+
+"Why, yes," Ethan replied, "I guess the woods folks are waking up. You
+can hear crickets a fiddling away for dear life, and other sorts of
+insects besides. Then there's a pair of screech owls calling to each
+other; a whip-poor-will whooping things up; and most of all the frogs
+have started in to get busy with their chorus. And say, I'm going to
+promise you a feast to-morrow night."
+
+"Frogs'-legs, you mean, I take it, Ethan." Phil quickly exclaimed,
+looking pleased at the prospect.
+
+"Yes, because there's some corkers out there; and leave it to me to get
+'em. I'm an authority on frogs'-legs, you know. And when they fetch a
+dollar a pound every time, you c'n see that they ought to be reckoned a
+treat."
+
+"A dollar a pound, did you say?" demanded X-Ray, as if he fancied he had
+not heard aright; whereat he had his shins kicked by Lub, who happened
+to sit next to him, as a warning that he was treading on perilous
+ground.
+
+"Why, yes, that's the price I always get!" declared Ethan, loftily. "You
+see, it pays to do things up in style. My shipments look so attractive
+to Mr. Brandon that he says it is a pleasure to just open my box. Of
+course all of you fellows like frogs'-legs?"
+
+Phil and X-Ray Tyson immediately declared they believed they could never
+get enough of the dainty.
+
+"To tell you the honest truth," said Lub, contritely, "I never tasted
+any that I know of. My folks don't seem to care for queer things."
+
+"Queer things!" almost shouted Ethan; "well, I like that now! Why, don't
+you know that frogs'-legs are as delicate as squab. You'd think you had
+a spring chicken, only when you come to think, it has just a _little_
+taste of fish about it."
+
+"Oh! my, I don't know as I'd fancy that very much," complained Lub.
+
+"Huh! I know you better than to believe that, Lub," he was told by the
+other; "and I'll just have to make sure to lay in a plenty, because I
+c'n see you passing in your platter seven times, to say: 'Please see if
+there isn't just one more helping for me, won't you, Ethan; they're the
+finest things I ever set my teeth in, and that's no lie!'"
+
+"Well, wait and see, that's all," Lub concluded. "I'm willing to be
+convinced. I mightn't care for a thing like that at home, with a white
+tablecloth, silver, and cut glass all around me; but then it's a
+different case when you're up in the woods, with your camp appetite
+along, and going just half crazy because supper is so slow cooking, with
+all those odors stealing to your nose. Try it on me, Ethan; I'd be
+willing to taste even dog just once, if I was hungry, and met up with a
+bunch of Indians."
+
+"I'm not afraid of the verdict," announced the boy who raised frogs, and
+thought he had a right to know considerable about them, since he topped
+the market with the gilt-edge prices he received.
+
+So they talked, and joked, as the evening wore along. Several times
+they caught Lub in the act of yawning, and he was of course immediately
+poked in the ribs as they besought him to please not swallow the cabin
+while about it.
+
+"But I tell you I am sleepy; and no matter what the rest of you say I'm
+going to get my bunk made up. I want to be in apple-pie shape for
+to-morrow, for I expect it's going to be a red-letter day with us."
+
+Each of them had carried a warm blanket in their pack, which was one
+reason for the bulk of these burdens. They had not been quite as heavy
+as they looked; doubtless the greatest load consisted of canned goods,
+and food of various kinds, which they would not have to pack out of the
+woods again.
+
+Lub was somewhat fastidious about how he wanted his bed made up. Three
+separate times did he pull it to pieces again, to start in afresh.
+
+"Hey, stop bothering so much with that!" X-Ray Tyson called out, having
+been observing what the other was doing. "You certainly are the greatest
+old woman I ever ran across, Lub."
+
+"And you'll never make a woodsman, as long as you're so finicky,
+either," Ethan warned him. "'The happy-go-lucky kind is best in the
+end. They give their blanket a fling, and just crawl under. And they
+sleep the soundest too."
+
+"Oh! well, I'll learn some day, perhaps," said Lub, not at all
+disconcerted by all this raillery, for it fell from him as water does
+from a duck's back. "But I've got it fixed to suit me at last. This
+bunch of dead grass rolled in the pillow slip I fetched will make me a
+dandy pillow. I'm glad you gave me a hint to bring one along, Phil."
+
+"Old woodsmen use then? boots for a pillow," chuckled Ethan, which
+remark caused the particular Lub to shudder, and shake his head, as
+though he began to despair of ever reaching that point where he could
+claim to be a seasoned veteran.
+
+While the others were again indulging in some sort of discussion, Lub,
+thinking he was unobserved, sauntered over to one of the little windows
+which the builder of the birch cabin had arranged so that he might have
+light, and yet shut out the cold air of winter.
+
+"Oh, come here, won't you, Phil; there's somebody walking along by the
+trees, and standing still to watch the cabin every once in a while!"
+
+When Lub said this in a voice that trembled with excitement the other
+three boys of course hastened to scramble to their feet and reach his
+side.
+
+"Whereabouts, Lub?" demanded X-Ray Tyson, eagerly, as he pressed his
+nose against the glass, and occupied so much space in doing so that he
+prevented the others from having a chance to see fairly; so that Phil
+and Ethan deliberately drew him to one side.
+
+"There, over yonder where the moon shines between the little
+second-growth trees!" the discoverer went on to say, huskily, and
+pointing a trembling stubby finger as he spoke. "There, didn't you see
+then, boys?"
+
+"There certainly is something, and it moved!" admitted Ethan.
+
+"Oh! it's a man, I'm telling you!" hissed Lub; "didn't I see him plain
+as the nose on your face, X-Ray, and that's going some. He was moving
+along where the shadows die out. Now he's past that place. It's a man,
+believe me; and he's meaning to sneak in here to-night, to rob us.
+There, see him moving again, will you?"
+
+"Yes, I do believe it is a man, bending over at that," agreed Phil.
+
+"He's moving off, seems like," observed X-Ray, who had not altogether
+fancied Lub's allusion to his nose, because it _was_ rather large.
+
+"Mebbe he's seen us peeking out and thinks it's time he sheered off?"
+suggested Ethan.
+
+"Had we better collar him, Phil?" asked X-Ray, who was inclined to be
+very quick in his actions, and often without due thought making some
+move he was likely to regret later.
+
+"No, that would be silly," decided Phil. "The only weapons we've got
+consist of one revolver, a couple of camp hatchets, and some hunting
+knives. How do we know what he might do, or how many of them there may
+be? Let him look at the cabin, and then go away. I don't think we'll be
+bothered by anybody."
+
+"And I'm not going to lie awake thinking about it," said Ethan. "If he
+comes in here, and finds anything worth while, we could surround him and
+make him go shares, you know."
+
+"There, he's moving off at last," said Lub; "but I don't like all this
+mystery. Who is he, and what does he want? We'd be happier if we moved
+on, and built a cabin somewhere else."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the belligerent X-Ray, "clear out when Phil owns the
+whole shebang, and has invited us up? Well, I guess not!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE SUDDEN AWAKENING
+
+
+"Thought you meant to go to bed, Lub?" said Ethan, some little time
+afterwards, as they were all sitting around again.
+
+"Oh! somehow I seem to have gotten over my sleepy spell," admitted the
+other, frankly; "perhaps it was the excitement over seeing that prowler
+outside that did it. I'm as wide awake as a hawk right now."
+
+"Well, it's just the other way with me," X-Ray remarked, yawning almost
+as furiously as Lub had been doing before; "I'm getting dopey, and mean
+to turn in pretty soon. If nothing else happens to bother, nobody's
+going to hear a word from me after I hit the hay."
+
+Lub looked at him painfully, but he did not think it best to ask further
+questions lest he stir up a hornets' nest. There was something on Lub's
+mind. Phil understood this from various signs. He began to get an
+inkling as to what its nature might prove to be, when several times he
+saw the other lean forward and look long and earnestly up the chimney.
+
+"What d'ye expect to see up there, Lub?" asked Ethan, who had also it
+seemed been watching the other. "This isn't the time for old Santa Claus
+to come down with his pack of toys. His reindeer need snow for their
+sledge, you know."
+
+"Will you let the fire go out when we turn in, Phil?" asked Lub,
+ignoring all such little annoyances as this.
+
+"Why, I suppose so," he was told. "If it was cold weather it might be a
+different thing; but to-night is pretty warm, and we'll get little air
+in here, with the door closed. Yes, the last wood has been thrown on the
+fire; and to tell the truth there's only a handful more in the house,
+which we'll save to start things with in the morning."
+
+"What did you ask that for, Lub?"
+
+X-Ray made this inquiry. He realized that the other must have something
+on his mind, or he would not have spoken as he did. And X-Ray was
+curious to know what its character might turn out to be.
+
+"Oh, nothing much; only it strikes me that's a whopping big chimney,
+that's all," replied the other, a little confused.
+
+"I see what you mean," said Phil; "you're thinking that even if we do
+close the door as we intend, if a thief wanted to get in here he could
+creep down such a wide-throated chimney? Well, I shouldn't be at all
+surprised if he could, providing he took the notion."
+
+"I hate to think of being sound asleep, and not know a single thing
+about it," pursued Lub, "You know how I caught that darky stealing our
+chickens last winter? I set a trap for him, and gave him such a scare
+that he just crouched in a corner of the coop with all the hens cackling
+like mad, till father went out and got him by the scruff of the neck."
+
+"Mebbe you'd like to set one of your fine traps here then, Lub,"
+suggested Ethan.
+
+"I think I could do it, if the rest of you didn't object," Lub pursued.
+
+"Please yourself," said Phil.
+
+"I'm off to bed right now," added X-Ray Tyson, "so you c'n have the
+whole blooming field to yourself. Be sure you don't get nabbed in your
+own contraption, Lub. Now, you may smile at my saying that, but it
+wouldn't be the first time a bitter got bitten."
+
+Both Phil and Ethan began to stretch, and exhibited other positive signs
+of being ready to turn in. It would appear that none of the rest of them
+gave much thought to the possibility of their having unwelcome visitors
+during the night. Lub envied them their calm indifference; but he felt
+that he would not be doing his whole duty unless he carried out that
+idea of the trap.
+
+He saw Phil saunter over to the door, which, with something of an effort
+he managed to get to close tight enough so that the bar could be dropped
+into place. That avenue seemed quite safe; and as the windows had each
+one a couple of stout bars fastened across them, it looked as though
+there could be no ingress unless the intruder were a mere child, or else
+made use of that wide-throated slab-and-hard-mud chimney.
+
+The other boys were more or less amused to see what the ingenious Lub
+was doing, in order to further his plot. First of all he arranged the
+stools and other bulky objects that he could gather about the room in
+such fashion that they formed a species of rude barricade on either side
+of the hearth, where the red embers still held forth.
+
+"Looks like a regular wild animal trap, all right!" Ethan sang out, as
+though more or less surprised that Lub should know as much as he did
+about such things. "That forces the intruder to step out in the middle;
+and I guess now that's where you're going to fix things to give him a
+warm reception, eh, Lub?"
+
+"You wait and see," was all the other would say.
+
+They quickly understood what he had in mind. Everything they had along
+in the shape of cooking utensils, that would be apt to make a jangling
+noise if thrown down, was utilized. The big frying pan crowned the
+pyramid, and Lub was very particular just how he placed this, so that
+the least jar was apt to dislodge the aluminum skillet, which would be
+certain to arouse even the soundest sleeper when it rattled on the
+floor.
+
+"Don't kick over our grub that we've got piled up close by you there,
+Lub," warned X-Ray, after chuckling to see how the other was making such
+elaborate arrangements; for he did not have the remotest idea they would
+amount to anything in the end.
+
+"That ought to finish your trap, Lub, I should think," said Phil, who
+was almost ready to climb into his bunk, having removed most of his
+clothing, and arranged his sleeping quarters in a jiffy; he too had a
+small pillow-slip filled with some of the hay, upon which he expected to
+rest his head comfortably.
+
+"Why, yes, I don't seem to think of anything else we've got that would
+help to make a big noise," the other replied, soberly; "what with four
+cups, as many platters, the coffeepot, and the frying pan ought to make
+plenty of racket. But say, you should have seen the heap of tin-pans I
+piled up the time I caught that chicken thief."
+
+"If you had much more than this lot," Ethan announced, "I don't wonder
+the poor critter was scared nearly stiff, and could only crouch there
+till your dad came and arrested him."
+
+"And on my part," said X-Ray Tyson, with another wide yawn, "I only hope
+there doesn't anything happen to start that pyramid tumbling, that's
+all. If I was dreaming of something lovely it'd sure be a shame to get
+waked up by such a row, and to find that it was all brought about by a
+pannikin slipping out of place."
+
+"No danger of that happening," Lub told him; "I've tested it all, and
+you can depend on things holding."
+
+By slow degrees all of them managed to get settled down. Even slow
+moving Lub was finally snug in his bunk, though he had to shuffle around
+for some time while settling himself into the most comfortable position.
+Ethan threatened all sorts of dire things unless he stopped moving
+about, because it happened that the sleeping place chosen by the fat
+camper was just above his.
+
+"I c'n hear it creakin' like anything," announced Ethan; "and if you
+keep up that squirming business much longer, Lub, I tell you she'll come
+down on me. Think I'm hankering about being smashed flatter'n a pancake,
+do you? I don't see why you had to go and pick out one of the upper
+berths, just because you imagined it was a mite bigger'n any other.
+'Tain't fair, I tell you. Go easy now, and quit that moving about. If
+you've got the itch say so, and we'll rub you down with something. Stop
+it, right now!"
+
+Perhaps being scolded in this fashion had some effect upon Lub. At any
+rate he concluded that what couldn't be cured would have to be endured.
+So he did his level best to forget all about possible night visitors of
+all types, and tried to lose himself in sleep.
+
+Phil had put out the lantern the last thing. He kept it close by his
+hand, with matches where he could produce a light in a hurry, in case
+one was required.
+
+The fire had burned low. Now and then a little flame would spring up and
+make a faint buzzing sound. Once or twice when this occurred Phil saw
+Lub raise his head and look earnestly toward the chimney; but he must
+have finally decided that it was an innocent noise, for with its second
+repetition he failed to move.
+
+"He's off," Phil told himself, with a slight sigh of satisfaction, for
+from the way Lub was acting he had begun to fear they were in for a bad
+night of it.
+
+Lying there Phil rested his head on his arm and looked out into the
+cabin. When the dying flame occasionally leaped up and burned fitfully
+for a dozen seconds or so he liked to watch it, and also glance around
+him as well as he was able.
+
+Phil fairly loved everything that had to do with outdoor life. The dank
+odor of the woods filled him with a sense of delight that he could never
+find words to describe. He believed it must have come down to him from
+some long line of ancestors, this love for Nature, and a desire to
+commune with her.
+
+Fortune had been kind to him in giving him the means to enjoy such
+outings; and it added much to his satisfaction to have these fine
+fellows along with him. They were very dear to Phil. Not one of them
+would he have willingly missed if such a disaster could be avoided.
+
+Then as he lay there waiting until the drowsiness overtook him again, he
+allowed his fugitive thoughts to once more wrestle with the mystery
+connected with the late occupants of that birch bark cabin. Who could
+they be, and whither had they flown at the approach of himself and three
+chums?
+
+It was hardly any accident, for all the signs pointed to a flight that
+bordered on panic. Whoever they were they must have some good and
+sufficient reason for fearing the advent of strangers. That could only
+mean they dreaded the strong arm of the law; that there was _some_
+reason why they wished to keep from contact with all whom they did not
+know.
+
+Well, Phil concluded, there was no use of bothering about them. They had
+taken a hurried departure, and that was the end of it. He had reason to
+believe that a child had been there, and possibly a woman as well.
+While they had not found such tell-tale evidence as a hair-pin, still
+the little silver thimble which he himself had discovered on a shelf
+just before retiring, and which he had not mentioned to the others,
+because he hated to get Lub wide-awake again, seemed to be pretty strong
+evidence that way.
+
+When he found himself yawning again Phil decided it was time he closed
+his eyes, and allowed his senses to steal away. The fire had ceased
+flaring up, and was dying out rapidly, though the ashes would likely
+retain some of their heat until well on toward dawn.
+
+The last Phil remembered was listening to the weird call of that
+persistent whip-poor-will, perched in some neighboring tree, and sending
+forth its shrill discordant cries.
+
+Twice after that he awoke, and found all well. He could hear the steady
+breathing of his comrades near by; and Lub, lying flat on his back
+perhaps, was making a grating noise not unlike a snore.
+
+The second time Phil struck a match, one of the silent kind, and took a
+look at his watch, curious to know how the night was wearing away. He
+found it was two o'clock, and that the guess he had made was not far
+amiss.
+
+It took him some little time to get asleep again after that, but in the
+end he managed to accomplish it. Daylight would be coming by four
+o'clock and as the novelty of the outing was still upon them, it was to
+be expected that the boys would want to be up with the birds--that is,
+all but Lub, who loved sleeping better than plunging into the lake for
+an early morning swim.
+
+It was fated, however, that they were not to be allowed to slumber
+calmly on until the approach of the sun hurried the round moon out of
+sight below the western horizon.
+
+A most unearthly racket sounding awoke every one. If an earthquake had
+occurred it could hardly have created a greater noise. And the big
+frying pan proved that the supreme confidence which Lub had placed in
+its ability to jangle had not been in the least overdone; for it
+certainly played a fandango as it pitched over on the hard floor of the
+cabin, and danced some sort of jig, with other things adding their
+little mite to swell the chorus.
+
+Four fellows came tumbling out of their bunks as one.
+
+"Phil, oh! Phil, strike a light!" cried one.
+
+"Where's my gun?" growled X-Ray Tyson, thinking that in this way he
+must give fresh alarm to the bold intruder, whoever he might prove to
+be.
+
+"Phil, the thief has come down the chimney, just as I feared!" called
+Lub, who in the darkness hardly knew which way to look.
+
+As he managed to get his bearings to some degree he was sure he could
+detect a man on his hands and knees crawling over the floor. At the same
+time he heard a whining sound, as well as what seemed to be scratching;
+and it struck terror to the heart of poor Lub. He fancied that others
+were without, waiting for the first thief to open the door, in order
+that they too might rush in, and help make prisoners of the four
+Mountain Boys.
+
+Just then Lub to his great relief saw a tiny flame spring up close by.
+This he knew must be a match in the hand of Phil Bradley, who was
+meaning to light his lantern.
+
+To Lub it seemed an age before the flame was communicated to the wick,
+and yet it could only have been a comparatively few seconds, no longer
+than Phil would have taken under ordinary conditions. His hand did not
+tremble appreciably; and while in an undoubted hurry he went about his
+self appointed task with a deliberation that promised a successful
+result.
+
+Then came the snap as the globe was pressed into place. The room was no
+longer in darkness. It was possible to see; and with his heart feeling
+as though it were trying to climb up in his throat Lub fixed his eyes on
+the spot where he had discovered that moving, creeping object.
+
+What he saw thrilled him through and through, so that for the life of
+him Lub could not move, or even utter a sound above a whisper. Nor were
+the other boys much better off, to tell the truth, for they all stood
+there as though rooted firmly to the spot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+GETTING RID OF AN INTRUDER
+
+
+"Whoo! it's a bear!" yelped Lub, who looked as though his eyes were
+trying to pop out of his head.
+
+"Tell me, am I seeing things? Is this a wild dream, or am I gazing on a
+real, live, woolly bear?" cried X-Ray Tyson.
+
+Just then, as though suspecting that the clustered boys had evil designs
+on him, the small black bear actually growled, and showed its white
+teeth.
+
+"Here, keep back, you!" exclaimed Ethan; "we haven't lost any bear that
+we know about. Where'd you come from anyhow, and what d'ye want here?"
+
+"Ethan--don't you see, he came down the chimney!" gasped Lub.
+
+"Just what he must have done," added Phil, who was gripping the only
+firearm they owned, and wondering what effect a peppering of its tiny
+missiles would have on the tough hide of a black bear.
+
+"I bet you he was nosing around up there, and smelled our grub,"
+suggested X-Ray, a sudden gleam of light dawning upon him.
+
+"And leaning too far over while he sniffed, he just _fell in_; that's
+what you mean, don't you?" demanded Lub.
+
+"Looks that way," assented the other; "but what under the sun are we
+going to do about it, I'd like to know? He don't mean to crawl up again
+like he came down. See how he acts; I bet you he got scorched, because
+there's still some red coals in the fireplace, you notice."
+
+The four boys were huddled in a bunch. It seemed like a case of "in
+union there is strength" with them just then. And the bear stood where
+he had been at the time of first discovery. He had his snout thrust out,
+and was "sniffing" at a great rate. Perhaps it was the human odor that
+interested him, though Lub got an idea in his head it may have been the
+food that was so close by.
+
+"Phil, do you think he'll attack us?" Lub asked.
+
+"I hardly think so," replied the other, steadily, after closely
+examining the appearance of the intruder; "that is, if we keep from
+making him more furious than he is now."
+
+"Guess he's some surprised to find himself shut in with four husky
+boys?" suggested Ethan.
+
+"And say, he looks kind of small to me," observed X-Ray.
+
+"I was just going to tell you that," Phil went on to say; "I believe
+it's only a two-thirds grown cub after all."
+
+"But even at that he's a dangerous customer, with those sharp claws, and
+his ugly white teeth," protested Lub.
+
+"That's right," added Ethan. "If we tackled him, chances are we'd be
+sorry for it, unless we had something to knock him on the head with.
+That makes me think of my bully little camp hatchet. Watch me sneak it
+right now!"
+
+He started to move softly toward the spot where he had discovered the
+article in question. The bear began to growl more fiercely than ever.
+
+"Careful, Ethan," cautioned Phil; "take it slow, and duck back just as
+soon as you've hitched on to the hatchet. Stop and wait till he cools
+down. Now, only one more step; then you can lean over and reach it."
+
+All of them fairly held their breath, for it was a toss-up as to whether
+the suspicious bear would conclude to attack Ethan or not. The growls
+and sniffing continued, but the boy managed to get his fingers fastened
+upon the handle of his tool.
+
+"Now, back up!" Phil told him.
+
+Step by step Ethan pushed away from the dangerous locality. The bear did
+not attempt to follow, but resumed his former way of pushing out his
+snout, and sniffing. Something evidently smelled mighty good to him, Lub
+thought.
+
+"This is all very well," ventured X-Ray Tyson, who had also managed to
+arm himself with a billet of wood, "but somebody tell me what the end's
+going to be. Do we have to camp outside in the cold, cold world; or will
+we invite Mr. Bear to skip? That's what I want to know. Phil, how about
+it?"
+
+By now Phil had realized that unless they did something to provoke the
+bear to extremes they did not need to fear an encounter with his sharp
+claws. A bright idea had struck him, which he hastened to bring to the
+notice of his chums.
+
+"If ever we go to tell this story, lots of fellows will give us the
+merry laugh, you understand, boys," he remarked; "and if you're all
+willing, I'd like to settle it so we'd have the best of proof that a
+bear _did_ come down our chimney in the night time."
+
+"Phil, do you mean that you want to snap off a flashlight picture of
+the beast backed up against our fireplace?" demanded X-Ray Tyson, as
+quick as anything.
+
+"That's what I meant," he was immediately told. "See, here's the whole
+apparatus ready for business. All I'd want you to do would be to turn
+down the lantern when I gave the word."
+
+"I'll look after that part of it," agreed X-Ray, instantly.
+
+"And I'll hold my hatchet, ready to whack him square between the eyes if
+he tries any football rush on us," Ethan remarked, grimly.
+
+"What can I do to help?" demanded Lub, weakly, yet evidently not
+relishing the idea of being utterly ignored in all these valorous
+preparations.
+
+"If you want to have a place in the lime light, Lub," ventured X-Ray,
+sarcastically, "s'pose then you just step up and engage the bear in a
+catch-as-catch-can wrestling match. It'll be a splendid chance to prove
+to every fellow at home how you had more nerve than any of the rest of
+us!"
+
+Of course Lub knew this was all spoken in satire.
+
+"You'll have to excuse me this time, X-Ray; I wouldn't want to run a
+chance of spoiling Phil's picture for anything. Guess I'll crawl up in
+my bunk again, so as not to take up so much space. I'm afraid that if
+Ethan gets to swinging that wood chopper around recklessly he might
+gouge me."
+
+Meanwhile Phil had arranged his little apparatus as he wanted, aiming
+directly at the bear. He knew that it was focussed just right for a
+short distance, because all that had been fixed previously, it being his
+intention to have small animals snap off their own pictures at about the
+same focussing point, by pulling at a baited trigger that was attached
+to the flashlight cartridge by a cord.
+
+"All ready, X-Ray?" he asked, presently.
+
+"Yep--let her go, Phil!"
+
+As he spoke the holder of the lantern turned down the flame. Immediately
+the interior of the cabin became almost pitch dark. The bear could be
+heard sniffing as before, and evidently regaining some of his courage,
+which must have received a rude jolt following that plunge down the
+chimney.
+
+Suddenly there was a blinding flash. It was all over in a second, but
+the boys could hear the bear scrambling on the hearth. Perhaps the
+coals burned his feet again, and forced him to abandon any idea of
+trying to escape by the same means he had employed in reaching the
+interior of the shack.
+
+"Light up again!" ordered Phil; "it's all over!"
+
+So X-Ray again turned up the wick of the lantern. The bear was standing
+there, growling, and looking more belligerent than before. Evidently he
+did not altogether like this sort of treatment. That dazzling flash had
+blinded him. It may have made him think of the lightning that went with
+a storm; and there was now no friendly hollow tree into which he could
+creep; only those strange, two-legged creatures whom instinct told him
+were enemies of his race.
+
+"Looks almost ready to tackle us, don't he, Phil?" chirped Lub, from the
+security of the second-story bunk.
+
+Ethan was swinging that shining hatchet wickedly back and forth.
+
+"He'd better not, if he knows what's good for him," he was saying, with
+determination written upon his set jaws and flashing eyes; "I'd just
+like to get one good belt at him square between those wicked little eyes
+of his. We'd have bear steak for breakfast, let me tell you."
+
+"But remember that the law is on bears yet, and if we killed him we
+might run up against a game warden and be arrested!" Lub warned him; for
+Lub was always well posted on all matter that pertained to the law, as
+became the son and heir of a well-known judge.
+
+"We don't want to fight except there's no other way," said Phil; who
+wished to restrain both Ethan and X-Ray; for he knew they were apt to be
+impulsive, and it would not take much to precipitate a battle royal with
+the four-legged visitor.
+
+"But what's the answer, then?" demanded the latter chum, indignantly;
+"do we sit down and watch him gobble all our fine grub without lifting a
+hand to stop him? Say, I'd be ashamed to tell the story afterwards; and
+him only a half-grown bear in the bargain."
+
+"He don't seem to like that smoke you made, Phil?" remarked Lub, who had
+an unusually fine place for observation, being elevated above the heads
+of his crouching chums. "Couldn't you keep that going, and just force
+him to climb up the chimney again?"
+
+"My flashlight cartridges are too valuable to be wasted like that, Lub,"
+he was informed by the other boy.
+
+"Then isn't there some way he could be made to retreat?" asked X-Ray.
+"What if the whole four of us started to advance, shooing with our
+hands, and whooping things up, wouldn't he just understand that he _had_
+to climb, whether he got his toes scorched again or not?"
+
+Phil shook his head.
+
+"I've got another idea, and it's so simple I only wonder nobody thought
+of it before," he told them. "The rest of you stay here where you are."
+
+"I object, if you're meaning to tackle the varmint alone and
+single-handed, Phil!" X-Ray burst out with.
+
+"I'm not quite so simple as all that," Phil flashed back at him; "you
+can see I'm heading the other way."
+
+"Oh! I know what he means," burst out Lub just then; "it's the door!
+Phil's going to take down that bar we pushed in place, and open up.
+Hurrah! that sounds good to me! Phil knows how to do the trick. You
+trust him every time, and you'll never get left."
+
+Of course it was all simple enough now, and if Lub could see through it
+the other pair could also. To be sure, Phil meant to swing wide the
+door, and thus invite the departure of their unwelcome guest.
+
+They saw him reach the front of the cabin. The bear was apparently
+suspicious of any sort of movement, and continued to growl
+threateningly. So long as he did not actually start to make an attack
+Ethan believed he could afford to remain idle, and hold his ground.
+
+Phil appeared to be having some little trouble about getting the bar
+loose. The door did not shut closely, and it had taken the combined
+strength of two of them to fasten it securely.
+
+"Give it a hunch, and then slip the bar up, quick, Phil!" called out
+Lub; for as he had helped close it he knew best how the thing could be
+done.
+
+Phil made a third attempt, and this time succeeded, for they saw him
+open the door, and then back away, still gripping the stout bar in his
+hands, as though he considered it worth having in an emergency.
+
+"There you are, Mister; now please get a move on you!" called Lub.
+
+The animal must have already sniffed the outer air, to judge from his
+actions. He may have also suspected some sort of cunning trap, for he
+did not immediately start on a rush toward the gap in the wall.
+
+"He guesses you're laying for him, Phil," Ethan remarked; "p'raps you'd
+better back up and join our squad here. There's another upper berth, if
+so be you think you'd like to join our brave chum Lub."
+
+"Huh! think you're smart, don't you?" muttered the one referred to; but
+evidently the slur cut to the quick, for what did Lub do but bundle out
+of his bunk and actually take his place in line with the others, as
+though to show them that at least it was not _fear_ that had caused him
+to climb up out of the way.
+
+"I guess he's going to make the run for it!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.
+"Everybody start to waving their arms when he comes, and keep him going.
+Whoop! hurry up your stumps, old bear; this is a white man's cabin, and
+you're not wanted!"
+
+All at once the beast concluded it would be wise for him to accept of
+the one lone chance for escape. That open door, and the sweet smell of
+the outside air appealed irresistibly to his nature.
+
+"There he comes, boys!" snapped Ethan; and with that they all began to
+make extravagant gestures, at the same time using threatening language
+that must have appalled the poor bear, could he have understood its
+meaning.
+
+Snapping and growling he scuttled past the line of excited boys, headed
+for the open door. He presented such a ferocious aspect that none of
+them cared to do the slightest thing to bar his forward progress;
+indeed, just the contrary seemed to be the case. Something must have
+influenced Lub, for that worthy actually stepped forward out of line;
+and as the beast shuffled hastily past he let drive with his right foot,
+just for all the world as though he were trying for a drop kick on the
+gridiron, with three thousand breathless spectators watching to see if
+he would make the goal.
+
+Then the bear, thus urged on by every possible means, went hastily
+through the open door, and was seen no more. The cabin was once again in
+their undisputed possession.
+
+"Three cheers!" shouted X-Ray Tyson, who after the manner of boys in
+general, was so completely filled with enthusiasm that he could only
+think of one way in which to get rid of the surplus "steam," which was
+by shouting.
+
+The others joined in the noise, and if any one happened to be within a
+mile of that birch bark cabin just then, before the break of day, he
+must have been greatly mystified to understand what all the racket could
+be about.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+ON THE BORDER OF THE LAKE
+
+
+"Did you all see me kick him out?" proudly demanded Lub, who evidently
+believed that by this action he had established his reputation for
+bravery beyond all dispute.
+
+"Sure, we did," declared Ethan, "and he must have been some surprised
+bear when he felt your heft slam up against him. You'd better look out
+if ever you meet up with that chap again, Lub; they say bears have got
+wonderful memories, and he'll never forgive such an insult."
+
+The door was fastened again, and the boys climbed into their blankets,
+for the night air coming in had given them something of a chill.
+
+"No need of trying to go to sleep again," announced Phil; "because
+daylight'll be along in seven winks. Fact is, I thought it looked that
+way in the east when I shut the door, though the moon shining like it
+does fools you some. But it's after four, and dawn comes early these
+summer days."
+
+Leaving the lantern burning, they lay there and talked matters over. All
+of them had been so worked up, what with that sudden awakening, and the
+row that followed, that they would have found it difficult to have
+resumed their interrupted sleep even though several more hours must
+elapse before morning.
+
+Lub felt that he had been fully vindicated.
+
+"You fellows thought it smart to laugh at me when I hinted we might have
+a thief come down the chimney, but see what happened!" he went on to
+say, desiring to rub it in a little.
+
+"Well, of course none of us ever thought a yearling bear would drop on
+the roof from a limb of a tree, and smelling our grub down the chimney
+lean so far over that he'd pitch headlong in," ventured Ethan, who had
+apparently figured it all out, and knew just about how the thing
+happened.
+
+"If a bear can do it, any sort of animal, or even a bad man might follow
+suit," suggested X-Ray Tyson, wickedly.
+
+Lub took up the dare instantly.
+
+"Just what I was thinking," he hastened to say; "and you mark me that
+when morning comes I'm going to climb up on the roof and look around.
+Leave it to me to fix something across the vent of that old chimney, so
+even a 'coon couldn't squeeze through."
+
+"Like as not you'll smother us with the smoke!" grumbled Ethan.
+
+"Not much I will," he was promptly assured; "I know enough for that. If
+I had a piece of heavy wire-mesh like's on the windows of our stable at
+home, it'd be the ticket; but as it is I'll have to use something else.
+I mean to sleep nights without thinking that all sorts of ferocious wild
+beasts are aiming to drop in on us without invitations."
+
+When they saw that the dawn had really come the boys began to move
+around. Phil led the way to the border of the lake near by and they took
+an early morning duck. The water was pretty chilly, but then growing
+lads can stand almost anything. No doubt some of them may even on a dare
+have braved a skim of new ice on a pond in the early spring.
+
+After a bit, when they had finished their dressing, preparations for
+breakfast came next in order. Things began to look decidedly comfortable
+about that time. They forgot all unpleasant things, and the rattle of
+tongues would have made any one believe in the story of the Tower of
+Babel.
+
+Every one had his plans laid out, and numerous pet schemes to work. Phil
+of course meant to roam around the neighborhood, and see what
+discoveries he could make in connection with the haunts of small
+animals, or places where they "used," to speak after the manner of a
+hunter or trapper.
+
+If he could find such a favorite spot it was his plan to set his trap on
+the succeeding night, with the intention, not of harming the creature,
+but getting him to touch off the flashlight, and thus take his own
+picture.
+
+Lub's enthusiasm seemed to have petered out, in that he manifested no
+immediate intention of climbing to the roof of the cabin. The truth of
+the matter was, Lub always showed a disposition to put things off;
+procrastination was one of his greatest faults, even as too much haste
+had always been X-Ray Tyson's besetting sin. There was the whole day
+before him; so what need of undue speed. Taking things easy had become
+second nature with Lub. Besides, as a final argument, he had gorged
+himself with the fine breakfast, which of course he had helped to cook;
+and it would be too bad to risk indigestion while on this outing.
+
+So Lub just lay around, and bothered some of the others by asking
+innumerable questions. Still, he was always willing to assist if called
+upon, and for that he was forgiven his lazy habits.
+
+It was toward the middle of the morning when Phil came back again, after
+roaming around. His manner gave them to understand that he had met with
+some success.
+
+"Find any place to make your lay-out to-night, Phil?" asked Lub.
+
+"Yes, one splendid spot where a 'coon seems to travel down to the
+water's edge, to fish, or something or other," Phil replied. "You can
+see his tracks going and coming as plain as anything. I've marked a
+place where I can tie my camera, and fix the bait so he'll have to be in
+range when the flash comes. This afternoon I'm meaning to go further
+afoot, and see if I can run across bigger game."
+
+"You certainly look as if you enjoyed this sort of thing," ventured Lub,
+a little enviously; for he often wished that he had it in him to love
+tramping, and all that pertained to woodland sports.
+
+"Why, it seems to grow on you," admitted Phil, with considerable
+animation. "In the start I didn't care a great deal about it, and
+sometimes called myself silly to want to spend so much time trying to
+circumvent little animals, and get a flashlight picture of them. It's
+hard work, too, because they're not only shy but cunning as well. What
+little I've managed to do along that line has made me keen on the
+subject. And right now I believe I'd rather shoot a moose with a camera
+than with my Marlin rifle."
+
+Ethan laughed a little, and shook his head.
+
+"I confess that I don't understand it, Phil," he went on to say. "The
+real thrill must be lacking. You can only get it when you're bent on
+bagging your game. That's the thrill that comes down to us from our
+savage ancestors who had to live by hunting."
+
+"I'm able to judge of that, Ethan, because I've tried both ways; and I
+give you my word I feel just as much pleasure when I'm trying to outwit
+a cunning fox as you do when you trap one. I get his picture, and you
+have his pelt, that's all the difference."
+
+"Well," replied Ethan with a grin, "when that same pelt brings you in
+more than a cool three hundred, it makes considerable difference in the
+end."
+
+Lub began to make faces, and swallow very fast at hearing that, as
+though he had come near choking; but in fact it was to keep from
+chuckling, and thus arousing suspicion in the mind of the hoodwinked
+Ethan.
+
+"I noticed you down on your hands and knees, Ethan, over where we
+thought we saw that moving figure of a man last night," Phil went on to
+say, changing the subject hastily, partly from the same reason that
+influenced Lub to cough and gasp; "did you find out anything?"
+
+At that the other assumed a mysterious air.
+
+"Well, first of all, we weren't mistaken, you want to know, boys," he
+remarked.
+
+"Then it was a sure-enough man?" asked Lub, beginning to be deeply
+interested.
+
+"That's what it was," Ethan assured him. "I found his trail as easy as
+turning over my hand. Even followed it some ways off, but lost the same
+among the rocks. When we saw him turn away he didn't come back again,
+but kept straight on."
+
+"He must have been watching us through one of the windows?" suggested
+Lub.
+
+"If he was, he made up his mind we were too many for him to tackle, and
+that he had better clear out for good," Ethan continued, as though he
+had been figuring it all out beforehand, and had his mind made up.
+
+"Do you think he could have been the same party who was in our cabin
+before we came along, Phil?" asked Lub.
+
+"It looks that way," the other told him. "If this man had just been a
+stranger, up here to try the fishing, or something like that, he would
+have knocked on the door, and tried to make our acquaintance. As it was,
+he watched us, and then cleared out."
+
+"Let's hope he won't think to come back again," Lub pursued.
+
+"Better hurry and get that strainer fixed on the top of our chimney,
+Lub," advised Ethan, a little maliciously; "first a bear, and the next
+thing to drop down on us might be a real man."
+
+"Oh! leave that to me," the other assured him; "I haven't quite figured
+it out in my mind just how I'll fix it, but after lunch I'll get busy.
+And believe me, when the Fenwick screen is applied, not even a 'possum
+or a squirrel can invade our cabin home. It'll be impervious to man or
+beast."
+
+"Better get out a patent right away on the thing then, Lub," he was
+advised by the scoffing Ethan, "or some wise duck will be stealing the
+idea from you."
+
+"Where's X-Ray?" asked Phil, suddenly noticing that the fourth member of
+the camping expedition was missing.
+
+Ethan looked at Lub, inquiringly.
+
+"You see I was so busy reading the signs of that trail I never once
+thought a thing about any one else. Lub, you must have seen where he
+went, didn't you?"
+
+"Last I saw of him he was down on the lake shore," replied the other.
+"He had his fishing rod along, and I understood him to say he meant to
+look for some grasshoppers or crickets or something for bait, because he
+felt trout hungry."
+
+"X-Ray has a weakness for fish, you know," Ethan declared. "He said he'd
+be the boss fisherman of the bunch while we were up here, and even dared
+me to take him up, the one to win who could show the greatest number,
+biggest variety, and the heaviest fish of all that were taken. I think
+I'll go him, if I can find time to bother."
+
+"And I'll encourage you both to the limit," chuckled Lub; "because that
+means we're bound to have all the fine trout we can eat while we're
+here. May the best man win. I know how to cook 'em to beat the band, by
+rolling each trout in cracker crumbs, and then frying in hot grease from
+fat salt pork. Makes my mouth fairly water just to mention it."
+
+"We won't forget that, Lub," Ethan told him; "and you can consider that
+you're hereby appointed the official fish frying man of the lot. For if
+there's anything I hate to cook it's fish. Eating's another story, and I
+always try to do my duty there."
+
+"I thought I heard some one call out then," said Lub, looking around
+him.
+
+"Must have been a crow cawing, or a gray squirrel barking," suggested
+Ethan.
+
+They listened for a dozen seconds, but heard nothing.
+
+"I reckon I was mistaken about it," admitted Lub, finally; "only I
+wondered if X-Ray could have tumbled into any sort of trouble. He's spry
+enough as a rule, and not built like me."
+
+"No danger of him not letting off a whoop if he ran up against anything
+like a rough deal," Ethan ventured.
+
+"Still, no harm done if we stepped down to the edge of the water, and
+took a little look around," suggested Phil. "We've none of us paid any
+attention to the lake so far, only to take that early morning dip in the
+same. It seems to be about a quarter of a mile across to the further
+shore, and with lots of bays and nooks, as well as points of land
+jutting out like fingers. I'd think it was a splendid piece of water for
+trout; and I'm glad I own some land fronting on Lake Surprise."
+
+As they turned in the direction of the edge of the water Lub's eyes were
+frequently cast upward toward the rude chimney that surmounted the back
+of the cabin wall. Evidently he was endeavoring to figure out just how
+he might accomplish the task he had taken upon his shoulders, and
+arrange things, so that while the smoke had free access to the open air,
+all manner of intruders would be kept out.
+
+When Lub did undertake anything, no matter how simple, he was apt to
+throw his whole heart and soul into the accomplishment of the same. To
+him it meant that his reputation was at stake; unless he made good his
+chums would have the laugh on him for a long time to come.
+
+Ethan happened to be in the lead as they advanced. That may have
+accounted for the fact that it was him who brought them to a sudden
+standstill by throwing up a warning hand, and exclaiming sharply:
+
+"What's that I hear? Sounds mighty like the drip of a paddle to me!"
+
+"And there's a line moving out from the shore!" added Phil, pointing;
+"there's _something_ back of that point, and moving in the water.
+Perhaps it may only be an old mother duck with her little brood. No,
+there it goes again. Ethan, you're right about it; that's the dip of a
+paddle!"
+
+"Whoever's got a canoe up here, they're heading this way, because you
+can see from the ripples," Ethan continued, eagerly; for versed in many
+of the secrets of woodcraft the boy was quick to notice which way the
+successive ripples were moving.
+
+"Watch now, because he's going to push out from behind that tongue of
+wooded land!" said Phil, sharply.
+
+All of them stood there as if rooted to the spot. Their eyes were glued
+on the point mentioned by Phil, and back of which must be the canoe that
+was sending all those ripples forth, away from the land.
+
+"There it comes!" breathed Lub, who was holding his breath, and
+consequently getting, frightfully red in the face.
+
+They could see the raised prow of what looked to be a genuine birch bark
+canoe poke in sight. In these modern days when even the Indians up in
+Maine manufacture up-to-date canvas canoes by the thousand, it is a rare
+event to run across one made of birch bark. The trees that are large
+enough for the purpose have about all been destroyed, so the Indians
+claim, which accounts for the revolution in canoes.
+
+Further and further moved the boat. Now half of its length was seen,
+then two-thirds, and finally the stern had passed the end of the point.
+The three watchers could now see that it was being softly driven by a
+paddler who sat in the stern, and wielded a single blade.
+
+All of them stared, and Lub, strange to say was the first to find
+utterance so as to voice his surprise.
+
+"Why, Phil, Ethan, don't you see who it is?" he ejaculated; "who but our
+chum, X-Ray Tyson, sitting there as big as life, and heading straight
+toward us! Where under the sun d'ye reckon he found that canoe; and
+whose can it be?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE MOUNTAIN BOYS IN CAMP
+
+
+"Whoopee! Hello, X-Ray, where'd you pick it up?"
+
+When Ethan called this out the paddler waved at them, and laughed.
+
+"Wait till I push her nose up on that fine sandy beach, and I'll tell
+you all about it, boys," he answered.
+
+Two minutes later and the prow of the birch bark canoe glided softly up
+on the shore. Laying his paddle down in the boat X-Ray proceeded to pass
+along toward the bow, so that he could step out without getting his feet
+wet. Meanwhile Lub was looking the canoe over, noting that it seemed to
+be in very good condition, and not at all weather worn, as though it had
+been lying in the bushes for several winters and summers.
+
+"I ran across her," the finder started in to explain, "while I was
+pushing along through the scrub, meaning to get to a certain point. I'd
+picked up some hoppers and crickets, and wanted to give the trout a try,
+to see if they were hungry. Whoever owned the boat had hid her away; and
+not so long ago, either, for there was a wet streak on her keel that no
+rain had made. She was lying bottom-up, of course."
+
+"Have you been fishing in the canoe all this time?" asked Phil, sniffing
+the air, and then stepping forward to look for himself; upon which X-Ray
+bent over and lifted out a string of a dozen pretty fair-sized trout.
+
+"How's that for a starter, eh, Ethan?" he demanded joyously. "Think you
+can beat that for a beginning? Right back of that point there's the boss
+bay; and say, you couldn't drop in a stone without hitting a trout,
+they're that thick. I stuck right in the same place all along; no need
+to move around."
+
+"You got a fine mess, though I believe I could eat that many myself,"
+ventured Lub, eyeing the string hungrily.
+
+"Oh! we can get all we want," he was told; "it's only a question of
+finding the bait. They're just asking to be taken on. It's hit and come
+with them as soon as you drop your line in. The bait hardly sinks a foot
+before it's taken. I never saw anything like it in all my life. And
+fight, say, they bent my rod double lots of times. I lost more'n I
+saved."
+
+"But about the canoe," Phil went on to say, "the chances are it must
+belong to whoever was in our cabin before we came."
+
+"That stands to reason, seems to me," Ethan agreed.
+
+"Well, he had the use of your shack, goodness knows how long, Phil,"
+said Lub, with an imitation of his father's solemn manner when
+delivering an opinion from the bench; "and it's only fair you have the
+use of his boat. Tit for tat, you know. One balances the other. Besides,
+we are not supposed to know whose boat it is."
+
+"There's something else I wanted to tell you about," remarked X-Ray.
+
+He was thrusting a hand inside his coat as he spoke; and when it came
+out again the others saw that it held something like a buff colored
+envelope, torn open.
+
+"Now, I found this same when I was nosing around," he explained. "It was
+caught tight away under this seat in the bow, and must have been blown
+there by the wind."
+
+"Looks like one of those telegraph envelopes," remarked Lub.
+
+"Which is exactly what it is," said X-Ray Tyson, as he offered the
+object in question to Phil. "There's an enclosure inside; read it, and
+see what you can make of the same. It got me balled up a whole lot, I'm
+telling you."
+
+Phil quickly had the enclosure out. It was a printed form, and had a
+message written upon it.
+
+     "John Newton:
+      Winchester, N. Y. (hold until called for).
+
+     "Stay where you are. Search grows warmer daily. Too bad for
+      both you can't compromise.
+
+                                                      "RUTGERS."
+
+Phil read it all out slowly, and Lub listened very seriously.
+
+"First," Phil went on to say, "the man's name, or the one he goes by
+right now, is John Newton. It may be assumed, and I 'reckon the chances
+are all that way. He seems to be in hiding, just as we thought. This is
+a friend who's warning him not to think of leaving his nest yet awhile.
+The question is, what terrible thing has he done, and who's hunting for
+him?"
+
+"If you asked me," ventured Lub, composedly, "I'd say it was all as
+plain as print. This man must be a counterfeit money-maker. The Secret
+Service people are looking for him everywhere, because, like as not he's
+big game. And you can see how this Rutgers, who is of course a chap of
+the same kind, is telling him how hot the hunt is getting to be."
+
+"It does look a little that way," admitted Phil; "there's only one thing
+that bothers me."
+
+"Go on and explain what you mean," urged Ethan.
+
+"The last part of the message doesn't seem to go with that sort of an
+explanation," said Phil.
+
+"As how? Read it again, and let us see, Phil," Lub requested.
+
+"'Too bad for both you can't compromise.' Now, the Government never
+allows itself to enter into any bargain where a rascal can get off. He
+may turn State's evidence against his pals, and in that way get lighter
+punishment; but there can be no such a thing as compromising a felony
+against the United States Government!"
+
+"Phil, you're right about that, and I know it!" declared Lub,
+ponderously.
+
+"I'll keep this telegram, if you've no objection," Phil continued; "and
+try to hit on some other sort of explanation later on. If we only had
+the key, this mystery would all be simple enough, I'm thinking."
+
+"Well, what matters most to us is that we've got the canoe, and can find
+lots of uses for the same while we're up here at Lake Surprise,"
+commented X-Ray.
+
+It was decided a little later on, after the trout had been prepared,
+that as the fish looked so inviting, they might as well start right in
+by having a feast at noon.
+
+"Well, anyway, it'll get us fixed for better things later on," sighed
+Lub, as he contemplated the three that would fall to his portion, and
+noted how small a mess that was going to be.
+
+However, he did prove that he knew how to cook them splendidly. When
+handed around they were well browned, and as sweet as could be. Every
+one complimented Lub on his feat, and begged him to keep up the good
+work, which he readily agreed to do, never once appearing to realize
+that he was proving an "easy mark."
+
+During the meal he was joked more or less about not having made a start
+with his screen on top of the chimney, and this must have spurred him
+on to showing his chums that he had conceived a clever scheme looking to
+that end.
+
+First of all he managed to roll several logs against the lower part of
+the cabin. These upon being lifted in a pile formed a means for climbing
+up on to the roof. Without some such assistance Lub would have had no
+end of trouble in getting started on his self chosen job.
+
+The others paid little or no attention to what he was doing, since they
+had various plans for passing the afternoon away. In fact, while Phil
+meant to take a wider detour of the neighborhood, to look for signs of
+game he could photograph, X-Ray had badgered Ethan into agreeing to
+accompany him out on the lake, to see which would catch the greater
+number of fish before evening came on.
+
+They were now industriously searching for grubs, crickets, grasshoppers,
+or even angle worms, so as to tempt the fat trout to take hold.
+
+It was while this was going on that a muffled cry came to their ears.
+
+"Listen! wasn't that some one calling for help?" demanded Ethan,
+scrambling to his feet, with a can that had held Boston baked beans in
+his hand, into which he had been introducing crickets, and such things,
+it having only small holes punched in its sides, besides the larger one
+which he kept stopped with a handful of grass.
+
+"There it goes again," said X-Ray, turning all around, as though so
+bewildered that he could not place the direction from which the call
+came.
+
+"Look at Phil, will you, how he's putting for the cabin!" ejaculated
+Ethan.
+
+"Do you think it can be a bear, or a panther, or anything like that; and
+is he meaning to shut himself in?" asked the other, his voice showing
+signs of trembling in spite of his well known bravery.
+
+"Shucks! no, don't you see he's aiming to reach the back of the cabin,
+where Lub's heaped up that stuff? He's meaning to climb on the roof! It
+must be Lub's fallen part-way down the old chimney, and stuck there.
+Hurry and let's get along to help pull him out!"
+
+With that they started on a mad run. As the shack was close at hand they
+managed to arrive at almost the same time Phil clambered on the roof.
+
+For such nimble fellows the task of mounting to the roof was not a
+difficult one. When they reached there they found that Phil was leaning
+over, and seemed to be giving directions.
+
+"Is it Lub; and has he fallen down inside?" asked X-Ray, quickly, hardly
+knowing whether to burst out into a laugh, or look sorrowful.
+
+"Yes, and it happens that he's stuck there in such a way he can't go
+down any further, and isn't able to climb up. You hold on to me, both of
+you, while I lean in and see if I can get hold of his hands."
+
+"Tell us when to yo-heave-o, will you, Phil?"
+
+"Something'll have to come; only I hope we don't pull his arms off!"
+chuckled Ethan, beginning to see the humor of the situation, now that it
+looked as though Lub was not hurt in any way, only "discommoded," as he
+afterwards called it.
+
+So while Phil leaned over, and thrust himself part-way down into the
+gaping aperture, his two comrades, seizing hold of his lower
+extremities, prepared to pull with might and main.
+
+"Now, get busy!" they heard a half-muffled voice say, and at that X-Ray
+and Ethan began to tug.
+
+There was heard considerable groaning and puffing, but they were not to
+be denied. Slowly but surely Phil's body was coming upward, until
+finally the head of Lub appeared above the top of the slab-and-hard-mud
+chimney.
+
+"I know it's a tough joke on me, boys," he said, humbly enough, after he
+had clambered on to the roof, and rubbed some of his scraped joints with
+more or less feeling; "but after all it was an accident."
+
+"How was that, Lub?" asked X-Ray, examining a number of stout stakes
+which apparently had been cut to certain lengths, and were intended to
+be fastened crossways in the chimney, being pounded into position with
+the hatchet.
+
+"Why, I had one of those prison bars in position, and unfortunately
+leaned too hard on the same," Lub explained.
+
+"The pesky thing betrayed your confidence, did it?" demanded Ethan.
+
+"Just about how it happened," the other continued, frankly. "I must have
+tried to save myself, more through intuition than because I had time to
+think about it. Anyway I got doubled up somehow; and that's the reason I
+stuck in the flue. One thing I'm glad of, and that is you fellows were
+close by, and could hear me yelp. If you'd gone off I might have had to
+stay there all afternoon; and let me tell you it would have been no
+joke."
+
+"Ready to give it up as a bad job, are you, Lub?" questioned X-Ray.
+
+"What, me quit for a little thing like that?" burst out the other; "I
+should hope I was a better stayer than that, boys. It only makes me
+clinch my teeth, and resolve to conquer or die."
+
+"Well, please don't die in our chimney flue," begged Ethan; "because you
+know we need it to keep our fire going, so we can cook three meals a
+day. I think you must have pounded that first bar down a little too far,
+that's all, Lub. Better luck next time!"
+
+They left him industriously at work. Having found to his sorrow where
+his mistake was, Lub would be more careful in the near future. And when
+he finished his task no 'coon or squirrel would find it possible to have
+access to the cabin by means of the chimney, unless they first gnawed
+through the parallel bars.
+
+Shortly afterwards, having succeeded in procuring a good supply of bait,
+the two ambitious fishermen pushed off in the bark canoe. Ethan held the
+paddle, for he was a master-hand at this sort of work, and could propel
+such a light running boat with the deftness of an Adirondack guide,
+hardly a ripple being stirred, with the paddle never once taken from the
+water.
+
+Then Phil wandered off, after giving Lub directions for summoning them
+back should any necessity arise, which of course they had no reason to
+believe would be the case.
+
+Engrossed in his work of hunting high and low for signs of his quarry
+Phil passed an hour or more. Then he returned to camp, and found Lub
+resting after his labors, having completed his task. From his manner it
+was easy to see that he felt quite well satisfied with what he had done.
+
+Later on they heard loud calls, and saw the other boys coming in. X-Ray
+was wielding the spruce blade now; and in the bow Ethan held up two long
+strings of glistening and still squirming trout, as trophies to their
+united prowess with hook, rod and line.
+
+"It's beginning to get pretty warm work between us," said X-Ray, as they
+stepped ashore. "I got nineteen this afternoon while Ethan he reached
+twenty-six; so even with my twelve before that I'm only five ahead in
+the count. All trout, so variety isn't in the game yet. He hooked a
+sockdolager, but his line broke. Yet I'm willing to admit he's got one
+there that goes ahead of any I've taken. Get the scales and we'll
+measure up, Ethan."
+
+Lub rubbed his hands together when he learned how much in earnest the
+rivals were becoming.
+
+"I reckon now, Phil," he said aside to the other, "we're just going to
+feast on these here trout all the time we're stopping at your hotel.
+Encourage 'em to keep the game going. First we'll make out to think
+Ethan is bound to win; and then we can switch off on to X-Ray."
+
+"You're getting to be a regular schemer, Lub," commented Phil, though he
+took occasion later on to follow out the advice given, and thus increase
+the seeds of rivalry between the fishermen.
+
+They had a glorious mess of trout for supper, and even Lub owned up that
+it was utterly impossible for him to stow away another one, so that
+several had to be wasted. None of them had yet shown any signs of
+becoming tired of the deliciously browned trout, and Lub even declared
+that if they would get him up betimes in the morning he would fry
+another batch.
+
+"The night favors my plan, because you see how it's clouded up," Phil
+was saying, as he prepared to go and set his trap.
+
+"That is, you mean you need darkness, because your camera has to be set
+ready to take the picture," Lub remarked.
+
+"Well," said Phil, "that's the way photographers do when taking an
+interior, but I've got an arrangement attached to my camera that works
+different. When the animal pulls the string that is connected with the
+flash light apparatus he does something more. He exposes the plate for
+just a quarter of a minute."
+
+"A time exposure, you mean," remarked Ethan. "If you've no objections,
+Phil, I think I'd like to go along, and see how you set the thing."
+
+Phil looked pleased.
+
+"Only too glad to have you, Ethan," he told the other.
+
+Ethan had been the one who only lately had scorned the idea that any
+hunter could find so much delight in "shooting" game with a camera as in
+other days he had done with a gun.
+
+Phil began to feel encouraged. He knew only too well, from his own
+personal experience, that once the seed had taken root it was bound to
+sprout and grow rapidly.
+
+Ethan's genuine love of all out-doors, together with a nature that could
+not be called cruel, would make it fallow ground that the seed had
+fallen upon. Results were sure to follow.
+
+So Phil led the way to the place where he had discovered that one or
+more of a colony of 'coons had actually made a trail leading to the
+lake, going and coming so many times.
+
+He had half jokingly declared that they went down when fish hungry to
+look for an unwary trout. Whether this could really be so or not Phil of
+course was in no position to prove.
+
+"But they do eat fish," Ethan remarked, as they walked along together;
+"I've seen a big buck 'coon snatch one out of the water. Some people say
+they bob the end of their striped tail on the surface as they sit on a
+log, and in that way lure a fish close in. As I never saw such a thing
+you'll have to take the story with a grain of salt."
+
+He was really very much interested in the way Phil set his trap, and
+asked a lot of questions, all of which the other obligingly answered.
+
+And after everything had been arranged the two chums who had such a
+mutual love for the Great Outdoors walked back to the Birch Bark Lodge
+in company.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE 'COON PHOTOGRAPHER
+
+
+"Lightning! Why, we're going to have a storm!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.
+
+They were all beginning to feel somewhat tired, and Lub must have had as
+many as six or seven little "cat-naps." The fire was burning cheerily
+and the interior of the cabin pretty close, despite the fact that the
+door had been left wide open.
+
+"Well, let her rain," muttered Lub. "We haven't anything to get wet,
+outside of our canoe, and it won't hurt that."
+
+Phil had arisen to his feet. There was a peculiar smile on his face,
+Ethan saw. He looked satisfied about something.
+
+"I hope you fellows can spare me the lantern for a little while," he
+said.
+
+"Well, that's queer!" observed Lub, in bewilderment.
+
+"What's doing, Phil?" demanded X-Ray Tyson.
+
+"I think I'll go out and get my camera," the other returned.
+
+Then Ethan chuckled.
+
+"I thought that was what it must have been, Phil," he observed, dryly.
+
+"Oh! I see," Lub went on to say; "afraid of the rain, of course. Well, I
+suppose it would ruin the thing to get it wet."
+
+"Too bad you've had all that work for nothing, Phil," yawning as he said
+this X-Ray tried to look sympathetic; but was really too sleepy to be
+anything but ridiculous.
+
+"Oh! I don't know about that," Phil told him, as he picked up the
+lantern; "I've got a hunch that the thing's been played to the end of
+the string."
+
+Ethan chuckled some more. Both Lub and X-Ray opened their eyes and began
+to realize that there was something more to this thing than they had
+grasped.
+
+"Whatever can you mean by that?" asked Lub; while the fourth boy,
+quicker to catch things, cried out:
+
+"Oh! then that wasn't a flash of lightning after all, Phil?"
+
+"After a kind, it was," Phil went on to say. "In fact, I believe my trap
+has been sprung. Mr. 'Coon was early on the trail to-night. I'd better
+go and see. If the thing's happened, no need of leaving the camera out
+all night, and take chances of a shower. Coming along with me, Ethan?"
+
+"Sure thing!" declared the other, who had only been waiting for an
+invitation, as Phil very well knew from the eager look in his eyes.
+
+They soon arrived on the spot.
+
+"It's all right," observed Phil, immediately.
+
+"Trap's sprung, you mean?" asked his comrade.
+
+"Yes, you can see where the bait has been carried away from the place
+where I fixed it," he was told, as Phil pointed out where the cord ran.
+
+"I guess the flash gave the poor old 'coon the scare of his life," Ethan
+went on to say, considerably amused.
+
+It was an object with Phil to encourage this interest on the part of his
+chum. Accordingly, after gathering up the camera and flashlight
+apparatus he had Ethan closely examine the marks that were plainly seen
+about the place where the bait had attracted the attention of the little
+animal.
+
+As has been said before, Ethan was a practical woodsman, and knew a
+great deal about all things connected with outdoor life. Trailing had
+long been one of his particular hobbies; hence, he was able to tell just
+what must have happened there.
+
+"Here's where the 'coon came along, just as he'd likely done on many
+another night when he felt fish hungry. And about here, Phil, he began
+to get a whiff of that green corn you fetched with you to use as bait."
+
+"How do you make that out?" asked the other, partly for information, and
+also with the idea of keeping up Ethan's interest, which he could easily
+see was growing right along.
+
+"Why, the marks have a different look," Ethan explained. "He stopped
+right here to sniff, and then went forward on the run, all caution
+thrown to the winds."
+
+"That took him up to the bait?" suggested Phil.
+
+"Yes, and you bet he didn't waste a single second laying hold of the
+same," Ethan ventured, positively, just as though he might be watching
+the entire performance with his own eyes, instead of figuring it out.
+
+"Like as not it's been a long time since this particular 'coon had a
+chance at an ear of juicy green corn," observed Phil. "Perhaps he never
+even saw one before, but his instinct told him what a good thing was
+when he ran across it."
+
+"As he began to pull at the cob, meaning to carry it off to his den,
+there came that dazzling white flash," Ethan continued.
+
+"It petrified the 'coon for the instant," explained Phil, "that happens
+in nearly every case. If you look close you'll find that the animal
+always has a startled expression. I rather think any of us would if a
+flash like that blinded us just when we'd started to pick up the biggest
+watermelon in the patch."
+
+"It frightened Mr. 'Coon away, of course," said Ethan.
+
+"But he may sneak back here again before morning," laughed Phil. "You
+can see where his teeth cut into the green corn, and the memory of that
+one taste will make him ready to take chances again."
+
+He dropped the half ear of corn on the ground as he spoke.
+
+"You mean that the poor old chap isn't going to be cheated out of his
+fine treat, eh, Phil?"
+
+"He deserves something," was the reply, "because I reckon he's given me
+a cracking good picture. I want him to know I appreciate his pull at my
+latch string."
+
+This closed the incident, but on the way back Ethan continued to ask
+numerous questions. These the other always answered to the best of his
+ability, for it was his desire to interest Ethan more and more.
+
+And Phil felt satisfied when, just before they arrived at the cabin
+Ethan gave expression to an admission:
+
+"Well, I'm ready to own up, Phil, that if for any reason I couldn't have
+a gun, or use one because the law was on all game, I _might_ take some
+stock in hunting by flashlight, and with a camera."
+
+"And the knowledge you have, Ethan, of wild animals' ways would make you
+a master hand at the game, if ever you bothered taking it up."
+
+"Think so?" remarked the other, naturally pleased at this sort of
+appreciation on Phil's part.
+
+"I'm sure of it," he was told.
+
+Nothing more was said at the time. Phil felt positive, however, that he
+could count on Ethan's cooperation so long as they remained at Birch
+Bark Lodge.
+
+It was not long before they all sought their bunks.
+
+The night passed without any alarm. Lub had assured his comrades they
+need have no fear of any unwelcome guest dropping down the chimney
+again. He had insured against such an event happening; and apparently
+felt the utmost confidence in his own invention, for he seemed to drop
+asleep almost as soon as he settled down in his blanket.
+
+Again in the morning they enjoyed their plunge in the lake, although Lub
+had to be strongly urged before he consented to join them.
+
+When he mentioned trout he was gently but firmly told that it was folly
+to whip a willing horse.
+
+"Don't let's have fish every meal," urged X-Ray Tyson, "or we'll all be
+sprouting gills and dorsal fins and scales. Once a day after this ought
+to satisfy the trout hunger. Now it seems to me that's a bully good fire
+for camp flapjacks."
+
+"Just what it is," agreed Ethan with enthusiasm.
+
+"That suits me all right," Phil agreed, "and we all know the kind you
+can make, Lub. If you want any help, call on me."
+
+"Oh! it's only a pleasure to me, so long as I know my efforts are
+appreciated," said Lub, just as they all knew he would.
+
+The flapjacks must have been good, for not a piece of one was left after
+the four boys had finished breakfast. And they even had the audacity to
+bait Lub on top of it.
+
+"Don't care how soon you repeat that mess, Lub," observed Phil.
+
+"Never tasted their equal," confessed Ethan.
+
+"And as for me," said the wicked X-Ray, "I'll sure dream of the treat
+to-night, see if I don't."
+
+Whereupon, of course, Lub set about figuring out just how the little
+sack of self-raising flour would hold out, if he made flapjacks every
+single morning of their stay in camp.
+
+Lub was a lovable camp mate, and so easily imposed upon. But then his
+chums were just as ready to do things for him in turn.
+
+Later on in the morning, seeing that the rival fishermen had started out
+again to depopulate the lake, and Lub was busy cleaning up around the
+cabin, Phil took a notion to wander off.
+
+He meant to cover quite some little territory this time, his object
+being to see if he could catch a glimpse of a deer. Of course he carried
+his camera along, because it was always possible that some good chance
+might arise where he could use it to advantage.
+
+Phil believed in being ready. He was a hunter, and knew how exasperating
+it was to run across tempting game when one's gun had been left at home.
+
+Half an hour later he found himself wandering through a section of woods
+that looked very promising. He fancied he caught a sound, and it was of
+such a peculiar nature that Phil stopped still to listen.
+
+Yes, it was not the "whiff" of a startled deer or moose, but struck the
+astonished boy more like the wailing cry of a distressed child.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+FINDING A SUNBEAM
+
+
+At first Phil found it hard to believe he heard aright.
+
+"I've known cats to make sounds like a baby crying, when they were
+facing each other, and ready to scrap," he told himself.
+
+The more he listened the stronger grew his conviction.
+
+"Even if it turns out to be a pair of spitting young bobcats," he
+concluded, "I'd like to snap 'em off. As to a child, what would one be
+doing away up here in this wilderness, unless--by George, now, that
+might be it."
+
+He had suddenly remembered how they found the little cap, yes, and a
+baby silver thimble in the cabin.
+
+It was no trouble at all to locate the source of the sounds. The sobs
+continued as he advanced. In a few minutes Phil was gazing with
+considerable surprise upon a figure outstretched on the ground.
+
+He could see it was a little girl, possibly four years old. She had
+golden curls, and when she looked up suddenly at hearing his footsteps
+Phil discovered that she was as pretty as a fairy.
+
+Just then she looked a little forlorn, since her face was soiled from
+the dirt, and tears had made furrows down her cheeks.
+
+She scrambled to her feet, and seemed hardly to know whether to try and
+run away, or put her childish trust in this strange boy.
+
+Now Phil was always a favorite with younger children. They all loved him
+because he had such a pleasant face, engaging laugh, and seemed to know
+just how to appeal to a child's heart.
+
+Few boys care to bother with little tots; they only appear as a nuisance
+in their eyes. Phil, however, was different.
+
+"Hello! here, little girl, what's all the trouble about?" he asked,
+cheerily; and somehow there must have been magic in his voice, for the
+look of fear left the child's face immediately.
+
+She recognized a friend in need. As a rule children, just the same as
+most dogs do, have an instinct that tells them who to trust.
+
+"I'se losted!" she said, simply, with a little sob in her voice.
+
+Phil had now reached her side. She did not shrink from him as he bent
+down and put his hand gently on her curly head. Something that she saw
+in his kind eyes, perhaps the vein of sympathy so pronounced in his
+tones, told her this strange boy could be safely trusted.
+
+"Now, that's too bad," Phil went on to say, just as if he himself had
+been "losted" and hence knew how it felt. "But who are you lost from?"
+
+"Daddy," she said, simply, as though taking it for granted that every
+one must know who was implied by that term; because to her mind there
+was only one "daddy" on earth.
+
+Phil believed he saw it all now. The man who had occupied the cabin, had
+this child with him. For some unknown reason he had taken alarm, perhaps
+because of their coming to the lonely lake, and made a hurried change of
+base.
+
+Why he had prowled around on that first night it was of course
+impossible for the boy to say, unless he simply meant to satisfy himself
+with regard to their intentions.
+
+And now the little girl had managed to lose herself in the woods. No
+doubt the father would be searching everywhere for her.
+
+Phil thought it all over, even while he was soothing the child and
+telling her he would see to it that she found "daddy" again.
+
+He could not leave her there in the open pine woods, that was sure, and
+since there could be no immediate way of learning the present abode of
+the mysterious man, the only thing left for Phil to do was to take the
+little girl to camp with him.
+
+In due time no doubt the father was sure to turn up there to claim the
+child. They would try to convince him that it was none of their business
+what made him hide away from his fellows as he was doing.
+
+So Phil made up his mind.
+
+He had by this time managed to distract the child's thoughts from her
+troubles. Indeed, this was no difficult task for Phil Bradley. Already
+she had laughed at something he had said. When Phil heard what a sweet
+laugh that was he immediately told himself:
+
+"I warrant that there's a man chasing wild through the woods right now,
+trying to find this little sunbeam. I know I'd be, if I missed a merry
+laugh like that at my fireside."
+
+"My name is Phil," he told her, "and won't you tell me yours?"
+
+"Why, it's Mazie," she quickly answered.
+
+"Mazie what?" he continued.
+
+"No, just only Mazie," the little girl told him positively.
+
+Phil was baffled, for he had hoped to learn "daddy's" name. He did not
+attempt anything further along that line.
+
+"Now, Mazie," he went on to say, "you'll come with me, won't you? You
+must be hungry, and want some lunch. We'll find daddy pretty soon, you
+know, and you wouldn't want to stay out here in the woods all by
+yourself?"
+
+She looked alarmed at the mere suggestion of such a thing. It pleased
+the boy to notice how eagerly she seized his outstretched hand, to which
+she clung confidingly.
+
+"Oh! no, 'cause I'm afraid. I saw a bear, a big bear once. Daddy shooed
+it away from our house. And oh! it whiffed and whiffed just awful.
+Please take me with you--Phil."
+
+"Just what I'll do, Mazie. You see I have three friends, all boys who
+will be glad to see you. And when daddy comes he can take you back
+home."
+
+"Home!"
+
+The child repeated the word after him. There was a bewildered look on
+her face. Phil judged from this that some memory was awakening.
+
+"Home--daddy--muzzer!" he heard her say almost in a whisper.
+
+"Oh! you didn't tell me that your mother was up here, too; is she with
+daddy, Mazie?" Phil asked her, as they walked slowly along.
+
+She looked up. The wistful glow in her eyes gave the boy a strange
+feeling.
+
+"Oh! no. Muzzer gone far away. She never come to her little girl now,"
+he heard her say; and somehow the thought that she meant her mother was
+dead kept Phil from questioning her any further.
+
+The little thing had evidently already recovered from her recent grief.
+She trusted in Phil, and believed that it would only be a matter of a
+short time before he would bring "daddy."
+
+In her eyes Phil was a magician. Nothing could be beyond his power to
+accomplish. That is what the faith of a child means.
+
+She prattled all the way along, and yet it was pretty much about the
+woods, the flowers she liked to pick, the noisy scolding squirrels, and
+how daddy had always watched over her so carefully since they came up
+here, ever and ever so long ago.
+
+Not once did she refer to any former life. It seemed to be in the nature
+of a closed book with the child.
+
+Phil was waiting to see how she acted when they came in sight of the
+cabin, for he felt sure she must recognize it. She pointed to several
+things, even telling him that the tree with the dead top was where
+"bushy-tail" lived and had a family, so daddy said, and daddy knew
+everything.
+
+All at once the child gave a cry. She had discovered the cabin.
+
+"Oh! I live here!" she burst out, and disengaging her hand from that of
+her champion she flew to the open door and burst in, shrilly crying:
+
+"Daddy! Daddy!"
+
+Imagine the astonishment of Lub. He happened to be sitting tailor
+fashion on the floor sewing a button on that he had burst off, Ethan
+told him when he gorged so much the evening before.
+
+Hearing a flutter, and then that cry in a childish voice, Lub turned to
+see what he thought at first must be a specter.
+
+The little girl was abashed to find only a stranger there. Her sudden
+hopes being so suddenly dissolved brought the tears again into her
+eyes.
+
+But Phil quickly managed to brighten her up. And Lub was ready to do
+almost anything to please the little miss, even to trying to stand on
+his head had she demanded it.
+
+Then along came the other fellows. Of course both of them were as much
+astonished as Lub had been, but at the same time showed that they were
+not sorry to have such a little sunbeam around.
+
+Among themselves, of course, they talked it all over, and knew that
+Mazie must be the child who had been the sole companion of the lonely
+occupant of the cabin.
+
+"Too bad if it turns out he's a scoundrel, and a law breaker, with such
+a bully little girl belonging to him."
+
+X-Ray Tyson said this, looking as he spoke at the suspiciously new coin
+he had picked out of a crack in the floor, and which he fully believed
+had been molded right there in that isolated cabin.
+
+"Don't count too much on that," remarked Phil; "you can tell that she
+loves daddy above everything on earth. He can't be so _very_ wicked, I
+guess."
+
+As the day wore on all of them took turns in amusing the little girl.
+She proudly showed them a number of things that she had been in the
+habit of playing with when she "lived here."
+
+Not once did she speak of a former life. Everything seemed to be
+associated with "daddy." And as the other boys had been told by Phil
+what he thought in connection with her mother being dead, of course they
+were careful not to mention the word, for fear it might cause her sudden
+grief.
+
+During the afternoon her merry laugh was heard frequently. Childish
+troubles soon fade away. And surely a little girl could not wish for a
+better lot of "big brothers" than these four boys seemed to be. They
+anticipated her every wish, and after a while Mazie even seemed to look
+upon them in the light of old and tried friends.
+
+Phil had arranged it that while their little guest honored them with her
+company she was to have his bunk. He could make himself fairly
+comfortable on the floor, somehow. A bunch of hemlock browse would do
+for a mattress, and if the fire was kept up a blanket was hardly
+necessary.
+
+Phil felt a little fearful that at night she might miss a familiar
+figure, and cry herself to sleep wanting "daddy." He was agreeably
+disappointed, however. Mazie ate supper with her protectors, and cuddled
+down in the arms of Lub, to whom she had taken a great fancy. Perhaps it
+was because he had so much to do with the getting of meals, although it
+was hardly a fair thing to say that, because Lub was kindness itself.
+
+There she was finally discovered fast asleep. Lub insisted on them
+leaving her with her head on his shoulder for a long time.
+
+Finally, Ethan and Phil having come back, after setting the flashlight
+arrangement in a new place, they managed to carry the sleeping child to
+the bunk provided, without arousing her.
+
+The night passed quietly.
+
+Phil would not have been surprised had a heavy summons on the door
+brought them all to their feet, and upon opening up to find an almost
+distracted man anxiously inquiring as to whether they had seen anything
+of a lost child.
+
+Nothing of the kind occurred.
+
+Wherever "daddy" could be searching for the missing one as yet he failed
+to turn his attention to the cabin where until recently he had lived in
+retirement, a hermit, as X-Ray Tyson called him.
+
+Another dawn came.
+
+Breakfast was prepared in almost abject silence. The little girl was
+still sleeping. All of the boys had tiptoed up and taken a peep at her
+lying there, as though hardly able to believe it could be so.
+
+Phil had washed her face and hands the first thing, and with her rosy
+cheeks and lips, with the masses of golden, natural curls she certainly
+looked, as Lub expressed it, "pretty enough to eat."
+
+So breakfast was prepared almost in silence. When any of them found
+occasion to speak it was laughable to see how they got their heads
+together and whispered.
+
+Just before Lub had breakfast ready to serve, Mazie called out to Phil,
+and was soon ready to sit down at the table with two of her newfound
+friends, there not being room for all.
+
+X-Ray, thinking to pick up some information, called the child's
+attention to the scorched places on the heavy board, apparently done
+with molten metal.
+
+"See what daddy did!" he went on to say; and immediately the others,
+guessing his game, waited to see the result.
+
+The little girl looked from X-Ray down to the scarred surface of the
+table. She shook her head vigorously in the negative, and looked
+indignant.
+
+"Daddy didn't!" she exclaimed, with a vigor that settled that question.
+
+"These marks were here when you came, were they, Mazie?" asked Phil.
+
+This time she nodded her little curly head in the affirmative.
+
+No more was said. X-Ray took out his new fifty cent piece and looked
+hard at it--but if he half intended asking the child whether she had
+ever seen any like it he changed his mind. Perhaps he did not fancy
+looking into those clear blue eyes, and coaxing the child to
+unconsciously betray her "daddy."
+
+After breakfast the boys started to do various things. Ethan and X-Ray
+Tyson were more than ever bent upon fishing. They counted exactly even
+now, and the excitement was running high.
+
+"But after this," said Ethan, who had the soul of a true sportsman, "we
+mean to put back all the ordinary trout that are uninjured. We're no
+fish hogs, you must know. We'll carry the little scales, and the foot
+rule along, so as to measure what we take."
+
+"That's a sensible arrangement," Phil told them; "but then it's only
+what I would have expected of you, Ethan."
+
+They were still gathering bait close by the cabin when there broke out a
+terrible din.
+
+"It must be Lub!" exclaimed Ethan.
+
+"Yes, I saw him wandering off in that direction a bit ago," added X-Ray.
+
+"What can have happened to him?" exclaimed Phil, his mind running to
+panthers, ferocious bobcats, hungry bears, and even an excited father,
+wild with searching for his lost child.
+
+"There he comes now!" cried Ethan.
+
+"How funny he acts," X-Ray went on to say.
+
+Indeed, Lub was carrying on as though he had gone suddenly crazy,
+leaping up into the air, threshing with his arms, and prancing madly to
+and fro. All the while they could hear him letting out hoarse yells.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+AN ENCOUNTER IN THE PINE WOODS
+
+
+"Help! Chase 'em off, somebody! Help a fellow, won't you? Ouch! they're
+murdering me by inches. Oh! my stars, what can I do?"
+
+"It's hornets!" shrieked X-Ray, always as quick as a flash.
+
+"Mebbe a swarm of yellow jackets!" suggested Ethan. "I can see something
+whirling around over his head. Gee! what if he runs here and gives us a
+dose? The cabin for mine."
+
+"Hold on," called out Phil, taking in the situation, and then raising
+his voice he shouted to the terrified Lub: "Throw off your hat as you
+run. There, that'll attract some. Now your coat. Never mind a sting or
+two, but do as I say."
+
+Lub, accustomed in matters of this kind to letting some one else do his
+thinking for him, hastened to obey.
+
+Immediately afterward he was heard calling piteously:
+
+"There's some after me yet, Phil, and oh! how they do hit you! I'm
+beginning to swell up right now. How'll I get away from the swarm, Phil?
+You tell me what to do, and quick!"
+
+"Run for the lake and jump in!" called out Phil. "Duck under, and keep
+there as long as you can stand it."
+
+Without thinking twice, and only too willing to blindly obey, Lub
+galloped straight to the shore of the lake. He happened to strike a
+little bank, where the water was quite deep.
+
+"Here I go!" they heard him shout, and then came a tremendous splash.
+
+"Oh! my!" gasped X-Ray, "that settles our fishing for this morning!
+He'll scare every trout in the lake with his threshing around!"
+
+Ethan was bubbling over with laughter, and even Phil had hard work to
+keep from giving a shout when upon reaching the shore they saw what was
+going on.
+
+Lub stood in water up to his chin. He kept bobbing his head in an
+anxious effort to locate any determined insect that still hovered near
+by. Occasionally he would duck entirely out of sight, and move along a
+dozen feet, as though in hopes of eluding the enemy in this way.
+
+Taking pity on the poor fellow Phil assured him the coast was clear,
+and that he was safe in coming out.
+
+Such a woe begone figure he presented.
+
+It seemed like a shame to laugh, but the boys could not have helped it
+had their lives depended on keeping sober faces.
+
+Besides looking like a drowned rat, poor Lub found that his face was
+already swelling up. His jaws looked as they may have done when he had
+the mumps. One eye threatened to be lost altogether, on account of the
+puffiness all around it. His nose had received due attention, and even
+his hands had failed to come through the scorching fire unscathed.
+
+Despite all this Lub tried to grin, although the effort was, as X-Ray
+said pretty much of a "ghastly failure."
+
+"I know I'm a sight to behold, fellows," whimpered Lub. "I guess I
+deserve all I got, too, for being such a fool. But how was I to know
+that old hornets' nest almost lying on the ground under the bush was
+_loaded_!"
+
+"What did you take it for?" asked Phil.
+
+"Why," replied Lub, "I supposed it was a regular giant puff-ball, one of
+the toad-stool kind that go off with a crack and a puff of smoke when
+you kick 'em."
+
+"Then you actually kicked it?" cried Phil.
+
+"Just what I did--oh! murder!" gasped Lub, feeling of his enlarged head
+in dismay.
+
+"And it went off, all right, I bet you?" asserted Ethan, uproariously.
+
+"A million of 'em came hustling out and started to eating me up," Lub
+went on to explain, plaintively. "I killed 'em in droves, but there was
+always a fresh lot. Then I ran--you saw how I had to carry on. Guess it
+wasn't any laughing matter to _me_! And it isn't right now. If I keep on
+swelling like I am I'll bust. Talk to me about having the big
+head--bein' President of the United States wouldn't make my cranium
+swell any more. Phil, ain't you going to do something for a chum that's
+had trouble?"
+
+"Sure, I am," announced Phil, readily. "Ethan, find some mud, and let it
+be clay if you can. Hurry and get it here. While you're doing it I'll
+take the sting out with ammonia. It's lucky I thought to fetch some
+along."
+
+Lub only too willingly put himself wholly in the hands of his friends.
+The ammonia smarted at first, but by degrees the pain began to
+disappear, as the poison was neutralized by the remedy.
+
+"I have to be careful not to let a drop of it get in your eyes, because
+it would smart terribly," Phil told the patient.
+
+"Yes, I know even now how a dog feels when you squirt some of this stuff
+in his eyes with those little ammonia pistols," Lub remarked.
+
+The process was continued until Ethan arrived with the clay.
+
+This was fastened on the best way possible by the use of Lub's big red
+bandanna handkerchief.
+
+Phil had insisted on taking a snap shot of the victim of the hornets
+before he had his face bound up. He also got another view after this
+operation had been completed.
+
+"I'm doing this partly for your own good, Lub," he explained. "Perhaps
+it'll make you feel bad to see how pride always swells before a fall.
+But then it's going to be a valuable lesson to you."
+
+"And you'll never kick again before you're dead certain what kind of a
+puff-ball it is, because some happen to be inhabited," X-Ray told him.
+
+As Lub would very likely not be fit for anything during the rest of that
+day, Phil took charge, while the rival fishermen were out in the canoe.
+
+All the while he enjoyed having the little girl around. She seemed like
+a real ray of sunshine.
+
+"Whatever will we do without her, Phil, if her father blows in here any
+time and carries her off?"
+
+Lub said this in a muffled tone, for he was tied up good and fast, but
+he meant every word of it.
+
+"Perhaps we might get him to let her stay with us," said Phil, showing
+that he, too, had been thinking along those lines; "if one of you
+fellows agreed to give up your bunk to 'daddy' and sleep on the floor
+with me."
+
+"I'd do that, and more, for the sake of keeping her here," declared Lub.
+
+The fishermen reported at noon.
+
+X-Ray seemed in high spirits, and Ethan correspondingly depressed. It
+was easy to see which way luck had gone that morning.
+
+"Well, there's another day coming," said Phil, hopefully.
+
+"Yes, and I mean to start in and show him a few wrinkles from now on,"
+Ethan declared; at which the other laughed scoffingly as he remarked:
+
+"Oh! so you've just been playing off all this time, have you? Seemed to
+me you put in your best licks right along. I'll have to think up a few
+dodges myself, if that's the game."
+
+"Everything square and above board, boys," warned Phil.
+
+"As fair as can be, Phil. Neither of us would want to play a mean
+trick," said Ethan, and his rival echoed his words.
+
+After lunch Phil told them it was their turn to look after the camp
+while he took a stroll.
+
+"Be careful about letting Mazie stray off," was what he told them the
+last thing, ere starting away, camera in hand.
+
+He had managed to develop his two flashlight pictures, and so far as he
+could tell from the films they appeared to be clean-cut good ones. Ethan
+after inspecting the negatives had expressed the opinion that they
+looked "fine."
+
+From various indications Phil began to believe he had the other
+interested in the work, and that it would not be long before Ethan might
+be counted as one of those who call it fascinating.
+
+Phil was thinking of all this as he walked along. Numerous other things
+came into his mind also. He even wondered whether some accident might
+not cause him to come upon Mazie's father, and what "daddy" would prove
+to be.
+
+Somehow the boy had come to believe the man could not be bad, or he
+would never have held the affection of that dear little heart; and he
+knew from many signs that Mazie certainly fairly worshiped her father.
+
+Altogether the trip up to Lake Surprise was turning out delightfully all
+around.
+
+There might be a few things associated with it that would not always be
+a happy memory with some of his chums. For instance, there was the
+episode of the hornets' nest which poor Lub had kicked on the impulse of
+the moment, thinking it only a harmless "puff-ball." He would shiver
+every time some buzzing sound reminded him of his wild flight; but even
+then Lub had learned a lesson he could never forget.
+
+Phil kept his camera ready for instantaneous use. He knew that if by any
+great good luck he "jumped" a deer that had been lying down, and
+sleeping in the heat of the day, it would require considerable presence
+of mind and a quick action in order to snapshot the animal at close
+quarters.
+
+Being somewhat of an experienced hunter, Phil had been careful when
+starting out to head into the wind. This was done so that a deer would
+not discover his presence through any sense of smell, until he was close
+up.
+
+Once given a fair chance, and he believed he was capable of handling the
+situation.
+
+As luck would have it his course took him through the very same neck of
+the woods where on the previous day he had found Mazie, only now he had
+gone half a mile and more beyond that spot.
+
+All at once as Phil carefully pushed through a screen of bushes he heard
+a scrambling sound. Some animal jumped to its feet, and Phil, as he took
+note of the dun color, the immense size, the mule-like ears, the square
+muzzle and the two-thirds grown horns knew that he was face to face with
+the king of the Adirondack woods--a bull moose!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+WHEN TWO PLAYED THE GAME
+
+
+The moose looked at Phil, and Phil stared at the moose. Both of them
+seemed to be equally surprised at the unexpected meeting.
+
+Apparently Phil was the first to recover, for the sharp little "click"
+of his camera shutter acting, after he had quickly drawn a head on the
+bulky animal, told that he was true to his instinct as a Nature
+photographer.
+
+It may be that even that little snapping sound angered the moose; or
+possibly he was just in a mood for trouble. The rutting season was well
+over by this time of year, and his horns had grown fairly stout, so that
+they could be trusted to do good service in battle.
+
+Phil never knew. In fact he had no opportunity to make inquiries, or
+conduct any sort of an investigation. All he became aware of suddenly
+was that the bull moose had lowered his head, and started toward him at
+a full gallop.
+
+Now Phil may at times have been called a bold sort of a boy, but he also
+had a pretty well defined streak of caution in his make-up. Those
+towering horns had an ugly look to him. He could easily imagine how
+inconvenient it would seem to feel them brought into personal contact
+with some part of his body, with all that muscular power of the big
+animal butting them on.
+
+There was only one thing left for Phil to do, and that was to make
+himself scarce around that neighborhood as quickly as possible.
+
+Although the boy had never in all his life witnessed such a thing as a
+genuine bull fight, he understood that the first thing to be done was to
+dodge. The moose was so close to him that he knew he had very little
+chance of outstripping those long legs in fair flight.
+
+With this partly formed plan in his head Phil ducked to the left, and
+started to run. He could have no real motive in choosing this side,
+because there was no time to take even a quick observation, and form a
+plan of action.
+
+As it turned out luck favored him in making this hasty choice on the
+spur of the moment. Had he turned to the right he would have been
+compelled to cover such an extensive strip of open ground that his
+fleet-footed enemy must have easily overtaken him. That would have
+forced Phil to make another side movement, or else be caught up in
+those branching horns.
+
+He knew what this latter must mean, and that once he found himself
+knocked down and rendered helpless, he would be rolled along, prodded
+wickedly, and even jumped upon in the endeavor to disable him.
+
+On the left, though, there were trees close to him that offered some
+sort of refuge. Phil, hearing the moose putting after him at full speed,
+hastened to swing his body around the first of the trunks he came to. It
+would offer a barrier against the attacks of the animal until he could
+get his wits about him, and figure out some plan.
+
+A minute later and the moose was chasing him around the tree in a merry
+way. All the games Phil had ever played with his schoolmates in days
+gone by were not a circumstance to the one he found himself engaged in
+with that determined animal. The more he was disappointed at reaching
+his supposed enemy the greater became the fury of the moose. He stamped,
+and whistled, and butted his head against the tree; after which he would
+start on another fast trot around it, the performance consisting of
+perhaps a dozen or a score of circles.
+
+Phil had the inner ring, and could of course move much faster around
+than the enemy. Still, it was not long before he became heartily tired
+of that continual and useless work. It began to make him dizzy, too. He
+found himself wondering whether the moose meant to keep going in these
+spirals until he had exhausted the boy; and how long it was possible to
+keep this sort of thing up before he fell over.
+
+It was in vain that he shouted in the face of the animal; the sound of a
+human voice did not seem to have any effect, unless it was to make the
+beast show fresh animation, as though spurred on to renewed vigor.
+
+"However am I to get the better of the old fool?" Phil asked himself
+between his puffs; for this happened after he had been chased another
+dozen times around the well-worn path.
+
+There was a breathing spell, as the moose halted for a brief time. Phil
+did not cherish any hope or expectation that the beast meant to retire,
+and leave him to himself. In fact he began to believe the big animal was
+having the time of his life, and enjoying it immensely.
+
+"Which is more than I can say I'm doing," Phil grumbled; "this
+ring-around-the-rosy business is played out, and I've just got to find
+some way to stop it."
+
+Taking advantage of the breathing spell he cast a hurried look back of
+him. Of course he did not dream that such a thing as help could come; on
+the contrary his only expectation was that he might find some way by
+means of which he could extricate himself from his dilemma.
+
+"Bully! if I can only make that clump of small trees I ought to manage
+it!" was what Phil exclaimed.
+
+There was no time for more just then. Mr. Bull Moose was ready for
+another frolic, having freshened up. So again they chased madly around
+that tree, the hoofs of the animal tearing up the ground until it looked
+as though he had made a regular race-track there.
+
+When finally the new inning came to a close Phil was fairly panting for
+breath, and more dizzy than ever.
+
+"A few more turns like that would do me up!" he gasped; and then gritted
+his teeth with a determination to make the break he had figured on.
+
+Fortunately the moose always seemed to come to a stand at about the same
+spot. This brought the little clump of trees exactly behind Phil, which
+fact would give him a chance to get fairly started before the moose
+became aware of his intention.
+
+Taking in a long breath the boy suddenly darted away.
+
+He instantly heard the moose rushing after him. The distance was short,
+and so Phil managed to swing around his new shelter, with those ugly
+horns not more than five feet behind him.
+
+Well, that was all the margin he needed for safety. The new barrier
+would cause him to cover much more ground with every revolution; but
+then it was not his purpose to keep this up any longer than was
+absolutely necessary.
+
+A great wave of relief swept over the boy when he managed to slip in
+between two of the small trees, and found that he was well protected on
+all sides from the enraged animal's horns.
+
+In vain did the moose attempt to insert his head between the trees. Phil
+kicked at him, and continued his shouts. By now he was beginning to feel
+that the advantage was swinging over to his side. He had done nothing to
+incur this hostility on the part of the animal, and was surely entitled
+to the privilege of defending himself as best he could, even to the
+extent of inflicting injury on his four-footed enemy.
+
+Perhaps at some time in the past a monster tree had been cut down on
+this spot, and these second-growth saplings had sprung up in a circle
+that was wide enough to afford a nimble boy shelter. The towering horns
+of the moose, more than anything else, rendered it difficult for him to
+reach Phil.
+
+This second stage of the affair was a decided improvement on the first,
+Phil assured himself. At the same time he was not satisfied. He failed
+to see the fun of being kept a prisoner, cooped up in that limited space
+for perhaps hours. It was no fault of his that the moose chanced to be
+in an ugly humor; and just then, if Phil Bradley had had any sort of
+firearm along he would have felt justified in dispatching that furious
+animal. Game laws are good things, but even they must be broken when
+one's life is placed in jeopardy.
+
+Besides his pocket knife Phil had nothing on his person that could be
+called a weapon. For once he had even left his hunting knife at the
+cabin, and bitterly he repented of his unusual thoughtlessness. It would
+never happen again he told himself, when he realized how helpless he
+was.
+
+When the moose again started trying to get at him Phil conceived a new
+hope. It was in the shape of an inspiration, and he watched eagerly in
+the expectation that such a thing might come to pass.
+
+What if the moose did find a way to crowd his head between two of the
+trees, by slanting it sideways; what if in his stupidity he was unable
+to extricate it again, and could only tug frantically backwards becoming
+excited and helpless?
+
+That would be turning the tables in great shape. Phil had seen cows
+confined in stall yokes somewhat after that fashion. He also knew how
+green turtles are captured in large mesh nets down along the Florida
+coast streams like Indian River; for the stupid creature, having passed
+its flippers through the net, and being unable to continue the forward
+movement on account of the bulging shell, simply keeps trying to urge
+itself on, and never dreaming that it could back out by reversing its
+flippers.
+
+There was one particular place where Phil thought the chances seemed
+fairly good that the horns of the moose might pass through, provided he
+turned his head the proper way.
+
+In order to try out his scheme he did all in his power to coax the
+animal to begin operations in that section. For a while it seemed as
+though the moose persistently avoided the larger opening. Everywhere
+else he struggled the best he knew how to reach the prisoner of the
+saplings, even pawing viciously at him with his hoofs.
+
+"I must make a big bluff of meaning to slip out through that hole," Phil
+told himself; "and when he gets around there perhaps he'll fall into the
+trap."
+
+This he immediately started to carry out. It worked like a charm, too,
+for he had barely time to dodge back into his asylum when his captor
+came up against the tree next the wider opening with a bang.
+
+After that Phil easily led him into making a fresh effort to insert his
+horned head through that opening. Eagerly the boy watched every move on
+the part of the determined animal. Twice it looked as though success was
+about to crown the effort of the moose.
+
+"Keep going!" Phil told him, encouragingly, as he tapped the animal's
+nose with the toe of his shoe, just to keep his temper up, so he might
+not get weary of his task; "one good turn deserves another. The third
+time takes the cake. Just manage to get your old horns through first,
+and then you can push that big head after, as easy as pie. That's the
+way. Whoop! he's really done it!"
+
+Of course the moose could not understand the explicit directions which
+Phil was only too willingly handing him; but by some chance he did
+manage to get his obstructive horns through, and then follow with his
+head; though his shoulders would prevent him from going only so far.
+Phil thought he had been neatly trapped, and his next move was of course
+to slip out of the circle by another exit.
+
+"Wonder now if I dare skip out, and leave him there?"
+
+Phil asked himself this as he saw that the moose had already taken the
+alarm over his condition, and was acting wildly, twisting his head in
+every direction, and straining to drag it out.
+
+"What if his horns gave way, or broke off? Oh! that time he came within
+an ace of getting free! He may be smarter than a turtle, and remember
+how he pushed in. I'd be in a bad box if he did get free, and chased
+after me again lickety-split!"
+
+Phil believed it was his best policy to stay there, and watch a while
+longer, just to see what the animal would do. If some time passed, and
+the moose did not seem able to extricate himself from his sad dilemma,
+then Phil believed he could take his hurried departure; though he meant
+to snap off a picture of the animal first.
+
+"Might as well do that same now, while I have the chance," he went on to
+say; and stepping well back to where he could get a fine view of the
+imprisoned moose, he again made use of his camera to advantage.
+
+Hardly had he done so than he saw the animal twisting his head again in
+a way that threatened to bring about the catastrophe which Phil dreaded.
+In fact the boy had only time to once more hurriedly gain the shelter of
+the clump of trees when he saw the moose withdraw his head from its
+yoke.
+
+"Well, it looks like you might be a smart one," muttered Phil, as he
+found himself once more fast in the trap, with the enraged animal
+striking at him with his hoofs, and making all sorts of queer noises
+that might be taken for threats.
+
+When this had gone on for nearly half an hour, and there was no sign of
+a cessation, Phil started to exercise his wits again. First he began an
+investigation of his pockets to see if there might not be some means for
+bringing this ridiculous and uncomfortable situation to an end.
+
+"What's this?" he exclaimed, as he drew forth a small package and stared
+at it, as if unable on the spur of the moment to understand what it was
+or how it came to be there; then it flashed upon him, and he gave a wild
+shout of joy.
+
+"Why, would you believe it, this must be the little paper of black
+pepper I had in my pack. Lub was asking for some this morning, while
+cooking breakfast; and when he handed it back to me I must have dropped
+it in my pocket without thinking what I was doing, meaning to put it on
+the shelf when I stood up. Hurrah! if ever a pinch of pepper was worth
+its weight in gold that time is now. It seems mighty cruel to do such a
+thing, but what else is left to me?"
+
+Of course it was an easy thing to get close enough to the moose to
+scatter some of the pepper over his head. It did seem a cruel thing to
+do, and Phil would never tell the story without a feeling of shame; but
+he considered that his life was at stake, and hence he was justified in
+going to such extreme measures.
+
+The actions of the bull moose immediately told that the siege was going
+to be called off without delay. He shook his head, snorted furiously,
+and then turning galloped away. Phil saw him collide with a tree before
+he passed from view, and the sight caused him to utter an exclamation of
+pity.
+
+"But he'll pull through it in time," the boy was saying, as he came out
+of his place of refuge; "by to-morrow it'll be pretty nearly over. I
+wonder if he's learned a lesson, and will give two-legged strangers a
+wide berth after this. Well, it was all his own fault. He had no need to
+get into such a tearing rage because I took his picture. But let me tell
+you I'm as tired as if I'd been running a ten mile race. Every muscle in
+my body aches from the sudden jumps I had to give."
+
+Phil felt that on the whole he had come out of the scrape with honors.
+And whenever he looked at that picture of the moose with his head fast
+among the saplings, it would be apt to remind him forcibly of the
+adventure.
+
+"No more tramping for me to-day," he continued, shaking his head; "I've
+had good and plenty of it. The rest can wait for another time. Even if I
+didn't snap off another view all the time I was up here I'd feel it paid
+me to come; but I've got a few more cards up my sleeve to play. That
+flashlight business is going to pan out just great, I can see. Now to
+head for home. I can imagine how the boys' eyes will stare when I tell
+them what I've been up against, and prove it with that picture."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+HOW "DADDY" CAME BACK
+
+
+In order to see more of the country Phil took a notion to change his
+course while heading for the home camp. This turned out to be another of
+those little things that occasionally happen by accident, but which
+afterwards seem to have been inspired.
+
+He had not been walking along more than ten or twelve minutes before he
+came to a sudden pause.
+
+"What under the sun could that have been," he asked himself, listening
+intently; "sounded as near like a regular groan as anything could be."
+
+Ridiculous as it might seem, Phil even thought of the suffering moose,
+and wondered whether the distressed animal could have taken shelter in
+that thick copse, to moan with pain. Then again he heard the strange
+sound.
+
+"It must be some one's lying there, and in pain!" Phil observed, though
+the idea gave him a thrill of apprehension.
+
+He stepped closer, and when for the third time the same type of noise
+welled out of the bushes he made bold to call:
+
+"Who's there? Do you need any help?"
+
+There was a rustling sound. Then the bushes parted, and he saw a man's
+face peering at him. Phil could not remember ever having seen that face
+before, and yet it struck him that he ought to be able to give a good
+guess who the other was going to turn out to be. He had Mazie in his
+mind just then; her "daddy" was the only man known to be around that
+neighborhood.
+
+The other beckoned to him, and as Phil approached he went on to say, in
+a voice that was half muffled, both with pain and anxiety:
+
+"Oh! I'm glad that you've come, boy. My leg is broken, and I've got to
+the point where I can't seem to drag myself another yard. I'm hungry
+too, and crazy for a drink of water. But I was just making up my mind I
+might as well give up, and be done with it; because if she's dead
+there's no use of my living!"
+
+That settled one thing in Phil's mind. The man was Mazie's father.
+Already the boy could see that he did not have the look of a villain.
+Pain and want had made deep lines on his face, but somehow Phil believed
+the other was all right.
+
+He could easily imagine what the father must have suffered both in body
+and mind, with his little daughter lost in that big wilderness, and a
+broken leg preventing him from searching for her, as he would have
+wanted to.
+
+Evidently he must be relieved in his mind as speedily as possible.
+
+"Do you mean Mazie?" Phil asked.
+
+The man stared hard at him. Then, as hope struggled into his almost
+broken heart he burst out with:
+
+"Why do you ask me that? How do you know her name? Oh! boy, boy, tell me
+she is safe--that you or some of your friends have found my darling
+child!"
+
+At that Phil nodded quickly in the affirmative, and the man fell
+backwards as though about to faint from sheer joy. But it was not so,
+for he struggled up once more to his former sitting posture, as Phil
+bent over him.
+
+"Safe, Mazie safe after all! Oh! it seems that I must be dreaming, it is
+too good to be true! Tell me in plain words, I beg of you, boy!"
+
+"She is at the cabin with us, and perfectly well," Phil went on to say,
+plainly. "I found her crying in the woods. Are you her 'daddy'?"
+
+"Yes, and I have been trying to crawl all the way to the cabin, dragging
+this wretched leg after me," the man told him; "it seemed as if it would
+kill me with the pain, but as long as I was able I kept it up, for
+something seemed to tell me my only hope was there. I meant to beg you
+to scour the woods, and call her name everywhere. Oh! it is a wonder my
+hair hasn't turned white with what I have suffered, mostly in mind, for
+I could stand the rest without whimpering. Mazie is safe! Oh! I see now
+what a fearful wrong I have done. I vow to repair it as soon as I can
+travel."
+
+"Will you let me take a look at your leg?" asked the boy.
+
+"Only too gladly, if you think you can do me any good," he was instantly
+told. "My one longing now is to get to where the child is. To have her
+in my arms I would endure any torture there could be."
+
+"I happen to know a little about such things, and perhaps could do you
+some good," Phil went on to tell him. "Then there happens to be a little
+spring back a short distance for I had a drink there, and the water's
+icy cold. I'll fetch you some before I hurry to the cabin to get help."
+
+"You are kind, boy; what shall I call you?" asked the man; and evidently
+from his looks, speech, and manners he was a gentleman, Phil realized.
+
+"My name is Phil Bradley," he said, as he bent down to see what he could
+do for the injured limb; "there are four of us up here for a little
+outing. I happen to own a patch of ground bordering on Lake Surprise,
+and that birch bark lodge is on it."
+
+The man muttered something to himself, and Phil thought he caught the
+one word "fool." Perhaps he was taking himself to task for acting so on
+impulse when first discovering the coming of the strangers, whom he must
+have believed were persons whom he had reason to distrust.
+
+All that could be left until later for discussion among himself and his
+three chums; Phil felt that his present business was to succor the
+wounded man.
+
+He found that there was a compound fracture of the bones of the lower
+limb, not far from the ankle. The man must have caught his foot somehow,
+and pitched forward heavily.
+
+"Once we get you to the cabin, sir, and I'm sure I can set the bones,
+and ease your pain greatly," he told the other, presently.
+
+"That satisfies me," the man remarked, closing his lips as though he
+felt that he could stand anything, now that Mazie was safe. "Please make
+all the haste you possibly can. Minutes will seem like hours to me until
+I feel her dear little arms around my neck."
+
+"First I must get you a drink," Phil told him; and without waiting to
+see or hear anything more he darted off, all his own weariness utterly
+forgotten in this one desire to render first aid to the wounded.
+
+He had no trouble doubling on his own trail, and thus finding the
+spring. Since there was no other means for carrying water Phil dipped
+his hat in, and was soon back alongside the injured man, who drank
+greedily of the cold fluid, and seemed greatly refreshed in consequence.
+
+"Now I'll run in the direction of the cabin," Phil observed, after he
+had in this fashion relieved the pressing needs of the other.
+
+"Are you sure you can find me again?" asked the man, anxiously. "If you
+are in doubt call out, and I'll try to answer. I heard shouts a little
+while back, but my throat was too dry for me to make a sound above a
+groan."
+
+"You heard me having a little circus with an angry bull moose that had
+me backed up behind a tree," Phil told him; "but never fear about my
+being able to come straight here. I'm woodsman enough for that, and take
+my bearings as I go. Look for us to come inside of an hour, sir."
+
+With that he was off on a run. Just as he had said with such assurance,
+he had his bearings, and knew just which way to go in order to reach
+home. Before twenty minutes had elapsed Phil burst upon those comrades
+who were clustered in front of the cabin, watching the little girl do
+some cunning dance steps which she could hardly have learned up there in
+that wilderness.
+
+Judging from his excited condition that Phil had met with an adventure
+of some sort, the boys began to ask numerous questions.
+
+"Never mind what it's all about, fellows," he told them. "I want Ethan
+and X-Ray to come with me right away. Lub, you look after the cabin, and
+Mazie. Ethan, fetch your camp hatchet; and we will need some ends of
+rope. Hurry, both of you! I'll explain after we're on the run!"
+
+The blank expression on poor Lub's face told better than words what he
+thought of being left out in the cold that way. Still, he was so
+accustomed to doing what he was told that such a thing as rebellion
+never once entered his head. Besides, he must have realized that some
+one had to stay with the child. And when it came to sprinting, as Phil
+seemed to think was going to be necessary, Lub was not built for quick
+action or long continued running.
+
+Phil had hardly time to draw a dozen long breaths before the other boys
+announced that they were ready to accompany him.
+
+Wonder was written in big letters all over their faces. The little Phil
+had said must certainly have aroused their curiosity until it reached
+fever heat.
+
+"Now, for goodness' sake open up, and tell what all this is about,
+please, Phil!" begged X-Ray Tyson, as they ran along in company.
+
+It was no time to even mention anything concerning the stirring
+adventure with that stubborn and combative moose bull. Later on he could
+relate the story, and perhaps show them the pictures he had taken, to
+prove his marvelous tale.
+
+"Man up in the woods here a ways, with a broken leg!" he started to say.
+
+"Whee! is that so?" exclaimed Ethan.
+
+"Mazie's 'daddy' for a cookey!" cried X-Ray, always the first to alight
+on a solution to a puzzling question.
+
+"Yes, that's who he is," Phil went on, jerking out his words somewhat,
+because he was using up his wind in running. "He broke it while hunting
+for the child; and has been nigh crazy ever since. Struck him he might
+get help from us. Started to actually drag himself all the way there.
+Petered out in the end. Bad shape, too, but think I can pull him through
+all right!"
+
+"You want us to help get him home; is that it, Phil?" demanded Ethan.
+
+"Yes, we've just got to do it. Poor fellow needs lots of attention. He'd
+likely die if left much longer. I think gangrene would set in, and
+finish him. Glad I fetched along my little medicine case, with bandages
+and such things. Thought one of us might get into trouble, and need it.
+Handy thing to have around in the woods."
+
+"It sure is," agreed X-Ray Tyson; "but how can we carry a man all the
+way to the cabin, Phil? If he's that bad hurt it's going to be a hard
+job."
+
+"Huh! see this hatchet?" demanded Ethan, flourishing the article in
+question before the eyes of the other. "Well, with that sharp edge it
+won't be a hard thing to tinker up some kind of stretcher. That's what
+Phil had in mind when he told you to fetch some rope ends along."
+
+"Just what I did," Phil assured them; "but hold on now, and save your
+breath for running; you'll need it all. We'll get there in ten minutes
+more, I think."
+
+About that time had elapsed when Phil sighted the spot where he had left
+the wounded man. He knew it from the land marks he had impressed on his
+mind. And both going and coming the boy had maintained a constant watch,
+so as to make sure that he continued in the direct line he had laid out.
+
+"There he is!" he suddenly exclaimed, as he saw a hand feebly waving
+from the covert of bushes.
+
+"Oh! I'm glad you've gotten back again!" the wounded man told Phil. "It
+has seemed ages since you left; but I watched the sun, and knew that the
+hour had not passed that you said it might take. These are your friends,
+are they?"
+
+"Yes, Ethan Allan and Raymond Tyson. We mean to get busy, and make some
+sort of a litter that will do to carry you on. Let's see, you begin and
+cut some poles, Ethan."
+
+As the boy with the camp hatchet knew just what sort to select, he was
+soon busily engaged in chopping down small saplings. As these were
+trimmed of branches, and cut in proper lengths the other boys began to
+splice them together.
+
+After all it was not a hard task. Although possibly none of them had
+ever built such a thing as a stretcher, they knew in a general way how
+it must be done in order to accommodate a wounded man. There were four
+handles by means of which it could be gripped and carried. These two
+main braces of course were extra strong, and made of hickory. Then the
+others were shorter and not so thick, so that the body of the stretcher
+might bend somewhat.
+
+When the thing was completed the boys found some hemlock browse, with
+which they made as soft a bed as possible.
+
+"Now, if you can stand for it to let us lift you, we'll soon be on our
+way," Phil went on to say to the injured man.
+
+"I can stand anything but continued suspense," the other declared,
+bravely.
+
+They could see that he had to shut his teeth tightly together in order
+to keep back his groans while they were lifting him as gently as they
+could. But despite his white face the man tried to smile at Phil when he
+saw the look of pity on the boy's face.
+
+"Don't mind me--I'm all right--you're doing famously--I'll never, never
+forget it, either!" he said, between breaths.
+
+Phil took one end, that nearer the patient's feet, while the other boys
+managed the second pair of handles between them. The stretcher had been
+made purposely narrow at the foot, so that one bearer could handle it.
+
+"If you get tired, sing out, Phil, and we'll change all around," X-Ray
+remarked.
+
+It was not hard work after all. The man happened to be of medium weight,
+and not unusually tall, so with only two short resting spells they
+carried their burden all the way to the shore of the lake.
+
+How eagerly he leaned over one side of the stretcher, and strove to
+catch a first glimpse of his child, over whose fate he had been almost
+losing his mind while lying there, wounded so grievously in the pine
+woods.
+
+Lub heard them coming. He stared almost stupidly at first, hardly
+understanding what it was they were carrying. Perhaps Lub even thought
+it might be that pugnacious half-grown bear cub, which had attacked Phil
+in the forest and suffered in consequence.
+
+He quickly understood differently, however. There was a flutter near
+him, a swift patter of childish feet flying over the ground, a gasping
+cry, and then little Mazie was clasped in the eager arms of the man on
+the litter. Regardless of the pain his exertions were causing him the
+father pressed his darling to his heart, while a look of supreme joy
+came upon his white face.
+
+Then Phil had to bend over and unwind the arms of Mazie from the neck of
+"daddy," for he suddenly discovered that what with his emotions and the
+agony of his broken limb the man had fainted dead away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE PUZZLE OF IT ALL
+
+
+"What d'ye make out of it all, Phil?"
+
+When Ethan asked this question two days had elapsed since they brought
+the wounded man to the cabin. Much had happened during this time. In the
+first place Phil had proven himself a splendid amateur surgeon, for he
+had set the broken bones, and attended to securing splices so that they
+would be kept in proper position while the mending process continued.
+
+Of course this was somewhat old-fashioned, because a doctor would have
+set the limb in a plaster cast; but Phil's way promised to answer for
+all practical purposes.
+
+The man had improved remarkably. He was even cheerful, though at times
+Phil had seen him shake his head, and could hear him sigh. This was
+always while he was watching Mazie; and it did not require much to tell
+the boy that whatever was upon the man's troubled conscience concerned
+his child.
+
+"It's pretty hard to say, Ethan," he told the other; "I can't make up my
+mind that's he's any sort of a scamp. His actions tell us that, you
+know."
+
+"And it's hard for me to believe that any man who loves a child as he
+does that one of his, can be a bad man," Ethan declared, emphatically.
+
+"Yet you saw how he turned red in the face when I handed him the
+telegram, and explained how we found it caught under the bow seat of his
+birch-bark canoe," continued Phil, looking troubled.
+
+"What was it he mumbled at the time; I didn't quite get it?" Ethan
+asked.
+
+"He admitted," the other explained, "that the message had come to him.
+He also said that was not his real name, but one assumed for a purpose,
+of which he was now heartily ashamed."
+
+"That sounds queer, don't you think, Phil?"
+
+"Why, no, I can't say that I do," Ethan was told. "Any of us might do
+something on the spur of the moment that we found reason to feel sorry
+for afterwards. Only the other day I bitterly repented of insulting that
+noble old bull moose by daring to snap my camera at him point-blank,
+didn't I? He made it pretty warm for me, I tell you."
+
+"But this mysterious man must have done something dreadful, to have him
+say he was so repentant!" persisted Ethan.
+
+"You're only jumping at conclusions," he was told, bluntly. "I heard him
+say at the time he was lying there in the pine woods and suffering, that
+he realized he had done somebody a great wrong, and that if he lived he
+meant to right it. Now, according to my notion, that was a fine thing
+for him to say."
+
+"Mebbe so," remarked Ethan. "I've heard my father say that the best men
+are those who've been through the fire, done some wrong, and repented,
+so that they think they must spend the rest of their lives making good.
+And between us I kind of fancy Mazie's daddy. He seems to be a pretty
+nice man."
+
+"Mazie evidently thinks there isn't another like him in the whole
+world," Phil told him; "look at her now as she sits there holding his
+hand. Why, Ethan, believe me, I can see what looks mighty like a tear
+running down his cheek. Yes, there, he wiped it away, and shook his
+head. That man's made up his mind to some big sacrifice, you mark my
+words."
+
+"Then it must be in connection with Mazie," added Ethan, quickly;
+"because the sun rises and sets with her, in his opinion."
+
+"I wonder now," began Phil, with lines on his forehead, as though a
+sudden idea had flashed into his mind that he hardly knew how to handle.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" inquired Ethan, who knew the signs.
+
+"But then there's no doubt he's her father, so that could hardly be,"
+Phil went on to say, as though crushing the suspicion that had arisen.
+
+"Well, what about it, Phil?"
+
+"Oh! I just happened to wonder if he could have stolen the child from
+some one, and had now made up his mind that it was wicked, and she must
+be returned. But then, how could a father be tempted to steal his own
+child? I reckon that must have been a silly notion. Let's forget it."
+
+"Like as not we'll never know," Ethan observed, a little provoked, it
+seemed, on account of not being able to solve the mystery that
+surrounded Mazie and her "daddy;" for Ethan above all things hated to
+give a puzzle up as beyond his power.
+
+"Wait and see," the other advised him. "As it is now, he feels under
+some obligations to the lot of us, and may think we deserve to hear his
+story before we get him down to civilization again."
+
+"Some obligation?" repeated Ethan. "Well, it's my honest opinion he owes
+you his life! If you hadn't found him when you did, he'd be dead right
+now. And then about that job of setting the bones in his leg, you did
+yourself proud there. It'd be a queer thing, and ungrateful in the
+bargain, if he said good-by, and never once opened up to explain
+things."
+
+"It isn't going to bother me a bit," Phil told him.
+
+"Now, is that a hint that I'm foolish to keep it on my mind?" asked
+Ethan.
+
+"If the shoe fits, put it on," his chum told him. "But one thing sure,
+he'll never be able to walk on that leg by the time we expect to start
+home."
+
+"Which I take it means we'll either have to carry him all the way down
+to the village on that stretcher, if it takes two days; or else one of
+us go after a team."
+
+"Without any road up here," Phil explained, "it would be a hard job to
+get horses to the lake. And then the going would be so tough he'd suffer
+terribly. So as near as I can see it looks as if we'd have to work that
+stretcher again."
+
+"Huh! I like that!" grunted Ethan, though he must have meant it in
+sarcasm, for his tone showed anything but enthusiasm. "We all
+congratulated ourselves on the way up here on the fact that we'd have it
+easy going out of the woods, because all that canned stuff and other
+grub would be devoured. And now by jinks! if we don't have to lug a
+_man_ out. Whee!"
+
+"But there's no other way, Ethan; and you'd be the last fellow to vote
+to leave him behind, if I know you," ventured Phil.
+
+"Sure, I would, and don't you mind how I grumble every little while,
+Phil. My grandfather on my mother's side was a whaler, and I guess now I
+must have inherited his sailor way of growling. I try to cure myself of
+the habit, but she will break out once in a while. It's harmless, you
+know; it comes from the mouth but not from the heart."
+
+Phil laughed softly.
+
+"I haven't chummed with you as long as this not to know you like a book,
+old fellow," he said, affectionately, as he laid a hand on the other's
+shoulder. "We've had some pretty good times, together with X-Ray Tyson
+and jolly old Lub; and we hope to enjoy a lot more. Wait till we get
+down there on Currituck Sound this fall, when the ducks are arriving in
+flocks. You know I've got the finest little shooting-box located there
+you ever heard tell of. And, say, perhaps we won't have the grandest
+time going."
+
+"I hope nothing will keep us from going along with you, that's all,"
+said Ethan, drawing a long breath; for gunning was his one particular
+hobby, and the prospect of a week or two on those famous ducking-grounds
+appealed irresistibly to his hunter's heart.
+
+"This has been the hottest day we've struck since we came up here," said
+X-Ray Tyson just then, as he came sauntering up, wiping his forehead
+with his big red bandanna.
+
+"Yes, and unless I'm a poor weather prophet," added Phil, taking a look
+aloft as he spoke, "we're just about due for a whacker of a storm. No
+leaving my camera out-of-doors this night, I tell you."
+
+"We'll all be glad of a decent roof over our heads, if she comes on to
+blow and rain great guns," Ethan remarked.
+
+"How about the pictures you were printing a while ago, Phil; turn out
+well?" asked the last comer.
+
+"See for yourself," he was told, as Phil drew a little book out of his
+pocket, among the leaves of which he had a number of fresh prints.
+
+"Well, that one of the moose poking his head between the little trees is
+a jim-dandy, let me tell you!" declared X-Ray Tyson. "Every wrinkle of
+his hide shows as plain as it could. And say, here's one showing Ethan
+and me carrying the litter, with Mazie's daddy on the same. I didn't
+know you snapped that off."
+
+"You've had great luck so far in all your pictures, haven't you, Phil?"
+Ethan went on to say.
+
+"No complaints from me," he was told; "and I do feel I've been in great
+luck, as you say. I've got on the track of a fox, and pretty soon I hope
+to have his smart phiz along with the rest."
+
+"It'll be a prize collection yet, take that from me," X-Ray announced.
+
+"The funny part of it," continued Ethan, "is the fact that while you'll
+have all these pictures, most of the originals you've never seen. That
+comes of fixing it so they press the button, and do the flashlight act
+themselves."
+
+"Saves a heap of trouble," commented X-Ray, sensibly.
+
+"Of course the main thing is," Phil went on to say, "that you couldn't
+get that class of Animated Nature picture in any other way. I'd hate to
+stick it out all night, waiting for Mr. 'Possum or Br'er Rabbit to
+breeze along, so I could flash him. Besides, the most wary of all, Br'er
+Fox, wouldn't come within a hundred feet of a human scent. They've got
+too keen noses for that. And yet I expect to show a fox picture soon."
+
+"I wish I had one of that dandy black fox I trapped last winter, and the
+pelt of which brought me over a cool three hundred," remarked Ethan; and
+X-Ray was heard to take a quick breath as though given a little shock;
+at the same time winking aside toward Phil, who frowned, and shook his
+head threateningly.
+
+They did not share that enthusiasm with the proud trapper, over that
+particular foxskin; simply because they knew it was a very poor specimen
+of its kind, and by rights not worth one-tenth the amount of the check
+which Ethan had received from the dealer in the distant city--Phil's
+uncle, though Ethan never dreamed of such a dreadful thing.
+
+"Well, it strikes me you're a pretty clever weather man after all, Phil,
+because I certainly heard far-away thunder right then," and X-Ray as he
+said this pointed up at the heavens, which were heavily overcast with
+dark clouds.
+
+"Let's get busy then, and see that everything is snug," Phil suggested.
+
+"First of all we must get Mazie and her daddy housed," Ethan remarked.
+"By using the pair of rough crutches I made him, and with some help, he
+manages to get about after a fashion, though he'd be better keeping
+still some days yet. But he's such an active man it's hard to tie him
+down."
+
+"He told me," Phil informed them, "he had that boat carried away up here
+on the back of a guide; and that another man brought his grub, blankets
+and outfit. You know we went and got all the duffle from the place he'd
+hidden it when he left here, a regular cave in the rocks; and everything
+looks like the party who bought the same had money to burn."
+
+"Yes, he admitted that much to me," said Phil. "He also said those marks
+were on the table when they came. One of the guides told him a story
+about some men who were up two years ago, and arrested by government
+agents. He thinks they may have been bogus money-makers. When I showed
+him the fifty-cent piece X-Ray found he tried it every which way, and
+said it was probably counterfeit, though as clever an imitation as he
+had ever seen. But there's another grumble of thunder, boys, so let's
+get to work."
+
+With the four of them hustling, things were speedily arranged. After the
+lame man and Mazie had been assisted under cover, the boys started to
+lay in plenty of fire-wood to last them a couple of days. There could be
+no telling how long the storm might linger--perhaps there would be only
+an hour of furious bombardment; and then again it was likely to rain
+heavily for days. Adirondack storms have a pretty bad name, as all will
+agree who have ever experienced their vigor and fury.
+
+X-Ray even climbed up on the roof, and proceeded to patch one corner
+that he imagined needed repairs.
+
+"I'm not like the backwoodsman who never seemed to get his leaky roof
+mended," X-Ray announced, from his elevated position; "and when they
+came to ask him the reason he says, says he: 'When it rains I carnt mend
+it; and when the weather's dry, what's the use?' The time to do it is
+when you hear the thunder warning you there's something great coming."
+
+"It's getting closer all the while," commented Phil, as a louder burst
+came to their ears.
+
+"And listen, what's that other sound we hear?" asked X-Ray Tyson, about
+ready to descend from his perch.
+
+"Why, that's wind!" announced Ethan.
+
+"Whew! it must be a hurricane then, for I thought that was a freight
+train. I'm glad we haven't any big tree hanging over us that'd be in
+danger of falling. And I'm also pleased to know our Lodge is so well
+protected by evergreens and birches. They'll serve as a wind-break."
+
+"There's the rain; and as the wind is pretty fierce, we'd better adjourn
+to the cabin," and Phil led the way, with the others at his heels.
+
+Hardly had they entered than there was a vivid flash without, followed
+by a crash that shook the humble cabin. Then with a shriek the wind
+swooped down, the rain began to fall in sheets and the storm was on.
+
+They had seen ordinary storms many times, but one and all were decidedly
+of the opinion that this was something beyond the common. When X-Ray
+called it a hurricane he was not far out of the way.
+
+Every little while they could hear a crash somewhere near by that
+sounded like a big tree falling; and in fact they understood that this
+was what was taking place; all of which made them doubly glad they had
+so good a shelter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+AFTER THE STORM
+
+
+"Such a night I've passed; never slept a wink!" groaned Lub, as he
+dangled his feet over the side of an upper bunk, and held a heavy head
+between his hands.
+
+"Well, all I can say is that you made so much noise snoring I couldn't
+hear the wind blow at times; so explain that away if you can. Jump down
+there, and stop shutting off what little light there is from me."
+
+That was X-Ray Tyson talking. As Ethan had insisted on making himself a
+sleeping place on the floor alongside Phil, X-Ray had pre-empted his
+bunk, giving his own to the wounded man, while little Mazie had the
+second upper one.
+
+It had indeed been a terrible night.
+
+With little cessation the storm had held forth. At times Phil, lying
+awake because it was impossible to get the clamor out of his mind,
+wondered if there would be any decent-sized trees left in the North
+Woods by the time things settled down quiet again.
+
+He and Ethan were up and busily engaged getting some breakfast ready. It
+was as much as they could do to see, so dim was the light; and they did
+not dare use the lantern, because their supply of kerosene was limited.
+
+"How'd you like to have been caught out in that whooper, eh, Lub?" asked
+Ethan, as the other continued to yawn, and rub his reddened eyes, though
+still occupying his position there on the edge of his berth, X-Ray
+having crawled out below.
+
+"Please excuse me from answering that question," the other replied. "I
+never'd have survived it, I reckon. Bad enough to be in a dinky little
+twelve by twelve cabin, let alone a hollow tree, or a make-shift under a
+shelving rock."
+
+"Now, none of your making fun of Birch Bark Lodge," warned X-Ray; "it's
+been a hunky-dory refuge, all right, don't forget it. And say, not a
+drop leaked in on us through that bad part in the roof. Shows what a
+little common-sense can do for things, don't it?"
+
+"All I can say," remarked Phil, from over the fire, "is that I'm sorry
+for any one who might be unlucky enough as to get caught in that
+howler. If they missed being struck by lightning, they ran a big chance
+of getting crushed under a falling tree."
+
+"Yes," added Ethan, "and at the best they'd be soaked through and
+through. It's no fun to feel that way all night. You start to shivering,
+and then like as not your teeth rattle together like you've heard the
+minstrel end-man shake his bones when he sings. I've had a little
+experience, and I know what I'm talking about."
+
+The man in the lower bunk had been listening to all this conversation.
+Phil noticed he seemed to have an additional line across his forehead.
+Perhaps the storm had also kept him awake. Possibly he had often thought
+of how uncomfortable it would be for any one he happened to know, who
+might have been caught in the open woods by the howling gale.
+
+They were eating breakfast some time later, when the man from his bunk,
+since he preferred to lie there while so many were around the small
+cabin, called out to Phil. He had long since recognized the patent fact
+that the Bradley boy was a leader of his set; and that the other three
+only too gladly looked up to Phil, not on account of his being
+independent with regard to means, but because he had the attributes of
+leadership in his person.
+
+"Do you think the storm has slackened for good, Phil, or will it come
+back again for another siege? It seems to me the wind has changed, and
+is blowing much more evenly."
+
+"When I took that look out just a bit ago," Phil told him, "I noticed
+several pretty good signs that seemed to tell we had got to the wind-up.
+It wouldn't surprise me, because these hard storms are not the ones that
+last for days. We could go out now, if we didn't mind getting wet from
+the dripping of the trees."
+
+The man had something on his mind, Phil saw. During the night he must
+have been thinking deeply. Perhaps conscience was gripping him more than
+ever, and the coming of that fearful storm had been the "last straw on
+the camel's back."
+
+"I hate to ask any further favors of you, Phil," he finally said, with
+an effort, "but a great fear has taken hold of me during the night. With
+every fresh howl of the wind I seemed to hear a cry for help! It almost
+set me wild. If I had not been such a cripple I believe I must have
+dashed out of the cabin, and spent the remainder of the night wandering
+around, searching the woods."
+
+The rest of the boys stared at him. Perhaps it may have occurred to one
+or more of them that Mazie's father was losing his mind. But Phil knew
+there was something back of it all. He had been trying to study the man,
+figure out what ailed him, and why he had been hiding himself and the
+child away up in this solitude.
+
+"Were you expecting _some one_ to come up here looking for you, sir?" he
+asked, boldly, remembering what the contents of that telegraph message
+had been.
+
+"Yes, that's what has been worrying me," admitted the man, acting as
+though he knew the time had come when he must explain away at least a
+part of the mystery that surrounded him, if he expected these friendly
+lads to assist him further.
+
+"An enemy, most likely?" continued Phil, seeing the other hesitate.
+
+At that there was a heavy intaking of the breath, and then the man went
+on to say:
+
+"No, hardly that. I would not like to give it so harsh a term. Say a
+friend from whom I have been estranged, and who I believed had wronged
+me; though of late my eyes have been opened to my own faults, and I have
+repented of many things done in the heat of temper."
+
+"And you believe then that this friend may have engaged a guide--that it
+is at least possible they were not far away from here when the storm
+broke. You fear they may have been caught and made to suffer; is that
+it, sir?"
+
+Phil was handling the affair wonderfully well, his chums thought, as
+they listened to all that was being said.
+
+"That is what I have cause to fear," the other went on to say, quickly.
+"Through the livelong night of tempest I have fancied I heard their
+cries for help, and oh! how they crucified me! It would be a terrible
+punishment on my head if some tragedy had taken place in the pine woods
+last night; and Mazie--" his voice failed him in his emotion, and he did
+not finish his sentence.
+
+"Do you want us to go out and see if there are any signs of strangers on
+the trail leading up here, the one we followed all the way from the
+village many miles off?" Phil asked; and his manner was so reassuring
+that the wounded man immediately nodded his head in the affirmative.
+
+"It would be a fitting climax to all you and your fine chums have done
+for me and mine," he told them, with tears in his eyes.
+
+"Shucks! that wouldn't be such a great job," Lub hastened to say, before
+any one else could talk; "and I volunteer to be one of the party right
+now."
+
+"But you'd get all wet, Lub, you know," expostulated Ethan.
+
+"What of that?" came the indignant response; "am I made of salt, or
+sugar? Haven't I been soaked before? If I could stand jumping into the
+lake with my clothes on, when the hornets tackled me, I ought to be able
+to take a little sprinkling, hadn't I?"
+
+"We'll all go, so as to spread out considerable," suggested X-Ray Tyson,
+who, truth to tell, was a little afraid of being left to look after
+things at the lodge. "I'm needed because I've got the sharpest eyes;
+Ethan might have a chance to bring some of his woodcraft into play; Phil
+is the one to run things; and Lub, well, he spoke first, and ought to
+have a show."
+
+"Knowing what we'll be up against," said Phil, "we can arrange
+accordingly, so when we get back we'll have something dry to put on.
+Before we start we'll get Mr.--Mr. Newton out, and fixed before the
+fire, so he can feed it as often as he pleases."
+
+The man had flushed when Phil purposely hesitated about calling the name
+that had been given in that message.
+
+"Call me Alwyn Merriwell from now on," he hastily told them. "That is my
+real name. The time has passed for all deceit and assumed names. I have
+made up my mind to do what is right for--for the other party, no matter
+what pain and suffering it brings to me."
+
+A short time later the boys began to prepare to start out. Phil saw that
+their injured guest was really working himself up into a fever over the
+anxiety he was enduring. His thoughts during the night had had a strong
+effect upon him. He may even have dreamed something dreadful had really
+happened, and it haunted him.
+
+Acting on Phil's advice the others dressed lightly. This would allow of
+leaving certain parts of their clothing behind, to be resumed on their
+return.
+
+"We will be moving all the time, and can keep warm enough, even while
+wet to the skin," he told them, as they started forth, after saying
+good-by to Mazie, who was content to sit alongside her "daddy," holding
+his hand, and prattling constantly as was her pretty way.
+
+Phil had managed to cover his little camera, so that he could take it
+along.
+
+"Like as not we'll run across some effects of the hurricane that we'd
+like to remember," he explained, when X-Ray looked questioningly at the
+camera. "There must be places where trees have been thrown down in all
+sorts of twisted shapes; and those sort of things always make the boss
+pictures, you know."
+
+They followed the trail. It was very faint in many places; but then
+Ethan could be depended on to find it whenever a cry arose that it was
+lost. Phil, too, had his bearings pretty well in hand, though as a rule
+he allowed Ethan to swing things, for he saw that it was giving him no
+end of pleasure to thus exercise his knowledge of woodcraft.
+
+For a full hour they pushed on. The sun peeped out every little while,
+showing that Phil had guessed rightly when he said the storm was a thing
+of the past. The leaves still dripped, though not so copiously as at
+first. Lub even boasted that he seemed to be drying off faster than he
+got wet. That fact apparently occupied more of his attention than other
+matters.
+
+"How far ought we go, do you think, Phil?" inquired X-Ray Tyson; "not
+that I'm getting tired at all; but I just asked for information."
+
+"Another half-hour, and then we'll call it off," he was told. "By that
+time we'll have covered a number of miles. If this--er--friend of Mr.
+Merriwell's is anywhere around, and able to make us hear, we'll come on
+the party."
+
+"Beats me to understand what it all means," grumbled Lub. "And d'ye
+know, I've got a good suspicion that you've tumbled to the game, Phil."
+
+"I've been told no more than the rest of you," the other replied; "and
+my guess may be wide of the mark; so just now I'm not going to say
+anything more. But you can see from the way he keeps looking at Mazie
+she's got something to do with it all. When he talks about having to
+make a terrible sacrifice it means giving her up."
+
+"Gee whiz! I never once thought of that!" burst out Lub; "now I bet you
+the little tot's got a grandfather who's been left the child by her
+mother when she died. Is that the answer, Phil?"
+
+"I refuse to say, Lub. Ethan and I have been talking it over, and we've
+come to a certain conclusion; but wait a little, and we'll explain. We
+may find the person he seems to be expecting. Perhaps he received a
+later message, and which warned him his presence up here was known."
+
+Lub relapsed into silence. It could be seen, however, that he was
+pondering over matters, for that serious look on his usually placid face
+betrayed the fact.
+
+They continued to push forward, and kept up a constant watch for any
+sign that would indicate the presence of strangers. This might be the
+smoke of a fire, or the sound of an ax.
+
+"How would it do to let out a whoop every little while, Phil?" suggested
+X-Ray Tyson; "for all we know they might have lost the trail in the
+storm, and be somewhere to one side. It'd be a mean thing if we passed
+'em by without knowing it."
+
+"That isn't a bad idea," Phil told him; "so start in right away with a
+yodel."
+
+This was all the other was waiting for, and he accordingly lifted up his
+voice in a loud shout. Any camper hearing it would understand that the
+call was meant for a friendly one, and must hasten to reply.
+
+"There, wasn't that an answer; or do they have echoes as wonderful as
+that up here in the North Woods?" demanded X-Ray, excitedly.
+
+"It was a shout, all right," Ethan told him, positively.
+
+"And came from over on our right," added Phil, pleased at least that all
+their labor had not been for nothing.
+
+"Let's mark the trail so we can be sure to find her again," Ethan
+continued; always cautious about letting a good thing slip him.
+
+This being done by means of a certain tree that all of them felt sure
+they must easily recognize, even at some distance, the four Mountain
+Boys turned toward the spot where that faint "hallo" had come from.
+
+Presently keen-eyed X-Ray Tyson told them he saw smoke.
+
+"That's right," admitted Ethan, when he had followed the extended finger
+of the other chum; "and of course it means they've got a camp fire
+burning; though after all that rain it'd take a good woodsman to know
+where to find dry wood, except in the heart of some stump. Let's hurry
+up and get there."
+
+He kept watching as he went on. It would grieve Ethan sorely should he
+find at any time they were actually lost, and after he had taken so many
+precautions in the bargain.
+
+"I can see somebody moving around there," announced X-Ray, soon
+afterwards; "and it's a man, too. Seems to be a guide, if his looks
+count for anything."
+
+They kept heading straight toward the small cheerless camp in the
+drenched woods. All the while Phil was expecting to hear his chums,
+saving possibly Ethan, give utterance to low cries of surprise.
+
+"There's somebody lying down on the other side of the fire, boys,"
+continued the one with the hawk eyes. "That smoke keeps shifting around
+so much I don't seem to be able to glimpse as well as--say, what d'ye
+think, fellows, I declare if it ain't a _woman_!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+PEACE AFTER STRIFE--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Lub uttered a gurgle to indicate his consternation. Ethan and Phil
+exchanged knowing looks, as though to say it was coming out just as they
+had figured.
+
+The guide was a dark-faced native. He had evidently been having a hard
+time of it during that terrible storm, with possibly an hysterical woman
+on his hands, and no proper shelter. He waved his hand at the boys, and
+looked pleased to see them coming to their relief.
+
+As they entered the camp they saw that the woman was sitting up. She
+looked as though she could not have stood much more. In spite of all the
+Adirondack guide may have done in trying to shield her from the torrents
+of rain, she had been wet through and through. Even sitting close to the
+fire for a long time had not caused her to stop shivering.
+
+"We've come down here to see if we could help you any," Phil said the
+first thing, when he and his chums reached the fire.
+
+"How'd ye know we was around these diggin's?" asked the guide, as though
+puzzled.
+
+"We've got a gentleman in camp with a badly broken leg, and he asked us
+to come," Phil went on to say, narrowly watching the eager face of the
+woman, who he could see was by breeding a lady, and a very handsome one
+too no doubt, though just at that time she looked woe-begone, with her
+long hair hanging down her back to dry, and her khaki outing skirts
+bedraggled. "He's been worrying all the night, and nearly crazy because
+he was afraid some one would be caught in the storm, some one he
+expected was coming to find him."
+
+Waves of color passed over her face as she heard how the gentleman had
+been so deeply concerned.
+
+"Would you mind telling me his name?" she asked Phil; and somehow the
+boy was reminded of Mazie when he looked more closely at her.
+
+"He has been calling himself John Newton all along," he remarked; "but
+just this morning he admitted that his real name was Merriwell--Alwyn
+Merriwell."
+
+She drew a long breath. Her eyes were as bright as stars as she
+hurriedly went on to ask another question; and both Phil and Ethan knew
+exactly what this would be before she had uttered a single word.
+
+"Is there a little girl with--Mr. Merriwell? Oh! please tell me
+instantly, for I am crazy to hear!"
+
+"Yes, and her name is Mazie!" Phil immediately replied. "We found her
+lost in the woods, and took her to our camp. Then later on we ran across
+him. He had broken his leg while searching for her, and tried to crawl
+miles, thinking to get help from us so as to find her. He came near
+dying, too."
+
+She dropped her head in her hands, and they could see that she was
+crying very hard. Whether it was through sheer thankfulness because of
+what she had heard concerning the presence of the child, or from some
+other reason, Phil could not quite understand. But he believed it was
+all going to turn out splendidly.
+
+Presently she looked up, and smiled bravely through her tears. Phil
+could see that a new happiness had come upon her; and he guessed the
+cause.
+
+"I am Mazie's own mother," she said, to the astonishment of Lub, who up
+to then had not been able to figure things out correctly; "there was a
+terrible misunderstanding between my husband and myself. The court gave
+me charge of our child. His love for Mazie was an absorbing passion,
+even greater than my own. One day she disappeared, and we had reason to
+suspect that he had taken her away, so that she could be with him. Ever
+since I have sought far and wide to find them, but until lately without
+avail."
+
+She stopped speaking, and seemed to be thinking for a minute; then went
+on, for of course none of the boys had ventured to say a single word:
+
+"Of late I have learned through the death of a wicked person that I had
+wronged my husband dreadfully. I am only waiting to see him to ask his
+forgiveness; and unless he has lost all his love for me we may undo the
+wretched past, and start all over again, with Mazie the bond between
+us."
+
+She had said quite enough for them to understand. Phil was wondering
+whether they might not have to construct another litter in order to
+carry the lady all the way to the distant camp.
+
+"Oh! have no fears for me," she hastened to tell him, when he started to
+speak of such a thing. "I feel as though I could walk from now to
+sunset, and not grow weary, knowing that Mazie, and Alwyn, are at the
+end of the trail. We cannot start too soon to satisfy my yearning heart.
+I could almost fly as though I had wings."
+
+And, indeed, there was no difficulty in her keeping up with them. The
+new hope of happiness, after all these dreary months of wretchedness,
+buoyed her heart up as possibly nothing else could have done.
+
+Before noon had arrived they drew near the cabin under the hemlocks and
+birches. The sky had cleared, and the sun shone warmly. All nature
+looked bright again after the storm.
+
+"Listen!" cried the lady, suddenly.
+
+It was the sweet childish voice of Mazie they heard, singing one of her
+little songs, which the boys had never tired of hearing. Imagine how it
+affected the mother, separated from her darling so long.
+
+She could not be longer restrained, but rushing ahead passed inside the
+cabin. The boys purposely loitered. When finally they ventured to enter
+it was to find the lady on her knees, with the arms of the child tightly
+clasped about her neck. She had one of the wounded man's hands in hers;
+and apparently the breach between them had been healed, for he was
+looking upon mother and child with a love light in his eyes.
+
+This influx of guests was getting serious, X-Ray and Lub had a regular
+argument as to which one should surrender his bunk to Mazie's mother.
+She would not hear of any such thing, however, and insisted that there
+was plenty of room for both Mazie and herself in the one bunk.
+
+And after she had recovered from her exposure Mrs. Merriwell insisted on
+making herself useful, both in the way of a nurse, and in helping with
+the cooking. As for Mazie's "daddy," he no longer looked the unhappy man
+the boys had considered him; since he was not going to be called upon to
+make that terrible sacrifice which he had considered was his duty.
+
+This new arrangement left the boys more opportunity to prosecute their
+various pleasures. Lub had begun to show a decided interest in certain
+things connected with woodcraft, so that Ethan only too gladly accepted
+every chance to explain how to follow a trail, what certain signs stood
+for, what was the best way to make a fire in a storm, and dozens of
+other things equally as interesting.
+
+Of course Phil was more than ever engaged with his flashlight
+photography. He had secured a startling picture of the red fox whose
+tracks he had discovered; and this spurred him on to greater things.
+Often Ethan kept him company, and showed that he had really started to
+take a deep interest in this newer method of hunting without a gun.
+
+Mr. Merriwell steadily grew better. He hopped around by the aid of his
+crutches, and hoped to be able to walk some by the time the Mountain
+Boys thought of leaving the North Woods for their home town, which was
+further south, though still in the uplands.
+
+Josh Maxfield, the guide, stayed with them. He made himself useful, and
+Ethan managed to pick up quite a fund of information from the
+experienced native, who had been born and bred in the pine woods.
+
+Many were the cheery evenings they all spent, in front of the cabin if
+it happened to be warm, or before the fire if the night air was chilly,
+as often turned out to be the case. Josh had plenty of interesting
+stories to tell. Mazie in particular was keenly interested in his
+accounts of how the black bear outwitted the honey bees that had made
+their hive in an old hollow tree; so that he usually secured a sweet
+treat as long as he could reach in with his paw, and tear the heavily
+laden combs out.
+
+All too soon did the days pass, until finally it was decided that they
+must be starting back over the old trail.
+
+Every one would be sorry indeed to say farewell to Birch Bark Lodge. The
+Merriwells made Phil promise to send them a set of all his pictures, and
+in particular the one that showed the dear old cabin.
+
+"It stands for our new life," said the gentleman, as he sat there one
+arm around his wife, and the other about Mazie; "and every time we look
+at it our vows will be renewed. Besides, all the happy things that have
+happened here must rush over our memories. Yes, it will be our standard
+cure for the blues."
+
+Although the lame man was getting around pretty well, Phil knew he would
+never be able to stand such a long and arduous journey as the one they
+had ahead of them. Accordingly they made over the stretcher, with the
+help of Josh, and meant to carry it along. Of course once they managed
+to reach the village, where there would be a road leading out of the
+wilderness, and possibly some sort of vehicle to hire, things would be
+much easier.
+
+"One thing sure," said Phil, as they got ready to clear out one bright
+morning, "I've had glorious good luck in taking all the pictures I did.
+Why, I've beaten my highest expectations three times over. The
+collection will fill a new album; and right in front I'll have stamped
+in letters of gold: 'Memories of Birch Bark Lodge.'"
+
+"Yes, we'll never forget what a grand good time we've all had up here,"
+affirmed Lub, who seemed to feel the breaking away even more than any of
+his chums; "and often when I'm snuggled down between common every-day
+sheets at home I'll dream of my fine bunk, and the way my blanket kept
+me warm."
+
+"And what came down the chimney one night," added X-Ray Tyson; "not to
+mention what _tried_ to come down the next day. Oh! we'll all enjoy
+remembering things. And I don't believe we could ever have such a
+magnificent time together again."
+
+"Don't be too sure of that," Phil told him. "I can see some other
+outings ahead that may even turn out to be jollier than this one,
+though it seems hard to think it now. Let's give the old cabin a last
+salute, boys. Three cheers and a tiger for Birch Bark Lodge!"
+
+They were given with a will. Even little Mazie added her childish treble
+to the volume of sound that went up.
+
+So they pulled out, and left the old cabin tenantless. The gray
+squirrels could run over the roof with impunity now; Br'er 'Coon might
+wander along his trail down to the water's edge to do a little fishing,
+without having a sudden blinding flash startle him out of his seven
+senses; while Br'er Fox need not skulk in the dense covert for fear of
+meeting roving boys.
+
+But the bear that had fallen down the chimney, and the lordly moose had
+better make themselves scarce in that particular neighborhood; because
+ere many moons had waxed and waned Josh intended coming back again to
+look them up; and the law would no longer protect the shy inmates of the
+North Woods against the "sticks that spat out fire and stinging
+missiles" whenever they were pointed straight.
+
+The man with the broken leg soon gave out, and had to take to the
+stretcher. The sturdy woods guide carried one end and the boys took
+turns helping out, so they got along very well.
+
+Mazie and her mother walked alongside, though from time to time the
+little sprite would insist on taking Phil's hand; or it might be that of
+stout Lub. She had made him promise he would send her his picture when
+he got home; and Lub always grinned when X-Ray Tyson or Ethan tried to
+joke him about his "new girl."
+
+They arrived at the mountain village, and a vehicle was obtained by
+means of which all of them could get out of the region, and in touch
+with civilization. When it came to saying good-by to the Merriwells the
+boys found it very hard. The gentleman declared they would see them all
+again as soon as he found himself perfectly well; for he wanted to know
+their families; and doubtless meant to inform these good people as to
+the extent of the debt of gratitude he owed Phil Bradley and his
+Mountain Boys.
+
+That still more thrilling happenings were in store for the boys whose
+fortunes we have been following in the pages of this volume the reader
+will learn upon securing the next story of the Series, now published
+under the title of "Phil Bradley at the Wheel; or, The Mountain Boys'
+Mad Auto Chase."
+
+THE END
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The Mountain Boys Series
+
+1. PHIL BRADLEY'S MOUNTAIN BOYS
+2. PHIL BRADLEY AT THE WHEEL
+3. PHIL BRADLEY'S SHOOTING BOX
+4. PHIL BRADLEY'S SNOW-SHOE TRAIL
+
+These books describe with interesting detail the experiences of a party
+of boys among the mountain pines.
+
+They teach the young reader how to protect himself against the elements,
+what to do and what to avoid, and above all to become self-reliant and
+manly.
+
+12mo. Cloth. 40 cents per volume; postpaid
+
+The New York Book Company
+201 East 12th Street--New York
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys, by Silas K. Boone
+
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