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diff --git a/22924-8.txt b/22924-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..198df00 --- /dev/null +++ b/22924-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6364 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pathfinder, by Alan Douglas + +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: Pathfinder + or, The Missing Tenderfoot + +Author: Alan Douglas + +Release Date: October 8, 2007 [EBook #22924] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATHFINDER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Stephen Blundell and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + PATHFINDER + OR + THE MISSING TENDERFOOT + + + + + +----------------------------------------------+ + | | + | COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE | + | PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF | + | | + | THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP | + | OF BOY SCOUTS | + | | + | MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, SCOUT MASTER | + | | + | | + | THE WOLF PATROL | + | | + | ELMER CHENOWITH, Patrol Leader, and also | + | Assistant Scout Master | + | | + | MARK CUMMINGS | + | TED (THEODORE) BURGOYNE | + | TOBY (TOBIAS) ELLSWORTH JONES | + | "LIL ARTHA" (ARTHUR) STANSBURY | + | CHATZ (CHARLES) MAXFIELD | + | PHIL (PHILIP) DALE | + | GEORGE ROBBINS | + | | + | | + | THE BEAVER PATROL | + | | + | MATTY (MATTHEW) EGGLESTON, Patrol Leader | + | | + | "RED" (OSCAR) HUGGINS | + | TY (TYRUS) COLLINS | + | JASPER MERRIWEATHER | + | TOM CROPSEY | + | LARRY (LAWRENCE) BILLINGS | + | HEN (HENRY) CONDIT | + | LANDY (PHILANDER) SMITH | + | | + | | + | THE EAGLE PATROL | + | | + | JACK ARMITAGE, Patrol Leader | + | | + | NAT (NATHAN) SCOTT | + | | + | (OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS | + | REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER) | + | | + +----------------------------------------------+ + + + + +[Illustration: "Elmer tries to tell us he is pursuing the two who headed +northwest."] + + + + + THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + + + PATHFINDER + OR + THE MISSING TENDERFOOT + + + BY + + CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS + SCOUT MASTER + + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + NEW YORK + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--THE BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE 17 + + II.--AT THE HAUNTED MILL 25 + + III.--THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF NAT 34 + + IV.--THE SEARCH FOR A CLEW 42 + + V.--THE TRAIL GROWS WARMER 50 + + VI.--HUNTING FOR THE MISSING SCOUT 58 + + VII.--THE AMBITION OF LANDY 67 + + VIII.--READING THE SIGNS 75 + + IX.--SETTING THE TRAP 84 + + X.--HOW THE TRAP WORKED 93 + + XI.--RUN DOWN 101 + + XII.--THE LANGUAGE OF SIGNS 110 + + XIII.--THE CALL OF THE WOLF 119 + + XIV.--THE NEED OF A PATHFINDER 127 + + XV.--RESCUED--CONCLUSION 136 + + + + + PATHFINDER + OR + THE MISSING TENDERFOOT + + + + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + +PATHFINDER; + +OR, + +THE MISSING TENDERFOOT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE. + + +"Hold on, boys; here's a stick standing upright in the trail. And look, +fellows, there's a piece of nice new birch bark held fast in the cloven +end, that grips it like the jaws of a vise." + +"Say, it's a message, all right." + +"And from our crack-a-jack pathfinder, Elmer Chenowith, too, I warrant +you." + +"What do you say, Matty? Is Red Huggins right?" + +Seven boys had come to a halt in the heart of the big woods. They were a +rather husky-looking set, all told, and evidently bent on getting all +the benefit possible from being outdoors through the last few weeks of +vacation time. + +The one appealed to, Matty Eggleston by name, was something of a leader +among the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy Scouts. + +In fact, he was at the head of the Beaver Patrol, and studying +constantly in order to attain the rank of a first-class scout. + +There are so very many things a boy must know in order to reach this +ambition that comparatively few scouts ever attain it. But by +concentrating all his energies upon one particular study he may earn a +merit badge, which it will make him proud to wear. + +Matty took the piece of bark from the cloven stick. The other six boys +clustered eagerly around, anxious to see what sort of message it could +be that the assistant scout master had left in the trail. + +They were out to try a new experience, and one that appealed to every +boy in the bunch. + +A party of the scouts, their identity and number unknown to Elmer and +the balance, had started off for the woods early in the day. + +An hour later, Elmer, with one companion, had taken up the trail, and +when a second hour had elapsed the balance of those who were bent upon +playing the game left town in two detachments. + +It had been arranged that Elmer was to act as pathfinder and tracker. He +would in turn leave a plain trail that a child could follow. + +Besides this, he had promised to transmit from time to time some sort of +message. Thus those who came along in the rear, in two detachments, +would be kept in touch with events, and also advised as to what they +should do. + +The party bringing up the rear was headed by Mark Cummings, who was +Elmer's particular chum. He was really the bugler of the troop; but for +this occasion Elmer himself carried that instrument, with the idea of +calling the scouts together at some time later on. + +"Hey, look at that, would you; it's all marked up with crow's feet +tracks!" exclaimed Landy Smith, a rather fat boy who had only recently +joined the Wolf Patrol, making the eighth and last member. + +"What's Elmer think we are, a lot of kids, to leave us an illustrated +rebus to guess? Looks to me like a little boy's first try to draw cows +and Noah's Ark people." + +Some of the others laughed when George Robbins gave expression to his +disgust in this way. George was a cousin to Landy, and had also recently +signed the muster roll of the scouts, although he belonged to Matty's +patrol, the Beaver. + +"You've got a heap to learn yet, George," said Red Huggins, shaking his +head at the offender. + +"In what way?" demanded the other. + +"Why, this is what they call Injun picture writing," replied Red, +obligingly. + +"Oh! it is, eh? But what's that got to do with finding a trail, or +following one that's already found?" asked the latest tenderfoot. + +"A heap, as you'll soon learn, my boy," replied Red, with a pitying +look, as if he could not understand how anyone should be so green. +"Matty, suppose you enlighten him a little, won't you--that is, if +you've got through reading your letter?" + +"Letter!" ejaculated both Landy and George--"that thing a letter?" + +"A short and sweet one," remarked Matty. "You see, Elmer has signed it +with what I make out to be the paw of a wolf. That's the totem of his +patrol, while mine is a beaver tail, and the third one would be the claw +of an eagle." + +"Say, that sounds kind of interesting like," observed Landy. "I rather +expect I'll cotton to this same Injun picture writing letter business, +once I get at the secret key of it." + +"That's where you're away off to start with, Landy," remarked Matty, +laughing, "because you see there's nothing hidden about this business at +all. In fact, the one particular idea with the one who writes a message +in Indian picture writing is to make it so simple a child might +understand." + +"Well, I declare," cried the fat scout, who was not in khaki uniform +like four of his companions, simply because he and George were waiting +until the town tailor, father to Jasper Merriweather, one of the members +of the troop, could complete their suits--"then, if a baby could +understand what our pathfinder has left for us, perhaps now there might +be some chance for me." + +"Oh! it's as easy as falling off a log, once you get the hang of it," +declared Larry Billings. + +"Look here, and I'll show you, fellows," remarked Matty, holding the +bark up so that everyone present could see the lead-pencil marks. + +"Looks like several men, to start with," interposed George. + +"Good enough, George," said the patrol leader, "and that's just what +they are. Count them, will you?" + +"One, two, three." + +"That's right. So you see, to begin with, our pathfinder tells us the +enemy ahead are three in number. Now, do you see anything close by those +three figures of men?" and Matty held the bark directly in front of +Landy and George. + +"Sure," replied George. "Under one is a mark--say, it looks like the +same down at the bottom of the letter, and you said that was the sign or +totem of the Wolf Patrol." + +"Just so; and this tells us the first fellow is a member of that patrol. +Under the others you will see marks to indicate that they are members of +the Beaver and the Eagle patrols." + +"That's so, Matty; I can see 'em," declared Landy, who evidently did not +wish his cousin to get all the credit for smartness. + +"All right. Let's get on a little," said Matty. "First notice two have +hats on, while the third wears none. Now, you may think that an accident +in drawing, but it isn't at all. Elmer meant it for something." + +"And I can guess what it is," declared Chatz Maxfield, the Southern boy. + +"Then tell the rest of us," cried several. + +"Why, it's dead easy," was his reply. "Stop and think; who's always +losing his hat every chance he gets?" + +"Nat Scott!" quickly exclaimed Landy. + +"All right. And don't we happen to know that Nat was one of those who +went ahead of Elmer and Lil Artha by an hour or so," laughed Red. + +"Well, I declare!" cried Landy, "and do you mean to say Elmer has +guessed that, or did he see the fellows before he wrote this letter?" + +"Neither one nor the other. He just figured it out from something he +found. Perhaps he knows what the print of Nat's shoe looks like, for we +all make different tracks, you know." + +"Yes," said Chatz, "that would be just like Elmer. He's the most +observing, wide-awake fellow I ever knew since I came up from the South. +I've seen him measuring some of our tracks, and making a copy in that +wonderful little book of his." + +"Now, let's get on a little further. Do you see that the second figure, +no matter how often he appears, always has his left leg bent a little?" +and Matty pointed in several places to confirm his statement. + +Immediately Red laughed aloud, and then in one breath he and Larry +exclaimed: + +"That's Ty Collins, as sure as anything!" + +"I guess you've hit the mark," said Matty, "and that was just what Elmer +was trying to tell us. Ty's left leg has always been a little crooked +since he fell out of that cherry tree three years ago. Now, the third +fellow got me at first, but come to look at him he seems a little +different from the others. See here, and here, and here." + +"That's a fact," declared Landy, scratching his nose in a way he had +when puzzled. + +"He can't mean he's a dead one, and sprouting wings, can he?" asked +George. + +"Wings! I've got it, fellows!" shouted Red. + +"Then pass it around to the rest, because I'm all up a stump," observed +Larry. + +"Shucks! don't you know there's only one fellow in the whole troop who's +always sighing because he can't fly, and wishes he had wings?" demanded +Red, promptly. + +"Toby Jones, the boy who's bent on sailing through the clouds some day!" +cried Chatz. + +"Exactly," remarked Matty. "And in this clever way our pathfinder has +told us who the three scouts ahead are. Now he shows them coming to a +fork in the trail. One goes to the north, and the others to the +northwest. Which party can be carrying the wampum belt we expect to +trace down?" + +All of them looked again, and while several shook their heads Red +remarked: + +"Seems to me one of the two that kept together fell down just at the +fork of the trail. Was that only an accident, Matty, or a part of the +play?" + +"I believe it was done on purpose," the other replied. "Because, if you +look closely, you'll find that the one who stretched out on the ground +was Ty, and that from that time on he has a funny little wiggly line +drawn around his waist." + +"Sure, he has. That must be the wampum belt," exclaimed Red. + +"Yes. No doubt he was instructed by our scout master, Mr. Garrabrant, +that when they separated the fellow carrying the belt must do +_something_ to show it. That was a clever dodge of Ty's to lie down, and +make an impression in the earth." + +"Yes, and smarter yet for Elmer to discover the impression, and read +it," declared Chatz. + +"What else does the letter say?" asked Landy, who seemed quite enthused +now, after discovering how exceedingly interesting this communicating by +means of Indian picture writing might become. + +"Elmer tries to tell us he is pursuing the two who headed northwest. You +see he has made an arrow showing this fact," Matty continued. + +"But there are some other marks; can you make them out at all?" asked +Landy. + +"This is certainly a fire. Before separating, the three enemies built a +fire and pretended to feed. Here they are sitting around the blaze and +eating; and if you look over yonder right now, you'll see the ashes +where the fire has been." + +All of them hurried across to where Matty pointed. + +"By all that's wonderful, there has been a camp fire here," said Landy. + +"You're a little off there, Landy," corrected the leader of the Beaver +Patrol; "this was only a little cooking blaze, not a camp fire." + +"But what's the difference?" demanded the new recruit; "I thought a fire +must be a fire." + +"Well," said Matty, "when hunters are in a hostile country and want to +prepare a meal they dig a hole and make a small blaze in it that will be +hot enough for their purpose, but which might not be seen fifty feet +away." + +"And a camp fire?" continued the novice. + +"Quite a different matter. That is generally a rousing blaze made for +comfort, and at a time when no danger is feared. This was only a cooking +fire," Matty went on to explain, as he again thrust the "message" into +the jaws of the cloven stick. + +"Do you know how long ago this fire was made?" asked George. + +"The ashes are cold now, but they must have been warm when Elmer was +here. He says so--anyhow, that's the way I read it. Here are four hands +held up. Counting fingers and thumbs he wants us to know he has gained +on the enemy, and was only twenty minutes behind when they separated at +this fire." + +"Well, that takes the cake!" ejaculated Landy, whose whole appearance +indicated amazement. + +"I wonder if it's going to turn out so?" remarked George, who was always +unbelieving, and hence sometimes called by his friends "Doubting +George." + +"Well, we'll prove it later," said Matty, "because I am putting all +these things down in my record. When we come together Elmer will tell us +what he meant, and read our answers out loud. Then well see how that +second squad come out. But let's be on the move again, fellows. Plenty +to do before we overhaul our pathfinder, and find out if he secured the +wampum belt. Come along, everybody!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AT THE HAUNTED MILL. + + +Once more the little squad of scouts resumed their forward movement. + +Matty remained at their head, as before. This game was growing more +delightful to him every minute, and some of the others were feeling the +same way. + +Of course it was easy work for those who came after, and the second +bunch, headed by Mark Cummings, would have, as Red expressed it, a +"snap." + +The real work of following the trail was falling upon Elmer and his +companion, the tall, angular fellow known among his mates as Lil Artha. + +In carrying out the purpose of the game they were to do all the reading +of the signs, and leave a plain track for those who came after. But the +two detachments of scouts were expected to pick up as much knowledge +concerning the methods used as they could. + +Besides this, they must read the messages left occasionally by their +pathfinder. + +For quite some time the boys scurried along. More than once they had to +quicken their pace to what Matty called a "dog-trot." This happened +especially when the "signs" were very plain. + +"Why all this haste?" asked Landy, who seemed to be puffing a little, +because of his being rather a stout boy, and not very well up in +athletics. + +"Because we want to gain on Elmer when we have the chance," replied the +leader. + +"But look here, Matty," said Landy, "do you mean to tell me Elmer is +getting along about as fast as we've been doing, when he has a blind +trail to follow, and we have a plain one?" + +"Looks like it, don't it?" exclaimed Red. + +"But how under the sun does he do it?" pursued the doubting greenhorn. + +"Well," Matty went on, "Elmer lived in Canada, away up where our +blizzards come from. He used to ride a wild broncho, throw a rope, hunt +antelope and wolves, and was once in at the death of a big grizzly bear +that had been playing hob with their cattle." + +"Yes, I've heard all that," admitted Landy. + +"So you see he learned a lot about following a trail that would never be +seen by any fellows like us scouts. He knows a dozen signs that tell him +the facts. And when greenhorns like Ty, Nat, and Toby try to fool him, +why, he just eats the trail up." + +Matty, as he finished speaking, came to a sudden pause. + +"We might as well take a breathing spell," he remarked, "because we're +getting pretty close to the meeting place anyhow. Besides, here's a +chance for me to show you how Elmer manages." + +The others crowded around, eager to see for themselves what object +lesson Matty expected to lay before them. + +"Now I want you to notice right here," he said, pointing to the ground, +"that the footprints of the two boys ahead suddenly stop. Here are the +plain marks left purposely by Elmer and Lil Artha. Do you notice how +they run alongside this fallen tree?" + +"That's a fact," declared George, as all of them walked slowly along. + +"The two foxes in the lead thought to puzzle the hounds by jumping on +this long log, and running its entire length," said Matty, with a grin, +"but they had their trouble for nothing. Why, it was such an old trick +that Elmer guessed it at a glance. He must have gained quite a lot on +'em here." + +George and Landy exchanged glances. + +"Well, there's a heap more in this game than I ever thought of," +admitted the latter. + +"Don't see how he does it," remarked George, with a doubting shake of +his head. + +"Oh, the more you study up on this thing," said Red, "the better you'll +like it. No end of clever stunts that can be engineered. But see here, +Matty, didn't you say we must be getting near the place where we +expected to round up both foxes and hounds?" + +"Yes, I'm looking to hear the bugle any minute right now," replied the +leader. + +"Where was it fixed for?" asked Landy. + +"Oh, I thought you knew," Matty replied, as they once more took up the +broad trail, at the point beyond the end of the fallen tree. + +"I heard some talk about an old mill, but didn't pay much attention to +it," remarked Landy, carelessly. + +"Then you've got to turn over a new leaf, old fellow, if you expect to +ever succeed as a good scout," Red broke in with. + +"How's that?" demanded Landy. + +"Because," replied the red-headed lad, himself always wide-awake and on +the alert, "a scout to succeed must forever keep his wits about him and +observe things. In fact, Elmer says he should take as a motto, besides +the words 'Be Prepared' the old sign you see at railroad crossings." + +"Stop! look! listen!" exclaimed Matty, Larry, and Chatz in chorus. + +"I suppose I _am_ somewhat sleepy," grumbled Landy, "but perhaps some +day I'll surprise you wide-awake Slim Jims by doing something real +smart. But tell me more about this mill." + +"You sure must have heard of Munsey's mill?" remarked Matty. + +"Oh, I believe it does sound kind of familiar, but then I must have +forgotten all I ever heard about it," Landy confessed. + +Red and Matty exchanged glances, and shook their heads mournfully. It +seemed a pretty tough proposition to ever expect to make a good and +profitable scout out of such poor material. + +"Well," said the patrol leader, "there is a long story connected with +the old ramshackle mill. No use of my going into all the details. It's +been abandoned a good many years now. People have tried to live there +three times since old Munsey was found dead there, but they had to give +it up." + +"Yes, suh," Chatz broke in, his eyes shining brightly, for this was a +subject that appealed very strongly to him, "they just couldn't hold +out. Got cold feet after going through the experience and had to quit." + +"But why?" demanded Landy. + +"Because they declared the old mill was haunted!" replied Matty. + +"Yes, suh, it was haunted," echoed Chatz. + +The Southern boy had always confessed to a streak of superstition in his +make-up. He admitted that he must have imbibed it from association with +the ignorant little negro lads with whom he had been accustomed to play +down on the plantation. + +He had even admitted once to carrying in his pocket, as a charm, the +left hind foot of a rabbit, which animal had been killed by himself in a +graveyard when the moon was full. + +The boys plagued Chatz so much that he had by degrees shown signs of +considering most of his former beliefs as folly. + +Still, the mere mention of a haunted house set his nerves to quivering. +Chatz might be a timid fellow when up against anything bordering upon +the ghostly, but on all other occasions he had proven himself brave, +almost to the point of rashness. + +It was "Doubting George" who burst out into a harsh laugh. + +"A haunted house!" he exclaimed. "Ghosts! Strange knockings! Thrilling +whispers! Ice-cold hands! Oh, my, what a lark! I've always wanted to get +up against a thing like that. Don't believe in 'em the least bit. You +could talk to me till you was gray-headed, and I'd just laugh. There +never was such things as ghosts, never!" + +Chatz looked at him rather queerly. + +"Oh, well, perhaps you're right, George," he said, holding himself in +check, "but I've read of some people who had pretty rough experiences." + +"Rats! They fooled themselves every time," declared the boy who would +not believe. "Bet you it was the wind whistling through a knot hole, or +a parcel of rats squeaking and fighting between the walls. Ghosts! It +makes me laugh." + +"Same here," declared Red. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Larry just then, making them all start. Through the +timber ahead of them came the sweet clear notes of a bugle. + +"Told you so, fellows," declared Matty, smiling; "that's Elmer. He's +learning to use the bugle nearly as well as Mark himself." + +"Then we're at the end of our trail following, are we?" asked Landy, not +without a sigh of relief, for it had not been as easy work in his case +as with his less stout comrades. + +"Well, pretty near," Matty replied. "We've got to keep it up till we +come in sight of the mill." + +"But why?" asked George, who seemed to want to know every little thing, +so that his natural tendency to object might have a chance to show +itself. + +"Oh, well, there might be one more opening for a message, and our main +business is to translate these, you know." + +"Do we stay long at the old mill?" asked Chatz. + +Red gave him a quick, suspicious look. + +"Aw, I reckon I know what's on our comrade's mind," he remarked, with a +wink. + +"As what?" demanded Landy. + +"Chatz thinks he'd like to prowl around some, and see if that ghost has +left any signs. 'Tain't often he's had a chance to meet up with a real +haunted house, eh, Chatz?" and Red gave the Southern boy a sly dig in +the ribs. + +"Never had that pleasure in all my life, fellows, I assure you," replied +the Southern boy, with ill-concealed delight in his manner. + +"But say, no respectable ghost was ever known to walk except at +midnight, and we don't intend camping out at the old mill, do we, just +because of this silly talk?" asked George. + +"Oh, the rest of us don't, but Chatz might take a notion to stay over," +laughed Red. "When a fellow is set on investigating things he don't +understand, and which were never meant for us to understand, there's +just no telling how far he will carry the game." + +Chatz gave him a lofty look. + +"Thank you for the compliment, suh," he said. + +They continued to follow the "spoor" of the two hounds, left so plainly +for their guidance. + +It was not long before another stick that held a bark "message" was +discovered. And Landy felt immensely elated to think that by some chance +he had been the first to see the "sign." + +"I'll surprise you fellows yet, just mark me," he chuckled, while Matty +was trying to read the queer little characters Elmer had marked upon the +brown inner side of the fresh bark torn from a convenient tree close by. + +"Wish you would, old top," remarked Red, with his customary enthusiasm. + +"You'll get to like all these things more and more, the farther you go," +said Larry. + +"I feel that way already," was Landy's quick reply; "only I'm that +clumsy and slow-witted I just don't see how I'm ever going to keep up +with the procession." + +"Elmer says it's only keeping everlastingly at it that makes a good +scout," remarked Chatz. + +Evidently, from the way these boys continually quoted "Elmer," the +assistant scout master must be a very popular fellow in Hickory Ridge, +and those who have made a study of boy nature can understand what rare +elements the said Elmer must have in his composition to make so many +friends and so few enemies. + +"Come around and see what I've made out of this message," said Matty +just then. + +It proved to be the concluding communication, and in plain picture +language informed those for whom it was left that the two foxes had +stopped here, made a dense smoke to attract their missing comrade, and +when joined by him, the three had gone on together to the rendezvous at +the old mill. + +"Fine," cried Landy, when he heard what a remarkable story those rude +drawings told. + +"Very good--if true," admitted George. + +"Well, come along and we'll prove it," laughed Matty; "for unless I miss +my guess the mill is close by." + +"Sure," declared Red. "I can hear the noise of water tumbling down some +rocks, or over a mill dam." + +Five minutes later and Chatz called out: + +"There you are, suh!" + +The mill could be seen through the trees, and all of the boys felt the +greatest eagerness to hurry along and reach this spot. + +It happened that none of this bunch had ever set eyes on Munsey's mill, +or the pond just above it. There were plenty of places nearer Hickory +Ridge for fishing purposes. And besides, the dear familiar old "swimming +hole" was more convenient than this place, nearly seven miles away. + +"I see Elmer and Lil Artha," observed Larry. + +"Yes, and there's another fellow just beyond. I reckon it must be Ty +Collins," said Chatz. + +Elmer waited for them to come up. He and his companions were standing on +the edge of the dam which had long ago been built in order to hold up +the water and form the big lonely looking pond beyond. + +"Ugh, what a spooky looking place this is!" exclaimed Larry, as soon as +they drew up where they could look out on the big pond, its surface in +places partly covered with lily plants, and the long trailing branches +of weeping willows dipping down to the water. + +"It sure is, suh!" remarked Chatz, plainly interested, and not a little +excited. + +"Here we are, Elmer," called out Matty; "and I guess the second bunch +will be along soon. I see Ty and Toby, but where's Nat Scott?" + +Elmer gave him a serious look. + +"That's just what we're wondering," he said. "They all reached the old +mill, you see, but Nat seems to have disappeared in a mighty queer way!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF NAT. + + +"Oh!" + +Chatz was the only one who gave utterance to a sound after Elmer had +made this surprising, as well as alarming, admission. + +The others were looking, first at Elmer, then at each of his three +companions as well; and finally out upon the dismal pond that assumed +much the appearance of a lake, it stretched so far up the valley, almost +a quarter of a mile, in fact. + +Just then the only sound they heard was the noisy scolding of the water +as it went over the spill or apron of the stout dam that had stood all +these long years, defying floods and the ravages of time. + +And somehow, there was something chilling in the very lonesome character +of their surroundings. + +Of the ten scouts present, Chatz seemed to be the only one who did not +look solemn. There was an eager glow in the Southern boy's dark eyes, as +though the situation appealed to that element of superstition in his +nature. + +And Elmer, noting this expression, that was almost of glee, knew that +when the companions of Chatz fondly believed they had cured him of his +silly faith in ghosts and such things, they had made a mistake. The +snake had only been "scotched," not killed. It was already awakening +again, under the first favorable conditions. + +"Say, this ain't any part of the game, is it?" demanded Red. + +"Yes, you don't expect us to guess what's become of Nat, and then find +him grinning at us, perhaps astraddle of a limb up in a big tree?" +remarked Larry. + +"I asked these fellows," said Elmer, seriously, "and both Toby and Ty +gave me their word of honor that no game or joke was set up between +them. If Nat is playing a prank then he's doing it on his own account." + +"And Nat ain't generally the fellow to think of playing a joke on his +chums," declared Larry. + +"Gee, this is getting wild and woolly now!" remarked Landy; "I'm all of +a tremble. What if the poor fellow fell over this dam here, struck his +head on a rock, and lies right now at the bottom of that black pool +where the foam keeps on circling around and around. Ugh! It makes me +shiver, fellows, honest and truly." + +George, as usual, scoffed at the idea of anything having happened to Nat +Scott. + +"He'll show up as soon as he feels like it, make sure of that," he +declared. + +"Have you called him!" asked Matty. + +"Yes, all of us did," replied Lil Artha, whose customary rollicking good +nature seemed subdued in a measure for once. + +"And he didn't answer?" demanded Chatz. + +"We never heard a word, and that's a fact, boys," declared Toby Jones, +uneasily. + +Then they all looked around again, their eyes naturally roving in the +quarter where, near the farther end of the dam, the old mill stood. + +Its day was long since past. The great water wheel at the end of the +sluice had partly fallen to pieces with the passage of time and the +ravages of neglect. What was left seemed to be almost entirely covered +with green moss, among which the clear little fingers of water trickled. + +Suddenly a discordant scream rang out. It was so fearful that several of +the fellows turned pale, and all of them started violently. + +"There!" ejaculated Chatz. + +His manner was almost triumphant; just as though he would like to demand +whether these chums of his could not find some reason to believe as he +did, after such a manifestation. + +"Oh, glory, what was that!" quivered Landy, as he clutched the arm of +Elmer Chenowith. + +"But it didn't come from the mill," declared Larry. "Sounded to me like +it was out there on the pond." + +"Good for you, Larry," remarked Elmer. + +"Then I was right?" asked the other. + +"You certainly were, and if the whole of you turn your eyes aways up +yonder, perhaps you'll notice a big black-and-white bird come to the +surface. It dived just after scolding us for disturbing its fishing +excursion." + +Following the direction indicated by Elmer's extended finger the scouts +all watched eagerly. + +"I see something moving just behind that bunch of lily pads," exclaimed +one with keen vision. + +"There it swims out now, and it's a big water bird, too. Looks like a +goose to me," Landy remarked, earnestly. + +"That's a loon, fellows!" exclaimed Red. + +"Is it, Elmer?" they demanded in a breath. + +"Just what it is, and nothing else," replied the acting scout master. +"They are very common up in the Great Northwest. And once you've heard +their wild laugh you'll never forget it." + +"Huh, sounds just like the shout of a crazy man to me," ventured Lil +Artha. + +"Everybody says that," Elmer declared. "And I never knew a single +fellow who liked to hear a loon call. Some say it's a sign of ill luck +to be scolded by a loon." + +"Ill luck!" echoed Chatz, once more looking in the direction of the +ramshackle old mill. + +"But see here," remarked Matty, "tell us about Nat, won't you? When was +his queer disappearance first noticed, Elmer?" + +"Well, when Lil Artha and myself arrived here we found Toby and Ty +throwing stones out in the pond, scaring the little red-marked turtles +that were sitting by dozens on every old log and rock, and great big +bullfrogs as well." + +"Never saw so many whopping big frogs in all my life," declared Ty. + +"You see," explained Toby, "we missed Nat, but thought he had just +wandered off to look around. Ty and me, why, we felt too tired to +explore things till the rest came along." + +"Oh, but you could amuse yourselves throwing things into the water, eh?" +Matty remarked, with such a vein of sarcasm in his voice that Toby +immediately aroused to defend himself. + +"'Twa'n't that at all, Matty Eggleston; prove it by Ty here if either of +us was afraid to go inside your old haunted mill, was we, Ty?" he +exclaimed, with a fine show of righteous indignation. + +"Course we wasn't," Ty hastened to declare, with a decided shake of his +tousled head. "We walked along the shore till we came to a nice shady +place, and then squatted down, meanin' to wait till Elmer showed up. +Then I popped a rock at a sassy little turkle, and pretty soon both of +us were letting fly." + +"When did you miss Nat, and where was he the last you saw him?" asked +Matty, who was expected some day to become a lawyer. + +"Oh!" answered Toby, "he said he'd hang around the dam here and look +into things. You know Nat always did want to pry into everything he +saw." + +"What then?" Matty went on asking. + +"Why, we saw Elmer and Lil Artha coming, and went to meet 'em, that's +all," replied Ty. + +"Have any of you been inside the mill?" + +"Why, no," Toby spoke up. "Elmer and Lil Artha sat down to rest, and you +see we expected Nat to pop out on us any minute, so we just didn't say +anything about it till they asked." + +"And that was just about the time we first heard your voices close by," +said Elmer, "so we made up our minds to wait till you joined us, when we +could scatter and search." + +"Search!" echoed Larry. "Good gracious! do you think Nat can be lost?" + +"It doesn't seem possible," admitted Elmer, "but I blew the bugle, and +sounded the assembly. If Nat heard that he is scout enough to know it +was a command for him to come in--if he could." + +"Whew! this is something we didn't expect to run up against--a mystery +right in the start," remarked Matty, mopping his face with his big +bandana handkerchief, which he wore about his neck, cowboy fashion, with +the knot behind. + +"You never can tell, suh!" said Chatz, in a solemn manner; and somehow +none of the boys seemed quite as ready to scoff at the Southerner's +superstitious belief, as usual. + +"But hadn't we better be looking around?" remarked Matty. "Nat may have +gone into the old mill, bent on investigating, and some accident have +happened to him." + +"As what?" queried George, cautiously. + +"Oh, well, perhaps he tripped and fell, striking his head as he went +down. Then again, a rotten plank might have given way under him, and let +him get an ugly fall," Matty replied. + +"That sounds reasonable enough," said Elmer, "and now I want some of you +to scatter around and see if you can discover any trace of our missing +comrade. Red, you get a long pole and poke down in that deep pool, +though I feel pretty sure you won't find any sign of him there, because +there isn't a mark of blood on the rocks, as there would be if he had +fallen from up here on the dam." + +The boys looked aghast. + +Up to this point perhaps Landy and several others may have indulged in a +hope that after all perhaps this might only be a little finish to the +remarkable game of fox and hounds which they had been playing. + +Indeed, Red and Larry had once or twice even exchanged sly winks. They +actually suspected that Elmer had secretly ordered Nat to conceal +himself, up among the branches of a tree, perhaps, so as to have the +whole party guessing, and running around like a pack of dogs off the +scent. + +Now the last vague hope in this particular seemed shattered by Elmer's +thrilling suggestion. + +And more than Red's horrified eyes roved in the direction of the ugly +black pool, across the surface of which the foamy white bubbles kept +circling constantly, as the surplus water ran over the dam. + +"Where will the rest of us look, Elmer?" asked Matty, breaking the awful +silence that had gripped them after hearing the scout master's +suggestion. + +"Any old place," replied Elmer; "only I guess you needn't go far along +that farther shore, because Toby and Ty were there where you see that +big oak tree." + +"They couldn't see the dam from there, could they?" asked Red, quickly. + +"No, that's true," answered Toby. + +"And so they wouldn't know whether anybody knocked poor Nat over here; +or if he went across to the old mill," Red continued. + +"Right you are, Red," replied Ty; "but neither did we hear any shout. An +old bluejay was screechin' in the woods near us. Yep, a feller might 'a' +called out and we not noticed it." + +"I want two of you to go with me to the mill," said Elmer. + +"Count me for one!" cried some one, instantly; and of course that was +the eager Chatz, who would have started a new rebellion had he been +debarred that privilege. + +"And I'm the second victim," declared Lil Artha, with a grin, but at the +same time looking very determined. + +"All right," said Elmer; "fall in behind me, and we'll see what the +inside of the mill looks like." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SEARCH FOR A CLEW. + + +Following the lead of Elmer, the tall lanky scout and the wiry Southern +boy quickly found themselves at the other end of the mill dam. + +Lil Artha had cast his eyes about him as he cautiously made his way +along. He seemed to be figuring on what chance there might be for an +active chap like Nat Scott slipping on one of the wet and moss-covered +stones, to go tumbling down toward that suspicious black pool. + +Not so Chatz Maxfield. + +Apparently he had made up his mind from the start that this strange +vanishing of their comrade must have some connection with the mystery of +the old mill. + +Did they not admit that three separate times people had tried to live +there in the dwelling that was part and parcel of the mill; and on every +occasion they had given it up as a bad job? + +Why? + +Well, it seemed to be understood that none of them could stand the +sights and sounds which had come to them while under that roof. + +People might scoff at such things all they had a mind to, but surely it +seemed as if there must be _something_ in it. + +At any rate, everyone of those three families believed the mill house +haunted. And for many years now, no one had had the nerve to occupy the +place. + +And yet it had once been a paying venture, for the main road was only a +few hundred yards away from this lonely, forbidding-looking pond, where +the frogs grew so large and the red-marked "turkles," as Ty Collins +called them, were so saucy. + +"Careful here!" warned Elmer, as they arrived at the runway, where in +times past the water was turned on when the mill was to be operated. + +The boards were rotting and slimy, and if one made a slip he might get a +wet jacket in the sluice, where there was more or less running water. + +Elmer held up a hand to hold his comrades back. He seemed to be down on +his hands and knees, as though examining something that had just caught +his attention. + +"What is it?" asked Lil Artha. + +"He came this way, all right, boys." + +"Do you mean Nat?" questioned Chatz. + +"Why, of course," replied the leader. + +"How do you know?" continued Chatz. + +"I've been following Nat's trail for miles," answered Elmer, "and sure I +ought to know what his footprint looks like. Here it is on this clay +just beside the sluice. Wait till I cross and see if he made the other +side all right." + +"He must, because he ain't in the sluiceway," remarked the tall boy. + +A minute later and Elmer, who had carefully crossed over, testing each +board before trusting his weight on it, called out: + +"The marks are here, all right, fellows. Nat did start to look into the +old mill. Come over, but be careful. Go slow, Chatz," he warned again, +as the impetuous Southern boy slipped, and might have landed in the +slimy sluice only that Lil Artha threw out a hand and clutched him. + +They were now almost in the shadow of the deserted mill. It looked +gloomy and forbidding to the eyes of at least Elmer and the tall lad, +though Chatz may have considered it an object well worth coming a long +distance to see. + +"Wow! I must get some pictures of this same old ruin while we're up +here," said Lil Artha, who carried a little pocket camera along, and was +a very clever artist indeed. + +"A fine idea," remarked Elmer; "but there are a lot of good people in +Hickory Ridge who would think a picture of Munsey's mill very tame and +incomplete without the ghost showing in it." + +"Ah!" said Chatz, his face aglow. + +"Oh, well," Lil Artha went on, "perhaps now I might be lucky enough to +tempt that same ghost to pose for me. Anyhow I mean to ask him, if so be +we happen to run across his trail." + +He looked at Chatz, and then winked one eye humorously at Elmer. But the +Southern boy did not deign to take any notice. + +"Come, let's go in, fellows," he said, impatiently. + +With that the three started for the other side of the mill, where an +entrance could most likely be much more easily effected. + +Elmer continued to watch the ground, and from the satisfied look on his +face Lil Artha felt sure the scout master must be discovering further +traces of the missing boy. + +Perhaps, after all, they would find Nat hiding inside the mill or the +dwelling alongside. Perhaps he had been so busy investigating that he +had not noticed their shouts, or the bugle call, for the falling water +made quite a little noise. + +Or, on the other hand, possibly Nat may have been seized with a sudden +desire to tease his comrades in return for many a practical joke of +which he had been the victim. + +But one of the three was quite firm in his belief that neither of these +explanations would turn out to be the true one. + +Of course this was Chatz Maxfield, through whose mind had run the +conviction that poor Nat Scott must have paid dearly for his temerity in +invading the haunted mill. + +Yes, Chatz feared that the ghost must have got Nat, though he was afraid +to openly proclaim his belief. Fear of ridicule was a weakness of Chatz. +It often causes boys to hide their real feelings, and even appear to be +much bolder than they naturally are. + +Once around the end of the mill and they saw the dwelling attached to +it. + +Here, too, was the old road, now overgrown with weeds and almost hidden +from view. And yet, twenty years ago, in Miller Munsey's time, no doubt +farmers daily drove up here with sacks of corn, wheat, or rye, to have +the grain delivered to them again in the shape of flour. + +"Shall we try to go in by way of the house door?" asked Lil Artha. + +"No," replied Elmer, "he went in through that opening where some boards +are off the side of the mill. Perhaps we'd better do the same." + +"A good idea," remarked Chatz, with the air of one who could not get +inside the walls of the mill too speedily to please him. + +"Just as you say, Elmer," the lanky scout observed; for having been in +the company of the other when the latter was acting as pathfinder to the +expedition, Lil Artha was more than ever filled with admiration for his +wonderful talents in discovering things supposed to be lost. + +So Elmer without further hesitation ducked through the opening, with his +two allies keeping close to his heels. + +At any rate it was somewhat more restful inside the mill. + +Those walls, even if now going rapidly into a condition of decay, shut +out some of the noise caused by the falling water. + +Lil Artha and Chatz both looked about them eagerly, even anxiously, as +soon as they found themselves within those walls which had once +resounded to the clatter of the grinding. + +Their motives, however, were probably as far apart as the two poles; +while the long-legged scout hoped, yet dreaded, to see the figure of Nat +Scott lying somewhere about, Chatz, on the other hand, was anticipating +discovering some token of ghostly visitors. + +Nothing rewarded either of them, however. The interior of the mill was +of course in a generally dilapidated condition. What remnants of the +crushing and milling machinery remained were rusty and broken, as though +tramps may have made the place a refuge, and tried to destroy what they +could not carry away to sell. + +The boards creaked dismally under their tread. More than that, they +were loose in places, and Lil Artha, stepping upon the end of one, might +have vanished through a gap in the floor only that his agility saved +him. + +"Wow, would you see that, now, Elmer!" he exclaimed, his voice sounding +strange amidst such singular surroundings. + +"You made a neat side step, old fellow," said the one addressed. "Some +of us, more clumsy, would have slid down into the cellar." + +"Say, now, I wonder--" began Lil Artha, and then stopped to stare at the +treacherous plank that formed such a trap. + +"You're wondering whether poor old Nat could have taken that tumble?" +suggested Elmer. + +"That's what I was; what do you think?" asked the tall scout. + +"Here, lay hold and we'll soon find out," remarked Elmer, bending over +the loose plank. + +It required considerable tugging to get it out of the bed it had +occupied so long, even if it was fastened by no nails. + +Both of them lay down and thrust their faces into the gap. + +"Looks pretty dark down there, don't it?" asked Lil Artha, who was +secretly shivering with the anticipation of making a grewsome discovery, +but who would not have his comrades know the true condition of his +nerves for a good deal. + +"It sure does that," was Elmer's reply. + +"I can just make out something or other lying down there; it might be +an old log, you know, and again, p'raps it ain't." + +Lil Artha did not venture to say plainly that he more than half feared +lest the object he could see might turn out to be poor Nat Scott. But +that was a fact. + +"Well, let's find out for sure." + +Elmer, while speaking, was taking something from his pocket. It proved +to be an old newspaper, from which he tore a sheet, crumpling it up into +a ball. + +"I generally carry a newspaper along when I go into the woods," he said +in explanation. "And it's wonderful what a help it sometimes turns out +to be in case you want to start a quick fire. Now for a match." + +"I'm sorry now," remarked Lil Artha. + +"About what?" asked the scout leader. + +"That I didn't think to fetch it along--that new electric hand torch my +father gave me on my birthday, you remember, Elmer?" + +"Oh," laughed Elmer, "well, who'd ever think we'd have any need of a +torch on this hike! Why, it was an altogether daylight affair, and we +expected to be back home long before supper time. I even promised Mark +to practice battery work some this afternoon. There, now watch when it +drops. I hope there's nothing down there to take fire." + +"If the old trap did go up in smoke I guess nobody would care much," +muttered Lil Artha, as he pressed his face still further into the +opening, after Elmer released his fire ball. + +The burning paper seemed to alight upon the damp earthen floor of the +cellar. Immediately both boys tried to secure a mental photograph of all +there was below them. + +"It's only a log!" cried Lil Artha, in a relieved tone of voice, and at +the same time betraying more or less disappointment, for perhaps he had +made up his mind that they were to be treated to some species of horror. + +"You're right," added Elmer, "that's what it is--an old log that has +lain there, goodness only knows how long. Nat doesn't seem to have +slipped down into the cellar, then, does he?" + +"Not that you could notice," replied Lil Artha, and then he added: "but +Elmer, didn't you notice something jump when that paper first went +down?" + +"Well, yes, I did, for a fact, Arthur." + +"Any idea what it could be?" persisted the other. + +"I hope you're not thinking of that ghost we've heard so much about?" +said Elmer. + +"Now, that's hardly fair, Elmer; you know I don't take any stock in +fairy tales or hobgoblin yarns. But something sure moved." + +"A big rat I guess, perhaps a muskrat from the pond above. They +sometimes find a burrow leads them to some old, unused cellar." + +"But look over there, and you'll see a lot of white bones, Elmer," +pursued Lil Artha. + +"That's a fact. Some animal must have fallen in here, starved to death, +and been eaten up by the rats." + +"But, Elmer, are you sure they are animal bones?" + +"I noticed the skull, and I think it must have been a large dog," +replied Elmer. + +Then he and the tall scout scrambled hastily to their feet, for Chatz +had suddenly given utterance to an exclamation that seemed to contain +much of both surprise and mystification. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE TRAIL GROWS WARMER. + + +"Say, just look up there, fellows!" + +Chatz pointed a quivering finger upward as he gave utterance to these +words. + +Of course both Elmer and the lengthy scout followed his directions, and +turned an inquiring gaze toward the dimly seen rafters of the old +deserted mill. + +"Gee whittaker! what in the dickens are they?" exclaimed Lil Artha, as +his startled eyes rested on what seemed to be countless numbers of queer +little bunches of dusky gray or brown hair. + +They looked for all the world like some farmer's wife's winter +collection of herbs, tied up in small packages, and fastened in regular +order along the different beams. + +"Well, I declare," laughed Elmer. + +"You know what they are, Elmer; let us in on it, won't you?" demanded +Chatz. + +"Nothing whatever to do with the ghost, but all the same often found in +haunted houses, church belfries, and old towers. See here." + +He stooped and picked up quite a good-sized stone that happened to be +lying on the floor. + +Elmer was a pitcher on the Hickory Ridge baseball nine, and could hurl a +pretty swift ball. + +When he shot that stone upward it went like a young cyclone, struck the +rafters with a loud bang, clattered around from one beam to another, and +finally fell back to the floor with a thud. + +This latter sound was certainly not heard by any one of the three +scouts, for it was utterly drowned in a tremendous rush as of sturdy +wings, and several openings above were filled with some rapidly flying +objects. + +"Wow, did you ever see the like of that now!" cried Lil Artha. + +"What were they, Elmer?" asked Chatz, who had really been too startled +to think fairly. + +"Bats!" replied the scout leader, promptly. + +"I supposed as much," declared Chatz, "and as you remarked just now, +they always seem to like a building said to be haunted." + +"Well," remarked the tall boy, "sometimes I've had the fellows hint to +me that I had bats in _my_ belfry; but sure not that many. Why, I reckon +there must have been well-nigh a thousand in that gay bunch, Elmer." + +"I guess there were, more or less," replied the other. + +"And now what?" asked Chatz. + +"Let's look further here before we go into the house itself," the scout +master made reply. + +So they went from one end of the deserted mill to the other, peering +into every place where it seemed there might be the slightest hope of +discovering their missing comrade. + +Elmer even entered a small room off the main floor, and which had +possibly been used as an office when the grist-mill was in business. + +"Nothing doing, Elmer?" announced Lil Artha, as the other came out +again. + +Elmer shook his head in the negative. + +"Don't seem to be around here at all," he said. + +"Well, let's try the house," suggested Chatz; and it was easily seen +from his manner that he was eager to make the change. + +After one more careful glance around, as if to make absolutely positive +that nothing had been neglected, the scout leader nodded his head. + +"Come on, then, fellows," he said. + +So the others once more fell in his wake, like true scouts who knew +their little lesson full well, and were ready to follow their leader +wherever he might choose to go. + +Elmer had previously noticed a door leading, as he believed, from the +main mill into the cottage that had once been the miller's home. + +Toward this he now pushed. He wondered if he would find the door +fastened in any way. One touch told him it was not. + +And so, without hesitation, Elmer strode across the threshold into what +had once been the happy home of a contented miller, until trouble came, +and tragedy ended it all. + +Like the mill itself the house was fast falling into a state of decay. + +It was only a cottage of some four rooms, all on the one floor. The boys +passed from one apartment to another until presently they had been over +all the territory comprised within those four walls, so far as they +could see. + +Both Chatz and Lil Artha uttered exclamations that breathed their +disappointment. + +Because each of them had failed to discover that upon which he had set +his mind he failed to see anything else. + +Not so Elmer, who carried out the principle which he was forever holding +up before the others as a cardinal virtue which should govern a true +scout always. + +He noted a number of things that the other two might have passed by, +simply because they refused to let their minds work outside of a certain +groove. + +A frown came upon Elmer's face also, as though he did not wholly like +the looks of things. + +"Well, he ain't here, that's sure," remarked Lil Artha, shrugging his +shoulders in disgust. + +"He certainly isn't," muttered Chatz, who, however, was thinking of an +entirely different object than the one the tall boy referred to. + +"Suppose we give him a shout, and see if there's any result?" suggested +Lil Artha. + +"Do so, if you like," replied Elmer, in a tone that did not seem to +promise much faith in the outcome of this plan. + +So the tall boy raised his voice and shouted in his loudest key. A few +stray bats that had taken up lodgings in various dark corners of the +four rooms went flapping through a broken sash. But beyond that nothing +came to pass. + +"This sure beats the Dutch," remarked Lil Artha, using his bandana again +to wipe off the perspiration that had gathered in beads upon his +forehead. + +Elmer was looking around again. + +"Wonder if there can be a cellar under here?" he remarked, presently. + +"I should say yes," replied the tall boy. + +"Then there ought to be a trapdoor in the floor somewhere about. Look +around and see if you can find it, boys," Elmer continued, himself +stepping into the kitchen. + +Chatz and the tall boy had hardly gotten well started in their search +than they heard Elmer calling. + +"He's found it, sure!" observed the Southern lad. + +"The luckiest chap ever, take that from me," declared Lil Artha, and +then adding hastily: "but then, he always deserves his luck, because he +works for it." + +Although he did not exactly mean to do so, the one who said that +expressed one of the greatest truths known. Deserve good luck, and it +will many times knock at your door. Do things worth while, and obtain +pleasing results. + +Of course they hastened into the kitchen. Here they found Elmer bending +over and examining the floor. + +"It's a trapdoor, all right," declared Lil Artha, as he noted the +dimensions of the cracks that formed an almost perfect square. + +"But how to get it up's the question," said Elmer; "for there seems to +be no ring in sight. All the same, boys, I reckon this same trap has +been used more than a few times lately, from the looks of things." + +"Whew! do you really mean it, Elmer?" remarked Chatz, deeply interested. + +"Why, you can see for yourself right here that some sort of tool has +been used to pry up the thing," Elmer went on. + +"Say, I had a glimpse of an old broken kitchen knife lying over there by +the sink. Wonder if that would do the trick? Shall I get it?" remarked +Lil Artha. + +"If you will," replied Elmer. + +The article in question was speedily placed in the hands of the scout +master. + +"Just the very thing to lift this trap with," he declared, as he started +to insert the stout remnant of the blade in the crack. + +"Reckon it's been used to do the trick many a time," advanced Chatz. + +"I wouldn't wonder," Elmer added. + +Using the broken blade as a lever he soon pried the trap up far enough +to allow the others a chance to insert their ready fingers. After that +it was easily completed, and the square of wooden flooring removed. + +"Dark as Egypt," remarked Lil Artha, as he tried to pierce the gloom +with his gaze. + +Elmer made a move, and Chatz, thinking he intended descending the ladder +that led down into the unknown depths, caught his arm. + +"I wouldn't do it, Elmer," he said. + +"Do what?" asked the other. + +"Go down there," continued Chatz. "No telling how deep it may be or what +lies there, either. If anybody must go, send me." + +"Well," laughed Elmer, "I like your nerve, Chatz. You think something +might hurt _me_, but you don't care so much for yourself. That's like +you Southern fellows, though. But make your mind easy, my boy, because +just at present I don't think any of us need drop into this hole." + +"I'm glad of that," declared the other; "but when you made a move I +thought you were going." + +"Oh, I only meant to get out my newspaper again, and make another little +candle," said Elmer, with a chuckle. + +"Well, say what you will, boys," remarked Lil Artha, who had been +thrusting his head below the level of the floor and sniffing at a great +rate; "I'm glad, too, that we don't just have to drop down this ladder. +It's cold and damp down there, and I tell you I don't like the smell." + +"There is a queer odor comes up, now that you mention it," admitted +Elmer. + +At that the eyes of Chatz grew round with wonder and suspense. + +"Oh, I hope you don't think--" he began, when Elmer interrupted him. + +"Kind of fishy smell, don't you think?" he said. + +"Well, since you speak of it I rather guess it is something like that," +Lil Artha admitted. + +Then Chatz breathed easy again. + +"But how could fish ever get in here from the mill pond?" he demanded. + +"Give it up; I pass. Ask me something easy," the tall scout hastened to +say. + +Meanwhile Elmer had, as before, taken a section of the newspaper, +crumpled it into a ball, and after that drew out his match box. + +"Guess it's safe to drop this down," he remarked. "It seems so damp +there can really be no danger of anything taking fire." + +"Sure there couldn't," asserted Lil Artha, sturdily. "Let her go, Elmer; +and everybody look." + +The match crackled, and the resulting flame was instantly applied to the +paper ball. + +Then Elmer let this drop, after he had made sure it would burn. + +Three pairs of very good eyes immediately started in to take a complete +inventory of the contents of the little damp cellar under the deserted +mill cottage. + +For perhaps a full minute the paper ball continued to burn, lighting up +the cellar well enough for them to see from wall to wall. + +Then the flame dwindled, flickered, and finally went out altogether. +Chatz gave a big sigh. + +"Well, I declare!" he exclaimed. + +"What did you see, Chatz?" asked Elmer. + +"Who, me?" exclaimed the Southern boy. "Nothing at all, Elmer," and his +manner told plainly that he was both disappointed and disgusted. + +"How about you, Arthur?" continued the acting scout master. + +"What did I see?" Lil Artha replied, promptly; "four damp-looking stone +walls, a hard earth floor, and a few old boxes lying around, but not +another blessed thing." + +Something about Elmer's manner caught his attention and aroused his +suspicions. + +"See here, did _you_ discover anything?" he demanded. + +"Well," replied Elmer, "I can't say that the evidence is so plain a +fellow who runs may read; but from a number of things I've seen since +coming here to the Munsey mill pond I've about made up my mind this +place isn't quite as deserted as people seem to believe." + +"Do you mean, Elmer," cried Lil Artha, excitedly, "that tramps or some +more yeggmen, like those fellows we met with up at McGraw's lumber camp, +have squatted here in this haunted house?" + +"Something like that," replied the other, steadily, "though I don't +believe they dare spend a night under this roof. There's no sign of +that." + +"But what would they kidnap our chum for?" demanded the excited tall +scout. + +"I don't know for certain, but we're going to find out pretty soon," +said Elmer, with a determined look. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HUNTING FOR THE MISSING SCOUT. + + +"Honest, now, Elmer, do you really believe that?" asked Chatz Maxfield, +after staring at the scout master in a puzzled manner for half a dozen +seconds. + +"It looks so, on the face of it," replied the other. + +"But plague take it," argued Chatz, "for the life of me I just can't +understand, suh, what those fellows would want to make a prisoner of +poor Nat for. In all our troop he's about the most harmless scout, +except perhaps Jasper Merriweather. Nat is strong as an ox, but he +wouldn't hurt a fly if he could help it." + +"That's so," echoed Lil Artha. "I've seen him walk around so as not to +step on a harmless little snake on the road. And it wasn't because he +was afraid of snakes, either. Remember he killed that fierce big +copperhead last summer, after the other fellows had skipped out?" + +"There's one chance, though," Elmer went on, "that after all Nat may be +hiding." + +"But he knows the sound of the bugle, and what penalty follows +disobedience on the part of a scout," declared Lil Artha. + +"That's true enough, fellows," Elmer said, as if he himself might be +trying to see through a haze; "but perhaps Nat finds himself in a +position where he can't answer us without betraying himself to these +unknown men." + +Again did Chatz and the tall scout look at each other helplessly. And +judging from the way they shook their heads, the puzzle was evidently +too deep for them. + +"Say, Elmer, you manage to get on to these things in a way to beat the +band; could you give a guess now about how many men there are holding +out around this old haunted mill?" + +Lil Artha asked this in good faith. He had come to believe, with most of +his comrades, that Elmer Chenowith was next door to a wizard. Of course +they realized that his knowledge was at all times founded on facts and +common sense; yet this did not detract from the wonder of his +accomplishments. + +"I think there are three at least, perhaps four or five in the lot," +Elmer replied. + +"Whew! that's a healthy crowd of toughs, now, to run up against!" +remarked Lil Artha. + +"And what do you propose doing, suh, if I may make so bold as to ask?" + +Chatz was usually a very dignified fellow, especially when coming in +contact with one who, according to recognized scout law, must be +considered his superior officer, and as such entitled to respect. + +"First of all, perhaps we'd better go outside," the other replied. + +"And tell the rest of the boys what we've found--or rather what we +didn't find," remarked Lil Artha. + +"Yes. There doesn't seem to be anything more to poke into here; for I'm +dead certain those men, whoever they are, don't make their headquarters +in either the mill or the cottage." + +"You mean they don't sleep here; is that it, suh?" inquired Chatz. + +"That covers the ground," Elmer answered. + +"But they _do_ come in here sometimes, while the sun is shining," +persisted Chatz. + +"I have seen the marks of many heavy hobnailed shoes in the dust of this +place; and some of the prints were very fresh," came the answer. + +"Then if they're wanting in the nerve to sleep under this roof, when it +would be so handy, in a thunderstorm like we had the other day, for +instance, that looks as if they believed some in the ghost story, don't +it, Elmer?" + +"Why, I suppose it does, Chatz." + +"All right. I'm not saying anything more," remarked the Southern boy, +with a look of conviction on his dark face, "but I only hope we run +across one or more of these mysterious unknowns while we're up at +Munsey's mill." + +"Listen to that, would you, Elmer! I declare if he don't mean to +interview these fellows, and find out what they've gone and seen here in +the night time!" and Lil Artha chuckled as he said this. + +"All right," remarked Chatz. "There are a lot of things I've always +wanted to know, and I'd be a silly to let the chance slip past me." + +"Hey, how about this bally old trapdoor, Elmer?" demanded Lil Artha. + +"We'd better put it back where it belongs," replied the scout leader. + +"I reckon you're right, suh," observed Chatz. "If some one came in here, +walking in the dark, he might take a nasty header down this hole." + +"Say, supposing your ghost did that," remarked the tall scout, as he +helped lift the wooden square back to where it belonged; "why, you could +do better than asking questions of an outsider, because, Chatz, you +might interview your old ghost himself." + +The other drew himself up. + +"Kindly omit calling it _my_ ghost, if you please, suh," he said, +stiffly. "I don't pretend to have any claim on the object in +question--if there really is such a thing. I'm only wanting to know; and +I come from South Carolina, suh, not Missouri." + +Elmer, after one last glance around the kitchen, was heading for the +other room where an exit could be made. + +And it was almost ludicrous to see with what haste the other two +followed after; just as if neither of them cared to be left alone inside +the walls of the haunted mill cottage. + +Once outside, they found several of their comrades clustered near by, +evidently awaiting them. That curiosity was rapidly reaching fever heat +it was easy to see from the anxious looks cast upon those who had been +investigating the interior of the buildings. + +No doubt every fellow had meanwhile been industriously engaged in +ransacking his brain to remember all he had ever heard concerning +Munsey's mill, and the troublesome spirit that had frightened away three +separate tenants in years gone by. + +They were rather a demoralized trio of boys who welcomed the coming of +Elmer, Chatz, and Lil Artha. + +"Find any signs of Nat?" asked one. + +"Hope the plagued old ghost didn't get him," another ventured. + +"Tell us all about it, Elmer?" asked the third member of the little +bunch. + +But the scout leader instead raised the bugle to his lips and sounded +the assembly call. + +Voices were heard, and immediately the others came hurrying to the spot. +Landy was the last to arrive, and he came up puffing and blowing as +though he might have been at some little distance when he heard the +summons for gathering. + +"Listen!" said Elmer, raising his hand, and immediately the confused +chattering of many boyish tongues ceased. + +This enabled them to hear distant shouts from the southeast, as though +newcomers might be approaching the mill over about the same course as +that they had pursued. + +"Mark Cummings and the last detachment!" declared Matty. + +"Hurrah! six more good fellows to do battle with the outlaws of the +haunted mill!" exclaimed Red; at which some of the others gasped in +astonishment, and exchanged uneasy glances. + +"Better wait till they all get here, boys," said Elmer, "and then I'll +tell you what we've found out, also what we suspect." + +Chatz and Lil Artha could not but notice how particular Elmer was to use +the plural pronoun. But then, that was always his way. Whatever faults +the boy may have had--and the best of fellows comes far from being +perfect--selfishness was not one of them. Impatiently they waited for +the coming of the six scouts forming the last detachment. This would +increase their roll-call to sixteen, lacking only _one_ of the number +that had started out. + +Presently a sight of khaki uniforms among the trees announced their near +approach. + +As the two wings of the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy Scouts came together, +there was a general exchange of badinage. + +The newcomers had an intense desire to learn whether their +interpretation of the messages might excel that of the first detachment. + +But in the midst of the questioning, the startling news concerning Nat +Scott's mysterious vanishing began to circulate among the newcomers. + +This put a quietus on all business, and the entire troop clustered +around Elmer, begging to know what it could mean. + +So the scout master, understanding just how his comrades must feel, +started in to explain, as far as lay in his power. + +First of all, for the benefit of the newcomers, he told of how Nat's +disappearance was brought to his attention by Toby and Ty, just before +the coming of Matty and his group of scouts. + +Then he quickly related what he and Chatz and Lil Artha had done in the +deserted buildings close by. + +Presently the story was finished, and some of the boys, who had listened +with hearts beating much faster than their wont, took the first decent +breath in five minutes. + +Of course questions poured in on Elmer as thick as hail stones during a +summer storm. Finding it utterly impossible to answer a quarter of these +intelligently, and make any kind of progress, Elmer called for silence. + +"It stands to reason, fellows," he remarked, when the last whisper had +died away, "that we've got to have system about this thing if we expect +to do any business. Am I right?" + +"Yes, yes," came from every scout; for boys though they were, they +recognized the wisdom of what he said. + +"All right, then," Elmer went on. "I'm going to divide the troop into +three searching parties. We must scour the neighborhood and see if we +can find any sign of where these unknown men sleep, for there isn't any +trace of their staying in cottage or mill at night time." + +"We understand what you mean, Elmer. How shall we divide up?" asked +Mark. + +"You keep your detachment as it was, intact, Mark," came the reply; "and +Matty, you have your six to back you. Lil Artha, Toby, and Ty will fall +in with me, and make the third party." + +"All right, suh, we understand," called out Chatz. + +But he, as well as many others of the boys, showed in their faces that +they envied the good luck of the three fellows who had been picked out +to form Elmer's smaller group. + +"What are our duties to be?" asked Mark, who, having only recently +arrived, and being staggered by the sudden nature of the intelligence, +had as yet not fully grasped the situation. + +"First of all, let every scout who has not already done so, pick up a +stout club in the woods, as he passes along," said Elmer. + +"Like this, for instance," remarked Jack Armitage, flourishing a husky +specimen that would pass muster for an Irishman's shillalah. + +"Or this!" cried Red, whose cudgel was as long as a walking stick, and +almost as thick through as his wrist. + +"Suit yourselves about that, boys," continued the scout master, "only +don't be in a hurry to use them as weapons until you have the order. +Now, each detachment must keep close enough together so that the +members may communicate by means of patrol calls--the cry of the wolf, +the slap of a beaver's tail as he beats the water to call his mate, or +the scream of the eagle." + +"We know, Elmer; what else?" asked Matty. + +"All the while you will keep on the lookout for some sign of the enemy. +The scout who discovers anything that he thinks would have a bearing on +the solving of the puzzle must immediately summon his leader. This he +can do by the whistle which all of you know, as it has been used +before." + +"Is that all, Elmer?" asked Mark. + +"If the matter seems very important to the mind of the leader, let him +give the assembly call very loud on his whistle. Upon hearing that, +every scout is expected to give up hunting on his own account, and head +in toward the place the signal comes from. Is that plain to every +fellow?" + +A chorus of assent answered him. + +"That's all, then, fellows," Elmer went on. "Do your duty, every scout. +We've got to find our comrade, and we've got to get him out of the hands +of these men, whoever they may turn out to be." + +"If they've hurt our Nat, it's going to be a bad day for them, that's +all," blustered Red, as he pounded his club against an inoffensive +stone. + +"Now, start out, fellows, and let's see who'll be the lucky one to +discover this hidden shack where these men must stay nights," Elmer +concluded. + +"Say, hold on here! Is _that_ what you're looking for--a hidden shack? +Why, I can take you to one right now," called out a voice. + +The speaker was Landy Smith. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE AMBITION OF LANDY. + + +Every boy became suddenly stationary when this surprising intelligence +broke from the lips of the new member, who, like three others in the +troop, did not wear a khaki uniform. + +Elmer had several times let his eye fall on the stout boy, as though +trying to guess what his manner indicated. + +He had seen Landy come up last of all, panting so for breath that not +one word had he spoken while the scout master was explaining things. + +Landy was not only a tenderfoot scout, but he had in a number of ways +proven his right to the title of greenhorn. + +Imagine, then, the utter amazement of his comrades when he so coolly +declared that he might be able to lead them to a hidden shack. + +Elmer, if surprised, did not allow this fact to interfere with his plain +duty. + +"Come here, Landy," he said, and the stout new recruit hastened to do as +he was ordered. + +Of course Landy would not have been human, and a boy, had he been able +to repress the grin that forced itself upon his rosy countenance. + +Perhaps he remembered saying not so very long ago that the time might +come when he would be able to prove his ability to carry the name of a +scout. + +Of course at the time Landy could never have even dreamed the opening +would arrive so soon. That made it all the more welcome. Perhaps now, +some of the fellows who loved to tease him, and say that he was too fat +and slow-witted to ever be a shining success in the Hickory Hill troop, +would change their tune. + +Landy's hour had come. He was in the lime light, and occupied the center +of the stage. + +Mindful of the respect due his superior officer, Landy saluted as he +clicked his heels together, and stood at attention before the scout +master. + +"You say you can show us where there is a hidden shack or cabin, do you, +Number Eight?" + +Elmer frequently addressed the boys by the number they held in their +patrol, and as Landy was the last one admitted into the Wolf Patrol he +went as Number Eight. + +"Yes, sir," the tenderfoot replied, quite enjoying the fact that fifteen +pairs of eager eyes were riveted upon him right then and there. + +Landy looked redder than usual, but for all that he seemed able to +command his voice, for it did not tremble a particle. + +"You arrived later than the rest when I sounded the assembly on the +bugle," went on Elmer; "was that because you were some little distance +away?" + +"Yes, sir, I was just going to peek in through the window of that funny +little cabin I found when I heard the call. But I didn't look, sir, +because I knew _a scout's duty was to obey_!" + +"Hear, hear!" said Red, in a low voice. + +"That was well done, Number Eight," Elmer continued, "and I hope you +will always keep your duty before your mind. Do you think you could lead +us to where you saw that hidden shack?" + +"I expect I can, sir; anyhow, I'm ready to try," Landy promptly +answered. + +Several of the scouts exchanged nods and glances. Why, they had never +before dreamed that the fat boy had so much business about him. He acted +just as might one who had been a member of the troop a whole month, +instead of but a few days. + +It was plain to be seen that his becoming a scout was going to be the +making of Philander Smith. Already there was a great change in his ways. +He was throwing off his weaknesses, and beginning to think for himself. + +"All right," said Elmer; "suppose you come with me, then, Number Eight, +and try to go back over your own trail. That might be the quickest way +to get there." + +"But how about us, Mr. Scout Master; do we keep up the formation as +arranged?" asked Mark. + +"No, for the present that is all off," Elmer replied, "the whole of you +fall in behind; and don't forget to keep an eye out for your sticks. But +no talking above a whisper, remember. This may turn out to be serious +business." + +The scouts already realized this. Still his words of caution entailing +silence were well placed, for boys as a rule do love to chatter. + +And so the whole troop started off, with Elmer and Landy in the lead, +the latter hardly knowing whether to be tickled at the attention he was +receiving, or worried because he presently began to doubt his ability to +"deliver the goods." + +Strange how all sections of the woods look alike to a fellow who is a +novice in the art of picking his way. Landy had imagined that he was +just soaking in valuable information while following the lead of Matty +or Elmer. But when the crisis arose, and he found himself placed upon +his own responsibility, he lost confidence. + +Pretty soon Elmer guessed the truth, and that their guide was getting +what Lil Artha would call "wabbly." This was when he took them twice to +the same spot and then looked pained. + +"Up a stump, fellows," chuckled Larry, who had perhaps himself felt a +little twinge of jealousy because a greenhorn had so suddenly leaped +into the front when older and more experienced scouts had been unable to +score. + +But Elmer was not at all dismayed. In fact, to tell the actual truth, he +had rather expected that the new beginner might find more or less +trouble in carrying out his orders. + +"Getting mixed up some, are you, Number Eight?" he demanded, as Landy +scratched his head and then tenderly caressed quite a good-sized lump +they now saw he had on his forehead. + +"Well, I'm sorry to say, sir, I seem to be a little confused," admitted +the fat boy; "but then perhaps that ain't to be wondered at if you knew +just how hard I bumped into that crooked tree yonder." + +"With your head?" asked Elmer. + +"Yes, sir," replied Landy; "you see I was trying to hurry, when my foot +caught in a vine and I went ker-slam right against that tree. Say, but I +saw ten million stars right then! and that's no exaggeration, sir." + +"Why do you say it was this tree, Number Eight?" the young disciple of +woodcraft continued. + +"Well, it was impressed pretty forcibly on my head, and my mind, too, +sir," grinned Landy, "and perhaps, if you looked, you could find the +dent I bet I made when I struck." + +Some of the boys snickered at this. Not so Elmer, who seemed to feel he +had quite a serious proposition on his hands, and that the others had a +right to look to him to untangle the knot. + +"I'll soon find out," he said, and then turning to the crowd he added: +"keep back and give me a chance to see if Landy is right." + +"He's after the trail, that's what," said one of the scouts, as they saw +Elmer advance to where the crooked tree pointed out by the fat recruit +stood, and bend down at its base. + +Every eye remained glued on the young scout master. Not a word more was +said, for they knew that explanation of Elmer's movements must be the +right one. + +No sooner had Elmer dropped to his knees than he felt a thrill of +pleasure. + +"It's here, sure enough!" he muttered, as his eye discovered the torn +turf where Landy's toes must have dragged when he fell. + +And with the knowledge of trailing which he possessed, it must surely +prove an easy task to follow those plain tracks. Landy knew nothing at +all concerning the art of hiding a trail, and which the bearer of the +wampum belt and his companion had tried their best to put into practice +with the idea of deceiving the pathfinder who came behind. + +When Landy put his foot down it was with considerable emphasis. +Consequently, any one of the more experienced scouts would have been +equal to the task of following that trail backward. + +As Elmer moved away he made a swift, beckoning movement with his arm. +This the boys interpreted as a command or invitation to "get a move on," +as Lil Artha put it, and follow after their leader. + +So the troop moved onward, and more than one fellow's teeth came +together with a click as he grasped his cudgel tighter in his hand, and +resolved to give a good account of himself should it become necessary to +do something violent. + +True, the rules counseled peaceful victories; but there may be times +when it becomes absolutely necessary for Boy Scouts to show that they +have good red blood in their veins. + +And most of those present were of the opinion that the present occasion +promised to be just such a crisis that called for strenuous treatment. + +Their companion, Nat Scott, had mysteriously disappeared, and they had +good reason to believe that he had fallen into the hands of these +unknown men who made the vicinity of Munsey's mill their secret +headquarters. + +Why they should seize upon Nat, and what object they could have in +holding him a prisoner, were questions no one could answer, as yet. But +they meant to know, and that before long. + +Now and then some fellow would step aside without a word, and possess +himself of some attractive club that had caught his eye while passing. + +Evidently none of them had forgotten the injunction of their leader to +arm themselves. And really it was strange how much comfort even a stout +walking stick could give a fellow on an occasion of this sort, when +unseen and unknown perils hovered about them. + +Meanwhile Elmer stuck to his task. Indeed, it was an easy one for so +experienced a tracker and pathfinder, and he did not hurry along faster +simply because he wanted a little time to collect his own thoughts, and +decide what ought to be done. + +When Landy so obediently gave up his investigation, and sought to rejoin +the balance of the troop when the bugle sounded, he managed to make what +proved to be a "bee line" through the woods. Even trees that were in the +way could not stop him with impunity, as he had proven when he collided +with that crooked one. + +This made Elmer's job still easier. And as he advanced farther into the +woods he marveled first at the rashness of Landy in wandering so far +away; and second at the ability he displayed in getting safely back to +the shore of the pond. + +Elmer was keeping one eye out ahead as he moved along. Of course he +anticipated coming upon the concealed shack at any moment now. When he +saw an unusually large cluster of high bushes and undergrowth he felt +positive that he must be almost in touch with the place. + +What kind of reception might they expect? If these men, whom none of +them had as yet even seen, turned out to be rascals who were hiding from +justice, and who suspected them of being a posse sent out to round up +the tramp thieves, their manner of greeting might prove to be anything +but friendly. + +Could they have one or more fierce dogs among them? Elmer had not seen +the first trace of a dog anywhere around, but this could hardly be +accepted as positive evidence that there were none. + +Frequently such men make it a point to possess canine companions. And +these are invariably of some species fond of the spirit of battle. + +It was partly the expectation of running across such four-footed enemies +that had influenced Elmer to have the boys arm themselves with clubs. He +knew what a power for good a stout cudgel may prove under such +conditions. + +Looking closely he had to confess that he could see no sign of life +about that clump of bushes. + +And yet the trail led directly from it; and as if to sweep away his last +remaining doubt he now discovered a second series of fresh tracks +leading straight _toward_ the spot. + +Besides, here was a regular path, beaten down by many feet, and which +headed in the quarter Elmer knew the big pond lay. + +That settled it. + +Elmer waited for the balance of the troop to come up. Everyone's gaze +was fastened on him. Eyes flashed more brightly than usual, and some of +the boys naturally showed their nervousness by the way they kept their +cudgels moving. + +"Is that the place, Landy, where you saw the shack?" he demanded. + +Landy had known it was for more than a full minute past, but he +remembered that a scout on duty must wait to be asked before +volunteering any information. + +"Yes, sir," he replied, "that is the place." + +"Spread out a little, fellows," said Elmer, quietly, "and advance +slowly. Everyone be ready to give a good account of himself if they rush +any dogs on us. Forward now!" + +And silently the sixteen scouts, spread out somewhat like an open fan, +started to advance upon the strange dense thicket in which Landy had +seen a shack. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +READING THE SIGNS. + + +"Halt!" + +At the command the scouts came to a stop. They had been gradually +concentrating as they pushed forward, so that when this halt was made +they formed half a circle, and each fellow was almost touching elbows +with the next in line. + +Just before them, even though pretty well concealed by the foliage of +the bushes, they could make out what appeared to be a rough shack. + +No other name would apply, for it was clumsily built out of odds and +ends of boards, secured at the mill, no doubt, together with sods, a +heap of stones, some mud that had hardened until it resembled mortar; +and, finally, a roof thatched with straw, much after the style the boys +had seen in pictures of foreign cottages in Switzerland, France, and +Italy. + +"Say," observed Red, who found it unusually hard to keep from expressing +his views, "I don't believe there are any kiyi dogs around here, +fellows." + +"Don't seem like it," remarked another, doubtless breathing a sigh of +relief at the improved prospect. + +"Sure we'd have heard them give tongue," observed Toby, advancing boldly +to look in through the opening at the side of the shack, and which +doubtless served the purpose of a window. + +"Careful, Toby; go slow," called out Elmer; for there could be no +telling what sort of a storm the appearance of the boys in khaki might +raise within the shanty. + +An intense silence followed. Every fellow could feel his heart pounding +against his ribs like a trip hammer, and he wondered whether the sound +were loud enough to betray his nervous frame of mind to his companions, +never dreaming that they were all in the same box. + +A red squirrel in a tree overhead, that had been observing all these +doings with round-eyed wonder, began to chatter and scold. A little +striped chipmunk sat up on a neighboring stump and took note. + +"Nobody home, fellers," called out Toby, after he had apparently stared +in through that opening for more than a full minute. + +Some of the scouts looked relieved; others frowned as if disgusted. This +sort of thing might be all very well, but it did not seem to be taking +them any closer to the rescue of their comrade, or clearing up any of +the dark fog of mystery that hung like a wet blanket between themselves +and the solution. + +Elmer immediately strode forward. By following the well-defined path he +was able to find himself at what was plainly the rude door of the shack. + +Upon this he knocked sharply. There came no answer, and even the keenest +ears among the scouts failed to catch the slightest sound following this +summons. + +"Try it once more, Elmer," advised cautious Mark. + +Again the tattoo sounded, but as before it produced no results. So Elmer +opened the door, which he saw had been fashioned in the rudest way from +boards, and hung upon strap hinges. + +As he pushed the door aside, every scout held his breath and gripped his +stick expectantly. But nothing happened. No string of rough men came +bustling forth, demanding in coarse language what the boys meant by +bothering them. + +It looked as though Toby must have struck the right key when he so +confidently declared there was nobody at home. + +So Elmer entered, with some of the bolder among the scouts at his heels. +The balance contented themselves in pressing around the door and window, +and taking it out in looking. + +Just as he had expected, Elmer found the interior of the shack pretty +gloomy. Under the best of conditions very little daylight could find a +way through such small openings, and these were now almost filled by the +bodies of the curious scouts. But this was a matter easily remedied. +Elmer had his matchsafe ready in his hands, and his first act was to +strike a light. + +As soon as the match flamed up he cast one quick look around the +interior. This assured him that there were certainly no low-browed men +crouching in the corners, and ready to hurl themselves upon the young +invaders. + +The next thing Elmer did was also a very natural move. He saw a candle +in a bottle, standing on an upturned box, and stepping forward he +applied his match to the waiting wick. + +Then he looked around again. + +There could be no doubt about this shack having been recently used as +sleeping quarters by a number of men. + +Several heaps of straw told where they lay, and Elmer counted four of +these. Then there were a few bits of old clothing hanging from nails, a +pair of heavy shoes, a frying pan, a kettle in which coffee might have +been made, some broken bread, part of a ham, and some ears of corn; this +last possibly stolen from the field of some farmer. + +It looked like a tramp's paradise, but the puzzle was, what would tramps +be doing so far away from all customary sources of supply? + +Elmer sniffed the atmosphere, which was both heavy and far from +pleasant. And Lil Artha, who had pressed into the shack, hot upon the +heels of his chief, took note of his significant action. + +"I should say yes, it's rank as all get out," he remarked, holding his +nose between a finger and thumb. "Even beats that fishy smell we struck +when we looked down into the cellar at the cottage. Whew!" + +Others expressed themselves about as strongly, and little Jasper +Merriweather, who had unwisely pushed into the shack, found it necessary +to hurry out again, white of face and gasping. + +But Elmer had conceived an idea, even while suffering from the +unpleasant odor of the place. + +"Howling cats!" exclaimed Lil Artha, "I don't see how you can stand it, +Elmer. Talk to me about tramps, and the way they hate water, here's the +rank evidence of it. Wow, ain't I sorry for poor Nat if he's got to +associate with this hobo crowd for long!" + +"But how do we know they're hoboes?" asked Elmer, turning on the tall +scout. + +"Hey? What's that?" exclaimed Lil Artha, actually so surprised that he +neglected to hold that firm grip on his nose any longer. + +"What makes you so sure they're tramps?" pursued the scout master. + +"Why, goodness gracious alive, Elmer, you don't mean to say you doubt +that now?" cried the tall boy, sweeping his hand around as though to +draw attention to the various articles that seemed to stamp that theory +a positive fact. + +"Seeing these things here is what makes me question that idea very +much," began Elmer; and then he picked up one of the old shoes, to hold +it at arm's length. "Look at that, fellows; never made in this country, +and you know it. Hobnails such as no one but foreigners use on their +shoes." + +"Well, I declare; I guess Elmer's right!" exclaimed Red. + +"He certainly is, suh, take my word foh it," was the way Chatz expressed +himself. + +"Now look here, whoever saw a tramp's nest with anything like this in +it?" and Elmer picked up a string of beads, evidently a rosary, that +must have been overlooked in a hasty flight. + +"Whew, that's going some!" ejaculated Phil Dale who, with his cousin +Landy, happened to be in the shack eager to see all that went on. + +"Perhaps he can even tell us what brand of foreigners these fellows +are," remarked Landy, who was beginning to look upon Elmer pretty much +in the light of a wizard. + +"Oh, that ought to be easy, fellows," said the young scout master, as he +reached up and took down a worn letter his quick eye had noticed stuck +in a crack. + +Every eye was immediately focused on the scout master. They knew his +reasoning powers of old, and expected that Elmer would quickly put them +on the right track now. + +Indeed, hardly had the latter glanced at the well-worn letter he held +than he smiled. + +"What is it?" asked Red, impatiently. + +"Yes, tell us what you've found out, Elmer," said Lil Artha. + +"Why, look here at the name. As near as I can make out it's Giuseppi +Caroni," replied the other. + +"Wow, that is plain enough!" exclaimed Red. + +"Sure Italiano," echoed the tall scout. + +"Just as I thought," replied Elmer. + +"But you can prove it," remarked Chatz. + +"That's easy enough," added Dr. Ted, "the thtamp ought to be enough, you +thee." + +"And if it isn't, fellows, here's the postmark as plain as +anything--Naples, Italy," continued Elmer. + +"Naples, hey?" remarked Lil Artha. "Say, I was just reading about Naples +the other day, and it said that next to the island of Sicily we get more +of our Black Hand crowd from there than any other part of Garibaldi's +old land." + +A gasp seemed to go the complete rounds of all the khaki-clad warriors +who thronged that mysterious little shack. + +"Black Hand, you say, Lil Artha?" exclaimed Red. + +"Yes, and anarchists, too; the kind that blow up the kings and queens of +the Old World. The kind that abduct people so as to make their rich +relatives whack up a big ransom." + +"Oh!" + +Some of the boys looked a little timid, and glanced around +apprehensively, as though they anticipated seeing a whole bunch of +fierce-looking dynamite users rise up around them. + +Others shut their teeth together harder than ever, and these more +determined fellows, it might be noticed, tightened the grip they had +upon their sticks. + +All eyes were turned again upon Elmer, who had listened to these remarks +with an amused smile. + +"Hold on your horses, boys," he said, raising his hand just then to +still the rising dispute. + +"Shut up, everybody; Elmer's got something more to tell us," Lil Artha +cried. + +The hubbub died away, and an eagerness to listen took its place; for +every one of them was anxious to pick up points concerning the clever +way their leader figured things out. + +It was an important part of a scout's duty to learn how to read signs, +not only when following a trail, but at all times. + +And especially valuable would this qualification become when confronted +by a baffling mystery such as the Hickory Ridge troop was now up +against. + +"Those who occupied this shack were four in number," Elmer began. + +"How did you find that out?" asked Red. + +"By the various tracks. So far as I could see there were just four +separate kinds leading up to this place, and each one different." + +"Hurrah! I tell you, fellows, that's the way to learn things. Elmer +knows how to do it," cried Lil Artha. + +Without even smiling at the implied compliment Elmer went on: + +"Two of them wore shoes with hobnails just as you see on this old +cast-off shoe here. A third one had on American-made brogans, and I +expect they hurt him some, too, because he was limping as he walked. He +is undoubtedly the chap who used to own these old foreign-made +gun-boats." + +"Hold on a minute, please, Elmer," pleaded Red. + +"All right. You want to ask me something, and I think I know what it +is," remarked the other. + +"You say this fellow's new shoes hurt him, and made him limp; please +tell us how in the wide world you ever found that out?" Red continued. + +"Well, it might be possible that the fellow was always lame, but his +tracks show plainly that he limped. Something was wrong with his left +leg or foot, because the toe dug deeply into the ground." + +"Well, I declare is that dead-sure evidence, Elmer?" demanded the +astounded tenderfoot, Landy, who was listening with all his might to +these intensely interesting facts as brought out by the scout master. + +"Try it yourself sometime, Landy," remarked Elmer. "Pick out a nice +piece of ground where the marks will show plainly. Limp as naturally as +you can with the left leg. Then go back and examine the trail. You will +find that not only does the left foot dig deeper at the toe than the +right one, but that same toe drags a little over the ground as you bring +the left foot forward each time." + +"Just listen to that, will you!" remarked Red, "but I know Elmer is +right. I can grab the principle of the thing." + +"But how about the fourth one, Elmer; seems to me you've been holding +back something there, that you mean to spring on us," said Lil Artha. + +"Well, I have," remarked the other, quickly. "This fourth track was +smaller than the others, and the person also wore American-made shoes." + +"Ah, a boy, eh?" asked Red. + +The scout master shook his head. + +"Wrong that time, my boy. You'll have to guess again, I reckon," he +said. + +"Was it a woman, Elmer?" demanded Lil Artha. + +"Just what it was--an Italian woman, squatty like most of her race; and +I should say between fifty-five and sixty years of age," Elmer replied, +soberly. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SETTING A TRAP. + + +At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief. + +"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the +respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in +the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't +expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer." + +"Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, +calmly. + +"Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive +front of the other. + +"Stop and think, did you ever see any other than a short, squatty woman +among the Italian laborers? And I reckon nobody else ever did. They +carry heavy burdens on their heads, and people say that's one reason +they're always dumpy," Elmer began. + +"He's right, fellows," broke out Landy; "why, I've seen a dago woman +carrying a mattress, a stove and some chairs on her head all at the same +time. Gee, looked like a two-legged moving van:" + +"But see here, you notice a shelf with a few things on it, some hairpins +among the lot. It was built unusually low, so _she_ could reach it. And +what's this you see here, fellows? A piece of broken looking glass +fastened to the wall. Notice how low down it is? No man ever used that +glass, you can depend on it; and the woman who did was surely small, +wasn't she now?" + +"A regular sawed-off," assented Lil Artha, emphatically. + +"Elmer's sure proved his point there, fellows," declared Red Huggins, +grinning. + +"But what makes you think the woman is old, Elmer?" asked Landy, +curiously. + +"That's so; how in the wide world could you know such a thing without +ever seeing her?" demanded Toby. + +"Nothing could be easier, fellows; see here!" + +As Elmer spoke he reached out his hand and took something off the low +shelf. + +Those in the room crowded around, fairly wild to follow out the clever +deduction of their young leader. + +"Why, it's a comb," cried one. + +"Only an old broken comb," echoed another, with a shade of uncertainty +in his voice. + +"What is there about that to tell you, Elmer?" queried Red, staring +first at the article in question, and then at the smiling scout master. + +"I know," burst out Matty just then. + +"Tell us," pleaded several. + +"Yes, throw some light on the dark mystery," added Lil Artha, "because +to the untrained eye it's all as gloomy as the inside of my pocket. A +comb, and how to tell a woman's age from that! Well, I own up beat." + +"Why, it's as easy as falling off a log, or coming down in a smash when +you're first learning how to fly," Matty began. + +"Hey, don't you drag me into this thing," spoke up Toby, whose many +experiments as a new beginner in the science of aviation had usually +ended in his enjoying a disastrous tumble. + +"All you have to do is to examine the comb," Matty went on. "Then you'll +find that it holds a few long hairs, and, fellows, just see how gray +they are, will you?" + +"Well, what d'ye think of that!" burst out Red. "And I guess we're a lot +of chumps, fellows, not to have seen through it before." + +"Would a woman be among anarchists, Elmer?" demanded Toby. + +"Oh, I don't know," came the reply. "Perhaps so, though not as a usual +thing. But understand that I haven't said I agreed with you altogether, +when you gave such a hard name to these people." + +"Then you don't count 'em as Black Hand kidnapers, who expect to raise a +bully good sum by holding our pard, Nat Scott, for ransom?" demanded +Red. + +"I've seen nothing to tell me that's the way matters stand," Elmer +commenced saying, "and several things seem to say just the opposite. The +presence of the woman, and her having such an article as this precious +string of beads don't seem to go along with such a thing as a band of +rascals." + +"Yes, yes, go on, Elmer," several called out. + +"We haven't found the slightest sign of a bomb factory here, or even a +book teaching how to bring about a revolution. These things make me +believe that these three men and a woman may not be such terribly hard +cases after all." + +"But you believe they've got our chum, and are holding him a prisoner, +don't you, Elmer?" asked Matty. + +"I do believe it," Elmer went on. "In fact I know it, because if you +look back of that empty box yonder, which they use for a table, you'll +find a hat--Nat's hat, if I'm not mistaken." + +A rush was made for the box in question, and there followed a confusion +of tongues, as half a dozen fellows tried to talk at once. + +"You found a hat, didn't you?" demanded Elmer. + +"We sure did, and here she is," cried Red, holding up the article in +question. + +"It looks like a scout's regulation hat?" Elmer remarked. + +"Which nobody could deny," sang Lil Artha. + +"And as every scout present has his own hat on his head right now, it +stands to reason this couldn't belong to any of us, eh, fellows?" + +"To clinch the matter, Elmer," observed Matty, "if you look inside the +hat you'll find two little silver letters fastened there. The N. S. +stands for Nathaniel Scott." + +"Well, that point seems proved. Nat was here. Perhaps in wandering about +he struck this place. But the indications are he was captured first, and +brought to this shack." + +"But," said hasty Red, interrupting Elmer, "if you admit that these +Italians have made our pard a prisoner, how can you say they are not bad +men, thieves wanted by the officers of the law, even if not anarchists?" + +"Some things I can only guess at, without being able to explain my +conviction. But, honestly, fellows, I hardly think these people are as +bad as you make out. I know blackmail is practiced over in Italy a lot. +And that one of the favorite ways to get money is to kidnap the son or +daughter of a rich man, and demand a heavy ransom. But in this case they +would hardly pick Nat Scott for a pigeon to be plucked. His father is +only a schoolmaster. There are others here who would seem to be more +attractive bait." + +"Hear, hear!" cried Lil Artha, casting a meaning look in the direction +of Larry Billings, whose father, being a banker, was reckoned the +richest man in all Hickory Ridge. + +"But ain't we wasting a heap of time here?" asked Red, impatient as +always to be doing something. + +"That's just what I was saying to Ted here," declared Larry, whom the +meaning glance of Lil Artha had plainly rendered uneasy. + +"You may think so," remarked Elmer, "but this is a case of the more +haste the less speed. I reckon it's wise for us to make sure about the +character of these Italians before we go to chasing after them. They're +an excitable lot, you know, and we might bring on trouble that could +just as well be avoided if we went slow." + +Matty looked at his leader sharply. + +"Say, see here, Elmer," he remarked, "you know, or anyhow you've got a +pretty good hunch, who these people are?" + +"Why, yes, Italians," laughed the other. + +"Now, that ain't what I mean," Matty went on. "No dodging, but own up." + +"You're wrong there," Elmer said. "I don't know, and my suspicions so +far are founded on such slight evidence that I don't care to commit +myself before the whole of you--yet." + +"But from what you said just now," Matty continued, "you don't seem to +agree with the rest of us when we call these Italians anarchists." + +"Because there hasn't been a solitary thing to prove it. We pathfinders +must always discover some trace of the trail, or else we'd go astray. +And I've owned up that I'm more than half inclined to believe these +people are not the bad lot you'd make out." + +"But they've got our chum a prisoner," said Red. + +"Looks that way," assented Elmer, cheerfully. + +"And honest men would never do a thing like that," declared Red. + +"Oh, wouldn't they?" replied the other. "Perhaps now the shoe might be +on the other foot." + +"Eh?" + +"And perhaps these honest people might suspect that you three fellows in +uniform represented the great United States army about to surround +them, and make them prisoners because they had been occupying private +property here at Munsey's mill." + +The scouts looked at one another, astonished. Here was a theory then +which had never appealed to them before. + +"Well, I declare!" gasped Red. + +"Don't it just beat the Dutch how he gets on to all these things?" said +Lil Artha. + +"But, Elmer, why take poor Nat a prisoner, bottle him up so he couldn't +call for help, fetch him to this old shack, and finally carry him off +when they light out!" + +It was Matty who asked this question. Elmer smiled and shook his head. + +"I can figure out a lot of things," he said, "just as I can read Indian +writing; but please don't expect me to tell you what people _think_. I +only know that these Italians were surely frightened at the sudden +appearance of three fellows in khaki, and that they probably took them +for soldiers. They must have had some idea in view when they captured +Nat, and hustled him to this shack. Perhaps they only meant to hide here +until the rest of us had gone." + +"And they got more scared when you sounded that bugle, I reckon," +remarked Lil Artha. + +"Yes, and then the coming of another bunch of six scouts may have made +them believe the worst was about to happen," Elmer continued. + +"Say, I thought I heard low voices when I was just going to peep in that +window there, and the bugle called me back to duty," Landy spoke up. + +"Yes," Elmer added; "and it may be the coming of Landy just finished +their panic. After he went away they must have vamosed the ranch in a +hurry." + +"Well, all this is mighty interesting, sure," declared Red, with an +appreciative nod, "but it ain't bringing us any closer to finding our +chum Nat." + +"Yes, what's the programme, Elmer?" asked Chatz. "Do we take up the +trail right away, and try to follow these heah rascals to their new +camp? You can count on all of us, suh, to do the troop credit." + +"There may be another way," remarked Elmer, who seemed to be pondering +over the matter. + +"Tell us about it, then, please." + +"Sometimes it's the best policy to hike after an enemy as fast as you +can put. Then again, there are other times when a whole lot can be won +just by waiting for the enemy _to come to you_." + +"That's so, fellows," declared Matty; "I see what Elmer means. He thinks +that if we hid out here, we'd be able to bag the whole blooming crowd +soon." + +"Sounds all right in theory," admitted Red, "but for one I'd like to +know why Elmer believes that push will come back after a little." + +"I only feel pretty sure on one point," explained the acting scout +master. "And that concerns the woman alone." + +"Meaning, I take it, that you think they'll send her back, the cowards, +to find out whether the coast is clear," ventured Red. + +"No, they will never have to send her back, fellows," Elmer went on, +positively. + +"Won't, eh?" remarked Lil Artha. + +"I firmly believe that once we withdraw from this same old shack the +woman will steal back of her own free will." + +"To get her precious old comb, mebbe," sneered Red. + +"To recover something which I guess she values above ten thousand +combs," and Elmer as he spoke held up the string of beads forming the +rosary. + +"In her hurry to get away she must have forgotten all about this. But I +warrant you, fellows, she's discovered the loss by now. What follows? +She makes up her mind that she's just _got_ to return and find it, if so +be we haven't taken it from that nail where it was hanging when we came +in." + +"Good! You've got things down just pat, Elmer. And then what?" asked +Matty. + +"I expect to hide near by while the rest of you go noisily away. She +can't know how many came, and she'll think all have departed. Then, when +she comes in I'll make her a prisoner. Perhaps they'll be glad to +exchange Nat for their woman. Or else, if we can make her understand +that we're only toy soldiers, and mean the men no harm, she will lead us +to their hide-out." + +The scouts were listening attentively, as they always did when Elmer was +talking. He possessed such a fund of interesting information that they +knew full well they could learn many useful things by trying to grasp +the ideas he advanced. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +HOW THE TRAP WORKED. + + +"There's only one thing about it that I object to on general +principles," remarked Mark. + +"What's that?" asked Elmer. + +"You shouldn't think to stay here alone," the other went on. "Perhaps +one of the men might return with the woman--if she does come." + +"Yes, that's true; there is a chance," Elmer admitted. + +"Well, you see how you'd be up against it then," Mark went on, +earnestly. "A savage Italian woman, who might have a knife along, would +be bad enough for one fellow to handle." + +"That's so, Mark." + +"And should there be a dago man along, why, I guess you'd just have to +sit sucking your thumb and not making a move," Mark continued. + +"I reckon I would," laughed Elmer. "All of which means that you think I +ought to pick out a couple of husky fellows to keep me company." + +"That's what I'd do." + +"And that you wouldn't mind being one of the same guards, eh, Mark?" + +"I'd enjoy it all right, Elmer." + +"Well, I'm thinking that way myself now. You can hold over with me, +then. I'll want another fellow, too. Let's see," and he glanced at the +eager faces by which he was surrounded: "oh, well, Lil Artha will be the +other." + +"Oh, shucks!" grumbled Red, bitterly disappointed, because he dearly +loved action. + +"Matty," said the acting scout master. + +"On deck," replied the leader of the Beaver Patrol, saluting. + +"You might try and see how far you've gone in the art of following a +trail. I don't believe these rough fellows know the first thing about +trying to hide their tracks, so you oughtn't to have a great deal of +trouble." + +"Oh, I guess I'd be equal to the job so long as they keep down on the +low ground. But if they once start up the side of the hill, where it's +all rocky, I reckon my cake will be dough, then, Elmer." + +"Do your best, anyhow, Matty," the scout master went on; "nobody can do +more. But to tell you the truth, I believe the first chance lies here." + +"You really think, then, the woman will return?" queried Mark. + +"I am almost dead certain of it," Elmer replied. "I've been among the +Italians some in the colony they have on the outskirts of our town. And +I've studied them more or less. They seem a queer people to us, but +their religion is a big part of their lives--at least that goes with the +women part of the settlement." + +"I think you're right, Elmer," remarked George, who had not spoken up to +now; "I happen to know a little about the Italians, too, because my +father employs a lot of 'em, you see. Wouldn't be surprised one bit if +she sneaks back here to recover those beads. They mean a heap to her, +fellows." + +Everybody stared to hear George talk like that, for as a rule he was +hard to convince; which fact, as has been stated before, had caused him +to be known as "Doubting George." + +"Well, let's get busy," suggested Red, who, if he could not hold over to +assist Elmer, at least felt that the sooner he and the rest started on +the trail the better. + +"That's the stuff," added Toby, also anxious to be doing something, he +cared little what. + +"All right," remarked Elmer, "and, as a first move, suppose you fellows +begin to back out of here. Keep in a bunch outside. Mark, you and Lil +Artha watch for a chance to drop down in the bushes, and lie as quiet as +church mice till I give the signal, which will be a whistle. +Understand?" + +"Sure," replied Lil Artha, pausing in the doorway to watch Elmer hang up +the beads again on the nail where he had found them; "but why ought we +be so particular about dropping out of sight, if you don't mind telling +us?" + +"Well, it might be the woman has already returned, and is hiding +somewhere close by, waiting for the crowd to move." + +"That's so," admitted Lil Artha. + +"And of course if she even suspected that any of us hung out she +wouldn't try to enter the shack at all," Elmer pursued. + +"Then we'll have to be mighty careful, Mark, how we do the great +vanishing act," the tall scout remarked. + +"Wait till the boys happen to bunch around you, then just drop, and let +them go on. But Mark, as you will be the last one out, suppose you close +the door after you, just as if the shack were empty." + +"Are you expecting to hide behind that box, Elmer?" demanded his chum, +pointing to the affair that had evidently served as a rude table. + +"Just what I am," replied the other, promptly. + +"Oh, I see." + +And with one last look around, Mark advanced toward the exit, beyond +which the scouts could be seen talking and gesturing as Matty looked for +the trail left when the Italians fled in such haste. + +Evidently it was Mark's idea to take a good mental impression of the +interior of the shack away with him. This would prove useful in case +there arose a sudden necessity for his presence, and that of Lil Artha, +on the scene of action. + +When the last of his companions had gone, and the rough door of the +shack was swung shut, Elmer hastened to softly move the big box a +little, so that it might suit his purpose better. + +He did not imagine that this would appear suspicious in the eyes of the +woman, should she return for her rosary, because it was to be expected +that in a search of the cabin such changes were apt to take place. + +He could still hear the chatter of many voices outside, but they were +growing fainter. Evidently Matty must have found the trail he wanted, +showing where the four Italians, together with their prisoner, had left +the concealed shack. + +So, knowing the value of time in an affair like this, Elmer hastened to +crawl behind the big box. + +Anyone entering the room could not see him, nor would his crouching form +be visible from the hole in the shack wall, intended as a window. + +At the same time Elmer had so contrived things that, by making use of an +old bunch of straw which he allowed to hang over the edge of the table, +he was easily able to keep watch upon both openings, the window and the +door. + +Then he waited patiently for something to happen. + +Some minutes passed. + +Outside all seemed as quiet as a Sunday in Hickory Ridge. + +The sound of boyish voices had utterly died away, proving that Matty +must be showing considerable skill in leading his detachment along a +trail. + +Indeed, once the presence of human beings no longer acted as a +disturbing element, a little frisky red squirrel hopped up in the open +window and peeped within the shack. + +Perhaps the little chap was more or less at home there. At any rate +Elmer was pleased to see him sit up on his haunches and begin to gnaw at +a stray nut he had evidently discovered. + +To his mind the red squirrel was apt to serve in place of a vidette. +Should anyone approach the shack now the little nut-cracker would give +warning by frisking away in sudden alarm. + +So the wide-awake scout finds opportunities to make use of the most +ordinary and commonplace things to be met with in the woods. + +Everything may have a meaning, if only the scout possesses the key of +knowledge so necessary for the unlocking of the door. + +Not moving a finger Elmer simply awaited the turn of events. + +And not once did he doubt the outcome, so positive was he that his +reasoning must be correct. + +If the woman returned alone, he believed they ought to easily take her +prisoner; but, on the other hand, should one or more of the men +accompany her, he must expect the conditions to be changed, and alter +his own plans in consequence. + +Two minutes must have gone by now. + +Elmer was not simply guessing this, or, as Lil Artha would say, "making +a blind stab at it." He knew because, as he crouched there watching, he +was continually marking the flight of time by counting to himself. + +In imagination his gaze followed the swinging pendulum of the big +grandfather clock that stood in the hall of his home. + +"Tick, tick, tick!" he could see it go back and forth, each movement +marking the passing of another second of precious time. + +Ah! the squirrel had ceased to work at his nut now. He even gave signs +of sudden alarm, as though his keen little ratlike ears had caught a +foreign sound indicating the coming of a human being. + +And yet Elmer knew positively that he himself had not moved in the +slightest degree, so that the squirrel's panic could not be laid at his +door. + +"I guess something's going to happen," he thought, "unless either Mark +or Lil Artha showed themselves recklessly; and I don't believe they'd do +it." + +He continued to watch his four-footed little sentinel perched up there +in the apology for a window. + +Even as he looked the timid squirrel vanished as suddenly as it had +appeared. + +Elmer only silently chuckled, quite satisfied with the way things were +working. + +And he somehow still continued to keep his eyes glued on that hole in +the wall, as though laboring under the impression that when the Italian +woman did come she would first of all appear in that particular quarter. + +And he was right. + +Even as he looked he discovered a suspicious movement in the gap. This +was brought about by the uplifting of a human hand, upon the fingers of +which he could count at least five broad rings without settings. + +Perhaps the owner of that hand was on her knees, and in this manner +sought to rise up. + +Elmer, still looking, saw a head presently fill part of the crude +window. + +It was a woman who stared in, there could be no questioning that fact. +And so far as he could tell she seemed to be alone, for he neither saw +nor heard any sign of a second party. + +Once he knew her burning gaze was fastened upon the bunch of straw which +he had arranged so as to serve as a veil, back of which he might +continue to watch what was taking place. + +Elmer fairly held his breath, fearing that she might have discovered the +lurker, or at least entertained suspicions regarding his presence there. + +But not so. + +Her eyes, having swept back and forth until they had fairly covered the +whole interior of the dimly lighted shack, seemed to be attracted toward +one particular spot. + +This was where the string of beads hung from the nail driven into a log. + +It was the lodestone which had served to draw this woman once more into +the danger zone. + +And from that instant, if Elmer had allowed the slightest doubt to creep +into his mind before, it no longer found lodgment there. + +The woman was bound to enter in order to obtain possession of that +precious string of beads. + +Once she thrust her head and shoulders through the opening and attempted +to clutch the rosary, but the effort was useless. + +"Now she is coming!" + +Elmer whispered this to himself as he saw that the woman no longer +occupied the opening--she had undoubtedly started for the door. + +Yes, now he could see the closed door begin to quiver, as though eager +hands had started to open it. + +Elmer held his breath with eagerness, and all the while watched the +door. + +Between his strong teeth the scout master held a little German silver +whistle, such as patrol leaders usually carry for signaling purposes. + +This he expected to sound when the time was ripe, and he had every +reason to believe that his two comrades would rush into the shack the +very instant they heard the call. + +Now the door was surely opening wider. Even in her hurry the Italian +woman did not forget the need of due caution when all these enemies +seemed to be hanging around. + +Her experiences across the ocean may have made her exceedingly ill +disposed to trust anything that wore a uniform. + +Yes, the door had given way by now to admit a moving figure, and then it +was drawn shut again. + +Elmer smiled to see how closely his guess had come to the actual truth. +The Italian woman was not only squatty, and "broad of beam," as Lil +Artha would have put it, but, as Elmer had said, might be close on sixty +years of age, for she had many wrinkles, and her hair was certainly +gray. + +She left the door unfastened behind her. Elmer chuckled to himself under +his breath, for he saw that in doing this the woman had not only left a +way of speedy escape open for herself in case of necessity, but also a +free passage for the scouts when the signal whistle blew. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +RUN DOWN. + + +Straight across the floor of the shack glided the woman. + +She was making a bee line for the string of beads with the little silver +cross at the double end. + +And the hidden scout could hear the low words of musical Italian flowing +from her lips when she reached out an eager hand to seize upon the +sacred article. + +Now was his time. + +The critical moment had arrived when he must proceed to spring his trap. + +As silently as he could, then, Elmer arose to his feet. He was behind +the woman and could never bring himself to believe that he had made even +the slightest sound when rising. + +Then the only explanation left was that the woman happened to be in +front of the broken looking glass at the moment, bent on fastening the +beads about her thick neck. And if so, she must have discovered him as +he arose from behind the big box. + +At any rate she uttered a cry that to his mind was not unlike the snarl +of a wild beast. He saw the almost savage look that came over her +swarthy face, and knew that after all, such a woman was fully as much to +be feared as the stoutest ladrone. + +And so Elmer did not think it was unworthy of a true scout to send out +the call for help. + +The woman might be disposed to defy just one half-grown lad, whereas if +she believed herself to be up against the whole troop she would submit +with the best grace she could command. + +And so he blew a shrill blast that must bring both Mark and Lil Artha +dashing to the spot. + +The effect upon the woman was rather surprising. + +Perhaps Elmer might have expected seeing her cower down, seized with a +sudden overwhelming fear, but nothing of the kind occurred. + +To his surprise she snatched out a wicked-looking knife from the bosom +of her dress. It looked to Elmer like a broken kitchen knife that had +been ground down to a point. With such a blade he remembered seeing the +Italian women from the settlement just outside Hickory Ridge wandering +around in the early spring, digging dandelion plants for "greens." + +He could hear the rush of approaching footsteps even as the woman sprang +for the door with a wild look on her face. + +The other two scouts had of course caught his shrill signal, and were +hastening to join their leader. + +Undoubtedly both Mark and Lil Artha must have seen the woman, if not +while she was looking in at the window, then when she turned the corner +of the hidden shack to enter by the door. + +And hence they would surely understand that there was no man opposed to +their combined force. + +The fact of the woman being armed with so terrible a weapon as a knife, +and that look of grim determination on her dark face, alarmed Elmer. + +What if she attacked the two scouts--what if in her sudden panic she +wounded either of his chums? There could be no telling what a +fear-crazed, ignorant woman, strong as an ox, and almost as +irresponsible, might do in an emergency like this. + +Of course he would have only been too well pleased could he have shown +the woman that it was all a mistake, and that they meant her no ill. + +But with her brandishing that wicked-looking knife and leaping for the +door, there was certainly no opportunity for argument. + +Elmer sprang forward. + +His main idea was to try and knock that blade from her grasp by striking +sharply on her arm or her knuckles. + +At the same time he thought to warn the other scouts, so that they might +take due precautions when suddenly brought face to face with the Italian +woman who was running amuck. + +Perhaps when they heard him shout they would just naturally believe he +was being hard pressed. And in that case, instead of deterring them, his +cries would only further spur the others on. + +Nevertheless Elmer lifted his voice in warning: + +"Look out, boys! She's got a knife, and is coming out at you! Take care +there!" + +Just then something happened. + +The woman had not turned her head as Elmer thus gave tongue, as might a +hound on the warm trail of the fox. + +She kept straight on. The door was before her, and while she had drawn +it shut after entering, it has been mentioned before that she made no +attempt to fasten the same. + +So now, when she hurled her whole weight against the barrier it flew +outward with a jump. + +As luck would have it, the two scouts had managed to reach the door at +exactly the same time. And that second chanced to be the identical one +when the frightened foreigner crashed into the door. + +There could only be one result, and that filled with bitterness and woe +to both Lil Artha and Mark. As the uncouth door was thrown suddenly +outward, as if forced by a battering ram from within, it struck the +scouts a tremendous blow. + +They crumpled up and went over. A couple of ten-pins struck by a swiftly +hurled ball could hardly have collapsed more ingloriously than did Lil +Artha and his mate. + +Indeed, the long-legged scout seemed to perform a complete revolution in +the air, landing on his knees among the bushes. + +Two seconds later, when Elmer dashed out of the shack, this was the +astonishing spectacle he saw--the woman running away as best her bulk +allowed, casting glances that were half frightened, half triumphant, +behind her; while Mark was sitting up, rubbing a bump on his forehead +ruefully, and Lil Artha had taken out a handkerchief to dab at his +bleeding nose. + +Still, nothing short of an earthquake could ever bottle up the flow of +animal spirits that usually possessed the lanky one. + +While he applied his handkerchief until it looked particularly gory, he +was bent upon giving expression to his views. + +"Wow! and again I say, wow! What cyclone was that we ran up against, +Elmer? Did you let fly with that club of yours, or did the old shack +just take a notion to fall over on us? It felt like I was being kicked +by an army mule." + +"Same here, Elmer," lamented Mark, as he succeeded in struggling to his +feet. + +"Well, it wasn't anything like that at all," declared Elmer, hastily; +"and if you take the trouble to look yonder, before your eyes begin to +close up, you'll see what hit you, running away like a scared +hippopotamus." + +"Glory be! Was it that dago woman?" yelled Lil Artha, now on his feet +again. + +"Yes, she burst the door open when she saw me, and as you chanced to be +in the way, why, you got the benefit, that's all," Elmer remarked. + +"Don't let her get away, fellows! Come on, who's afraid? We can cover +three feet to her one. Let's make her a prisoner," shouted Lil Artha, +whose usually even temper seemed to have been decidedly ruffled by his +recent mishap. + +So the three scouts left the shack and began to rush after the fleeing +Italian woman. + +Of course she knew immediately that she was being pursued. She tried to +increase her pace, but evidently with little success. Short, dumpy +people can never hope to compete with slim, long-legged greyhounds like +Lil Artha. + +And so, almost from the start, the three scouts began to close in upon +the fleeing Italian woman. + +"Say, she's got a bloody old knife," gasped Lil Artha, as they struggled +on through the woods where the creeping vines and the underbrush, not to +mention frequent logs and occasional woodchuck holes, made running a +desperate business. + +"That's so, Elmer," piped up Mark, "I saw her shake it at us then." + +"I know it, fellows," said the scout master, "and that's what I was +shouting about, to warn you." + +"Are we gaining any, Elmer? I can't see just as well as I'd like, with +this thing up to my nose," the lanky runner asked. + +"Pulling up on her fast, my boy," came the reassuring answer. + +"And what're we goin' to do when she turns on us?" demanded Lil Artha. + +"First of all, surround her." + +"That sounds good as far as she goes. What next?" + +"We must try and knock that nasty thing out of her hand by a sharp blow +on the arm," continued Elmer, who strangely enough seemed as cool as a +cucumber, while both of his companions showed the effect of the mad +pace. + +"I tumble to it, Elmer," gasped Lil Artha, "and I'm the fellow to give +that lovely little tap. I made Red drop his stick seven times when we +were having a bout with long sticks, and which we pretended were the +old-style quarterstaves." + +Even the long-legged Lil Artha must see now that the distance separating +the pursuers from the fugitive had been greatly shortened. Another five +minutes would see them overhaul the woman, unless something not down on +the bills came to pass. + +Five minutes--why there would surely be ample time to bring this result +about, judging by the way they were covering two yards to her one. + +The woman knew it, too. + +She was becoming more and more anxious. This was shown by the way she +kept turning her head from time to time as she ran. + +Elmer knew what was apt to happen. For himself he found that he had +need of both his eyes with every step forward he took through that +tangle, where trailing vines lay in wait to trip him up, and branches +hung low as if seeking to catch in his hair, to make him another +Absalom. + +Already had Lil Artha gone down with a thud, but as he said himself, his +"dander" was aroused, and no little things like this could be allowed to +interfere with his pursuit. + +So he had hastily scrambled to his feet and followed at the heels of his +more fortunate chums, a sight calculated to excite wild laughter among +the rest of the troop, with his blood-flecked face. + +At any rate Lil Artha was game to the backbone, and Elmer often +remembered it afterward when "trying out" his scouts. + +The closer they drew to the fleeing woman the greater her fright seemed +to become. + +Whenever he saw her looking backward over her shoulder Elmer would make +pantomime gestures with his free hand. + +He was trying the best he knew how to tell her to give over this foolish +flight, and that they had no hostile intentions. + +But the chances were she interpreted these movements just the other way, +and believed he must be threatening her with all sorts of terrible +things unless she yielded herself a prisoner to their prowess. + +Well, no matter, it could hardly last more than another minute or so. Do +what she would the woman must find it utterly impossible to get away. + +Already the active mind of the young scout master was busy, weaving a +clever scheme by means of which they could surround the woman, and by +attacking her all at once, succeed in knocking the shining knife out of +her hand. + +No doubt he would have succeeded in doing the job, too, had conditions +continued to make such a move necessary. + +But they did not. + +The fickle hand of Fate came in between just in time to share in the +matter. + +It seemed to Elmer that they were constantly getting into a more tangled +mess of undergrowth. All around and ahead were traps calculated to slyly +catch unwary feet and trip them up. + +Suddenly Elmer gave vent to a low gasping cry; but while Mark +involuntarily turned his head to learn if his companion had gone lame, +to his surprise and gratification he found the other running as smoothly +and easily as ever, as though perfectly fresh. + +"The woman!" shrieked Lil Artha, who, apparently, from his position in +the rear had been enabled to see just what had happened. + +"Where--is--she?" gasped Mark, once more allowing his eyes to travel +ahead. + +For, apparently, the fleeing Italian had vanished at that instant, as +completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed her up. + +"She's down--caught her foot in a root!" cried Elmer, not slackening his +warm pace, for he wanted to make a quick job of the thing. + +Then Mark saw that some object was threshing the bushes furiously. Twice +the woman tried to rise, but on each occasion she fell back again. + +Then presently he gave a shout as he guessed the true situation. + +"She's caught fast in a vine, Elmer. Even the woods work with us! I tell +you she's a prisoner right now! All we've got to do is to tie her +hands!" + +"But look out for that dandelion knife, boys," warned Elmer, as the +three of them reached the spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE LANGUAGE OF SIGNS. + + +It happened just as the boys had expected. While turning her head so +often to see how near these persistent pursuers were, the woman had +caught her foot in a stout vine. + +She had been hurled to the ground with considerable force, but +apparently received no serious injury. When she tried to regain her +feet, however, on each occasion the clinging vine refused to release its +hold. As a consequence she went down again. + +Finally, as though realizing the uselessness of further struggling +against Fate, the woman stopped trying to get up. + +Having twisted around in some manner, she just sat there and stared at +the three boys in khaki. + +"Now she's wondering what we're going to do," said Mark, as they stood +with the woman between them. + +"Yes, she's frightened again, poor thing," remarked Elmer. "I'm afraid +it's these uniforms that have done it. She surely takes us for soldiers, +and thinks we've come here just to arrest the whole bunch." + +"I'm glad of one thing, though," said Lil Artha. + +"What might that be?" asked Elmer. + +"Looks like she must have dropped that fierce frog sticker when she +fell, because you notice she hasn't got the old knife in her claws just +now." + +"That's right," admitted Mark, cheerfully, for the fact naturally +pleased him. + +"And here it is, right at my feet," said Elmer, as he stooped and took +something from the ground. + +It was the knife which the Italian woman had flourished so recklessly. + +"My stars, what a savage-looking thing!" ejaculated Lil Artha, as he +stared at the knife. + +"Well, it does look wicked for a fact," remarked Elmer; "but after all, +I reckon she's never done anything with it but cut dandelion greens, or +else prepared fish," and he took occasion to bring the blade close to +his nose while speaking, only to make a face, as though the fishy odor +that clung to the steel might be far from pleasant. + +"Well, we've overhauled the lady; now whatever are we going to do with +her?" demanded the tall scout. + +"I wonder if she understands English?" remarked Elmer. + +"Try her and see," Mark suggested. + +The woman had been watching them keenly all this while. Her manner +suggested that she might be trying to read her fate more from their +actions than any words which they would let fall. + +Accordingly, Elmer stepped forward a pace. + +"No hurt," he said, in the gentlest tone he could muster; +"friends--boys--no soldiers." + +"She don't savvy worth a cent, Elmer," said Lil Artha, in disgust. + +"And her eyes keep following your movements with the knife, as if she +thought you meant to strike her," observed Mark. + +Elmer himself saw that this was a fact. Plainly, then, the woman could +not understand English, and in her present state of fright she seemed +incapable of reading his reassuring gestures. What he meant to be a sign +of friendliness she interpreted as a symbol of hostility. + +"Seems to me we ought first of all to get her foot free from that nasty +tangle," he remarked. + +"Sure, and I guess the only way to do it is to cut the plagued old +vine," said Lil Artha. "But I guess I hadn't ought to run the thing +down, because it served us a mighty good turn just now." + +"Step in and cut the vine, Elmer," suggested Mark. + +When, however, the young scout master had taken a step or two forward, +knife in hand, the woman's fears were once more aroused. + +She threw herself forward, struggling violently to release her trapped +foot. But the vine proved as strong as a new clothesline, and held +tenaciously. + +"Good gracious, what a silly goose!" exclaimed Lil Artha, "when all we +want to do is to set her free." + +"But you see she don't look at it that way. The poor creature thinks +we're conspiring to turn the tables on her, just because she threatened +us with this knife. Here, hold it, Mark." + +Elmer handed over the knife to his chum at a moment when he saw that the +woman's eyes were fastened upon him. + +Then he held up both his hands as he smiled reassuringly. It was the +universal "peace sign" known throughout the world. Hardly a savage tribe +in the heart of Darkest Africa but would recognize the meaning it +expressed. + +This time when he advanced the Italian woman did not struggle again. She +watched him. Curiosity was overcoming fear. Perhaps she had even begun +to realize that these dreadful soldiers did not present such a savage +front after all. + +So Elmer dropped down on his knees, at a point where he could come in +contact with her imprisoned foot, and the wiry vine that gripped it. + +A brief examination convinced him that since she had turned around +several times during her violent struggle to break away, the only means +of freeing the entrapped foot was to cut the vine. + +Of course that meant the knife again, and if he asked Mark to hand it to +him, possibly the foolish foreigner would have another fit of terror. + +So Elmer commenced to use tact again. + +First of all he commenced to work at the vine, the woman watching him +eagerly. + +"No use, pardner," remarked Lil Artha. "That thing is like steel bands, +and the old woman has managed to tie herself up handsomely. Nothing but +a knife, and a sharp one, too, will do the business." + +"I know it," replied Elmer, quietly. "I'm only pretending to try and get +her foot out just to make her understand that we want to help her. Now +just watch me, and see how I manage." + +Presently, as if despairing of success, he ceased his labor. Then he +pointed to the vine, and made several slashes across it with his +forefinger, after which he pointed to the knife Mark was holding out, +and nodded his head. + +The woman was interested. + +"Go through it all again; she's beginning to understand," said Mark, +himself deeply interested in the success of this deaf and dumb method of +communication. + +"Well, of all the stupids going, give me one of these same dagoes," +grumbled Lil Artha. "Why, you make it plain enough for a Hottentot to +grab, Elmer. But I'm beginning to hope she'll get on soon. Try her once +more, pardner. You're the boss hand at wig-wagging. Give her the high +sign, Elmer." + +Deliberately Elmer again pretended to cut the vine with his forefinger, +then shook his head and afterward pointed to the knife. + +The woman's black eyes followed each movement, and evidently she began +to grasp the idea that he did not desire the weapon so as to injure, but +to assist her. + +"Glory be!" ejaculated Lil Artha, who had been almost holding his breath +with suspense while all this pantomime business was going on, "look at +that, would you, fellows? A bright thought has managed to get a foothold +in her brain. I bet you it needed a sledge hammer to pound it in. Say, +she's beginning to smile at you, Elmer. You've won out. She believes you +mean all right. Give him the toad-sticker, Mark, and let him get to +work." + +Elmer knew that his actions would no longer be misconstrued. The Italian +woman understood. + +So he held out his hand and received the knife from Mark. The woman +moved uneasily, but the smile Elmer gave her was surely enough to disarm +any lingering suspicion she may have entertained. + +Of course it was only a small job now to cut through the obstinate vine +at a point where the greatest holding point lay. + +"There you are!" remarked Lil Artha, as the knife severed the last +strand. + +The woman got slowly to her feet. She folded her arms across her bosom +with what seemed to be an air of resignation. Yet Elmer knew that all +the while those sparkling black eyes were watching him intently. + +The woman had guessed that Elmer must be the leader of the three +strangers in uniform. Hence she looked to him for orders. + +"Well, what're we going to do with this pretty thing, now that we've got +it?" remarked Lil Artha. + +"I suppose, first of all, we ought to go back to the shack," said Elmer. + +"You mean to hold her a prisoner, I take it?" asked Mark, who had the +utmost faith in the acting scout master's ability to grasp the +situation. + +"That's about the only thing open to us," Elmer replied. "Through the +woman perhaps we can get in touch with the three men who are holding Nat +Scott a prisoner, and bring about his release." + +"I don't see how," grumbled Lil Artha. "If you had all that trouble +getting her to understand you only meant to cut the old vine, and not +her foot off, how in the dickens d'ye expect to get her to know we don't +mean to do her bunch any harm?" + +"Oh, there may be ways," smiled Elmer. + +"But you don't speak Italiano, Elmer; that's dead sure, else you'd have +used it right now to tell her you only wanted to cut the vine," Lil +Artha went on. + +"How about George?" remarked Elmer. + +"What! George Robbins?" asked the tall scout. + +"Why, yes, you remember he told us his father employs a large number of +these foreigners, and unless I'm mistaken I think I remember hearing +George say he'd been picking up quite a lot of Italian words." + +"That sounds all to the good then," declared Lil Artha, with enthusiasm. +"Bully for George! His knowledge may be the key that's going to unlock +this old padlock for us." + +"Then let's get back to the shack. Fall in around the woman. That ought +to tell her what we want her to do." + +Elmer, as he spoke, took up his position alongside the prisoner, while +Mark and the long-legged scout clapped their sticks to their right +shoulders as though parading arms. + +Then Elmer pointed backward in the direction they had just come from. + +"Go!" he said, impressively. + +Whether the prisoner understood the word, or judged from their actions +what was required, Elmer could not say. All he cared for was the fact +that when he started off she accompanied him, limping a little as though +she might have twisted her ankle somewhat in the violence of her +struggles, looking sullen rather than fearful now, and apparently +resigned to her fate, whatever that might prove to be. + +There was no difficulty about reaching the abandoned shack again. All +Elmer had to do was to follow the broad trail they had made when chasing +after the fleeing woman. + +They found no change when they presently drew up at the hidden retreat. +Nor was there any sign of the other scouts, though once Elmer thought he +did hear loud and excited voices up on the side of the mountain, as +though Matty and his detachment might have found it necessary to leave +the lowlands, and were having troubles of their own. + +"Well," remarked Lil Artha, as they arrived in front of the shack, "here +we are, all to the good, and right side up with care. The question is, +what d'ye expect to do with the signorina, now that you've got her?" + +"She must be kept a prisoner in the shanty until we can decide on our +course, and get George here," replied Elmer, so readily that the others +understood how he must have his plan of action fully mapped out in his +own mind. + +"Let's see you usher her in, then," chuckled the tall scout, just as +though he anticipated enjoying a treat when Elmer tried to "shoo" the +Italian woman into the place. + +But it proved the easiest thing possible. When Elmer took her by the arm +and pointed to the open door the woman gave him one look, shook herself +free from his grasp, and hastened to vanish within the shack. + +"Easy as falling off a log," declared Lil Artha, a shade of +disappointment in his voice, for he had anticipated more or less of a +struggle. + +Elmer quietly closed the door. + +"How are you going to fasten it?" asked Mark. + +"I wish that was the hardest nut I had to crack," laughed the scout +master. "Fortunately the door opens outwardly." + +"Unfortunately, you mean," echoed Mark, as he touched the painful lump +on his forehead. + +"I say yes to that," grinned Lil Artha, whose nose had stopped bleeding +by this time, but whose face was a sight to behold, being smeared with +all manner of strange red marks that made him resemble an Apache Indian +on the warpath. + +"As it does open outwardly, however," Elmer went on saying, with a +sympathetic smile for the woes of his chums, "it ought to be easy enough +for us to barricade the door. Look around, boys, and see if you can find +several good stout sticks about three or four feet long. Even a small +tree trunk would be about what we want." + +"And I think I know where to find one," said Lil Artha, hastening away, +"because I took a header over it when we were chasing the dago woman." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE CALL OF THE WOLF. + + +"That's the ticket, Lil Artha," said Elmer, as the tall scout returned +presently, bearing on his shoulder quite a good-sized log about five +feet in length. + +"Reckon that ought to hold all right," panted the burden bearer, as he +cast the small tree trunk at Elmer's feet. + +"Fine and dandy," commented Mark, beginning to get the barricade in +position. + +Of course the log had to be planted in such a way that it might secure a +grip on the door. This meant that it must incline at an angle of more +than forty-five degrees. + +Elmer dug a little hole, first of all, at a certain distance from the +door, after the length of the log had been tested. + +Then, with the help of his chums, he seated one end of the log firmly in +this. When the other end was allowed to slip down the face of the door +it rested about halfway. + +"No danger of that slipping loose if she tries to push out," remarked +Elmer. + +Mark gave several additional pulls downward at the upper end of the log, +to make it still firmer. + +"I'll just wager," he said, finally, "that nobody, man or woman, could +open that door now from the inside." + +"How about the window?" asked Lil Artha. + +"You might manage to crawl through that small opening, but that +broad-beamed woman, never," declared the scout master, positively. + +"Then we've got our wild bird safely caged." + +"Looks like it, for the time being, anyhow," was the way Elmer replied. + +"Say, see here, you don't seem to go very strong on the jail business. +What's on your mind now, Elmer?" and Lil Artha confronted the other as +he spoke, lifting a reproachful finger at him. + +"Well, there's many a slip between the cup and the lip, you know." + +"Oh, rats! Get down to business, Elmer. What might happen to upset our +plans?" asked the tall scout. + +"One of the men might return." + +"And of course throw down the log and liberate our prisoner. But between +you and me and the lamp-post, Elmer, I don't believe that's going to +happen. 'Cause why? Well, it's my honest belief that this Italiano +woman's got all the nerve there is in that crowd. The men are cowards." + +"I'm rather of the same opinion, Artha," remarked Elmer. "And I've +thought that same thing more than once when watching some of them in +their settlement." + +"But how about your other reason, Elmer?" asked Lil Artha. "Suppose now +the men don't come, what danger is there of her getting out? D'ye expect +she could burrow under the walls like we did once up at that old lumber +camp?" + +"Perhaps. But I was thinking of another thing. Notice how poorly this +shack is put together? Why, if that Amazon got on the rampage and just +took a notion, I believe she could bring the whole business down in +ruins about her head." + +"Wow, I guess she could, Elmer!" remarked the tall boy, nodding his +head, "just like Samson did long ago when he yanked the temple down, and +kicked the bucket himself, with all his enemies. But I don't think this +dull-witted creature's got sense enough for that; do you?" + +"Perhaps not. I hope she won't, anyhow, because I mean to leave you and +Mark here to guard our prisoner while I'm gone," said Elmer. + +"Oh, I see, you want to join the rest of the troop. Perhaps you've got a +hunch they might be needing you about now?" Lil Artha observed. + +"One thing I know, and that is they've left the low ground and gone up +the side of the mountain." + +"I guessed that myself when I heard some of the fellers callin' up +yonder. So it stands to reason they've lost the trail among the rocks," +Lil Artha went on. + +"I expect as much," Elmer said, "and you know that since the men carried +Nat Scott away with them we've just got to find them sooner or later." + +"But why d'ye suppose now they'd be so pesky mean as to climb the hill?" +demanded the tall scout. + +"Oh, perhaps they guessed it would be harder for anyone to track them up +there," Elmer answered. + +"Yes, that's so," Mark put in; "or it might be they know of some fine +cave up yonder where they can hide. You often run across caves, big and +little, on stony hills." + +Elmer seemed to agree with this suggestion, for he nodded his head after +Mark had advanced it. + +"Do you think you can manage?" he asked. + +"Well, we'd be a pretty pair of scouts, wouldn't we now, if we failed to +make good on a job like this?" scoffed Lil Artha. + +He threw his staff over his shoulder, gun fashion, and began tramping up +and down before the door of the hidden shack, just as though he were a +military sentry on duty. + +"I guess you'll do all right, Lil Artha," laughed Elmer. + +"Before you go, Elmer," said Mark, "please tell us just why you believe +these Italians haven't meant to hurt our chum Nat." + +"Well, I just seem to feel it in my bones, and that's about all I can +say," returned the other. "I'm more convinced now than ever that it's +going to turn out only a silly mistake on their part. Perhaps they've +been doing something here that's against the law, and the sight of our +uniforms threw them into a panic. They've carried Nat off with them just +so he couldn't give the alarm, and bring the rest down on 'em." + +"Counterfeiting, perhaps," suggested Mark. "Seems to me I've heard that +the Italians are pretty smart at that sort of thing." + +"Well, I don't imagine it's anything as serious as that," Elmer replied. + +"Then tell us what you _do_ think," demanded Lil Artha. + +"You _will_ force my hand, will you?" laughed Elmer. + +"It's only fair to tell us," pleaded the tall scout. + +"Well, all right, seeing that I'm more than ever convinced I'm on the +right track. Here, smell that, both of you and tell me what it reminds +you of." + +He thrust the queer, sharp-pointed knife that had been taken from the +woman into the hand of Lil Artha. + +That individual immediately raised it to his nose, took one good smell, +and made a wry face. + +"Ugh! rank fishy odor, all right!" he declared. + +"Then look back a bit, Lil Artha," Elmer continued. "Don't you remember +that in the mill and cottage we discovered a strong fishy smell when we +tried to investigate that underground place?" + +"You're right, we did," assented the tall scout; "it made me feel a bit +squeamish, too, for if there's one thing I can't stomach it's rank fish. +Ugh!" + +"I see what you're leading up to, Elmer," announced Mark, briskly, "and +I must say it looks as if there might be a whole lot of truth in it, +too." + +"These Italians are often fishermen. A cousin of mine once told me that +along the Gulf coast and around New Orleans the whole fishing industry +lies in their hands," Elmer went on. + +"Then you believe this bunch is getting fish out of Munsey mill pond, +and selling them, perhaps over in Scarsdale?" said Mark. + +"They are netting fish illegally, I imagine," Elmer answered. "That +would explain their alarm. Perhaps the game warden has been around and +threatened to have them hauled in if they didn't take warning. And ever +since that time they've been on the nervous lookout." + +"Gee, I bet you now that's what it means, fellows!" declared Lil Artha, +filled with new enthusiasm, as he grasped the startling idea advanced by +the scout master. + +"And I never saw so many big frogs as there are around here," Elmer went +on. + +"That's because even the boys keep away from the haunted mill," Mark +added. + +"You know how frogs sell in the market, and how it would pay anybody to +catch a few hundred such jumboes as there are here," Elmer remarked. + +"Well, it does take you to figure things out just, I must say," laughed +Mark. + +"He's a wizard, that's what," declared Lil Artha, whose admiration for +his leader was boundless. + +"Not at all," smiled the other; "a little common sense was all that was +needed. The strong odor of fish in that cellar put me on the track +first. You know there's an old saying to the effect that where there's +smoke there must be fire." + +"And then this knife, too--like as not the woman does all the cleaning +of the fish. I thought she reminded me of black bass or pickerel, I +wasn't sure which," Lil Artha stated, with a chuckle. + +"But we've been around more or less, Elmer," Mark put in, "and I don't +remember seeing any signs of fish cleaning, scales or anything." + +"Of course not," came the quick reply. "If these people knew they were +breaking the law, and expected the game warden to pop in on them any +day, you can just believe they'd be mighty careful to hide all traces of +this thing." + +"Perhaps they throw it all back in the pond for fish bait," suggested +the tall scout. + +"Not a bad idea," commented Elmer. + +"And the cellar under the mill cottage?" asked Mark. + +"They might use that as a cool place to keep the fish until they can get +them to market," Elmer replied. + +"That's a fact, seeing they have no ice to pack them in," Lil Artha +observed. "And the more I think of it all, the better it looks to me, +fellows." + +"Then you believe my explanation may be the true answer to our chum's +vanishing?" + +"I sure do." + +"That they came upon him by accident," Elmer went on, "and filled with a +sudden panic, just captured him to keep Nat from calling out, and +bringing the rest of us around?" + +"That's what they did," Lil Artha affirmed. "And no matter how sorry +they might be afterward because they did it, they just can't drop him +now." + +"Then, since we've agreed on that point I don't see the need of my +hanging around here any longer," Elmer observed, drawing his belt one +notch tighter, as though preparing for new labors. + +"And your orders are just the same?" Mark asked. + +"Yes, you two keep guard over the shack, and don't let the prisoner get +away, if you can prevent it." + +"Depend on us, Elmer. And say," Lil Artha remarked, "don't you think now +it would be a good thing to send George down here?" + +"That's an idea worth while," Elmer quickly replied. + +"Oh, I get 'em once in a long time," grinned the other. + +"A good scheme, and I'll send George back as soon as I can. When he +comes, take him in to see the woman. Have him try and get her to +understand that we mean her men no harm, and only want them to set our +chum free." + +"And then what? Supposing George is able to get that pounded into her +head?" asked Lil Artha. + +"Why, he must make her understand that we want to conduct an exchange of +prisoners." + +"By that, Elmer," Mark broke in, "I suppose you mean well give the woman +up if they let Nat go free?" + +"That's it," returned the leader. "And as she is the only one who knows +their new hiding place, she must lead us to them." + +"That puts me wise, all right," declared Lil Artha. "But get good old +George here as soon as you can, Elmer. I'm just crazy to see if he knows +how to tell the old woman all this." + +"That's all, boys; I'll be going now." + +But although Elmer said this he continued to stand there immovable. +Neither of his comrades thought it strange, for they, too, had caught +the same sound that had reached his ears. + +It was evidently a pretty good imitation of the howl of a wolf. + +Now, as this was the signal call of Elmer's own patrol they knew +immediately that some scout belonging to that section of the Hickory +Ridge troop must be approaching, and took this customary method of +announcing his coming. + +All eyes were accordingly turned toward that quarter from whence the +note of the wolf had seemed to come. + +This was a little up the side of the mountain. Elmer, thinking to give +the other his location, sent out an answering signal. + +"You're scaring the old woman again with your howls," remarked Lil +Artha, pointing to the shack, at the small window of which they could +see the face of the prisoner, filled with wonder and awe. + +Perhaps the Italian woman was beginning to suspect she had fallen into +the hands of a pack of crazy people. + +"There he comes!" suddenly announced Mark, pointing as he spoke. + +"Looks like Dr. Ted," remarked Lil Artha. + +"Just who it is," said Elmer. "I wish it had been George Robbins, now, +because that would have saved time. No such luck, it seems, so we'll +just have to make the best of it." + +"But what d'ye suppose Ted's coming back after?" pursued the tall scout. + +"Help," declared Mark, decisively. "You heard what Elmer said when he +turned the troop over to Matty? If they found themselves up a stump they +were to let Elmer know, just so he could swing in somehow, and pull them +out of the hole." + +"They're up against it, good and hard, bet you a cooky on it," declared +Lil Artha, as the other scout drew near. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE NEED OF A PATHFINDER. + + +As Dr. Ted approached he made the scout salute in due regulation style. + +"You're wanted above, thir," he said to the acting scout master. + +"By that I suppose you mean they've struck a snag?" questioned Elmer. + +"The rockth bothered Matty. Tho long ath they left a trail in the earth +he could follow it all right. But when it kept on athending it got +tougher and tougher. Then he lotht it altogether, and thent me to fetch +you along, thir." + +"All right, I'll go with you, Number Three. You'll be interested to know +that we've got a prisoner here in the old cabin," remarked Elmer. + +Ted glanced that way, and caught sight of the face in the window. + +"The old Italian woman, eh?" he exclaimed. + +"Sure," said Lil Artha, as proudly as though the honors of the capture +belonged exclusively to him. + +"Then she did come back for her beadth?" + +"Yes. Tell you all about it on the way, for we must be moving now, Ted," +the scout master remarked. + +"All right. I'm with you, Elmer. Come on, then," and, wheeling sharply +around, Ted started to retrace his steps. + +So Mark and his long-legged comrade were left to guard the prison of the +old Italian woman, while the other two scouts climbed the hill. + +"No uthe going over the trail we made," remarked Ted. "It wound around +and then climbth the hill. We could thee about where the cabin lay, and +I made a bee line downhill for the thame." + +As they toiled upward Elmer, keeping his promise, related all that had +happened in the neighborhood of the hidden shack. + +Ted seemed to enjoy the narrative very much indeed. He was particularly +pleased with the account of where the old woman in her panic had burst +the door open, and upset both Mark and Lil Artha. + +"I wondered what happened to our friendth," said Ted. "And if you hadn't +been in thuch a big hurry to cut out, I'd have tried fixing both the +poor fellowth up. Lil Artha lookth like a pirate chief, and ath for +Mark, you'd think hith brains might be breaking out." + +Elmer had no trouble at all in following the plain trail left by Ted +when he came down from above. His practiced eye could easily see the +marks on turf, leaf mold, or even where the other's heels with their +steel nails had scraped along a slanting rock. + +"Tell me thome more about that, pleath," said Ted, while they were still +climbing. + +Nothing loath, for he really believed he had solved the secret of the +whole business, Elmer gave him the story, from his first faint suspicion +upon looking down into the strange-smelling cellar of the mill house, up +to his detecting such a strong odor of fish about the Italian woman, and +particularly the knife she carried. + +"That'th a bully good idea, all right," said Ted, when the story was +finished. + +"Do you think it sounds fishy?" laughed Elmer. + +"Yeth and no," answered the other, immediately. "While it theemth to be +a fish yarn, yet it ith all to the good. I really believe you've gone +and figured it out, Elmer. And if that ith tho, it ith going to be +another big feather in your cap, don't you forget it." + +"We ought to be close to where you left the rest of the boys, by now," +suggested the scout master, desirous of changing the conversation, for, +strange to say, Elmer never liked to hear himself praised. + +"I reckon we are," replied Ted. "Suppothe you try your whistle, and give +'em a call." + +So the patrol leader's whistle was brought into play again. Hardly had +it sounded than there came an answer from a point not far distant. + +"There they are!" cried Ted, pointing, "I thee Red waving hith hat to +uth right now. We'll join 'em in a jiffy, if the walking ith good." + +It proved to be decent enough for the two climbers to reach the spot +where Matty and the rest of the troop awaited them. + +"I'm all in, Elmer," admitted the leader of the Beaver Patrol, as he +threw up both hands in disgust. "Just as I said, it was all hunk till I +struck the rocks, and I've been up in the air ever since." + +"Yes, Matty has even hinted that he believes those Italians must have +had wings somewhere around here, and just flown away," laughed Chatz. + +"Well, that wouldn't be so very queer," declared Toby Jones, always +thinking of things touching on aviation. "It's a bully good place to +make a start, anyway, if a feller only had the wings." + +"Yes, and a gay old place to bring up on all the rocks down there. And +how about our chum Nat; he never had any longing to soar through the +air. But tell us what's doing, Elmer," said Red, impatiently. + +"Oh, he's got lots to tell you," declared Ted, with the air of a highly +favored one who had been already taken into the great secret. + +Of course his words stirred the scouts as nothing else could have done. +They crowded around and began to beg for particulars. + +"Where's Lil Artha?" one questioned. + +"And Mark?" exclaimed another. + +"Say, Elmer, did she come back, and step into the nice little trap you +were going to get ready?" asked a third scout, with intense interest +aroused. + +When Elmer nodded his head they broke out into a rousing boyish cheer. + +"Tell us all about it, Elmer," was flung at the scout master from all +quarters. + +As this was Elmer's intention anyway he lost no time in briefly though +forcibly describing all that had taken place down below. + +"And now I want George to go down with Ted, here," Elmer went on, "and +try to engage the woman in conversation. Tell her, if you can, who and +what we are, and the reason for our coming here in uniform. Tell her we +mean them no harm, but that we want our chum set free. Do you follow me, +George?" + +"Of course I do," came the ready answer. + +"You understand Italian, and talk it some, I've been told?" Elmer went +on. + +"Oh, yes, I can really converse with some Italian men. Don't know about +a woman, though. But I'll do my best to make her see things straight." + +"I like to hear you talk that way, George," continued Elmer; "the true +scout is always ready to do his best. And I think you're going to make a +fine addition to our troop before long." + +"After I've told her, what then?" asked George, who looked pleased at +hearing these words of praise from one he respected as highly as he did +Elmer. + +"Why, you must bring her along, and rejoin us. Lil Artha and Mark will +accompany you, because all ought to be in at the finish. You understand, +don't you, George?" + +"I sure do. Come on, Ted, show me the way down to the old shack. As we +go along I'll be brushing up my Italian words so as to spring 'em on the +old lady. This way, Ted." + +"And while you're jabbering with the woman, why, perhaps now I might be +amuthing mythelf doctoring the noble woundth of our two chumth," +declared the fellow who was never so happy as when engaged in the work +of a doctor. + +Why, some of the boys often called Ted "Sawbones," because he gave +himself over, heart and soul, to his one great hobby. + +So the two of them vanished down the side of the hill. As their voices +died away among the thickets Elmer turned his attention to the task of +finding and following the trail of the Italians. + +"Show me where you saw it last, Matty," he said. + +"Here you are, then," came the reply; "that footprint is as plain as +anything." + +"So it is," remarked Elmer, after studying the mark briefly. "Our chum +made that, I'm positive." + +"Then he must have done it on purpose," said Matty, "because I've +noticed that one footprint right along." + +Elmer smiled. + +"Good for Nat," he remarked. "If he don't dare use his voice and call +out to us, he's doing everything in his power to show us the trail. +That's what he's learned of scouting tactics. I'm glad he remembered. It +shows how much a fellow can learn." + +"That's right," remarked Matty; "I see it all plain enough right now; +but d'ye know the suspicion never did break in on me that these tracks +had been made purposely, and by Nat? Why, I just had an idea one of the +bunch was a little careless, that's all." + +"Well, you'll know better after this, Matty. But stand back, and let's +see what luck I'll have, if so be you fellows haven't killed the trail +by running around." + +They watched his actions eagerly, each fellow bent on learning all he +could of the science that was already proving to be so interesting. + +First of all Elmer took a comprehensive survey of the ground above; for +everyone understood that those they were tracking must be aiming to +reach some cave or crevice farther up the slope. + +Then, having settled in his mind about where the fugitives might be +aiming for, the scout master began to look for marks on the rocks. + +For a little while he found it very hard work, indeed, but after +reaching the limits of the search maintained by Matty and those with +him, the task became considerably easier. + +And mindful of his position as acting scout master to the troop during +the temporary absence of Mr. Garrabrant, Elmer made it a point to +explain more or less as he went along. + +"See, here is where one of the men slipped on this rock, and left a new +scratch. And this shows where another broke a twig off this branch in +passing. You can see it has been freshly done, because the green leaves +do not show much sign of wilting." + +In this fashion, then, he not only intensely interested his followers, +but continued to make progress all the while. + +Most of the boys were eager to get points on such an engaging subject as +trail finding. These hung upon his every word, examined the marks to +which Elmer drew their attention, commented upon the same among +themselves, and several even went so far as to take out memorandum books +in which they hastily scribbled such notes as would enable them to +remember. + +All the while they were climbing higher, and by degrees found themselves +in a wilder section than any of them had dreamed existed so near their +home town of Hickory Ridge. + +"Looks like there might be a few caves around such a place as this," +remarked Red, as he wiped his face with the red bandana handkerchief +which he had hung cowboy fashion around his neck, with the knot at the +back. + +"Oh, that's a dead-sure thing," replied Ty, who happened to be close at +his elbow at the time. "Fact is, I've seen several myself. Anyhow, they +were dark, ugly looking holes between big rocks, and if this was a game +country I'd say they might be bear dens or the homes of wolves." + +All this sort of talk tended to key the anticipations of the boys up to +a point where they were expecting almost anything to happen. + +Elmer paid no attention to side issues. There might be a dozen likely +looking hiding places along the route, but they did not interest him an +iota so long as that faintly marked trail continued. + +He had about all he cared to do, moving from one spot where a stone had +been freshly dislodged to another point at which the moss and lichen had +been torn from a sloping rock by a foot that accidentally or purposely +slipped. + +There were possibly some little indications, which to his mind told that +they might now be drawing near the place where the panic-stricken +Italians were hiding. If so, Elmer did not confide this to his +companions, perhaps because he might not himself be so very sure, but +more probably on account of not wishing to waste more or less precious +time in explaining on what vague grounds he founded his theory. + +The trees still grew around them, springing out of spaces between the +rocks. They were more stunted than those in the great forest that +covered the richer bottom lands, but as a rule they served as a canopy +overhead, and only occasional glimpses could be obtained of the country +beyond. + +By this time some of the scouts had begun to feel the effect of the +climb, for there is nothing more fatiguing than ascending a steep hill. + +Still they proved their grit by keeping on, as if determined to stick it +out. + +Even fat Landy Smith, while actually panting for breath, and mopping his +forehead with a damp handkerchief, stubbornly declined to own himself +in the "has been" class, as Red called it. + +They were moving along what seemed to be a little plateau, at the end of +which arose a cliff seamed with numerous cracks and scars. + +Elmer had smiled when he cast a glance toward the rocky wall, just as if +he could scent the end of the trail close at hand. + +But he was already halfway across the level territory, with the scouts +scattered back of him, when without the least warning there suddenly +sounded a shot that seemed to come from somewhere ahead; and the report +gave each scout a strange chill in the region of his heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +RESCUED--CONCLUSION. + + +"Scatter, and hide!" + +It was Elmer who shouted this order. He had not heard any sound as of a +bullet passing, and did not know but that the shot had been fired simply +for the purpose of a warning. + +Still, there was no need of their taking chances. And as he gave the +command, Elmer was one of the first to seek the shelter of a near-by +rock. + +Immediately the valiant scouts scurried around, each eagerly desirous of +finding some sort of snug retreat. + +No further shots came, much to the satisfaction of the boys, and inside +of half a minute not a figure was to be seen upon the little plateau. + +It chanced that Red had selected the same rock as Elmer picked out, +behind which to crouch. + +And of course Red could not long remain silent, since his overcharged +feelings just had to find a vent. + +"Whew, this is what I call warm!" he said, puffing. + +"Do you mean the weather, or the fact that we have been under fire?" +asked Elmer, who was looking out from his end of the rock, and trying to +size the situation up. + +"Oh, well, I guess both of 'em would pass muster, all right," Red went +on. "You don't think any fellow got hurt, do you, Elmer?" + +"Not any. Fact is," continued the scout master, "I've a pretty good +hunch the shot was not fired at us, but into the air, warning us to keep +off or we might get hurt." + +"The ginnies fired it, of course, Elmer?" + +"I'm sure of that." + +"And we've cornered the bunch at last, hey? You did the trick, Elmer. +Trust you for following even half a trail blindfolded. But say, do you +know where they're holding the fort?" + +"I've got something of an idea," replied Elmer. "If you look up the face +of the cliff, Red, you'll notice a bunch of green stuff growing. I think +there must be a shelf of rock there, and perhaps a cave back of it." + +"But what makes you think that, Elmer?" + +"Because I saw the powder smoke puff out from those little bushes when +the report sounded," replied Elmer. + +"But my stars! that's all of fifty feet up. How d'ye suppose those +dagoes could get up there?" continued the one who sought information. + +"Oh, that would just as likely as not turn out to be easy enough, once +you got started. Perhaps there's some sort of path leading up the face +of the cliff, and which we just can't see from here." + +"What're we going to do, Elmer?" + +"Nothing--just now, anyway." + +"Just sit on our haunches, and wait for our birds to drop into our +hands, eh?" pursued Red. + +"Oh, perhaps we may have to fight for it in the end, but I'm hoping for +an easier wind up to the affair," Elmer continued, musingly. + +"You think the old woman may help out?" + +"I know she will, if George can only succeed in convincing her that +we're friends, not enemies." + +"Then we're waiting till they arrive?" asked Red. + +"I'm going to give the signal for retiring as soon as the boys get their +breath back," remarked the scout master. + +"Well, they might be in better places, because the sun feels scorching +to me right now," grumbled Red. + +"Then pick out your new roost, and be ready to migrate as soon as you +hear the whistle. Pass the word along, too, Red." + +Presently it was understood that when the scout master gave the signal +every fellow was expected to crawl or dart away, seeking through one way +or another to get out of the fire zone. + +"I hope George has succeeded in explaining everything to the woman by +now," remarked Red. + +"I'm sure he has, and that the whole of them are even now on the way +here to wind up this business," Elmer declared most confidently. + +When ten minutes had gone by, and he felt sure that all of the scouts +knew what they were expected to do, Elmer took out his whistle. + +Then the shrill notes sounded, cutting the air as though charged with +irresistible force. + +Immediately everybody got busy. Khaki-clad figures could be seen darting +this way and that, but none of them made any attempt to advance. This +sort of move might be expected to anger the Italians, without doing any +good, and the scouts had been warned against it. + +There came no second discharge of firearms, and from this fact it seemed +evident that the unseen enemy understood that there was nothing hostile +connected with this action on the part of the scouts. + +Again did Red and Elmer find themselves good neighbors as they arrived +at a pile of rocks, behind which they sought shelter. + +"All safe?" asked the former. + +"Yes, as far as I know," came the answer. "Landy fell all over himself, +and started to roll downhill, but one of the other fellows pulled him +up. He was limping to beat the band, but I hope it's nothing serious." + +"No danger," chuckled Red. "Landy is too well padded to suffer much from +a fall. Now do we just wait here till the others fetch the lady?" + +"That's a part of the contract," said Elmer; "so just make yourself as +comfy as you can." + +"And watch the big rock there, eh, Elmer?" + +"Oh, if you want. We would feel pretty cheap if they took a sly sneak, +and left us in the lurch." + +Elmer settled down as though he thought there was no use borrowing +trouble. And seeing their leader take things in such a matter-of-fact +way the balance of the scouts followed suit. + +Confidence thus begets confidence in others; and this in itself was one +of Elmer's reasons for acting as he did. + +The minutes passed. + +Several times did impatient Red get up on his knees to take a look down +the hill. + +"Shucks! but they're a long time coming," he mumbled. "Perhaps, after +all, the old woman was too sharp for the bunch--perhaps she's tucked 'em +away in the cabin--turning the tables on our four chums--perhaps, +now----" + +Right there Red stopped in his predictions of evil. + +"There they come," said Elmer, quietly. + +One hasty look satisfied Red that his comrade spoke only the truth. +Moving figures caught his eye just a little way down the slope. + +These presently developed into four boys, three of whom were clad in +khaki. The other, who was, of course, George, the interpreter, kept +close at the side of the Italian woman. + +Now and then she seemed to address some remark to George, which he +doubtless answered to the best of his ability. When his vocabulary +proved unequal to the task he would finish with a series of gestures +and shrugs as he had seen chattering Italians do. + +And presently they reached the spot where the balance of the scouts held +forth. + +The woman surveyed them as she came up, but Elmer noticed that she did +not seem afraid now. + +"I guess you've done the business, George," he remarked to the new +recruit. + +"Well," replied the other, with a broad grin, "that's what I think +myself, Elmer." + +"She understands now who we are, and that we haven't any intention of +doing her men any harm--you explained all that?" + +"Sure. And you can see now that instead of looking scared, she's ready +to grin if you give her any encouragement," replied George. + +"And she knows that we want her to go out with us and have a talk with +her old man, telling him what a fool he's been making of himself. She +understands all that, does she?" + +"Like a book, and is ready to do the trick. We'll have our Nat back in +short order, now," George continued, looking proud and happy because he +had been able to prove of such valuable assistance to his fellow scouts, +even before he got his uniform. + +"All right, then. The sooner we start the ball rolling the better. Come +along, George." + +Presently the two of them were escorting the Italian woman toward the +foot of the cliff. + +When two thirds of the way there an angry, excitable voice stopped +them. On looking up they could see several heads topping the sparse +vegetation that undoubtedly grew along a ledge. + +"Now, tell her to talk, George!" said Elmer. + +There was hardly any need, for the woman had broken loose on her own +account. And such chattering as followed--Lil Artha afterward declared +it reminded him of a monkey cage when one of the inmates had taken more +than his share of the dinner provided. + +But the woman did most of the talking. She also scolded, stamped her +foot, and even shook her fist up at those above. + +Evidently her arguments must have had a convincing ring about them, for +suddenly she turned to George and smiled amiably as she said something, +and made a suggestive movement of both shoulders. + +"It's all right, Elmer," declared George. + +"Are they going to do what we want?" asked the scout master, greatly +pleased. + +"Sure. And I reckon there he comes now. One of the men seems to be +helping Nat down the path that runs along the face of the rock. Bully! +We win out!" + +A loud cheer from the scouts told how they were enjoying the situation. + +Nat Scott waved his hand to them in greeting, for, having lost his hat +at the shack, he was bareheaded. + +The Italian was still a little suspicious, for he would come only two +thirds of the way down. But Nat easily made the balance, and was soon +shaking hands with everyone of his mates, just as though he had been +separated from them for a week. + +Leaving the woman to rejoin her people the scouts made their way down +the side of the mountain until they reached the mill pond. + +Nat's story was brief, and just about what Elmer had guessed. In +prowling around he had unexpectedly come upon the three men. + +They had seized upon him and threatened him with their knives if he so +much as gave a yell. He had been kept for a short time in the shack. +Then Landy's prowling around seemed to fill the Italians with a new +alarm, and the three men, together with the woman, had hastily fled. + +On the way up the mountain the woman had discovered the loss of +something, and gone back. + +Then the men forced him to hurry along, and finally landed him on that +secret ledge where he believed there was some sort of cave. + +That was all Nat knew, and the whole thing smacked strongly of mystery +until he heard what Elmer's theory was. + +"Anyhow," Nat said, with considerable satisfaction in his voice and +manner, "they didn't scare me one little bit. And besides, Elmer, in +lots of places I went and made plain marks that I just knew you could +read any old time." + +"That stamps you a true-blue scout, Nat," declared Elmer, "and I think +the troop has reason to be proud of you." + +"Three cheers for Comrade Nat Scott," suggested impulsive Red; and they +were given with such a vim that many of the big bullfrogs along the +farther bank jumped into the mill pond in great alarm. + +As their main object had been carried out while on the way to the +haunted mill, and there was no further reason for lingering after they +had eaten the "snack" carried along for this purpose, the Hickory Ridge +troop of scouts took up the homeward march. + +After talking it all over among themselves it was decided that their +duty compelled them to give the game and fish warden a hint as to what +was probably going on up at Munsey's mill. + +He went there with a deputy two days later, but the Italians had taken +warning and fled. However, the warden found and destroyed several nets +with which the fish poachers had been illegally gathering the finny +prizes in the long-deserted pond. + +There was one disappointed scout in the troop however, and this was +Chatz Maxfield. + +He always would feel as though he had missed the opportunity of his life +in spending some time at a haunted mill which was supposed to support a +good lively ghost, and never once chancing to come upon the hobgoblin. + +However, Chatz would continue to live in hope. + +At any rate, everyone was positive that he had learned a host of +valuable things calculated to make him take higher rank as a woodsman, +and a true scout. And no doubt in the annals of the Hickory Ridge Boy +Scouts that little hike to Munsey's mill would always be read and +re-read with the keenest interest, and take rank with the greatest of +their achievements. + + +THE END. + + + + +ADDENDA + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE + + + + BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE + HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES. + + + Wild Animals of the United States } + Tracking } in Number I. + + THE CAMPFIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL. + + + Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + + WOODCRAFT, OR HOW A PATROL LEADER MADE GOOD. + + + Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + + PATHFINDER, OR THE MISSING TENDERFOOT. + + + Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + + FAST NINE, OR A CHALLENGE FROM FAIRFIELD. + + + Insects of the United States in Number V. + + GREAT HIKE, OR THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP. + + + Birds of the United States in Number VI. + + ENDURANCE TEST, OR HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY. + + + +THE REPTILES OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +The reptiles are a class of vertebrate animals. By vertebrate animals is +meant those having a backbone. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals having +scaly skins, and breathing by lungs and not by gills as do the fish. +Strange as it may seem they are related to the birds. In prehistoric +times they were of enormous size and many of them were capable of +flying. Fossil forms of reptiles are very numerous and scientists have +given these fossil forms such sonorous names as Dinosaurs, Ichthyosaurs, +Plesiosaurs and Pterosaurs. These names are made up of Greek words +meaning terrible lizards, fish lizards, near lizards and winged lizards. + +The class of reptiles is made up of five orders: + + Sphenodons; + Lacertilia; + Ophidia; + Chelonia; + Crocodilia. + +Of the Sphenodons, there is but one living representative. Its home is +in New Zealand. Zoologists tell us that this reptile is more closely +related to its fossil cousins than any other now in existence. Since we +are considering only those reptiles which an American boy may find +living in their natural haunts in his home land, discussion of the +Sphenodon is out of place in this article. We recommend, however, that +you read up about this curious creature that links the gigantic +prehistoric lizards with the little creatures of to-day's world. + +[Illustration: PTEROSAURS.] + + + + +THE LIZARDS + + + + +THE LACERTILIA OR LIZARDS. + + + [Illustration: LIZARDS. + 1. ZEBRA-TAILED LIZARD. + 2. PACIFIC SWIFT. + 3. COLLARED LIZARD. + 4. WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT. + 5. COMMON SWIFT OR FENCE LIZARD.] + +Lizards differ from snakes in that the right and left halves of the +lower jaw are joined together by bone instead of elastic ligament and in +that they have legs and eyelids. They are found in the warmer climates. +Most of them live on insects, but some types as, for instance, the +Iguanas, live entirely on vegetable matter, while others prey on birds, +mice, frogs, etc. + + +THE GECKOS. + +The Geckos form a large sub-order of lizards. Their chief characteristic +is their adhesive toes, which enable them to cling to and run on +smoothest surfaces even when upside down. They do not like the hot +sunlight and largely feed at twilight and at night. The Reef Gecko is +found in Florida; the Warty Gecko, so called on account of the rows of +large wart-like scales on its back and sides, inhabits Lower California; +the Cape Gecko, Lower California; the Banded Gecko, Texas, New Mexico, +Arizona and California. The latter is the most gaudily marked of the +Geckos found in the United States and is likewise the most abundant. It +may be seen at dusk coming out of rock crevices to feed on small +insects. Many consider this lizard poisonous and its saliva is supposed +to produce painful skin eruptions. Authorities, however, tell us that +this is not so. The first three Geckos mentioned live largely in trees, +but the Banded Gecko lives on or near the ground. + + +THE CHAMELEONS. + +The American Chameleons are not true chameleons, but belong to the same +family as the Iguana. They have come to be known as Chameleons because, +like the rightful owners of that name, they change the color of their +bodies. This change is occasioned by the differences of temperature and +light. One species is found in the United States and is known under +various names, such as the green lizard, the fence lizard and the +alligator lizard. It is called alligator lizard from its resemblance to +a young alligator. This lizard is found in the southeastern United +States from North Carolina to Florida. The common colors of the American +Chameleon or the Anolis, which is its scientific name, are brown and +green. These colors vary with conditions. When asleep, for instance, +this little reptile is green above and white below, and when fighting or +frightened it becomes green; at other times it is brown. Raymond L. +Ditmars, Curator of Reptiles in the New York Zoological Park, says that +in collecting these lizards and placing them in wire-covered boxes, he +has "always noted their change from various hues, prior to capture, to a +scrambling collection of several dozen emerald-green lizards. If the +gauze cage be laid down for half an hour or so while the collector +rests, the lizards soon take on a brownish tinge, but as soon as the box +is again carried about and the occupants are shaken up and frightened, +the brilliant color appears among them all." He further says that "there +is no relation or influence between the lizard's colors and its +surroundings. The change of color is brought about principally through +temperature and light and their influences on the creature's activity; +also by anger, fear and sleep." + +The Anolis stalks its prey like a cat does a mouse. It crouches and +creeps forward for the final spring with motions that are exactly +similar. It lives in trees and feeds upon insects. These little +creatures make interesting pets and will soon learn to take their food +from your hand. The proper quarters for it is a wire-covered fernery +which should be placed in a warm but moist situation and the foliage +daily sprinkled with water. The Anolis is a great water drinker and will +find the drops adhering to the leaves of the plants. + + +THE IGUANAS. + +There are but few species of Iguanas found in the United States and +these only in the southwestern part. They are large in size and have a +crest of spiny scales running along the neck and back. They use their +tails as weapons of offense and defense. The Cape Iguana is a species +found only in Lower California. The tail is ringed with large spines. +The Black Iguana is found in southern Arizona. It is a great fighter +when at bay and is then no mean antagonist. It does not invite a fight, +however, but will run if there is any chance of escape. Both of these +Iguanas reach about four feet in length. They have large appetites and +eat both animal and vegetable matter--birds, small animals and tender +vegetation. In central and southern America their flesh is prized as a +food and it is said to have the flavor of chicken. They live part of the +time in trees and part of the time on the ground. The Desert Iguana, +however, is terrestrial. It is found in the desert parts of the +southwestern United States--in Colorado, California, Arizona and Nevada. +It is largely vegetarian. The tail is brittle, and to free itself when +held by it, this creature will easily and readily snap it off. + +[Illustration: IGUANA.] + + +THE CHUCKAWALLA. + +There is only one of these that is fairly common in the United States +and that is found in the deserts of the southwest. It is the largest +lizard found there except the Gila Monster which will be described +later. The body of the Chuckawalla is broad and the legs short. Its +length averages about a foot. It lives mostly among the rocks of the +deserts. + + +THE COLLARED LIZARD. + +This lizard is so called on account of the markings of the neck, which +have the appearance of a double black collar. The throat is an orange +color. It is one of the most gayly colored of the small lizards. It is +quite common in the dry and stony parts of the western states and in +western Texas is very abundant. It is a great eater and is not afraid to +fight for its dinner. One peculiarity of this lizard is its ability to +run on its hind legs. It will gulp and bolt food as large as itself. + + +THE LEOPARD LIZARD. + +In color it is yellow, spotted with dark spots and lined across the back +with dull red lines. Its habitat includes Oregon, California, Nevada, +Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. + + +THE ZEBRA-TAILED LIZARDS. + +These are small ground lizards found from Texas to California, +especially in the dry sections. They run with great rapidity with the +tail curved upward, which exposes the markings of the lower surface. +Frequently they run like the Collared Lizard, on the hind feet. The +black-and-white tail markings account for their name. + + +THE SPOTTED LIZARDS. + +These are small ground lizards found in many states from Kansas to +California and southward. They are very quick in their movements. Their +food consists of insects of the more sluggish type. They do not stalk +their prey like the chameleons. + + +THE SWIFTS. + +There are a great many species of these small lizards in the United +States. They live on the ground among rocks in dry places and are called +swifts on account of the speed with which they are able to get over the +ground. Some of them are covered with spiny scales. Clark's Swift is +abundant in certain parts of the country. It is found in California, +Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah. It is fond of the strongest sunlight. +The Yellow Striped Swift is found from Texas to Nebraska on the north, +into Mexico on the south and California on the west. + +The Common Swift is found abundantly both in the eastern and in the +western United States. They like dry, sandy places among fallen trees, +fences, old wood, etc. In color they are gray and are usually in harmony +with their surroundings. + +The Collared Swift lives among rocks in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. +It has a black collar with very sharp spiny scales. + + +THE HORNED LIZARD. + +These lizards are commonly called Horned Toads, because of their +resemblance in the shape of their bodies to that of a toad and of their +spiny scales which have the appearance of small horns. Their habitat is +in the hottest and driest parts of the country. They are fond of the +hottest sunlight and bury themselves in sand at the approach of evening. + +The Regal Horned Lizard is found in Arizona and Colorado. + +The California Horned Lizard is found abundantly in sections of +California. + +[Illustration: HORNED TOAD.] + + +THE SNAKE-LIKE LIZARDS. + +These lizards have elongated bodies with either small limbs or no +external evidence of such. Some cannot be easily distinguished from +snakes. On close examination it will be seen that there is a ridge along +each side of the body. + +The Keeled Lizard has a habit of keeping its tongue protruded and will +wipe its lips with it after feeding. Its tail is easily separated from +its body and when so separated, the broken off portion wriggles +violently. New tails grow on. It is found in California, Oregon, +Washington and eastward from California to Texas. + +The "Glass-Snake" has no limbs and to the eye of anyone but a naturalist +would easily be mistaken for a snake. What distinguishes it from a snake +is the presence of eyelids and ear holes. It occurs in many localities. +It is common from the Carolinas to Florida and as far north as Illinois. +Like the Keeled Lizard it has the ability to shed a very lively, +wriggling tail. It feeds on worms and slugs that it finds by burrowing +and will occasionally break and eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds. + + +THE BEADED LIZARDS. + +This is a family of large lizards whose bodies look as if covered with +beads. They are held to be poisonous by well-known authorities and are +the only poisonous lizards found in the states. + +The Gila Monster (pronounced Hee-la) has a thick body with short limbs +and a short tail. In color it is pink and black. Its length is about a +foot and a half. It is found in New Mexico and Arizona and is named +after the river Gila, the valley of which it inhabits. The creature will +defend itself viciously and will hold on tenaciously with its strong +jaws. The eggs are buried in the sand. + + +XANTHUS LIZARDS. + +Small lizards that are found where the tree yuccas grow. + + +THE RACE RUNNERS. + +These are easily distinguished by the yellow stripes on their bodies. +They are to be found in the dry, sandy portions of the western states, +burrowing in the sand and when pursued taking refuge in these burrows. + + +THE WORM LIZARDS. + +These are a low grade of lizards that live underground like worms. The +Worm Lizard, found in Florida, is scarcely any larger around than an +earthworm. It is able to move backward or forward in the earth, the end +of the tail being shaped similar to the head. + + +THE SKINKS. + +This is a large family. They are burrowing lizards. The Red Headed +Lizard is widely distributed throughout the United States. It is very +timid and extremely difficult to capture. Its color changes with its +age. The Black Banded Skink is found in the central portions of the +United States. The Florida Skink in southern Florida. The Black Skink +from Pennsylvania southward to Texas. + +Here we reach the end of the order of reptiles known as lizards; the +next order is that of the snakes. + + + + +THE SNAKES + + + + +THE OPHIDIA OR SNAKES. + + +Snakes are closely related to lizards. Some lizards, as you have already +seen, are very much like snakes in form. The main distinguishing +features of the snake are the elastic tissue which connects the two +halves of the lower jaw and the absence of eyelids. Snakes are +carnivorous and are capable of moving with great ease and swiftness +notwithstanding their lack of limbs. They cast their skins several times +a year. Many of the snakes are poisonous, and authorities tell us that +there is no external characteristic that indicates which are poisonous +and which are not. + + +THE BLIND SNAKES. + +This is a low form of snake. They are worm-like and burrowing. The Texas +Blind Snake is found in Texas and New Mexico. The California Blind Snake +in California and Mexico. + + +THE BOAS. + +The most common member of this family that comes within the range of +this article is a snake that is found in the Pacific states and eastward +as far as Nevada. It is over a foot in length and about half an inch in +diameter. Various names have been given to it; in certain sections it is +called the Rubber Boa, in others the Silver Snake, Two-headed Snake, +Worm Snake. The name Two-headed Snake is given it evidently on account +of the stubby appearance of the tail end. + + +THE RIBBON SNAKES. + +These snakes have a yellow stripe along the back and the sides. They are +long, slim snakes; specimens have been seen that measured nearly three +feet long, although the average length is about two feet. It is found +east of the Mississippi, but is not common. It frequents the banks of +water to feed on young frogs and so forth. They swim well and are at +home in the water. In the Western Ribbon Snake the back stripe is darker +than those on the side, or in some instances a different color. + + +THE GARTER SNAKES. + +These are found all over the United States and are perfectly harmless. +They are abundant. Burrowing in the ground in the late fall they remain +there all winter. Even the boy living in the large cities may, without +going out of the city limits, find these snakes. They are quite commonly +found in large public parks. They like frogs and toads and bolt their +food. There are many varieties of this snake. Both the Ribbon Snakes and +the Garter Snakes belong to the genus Eutænia, which is the most +numerous of those of the United States. They are all striped snakes and +are very much like the water snakes in structure. There is no easily +distinguished characteristic that would enable a boy, at a glance, to +tell a Garter Snake. They vary widely in color and marking. + + +THE WATER SNAKES. + +Here is another genus of snakes that is found commonly in many sections +of our country. They frequent the vicinity of water and swim with ease, +feeding on frogs, toads, fish. The Queen Snake is found generally east +of the Mississippi Valley. It is brown above and has yellow stripes on +the side. The Banded Water Snake is the water snake which is commonly +found in the southern part of the United States east of Texas. It +closely resembles the Moccasin, a poisonous snake, and is often mistaken +for it. It attains an average length of over a yard. When alarmed, like +all the water snakes, it takes to the water for refuge. This genus never +preys on birds or mice. It is one of the most common of the southern +snakes. The Red-bellied Water Snake is found in the east, but not north +of Virginia. The Common Water Snake is the northern representative of +this genus. These snakes are popularly known as "Moccasins." The Diamond +Back Water Snake is common along the lower Mississippi states. They +average four feet in length. May be seen on low branches overhanging +water. The Green Water Snake is similar in habit to the Diamond Back +and is found in the Gulf and the Mississippi Valley states. One +peculiarity of the water snakes is their love of their home. They pick +out a particular sunning place and will return to it regularly. + +[Illustration: WATER SNAKE.] + + +THE GROUND SNAKE OR BROWN SNAKE. + +This is a common snake, found all over the United States east of the +Rocky Mountains. It is small in size, about a foot long and slender, and +hides under stones, where it probably feeds on the worms and forms of +insect life that live in such places. + + +THE RACERS. + +The serpents of this type are very active and nervous. The Gopher Snake, +or Indigo Snake, is one of the largest found in the United States. It +has been known to measure over eight feet in length. It is found from +Texas eastward in the Gulf states. Its scales have a polished appearance +and are blue black in color. It may be seen in sandy stretches. When +feeding it holds its prey down with part of its body. It is not +particular as to its diet and will eat birds with the same relish as +cold-blooded frogs and toads. In the Central and South American +countries this snake is highly valued as a "ratter" and frequents human +habitations without fear. The Black Snake is abundant in the United +States. It has a bad reputation. It is said to be a fearless fighter, +not afraid to attack man even, and to be able to "charm" its prey within +its reach. These attributes are popular beliefs without any basis of +fact. It is fond of small birds and field mice and is what may be called +a meadow snake. When frightened it speeds away at an incredible rate. +The Coachwhip Snake, found in the southeast, is even more agile than the +Black Snake, and like that serpent, will eat smaller snakes. It gets its +name from its slender structure and similarity of the appearance of its +scale distribution to a plaited whip. The Striped Racer of the +southwestern states is very long and slender. + + +THE RAT SNAKES OR COLUBERS. + +These are large, strong snakes that squeeze and crush their prey by +coiling themselves around it. They are useful to the farmer, as they +inhabit grainfields and prey on the rats and mice. An easy way to tell +these snakes is by their flat belly. The Fox Snake is quite common in +the Central states. It averages about four feet long. It derives its +name from an odor which it is able to eject, which smells not unlike +that of the fox. Often it will kill and eat animals as large as rabbits. +It deposits its eggs in some natural hollow and leaves them there to +hatch. A snake that is abundant in the southeastern states is known by +the various names of Corn Snake, Red Chicken Snake, Mouse Snake, Scarlet +Racer and Red Coluber. It is red, black and white. It is not as much of +a climber as the Racers are, nor is it as agile; but it is braver and +will fight when cornered. It is frequently found in cornfields, hence +its name. The Pilot Black Snake or Mountain Black Snake is often taken +for the Common Black Snake. Its head is larger and it is spotted with +white. It is a snake frequently found in the same locations as the +rattlesnake and copperhead. The Chicken Snake is fond of eggs and young +chickens. Like the Fox Snake it will emit an unpleasant odor when +caught. + + +THE BULL SNAKES. + +The Pine or Bull Snake is one of the largest snakes found in the east. +It is found in the sandy pine woods of the coast. When disturbed it is +vicious in appearance, hisses loudly and strikes vigorously. It feeds on +small animals and birds. It is also called the Gopher Snake. "The Yellow +Gopher" Snake is found in the middle and western states. + + +THE GREEN SNAKES. + +The Green Whip Snake or Magnolia Snake is green above, yellow below. It +feeds on insects and is a good climber. In color it so perfectly +matches the leaves and grass that detection is difficult. The "Grass +Snake" is a common snake of the northeastern states. + + +THE RING-NECKED SNAKES. + +The eastern Ring-necked Snake is found in the eastern portion of the +United States. It has a yellow ring about the neck. This snake is not +given to venturing abroad, but prefers to lie under stones and the loose +bark of trees. + + +THE KING SNAKES. + +These snakes are remarkable for their colors. They are banded around +their bodies with rings of bright colors. They will eat rats and mice +and other snakes. The Milk Snake or "Checkered Adder" is popularly +supposed to be fond of milk. Scientists tell us that this is a fallacy. +It feeds on mice, rats, other snakes and lizards. The Red Milk Snake is +prettily colored--red and yellow--and is the type found in the south. +All the King Snakes have pronounced patterns. More than in any other +genus is the habit of feeding on its kind developed--attacking, and +usually successfully, snakes larger than themselves. It is from this +characteristic that they derive their name. It is bitten by the +poisonous snakes which it attacks but without effect; the King Snake +tightens its grip until its adversary is lifeless. + + +THE RAINBOW SNAKES. + +These are sometimes called the mud snakes, from the fact that they are +abundant in swamps. They burrow in the mud. The Red-bellied Snake is +also called the Rainbow Snake, Mud Snake, Horn Snake and Hoop Snake. + + +THE HOG-NOSED SNAKES. + +These snakes are fighters. The peculiar formation of the mouth makes +them easily distinguishable. They hiss when disturbed and flatten their +heads and necks. They are popularly known as "adders" and "vipers." They +are found in dry and sandy situations. + +The common Hog-nosed Snake is found in dry, sandy locations practically +all through the United States except on the Pacific slope. It has the +peculiar habit of feigning death when cornered. Before it tries these +tactics it will make a terrific show of ferocity. It is capable of +flattening its head and neck in a formidable manner and while assuming +this attitude it hisses sharply. If this show does not scare away its +enemy it will suddenly be seized with a spasm, ending by turning on its +back, limp and apparently lifeless. When it thinks danger is past it +recovers its normal position and quickly gets away. This snake is known +popularly as the "Flat-headed Adder," the "Puff Adder," "Viper" and +"Blow Snake." + + +THE HARLEQUIN OR CORAL SNAKE. + +Is a strikingly marked serpent. Its colors are scarlet, black and +yellow. This snake is found in the southeastern and central United +States. It is a near relative to the deadly Cobra-de-Capello and is +itself poisonous. A burrowing reptile. + + +THE MOCCASINS. + +These snakes are highly poisonous. The Water Moccasin is one of the +largest venomous snakes found in the United States. Some have been +caught that measured four feet in length and almost two and a half +inches around. Certain kinds of harmless water snakes are popularly +supposed to be and are called "moccasins." Unless you have a very close +knowledge of which is which, you should be careful how near you approach +them. The Water Moccasin is found quite abundantly in the east from the +Carolinas southward and along the Mississippi states as far north as +Illinois. It likes swamps and is found abundantly in many southern +swampy sections. This snake is often known as the "Cotton Mouth" Snake. +It is vicious and pugnacious and will fight snakes of any size. The +prey of this serpent consists of birds, frogs, other snakes, fish and +small animals. The Copperhead derives its name from the copperish tint +on its head. It is not as large a snake as the Water Moccasin, nor does +it like the swamps. It frequents rocky locations that are thickly +wooded. It has a peculiar habit of backing away from danger by looping +its body and then drawing it straight again. + +[Illustration: THE MOCCASIN.] + + +THE RATTLESNAKES. + +The rattlesnake is the most interesting as well as the most deadly of +the North American serpents. Its chief distinguishing characteristic is +the rattle at the end of tail. Curator Ditmars, of the New York +Zoological Park, says that although he has "studied living examples of +many species of deadly snakes--the South American bushmaster and the +fer-de-lance, the African puff adder and the berg adder, and such East +Indian species as the king cobra, the spectacled cobra and Russell's +viper, and although there is indelibly stamped upon his mind the bloated +body, the glassy stare and the rhythmic hissing of the berg adder, the +rearing, uncanny pose of an infuriated cobra--there is one image vivid +above all, the rattlesnake. Thrown into a gracefully symmetrical coil, +the body inflated, the neck arched in an oblique bow in support of the +heart-shaped head, the slowly waving tongue with spread and tremulous +tips, and above all, the incessant, monotonous whir of the rattle. One +stroke--a flash--of that flat head would inject a virus bringing speedy +death." + +[Illustration: RATTLESNAKE.] + +The rattlesnake always warns its enemy of its presence by its rattle. +Were it not for this habit there would probably be many more deaths from +the bites of this snake. The snake does not add a new ring to its rattle +each year, as it is popularly supposed to do. The Massasauga is one of +the smaller rattlesnakes, averaging about two feet in length. It +inhabits swampy places. The Timber Rattlesnake is found from Vermont to +Florida and west to Kansas. It is abundant in the mountains of New York, +Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In the spring and fall the snakes +congregate on ledges of rocks; such places are called "rattlesnake +dens." They spend the winter in crevices in these rocky places. The +Timber Rattler is more timid than many of its cousins, preferring +flight to combat, but if cornered will fight as fiercely. It feeds on +birds and small animals. The largest rattlesnake is the Diamond-back. +Specimens have been caught that measured over six feet long and four +inches around. This snake is one of the most deadly in the world. It is +found most abundantly in Florida. It is never known to strike uncoiled +and rarely retreats from danger. The food of this snake seems to consist +mostly of small animals. It takes but a minute for the poison from the +Diamond-back's fangs to kill a rabbit. + + + + +THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES + + + + +THE CHELONIA OR TURTLES AND TORTOISES. + + +Turtles and tortoises belong to the order known as Chelonia. There are +Fresh-water Turtles, Sea Turtles and Land Turtles. + + +THE SEA TURTLES. + +These turtles are often carried by storm far north of their customary +habitat, which is in the warmer waters of the southeastern coast. The +Leatherback, or Trunk Turtle, is the largest of the sea turtles, +sometimes reaching a weight of half a ton. It is not found in abundance. +The Loggerhead Turtle has a very large head. Its eggs are buried in the +sand about May or June and the young turtles hatch out in about two +months' time. The Green Turtle often strays into northern waters. The +flesh of this turtle is prized by epicures. It will die if not placed on +its back, the under shell being pressed by the weight of the upper shell +against its lungs, causing suffocation. The Hawksbill Turtle is +distinguished by the hawk-like appearance of its head. It is the +smallest of the sea turtles and the one from which is obtained the +sought-after tortoise shells. + +[Illustration: SEA TURTLE.] + + +THE SNAPPING TURTLES. + +These are the largest of the fresh-water turtles. Like the snakes they +strike at their prey or their enemy, and their sharp mandibles make them +a formidable antagonist. They will pull down their prey under the water +where they always feed. The Alligator Snapping Turtle is found in the +Gulf states. A peculiarity of this reptile is the fleshy filament, +grub-like in appearance, which it has in its mouth and which acts as a +bait, attracting fish within the reach of its powerful jaws. + + +THE MUD TURTLES. + +The Musk Turtle is a common type of the Mud Turtle and is found in +abundance in the muddy streams of the eastern, part of the United +States. It will often be taken on a fish hook. It derives its name from +the odor it gives forth. Seldom is it found out of the water. It snaps +when taken in a way which rivals the Snapping Turtle. The common Mud +Turtle is not as abundant as the Musk turtle to which it is similar in +habit, crawling along the muddy bottoms of ponds and rivers. The under +shell of the Mud Turtles is much broader than that of the Musk turtles. +The Banded Mud Turtle, found in Georgia and Florida, has three yellow +stripes or "bands" on its shell. The Yellow-necked Mud Turtle gets its +name from its bright yellow neck. + + +THE TERRAPINS. + +The Painted Terrapin or Pond Turtle is brightly colored. The under shell +is yellow and the upper shell is bordered with mottled red. It is found +in the eastern United States. You may frequently see it taking a sunning +on a partially submerged log, diving into the water upon your approach. +It feeds on insects, small fishes and water weeds. In your aquarium it +will eat small pieces of beef, fish, worms or tender greens. The Chicken +Turtle or Long-necked Terrapin is found in the southeastern states. The +Yellow-bellied Terrapin is found from Virginia to Georgia. It is one of +the terrapins that are sold in the markets. Many may be seen there, +especially in Charleston. The Cumberland Terrapin may be known by the +red marking on each side of its head. This, too, is sold in the markets; +it is found in the middle western states. The Diamond Back Terrapin is +the most highly prized by epicures--seven-inch-long turtles bringing as +much as $5 or more apiece. It is found in the marshes of the eastern and +southeastern coast states. As the size increases, the price advances. +They are becoming scarce. It always feeds under water. Grows to larger +size in the South. The Spotted Turtle is found in abundant quantities in +the eastern states. It has round yellow spots scattered over its black +upper shell and may be seen near ponds, streams and marshy places. It is +fond of water that is grassy, hiding therein. + + +THE BOX TURTLES. + +This turtle is fitted with a complete suit of armor, into which it can +withdraw and become practically immune from harm. It is not an aquatic +reptile, its food consisting principally of vegetation. It is fond of +berries and is found most abundantly in grassy thickets. It lives many +years. At the approach of winter it burrows into the ground. + +[Illustration: BOX TURTLE.] + + +THE TORTOISES. + +The Tortoises live only on the land. The Gopher Tortoise is found from +South Carolina to Florida, and west as far as Texas. It feeds on +vegetation. It inhabits principally the dry and sandy places and makes +long burrows into which it retires from the hot midday sun. The eggs of +this tortoise are buried in the sand and are hatched by the sun's rays +Agassiz's Tortoise, or the Desert Tortoise, is distributed over the +deserts of Arizona and southern California. + + +THE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLES. + +The shells of these turtles are soft and the head has the distinguishing +characteristic of a pointed nose. They are aquatic and are much like the +snapping turtles in habit. Large specimens can do damage with their +sharp jaws. They are popularly known as "flap jack turtles," and they do +not look unlike large pancakes. They are vicious and can make severe +wounds or injuries. Their food is the same as that of the snapping +turtles; in fact, they have so many points in common that they are often +called "soft-shelled snapping turtles." + + + + +THE CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS + + + + +THE CROCODILIA OR THE CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS. + + +The Crocodiles and Alligators belong to that order of reptiles known as +Crocodilia. The Alligator's head is broad and blunt; the Crocodile's is +narrow and sharp. + + [Illustration: + 1. ALLIGATOR. + 2. CROCODILE.] + +The Alligators are distributed over the low and swampy ground from North +Carolina southward, but are becoming rare almost to the point of +extinction. Their skin is valued and their eggs are sought as food so +that they are annually becoming rarer. They are afraid of man, but if +cornered will fight. Their jaws are large, powerful and provided with +strong teeth, capable of inflicting serious injury. They feed on fish, +animals and birds. Alligators make a "bellowing" sound. The Crocodile is +livelier and more pugnacious than the Alligator, but there are no +"man-eating" Crocodiles in the United States. + + + + +INDEX + + + Adder, + Berg, 177 + Checkered, 168 + Flat-headed, 169 + Puff, 169, 171 + + Agassiz's Tortoise, 181 + + Alligators, 183, 185 + + Alligator Snapping Turtle, 177 + + Anolis, 152 + + + Banded + Gecko, 152 + Mud Turtle, 180 + Water Snake, 164 + + Beaded Lizards, 158 + + Berg Adder, 177 + + Black + -banded Skink, 159 + Iguana, 153 + Snake, 166 + Mountain, 167 + Pilot, 167 + + Blind Snakes, 163 + California, 163 + Texas, 163 + + Blow Snake, 169 + + Boas, 163 + Rubber, 163 + + Box Turtle, 173 + + Brown Snake, 166 + + Bull Snake, 167 + + Bushmaster, 171 + + + California + Blind Snake, 163 + Horned Toad, 157 + + Cape + Gecko, 152 + Iguana, 153 + + Chameleon, 152 + + Checkered Adder, 168 + + Chelonia, 147, 177 + + Chicken + Snake, 167 + Red, 167 + Turtle, 180 + + Chuckawalla, 154 + + Clark's Swift, 156 + + Coachwhip Snake, 166 + + Cobra, + King, 171 + Spectacled, 171 + + Cobra-de-Capello, 169 + + Collared + Lizard, 151, 155 + Swift, 156 + + Colubers, 167 + Red, 167 + + Common Swift, 151, 156 + + Copperhead, 171 + + Coral Snake, 169 + + Corn Snake, 167 + + Cotton Mouth Snake, 169 + + Crocodiles, 183, 185 + + Crocodilia, 147, 185 + + Cumberland Terrapin, 180 + + + Desert + Iguana, 154 + Tortoise, 181 + + Diamond-back + Rattlesnake 173 + Terrapin, 180 + Water Snake, 165 + + Dinosaurs, 147 + + + Eutænia, 164 + + + Fence Lizard, 151 + + Fer-de-lance, 171 + + Flapjack Turtle, 181 + + Flat-headed Adder, 169 + + Florida Skink, 159 + + Fox Snake, 167 + + Fresh-water Turtle, 177 + + + Garter Snakes, 164 + + Gecko, 152 + Banded, 152 + Cape, 152 + Reef, 152 + Warty, 152 + + Gila Monster, 158 + + Glass Snake, 158 + + Gopher + Snake, 166, 167 + Tortoise, 181 + + Grass Snake, 168 + + Green + Turtle, 177 + Water Snake, 165 + Whip Snake, 167 + + Ground Snake, 166 + + + Harlequin Snake, 169 + + Hawksbill Turtle, 177 + + Hog-nosed Snakes, 168 + + Hoop Snake, 168 + + Horn Snake, 168 + + Horned + Lizard, 156 + Toads, 156 + California, 156 + Regal, 156 + + + Ichthyosaurs, 147 + + Iguana, 152, 153 + Black, 153 + Cape, 153 + Desert, 154 + + Indigo Snake, 166 + + + Keeled Lizard, 157 + + King + Cobra, 171 + Snake, 168 + + + Lacertilia, 147, 151 + + Land Turtle, 177 + + Leatherback Turtle, 177 + + Leopard Lizard, 155 + + Lizards, 149 + Beaded, 158 + Collared, 151, 155 + Fence, 151 + Horned, 156 + Keeled, 157 + Leopard, 155 + Red-headed, 159 + Snake-like, 156 + Spotted, 155 + Worm, 158 + Xanthus, 158 + Zebra-tailed, 151, 155 + + Loggerhead Turtle, 177 + + Long-necked Terrapin, 180 + + + Magnolia Snake, 167 + + Massasauga, 171 + + Milk Snake, 168 + Red, 168 + + Moccasin, 165, 169, 170 + Water, 169 + + Mountain, Black, Snake, 167 + + Mouse Snake, 167 + + Mud + Snake, 168 + Turtle, 179 + + Musk Turtle, 178 + + + Ophidia, 147, 163 + + + Pacific Swift, 151 + + Painted Terrapin, 180 + + Pilot Black Snake, 167 + + Pine Snake, 167 + + Plesiosaurs, 147 + + Pond Turtle, 180 + + Pterosaurs, 147, 148 + + Puff Adder, 169, 171 + + + Queen Snakes, 164 + + + Racers, 166 + Scarlet, 167 + Striped, 166 + + Race Runners, 158 + + Rainbow Snake, 168 + + Rattlesnakes, 171, 172, 173 + Diamond-back, 173 + + Rat Snake, 167 + + Red + -bellied Snake, 168 + Water Snake, 165 + Chicken Snake, 167 + Coluber, 167 + Headed Lizard, 159 + Milk Snake, 168 + + Reef Gecko, 152 + + Regal Horned Toad, 157 + + Ribbon Snakes, 163 + + Ring-necked Snakes, 168 + + Rubber Boas, 163 + + Russell's Viper, 171 + + + Scarlet Racer, 167 + + Sea Turtles, 177, 178 + + Silver Snake, 163 + + Skink, 159 + Black-banded, 159 + Florida, 159 + + Snake-like Lizards, 156 + + Snakes, 163 + Banded Water, 164 + Black, 166 + Blind, 163 + California, 163 + Texas, 163 + Blow, 169 + Brown, 166 + Bull, 167 + California Blind, 163 + Chicken, 167 + Red, 167 + Coachwhip, 166 + Copperhead, 171 + Coral, 169 + Corn, 167 + Cotton Mouth, 169 + Diamond-back + Rattle, 173 + Water, 165 + Fox, 167 + Garter, 164 + Glass, 158 + Gopher, 166, 167 + Grass, 168 + Green, 167 + Water, 165 + Whip, 167 + Ground, 166 + Harlequin, 169 + Hog-nosed, 168 + Hoop, 168 + Horn, 168 + Indigo, 166 + King, 168 + Magnolia, 167 + Milk, 168 + Mountain, Black, 167 + Mouse, 167 + Mud, 168 + Pilot Black, 167 + Pine, 167 + Queen, 164 + Rainbow, 168 + Rat, 167 + Red + -bellied, 168 + Water, 165 + Milk, 168 + Ribbon, 163 + Ring-necked, 168 + Silver, 163 + Texas Blind, 163 + Two-headed, 163 + Water, 164, 165 + Worm, 163 + Yellow Gopher, 167 + + Snapping Turtle, 177 + + Soft-shelled Turtle, 181 + + Spectacled Cobra, 171 + + Sphenodon, 147 + + Spotted + Lizard, 155 + Turtle, 180 + + Striped Racers, 166 + + Swifts, 156 + Clark's, 156 + Collared, 156 + Common, 151, 156 + Pacific, 151 + White-bellied, 151 + Yellow-striped, 156 + + + Terrapin, 180 + Cumberland, 180 + Diamond-back, 180 + Long-necked, 180 + Painted, 180 + Yellow-bellied, 180 + + Texas Blind Snake, 163 + + Timber Rattlesnake, 171 + + Tortoises, 181 + Agassiz's, 181 + Desert, 181 + Gopher, 181 + + Trunk Turtle, 177 + + Turtles, 175 + Alligator Snapping, 177 + Banded Mud, 180 + Box, 181 + Chicken, 180 + Flapjack, 181 + Fresh-water, 177 + Green, 177 + Hawksbill, 177 + Land, 177 + Leatherback, 177 + Loggerhead, 177 + Mud, 179 + Musk, 179 + Pond, 180 + Sea, 177, 178 + Snapping, 177 + Soft-shelled, 181 + Spotted, 180 + Trunk, 177 + + Two-headed Snake, 163 + + + Viper, 169 + Russell's, 171 + + + Warty Gecko, 152 + + Water Moccasin, 169 + + Water Snakes, 164, 165 + Diamond-back, 165 + Green, 165 + Red-bellied, 165 + + Whip Snake, Green, 167 + + White-bellied Swift, 151 + + Worm + Lizards, 158 + Snakes, 163 + + + Yellow + -bellied Terrapin, 180 + Gopher Snake, 167 + Striped Swift, 156 + + + Xanthus Lizards, 158 + + + Zebra-tailed Lizards, 151, 155 + + + + +THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS + +A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS + +Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout stories by CAPTAIN ALAN +DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature lore, native animals +and a fund of other information pertaining to out-of-door life, that +will appeal to the boy's love of the open + + +I. THE CAMPFIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL + +Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities +to use their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. Elmer +Chenowith, a lad from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his +familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome story every boy should +read. + + +II. WOODCRAFT; OR, HOW A PATROL LEADER MADE GOOD + +This tale presents many stirring situations in which some of the boys +are called upon to exercise all their ingenuity and unselfishness. A +story filled with healthful excitement. + + +III. PATHFINDER; OR, THE MISSING TENDERFOOT + +Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to the +credit of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, one +after the other. + + +IV. FAST NINE; OR, A CHALLENGE FROM FAIRFIELD + +They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The description of +the final game with the team of a rival town, and the outcome thereof, +form a stirring narrative. One of the best baseball stories of recent +years. + + +V. GREAT HIKE; OR, THE PRIDE OF THE KHAKI TROOP + +After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest +undertaking. Their march takes them far from home, and the good-natured +rivalry of the different patrols furnishes many interesting and amusing +situations. + + +VI. ENDURANCE TEST; OR, HOW CLEAR GRIT WON THE DAY + +Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of +apparent failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and +surprise their most ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain +Douglas has written. + + +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES + + Wild Animals of the United States--Tracking--in Number I. + Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. + Reptiles of the United States in Number III. + Fishes of the United States in Number IV. + Insects of the United States in Number V. + Birds of the United States in Number VI. + + + _Cloth Binding Cover Illustrations in Four Colors 40c. Per Volume_ + + + THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY + 147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St) NEW YORK + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Dialect + spellings have been retained. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pathfinder, by Alan Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATHFINDER *** + +***** This file should be named 22924-8.txt or 22924-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/9/2/22924/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Stephen Blundell and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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