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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: 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 + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 334px;"> +<img src="images/001.jpg" style="border: solid 4px;" width="334" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>PATHFINDER<br /> + +<small><small>OR</small></small><br /> + +<span class="smcap">The Missing Tenderfoot</span></h1> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class="cpoem"> +<p class="center">COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE<br /> +PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF<br /> +<br /> +<big>THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP<br /> +OF BOY SCOUTS</big><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, Scout Master</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +THE WOLF PATROL<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Elmer Chenowith</span>, Patrol Leader, and also<br /> +Assistant Scout Master</p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Mark Cummings</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Ted (Theodore) Burgoyne</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Toby (Tobias) Ellsworth Jones</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">"Lil Artha" (Arthur) Stansbury</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Chatz (Charles) Maxfield</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 7em;"><span class="smcap">Phil (Philip) Dale</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;"><span class="smcap">George Robbins</span></span><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center">THE BEAVER PATROL<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Matty (Matthew) Eggleston</span>, Patrol Leader</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">"Red" (Oscar) Huggins</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Ty (Tyrus) Collins</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Jasper Merriweather</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Tom Cropsey</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Larry (Lawrence) Billings</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 7em;"><span class="smcap">Hen (Henry) Condit</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;"><span class="smcap">Landy (Philander) Smith</span></span><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center">THE EAGLE PATROL<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jack Armitage</span>, Patrol Leader</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Nat (Nathan) Scott</span></p> +<p class="center"><small>(OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS<br /> +REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER)</small></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 456px;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="456" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +"Elmer tries to tell us he is pursuing the two who headed northwest."</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="600" height="126" alt="THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1 style="margin: .5em auto 1em;"><big>PATHFINDER</big><small><small><br /><br />OR<br /><br /></small></small> +<span class="smcap">The Missing Tenderfoot</span></h1> + + +<h2 style="margin: 2em auto;"><small>BY<br /><br /></small> +<span class="smcap">Captain ALAN DOUGLAS</span><br /> +<small><small>SCOUT MASTER</small></small></h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70px; margin: 1.5em auto;"> +<img src="images/004.png" width="70" height="69" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK</b></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p class="center"><small><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1913, by</span><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</small></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="td1"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td class="td1" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">I.</td><td class="td2">—The Birch-bark Message</td><td class="td1"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">II.</td> +<td class="td2">—At the Haunted Mill</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">III.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Strange Disappearance of Nat</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">IV.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Search for a Clew</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">V.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Trail Grows Warmer</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">VI.</td> +<td class="td2">—Hunting for the Missing Scout</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">VII.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Ambition of Landy</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">VIII.</td> +<td class="td2">—Reading the Signs</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">IX.</td> +<td class="td2">—Setting the Trap</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">X.</td> +<td class="td2">—How the Trap Worked</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">XI.</td> +<td class="td2">—Run Down</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">XII.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Language of Signs</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">XIII.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Call of the Wolf</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">XIV.</td> +<td class="td2">—The Need of a Pathfinder</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td1">XV.</td> +<td class="td2">—Rescued—Conclusion</td> +<td class="td1"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><big>PATHFINDER</big><br /> + +<small>OR</small><br /> + +<big><span class="smcap">The Missing Tenderfoot</span></big></h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> +<h2 class="hd1">THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS</h2> + +<p class="hd2">PATHFINDER;</p> + +<p class="hd3">OR,</p> + +<p class="hd2" style="margin-bottom: 3em;">THE MISSING TENDERFOOT.</p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE.</h3> + + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Say, it's a message, all right."</p> + +<p>"And from our crack-a-jack pathfinder, Elmer Chenowith, +too, I warrant you."</p> + +<p>"What do you say, Matty? Is Red Huggins right?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The one appealed to, Matty Eggleston by name, was +something of a leader among the Hickory Ridge Troop of +Boy Scouts.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There are so very many things a boy must know in order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They were out to try a new experience, and one that appealed +to every boy in the bunch.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Hey, look at that, would you; it's all marked up with +crow's feet tracks!" exclaimed Landy Smith, a rather fat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +boy who had only recently joined the Wolf Patrol, making +the eighth and last member.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You've got a heap to learn yet, George," said Red +Huggins, shaking his head at the offender.</p> + +<p>"In what way?" demanded the other.</p> + +<p>"Why, this is what they call Injun picture writing," +replied Red, obligingly.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Letter!" ejaculated both Landy and George—"that +thing a letter?"</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's as easy as falling off a log, once you get the +hang of it," declared Larry Billings.</p> + +<p>"Look here, and I'll show you, fellows," remarked +Matty, holding the bark up so that everyone present could +see the lead-pencil marks.</p> + +<p>"Looks like several men, to start with," interposed +George.</p> + +<p>"Good enough, George," said the patrol leader, "and +that's just what they are. Count them, will you?"</p> + +<p>"One, two, three."</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +and Matty held the bark directly in front of Landy and +George.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Matty; I can see 'em," declared Landy, +who evidently did not wish his cousin to get all the credit +for smartness.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And I can guess what it is," declared Chatz Maxfield, +the Southern boy.</p> + +<p>"Then tell the rest of us," cried several.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's dead easy," was his reply. "Stop and think; +who's always losing his hat every chance he gets?"</p> + +<p>"Nat Scott!" quickly exclaimed Landy.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Neither one nor the other. He just figured it out +from something he found. Perhaps he knows what the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +print of Nat's shoe looks like, for we all make different +tracks, you know."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Immediately Red laughed aloud, and then in one breath +he and Larry exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"That's Ty Collins, as sure as anything!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," declared Landy, scratching his nose in +a way he had when puzzled.</p> + +<p>"He can't mean he's a dead one, and sprouting wings, +can he?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"Wings! I've got it, fellows!" shouted Red.</p> + +<p>"Then pass it around to the rest, because I'm all up a +stump," observed Larry.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Toby Jones, the boy who's bent on sailing through the +clouds some day!" cried Chatz.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>All of them looked again, and while several shook their +heads Red remarked:</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Sure, he has. That must be the wampum belt," exclaimed +Red.</p> + +<p>"Yes. No doubt he was instructed by our scout master, +Mr. Garrabrant, that when they separated the fellow carrying +the belt must do <i>something</i> to show it. That was a +clever dodge of Ty's to lie down, and make an impression +in the earth."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and smarter yet for Elmer to discover the impression, +and read it," declared Chatz.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"But there are some other marks; can you make them +out at all?" asked Landy.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>All of them hurried across to where Matty pointed.</p> + +<p>"By all that's wonderful, there has been a camp fire +here," said Landy.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what's the difference?" demanded the new recruit; +"I thought a fire must be a fire."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And a camp fire?" continued the novice.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Do you know how long ago this fire was made?" asked +George.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well, that takes the cake!" ejaculated Landy, whose +whole appearance indicated amazement.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>AT THE HAUNTED MILL.</h3> + + +<p>Once more the little squad of scouts resumed their forward +movement.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Besides this, they must read the messages left occasionally +by their pathfinder.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Because we want to gain on Elmer when we have the +chance," replied the leader.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like it, don't it?" exclaimed Red.</p> + +<p>"But how under the sun does he do it?" pursued the +doubting greenhorn.</p> + +<p>"Well," Matty went on, "Elmer lived in Canada, away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've heard all that," admitted Landy.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Matty, as he finished speaking, came to a sudden pause.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The others crowded around, eager to see for themselves +what object lesson Matty expected to lay before them.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," declared George, as all of them walked +slowly along.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>George and Landy exchanged glances.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a heap more in this game than I ever +thought of," admitted the latter.</p> + +<p>"Don't see how he does it," remarked George, with a +doubting shake of his head.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm looking to hear the bugle any minute right +now," replied the leader.</p> + +<p>"Where was it fixed for?" asked Landy.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I heard some talk about an old mill, but didn't pay +much attention to it," remarked Landy, carelessly.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"How's that?" demanded Landy.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Stop! look! listen!" exclaimed Matty, Larry, and +Chatz in chorus.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I <i>am</i> somewhat sleepy," grumbled Landy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +"but perhaps some day I'll surprise you wide-awake Slim +Jims by doing something real smart. But tell me more +about this mill."</p> + +<p>"You sure must have heard of Munsey's mill?" remarked +Matty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I believe it does sound kind of familiar, but then +I must have forgotten all I ever heard about it," Landy +confessed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why?" demanded Landy.</p> + +<p>"Because they declared the old mill was haunted!" replied +Matty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, suh, it was haunted," echoed Chatz.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys plagued Chatz so much that he had by degrees +shown signs of considering most of his former beliefs as +folly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was "Doubting George" who burst out into a harsh +laugh.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>Chatz looked at him rather queerly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Same here," declared Red.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" exclaimed Larry just then, making them all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +start. Through the timber ahead of them came the sweet +clear notes of a bugle.</p> + +<p>"Told you so, fellows," declared Matty, smiling; +"that's Elmer. He's learning to use the bugle nearly as +well as Mark himself."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Well, pretty near," Matty replied. "We've got to +keep it up till we come in sight of the mill."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, there might be one more opening for a message, +and our main business is to translate these, you know."</p> + +<p>"Do we stay long at the old mill?" asked Chatz.</p> + +<p>Red gave him a quick, suspicious look.</p> + +<p>"Aw, I reckon I know what's on our comrade's mind," +he remarked, with a wink.</p> + +<p>"As what?" demanded Landy.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Never had that pleasure in all my life, fellows, I assure +you," replied the Southern boy, with ill-concealed delight +in his manner.</p> + +<p>"But say, no respectable ghost was ever known to walk +except at midnight, and we don't intend camping out at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +the old mill, do we, just because of this silly talk?" asked +George.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Chatz gave him a lofty look.</p> + +<p>"Thank you for the compliment, suh," he said.</p> + +<p>They continued to follow the "spoor" of the two +hounds, left so plainly for their guidance.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Wish you would, old top," remarked Red, with his +customary enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"You'll get to like all these things more and more, the +farther you go," said Larry.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Elmer says it's only keeping everlastingly at it that +makes a good scout," remarked Chatz.</p> + +<p>Evidently, from the way these boys continually quoted +"Elmer," the assistant scout master must be a very popular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Come around and see what I've made out of this message," +said Matty just then.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Fine," cried Landy, when he heard what a remarkable +story those rude drawings told.</p> + +<p>"Very good—if true," admitted George.</p> + +<p>"Well, come along and we'll prove it," laughed +Matty; "for unless I miss my guess the mill is close by."</p> + +<p>"Sure," declared Red. "I can hear the noise of water +tumbling down some rocks, or over a mill dam."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later and Chatz called out:</p> + +<p>"There you are, suh!"</p> + +<p>The mill could be seen through the trees, and all of the +boys felt the greatest eagerness to hurry along and reach +this spot.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I see Elmer and Lil Artha," observed Larry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, and there's another fellow just beyond. I reckon +it must be Ty Collins," said Chatz.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"It sure is, suh!" remarked Chatz, plainly interested, +and not a little excited.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>Elmer gave him a serious look.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF NAT.</h3> + + +<p>"Oh!"</p> + +<p>Chatz was the only one who gave utterance to a sound +after Elmer had made this surprising, as well as alarming, +admission.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And somehow, there was something chilling in the very +lonesome character of their surroundings.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Say, this ain't any part of the game, is it?" demanded +Red.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And Nat ain't generally the fellow to think of playing +a joke on his chums," declared Larry.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>George, as usual, scoffed at the idea of anything having +happened to Nat Scott.</p> + +<p>"He'll show up as soon as he feels like it, make sure of +that," he declared.</p> + +<p>"Have you called him!" asked Matty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, all of us did," replied Lil Artha, whose customary +rollicking good nature seemed subdued in a measure for +once.</p> + +<p>"And he didn't answer?" demanded Chatz.</p> + +<p>"We never heard a word, and that's a fact, boys," declared +Toby Jones, uneasily.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a discordant scream rang out. It was so fearful +that several of the fellows turned pale, and all of them +started violently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There!" ejaculated Chatz.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Oh, glory, what was that!" quivered Landy, as he +clutched the arm of Elmer Chenowith.</p> + +<p>"But it didn't come from the mill," declared Larry. +"Sounded to me like it was out there on the pond."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Larry," remarked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Then I was right?" asked the other.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Following the direction indicated by Elmer's extended +finger the scouts all watched eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I see something moving just behind that bunch of lily +pads," exclaimed one with keen vision.</p> + +<p>"There it swims out now, and it's a big water bird, too. +Looks like a goose to me," Landy remarked, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"That's a loon, fellows!" exclaimed Red.</p> + +<p>"Is it, Elmer?" they demanded in a breath.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Huh, sounds just like the shout of a crazy man to me," +ventured Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"Everybody says that," Elmer declared. "And I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Ill luck!" echoed Chatz, once more looking in the direction +of the ramshackle old mill.</p> + +<p>"But see here," remarked Matty, "tell us about Nat, +won't you? When was his queer disappearance first +noticed, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Never saw so many whopping big frogs in all my life," +declared Ty.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What then?" Matty went on asking.</p> + +<p>"Why, we saw Elmer and Lil Artha coming, and went +to meet 'em, that's all," replied Ty.</p> + +<p>"Have any of you been inside the mill?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Search!" echoed Larry. "Good gracious! do you +think Nat can be lost?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"You never can tell, suh!" said Chatz, in a solemn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +manner; and somehow none of the boys seemed quite as +ready to scoff at the Southerner's superstitious belief, as +usual.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"As what?" queried George, cautiously.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The boys looked aghast.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Now the last vague hope in this particular seemed shattered +by Elmer's thrilling suggestion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"They couldn't see the dam from there, could they?" +asked Red, quickly.</p> + +<p>"No, that's true," answered Toby.</p> + +<p>"And so they wouldn't know whether anybody knocked +poor Nat over here; or if he went across to the old mill," +Red continued.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I want two of you to go with me to the mill," said +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"And I'm the second victim," declared Lil Artha, with +a grin, but at the same time looking very determined.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Elmer; "fall in behind me, and we'll +see what the inside of the mill looks like."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE SEARCH FOR A CLEW.</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Not so Chatz Maxfield.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>Why?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>People might scoff at such things all they had a mind to, +but surely it seemed as if there must be <i>something</i> in it.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"He came this way, all right, boys."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Nat?" questioned Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course," replied the leader.</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" continued Chatz.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He must, because he ain't in the sluiceway," remarked +the tall boy.</p> + +<p>A minute later and Elmer, who had carefully crossed +over, testing each board before trusting his weight on it, +called out:</p> + +<p>"The marks are here, all right, fellows. Nat did start +to look into the old mill. Come over, but be careful. Go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Chatz, his face aglow.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>He looked at Chatz, and then winked one eye humorously +at Elmer. But the Southern boy did not deign to take any +notice.</p> + +<p>"Come, let's go in, fellows," he said, impatiently.</p> + +<p>With that the three started for the other side of the mill, +where an entrance could most likely be much more easily +effected.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But one of the three was quite firm in his belief that +neither of these explanations would turn out to be the true +one.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Once around the end of the mill and they saw the dwelling +attached to it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Shall we try to go in by way of the house door?" +asked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>So Elmer without further hesitation ducked through +the opening, with his two allies keeping close to his heels.</p> + +<p>At any rate it was somewhat more restful inside the mill.</p> + +<p>Those walls, even if now going rapidly into a condition +of decay, shut out some of the noise caused by the falling +water.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boards creaked dismally under their tread. More<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Wow, would you see that, now, Elmer!" he exclaimed, +his voice sounding strange amidst such singular surroundings.</p> + +<p>"You made a neat side step, old fellow," said the one +addressed. "Some of us, more clumsy, would have slid +down into the cellar."</p> + +<p>"Say, now, I wonder—" began Lil Artha, and then +stopped to stare at the treacherous plank that formed such +a trap.</p> + +<p>"You're wondering whether poor old Nat could have +taken that tumble?" suggested Elmer.</p> + +<p>"That's what I was; what do you think?" asked the tall +scout.</p> + +<p>"Here, lay hold and we'll soon find out," remarked +Elmer, bending over the loose plank.</p> + +<p>It required considerable tugging to get it out of the bed +it had occupied so long, even if it was fastened by no +nails.</p> + +<p>Both of them lay down and thrust their faces into the +gap.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"It sure does that," was Elmer's reply.</p> + +<p>"I can just make out something or other lying down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +there; it might be an old log, you know, and again, p'raps it +ain't."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's find out for sure."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry now," remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"About what?" asked the scout leader.</p> + +<p>"That I didn't think to fetch it along—that new electric +hand torch my father gave me on my birthday, you +remember, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>The burning paper seemed to alight upon the damp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +earthen floor of the cellar. Immediately both boys tried to +secure a mental photograph of all there was below them.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, I did, for a fact, Arthur."</p> + +<p>"Any idea what it could be?" persisted the other.</p> + +<p>"I hope you're not thinking of that ghost we've heard +so much about?" said Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Now, that's hardly fair, Elmer; you know I don't take +any stock in fairy tales or hobgoblin yarns. But something +sure moved."</p> + +<p>"A big rat I guess, perhaps a muskrat from the pond +above. They sometimes find a burrow leads them to some +old, unused cellar."</p> + +<p>"But look over there, and you'll see a lot of white bones, +Elmer," pursued Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact. Some animal must have fallen in here, +starved to death, and been eaten up by the rats."</p> + +<p>"But, Elmer, are you sure they are animal bones?"</p> + +<p>"I noticed the skull, and I think it must have been a +large dog," replied Elmer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE TRAIL GROWS WARMER.</h3> + + +<p>"Say, just look up there, fellows!"</p> + +<p>Chatz pointed a quivering finger upward as he gave utterance +to these words.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare," laughed Elmer.</p> + +<p>"You know what they are, Elmer; let us in on it, won't +you?" demanded Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Nothing whatever to do with the ghost, but all the +same often found in haunted houses, church belfries, and +old towers. See here."</p> + +<p>He stooped and picked up quite a good-sized stone that +happened to be lying on the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer was a pitcher on the Hickory Ridge baseball nine, +and could hurl a pretty swift ball.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Wow, did you ever see the like of that now!" cried +Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"What were they, Elmer?" asked Chatz, who had really +been too startled to think fairly.</p> + +<p>"Bats!" replied the scout leader, promptly.</p> + +<p>"I supposed as much," declared Chatz, "and as you +remarked just now, they always seem to like a building +said to be haunted."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked the tall boy, "sometimes I've had +the fellows hint to me that I had bats in <i>my</i> belfry; but +sure not that many. Why, I reckon there must have been +well-nigh a thousand in that gay bunch, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"I guess there were, more or less," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"And now what?" asked Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Let's look further here before we go into the house +itself," the scout master made reply.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Elmer even entered a small room off the main floor, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +which had possibly been used as an office when the grist-mill +was in business.</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing, Elmer?" announced Lil Artha, as the +other came out again.</p> + +<p>Elmer shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"Don't seem to be around here at all," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's try the house," suggested Chatz; and it +was easily seen from his manner that he was eager to make +the change.</p> + +<p>After one more careful glance around, as if to make absolutely +positive that nothing had been neglected, the scout +leader nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"Come on, then, fellows," he said.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Toward this he now pushed. He wondered if he would +find the door fastened in any way. One touch told him it +was not.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Like the mill itself the house was fast falling into a state +of decay.</p> + +<p>It was only a cottage of some four rooms, all on the one +floor. The boys passed from one apartment to another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +until presently they had been over all the territory comprised +within those four walls, so far as they could see.</p> + +<p>Both Chatz and Lil Artha uttered exclamations that +breathed their disappointment.</p> + +<p>Because each of them had failed to discover that upon +which he had set his mind he failed to see anything else.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A frown came upon Elmer's face also, as though he did +not wholly like the looks of things.</p> + +<p>"Well, he ain't here, that's sure," remarked Lil Artha, +shrugging his shoulders in disgust.</p> + +<p>"He certainly isn't," muttered Chatz, who, however, was +thinking of an entirely different object than the one the +tall boy referred to.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we give him a shout, and see if there's any +result?" suggested Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"Do so, if you like," replied Elmer, in a tone that did +not seem to promise much faith in the outcome of this plan.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer was looking around again.</p> + +<p>"Wonder if there can be a cellar under here?" he remarked, +presently.</p> + +<p>"I should say yes," replied the tall boy.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Chatz and the tall boy had hardly gotten well started +in their search than they heard Elmer calling.</p> + +<p>"He's found it, sure!" observed the Southern lad.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Of course they hastened into the kitchen. Here they +found Elmer bending over and examining the floor.</p> + +<p>"It's a trapdoor, all right," declared Lil Artha, as he +noted the dimensions of the cracks that formed an almost +perfect square.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Whew! do you really mean it, Elmer?" remarked +Chatz, deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"Why, you can see for yourself right here that some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +sort of tool has been used to pry up the thing," Elmer +went on.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"If you will," replied Elmer.</p> + +<p>The article in question was speedily placed in the hands +of the scout master.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Reckon it's been used to do the trick many a time," +advanced Chatz.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't wonder," Elmer added.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Dark as Egypt," remarked Lil Artha, as he tried to +pierce the gloom with his gaze.</p> + +<p>Elmer made a move, and Chatz, thinking he intended descending +the ladder that led down into the unknown +depths, caught his arm.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't do it, Elmer," he said.</p> + +<p>"Do what?" asked the other.</p> + +<p>"Go down there," continued Chatz. "No telling how +deep it may be or what lies there, either. If anybody must +go, send me."</p> + +<p>"Well," laughed Elmer, "I like your nerve, Chatz. +You think something might hurt <i>me</i>, but you don't care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that," declared the other; "but when you +made a move I thought you were going."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I only meant to get out my newspaper again, and +make another little candle," said Elmer, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"There is a queer odor comes up, now that you mention +it," admitted Elmer.</p> + +<p>At that the eyes of Chatz grew round with wonder and +suspense.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope you don't think—" he began, when Elmer +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Kind of fishy smell, don't you think?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, since you speak of it I rather guess it is something +like that," Lil Artha admitted.</p> + +<p>Then Chatz breathed easy again.</p> + +<p>"But how could fish ever get in here from the mill +pond?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Give it up; I pass. Ask me something easy," the +tall scout hastened to say.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Elmer had, as before, taken a section of +the newspaper, crumpled it into a ball, and after that +drew out his match box.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Guess it's safe to drop this down," he remarked. "It +seems so damp there can really be no danger of anything +taking fire."</p> + +<p>"Sure there couldn't," asserted Lil Artha, sturdily. +"Let her go, Elmer; and everybody look."</p> + +<p>The match crackled, and the resulting flame was instantly +applied to the paper ball.</p> + +<p>Then Elmer let this drop, after he had made sure it +would burn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then the flame dwindled, flickered, and finally went out +altogether. Chatz gave a big sigh.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"What did you see, Chatz?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Who, me?" exclaimed the Southern boy. "Nothing +at all, Elmer," and his manner told plainly that he was +both disappointed and disgusted.</p> + +<p>"How about you, Arthur?" continued the acting scout +master.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Something about Elmer's manner caught his attention +and aroused his suspicions.</p> + +<p>"See here, did <i>you</i> discover anything?" he demanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what would they kidnap our chum for?" demanded +the excited tall scout.</p> + +<p>"I don't know for certain, but we're going to find out +pretty soon," said Elmer, with a determined look.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>HUNTING FOR THE MISSING SCOUT.</h3> + + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"It looks so, on the face of it," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +Merriweather. Nat is strong as an ox, but he wouldn't +hurt a fly if he could help it."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"There's one chance, though," Elmer went on, "that +after all Nat may be hiding."</p> + +<p>"But he knows the sound of the bugle, and what penalty +follows disobedience on the part of a scout," declared +Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think there are three at least, perhaps four or five +in the lot," Elmer replied.</p> + +<p>"Whew! that's a healthy crowd of toughs, now, to run +up against!" remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"And what do you propose doing, suh, if I may make +so bold as to ask?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"First of all, perhaps we'd better go outside," the other +replied.</p> + +<p>"And tell the rest of the boys what we've found—or +rather what we didn't find," remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You mean they don't sleep here; is that it, suh?" inquired +Chatz.</p> + +<p>"That covers the ground," Elmer answered.</p> + +<p>"But they <i>do</i> come in here sometimes, while the sun +is shining," persisted Chatz.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, I suppose it does, Chatz."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Hey, how about this bally old trapdoor, Elmer?" demanded +Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"We'd better put it back where it belongs," replied +the scout leader.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The other drew himself up.</p> + +<p>"Kindly omit calling it <i>my</i> 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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer, after one last glance around the kitchen, was +heading for the other room where an exit could be made.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They were rather a demoralized trio of boys who welcomed +the coming of Elmer, Chatz, and Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"Find any signs of Nat?" asked one.</p> + +<p>"Hope the plagued old ghost didn't get him," another +ventured.</p> + +<p>"Tell us all about it, Elmer?" asked the third member +of the little bunch.</p> + +<p>But the scout leader instead raised the bugle to his lips +and sounded the assembly call.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Listen!" said Elmer, raising his hand, and immediately +the confused chattering of many boyish tongues +ceased.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Mark Cummings and the last detachment!" declared +Matty.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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 <i>one</i> of the number that had started out.</p> + +<p>Presently a sight of khaki uniforms among the trees announced +their near approach.</p> + +<p>As the two wings of the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy +Scouts came together, there was a general exchange of +badinage.</p> + +<p>The newcomers had an intense desire to learn whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +their interpretation of the messages might excel that of +the first detachment.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of the questioning, the startling news +concerning Nat Scott's mysterious vanishing began to circulate +among the newcomers.</p> + +<p>This put a quietus on all business, and the entire troop +clustered around Elmer, begging to know what it could +mean.</p> + +<p>So the scout master, understanding just how his comrades +must feel, started in to explain, as far as lay in his power.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then he quickly related what he and Chatz and Lil Artha +had done in the deserted buildings close by.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," came from every scout; for boys though +they were, they recognized the wisdom of what he said.</p> + +<p>"All right, then," Elmer went on. "I'm going to divide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"We understand what you mean, Elmer. How shall +we divide up?" asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"All right, suh, we understand," called out Chatz.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Like this, for instance," remarked Jack Armitage, +flourishing a husky specimen that would pass muster for an +Irishman's shillalah.</p> + +<p>"Or this!" cried Red, whose cudgel was as long as a +walking stick, and almost as thick through as his wrist.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"We know, Elmer; what else?" asked Matty.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is that all, Elmer?" asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>A chorus of assent answered him.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Say, hold on here! Is <i>that</i> what you're looking for—a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +hidden shack? Why, I can take you to one right now," +called out a voice.</p> + +<p>The speaker was Landy Smith.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE AMBITION OF LANDY.</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Elmer had several times let his eye fall on the stout +boy, as though trying to guess what his manner indicated.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Landy was not only a tenderfoot scout, but he had in +a number of ways proven his right to the title of greenhorn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Elmer, if surprised, did not allow this fact to interfere +with his plain duty.</p> + +<p>"Come here, Landy," he said, and the stout new recruit +hastened to do as he was ordered.</p> + +<p>Of course Landy would not have been human, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +boy, had he been able to repress the grin that forced itself +upon his rosy countenance.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Landy's hour had come. He was in the lime light, and +occupied the center of the stage.</p> + +<p>Mindful of the respect due his superior officer, Landy +saluted as he clicked his heels together, and stood at attention +before the scout master.</p> + +<p>"You say you can show us where there is a hidden +shack or cabin, do you, Number Eight?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," the tenderfoot replied, quite enjoying the +fact that fifteen pairs of eager eyes were riveted upon him +right then and there.</p> + +<p>Landy looked redder than usual, but for all that he +seemed able to command his voice, for it did not tremble a +particle.</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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 <i>a scout's +duty was to obey</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear!" said Red, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I expect I can, sir; anyhow, I'm ready to try," Landy +promptly answered.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But how about us, Mr. Scout Master; do we keep up +the formation as arranged?" asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>"</p> + +<p>The scouts already realized this. Still his words of +caution entailing silence were well placed, for boys as a +rule do love to chatter.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sorry to say, sir, I seem to be a little confused," +admitted the fat boy; "but then perhaps that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +ain't to be wondered at if you knew just how hard I +bumped into that crooked tree yonder."</p> + +<p>"With your head?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say it was this tree, Number Eight?" +the young disciple of woodcraft continued.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Elmer dropped to his knees than he felt +a thrill of pleasure.</p> + +<p>"It's here, sure enough!" he muttered, as his eye discovered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +the torn turf where Landy's toes must have dragged +when he fell.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Their companion, Nat Scott, had mysteriously disappeared,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frequently such men make it a point to possess canine +companions. And these are invariably of some species fond +of the spirit of battle.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Looking closely he had to confess that he could see no +sign of life about that clump of bushes.</p> + +<p>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 <i>toward</i> the spot.</p> + +<p>Besides, here was a regular path, beaten down by many +feet, and which headed in the quarter Elmer knew the big +pond lay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>That settled it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Is that the place, Landy, where you saw the shack?" +he demanded.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," he replied, "that is the place."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>READING THE SIGNS.</h3> + + +<p>"Halt!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Just before them, even though pretty well concealed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +the foliage of the bushes, they could make out what appeared +to be a rough shack.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Don't seem like it," remarked another, doubtless +breathing a sigh of relief at the improved prospect.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nobody home, fellers," called out Toby, after he had +apparently stared in through that opening for more than +a full minute.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Try it once more, Elmer," advised cautious Mark.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It looked as though Toby must have struck the right +key when he so confidently declared there was nobody +at home.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then he looked around again.</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt about this shack having been +recently used as sleeping quarters by a number of men.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>Elmer sniffed the atmosphere, which was both heavy and +far from pleasant. And Lil Artha, who had pressed into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +the shack, hot upon the heels of his chief, took note of his +significant action.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But Elmer had conceived an idea, even while suffering +from the unpleasant odor of the place.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"But how do we know they're hoboes?" asked Elmer, +turning on the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"Hey? What's that?" exclaimed Lil Artha, actually +so surprised that he neglected to hold that firm grip on +his nose any longer.</p> + +<p>"What makes you so sure they're tramps?" pursued the +scout master.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Seeing these things here is what makes me question +that idea very much," began Elmer; and then he picked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare; I guess Elmer's right!" exclaimed Red.</p> + +<p>"He certainly is, suh, take my word foh it," was the +way Chatz expressed himself.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Indeed, hardly had the latter glanced at the well-worn +letter he held than he smiled.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Red, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Yes, tell us what you've found out, Elmer," said Lil +Artha.</p> + +<p>"Why, look here at the name. As near as I can make +out it's Giuseppi Caroni," replied the other.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wow, that is plain enough!" exclaimed Red.</p> + +<p>"Sure Italiano," echoed the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"Just as I thought," replied Elmer.</p> + +<p>"But you can prove it," remarked Chatz.</p> + +<p>"That's easy enough," added Dr. Ted, "the thtamp +ought to be enough, you thee."</p> + +<p>"And if it isn't, fellows, here's the postmark as plain +as anything—Naples, Italy," continued Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>A gasp seemed to go the complete rounds of all the +khaki-clad warriors who thronged that mysterious little +shack.</p> + +<p>"Black Hand, you say, Lil Artha?" exclaimed Red.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>All eyes were turned again upon Elmer, who had listened +to these remarks with an amused smile.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold on your horses, boys," he said, raising his hand +just then to still the rising dispute.</p> + +<p>"Shut up, everybody; Elmer's got something more to +tell us," Lil Artha cried.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And especially valuable would this qualification become +when confronted by a baffling mystery such as the Hickory +Ridge troop was now up against.</p> + +<p>"Those who occupied this shack were four in number," +Elmer began.</p> + +<p>"How did you find that out?" asked Red.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! I tell you, fellows, that's the way to learn +things. Elmer knows how to do it," cried Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>Without even smiling at the implied compliment Elmer +went on:</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute, please, Elmer," pleaded Red.</p> + +<p>"All right. You want to ask me something, and I +think I know what it is," remarked the other.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Just listen to that, will you!" remarked Red, "but +I know Elmer is right. I can grab the principle of the +thing."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have," remarked the other, quickly. "This +fourth track was smaller than the others, and the person +also wore American-made shoes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, a boy, eh?" asked Red.</p> + +<p>The scout master shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Wrong that time, my boy. You'll have to guess again, +I reckon," he said.</p> + +<p>"Was it a woman, Elmer?" demanded Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>SETTING A TRAP.</h3> + + +<p>At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well +as of disbelief.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" +asked the other, calmly.</p> + +<p>"Why—er—both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as +he saw the positive front of the other.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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:"</p> + +<p>"But see here, you notice a shelf with a few things on +it, some hairpins among the lot. It was built unusually +low, so <i>she</i> 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?"</p> + +<p>"A regular sawed-off," assented Lil Artha, emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Elmer's sure proved his point there, fellows," declared +Red Huggins, grinning.</p> + +<p>"But what makes you think the woman is old, Elmer?" +asked Landy, curiously.</p> + +<p>"That's so; how in the wide world could you know such +a thing without ever seeing her?" demanded Toby.</p> + +<p>"Nothing could be easier, fellows; see here!"</p> + +<p>As Elmer spoke he reached out his hand and took something +off the low shelf.</p> + +<p>Those in the room crowded around, fairly wild to follow +out the clever deduction of their young leader.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a comb," cried one.</p> + +<p>"Only an old broken comb," echoed another, with a +shade of uncertainty in his voice.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I know," burst out Matty just then.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell us," pleaded several.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Would a woman be among anarchists, Elmer?" demanded +Toby.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, go on, Elmer," several called out.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But you believe they've got our chum, and are holding +him a prisoner, don't you, Elmer?" asked Matty.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You found a hat, didn't you?" demanded Elmer.</p> + +<p>"We sure did, and here she is," cried Red, holding up +the article in question.</p> + +<p>"It looks like a scout's regulation hat?" Elmer remarked.</p> + +<p>"Which nobody could deny," sang Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"But ain't we wasting a heap of time here?" asked +Red, impatient as always to be doing something.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I was saying to Ted here," declared +Larry, whom the meaning glance of Lil Artha had plainly +rendered uneasy.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +lot, you know, and we might bring on trouble that could +just as well be avoided if we went slow."</p> + +<p>Matty looked at his leader sharply.</p> + +<p>"Say, see here, Elmer," he remarked, "you know, or +anyhow you've got a pretty good hunch, who these people +are?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Italians," laughed the other.</p> + +<p>"Now, that ain't what I mean," Matty went on. "No +dodging, but own up."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But they've got our chum a prisoner," said Red.</p> + +<p>"Looks that way," assented Elmer, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"And honest men would never do a thing like that," +declared Red.</p> + +<p>"Oh, wouldn't they?" replied the other. "Perhaps +now the shoe might be on the other foot."</p> + +<p>"Eh?"</p> + +<p>"And perhaps these honest people might suspect that +you three fellows in uniform represented the great United<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +States army about to surround them, and make them prisoners +because they had been occupying private property +here at Munsey's mill."</p> + +<p>The scouts looked at one another, astonished. Here was +a theory then which had never appealed to them before.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" gasped Red.</p> + +<p>"Don't it just beat the Dutch how he gets on to all +these things?" said Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>It was Matty who asked this question. Elmer smiled and +shook his head.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>think</i>. 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."</p> + +<p>"And they got more scared when you sounded that +bugle, I reckon," remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and then the coming of another bunch of six scouts +may have made them believe the worst was about to happen," +Elmer continued.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Elmer added; "and it may be the coming of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +Landy just finished their panic. After he went away they +must have vamosed the ranch in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"There may be another way," remarked Elmer, who +seemed to be pondering over the matter.</p> + +<p>"Tell us about it, then, please."</p> + +<p>"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 +<i>to come to you</i>."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I only feel pretty sure on one point," explained the +acting scout master. "And that concerns the woman +alone."</p> + +<p>"Meaning, I take it, that you think they'll send her +back, the cowards, to find out whether the coast is clear," +ventured Red.</p> + +<p>"No, they will never have to send her back, fellows," +Elmer went on, positively.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Won't, eh?" remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"I firmly believe that once we withdraw from this same +old shack the woman will steal back of her own free will."</p> + +<p>"To get her precious old comb, mebbe," sneered Red.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 <i>got</i> to return and find it, if so be we haven't +taken it from that nail where it was hanging when we +came in."</p> + +<p>"Good! You've got things down just pat, Elmer. And +then what?" asked Matty.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THE TRAP WORKED.</h3> + + +<p>"There's only one thing about it that I object to on +general principles," remarked Mark.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's true; there is a chance," Elmer admitted.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Mark."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That's what I'd do."</p> + +<p>"And that you wouldn't mind being one of the same +guards, eh, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"I'd enjoy it all right, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks!" grumbled Red, bitterly disappointed, because +he dearly loved action.</p> + +<p>"Matty," said the acting scout master.</p> + +<p>"On deck," replied the leader of the Beaver Patrol, +saluting.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You really think, then, the woman will return?" queried +Mark.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff," added Toby, also anxious to be doing +something, he cared little what.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it might be the woman has already returned, and +is hiding somewhere close by, waiting for the crowd to +move."</p> + +<p>"That's so," admitted Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll have to be mighty careful, Mark, how we +do the great vanishing act," the tall scout remarked.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you expecting to hide behind that box, Elmer?" +demanded his chum, pointing to the affair that had evidently +served as a rude table.</p> + +<p>"Just what I am," replied the other, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So, knowing the value of time in an affair like this, +Elmer hastened to crawl behind the big box.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then he waited patiently for something to happen.</p> + +<p>Some minutes passed.</p> + +<p>Outside all seemed as quiet as a Sunday in Hickory +Ridge.</p> + +<p>The sound of boyish voices had utterly died away, proving +that Matty must be showing considerable skill in leading +his detachment along a trail.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So the wide-awake scout finds opportunities to make use +of the most ordinary and commonplace things to be met +with in the woods.</p> + +<p>Everything may have a meaning, if only the scout possesses +the key of knowledge so necessary for the unlocking +of the door.</p> + +<p>Not moving a finger Elmer simply awaited the turn of +events.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>And not once did he doubt the outcome, so positive was +he that his reasoning must be correct.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Two minutes must have gone by now.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In imagination his gaze followed the swinging pendulum +of the big grandfather clock that stood in the hall +of his home.</p> + +<p>"Tick, tick, tick!" he could see it go back and forth, +each movement marking the passing of another second of +precious time.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>He continued to watch his four-footed little sentinel +perched up there in the apology for a window.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even as he looked the timid squirrel vanished as suddenly +as it had appeared.</p> + +<p>Elmer only silently chuckled, quite satisfied with the +way things were working.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And he was right.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the owner of that hand was on her knees, and +in this manner sought to rise up.</p> + +<p>Elmer, still looking, saw a head presently fill part of +the crude window.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Elmer fairly held his breath, fearing that she might +have discovered the lurker, or at least entertained suspicions +regarding his presence there.</p> + +<p>But not so.</p> + +<p>Her eyes, having swept back and forth until they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +fairly covered the whole interior of the dimly lighted shack, +seemed to be attracted toward one particular spot.</p> + +<p>This was where the string of beads hung from the nail +driven into a log.</p> + +<p>It was the lodestone which had served to draw this +woman once more into the danger zone.</p> + +<p>And from that instant, if Elmer had allowed the slightest +doubt to creep into his mind before, it no longer found +lodgment there.</p> + +<p>The woman was bound to enter in order to obtain possession +of that precious string of beads.</p> + +<p>Once she thrust her head and shoulders through the +opening and attempted to clutch the rosary, but the effort +was useless.</p> + +<p>"Now she is coming!"</p> + +<p>Elmer whispered this to himself as he saw that the +woman no longer occupied the opening—she had undoubtedly +started for the door.</p> + +<p>Yes, now he could see the closed door begin to quiver, +as though eager hands had started to open it.</p> + +<p>Elmer held his breath with eagerness, and all the while +watched the door.</p> + +<p>Between his strong teeth the scout master held a little +German silver whistle, such as patrol leaders usually carry +for signaling purposes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Now the door was surely opening wider. Even in her +hurry the Italian woman did not forget the need of due<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +caution when all these enemies seemed to be hanging +around.</p> + +<p>Her experiences across the ocean may have made her +exceedingly ill disposed to trust anything that wore a +uniform.</p> + +<p>Yes, the door had given way by now to admit a moving +figure, and then it was drawn shut again.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>RUN DOWN.</h3> + + +<p>Straight across the floor of the shack glided the woman.</p> + +<p>She was making a bee line for the string of beads with +the little silver cross at the double end.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now was his time.</p> + +<p>The critical moment had arrived when he must proceed +to spring his trap.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And so Elmer did not think it was unworthy of a true +scout to send out the call for help.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And so he blew a shrill blast that must bring both Mark +and Lil Artha dashing to the spot.</p> + +<p>The effect upon the woman was rather surprising.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Elmer might have expected seeing her cower +down, seized with a sudden overwhelming fear, but nothing +of the kind occurred.</p> + +<p>To his surprise she snatched out a wicked-looking knife<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>He could hear the rush of approaching footsteps even +as the woman sprang for the door with a wild look on her +face.</p> + +<p>The other two scouts had of course caught his shrill +signal, and were hastening to join their leader.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And hence they would surely understand that there was +no man opposed to their combined force.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But with her brandishing that wicked-looking knife and +leaping for the door, there was certainly no opportunity +for argument.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer sprang forward.</p> + +<p>His main idea was to try and knock that blade from her +grasp by striking sharply on her arm or her knuckles.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Elmer lifted his voice in warning:</p> + +<p>"Look out, boys! She's got a knife, and is coming out +at you! Take care there!"</p> + +<p>Just then something happened.</p> + +<p>The woman had not turned her head as Elmer thus gave +tongue, as might a hound on the warm trail of the fox.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So now, when she hurled her whole weight against the +barrier it flew outward with a jump.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +by a battering ram from within, it struck the scouts a tremendous +blow.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the long-legged scout seemed to perform a complete +revolution in the air, landing on his knees among +the bushes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Still, nothing short of an earthquake could ever bottle +up the flow of animal spirits that usually possessed the +lanky one.</p> + +<p>While he applied his handkerchief until it looked particularly +gory, he was bent upon giving expression to his +views.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Same here, Elmer," lamented Mark, as he succeeded +in struggling to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Well, it wasn't anything like that at all," declared +Elmer, hastily; "and if you take the trouble to look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +yonder, before your eyes begin to close up, you'll see what +hit you, running away like a scared hippopotamus."</p> + +<p>"Glory be! Was it that dago woman?" yelled Lil Artha, +now on his feet again.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>So the three scouts left the shack and began to rush +after the fleeing Italian woman.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And so, almost from the start, the three scouts began to +close in upon the fleeing Italian woman.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"That's so, Elmer," piped up Mark, "I saw her shake +it at us then."</p> + +<p>"I know it, fellows," said the scout master, "and that's +what I was shouting about, to warn you."</p> + +<p>"Are we gaining any, Elmer? I can't see just as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +as I'd like, with this thing up to my nose," the lanky runner +asked.</p> + +<p>"Pulling up on her fast, my boy," came the reassuring +answer.</p> + +<p>"And what're we goin' to do when she turns on us?" +demanded Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"First of all, surround her."</p> + +<p>"That sounds good as far as she goes. What next?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The woman knew it, too.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Elmer knew what was apt to happen. For himself he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At any rate Lil Artha was game to the backbone, and +Elmer often remembered it afterward when "trying out" +his scouts.</p> + +<p>The closer they drew to the fleeing woman the greater +her fright seemed to become.</p> + +<p>Whenever he saw her looking backward over her shoulder +Elmer would make pantomime gestures with his free hand.</p> + +<p>He was trying the best he knew how to tell her to give +over this foolish flight, and that they had no hostile intentions.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Already the active mind of the young scout master was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>No doubt he would have succeeded in doing the job, +too, had conditions continued to make such a move necessary.</p> + +<p>But they did not.</p> + +<p>The fickle hand of Fate came in between just in time to +share in the matter.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"The woman!" shrieked Lil Artha, who, apparently, +from his position in the rear had been enabled to see just +what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Where—is—she?" gasped Mark, once more allowing +his eyes to travel ahead.</p> + +<p>For, apparently, the fleeing Italian had vanished at that +instant, as completely as though the earth had opened and +swallowed her up.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then presently he gave a shout as he guessed the true +situation.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"But look out for that dandelion knife, boys," warned +Elmer, as the three of them reached the spot.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>THE LANGUAGE OF SIGNS.</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Finally, as though realizing the uselessness of further +struggling against Fate, the woman stopped trying to get +up.</p> + +<p>Having twisted around in some manner, she just sat there +and stared at the three boys in khaki.</p> + +<p>"Now she's wondering what we're going to do," said +Mark, as they stood with the woman between them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of one thing, though," said Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"What might that be?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That's right," admitted Mark, cheerfully, for the fact +naturally pleased him.</p> + +<p>"And here it is, right at my feet," said Elmer, as he +stooped and took something from the ground.</p> + +<p>It was the knife which the Italian woman had flourished +so recklessly.</p> + +<p>"My stars, what a savage-looking thing!" ejaculated +Lil Artha, as he stared at the knife.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've overhauled the lady; now whatever are +we going to do with her?" demanded the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she understands English?" remarked +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Try her and see," Mark suggested.</p> + +<p>The woman had been watching them keenly all this while. +Her manner suggested that she might be trying to read her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +fate more from their actions than any words which they +would let fall.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Elmer stepped forward a pace.</p> + +<p>"No hurt," he said, in the gentlest tone he could muster; +"friends—boys—no soldiers."</p> + +<p>"She don't savvy worth a cent, Elmer," said Lil Artha, +in disgust.</p> + +<p>"And her eyes keep following your movements with the +knife, as if she thought you meant to strike her," observed +Mark.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me we ought first of all to get her foot free +from that nasty tangle," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Step in and cut the vine, Elmer," suggested Mark.</p> + +<p>When, however, the young scout master had taken a +step or two forward, knife in hand, the woman's fears +were once more aroused.</p> + +<p>She threw herself forward, struggling violently to release +her trapped foot. But the vine proved as strong as a new +clothesline, and held tenaciously.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, what a silly goose!" exclaimed Lil Artha, +"when all we want to do is to set her free."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Elmer handed over the knife to his chum at a moment +when he saw that the woman's eyes were fastened upon him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So Elmer commenced to use tact again.</p> + +<p>First of all he commenced to work at the vine, the woman +watching him eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No use, pardner," remarked Lil Artha. "That thing +is like steel bands, and the old woman has managed to tie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +herself up handsomely. Nothing but a knife, and a sharp +one, too, will do the business."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The woman was interested.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Deliberately Elmer again pretended to cut the vine with +his forefinger, then shook his head and afterward pointed +to the knife.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>Elmer knew that his actions would no longer be misconstrued. +The Italian woman understood.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Of course it was only a small job now to cut through the +obstinate vine at a point where the greatest holding point +lay.</p> + +<p>"There you are!" remarked Lil Artha, as the knife +severed the last strand.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The woman had guessed that Elmer must be the leader +of the three strangers in uniform. Hence she looked to him +for orders.</p> + +<p>"Well, what're we going to do with this pretty thing, +now that we've got it?" remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"I suppose, first of all, we ought to go back to the +shack," said Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"That's about the only thing open to us," Elmer replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there may be ways," smiled Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"How about George?" remarked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"What! George Robbins?" asked the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then let's get back to the shack. Fall in around the +woman. That ought to tell her what we want her to do."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then Elmer pointed backward in the direction they had +just come from.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go!" he said, impressively.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Elmer quietly closed the door.</p> + +<p>"How are you going to fasten it?" asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"I wish that was the hardest nut I had to crack," +laughed the scout master. "Fortunately the door opens +outwardly."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately, you mean," echoed Mark, as he touched +the painful lump on his forehead.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE CALL OF THE WOLF.</h3> + + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Reckon that ought to hold all right," panted the burden +bearer, as he cast the small tree trunk at Elmer's feet.</p> + +<p>"Fine and dandy," commented Mark, beginning to +get the barricade in position.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Elmer dug a little hole, first of all, at a certain distance +from the door, after the length of the log had been tested.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"No danger of that slipping loose if she tries to push +out," remarked Elmer.</p> + +<p>Mark gave several additional pulls downward at the +upper end of the log, to make it still firmer.</p> + +<p>"I'll just wager," he said, finally, "that nobody, man +or woman, could open that door now from the inside."</p> + +<p>"How about the window?" asked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"You might manage to crawl through that small opening, +but that broad-beamed woman, never," declared the +scout master, positively.</p> + +<p>"Then we've got our wild bird safely caged."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Looks like it, for the time being, anyhow," was the +way Elmer replied.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's many a slip between the cup and the lip, +you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, rats! Get down to business, Elmer. What might +happen to upset our plans?" asked the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"One of the men might return."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Wow, I guess she could, Elmer!" remarked the tall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"One thing I know, and that is they've left the low +ground and gone up the side of the mountain."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But why d'ye suppose now they'd be so pesky mean +as to climb the hill?" demanded the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"Oh, perhaps they guessed it would be harder for anyone +to track them up there," Elmer answered.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Elmer seemed to agree with this suggestion, for he nodded +his head after Mark had advanced it.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can manage?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I guess you'll do all right, Lil Artha," laughed Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Before you go, Elmer," said Mark, "please tell us just +why you believe these Italians haven't meant to hurt our +chum Nat."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Counterfeiting, perhaps," suggested Mark. "Seems to +me I've heard that the Italians are pretty smart at that +sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't imagine it's anything as serious as that," +Elmer replied.</p> + +<p>"Then tell us what you <i>do</i> think," demanded Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"You <i>will</i> force my hand, will you?" laughed Elmer.</p> + +<p>"It's only fair to tell us," pleaded the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>He thrust the queer, sharp-pointed knife that had been +taken from the woman into the hand of Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>That individual immediately raised it to his nose, took +one good smell, and made a wry face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ugh! rank fishy odor, all right!" he declared.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Then you believe this bunch is getting fish out of +Munsey mill pond, and selling them, perhaps over in Scarsdale?" +said Mark.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"And I never saw so many big frogs as there are around +here," Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"That's because even the boys keep away from the +haunted mill," Mark added.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Well, it does take you to figure things out just, I must +say," laughed Mark.</p> + +<p>"He's a wizard, that's what," declared Lil Artha, whose +admiration for his leader was boundless.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they throw it all back in the pond for fish +bait," suggested the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"Not a bad idea," commented Elmer.</p> + +<p>"And the cellar under the mill cottage?" asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"They might use that as a cool place to keep the fish until +they can get them to market," Elmer replied.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact, seeing they have no ice to pack them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +in," Lil Artha observed. "And the more I think of it +all, the better it looks to me, fellows."</p> + +<p>"Then you believe my explanation may be the true +answer to our chum's vanishing?"</p> + +<p>"I sure do."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"And your orders are just the same?" Mark asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you two keep guard over the shack, and don't +let the prisoner get away, if you can prevent it."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"That's an idea worth while," Elmer quickly replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I get 'em once in a long time," grinned the other.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And then what? Supposing George is able to get +that pounded into her head?" asked Lil Artha.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, he must make her understand that we want to +conduct an exchange of prisoners."</p> + +<p>"By that, Elmer," Mark broke in, "I suppose you +mean well give the woman up if they let Nat go free?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That's all, boys; I'll be going now."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was evidently a pretty good imitation of the howl of +a wolf.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>All eyes were accordingly turned toward that quarter +from whence the note of the wolf had seemed to come.</p> + +<p>This was a little up the side of the mountain. Elmer, +thinking to give the other his location, sent out an answering +signal.</p> + +<p>"You're scaring the old woman again with your howls," +remarked Lil Artha, pointing to the shack, at the small<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +window of which they could see the face of the prisoner, +filled with wonder and awe.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the Italian woman was beginning to suspect +she had fallen into the hands of a pack of crazy people.</p> + +<p>"There he comes!" suddenly announced Mark, pointing +as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Looks like Dr. Ted," remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what d'ye suppose Ted's coming back after?" +pursued the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"They're up against it, good and hard, bet you a cooky +on it," declared Lil Artha, as the other scout drew near.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE NEED OF A PATHFINDER.</h3> + + +<p>As Dr. Ted approached he made the scout salute in due +regulation style.</p> + +<p>"You're wanted above, thir," he said to the acting +scout master.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By that I suppose you mean they've struck a snag?" +questioned Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Ted glanced that way, and caught sight of the face in +the window.</p> + +<p>"The old Italian woman, eh?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Lil Artha, as proudly as though the honors +of the capture belonged exclusively to him.</p> + +<p>"Then she did come back for her beadth?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Tell you all about it on the way, for we must +be moving now, Ted," the scout master remarked.</p> + +<p>"All right. I'm with you, Elmer. Come on, then," and, +wheeling sharply around, Ted started to retrace his steps.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>As they toiled upward Elmer, keeping his promise, related +all that had happened in the neighborhood of the +hidden shack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Tell me thome more about that, pleath," said Ted, +while they were still climbing.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"That'th a bully good idea, all right," said Ted, when +the story was finished.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it sounds fishy?" laughed Elmer.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I reckon we are," replied Ted. "Suppothe you try +your whistle, and give 'em a call."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>It proved to be decent enough for the two climbers to +reach the spot where Matty and the rest of the troop awaited +them.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Matty has even hinted that he believes those Italians +must have had wings somewhere around here, and just +flown away," laughed Chatz.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Of course his words stirred the scouts as nothing else +could have done. They crowded around and began to beg +for particulars.</p> + +<p>"Where's Lil Artha?" one questioned.</p> + +<p>"And Mark?" exclaimed another.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>When Elmer nodded his head they broke out into a rousing +boyish cheer.</p> + +<p>"Tell us all about it, Elmer," was flung at the scout +master from all quarters.</p> + +<p>As this was Elmer's intention anyway he lost no time +in briefly though forcibly describing all that had taken +place down below.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," came the ready answer.</p> + +<p>"You understand Italian, and talk it some, I've been +told?" Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>Why, some of the boys often called Ted "Sawbones," +because he gave himself over, heart and soul, to his one +great hobby.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Show me where you saw it last, Matty," he said.</p> + +<p>"Here you are, then," came the reply; "that footprint +is as plain as anything."</p> + +<p>"So it is," remarked Elmer, after studying the mark +briefly. "Our chum made that, I'm positive."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then he must have done it on purpose," said Matty, +"because I've noticed that one footprint right along."</p> + +<p>Elmer smiled.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>They watched his actions eagerly, each fellow bent on +learning all he could of the science that was already proving +to be so interesting.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And mindful of his position as acting scout master to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +troop during the temporary absence of Mr. Garrabrant, +Elmer made it a point to explain more or less as he went +along.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>In this fashion, then, he not only intensely interested his +followers, but continued to make progress all the while.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>All this sort of talk tended to key the anticipations of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +the boys up to a point where they were expecting almost +anything to happen.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Still they proved their grit by keeping on, as if determined +to stick it out.</p> + +<p>Even fat Landy Smith, while actually panting for breath, +and mopping his forehead with a damp handkerchief, stubbornly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +declined to own himself in the "has been" class, +as Red called it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>RESCUED—CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>"Scatter, and hide!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Immediately the valiant scouts scurried around, each +eagerly desirous of finding some sort of snug retreat.</p> + +<p>No further shots came, much to the satisfaction of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +boys, and inside of half a minute not a figure was to be +seen upon the little plateau.</p> + +<p>It chanced that Red had selected the same rock as Elmer +picked out, behind which to crouch.</p> + +<p>And of course Red could not long remain silent, since +his overcharged feelings just had to find a vent.</p> + +<p>"Whew, this is what I call warm!" he said, puffing.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The ginnies fired it, of course, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of that."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"But what makes you think that, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Because I saw the powder smoke puff out from those +little bushes when the report sounded," replied Elmer.</p> + +<p>"But my stars! that's all of fifty feet up. How d'ye<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +suppose those dagoes could get up there?" continued the +one who sought information.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What're we going to do, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing—just now, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Just sit on our haunches, and wait for our birds to +drop into our hands, eh?" pursued Red.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"You think the old woman may help out?"</p> + +<p>"I know she will, if George can only succeed in convincing +her that we're friends, not enemies."</p> + +<p>"Then we're waiting till they arrive?" asked Red.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to give the signal for retiring as soon as +the boys get their breath back," remarked the scout master.</p> + +<p>"Well, they might be in better places, because the sun +feels scorching to me right now," grumbled Red.</p> + +<p>"Then pick out your new roost, and be ready to migrate +as soon as you hear the whistle. Pass the word along, too, +Red."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope George has succeeded in explaining everything +to the woman by now," remarked Red.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then the shrill notes sounded, cutting the air as though +charged with irresistible force.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Again did Red and Elmer find themselves good neighbors +as they arrived at a pile of rocks, behind which they +sought shelter.</p> + +<p>"All safe?" asked the former.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's a part of the contract," said Elmer; "so just +make yourself as comfy as you can."</p> + +<p>"And watch the big rock there, eh, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you want. We would feel pretty cheap if they +took a sly sneak, and left us in the lurch."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Confidence thus begets confidence in others; and this in +itself was one of Elmer's reasons for acting as he did.</p> + +<p>The minutes passed.</p> + +<p>Several times did impatient Red get up on his knees to +take a look down the hill.</p> + +<p>"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——"</p> + +<p>Right there Red stopped in his predictions of evil.</p> + +<p>"There they come," said Elmer, quietly.</p> + +<p>One hasty look satisfied Red that his comrade spoke only +the truth. Moving figures caught his eye just a little way +down the slope.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +he would finish with a series of gestures and shrugs as he +had seen chattering Italians do.</p> + +<p>And presently they reached the spot where the balance +of the scouts held forth.</p> + +<p>The woman surveyed them as she came up, but Elmer +noticed that she did not seem afraid now.</p> + +<p>"I guess you've done the business, George," he remarked +to the new recruit.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied the other, with a broad grin, "that's +what I think myself, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"She understands now who we are, and that we haven't +any intention of doing her men any harm—you explained +all that?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. And you can see now that instead of looking +scared, she's ready to grin if you give her any encouragement," +replied George.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"All right, then. The sooner we start the ball rolling +the better. Come along, George."</p> + +<p>Presently the two of them were escorting the Italian +woman toward the foot of the cliff.</p> + +<p>When two thirds of the way there an angry, excitable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +voice stopped them. On looking up they could see several +heads topping the sparse vegetation that undoubtedly grew +along a ledge.</p> + +<p>"Now, tell her to talk, George!" said Elmer.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But the woman did most of the talking. She also scolded, +stamped her foot, and even shook her fist up at those above.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Elmer," declared George.</p> + +<p>"Are they going to do what we want?" asked the scout +master, greatly pleased.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>A loud cheer from the scouts told how they were enjoying +the situation.</p> + +<p>Nat Scott waved his hand to them in greeting, for, having +lost his hat at the shack, he was bareheaded.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>Leaving the woman to rejoin her people the scouts made +their way down the side of the mountain until they reached +the mill pond.</p> + +<p>Nat's story was brief, and just about what Elmer had +guessed. In prowling around he had unexpectedly come +upon the three men.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>On the way up the mountain the woman had discovered +the loss of something, and gone back.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>That was all Nat knew, and the whole thing smacked +strongly of mystery until he heard what Elmer's theory was.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That stamps you a true-blue scout, Nat," declared +Elmer, "and I think the troop has reason to be proud of +you."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>As their main object had been carried out while on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was one disappointed scout in the troop however, +and this was Chatz Maxfield.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>However, Chatz would continue to live in hope.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd4">THE END.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<h2><big>ADDENDA</big><br /><br /> +BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<p class="hd4">BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE<br /> +HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> + + +<tr><td class="td3"><span class="curly">}</span>Wild Animals of the United States<br />Tracking</td><td class="td3">in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td4" colspan="2">The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="2">Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td4" colspan="2">Woodcraft, or How a Patrol Leader Made Good.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="2">Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td4" colspan="2">Pathfinder, or the Missing Tenderfoot.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="2">Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td4" colspan="2">Fast Nine, or a Challenge from Fairfield.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="2">Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td4" colspan="2">Great Hike, or the Pride of the Khaki Troop.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> + +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="2">Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td4" colspan="2">Endurance Test, or How Clear Grit Won the Day.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> + +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE REPTILES OF THE UNITED STATES.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The class of reptiles is made up of five orders:</p> + +<p class="outof"> +Sphenodons;<br /> +Lacertilia;<br /> +Ophidia;<br /> +Chelonia;<br /> +Crocodilia.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/005.png" width="700" height="435" alt="" title="" /> +PTEROSAURS.</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> +<h2><big>THE LIZARDS</big></h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LACERTILIA OR LIZARDS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 504px;"> +<img src="images/006.png" width="504" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +LIZARDS.<br /><br />1. ZEBRA-TAILED LIZARD. +2. PACIFIC SWIFT. +3. COLLARED LIZARD.<br /> +4. WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT. +5. COMMON SWIFT OR FENCE LIZARD.</div> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +live on insects, but some types as, for instance, the Iguanas, +live entirely on vegetable matter, while others prey on +birds, mice, frogs, etc.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Geckos.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Chameleons.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Iguanas.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/007.png" width="700" height="284" alt="" title="" /> +IGUANA.</div> + + + + +<p class="hd5">The Chuckawalla.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Collared Lizard.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Leopard Lizard.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Zebra-tailed Lizards.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Spotted Lizards.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Swifts.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Collared Swift lives among rocks in Arizona, New +Mexico and Texas. It has a black collar with very sharp +spiny scales.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Horned Lizard.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Regal Horned Lizard is found in Arizona and Colorado.</p> + +<p>The California Horned Lizard is found abundantly in +sections of California.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 515px;"> +<img src="images/008.png" width="515" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +HORNED TOAD.</div> + + + + +<p class="hd5">The Snake-like Lizards.</p> + +<p>These lizards have elongated bodies with either small +limbs or no external evidence of such. Some cannot be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +easily distinguished from snakes. On close examination it +will be seen that there is a ridge along each side of the +body.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Beaded Lizards.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">Xanthus Lizards.</p> + +<p>Small lizards that are found where the tree yuccas grow.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Race Runners.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Worm Lizards.</p> + +<p>These are a low grade of lizards that live underground +like worms. The Worm Lizard, found in Florida, is scarcely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Skinks.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Here we reach the end of the order of reptiles known as +lizards; the next order is that of the snakes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> +<h2><big>THE SNAKES</big></h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE OPHIDIA OR SNAKES.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Blind Snakes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Boas.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Ribbon Snakes.</p> + +<p>These snakes have a yellow stripe along the back and the +sides. They are long, slim snakes; specimens have been seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Garter Snakes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Water Snakes.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 453px;"> +<img src="images/009.png" width="453" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +WATER SNAKE.</div> + + + +<p class="hd5">The Ground Snake or Brown Snake.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Racers.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Rat Snakes or Colubers.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Bull Snakes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Green Snakes.</p> + +<p>The Green Whip Snake or Magnolia Snake is green above, +yellow below. It feeds on insects and is a good climber.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Ring-necked Snakes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The King Snakes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Rainbow Snakes.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Hog-nosed Snakes.</p> + +<p>These snakes are fighters. The peculiar formation of the +mouth makes them easily distinguishable. They hiss when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +disturbed and flatten their heads and necks. They are +popularly known as "adders" and "vipers." They are +found in dry and sandy situations.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Harlequin or Coral Snake.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Moccasins.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a> +<img src="images/010.png" width="700" height="407" alt="" title="" /> +THE MOCCASIN.</div> + +<p class="hd5">The Rattlesnakes.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 502px;"> +<img src="images/011.png" width="502" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +RATTLESNAKE.</div> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> +<h2><big>THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES</big></h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CHELONIA OR TURTLES AND TORTOISES.</h2> + + +<p>Turtles and tortoises belong to the order known as Chelonia. +There are Fresh-water Turtles, Sea Turtles and +Land Turtles.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Sea Turtles.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> +<img src="images/012.png" width="700" height="492" alt="" title="" /> +SEA TURTLE.</div> + +<p class="hd5">The Snapping Turtles.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Mud Turtles.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Terrapins.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Box Turtles.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 486px;"> +<img src="images/013.png" width="486" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +BOX TURTLE.</div> + +<p class="hd5">The Tortoises.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="hd5">The Soft-shelled Turtles.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> +<h2><big>THE CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS</big></h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CROCODILIA OR THE CROCODILES AND +ALLIGATORS.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 584px;"> +<img src="images/014.png" width="584" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +1. ALLIGATOR. 2. CROCODILE.</div> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX</h2> + + + +<ul><li>Adder,<ul> +<li> Berg, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Checkered, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Flat-headed, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> +<li>Puff, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Agassiz's Tortoise, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> + +<li>Alligators, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li>Alligator Snapping Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Anolis, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Banded<ul> +<li>Gecko, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Mud Turtle, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Water Snake, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Beaded Lizards, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> + +<li>Berg Adder, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Black<ul> +<li>-banded Skink, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> +<li>Iguana, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> +<li>Snake, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><ul> +<li>Mountain, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Pilot, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> + +<li>Blind Snakes, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><ul> +<li>California, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Texas, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Blow Snake, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Boas, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><ul> +<li>Rubber, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Box Turtle, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> + +<li>Brown Snake, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> + +<li>Bull Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Bushmaster, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>California<ul> +<li>Blind Snake, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Horned Toad, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Cape<ul> +<li>Gecko, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Iguana, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Chameleon, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> + +<li>Checkered Adder, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Chelonia, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Chicken<ul> +<li>Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><ul> +<li>Red, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Turtle, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Chuckawalla, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> + +<li>Clark's Swift, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> + +<li>Coachwhip Snake, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> + +<li>Cobra,<ul> +<li>King, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +<li>Spectacled, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Cobra-de-Capello, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Collared<ul> +<li>Lizard, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +<li>Swift, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Colubers, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><ul> +<li>Red, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Common Swift, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> + +<li>Copperhead, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li>Coral Snake, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Corn Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Cotton Mouth Snake, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Crocodiles, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li>Crocodilia, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> + +<li>Cumberland Terrapin, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Desert<ul> +<li>Iguana, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> +<li>Tortoise, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Diamond-back<ul> +<li>Rattlesnake <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> +<li>Terrapin, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Water Snake, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Dinosaurs, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Eutænia, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Fence Lizard, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> + +<li>Fer-de-lance, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li>Flapjack Turtle, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> + +<li>Flat-headed Adder, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Florida Skink, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> + +<li>Fox Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Fresh-water Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Garter Snakes, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> + +<li>Gecko, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><ul> +<li>Banded, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Cape, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Reef, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Warty, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Gila Monster, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> + +<li>Glass Snake, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> + +<li>Gopher<ul> +<li>Snake, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Tortoise, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Grass Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Green<ul> +<li>Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Water Snake, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li> +<li>Whip Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Ground Snake, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Harlequin Snake, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Hawksbill Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Hog-nosed Snakes, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Hoop Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Horn Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Horned<ul> +<li>Lizard, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Toads, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><ul> +<li>California, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Regal, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> +</ul> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + + + +<ul><li>Ichthyosaurs, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Iguana, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><ul> +<li>Black, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> +<li>Cape, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> +<li>Desert, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Indigo Snake, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Keeled Lizard, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> + +<li>King<ul> +<li>Cobra, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +<li>Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Lacertilia, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> + +<li>Land Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Leatherback Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Leopard Lizard, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> + +<li>Lizards, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><ul> +<li>Beaded, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +<li>Collared, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +<li>Fence, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>Horned, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Keeled, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> +<li>Leopard, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +<li>Red-headed, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> +<li>Snake-like, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Spotted, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +<li>Worm, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +<li>Xanthus, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +<li>Zebra-tailed, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Loggerhead Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Long-necked Terrapin, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Magnolia Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Massasauga, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li>Milk Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><ul> +<li>Red, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Moccasin, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><ul> +<li>Water, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Mountain, Black, Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Mouse Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Mud<ul> +<li>Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Turtle, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Musk Turtle, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Ophidia, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Pacific Swift, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> + +<li>Painted Terrapin, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> + +<li>Pilot Black Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Pine Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Plesiosaurs, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Pond Turtle, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> + +<li>Pterosaurs, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> + +<li>Puff Adder, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Queen Snakes, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Racers, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><ul> +<li>Scarlet, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Striped, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Race Runners, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> + +<li>Rainbow Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Rattlesnakes, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><ul> +<li>Diamond-back, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Rat Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Red<ul> +<li>-bellied Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><ul> +<li>Water Snake, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul> +<li>Chicken Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Coluber, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Headed Lizard, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> +<li>Milk Snake, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Reef Gecko, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> + +<li>Regal Horned Toad, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> + +<li>Ribbon Snakes, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> + +<li>Ring-necked Snakes, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> + +<li>Rubber Boas, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> + +<li>Russell's Viper, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Scarlet Racer, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>Sea Turtles, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> + +<li>Silver Snake, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> + +<li>Skink, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><ul> +<li>Black-banded, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> +<li>Florida, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Snake-like Lizards, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> + +<li>Snakes, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><ul> +<li>Banded Water, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> +<li>Black, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +<li>Blind, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><ul> +<li>California, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Texas, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Blow, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> +<li>Brown, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +<li>Bull, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>California Blind, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Chicken, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><ul> +<li>Red, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Coachwhip, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +<li>Copperhead, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +<li>Coral, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> +<li>Corn, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Cotton Mouth, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> +<li>Diamond-back<ul> +<li>Rattle, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> +<li>Water, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Fox, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Garter, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> +<li>Glass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></li> +<li>Gopher, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Grass, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Green, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><ul> +<li>Water, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li> +<li>Whip, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Ground, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +<li>Harlequin, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> +<li>Hog-nosed, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Hoop, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Horn, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Indigo, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +<li>King, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Magnolia, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Milk, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Mountain, Black, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Mouse, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Mud, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Pilot Black, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Pine, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Queen, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> +<li>Rainbow, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Rat, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Red, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><ul> +<li>-bellied, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><ul> +<li>Water, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Milk, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Ribbon, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Ring-necked, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Silver, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Texas Blind, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Two-headed, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Water, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li> +<li>Worm, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Yellow Gopher, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Snapping Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Soft-shelled Turtle, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> + +<li>Spectacled Cobra, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li>Sphenodon, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + +<li>Spotted<ul> +<li>Lizard, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +<li>Turtle, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Striped Racers, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> + +<li>Swifts, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><ul> +<li>Clark's, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Collared, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Common, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> +<li>Pacific, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>White-bellied, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>Yellow-striped, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Terrapin, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><ul> +<li>Cumberland, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Diamond-back, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Long-necked, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Painted, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Yellow-bellied, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Texas Blind Snake, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> + +<li>Timber Rattlesnake, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> + +<li>Tortoises, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><ul> +<li>Agassiz's, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> +<li>Desert, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> +<li>Gopher, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Trunk Turtle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> + +<li>Turtles, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><ul> +<li>Alligator Snapping, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Banded Mud, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Box, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> +<li>Chicken, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Flapjack, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> +<li>Fresh-water, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Green, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Hawksbill, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Land, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Leatherback, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Loggerhead, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Mud, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></li> +<li>Musk, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></li> +<li>Pond, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Sea, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> +<li>Snapping, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Soft-shelled, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> +<li>Spotted, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Trunk, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Two-headed Snake, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Viper, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><ul> +<li>Russell's, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Warty Gecko, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> + +<li>Water Moccasin, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> + +<li>Water Snakes, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><ul> +<li>Diamond-back, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li> +<li>Green, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li> +<li>Red-bellied, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li></ul></li> + +<li>Whip Snake, Green, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> + +<li>White-bellied Swift, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> + +<li>Worm<ul> +<li>Lizards, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +<li>Snakes, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Yellow<ul> +<li>-bellied Terrapin, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Gopher Snake, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Striped Swift, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li></ul></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Xanthus Lizards, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<ul><li>Zebra-tailed Lizards, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +</ul> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts</span></h2> + +<h3>A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS</h3> + +<p class="hd3">Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout stories by CAPTAIN ALAN<br /> +DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature lore, native animals<br /> +and a fund of other information pertaining to out-of-door life,<br /> +that will appeal to the boy's love of the open</p> + +<hr style='width: 15%; margin: 0 auto;' /> + +<p class="hd6">I. The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p class="hd6">II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p class="hd6">III. Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p class="hd6">IV. Fast Nine; or, a Challenge From Fairfield</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p class="hd6">V. Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p class="hd6">VI. Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>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.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%; margin: 0 auto;' /> + +<p class="hd3">Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge +Boy Scout Series</p> + +<p class="outof">Wild Animals of the United States—Tracking—in Number I.<br /> +Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.<br /> +Reptiles of the United States in Number III.<br /> +Fishes of the United States in Number IV.<br /> +Insects of the United States in Number V.<br /> +Birds of the United States in Number VI.</p> + +<hr style='width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;' /> + +<p class="center" style="margin: 0;"><i>Cloth Binding Cover Illustrations in Four Colors 40c. Per Volume</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;' /> + +<p class="hd3"><big>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</big><br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St) NEW YORK</p> + + + + +<div class="trans1"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +Dialect spellings have been retained.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pathfinder, by Alan Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PATHFINDER *** + +***** This file should be named 22924-h.htm or 22924-h.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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