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diff --git a/28531.txt b/28531.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a2d637 --- /dev/null +++ b/28531.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7043 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Banner Boy Scouts Snowbound, by George +A. Warren + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Banner Boy Scouts Snowbound + A Tour on Skates and Iceboats + + +Author: George A. Warren + + + +Release Date: April 7, 2009 [eBook #28531] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS SNOWBOUND*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 28531-h.htm or 28531-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/5/3/28531/28531-h/28531-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/5/3/28531/28531-h.zip) + + + + + +THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS SNOWBOUND + +Or + +A Tour on Skates and Iceboats + +by + +GEORGE A. WARREN + +Author of "The Banner Boy Scouts," +"The Musket Boys of Old Boston," Etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "LOOK OUT! THE SECOND CAT!" YELLED PAUL. +_The Banner Boy Scouts Snowbound Page 161_] + + + + +The Saalfield Publishing Co. +Akron, Ohio--New York +Made In U. S. A. + +Copyright, 1916, by +Cupples & Leon Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. On the Frozen Bushkill 1 + II. When the Old Ice-House Fell 8 + III. The Rescue 15 + IV. A Quick Return for Services Rendered 23 + V. A Startling Interruption 30 + VI. A Gloomy Prospect for Jud 38 + VII. Paul Takes a Chance 46 + VIII. Bobolink and the Storekeeper 54 + IX. "Fire!" 62 + X. The Accusation 69 + XI. Friends of the Scouts 76 + XII. The Iceboat Squadron 84 + XIII. On the Way 91 + XIV. The Ring of Steel Runners 98 + XV. Tolly Tip and the Forest Cabin 105 + XVI. The First Night Out 112 + XVII. "Tip-Ups" for Pickerel 119 + XVIII. The Helping Hand of a Scout 126 + XIX. News of Big Game 134 + XX. At the Beaver Pond 141 + XXI. Setting the Flashlight Trap 149 + XXII. Waylaid in the Timber 157 + XXIII. The Blizzard 165 + XXIV. The Duty of the Scout 172 + XXV. Among the Snowdrifts 180 + XXVI. Dug Out 187 + XXVII. "First Aid" 194 + XXVIII. More Startling News 202 + XXIX. The Wild Dog Pack 211 + XXX. A Change of Plans 219 + XXXI. Good-Bye to Deer Head Lodge 227 + XXXII. The Capture of the Hobo Yeggmen 235 + XXXIII. Conclusion 243 + + + + +PREFACE + + +DEAR BOYS:-- + +Once more it is my privilege to offer you a new volume wherein I have +endeavored to relate further interesting adventures in which the +members of Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts take part. Most of my readers, +I feel sure, remember Paul, Jud, Bobolink, Jack and many of the other +characters, and will gladly greet them as old friends. + +To such of you who may be making the acquaintance of these manly young +chaps for the first time I can only say this. I trust your interest in +their various doings along the line of scoutcraft will be strong +enough to induce you to secure the previous volumes in this series in +order to learn at first hand of the numerous achievements they have +placed to their credit. + +The boys comprising the original Red Fox Patrol won the beautiful +banner they own in open competition with other rival organizations. +From that day, now far in the past, Stanhope Troop has been known as +the Banner Boy Scouts. Its possession has always served as an +inspiration to Paul and his many staunch comrades. Every time they see +its silken folds unfurled at the head of their growing marching line +they feel like renewing the vows to which they so willingly subscribed +on first joining the organization. + +Many of their number, too, are this day proudly wearing on their +chests the medals they have won through study, observation, service, +thrift, or acts of heroism, such as saving human life at the risk of +their own. + +I trust that all my many young readers will enjoy the present volume +fully as much as they did those that have appeared before now. Hoping, +then, to meet you all again before a great while in the pages of +another book; and with best wishes for every lad who aspires to climb +the ladder of leadership in his home troop, believe me, + + Cordially yours, + GEORGE A. WARREN. + + + + +THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS SNOWBOUND + +CHAPTER I + +ON THE FROZEN BUSHKILL + + +"Watch Jack cut his name in the ice, fellows!" + +"I wish I could do the fancy stunts on skates he manages to pull off. +It makes me green with envy to watch Jack Stormways do that trick." + +"Oh, shucks! what's the use of saying that, Wallace Carberry, when +everybody knows your strong suit is long-distance skating? The fact is +both the Carberry twins are as much at home on the ice as I am when I +get my knees under the supper table." + +"That's kind of you to throw bouquets my way, Bobolink. But, boys, +stop and think. Here it is--only four days now to Christmas, and the +scouts haven't made up their minds yet where to spend the glorious +holidays." + +"Y-y-yes, and b-b-by the same token, this year we're g-g-going to +g-g-get a full three-weeks' vacation in the b-b-bargain, b-b-because +they have t-t-to overhaul the f-f-furnaces." + +"Hold on there, Bluff Shipley! If you keep on falling all over +yourself like that you'll have to take a whole week to rest up." + +"All the same," remarked the boy who answered to the odd name of +Bobolink, "it's high time we scouts settled that important matter for +good." + +"The assistant scout-master, Paul Morrison, has called a meeting at +headquarters for to-night, you understand, boys," said the fancy +skater, who had just cut the name of Paul Morrison in the smooth, new +ice of the Bushkill river. + +"We must arrange the programme then," observed Bobolink, "because it +will take a couple of days to get everything ready for the trip, no +matter where we go." + +"Huh!" grunted another skater, "I can certainly see warm times ahead +for the cook at _your_ house, Bobolink, provided you've still got that +ferocious appetite to satisfy." + +"Oh! well, Tom Betts," laughed the other, "I notice that you seldom +take a back seat when the grub is being passed around. As for me I'm +proud of my stowage ability. A good appetite is one of the greatest +blessings a growing boy can have." + +"Pity the poor father though," chuckled Wallace Carberry, "because he +has to pay the freight." + +"Just to go back to the important subject," said Bluff Shipley, who +could speak as clearly as any one when not excited, "where do you +think the scouts will hike to for their Christmas holidays?" + +"Well, now, a winter camp on Rattlesnake Mountain wouldn't be such a +bad stunt," suggested Tom Betts, quickly. + +"For my part," remarked Bobolink, "I'd rather like to visit Lake +Tokala again, and see what Cedar Island looks like in the grip of Jack +Frost. The skating on that sheet of water must be great." + +"We certainly did have a royal good time there last summer," admitted +Jack, reflectively. + +"All the same," ventured Tom, "I think I know one scout who couldn't +be coaxed or hired to camp on Cedar Island again." + +"Meaning Curly Baxter," Bobolink went on to say scornfully, "who +brazenly admits he believes in ghosts, and couldn't be convinced that +the place wasn't haunted." + +"Curly won't be the only fellow to back out," suggested Jack. "While +we have a membership of over thirty on the muster roll of Stanhope +Troop, it isn't to be expected that more than half of them will agree +to make the outing with us." + +"Too much like hard work for some of the boys," asserted Tom. + +"I know a number who say they'd like to be with us, but their folks +object to a winter camp," Wallace announced. "So if we muster a +baker's dozen we can call ourselves lucky." + +"Of course it must be a real snow and ice hike this time," suggested +Bluff. + +"To be sure--and on skates at that!" cried Wallace, enthusiastically. + +"Oh! I hope there's a chance to use our iceboats too!" sighed Tom +Betts, who late that fall had built a new flier, and never seemed +weary of sounding the praises of his as yet untried "Speedaway." + +"Perhaps we may--who knows?" remarked Jack, mysteriously. + +The others, knowing that the speaker was the nearest and dearest chum +of Paul Morrison, assistant scout-master of Stanhope Troop of Boy +Scouts, turned upon him eagerly on hearing this suggestive remark. + +"You know something about the plans, Jack!" + +"Sure he does, and he ought to give us a hint in the bargain!" + +"Come, take pity on us, won't you, Jack?" + +But the object of all this pleading only shook his head and smiled as +he went on to say: + +"I'm bound to secrecy, fellows, and you wouldn't have me break my word +to our patrol leader. Just hold your horses a little while longer and +you'll hear everything. We're going to talk it over to-night and +settle the matter once for all. Now let's drop the subject. Here's a +new wrinkle I'm trying out." + +With that Jack started to spin around on his skates, and fairly +dazzled his mates with the wonderful ability he displayed as a fancy +skater. + +While they are thus engaged a few words of explanation may not come in +amiss. + +Stanhope Troop consisted of three full patrols, with another almost +completed. Though in the flood tide of success at the time we make the +acquaintance of the boys in this volume there were episodes in the +past history of the troop to which the older scouts often referred +with mingled emotions of pride and wonder. + +The present status of the troop had not been maintained without many +struggles. Envious rivals had tried to make the undertaking a failure, +while doubting parents had in many cases to be shown that association +with the scouts would be a thing of unequalled advantage to their +boys. + +Those who have read the previous books of this series have doubtless +already formed a warm attachment for the members of the Red Fox Patrol +and their friends, and will be greatly pleased to follow their +fortunes again. For the benefit of those who are making their +acquaintance for the first time it may be stated that besides Jack +Stormways and the four boys who were with him on the frozen Bushkill +this December afternoon, the roster of the Red Fox Patrol counted +three other names. + +These were Paul Morrison, the leader, the other Carberry twin, William +by name, and a boy whom they called "Nuthin," possibly because his +name chanced to be Albert Cypher. + +As hinted at in the remarks that flew between the skaters circling +around, many of the members of the troop had spent a rollicking +vacation the previous summer while aboard a couple of motor boats +loaned to them by influential citizens of their home town. The strange +adventures that had befallen the scouts on this cruise through winding +creeks and across several lakes have been given in the pages of the +volume preceding this book, called "The Banner Boy Scouts Afloat; Or, +The Secret of Cedar Island." + +Ever since their return from that cruise the boys had talked of little +else; and upon learning that the Christmas holidays would be +lengthened this season the desire to take another tour had seized upon +them. + +After Jack so summarily shut down upon the subject no one ventured to +plead with him any longer. All knew that he felt bound in honor to +keep any secret he had been entrusted with by the assistant +scout-master--for Paul often had to act in place of Mr. Gordon, a +young traveling salesman, who could not be with the boys as much as he +would have liked. + +Jack had just finished cutting the new figure, and his admirers were +starting to give vent to their delight over his cleverness when +suddenly there came a strange roaring sound that thrilled every one of +them through and through. It was as if the frozen river were breaking +up in a spring thaw. Some of the boys even suspected that there was +danger of being swallowed up in such a catastrophe, and had started to +skate in a frenzy of alarm for the shore when the voice of Bobolink +arose above the clamor. + +"Oh! look there, will you, fellows?" he shouted, pointing a trembling +finger up the river. "The old ice-house has caved in, just as they +feared it would. See the ice cakes sliding everywhere! And I saw men +and girls near there just five minutes ago. They may be caught under +all that wreckage for all we know! Jack, what shall we do about it?" + +"Come on, every one of you!" roared Jack Stormways, as he set off at +full speed. "This means work for the scouts! To the rescue, boys! +Hurry! hurry!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +WHEN THE OLD ICE-HOUSE FELL + + +Never before in the recollection of any Stanhope boy had winter +settled in so early as it had this year. They seldom counted on having +their first skate on the new ice before Christmas, and yet for two +weeks now some of the most daring had been tempting Providence by +venturing on the surface of the frozen Bushkill. + +The ice company had built a new house the preceding summer, though the +old one was still fairly well filled with a part of the previous +season's great crop. Its sides had bulged out in a suspicious manner, +so that many had predicted some sort of catastrophe, but somehow the +old building had weathered every gale, though it leaned to the south +sadly. The company apparently hoped it would hold good until they had +it emptied during the next summer, when they intended to build another +new structure on the spot. + +As the five boys started to skate at utmost speed up the river they +heard a medley of sounds. A panic had evidently struck such boys and +girls as were skimming over the smooth ice in protected bayous near +the ice-houses. Instead of hurrying to the assistance of those who may +have been caught in the fallen timbers of the wrecked building they +were for the most part fleeing from the scene, some of them shrieking +with terror. + +Several men who had been employed near by could be seen standing and +staring. It looked as though they hardly knew what to do. + +If ever there was an occasion where sound common sense and a readiness +to grasp a situation were needed it seemed to be just then. And, +fortunately, Jack Stormways was just the boy to meet the conditions. + +He sped up the river like an arrow from the bow, followed by the four +other scouts. The frightened girls who witnessed their passage always +declared that never had they seen Stanhope boys make faster speed, +even in a race where a valuable prize was held out as a lure to the +victor. + +As he bore down upon the scene of confusion Jack took it all in. Those +who were floundering amidst the numerous heavy cakes of ice must +engage their attention without delay. He paid little heed to the +fortunate ones who were able to be on their feet, since this fact +alone proved that they could not have been seriously injured. + +Several, however, were not so fortunate, and Jack's heart seemed to be +almost in his throat when he saw that two of the skaters lay in the +midst of the scattered cakes of ice as though painfully injured. + +"This way, boys!" shouted the boy in the van as they drew near the +scene of the accident. "Bluff, you and Wallace turn and head for that +one yonder. Bobolink, come with me--and Tom Betts." + +Five seconds later he was bending over a small girl who lay there +groaning and looking almost as white as the snow upon the hills around +Stanhope. + +"It's little Lucy Stackpole!" gasped Tom, as he also arrived. "Chances +are she was hit by one of these big ice cakes when they flew around!" + +Jack looked up. + +"Yes, I'm afraid she's been badly hurt, fellows. It looks to me like a +compound fracture of her right leg. She ought to be taken home in a +hurry. See if you can round up a sled somewhere, and we'll put her on +it." + +"Here's Sandy Griggs and Lub Ketcham with just the sort of big sled we +need!" cried Tom Betts, as he turned and beckoned to a couple of stout +lads who evidently belonged to one of the other patrols, since they +wore the customary campaign hats of the scouts. + +These boys had by now managed to recover from their great alarm, and +in response to the summons came hurrying up, anxious to be of service, +as true scouts always are. + +Jack, who had been speaking to the terrified girl, trying to soothe +her as best he could, proceeded in a business-like fashion to +accomplish the duty he had in hand. + +"Two of you help me lift Lucy on to the sled," he said. "We will have +to fasten her in some way so there'll be no danger of her slipping. +Then Sandy and Lub will drag her to her home. On the way try to get +Doctor Morrison over the 'phone so he can meet you there. The sooner +this fracture is attended to the better." + +"You could do it yourself, Jack, if it wasn't so bitter cold out +here," suggested Tom Betts, proudly, for next to Paul Morrison +himself, whose father was the leading physician of Stanhope, Jack was +known to be well up in all matters connected with first aid to the +injured. + +They lifted the suffering child tenderly, and placed her on the +comfortable sled. Both the newcomers were only too willing to do all +they could to carry out the mission of mercy that had been entrusted +to their charge. + +"We'll get her home in short order, Jack, never fear," said Sandy +Griggs, as he helped fasten an extra piece of rope around the injured +girl, so that she might not slip off the sled. + +"Yes, and have the doctor there in a jiffy, too," added Lub, who, +while a clumsy chap, in his way had a very tender heart and was as +good as gold. + +"Then get a move on you fellows," advised Jack. "And while speed is +all very good, safety comes first every time, remember." + +"Trust us, Jack!" came the ready and confident reply, as the two +scouts immediately began to seek a passage among the far-flung +ice-cakes that had been so suddenly released from their year's +confinement between the walls of the dilapidated ice-house. + +Only waiting to see them well off, Jack and the other two once more +turned toward the scene of ruin. + +"See, the boys have managed to get the other girl on her feet!" +exclaimed Bobolink, with a relieved air; "so I reckon she must have +been more scared than hurt, for which I'm right glad. What next, Jack? +Say the word and we'll back you to the limit." + +"We must take a look around the wreck of the ice-house," replied the +other, "though I hardly believe any one could have been inside at the +time it fell." + +"Whew, I should surely hope not!" cried Tom; "for the chances are ten +to one he'd be crushed as flat as a pancake before now, with all that +timber falling on him. I wouldn't give a snap of my fingers for his +life, Jack." + +"Let's hope then there's no other victim," said Jack. "If there is +none, it will let the ice company off easier than they really deserve +for allowing so ramshackle a building to stand, overhanging the river +just where we like to do most of our skating every winter." + +"Suppose we climb around the timbers and see if we can hear any sound +of groaning," suggested Bobolink, suiting the action to his words. + +Several men from the other ice-house reached the spot just then. + +Jack turned to them as a measure of saving time. If there were no men +working in the wrecked building at the time it fell there did not seem +any necessity for attempting to move any of the twisted timbers that +lay in such a confused mass. + +"Hello! Jan," he called out as the panting laborers arrived. "It was a +big piece of luck that none of you were inside the old ice-house when +it collapsed just now." + +The man whom he addressed looked blankly at the boy. Jack could see +that he was laboring under renewed excitement. + +"Look here! was there any one in the old building, do you know, Jan?" +he demanded. + +"I ban see Maister Garrity go inside yoost afore she smash down," was +the startling reply. + +The boys stared at each other. Mr. Thomas Garrity was a very rich and +singular citizen of Stanhope. + +Finally Bobolink burst out with: + +"Say, you know Mr. Garrity is one of the owners of these ice-houses, +fellows. I guess he must have come up here to-day to see for himself +if the old building was as rickety as people said." + +"Huh! then I guess he found out all right," growled Tom Betts. + +"Never mind that now," said Jack, hastily. "Mr. Garrity never had much +use for the scouts, but all the same he's a human being. We've got our +duty cut out for us plainly enough." + +"Guess you mean we must clear away this trash with the help of these +men here, Jack," suggested Wallace, eagerly. + +"Just what I had in mind," confessed Jack. "But before we start in +let's all listen and see if we can hear anything like a groan." + +All of them stood in an expectant attitude, straining their hearing to +the utmost. + +Presently the listeners plainly caught the sound of a groan. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE RESCUE + + +"Jack, he's here under all this stuff!" called out Bobolink, +excitedly. + +"Poor old chap," said Wallace. "I wouldn't like to give much for his +chance of getting out of the scrape with his life." + +"And to think," added Bluff, soberly, "that after all the +protestations made by the company that the old house couldn't fall, it +trapped one of the big owners when it smashed down. It's mighty queer, +it strikes me." + +"Keep still again," warned Jack. "I want to call out and see if Mr. +Garrity can hear me." + +"A bully good scheme, Jack!" asserted Bobolink. "If we can locate him +in that way it may save us a heap of hard work dragging these timbers +around." + +Jack dropped flat on his face, and, placing his mouth close to the +wreckage where it seemed worst, called aloud: + +"Hello! Mr. Garrity, can you hear me?" + +"Yes! Oh, yes!" came the faint response from somewhere below. + +"Are you badly hurt, sir?" continued the scout. + +"I don't know--I believe not, but a beam is keeping tons and tons from +falling on me. I am pinned down here, and can hardly move. Hurry and +get some of these timbers off before they fall and crush me!" + +Every word came plainly to their ears now. Evidently, Mr. Garrity, +understanding that relief was at hand, began to feel new courage. Jack +waited for no more. + +"I reckon I've located him, boys," he told the others, "and now we've +got to get busy." + +"Only tell us what to do, Jack," urged Wallace, "and there are plenty +of willing hands here for the work, what with these strong men and the +rest of the boys." + +Indeed, already newcomers were arriving, some of them being people who +had been passing along the turnpike near by in wagons or sleighs at +the time the accident happened, and who hastened to the spot in order +to render what assistance they could. + +Jack seemed to know just how to go about the work. If he had been in +the house-wrecking business for years he could hardly have improved +upon his system. + +"We've got to be careful, you understand, fellows," he told the others +as they labored strenuously to remove the upper timbers from the pile, +"because that one timber he mentioned is the key log of the jam. As +long as it holds he's safe from being crushed. Here, don't try that +beam yet, men. Take hold of the other one. And Bobolink and Wallace, +help me lift this section of shingles from the roof!" + +So Jack went on to give clear directions. He did not intend that any +new accident should be laid at their door on account of too much +haste. Better that the man who was imprisoned under all this wreckage +should remain there a longer period than that he lose his life through +carelessness. Jack believed in making thorough work of anything he +undertook; and this trait marked him as a clever scout. + +As others came to add to the number of willing workers the business of +delving into the wreck of the ice-house proceeded in a satisfactory +manner. Once in a while Jack would call a temporary halt while he got +into communication with the unfortunate man they were seeking to +assist. + +"He seems to be all right so far, fellows," was the cheering report he +gave after this had happened for the third time; "and I think we'll be +able to reach him in a short time now." + +"As sure as you're born we will, Jack!" announced Bobolink, +triumphantly; "for I can see the big timber he said was acting as a +buffer above him. Hey! we've got to be extra careful now, because one +end of that beam is balanced ever so delicately, and if it gets shoved +off its anchorage--good-bye to Mr. Garrity!" + +"Yes," came from below the wreckage, "be very careful, please, for +it's just as you say." + +Jack was more than ever on the alert as the work continued. He watched +every move that was made, and often warned those who strained and +labored to be more cautious. + +"In five minutes or so we ought to be able to get something under that +loose end of the big timber, Jack," suggested Bobolink, presently. + +"In less time than that," he was told. "And here's the very prop to +slip down through that opening. I think I can reach it right now, if +you stop the work for a bit." + +He pushed the stout post carefully downward, endeavoring to adjust it +so that it was bound to catch and hold the timber should the latter +break away from its frail support at that end. When Bobolink saw him +get up from his knees a minute later he did not need to be told that +Jack's endeavor had been a success, for the satisfied smile on the +other's face told as much. + +"Now let the good work go on with a rush!" called out Jack. "Not so +much danger now, because I've put a crimp in that timber's threat to +fall. It's securely wedged. Everybody get busy." + +Jack led in the work himself, and the way they removed the heavy +beams, many of them splintered or broken in the downward rush of the +building, was surely a sight worth seeing. At least some of the town +people who came up just then felt they had good reason to be proud of +the Banner Boy Scouts, who on other notable occasions had brought +credit to the community. + +"I can see him now!" exclaimed Bobolink; and indeed, only a few more +weighty fragments remained to be lifted off before Jack would be able +to drop down into the cavity and assist the prisoner at close +quarters. + +Five minutes later the workers managed to release Mr. Garrity, and +Jack helped him out of his prison. The old gentleman looked +considerably the worse for his remarkable experience. There was blood +upon his cheek, and he kept caressing one arm as though it pained him +considerably. + +Still his heart was filled with thanksgiving as he stared around at +the pile of torn timbers, and considered what a marvelous escape his +had been. + +"Let me take a look at your arm, sir," said Jack, who feared that it +had been broken, because a beam had pinned the gentleman by his arm to +the ground. + +Mr. Garrity, who up to that time had paid very little attention to the +Boy Scout movement that had swept over that region of the eastern +country like wildfire, looked at the eager, boyish faces of his +rescuers. It could be seen that he was genuinely affected on noticing +that most of them wore the badges that distinguish scouts the world +over. + +"I hope my wrist is not broken, though even that would be a little +price to pay for my temerity in entering that shaky old building," he +ventured to say as he allowed Jack to examine his arm. + +"I'm glad to tell you, sir," said the boy, quickly, "that it is only a +bad sprain. At the worst you will be without the use of that hand for +a month or two." + +"Then I have great reason to be thankful," declared Mr. Garrity, +solemnly. "Perhaps this may be intended for a lesson to me. And, to +begin with, I want to say that I believe I owe my very life to you +boys. I can never forget it. Others, of course, might have done all +they could to dig me out, but only a long-headed boy, like Jack +Stormways here, would have thought to keep that timber from falling +and crushing me just when escape seemed certain." + +He went around shaking hands with each one of the boys, of course +using his left arm, since the right was disabled for the time being. +Jack deftly made a sling out of a red bandana handkerchief, which he +fastened around the neck of Mr. Garrity, and then gently placed the +bruised hand in this. + +"Was any other person injured when the ice-house collapsed?" asked Mr. +Garrity, anxiously. + +"A couple of girls were struck by some of the big cakes flung far and +wide," explained Bobolink. "Little Lucy Stackpole has a broken leg. We +sent her home on a sled, and the doctor will soon be at her house, +sir." + +"That is too bad!" declared the part owner of the building, frowning. +"I hoped that the brunt of the accident had fallen on my shoulders +alone. Of course, the company will be liable for damages, as well as +the doctor's bill; and I suppose we deserve to be hit pretty hard to +pay for our stupidity. But I am glad it is no worse." + +"Excuse me, Mr. Garrity, but perhaps you had better have that swelling +wrist attended to as soon as possible," remarked Jack. "You have some +bruises, too, that are apt to be painful for several days. There is a +carriage on the road that might be called on to take you home." + +"Thank you, Jack, I will do as you say," replied the one addressed. +"But depend on it I mean to meet you boys again, and that at a very +early date." + +"We're going to be away somewhere on a midwinter hike immediately +after Christmas, sir," Bobolink thought it best to explain. Somehow +deep down in his heart he was already wondering whether this +remarkable rescue of Mr. Garrity might not develop into some sort of +connection with their partly formed plans. + +"Yes," added Bluff, eagerly, suddenly possessed by the same hope, "and +it's all going to be settled to-night when we have our monthly meeting +in the big room under the church. We'd be pleased to have you drop in +and see us, sir. Lots of the leading citizens of Stanhope have visited +our rooms from time to time, but I don't remember ever having seen you +there, Mr. Garrity." + +"Thank you for the invitation, my lad," said the other, smiling +grimly. "Perhaps I shall avail myself of it, and I might possibly have +something of interest to communicate to you and your fellow scouts," +and waving his hand to them he walked away. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A QUICK RETURN FOR SERVICES RENDERED + + +That night turned out clear and frosty. Winter having set in so early +seemed bent on keeping up its unusual record. The snow on the ground +crackled underfoot in the fashion dear to the heart of every boy who +loves outdoor sports. + +Overhead, the bright moon, pretty well advanced, hung in space. It was +clearly evident that no one need think of carrying a lantern with him +to the meeting place on such a glorious night. + +The Boy Scouts of Stanhope had been fortunate enough to be given the +use of a large room under the church with the clock tower. On cold +nights this was always heated for them, so that they found it a most +comfortable place in which to hold their animated meetings. + +There was a large attendance on this occasion, for while possibly few +among the members of the troop could take advantage of this midwinter +trip into the wilds, every boy was curious to know all the details. + +In this same spacious room there was fitted up a gymnasium for the use +of the boys one night a week, and many of them availed themselves of +the privilege. As this was to be a regular business meeting, however, +the apparatus had been drawn aside so as not to be in the way. + +As the roster was being called it might be just as well to give the +full membership of the troop so that the reader may be made acquainted +with the chosen comrades of Jack and Paul. + +The Red Fox Patrol, which contained the "veterans" of the +organization, was made up of the following members: + +Paul Morrison; Jack Stormways; Bobolink, the official bugler; Bluff +Shipley, the drummer of the troop; "Nuthin" Cypher; William Carberry; +Wallace, his twin brother; and Tom Betts. Paul, as has been said, was +patrol leader, and served also as assistant scout-master when Mr. +Gordon was absent from town. + +In the second division known as the Gray Fox Patrol were the +following: + +Jud Elderkin, patrol leader; Joe Clausin, Andy Flinn, Phil Towns, +Horace Poole, Bob Tice, Curly Baxter, and Cliff Jones. + +The Black Fox Patrol had several absentees, but when all were present +they answered to their names as below: + +Frank Savage, leader; Billie Little, Nat Smith, Sandy Griggs, "Old" +Dan Tucker, "Red" Collins, "Spider" Sexton, and last but not least in +volume of voice, "Gusty" Bellows. + +A fourth patrol that was to be called the Silver Fox was almost +complete, lacking just three members; and those who made up this +were: + +George Hurst, leader; "Lub" Ketcham, Barry Nichols, Malcolm Steele and +a new boy in town by the name of Archie Fletcher. + +Apparently, the only business of importance before the meeting was in +connection with the scheme to take a midwinter outing, something that +was looked upon as unique in the annals of the association. + +The usual order of the meeting was hurried through, for every one felt +anxious to hear what sort of proposition the assistant scout-master +intended to spread before the meeting for approval. + +"I move we suspend the rules for to-night, and have an informal talk +for a change!" said Bobolink, when he had been recognized by the +chair. + +A buzz of voices announced that the idea was favorably received by +many of those present; and, accordingly, the chairman, no other than +Paul himself, felt constrained to put the motion after it had been +duly seconded. He did so with a smile, well knowing what Bobolink's +object was. + +"You have all heard the motion that the rules be suspended for the +remainder of the evening," he went on to say, "so that we can have a +heart-to-heart talk on matters that concern us just now. All in favor +say aye!" + +A rousing chorus of ayes followed. + +"Contrary, no!" continued Paul, and as complete silence followed he +added hastily: "The motion is carried, and the regular business +meeting will now stand adjourned until next month." + +"Now let's hear what you've been hatching up for us, Paul?" called out +Bobolink. + +"So say we all, Paul!" cried half a dozen eager voices, and the boys +left their seats to crowd around their leader. + +"I only hope it's Rattlesnake Mountain we're headed for!" exclaimed +Tom Betts, who had a warm feeling in his boyish heart for that +particular section of country, where once upon a time the troop had +pitched camp, and had met with some amusing and thrilling adventures, +as described in a previous volume, called "The Banner Boy Scouts on a +Tour." + +"On my part I wish it would turn out to be good old Lake Tokala, where +my heart has often been centered as I think of the happy days we spent +there." + +It was, of course, Bobolink who gave utterance to this sentiment. +Perhaps there were others who really echoed his desire, for they had +certainly had a glorious time of it when cruising in the motor boats +so kindly loaned to them. + +Paul held up his hand for silence, and immediately every voice became +still. Discipline was enforced at these meetings, for the noisy boys +and those inclined to play practical pranks had learned long ago they +would have to smother their feelings at such times or be strongly +repressed by the chair. + +"Listen," said the leader, in his clear voice, "you kindly asked me to +try to plan a trip for the holidays that would be of the greatest +benefit to us as an organization of scouts. I seriously considered +half a dozen plans, among them Rattlesnake Mountain, and Cedar Island +in Lake Tokala. In fact, I was on the point of suggesting that we take +the last mentioned trip when something came up that entirely changed +my plan for the outing." + +He stopped to see what effect his words were having. Evidently, he had +aroused the curiosity of the assembled scouts to fever heat, for +several voices immediately called out: + +"Hear! hear! please go on, Paul! We're dying to know what the game +is!" + +Paul smiled, as he went on to say: + +"I guess you have all been so deeply interested in what was going on +to-night, that few of you noticed that we have a friend present who +slipped into the room just as the roll call began. All of you must +know the gentleman, so it's hardly necessary for me to introduce Mr. +Thomas Garrity to you." + +Of course, every one turned quickly on hearing this. A figure that had +been seated in a dim corner of the assembly room arose, and Bobolink +gasped with a delicious sense of pleasure when he recognized the man +whom he and his fellow scouts had assisted that very afternoon. + +"Please come forward, Mr. Garrity," said Paul, "and tell the boys what +you suggested to me late this afternoon. I'm sure they'd appreciate it +more coming directly from you than getting it secondhand." + +While a hum of eager anticipation arose all around, Mr. Garrity made +his way to the side of the patrol leader and president of the +meeting. + +"I have no doubt," he said, "that those of you who were not present +to-day when our old ice-house fell and caught me in the ruins, have +heard all about the accident, so I need not refer to the incident +except to say that I shall never cease to be grateful to the scouts +for the clever way in which they dug me out of the wreck." + +"Hear! hear!" several excited scouts shouted. + +"I happened to learn that you were contemplating a trip during the +holidays, and when an idea slipped into my mind I lost no time in +calling upon Paul Morrison, your efficient leader, in order to +interest him in my plan." + +"Hear! hear!" + +"It happens that I own a forest cabin up in the wilderness where I +often go to rest myself and get away from all excitement. It is in +charge of a faithful woodsman by the name of Tolly Tip. You can reach +it by skating a number of miles up a stream that empties into Lake +Tokala. The hunting is said to be very good around there, and you will +find excellent pickerel fishing through the ice in Lake Tokala. If you +care to do me the favor of accepting my offer, the services of my man +and the use of the cabin are at your disposal. Even then I shall feel +that this is only a beginning of the deep interest I am taking in the +scouts' organization; for I have had my eyes opened at last in a +wonderful manner." + +As Mr. Garrity sat down, rosy-red from the exertion of speaking to a +party of boys, Paul immediately rapped for order, and put the +question. + +"All who are in favor of accepting this generous offer say yes!" and +every boy joined in the vociferous shout that arose. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A STARTLING INTERRUPTION + + +"Mr. Garrity, your kind offer is accepted with thanks," announced +Paul. "And as you suggested to me, several of us will take great +pleasure in calling on you to-morrow to go into details and to get +full directions from you." + +"Then perhaps I may as well go home now, boys," said the old +gentleman; "as my wrist is paining me considerably. I only want to add +that this has been a red day in my calendar. The collapse of the old +ice-house is going to prove one of those blessings that sometimes come +to us in disguise. I only regret that two little girls were injured. +As for myself, I am thoroughly pleased it happened." + +"Before you leave us, sir," said Bobolink, boldly, "please let us show +in some slight way how much we appreciate your kind offer. Boys, three +cheers for Mr. Thomas Garrity, our latest convert, and already one of +our best friends!" + +Possibly Bobolink's method of expressing his feelings might not +ordinarily appeal to a man of Mr. Garrity's character, but just now +the delighted old gentleman was in no mood for fault finding. + +As the boyish cheers rang through the room there were actually tears +in Mr. Garrity's eyes. Truly that had been a great day for him, and +perhaps it might prove a joyous occasion to many of his poor tenants, +some of whom had occasion to look upon him as a just, though severe, +landlord, exacting his rent to the last penny. + +After he had left the room the hum of voices became furious. One would +have been inclined to suspect the presence of a great bee-hive in the +near vicinity. + +"Paul, you know all about this woods cabin he owns," said Tom Betts, +"so suppose you enlighten the rest of us." + +"One thing tickles me about the venture!" exclaimed Bobolink; "That is +that we pass across Lake Tokala in getting there. I've been hankering +to see that place in winter time for ever so long." + +"Yes," added Tom, eagerly, "that's true. And what's to hinder some of +us from using our iceboats part of the way?" + +"Nothing at all," Paul assured him. "I went into that with Mr. +Garrity, and came to the conclusion that it could be done. Of course, +a whole lot depends on how many of us can go on the trip." + +"How many could sleep in his cabin do you think, Paul?" demanded +Jack. + +"Yes. For one, I'd hate to have to bunk out in the snow these cold +nights," said Bluff, shaking his head seriously, for Bluff dearly +liked the comforts of a cheery fire inside stout walls of logs, while +the bitter wintry wind howled without, and the snow drifted badly. + +"He told me it was unusually large," explained Paul. "In fact, it has +two big rooms and could in a pinch accommodate ten fellows. Of course, +every boy would be compelled to tote his blankets along with him, +because Mr. Garrity never dreamed he would have an army occupy his log +shanty." + +"The more I think of it the better it sounds!" declared Jack. + +"Then first of all we must try to find out just who can go," suggested +Bobolink. + +"What if there are too many to be accommodated either on the iceboats +we own or in the cabin?" remarked Tom Betts, uneasily. + +"Shucks! that ought to be easy," suggested another. "All we have to do +is to pull straws, and see who the lucky ten are." + +"Then let those who are _positive_ they can go step aside here," Paul +ordered; and at this there was a shuffling of feet and considerable +moving about. + +"Remember, you must be sure you can go," warned Paul. "Afterwards +we'll single out those who believe they can get permission, but feel +some doubts. If there is room they will come in for next choice." + +Several who had started forward held back at this. Those who took +their stand as the leader requested consisted of Jack, Bobolink, +Bluff, Tom Betts, Jud Elderkin, Sandy Griggs, Phil Towns and "Spider" +Sexton. + +"Counting myself in the list that makes nine for certain," Paul +observed. It was noticed that Tom Betts as well as Bobolink looked +exceedingly relieved on discovering that, after all, there need be no +drawing of lots. + +"Now let those who have strong hopes of being able to go stand up to +be counted," continued Paul. "I'll keep a list of the names, and the +first who comes to say he has received full permission will be the one +to make up the full count of ten members, which is all the cabin can +accommodate." + +The Carberry twins, as well as several others, stood over in line to +have their names taken down. + +"If one of us can go, Paul," explained Wallace Carberry, "we'll fix it +up between us which it shall be. But I'm sorry to say our folks don't +take to this idea of a winter camp very strongly." + +"Same over at my house," complained Bob Tice. "Mother is afraid +something terrible might happen to us in such a hard spell of winter. +As if scouts couldn't take care of themselves anywhere, and under all +conditions!" + +There were many gloomy faces seen in the gathering, showing that other +boys knew their parents did not look on the delightful scheme with +favor. Some of them could not accompany the party on account of other +plans which had been arranged by their parents. + +"If the ice stays as fine as it is now," remarked Tom Betts, "we can +spin down the river on our iceboats, and maybe make our way through +that old canal to Lake Tokala as well. But how about the creek leading +up to the cabin, Paul? Did you ask Mr. Garrity about it?" + +"Yes, I asked him everything I could think of," came the ready reply. +"I'm sorry to say it will be necessary to leave our iceboats somewhere +on the lake, for the creek winds around in such a way, and is so +narrow in places, that none of us could work the boats up there." + +"But wouldn't it be dangerous to leave them on the lake so long?" +asked Tom, anxiously. "I've put in some pretty hard licks on my new +craft, and I'd sure hate to have any one steal it from me." + +"Yes," added Bobolink, quickly, "and we all know that Lawson crowd +have been showing themselves as mean as dirt lately. We thought we had +got rid of our enemies some time ago, and here this new lot of rivals +seems bent on making life miserable for all scouts. They are a tough +crowd, and pretend to look down on us as weaklings. Hank Lawson is now +playing the part of the bully in Stanhope, you know." + +"I even considered that," continued Paul, who seldom omitted anything +when laying plans. "Mr. Garrity told me there was a man living on the +shore of Lake Tokala, who would look after our iceboats for a +consideration." + +"Bully for that!" exclaimed Tom, apparently much relieved. "All the +same I think it would be as well for us to try to keep our camping +place a secret if it can be done. Let folks understand that we're +going somewhere around Lake Tokala; and perhaps the Lawson crowd will +miss us." + +"That isn't a bad idea," Paul agreed, "and I'd like every one to +remember it. Of course, we feel well able to look after ourselves, but +that's no reason why we should openly invite Hank and his cronies to +come and bother us. Are you all agreed to that part of the scheme?" + +In turn every scout present answered in the affirmative. Those who +could not possibly accompany the party took almost as much interest in +the affair as those intending to go; and there would be heart burnings +among the members of Stanhope Troop from now on. + +"How about the grub question, Paul?" demanded Bobolink. + +"Every fellow who is going will have to provide a certain amount of +food to be carried along with his blanket, gun, clothes bag, and +camera. All that can be arranged when we meet to-morrow afternoon. In +the meantime, I'm going to appoint Bobolink and Jack as a committee of +two to spend what money we can spare in purchasing certain groceries +such as coffee, sugar, hams, potatoes, and other things to be listed +later." + +Bobolink grinned happily on hearing that. + +"See how pleased it makes him," jeered Tom Betts. "When you put +Bobolink on the committee that looks after the grub, Paul, you hit him +close to where he lives. One thing sure, we'll have plenty to eat +along with us, for Bobolink never underrates the eating capacity of +himself or his chums." + +"You can trust me for that," remarked the one referred to, "because I +was really hungry once in my life, and I've never gotten over the +terrible feeling. Yes, there is going to be a full dinner pail in +Camp Garrity, let me tell you!" + +"Camp Garrity sounds good to me!" exclaimed Sandy Griggs. + +"Let it go down in the annals of Stanhope Troop at that!" cried +another scout. + +"We could hardly call it by any other name, after the owner has been +so good as to place it at our disposal," said Paul, himself well +pleased at the idea. + +Bobolink was about to say something more when, without warning, there +came a sudden crash accompanied by the jingling of broken glass. One +of the windows fell in as though some hard object had struck it. The +startled scouts, looking up, saw the arm and face of a boy thrust part +way through the aperture, showing that he must have slipped and broken +the window while trying to spy upon the meeting. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A GLOOMY PROSPECT FOR JUD + + +"It's Jud Mabley!" exclaimed one of the scouts, instantly recognizing +the face of the unlucky youth who had fallen part way through the +window. + +Jud was a boy of bad habits. He had applied to the scouts for +membership, but had not been admitted on account of his unsavory +reputation. Smarting under this sting Jud had turned to Hank Lawson +and his crowd for sympathy, and was known to be hand-in-glove with +those young rowdies. + +"He's been spying on us, that's what!" cried Bobolink, indignantly. + +"And learning our plans, like as not!" added Tom Betts. + +"He ought to be caught and ridden on a rail!" exclaimed a third member +of the troop, filled with anger. + +"I'd say duck him in the river after cutting a hole in the ice!" +called out another boy, furiously. + +"Huh! first ketch your rabbit before you start cookin' him!" laughed +Jud in a jeering fashion, as he waved them a mocking adieu through the +broken window, and then vanished from view. + +"After him, fellows!" shouted the impetuous Bobolink, and there was a +hasty rush for the door, the boys snatching up their hats as they +ran. + +Paul was with the rest, not that he cared particularly about catching +the eavesdropper, but he wanted to be on hand in case the rest of the +scouts overtook Jud; for Paul held the reputation of the troop dear, +and would not have the scouts sully their honor by a mean act. + +The boys poured out of the meeting-place in a stream. The bright moon +showed them a running figure which they judged must of course be Jud; +so away they sprang in hot pursuit. + +Somehow, it struck them that Jud was not running as swiftly as might +be expected, for he had often proved himself a speedy contestant on +the cinder path. He seemed to wabble more or less, and looked back +over his shoulder many times. + +Bobolink suspected there might be some sort of trick connected with +this action on the part of the other, for Jud was known to be a +schemer. + +"Jack, he may be drawing us into a trap of some sort, don't you +think?" he managed to gasp as he ran at the side of the other. + +Apparently Jack, too, had noticed the queer actions of the fugitive. +He had seen a mother rabbit pretend to be lame when seeking to draw +enemies away from the place where her young ones lay hidden; yes, and +a partridge often did the same thing, as he well knew. + +"I was noticing that, Bobolink," he told the other, "but it strikes me +Jud must have been hurt somehow when he crashed through that window." + +"You mean he feels more or less weak, do you?" + +"Something like that," came the reply. + +"Well, we're coming up on him like fun, anyway, no matter what the +cause may be!" Bobolink declared, and then found it necessary to stop +talking if he wanted to keep in the van with several of the swiftest +runners among the scouts. + +It was true that they were rapidly overtaking Jud, who ran in a +strange zigzag fashion like one who was dizzy. He kept up until the +leaders among his pursuers came alongside; then he stopped short, and, +panting for breath, squared off, striking viciously at them. + +Jack and two other scouts closed in on him, regardless of blows, and +Jud was made a prisoner. He ceased struggling when he found it could +avail him nothing, but glared at his captors as an Indian warrior +might have done. + +"Huh! think you're smart, don't you, overhaulin' me so easy," he told +them disdainfully. "But if I hadn't been knocked dizzy when I fell you +never would a got me. Now what're you meanin' to do about it? Ain't a +feller got a right to walk the public streets of this here town +without bein' grabbed by a pack of cowards in soldier suits, and +treated rough-house way?" + +"That doesn't go with us, Jud Mabley," said Bobolink, indignantly. +"You were playing the spy on us, you know it, trying to listen to all +we were saying." + +"So as to tell that Lawson crowd, and get them to start some mean +trick on us in the bargain," added Tom Betts. + +"O-ho! ain't a feller a right to stop alongside of a church to strike +a match for his pipe?" jeered the prisoner, defiantly. "How was I to +know your crowd was inside there? The streets are free to any one, +man, woman or boy, I take it." + +"How about the broken window, Jud?" demanded Bobolink, triumphantly. + +"Yes! did you smash that pane of glass when you threw your match away, +Jud," asked another boy, with a laugh. + +"He was caught in the act, fellows," asserted Frank Savage, "and the +next question with us is what ought we to do to punish a sneak and a +spy?" + +"I said it before--ride him on a rail around town so people can see +how scouts stand up for their own rights!" came a voice from the group +of excited boys. + +"Oh! that would be letting him off too easy," Tom Betts affirmed. +"'Twould serve him just about right if we ducked him a few times in +the river." + +"All we need is an axe to cut a hole through the ice," another lad +went on to say, showing that the suggestion rather caught his fancy as +the appropriate thing to do--making the punishment fit the crime, as +it were. + +"Keep it goin'," sneered the defiant Jud, not showing any signs of +quailing under this bombardment. "Try and think up a few more pleasant +things to do to me. If you reckon you c'n make me show the white +feather you've got another guess comin', I want you to know. I'm true +grit, I am!" + +"You may be singing out of the other side of your mouth, Jud Mabley, +before we're through with you," threatened Curly Baxter. + +"Mebbe now you might think to get a hemp rope and try hangin' me," +laughed the prisoner in an offensive manner. "That's what they do to +spies, you know, in the army. Yes, and I know of a beauty of a limb +that stands straight out from the body of the tree 'bout ten feet +from the ground. Shall I tell you where it lies?" + +This sort of defiant talk was causing more of the scouts to become +angry. It seemed to them like adding insult to injury. Here this +fellow had spied upon their meeting, possibly learned all about the +plans they were forming for the midwinter holidays, and then finally +had the misfortune to fall and smash one of the window panes, which +would, of course, have to be made good by the scouts, as they were +under heavy obligations to the trustees of the church for favors +received. + +"A mean fellow like you, Jud Mabley," asserted Joe Clausin, "deserves +the worst sort of punishment that could be managed. Why, it would +about serve you right if you got a lovely coat of tar and feathers +to-night." + +Jud seemed to shrink a little at hearing that. + +"You wouldn't dare try such a game as that," he told them, with a +faint note of fear in his voice. "Every one of you'd have to pay for +it before the law. Some things might pass, but that's goin' it too +strong. My dad'd have you locked up in the town cooler if I came home +lookin' like a bird, sure he would." + +Jud's father was something of a local power in politics, so that the +boy's boast was not without more or less force. Some of the scouts may +have considered this; at any rate, one of them now broke out with: + +"A ducking ought to be a good enough punishment for this chap, I +should say; so, fellows, let's start in to give it to him." + +"I know where I can lay hands on an axe all right, to chop a hole +through the ice," asserted Bobolink, eagerly. + +"Then we appoint you a committee of one to supply the necessary tools +for the joyous occasion," Red Collins cried out, gleefully falling in +with the scheme. + +"Hold on, boys, don't you think it would be enough if Jud made an +apology to us, and promised not to breathe a word of what he chanced +to hear?" + +It was Horace Poole who said this, for he often proved to be the +possessor of a tender heart and a forgiving spirit. His mild +proposition was laughed down on the spot. + +"Much he'd care what he promised us, if only we let him go scot free," +jeered one scout. "I've known him to give his solemn word before now, +and break it when he felt like it. I wouldn't trust him out of my +sight. Promises count for nothing with one of Jud Mabley's stamp." + +"How about that, Jud?" demanded another boy. "Would you agree to keep +your lips buttoned up, and not tell a word of what you have heard?" + +"I ain't promisin' nothin', I want you to know," replied the prisoner, +boldly; "so go on with your funny business. You won't ketch me +squealing worth a cent. Honest to goodness now I half b'lieve it's all +a big bluff. Let's see you do your worst." + +"Drag him along to the river bank, fellows, and I'll join you there +with the axe," roared Bobolink, now fully aroused by the obstinate +manner of the captive. + +"Wait a bit, fellows." + +It was Jack Stormways who said this, and even the impetuous Bobolink +came to a halt. + +"Go on Jack. What's your plan?" demanded one of the group. + +"I was only going to remind you that in the absence of Mr. Gordon, +Paul is acting as scout-master, and before you do anything that may +reflect upon the good name of Stanhope Troop you'd better listen to +what he's got to say on the subject." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +PAUL TAKES A CHANCE + + +These sensible words spoken by Jack Stormways had an immediate effect +upon the angry scouts, some of whom realized that they had been taking +matters too much in their own hands. Paul had remained silent all this +while, waiting to see just how far the hotheads would go. + +"First of all," he went on to say in that calm tone which always +carried conviction with it, "let's go back to the meeting-room, and +take Jud along. I have a reason for wanting you to do that, which you +shall hear right away." + +No one offered an objection, although doubtless it was understood that +Paul did not like such radical measures as ducking the spy who had +fallen into their hands. They were by this time fully accustomed to +obeying orders given by a superior officer, which is one of the best +things learned by scouts. + +Jud, for some reason, did not attempt to hold back when urged to +accompany them, though for that matter it would have availed him +nothing to have struggled and strained, for at least four sturdy +scouts had their grip on his person. + +In this manner they retraced their steps. Fortunately the last boy out +had been careful enough to close the door after making his hurried +exit, so that they found the room still warm and comfortable. + +They crowded inside, and a number of them frowned as they glanced +toward the broken window, through which a draught was blowing. They +hoped Paul would not be too easy with the rascal who had been +responsible for that smash. + +"First of all," the scout-master began as they crowded around the spot +where he and Jud stood, the latter staring defiantly at the frowning +scouts, "I want to remark that it needn't bother us very much even if +Jud tells all he may have heard us saying. We shall always be at least +two to one, and can take care of ourselves if attacked. Those fellows +understand that, I guess." + +"We've proved it to them in the past times without number, for a +fact," observed Jack, diplomatically. + +"If they care to spend a week in the snow woods, let them try it," +continued the other. "Good luck to them, say I; and here's hoping they +may learn some lessons there that will make them turn over a new +leaf. The forest is plenty big enough for all who want to breathe the +fresh air and have a good time. But there's another thing I had in +mind when I asked you to bring Jud back here. Some of you may have +noticed that he lets his arm hang down in a queer way. Look closer at +his hand and you'll discover the reason." + +Almost immediately several of the scouts cried out. + +"Why, there's blood dripping from his fingers, as sure as anything!" + +"He must have cut his arm pretty bad when he fell through that +window!" + +"Whew! I'd hate to have that slash. See how the broken glass cut his +coat sleeve--just as if you'd taken a sharp knife and gashed it!" + +"Take off your coat, Jud, please!" said Paul. + +Had Paul used a less kindly voice or omitted that last word in his +request, the obstinate and defiant Jud might have flatly declined to +oblige him. As it was he looked keenly at Paul, then grinned, and with +something of an effort started to doff his coat, Jack assisting him in +the effort. + +Then the boys saw that his shirt sleeve was stained red. Several of +the weaker scouts uttered low exclamations of concern, not being +accustomed to such sights; but the stouter hearted veterans had seen +too many cuts to wince now. + +Paul gently but firmly rolled the shirt sleeve up until the gash made +by the broken glass was revealed. It was a bad cut, and still bled +quite freely. No wonder Jud had run in such an unwonted fashion. No +person wounded as badly as that could be expected to run with his +customary zeal, for the shock and the loss of blood was sure to make +him feel weak. + +Jud stared at his injury now with what was almost an expression of +pride. When he saw some of the scouts shrink back his lip curled with +disdain. + +"Get a tin basin and fill it with warm water back in the other room, +Jack!" said Paul, steadily. + +"What're you goin' to do to me, Paul?" demanded Jud, curiously, for he +could not bring himself to believe that any one who was his enemy +would stretch out a hand toward him save in anger and violence. + +"Oh! I'm only going to wash that cut so as to take out any foreign +matter that might poison you if left there, and then bind it up the +best way possible," remarked the young scout-master. + +There was some low whispering among the boys. Much as they marveled at +such a way of returning evil with good they could not take exception +to Paul's action. Every one of them knew deep down in his inmost heart +that scout law always insisted on treating a fallen enemy with +consideration, and even forgiving him many times if he professed +sorrow for his evil ways. + +Jack came back presently. He not only bore the basin of warm water but +a towel as well. Jud watched operations curiously. He was seeing what +was a strange thing according to his ideas. He could not quite bring +himself to believe that there was not some cruel hoax hidden in this +act of apparent friendliness, and that accounted for the way he kept +his teeth tightly closed. He did not wish to be taken unawares and +forced to cry out. + +Paul washed gently the ugly, jagged cut. Then, taking out a little +zinc box containing some soothing and healing salve, which he always +carried with him, he used fully half of it upon the wound. + +Afterwards he produced a small inch wide roll of surgical linen, and +began winding the tape methodically around the injured arm of Jud +Mabley. Jack amused himself by watching the play of emotions upon the +hard face of Jud. Evidently, he was beginning to comprehend the +meaning of Paul's actions, though he could not understand why any one +should act so. + +When the last of the tape had been used and fastened with a small +safety pin, Paul drew down the shirt sleeve, buttoned it, and then +helped Jud on with his coat. + +"Now you can go free when you take a notion, Jud," he told the other. + +"Huh! then you ain't meanin' to gimme that duckin' after all?" +remarked the other, with a sneering look of triumph at Bobolink. + +"You have to thank Paul for getting you off," asserted one scout, +warmly. "Had it been left to the rest of us you'd have been in soak +long before this." + +"For my part," said Paul, "I feel that so far as punishment goes Jud +has got all that is coming to him, for that arm will give him a lot of +trouble before it fully heals. I hope every time it pains him he'll +remember that scouts as a rule are taught to heap coals of fire on the +heads of their enemies when the chance comes, by showing them a +favor." + +"But, Paul, you're forgetting something," urged Tom Betts. + +"That's a fact, how about the broken window, Paul?" cried Joe Clausin, +with more or less indignation. For while it might be very well to +forgive Jud his spying tricks some one would have to pay for a new +pane of glass in the basement window, and it was hard luck if the +burden fell on the innocent parties, while the guilty one escaped scot +free. + +It was noticed that Jud shut his lips tight together as though making +up his mind on the spot to decline absolutely to pay a cent for what +had been a sheer accident, and which had already cost him a severe +wound. + +"I haven't forgotten that, fellows," said Paul, quietly. "Of course +it's only fair Jud should pay the dollar it will cost to have a new +pane put in there to-morrow. I shall order Mr. Nickerson to attend to +it myself. And I shall also insist on paying the bill out of my own +pocket, unless Jud here thinks it right and square to send me the +money some time to-morrow. That's all I've got to say, Jud. There's +the door, and no one will put out a hand to stop you. I hope you won't +have serious trouble with that arm of yours." + +Jud stared dumbly at the speaker as though almost stunned. Perhaps he +might have said something under the spur of such strange emotions as +were chasing through his brain, but just then Bobolink chanced to +sneer. The sound acted on Jud like magic, for he drew himself up, +turned to look boldly into the face of each and every boy present, +then thrust his right hand into his buttoned coat and with head thrown +back walked out of the room, noisily closing the door after him. + +Several of the scouts shook their heads. + +"Pretty fine game you played with him, Paul," remarked George Hurst, +"but it strikes me it was like throwing pearls before swine. Jud has a +hide as thick as a rhinoceros and nothing can pierce it. Kind words +are thrown away with fellows of his stripe, I'm afraid. A kick and a +punch are all they can understand." + +"Yes," added Red Collins, "when you try the soft pedal on them they +think you're only afraid. I'm half sorry now you didn't let us carry +out that ducking scheme. Jud deserved it right well, for a fact." + +"It would have been cruel to drop him into ice water with such a wound +freshly made," remarked Jack. "Wait and see whether Paul's plan was +worth the candle." + +"Mark my words," commented Tom Betts, "we'll have lots of trouble with +him yet." + +"Shucks! who cares?" laughed Bobolink, "it's all in the game, you +know. There's Paul getting ready to go home, so let's forget it till +we meet to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +BOBOLINK AND THE STOREKEEPER + + +According to their agreement, Jack and Bobolink met on a certain +corner on the following morning. Their purpose was to purchase the +staple articles of food that half a score of hungry lads would require +to see them through a couple of weeks' stay in the snow forest. + +"It's a lucky thing, too," Bobolink remarked, after the other had +displayed the necessary funds taken from his pocket, "that our +treasury happens to be fairly able to stand the strain just now." + +"Oh, well! except for that we'd have had to take up subscriptions," +laughed Jack. "I know several people who would willingly help us out. +The scouts of Stanhope have made good in the past, and a host of good +friends are ready to back them." + +"Yes, and for that matter I guess Mr. Thomas Garrity would have been +only too glad to put his hand deep down in his pocket," suggested +Bobolink. + +"He's an old widower, and with plenty of ready cash, too," commented +the other boy. "But, after all, it's much better for us to stand our +own expense as long as we can." + +"Have you got the list that Paul promised to make out with you, Jack? +I'd like to take a squint at it, if you don't mind. There may be a few +things we could add to it." + +As Bobolink was looked on as something of an authority in this line, +Jack hastened to produce the list, so they could run it over and +exchange suggestions. + +"Where shall we start in to buy the stuff?" asked Bobolink, +presently. + +"Oh! I don't know that it matters very much," replied his companion. +"Mr. Briggs has had some pretty fine hams in lately I heard at the +house this morning, and if he treats us half-way decent we might do +all our trading with him." + +"I never took much stock in old Levi Briggs," said Bobolink. "He hates +boys for all that's out. I guess some of them do nag him more or less. +I saw that Lawson crowd giving him a peck of trouble a week ago. He +threatened to call the police if they didn't go away." + +"Well, we happen to be close to the Briggs' store," observed Jack, "so +we might as well drop in and see how he acts toward us." + +"Huh! speaking of the Lawson bunch, there they are right now!" +exclaimed Bobolink. + +Loud jeering shouts close by told that Hank and his cronies were +engaged in their favorite practice of having "fun." This generally +partook of the nature of the old fable concerning boys who were +stoning frogs, which was "great fun for the boys, but death to the +frogs." + +"It's a couple of ragged hoboes they're nagging now," burst out +Bobolink. + +"The pair just came out of Briggs' store," added Jack, "where I expect +they met a cold reception if they hoped to coax a bite to eat from the +old man." + +"Still, they couldn't have done anything to Hank and his crowd, so why +should they be pushed off the walk in that way?" Bobolink went on to +say. + +As a rule the boy had no use for tramps. He looked on the vagrants as +a nuisance and a menace to the community. At the same time, no +self-respecting scout would think of casting the first stone at a +wandering hobo, though, if attacked, he would always defend himself, +and strike hard. + +"The tramps don't like the idea of engaging in a fight with a pack of +tough boys right here in town," remarked Jack, "because they know the +police would grab them first, no matter if they were only defending +themselves. That's why they don't hit back, but only dodge the stones +the boys are flinging." + +"Oh! that's a mean sort of game!" cried Bobolink, as he saw the two +tramps start to run wildly away. "There! that shorter chap was hit in +the head with one of the rocks thrown after them. I bet you it raised +a fine lump. What a lot of cowards those Lawsons are, to be sure." + +"Well, the row is all over now," observed Jack. "And as the tramps +have disappeared around the corner we don't want to break into the +game, so come along to the store, and let's see what we can do +there." + +Bobolink continued to shake his head pugnaciously as he walked along +the pavement. Hank and his followers were laughing at a great rate as +they exchanged humorous remarks concerning the recent "fight" which +had been all one-sided. + +"Believe me!" muttered Bobolink, "if a couple more scouts had been +along just now I'd have taken a savage delight in pitching in and +giving that crowd the licking they deserved. Course a tramp isn't +worth much, but then he's _human_, and I hate to see anybody +bullied." + +"It wasn't Hank's business to chase the hoboes out of town," said +Jack. "We have the police force to manage such things. Fact is, I +reckon Hank's bunch has done more to hurt the good name of Stanhope +than all the hoboes we ever had come around here." + +"If I had my way, Jack, there'd be a public woodpile, and every tramp +caught coming to town would have to work his passage. I bet there'd be +a sign on every cross-roads warning the brotherhood to beware of +Stanhope as they might of the smallpox. But here's Briggs' store." + +As they entered the place they could see that the proprietor was +alone, his clerk being off on the delivery wagon. + +"Whew! he certainly looks pretty huffy this morning," muttered the +observing Bobolink. "Those tramps must have bothered him more or less +before he could get them to move on." + +"It might be he had some trouble with Hank before we came up," Jack +suggested; but further talk was prevented by the coming up of the +storekeeper. + +Mr. Briggs was a small man with white hair, and keen, rat-like eyes. +He possessed good business abilities, and had managed to accumulate a +small fortune in the many years he purveyed to the people of +Stanhope. + +Latterly, however, the little, old man had been growing very nervous +and irritable, perhaps with the coming of age and its infirmities. He +detested boys, and since that feeling soon becomes mutual there was +open war between Mr. Briggs and many of the juveniles of Stanhope. + +Suspicious by nature, he always watched when boys came into his store +as though he weighed them all in the same balance with Hank Lawson, +and considered that none of Stanhope's rising generation could be +trusted out of sight. + +Long ago he had taken to covering every apple and sugar barrel with +wire screens to prevent pilfering. Neither Jack nor Bobolink had ever +had hot words with the storekeeper, but for all that they felt that +his manner was openly aggressive at the time they entered the door. + +"If you want to buy anything, boys," said Mr. Briggs curtly, "I'll +wait on you; but if you've only come in here to stand around my store +and get warm I'll have to ask you to move on. My time is too valuable +to waste just now." + +Jack laughed on hearing that. + +"Oh! we mean business this morning, Mr. Briggs," he remarked +pleasantly, while Bobolink scowled, and muttered something under his +breath. "The fact is a party of us scouts are planning to spend a +couple of weeks up in the snow woods," continued Jack. "We have a list +here of some things we want to take along, and will pay cash for them. +We want them delivered to-day at our meeting room under the church." + +"Let Mr. Briggs have the list, Jack," suggested Bobolink. "He can mark +the prices he'll let us have the articles for. Of course, sir, we mean +to buy where we can get the best terms for cash." + +Bobolink knew the grasping nature of the old storekeeper, and perhaps +this was intended for a little trap to trip him up. Mr. Briggs glanced +over the list and promptly did some figuring, after which he handed +the paper back. + +"Seems to me your prices are pretty steep, sir!" remarked Jack. + +"I should say they were," added Bobolink, with a gleam in his eyes. +"Why, you are two cents a pound on hams above the other stores. Yes, +and even on coffee and rice you are asking more than we can get the +same article for somewhere else." + +"Those are my regular prices," said the old man, shortly. "If they are +not satisfactory to you, of course, you are at liberty to trade +elsewhere. In fact, I do not believe you meant to buy these goods of +me, but have only come in to annoy me as those other good-for-nothing +boys always do." + +"Indeed, you are mistaken, Mr. Briggs," expostulated Jack, who did not +like to be falsely accused when innocent. "We are starting out to see +where we can get our provisions at the most reasonable rates. Some of +the storekeepers are only too glad to give the scouts a reduction." + +"Well, you'll get nothing of the sort here, let me tell you," snapped +the unreasonable old man. "I can't afford to do business at cost just +to please a lot of harum-scarum boys, who want to spend days loafing +in the woods when they ought to be earning an honest penny at work." + +"Come on, Jack, let's get out of here before I say something I'll be +sorry for," remarked Bobolink, who was fiery red with suppressed +anger. + +"There's the door, and your room will be better appreciated than your +company," Mr. Briggs told them. "And as for your trade, take it where +you please. Your people have left me for other stores long ago, so why +should I care?" + +"Oh! that's where the shoe pinches, is it?" chuckled Bobolink; and +after that he and Jack left the place, to do their shopping in more +congenial quarters, while Mr. Briggs stood on his doorsteps and glared +angrily after them. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"FIRE!" + + +"Saturday, eleven-thirty P.M., the night before Christmas, and all's +well!" + +It was Frank Savage who made this remark, as with eight other scouts +he trudged along, after having left the house of the scout-master, +Paul Morrison. Frank had been the lucky one to be counted among those +who were going on the midwinter tour, his parents having been coaxed +into giving their consent. + +"And on Monday morning we make the start, wind and weather +permitting," observed Bobolink, with an eagerness he did not attempt +to conceal. + +"So far as we know everything is in complete readiness," said Bluff +Shipley. + +"Five iceboats are tugging at their halters, anxious to be off," +laughed Jack. "And there'll be a lot of restless sleepers in certain +Stanhope homes I happen to know." + +"Huh! there always are just before Christmas," chuckled Tom Betts. +"But this year we have a double reason for lying awake and counting +the dragging minutes. Course you committee of two looked after the +grub supplies as you were directed?" + +"We certainly did!" affirmed Bobolink, "and came near getting into a +row with old Briggs at his store. He wanted to ask us top-notch prices +for everything, and when we kicked he acted so ugly we packed out." + +"Just like the old curmudgeon," declared Phil Towns. "The last time I +was in his place he kept following me around as if he thought I meant +to steal him out of house and home. I just up and told my folks I +never wanted to trade with Mr. Briggs again, and so they changed to +the other store." + +"Oh, well, he's getting old and peevish," said Jack. "You see he lives +a lonely life, and has a narrow vision. Besides, some boys have given +him a lot of trouble, and he doesn't know the difference between +decent fellows and scamps. We'd better let him alone, and talk of +something else." + +"I suppose all of you notice that it's grown cloudy late to-day," +suggested Spider Sexton. + +"Oh! I hope that doesn't mean a heavy snowfall before we get started," +exclaimed Bluff. "If a foot of snow comes down on us, good-bye to our +using the iceboats as we've been planning." + +"The weather reports at the post office say fair and cold ahead for +this section," announced Jack Stormways, at which there arose many +faint cheers. + +"Good boy, Jack!" cried Bobolink, patting the other's back. "It was +just like the thoughtful fellow you are to go down and read the +prospect the weather sharps in Washington hold out for us." + +"You must thank Paul for that, then," admitted the other, "for he told +me about it. I rather expect Paul had the laugh on the rest of us +to-night, boys." + +"Now you're referring to that Jud Mabley business, Jack," said Phil +Towne. + +"Well, when Paul let him off so easy every one of us believed he was +wrong, and that the chances were ten to one Paul would have to fork +over the dollar to pay for having that window pane put in," continued +Jack. "But you heard what happened?" + +"Yes, seems that the age of miracles hasn't passed yet," admitted +Bobolink. "I thought I was dreaming when Paul told me that Jud's +little brother came this morning with an envelope addressed to him, +and handed it in without a word." + +"And when Paul opened it," continued Jack, taking up the story in his +turn, "he found a nice, new dollar bill enclosed, with a scrap of +paper on which Jud had scrawled these words: 'Never would have paid +only I couldn't let _you_ stand for my accident, and after you treated +me so white, too. But this wipes it all out, remember. I'm no +crawler!'" + +"It tickled Paul a whole lot, let me remark," Jud Elderkin explained. +"I do half believe he thinks he can see a rift in the cloud, and that +some of these days hopes to get a chance to drag Jud Mabley out of +that ugly crowd." + +"It would be just like Paul to lay plans that way," acknowledged Jack. +"I know him like a book, and believe me, he gets more pleasure out of +making his enemies feel cheap than the rest of us would if we gave +them a good licking." + +"Paul's a sure-enough trump!" admitted Bluff. "Do you know what he +said when he was showing that scrawl to us fellows? I was close enough +to get part of it, and I'm dead sure the words 'entering wedge' formed +the backbone of his remark." + +"Do we go, snow or sunshine, then?" asked Bluff, as they came to a +halt on a corner where several of the boys had to leave the rest, as +their homes lay in different directions. + +"That's for Paul to decide," Jack told him. "But we know our leader +well enough to feel sure it's got to be a fierce storm to make him +call a trip off, once all preparations have been made." + +"Oh! don't borrow trouble," sang out Bobolink. "Everything is lovely, +and the goose hangs high. Just keep on remembering that to-morrow will +be Christmas, and all of us expect to find something in our stockings, +so to speak." + +"There's one word of warning I ought to speak before we separate," +said Jack, pretending to look solemn as they stood under a corner +street lamp. + +"Now the chances are you're referring to that Lawson crowd again, +Jack," suggested Bobolink. + +"This time it comes nearer home than the Lawsons," said Jack, +seriously. + +"Then for goodness sake tell us what you have on your mind," urged Tom +Betts, impulsively. + +"As the second in command in our patrol," Jack went on gravely, "since +Paul failed to say anything about it, I feel it my solemn duty to warn +several of our number to be extra careful how they gorge at Christmas +dinner to-morrow. Too much turkey and plum pudding have stretched out +many a brave scout before now. If there are several vacancies in our +ranks Monday morning we'll know what to lay it all to. I beg of you to +abstain, if you want to feel fresh and hearty at the start." + +A general laugh greeted the warning, and every one looked particularly +at Bobolink, much to his confusion. + +"If the shoe fits, put it on, everybody," Bobolink remarked stoutly. +"As for me, I'd already made up my mind to be satisfied with one +helping all around. And when a Link says a thing he always keeps his +word." + +"Well," remarked Phil Towns, wickedly, "we hope that this time we +won't have to refer to our chum as the 'Missing Link,' that's all." + +That caused another mild eruption of boyish laughter, and before +Bobolink could make a caustic reply a sudden loud metallic clang +startled them. + +"Listen, it's the fire alarm!" exclaimed Tom Betts. + +Again the sound came with startling distinctness. + +Boylike, Jack and his friends forgot everything else just then in this +new excitement. Stanhope had a volunteer fire department, like most +small towns in that section of the country. Stanhope was proud of its +fire laddies, who had, on numerous previous occasions, proved their +skill at fighting the flames. Already loud shouts could be heard in +various quarters, as men threw up windows and called to neighbors. + +"Where can it be, do you think?" demanded Jud Elderkin, as the group +of lads stood ready for flight, only waiting to catch some definite +clue, so that they might not start on a wild-goose chase. + +"Seems to me I c'n see a flickering light over yonder!" cried Spider +Sexton, as he pointed toward the heart of the town. + +"You're right, Spider!" echoed Tom Betts. "That's where the fire lies. +See how it keeps on getting brighter right along, showing that the +blaze has got a firm grip. Hey! wait for me, can't you, fellows?" + +"Wait your granny!" shouted Bobolink over his shoulder as he fled +wildly down the street. "Run for all your worth, old ice-wagon. Whoop! +here we come, Stanhope's fire-fighters!" + +There was excitement on every side of them now. Doors opened to emit +men hastily donning rubber coats and firemen's hats. Women and +children had commenced to scream at each other across dividing fences. +Dogs began to join in the general confusion by barking madly. And +above all the increasing clamor, the brazen notes of the fire bell +continued to clang furiously. + +The nine scouts, being already on the street at the time the alarm was +turned in, had a big advantage over others, since they were dressed in +the beginning. As they ran on they were joined by a number of men and +women who had chanced to be up at this late hour, possibly decorating +Christmas trees for the benefit of the children on the coming +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE ACCUSATION + + +"Can you guess where it is, Jack?" gasped Frank Savage as he strove to +keep alongside the other while running to the fire. + +Just then they reached a corner, and as they dashed around it they +came in plain sight of the conflagration. + +"It's Briggs' store, fellows!" shouted Frank over his shoulder. + +Ten seconds later all of them were on the spot where already a little +cluster of men and boys were gathered, some of them near neighbors, +others having come up ahead of the scouts. + +"Hey! what's this I see?" Bobolink said to his chum nearest him; "two +of the Lawson crowd here, dodging about and grinning as if they +thought it a picnic?" + +"Look at old Briggs, will you?" cried Sandy Griggs. "He's dancing +around like a chicken after you've chopped its head off." + +"Did you ever see anybody so excited?" demanded Bobolink. "Hold on! +what's that he's saying now about somebody setting his store afire on +purpose?" + +"It's a black scheme to get me out of competition!" the little, old +storekeeper was crying as he wrung his hands wildly. "Somebody must +have known that my insurance ran out three weeks ago, and for once I +neglected to renew it! I shall be ruined if it all goes! Why don't +some of you try to save my property?" + +"Boys, it seems that it's up to us to get busy and do something!" +exclaimed Frank Savage, immediately. + +"It comes hard to work for the old skinflint," declared Bobolink, "but +I s'pose we're bound to forget everything but that some one's stuff is +in danger, and that we belong to the scouts!" + +"Come on then, everybody, and let's sling things around!" cried Jud +Elderkin. + +No matter how the fire started it was burning fiercely, and promised +to give the volunteer firemen a good fight when they arrived, as they +were likely to do at any moment now. Indeed, loud cries not far away, +accompanied by the rush of many heavily booted feet and the trampling +of horses' hoofs announced that the engine, hook and ladder, and +chemical companies were close at hand. + +The nine scouts dashed straight at the store front. The door stood +conveniently open, though they could only hazard a guess as to how it +came so--possibly when brought to the spot with the first alarm of +fire the owner had used his key to gain an entrance. + +Into the store tumbled the boys. The interior was already pretty well +filled with an acrid smoke that made their eyes run; but through it +they could manage to see the barrels and boxes so well remembered. + +These some of the scouts started to get out as best they could. Jack, +realizing that in all probability the rolls of cloth and silks on the +shelves would suffer worst from the water soon to be applied, led +several of his companions to that quarter. + +They were as busy as the proverbial beaver, rushing goods outdoors +where they could be taken in hand by others, and placed in temporary +security. A couple of the local police force had by this time reached +the scene, and they could be depended on to guard Mr. Briggs' property +as it was gathered in the street. + +The owner of the store seemed half beside himself, rushing this way +and that, and saying all manner of bitter things. Even at that moment, +when the boys of Stanhope were making such heroic efforts to save his +property, he seemed to entertain suspicions regarding them, for he +often called out vague threats as to what would happen if they dared +take anything belonging to him. + +Now came the volunteer fire-fighters, with loud hurrahs. There seemed +no need of the ladders, but the fire engine was quickly taken to the +nearest cistern and the suction pipe lowered. When that reservoir was +emptied others in the near vicinity would be tapped, and if the water +supply held out the fire could possibly be gotten under control. + +That was likely to be the last time the citizens of Stanhope would +have to cope with a fire in their midst, armed with such old-fashioned +weapons. A new waterworks system was being installed, and in the +course of a couple of weeks Stanhope hoped to be supplied with an +abundance of clear spring water through the network of pipes laid +under the town streets during the preceding summer and fall. + +Mr. Forbes, the efficient foreman of the fire company, was the right +sort of man for the work. He was one of the town blacksmiths, a fine +citizen, and highly respected by every one. + +As his heavy voice roared out orders the men under him trailed the +hose out, the engine began to work furiously, sending out black smoke +from its funnel, and the men who handled the chemical engine brought +it into play. + +Even in that time, when dozens of things pressed hard upon the foreman +demanding his attention, he found occasion to speak words of +encouragement to the busy scouts as they trooped back and forth, +carrying all sorts of bulky articles out of the reach of the flames. + +"Good boys, every one of you!" he called out to them as Jack and +Bobolink came staggering along with their arms filled with bolts of +Mr. Briggs' most cherished silks, "you've got the making of prize +firemen in you I can see. Don't overdo it, though, lads; and make way +for the men with the hose!" + +By the time the first stream of water was turned on the fire the +flames were leaping upward, and the entire back part of the store +seemed to be doomed. Being a frame building and very old it had been +like matchwood in the path of the flames. + +"Now watch how they slam things down on the old fire!" exclaimed +Bobolink as he stood aside unable to enter the store again since the +firemen had taken possession of the premises. "The water will do more +damage than the fire ever had a chance to accomplish." + +"Wow! see them smash those windows in, will you!" shouted Jud +Elderkin, as a man with a fire axe made a fresh opening in one side +of the store in order to put a second line of hose to work. + +Everybody was calling out, and what with the crackling of the hungry +flames, the neighing of the horses that had drawn the fire-engine to +the spot, the whooping of gangs of delighted boys, and a lot of other +miscellaneous sounds, Bedlam seemed to have broken loose in Stanhope +on this night before Christmas. + +"They've got the bulge on it already, seems like," announced Tom +Betts. + +"But even that doesn't seem to give Mr. Briggs much satisfaction," +remarked Frank. "There he is running back and forth between the store +and the stack of goods we piled up in the street." + +"I reckon he is afraid the police will steal some of the silks," +chuckled Bobolink. + +"The fire is going down right fast now," Tom Betts affirmed. "What's +left of the Briggs' store may be saved. But Mr. Briggs is bound to +lose a heap, and it cuts the old man to the bone to let a dollar slip +away from him." + +"To think of such a smart business man allowing his insurance policy +to lapse, and to lie unrenewed for a whole month!" exclaimed Bluff. + +"Got tired paying premiums for so many years and never having a fire," +explained Jack. + +As the crowd stood there the last of the blaze yielded to the efforts +of the firemen. Most of the building was saved, though the business +was bound to be crippled for some time, and Mr. Briggs' loss would run +into the hundreds, perhaps thousands, for all any one knew. + +"Listen to him scolding the foreman of the fire company, will you?" +demanded Bobolink. "He seems to think a whole hour elapsed after the +alarm before the boys got here. Why, it was the quickest run on +record, I should say." + +"Here they come this way," observed Tom Betts, "and the foreman is +trying to convince Mr. Briggs he is mistaken. He knows how excited Mr. +Briggs is, and excuses anything he may say. Mr. Forbes is a big man in +more ways than bulk." + +"Perhaps Mr. Briggs may want to scold us for not getting more stuff +out before the water was turned on," chuckled Bobolink. + +"Don't answer him back if he does," Jack warned them, "because we know +he's nearly out of his mind just now." + +Still, even practical Jack was shocked when the old storekeeper, +coming face to face with the group of scouts, suddenly pointed a +trembling finger at Bobolink and exclaimed in a vindictive voice: + +"I knew this fire was started in revenge, and there's the boy who did +it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +FRIENDS OF THE SCOUTS + + +Everybody came crowding around at hearing Mr. Briggs make such a +startling accusation. Bobolink seemed to have had his very breath +taken away, for all he could do was to stare helplessly at the angry, +little, old storekeeper. The magnitude of the crime with which he was +accused stunned him. + +Some of the other scouts managed to find their tongues readily enough. +Flushed with indignation they proceeded to express their feelings as +boys might be expected to do under strong resentment. + +"Well, I like that, now!" exclaimed Tom Betts. "When Bobolink here has +been working like a beaver to save Mr. Briggs' stuff from the maw of +the flames." + +"That was only meant to be a blind to hide the truth!" cried Mr. +Briggs. "After he set the fire he must have become frightened at what +he had done, and tried to cover up his tracks. Oh! I know what boys +are capable of; but I'll have the law on this miscreant who tried to +get revenge on me this way, see if I don't." + +"Shame on you, Mr. Briggs," said a stout woman close by. "And the boy +nearly killing himself to carry out big loads of your silks! It's many +dollars he saved you, and little credit he'll ever get." + +"Don't you know Bobolink has the best kind of alibi, Mr. Briggs?" said +Frank. "He was over at Doctor Morrison's house along with the rest of +us until just before the alarm sounded. We were on our way home when +the bell struck first." + +"The doctor himself will tell you that, if you ask him," added Jack, +indignant now because of what had passed after all they had done for +the old man. "Mr. Forbes, I wish you would warn him not to make such a +reckless accusation again, because he might have to prove it in court. +Boys have rights as well as storekeepers, he must know." + +"It's just as you say, Jack, my lad," asserted the big foreman of the +truck company, warmly. "I stood all your abuse, Mr. Briggs, when it +was directed against myself, but I advise you to go slow about +charging any of these young chaps with setting fire to your store. All +of us have seen how they worked trying to save your property, sir. It +is a poor return you are making for their efforts." + +Others shared this opinion, and realizing that he did not have a +single friend in the crowd, Mr. Briggs had the good sense to keep his +further suspicions to himself. But that he was still far from +convinced of Bobolink's innocence could be seen by the malevolent +glances he shot toward the boy from time to time, while the scouts +stood and watched the final work of the fire-fighters. + +The last spark had been extinguished, and all danger was past. Many of +the townspeople began to leave for their comfortable homes, because it +was bitterly cold at that hour of the night, with a coating of snow on +the ground. + +Paul had come up during the excitement, but somehow had failed to join +the rest of the scouts until later on. The other scouts thought that +doubtless he had found something to claim his attention elsewhere; but +he came up to them about the time they were thinking of taking their +departure. + +His indignation was strong when he heard what a foolish accusation the +almost distracted storekeeper had made against Bobolink. Still Paul +was a sensible lad, and he realized that Mr. Briggs could hardly be +held responsible for what he said at such a time. + +"Better forget all about it, Bobolink," he told the other, who was +still fretting under the unmerited charge. "Perhaps when he cools off +and realizes what a serious thing he has said, Mr. Briggs will +publicly take his words back, and will thank you fellows in the +bargain." + +"But how came it you were so slow in getting to the fire, Paul?" asked +Tom Betts; for, as a rule, the patrol leader could be counted on to +arrive with the first. + +Paul laughed at that. + +"I knew you'd be wondering," he said, and then went on to explain. +"For once I was caught in a trap, and, much as I wanted to get out and +run, I just had to hold my horses for a spell. You see, after you had +gone father asked me to hold something for him while he was attending +to it, and I couldn't very well drop it until he was through." + +"Whew! it sure must have been something pretty important to keep Paul +Morrison from running to a fire," chuckled Frank. + +"It was important," came the ready reply. "In fact, it was a man's +broken arm I was holding. Ben Holliday was brought in just after you +boys left. He had fallen in some way and sustained a compound fracture +of his left arm. Neither of the men who were along with him could be +counted on to assist, so father called on me to lend a hand. And +that's why I was late at the Briggs' store fire." + +"You missed a great sight, Paul, let me tell you," affirmed Bluff. + +"Yes, and you missed hearing a friend of yours called a fire-bug, too, +in the bargain," grunted Bobolink. "And after I'd sweated and toiled +like fun to drag a lot of his old junk out of reach of fire and flood! +That's what makes me sore. Now, if I'd just stood around and laughed, +like a lot of the fellows did, it wouldn't have been so bad." + +"Listen!" said Jud Elderkin, lowering his voice, "when old Briggs got +the notion that some bad boy set his store on fire in a spirit of +revenge, maybe he wasn't so far wrong after all." + +"Say, what are you hinting at now, Jud?" gasped Bobolink, +suspiciously. "You know as well as anything I was along with the crowd +every minute of the time." + +"Sure I do, Bobolink," asserted the other, blandly. "I wasn't +referring to you at all when I said that. There are others in the +swim. You're not the only pebble on the beach, you understand." + +"Now I get you, Jud!" Tom Betts exclaimed. "And let me say, I've been +having little suspicions of my own leading in that same direction." + +"We found Hank, Jud Mabley and Sim Jeffreys on the spot when we got +here, you all remember, and they seemed tickled to death because it +was the Briggs' place that was on fire," continued Jud. + +Even Paul and Jack seemed impressed, though too cautious to accept the +fact until there was more proof. Already the foolishness of making an +unsupported accusation had been brought home to them, and the +scout-master felt that it was his duty to warn Jud and Tom against +talking too recklessly of their suspicion. + +"Better go slow about it, fellows, no matter what you think," he told +them. "The law does not recognize suspicion as counting for anything, +unless you have some sort of proof to back it up. It may be those +fellows are guilty, for they have been going from bad to worse of +late; but until you can show evidence leading that way, button up your +lips." + +"Guess you're right there, Paul," admitted Jud. "Some of us are apt to +be too previous when we get a notion in our heads. But Mr. Briggs is +dead sure it was no accident, whether the fire was started by the +Lawson crowd or some one else." + +"I heard him say he suspected that his safe had been broken open," +declared Tom Betts just then, "and that the fire might have been an +after thought meant to hide a robbery." + +"Whew! that's going some, I must say, if that Lawson gang has come +down to burglary, as well as arson," observed Spider Sexton, +seriously. + +"You'll have to get Jud Mabley away from his cronies mighty quick +then, Paul, if you hope to pull him out of the fire," commented +Frank. + +"Well, for one I've yet to be convinced that they had anything to do +with the fire," Paul told them. + +"But we know they've had trouble with Mr. Briggs plenty of times," +urged another of the scouts. + +"And you must remember they were here when we arrived, which looks +suspicious," added Bobolink. + +"Appearances are often deceitful, Bobolink, as you yourself know to +your cost," the scout-master remarked. "If forced to explain their +being on the spot so early perhaps they could prove an alibi as well +as you. But come, since the fire is all over, and it's pretty shivery +out here now, suppose we get back home." + +No one offered any objection to this proposal. Indeed, several of the +scouts who had worked hard enough to get into a perspiration, were +moving about uneasily as though afraid of taking cold. + +When the boys left the scene the crowd had thinned out very much, for +the wintry night made standing around unpleasant. Besides, most of the +people were disgusted with the actions of old Mr. Briggs, and cared +very little what his loss might prove to be. + +At the time the scouts turned away and headed for another section of +the town, the old storekeeper was entering the still smoking building, +desirous of examining his safe to ascertain whether it showed signs of +having been tampered with. + +Once again the boys stood on the corner ready to separate into several +factions as their homes chanced to lie. + +"There, the fire is out; that's back-taps!" said Tom Betts. + +"You're off your base, Tom," Bluff disagreed, "for that's the town +clock striking the hour of midnight." + +"Sure enough," agreed Tom, when four and five had sounded. + +They counted aloud until the whole twelve had struck. + +"That means it's Sunday morning. Merry Christmas, Paul, and the rest!" +cried Frank. + +"The same to you, and good-night, fellows!" called out Paul, as with +Jack he strode away. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE ICEBOAT SQUADRON + + +At exactly ten o'clock, on Monday morning, December 26th, Bobolink +sounded the "Assembly" on his bugle. A great crowd had gathered on the +bank of the frozen Bushkill. For the most part this was made up of +boys and girls, but there were in addition a few parents who wanted to +see the start of the scouts for their midwinter camp. + +Up to this time their outings had taken place in a more genial period +of the year, and not a few witnessed their departure with feelings of +uneasiness. This winter had already proved its title to the stormiest +known in a quarter of a century, and at the last hour more than one +parent questioned the wisdom of allowing the boys to take the bold +tour. + +However, there were no "recalls," and as for the ten lads themselves, +to look at their eager faces it could be seen that they entertained no +doubts regarding their ability to cope with whatever situations +arose. + +The five iceboats were in line, and could be compared with so many +fleet race horses fretting to make a speedy start. Each had various +mysterious packages fastened securely, leaving scanty room for the +pair of "trippers." + +"After all we're going to have a fine day of it," remarked Tom Betts, +as he gave a last look to the running gear of his new ice craft, and +impatiently waited for Paul to give the word to be off. + +"Luck seems to be with us in the start," admitted Bobolink, who was +next in line. "I only hope it won't change and slap us too hard after +we get up there in the woods." + +"I heard this morning that the Lawson crowd had started overland, with +packs on their backs," Phil Towns stated. + +"Oh! we're bound to rub up against that lot before we're done with +it," prophesied Bobolink. "But if they give us any trouble I miss my +guess if they won't be sorry for it." + +"Scouts can take a heap," said Tom, "but there is a limit to their +forbearance; and once they set out to inflict proper punishment they +know how to rub it in good and hard." + +"Do you really believe there's any truth in that report we heard about +Mr. Briggs' safe being found broken open and cleaned out?" asked +Phil. + +"There's no question about it," replied Bobolink. "Though between you +and me I don't think the robbers got much of a haul, for the old man +is too wise to keep much money around." + +"I heard that Hank Lawson and his crowd were spending money pretty +freely when they got ready early this morning to start," suggested +Tom. + +Jack, who had listened to all this talk, took occasion to warn his +fellow-scouts, just as Paul had done on the other occasion. + +"Better not say that again, Tom, because we have no means of knowing +how they got the money. Some of them are often supplied with larger +amounts than seem to be good for them. Unless you know positively, +don't start the snowball rolling downhill, because it keeps on growing +larger every time some one tells the story." + +"All right, Jack," remarked Tom, cheerfully; "what you say goes. +Besides, as we expect to be away a couple of weeks there isn't going +to be much chance to tell tales in Stanhope." + +They waited impatiently for the word to go. Paul was making a last +round in order to be sure that nothing had been overlooked, for +caution was strongly developed in his character, as well as boldness. + +There were many long faces among the other boys belonging to Stanhope +Troop, for they would have liked above all things to be able to +accompany their lucky comrades. The lure of the open woods had a +great attraction for them, and on previous outings every one had +enjoyed such glorious times that now all felt as though they were +missing a grand treat. + +At last Paul felt that nothing else remained to be done, and that he +could get his expedition under way without any scruple. There were +many skaters on the river, but a clear passage down-stream had been +made for the start of the iceboat squadron. + +A few of the strongest skaters had gone on ahead half an hour back, +intending to accompany the adventurous ten a portion of the way. They +hoped to reach the point where the old canal connected the Bushkill +river with the Radway, and a long time back known as Jackson's Creek. + +Here they would await the coming of the fleet iceboats, and lend what +assistance was required in making the passage of this crooked +waterway. + +When once again the bugle sounded the cheering became more violent +than ever, for it was known that the moment of departure had arrived. + +Tom Betts had been given the honor of being the first in the +procession. His fellow passenger was Jack Stormways. As the new +_Speedaway_ shot from its mooring place and started down the river it +seemed as though the old football days had come again, such a roar +arose from human lungs, fish-horns, and every conceivable means for +making a racket. + +A second craft quickly followed in the wake of the leader, then a +third, the two others trailing after, until all of them were heading +down-stream, rapidly leaving Stanhope behind. + +The cheering of the throng grew fainter as the speedy craft glided +over the ice, urged on by a fair wind. There could be little doubt +that the ten scouts who were undertaking the expedition were fully +alive to the good fortune that had come their way. + +Tom Betts was acknowledged to be the most skilful skipper, possibly +barring Paul, along the Bushkill. He seemed to know how to get the +best speed out of an iceboat, and at the same time avoid serious +accidents, such as are likely to follow the reckless use of such frail +craft. + +It was thoughtful of Paul to let Tom lead the procession, when by all +rights, as the scout-master, Paul might properly have assumed that +position. Tom must have been considering this fact, for as he and Jack +flew along, crouching under the big new sail that was drawing +splendidly, he called out to his comrade: + +"Let me tell you it was mighty white in Paul to assign me to this +berth, Jack, when by rights everybody expected him to lead off. I +appreciate it, too, I want you to understand." + +"Oh! that's just like Paul," he was told. "He always likes to make +other fellows feel good. And for a chap who unites so many rare +qualities in his make-up Paul is the most unassuming fellow I ever +knew. Why, you can see that he intentionally put himself in last +place, and picked out Spider Sexton's boat to go on, because he knew +it was the poorest of the lot." + +"But all the same the old _Glider_ is doing her prettiest to-day and +keeping up with the procession all right," asserted Tom, glancing +back. + +"That's because Paul's serving as skipper," asserted Jack, proudly. +"He could get speed out of any old tub you ever saw. But then we're +not trying to do any racing on this trip, you remember, Tom." + +"Not much," assented the other, quickly. "Paul impressed it on us that +to-day we must keep it in mind that 'safety first' is to be our motto. +Besides, with all these bundles of grub and blankets and clothes-bags +strapped and roped to our boats a fellow couldn't do himself justice, +I reckon." + +"No more he could, Tom. But we're making good time for all that, and +it isn't going to be long before we pass Manchester, and reach the +place where that old abandoned canal creeps across two miles of +country, more or less, to the Radway." + +"I can see the fellows who skated down ahead of us!" announced Tom, +presently. + +"Yes, they're waiting to go through the canal with us," assented Jack. +"Wallace Carberry said they feared we might have a bad time of it +getting the iceboats over to the Radway, and he corralled a few +fellows with the idea of lending a hand." + +"They hate the worst kind to be left out of this camping game," +remarked Tom, "and want to see the last they can of us." + +A few minutes later and the skipper of the leading iceboat brought his +speedy craft to a halt close to the shore, where several scouts +awaited them. The other four craft soon drew up near by, thus +finishing what they were pleased to call the "first leg" of the novel +cruise. + +It was decided to work their way through the winding creek the best +way possible. In places it would be found advisable to push the boats, +while now and then as an open stretch came along they might take +advantage of a favorable wind to do a little sailing. + +Two miles of this sort of thing would not be so bad. As Bobolink sang +out, the worst was yet to come when they made the Radway, and had to +ascend against a head wind that would necessitate skilful tacking to +avoid an overturn. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ON THE WAY + + +"It all comes back to me again, when I see that frozen mud bank over +there, fellows," called out Frank Savage, after they had been pushing +their way along the rough canal for some time. + +"How many times we did get stuck on just such a mud bank," laughed +Paul. "I can shut my eyes even now, and imagine I see some of us +wading alongside, and helping to get our motor boats out of the +pickle. I think Bobolink must dream of it every once in a while, for +he had more than his share of the fun." + +"It was bully fun all right, say what you will!" declared the boy +mentioned, "though like a good many other things that are past and +gone, distance lends enchantment to the view." + +"That's right," echoed Tom Betts, "you always seem to forget the +discomforts when you look back to that kind of thing, and remember +only the jolly good times. I've come home from hunting as tired as a +dog, and vowed it would be a long while before I ever allowed myself +to be tempted to go again. But, fellows, if a chum came along the next +day and asked me I'd fall to the bait." + +A chance to do a little sailing interrupted this pleasant exchange of +reminders. But it was for a very short distance only that they were +able to take advantage of a favoring breeze; then the boys found it +necessary to push the boats again. + +Some of them strapped on their skates and set out to draw the laden +iceboats as the most logical way of making steady progress. + +"What are two measly miles, when such a glorious prospect looms up +ahead of us?" cried Sandy. "We ought to be at the old Radway by +noon." + +"Yes," added Bobolink, quickly. "And I heard Paul saying just now that +as we were in no great hurry he meant to call a halt there for an hour +or more. We can start a fire and have a bully little warm lunch, just +to keep us from starving between now and nightfall, when a regular +dinner will be in order." + +Of course, this set some of the boys to making fun of Bobolink's well +known weakness. The accused scout took it all as good natured joking. +Besides, who could get angry when engaged in such a glorious outing as +that upon which they were now fully embarked? Certainly not the +even-tempered Bobolink. + +From time to time the boys recognized various spots where certain +incidents had happened to them when on their never-to-be-forgotten +motor boat cruise of the preceding summer. + +It was well on towards noon when they finally reached the place where +the old connecting canal joined the Radway river. It happened, +fortunately for the plans of the scouts, that both streams were rather +high at the setting in of winter, which accounted for an abundance of +ice along the connecting link. + +"Looky there, Paul. Could you find a better place for a fire than in +that cove back of the point?" demanded Bobolink, evidently bent on +reminding the commander-in-chief of his promise. + +"You're right about that," admitted Paul, "for the trees and bushes on +the point act as a wind break. Head over that way, boys, and let's +make a stop for refreshments." + +"Good for you, Paul!" cried Spider Sexton, jubilantly. "I skipped the +best part of my usual feed this morning, I was so excited and afraid I +might get left; and I want to warn you all I'm as empty right now as a +drum. So cook enough for an extra man or two when you're about it." + +"Huh! you'll take a hand in that job yourself, Spider," asserted +Bobolink, pretending to look very stern, though he knew there would be +no lack of volunteers for preparing that first camp meal. Enthusiasm +always runs high when boys first go into the woods, but later on it +gets to be an old story, and some of the campers have to be drummed +into harness. + +A fire was soon started, for every one of the scouts knew all about +the coaxing of a blaze, no matter how damp the wood might seem. The +scouts had learned their lesson in woodcraft, and took pride in +excelling one another on occasion. + +Then a bustling ensued as several cooks busied themselves in frying +ham, as well as some potatoes that had already been boiled at home. +When several onions had been mixed with these, after being first fried +in a separate pan, the odors that arose were exceedingly palatable to +the hungry groups that stood around awaiting the call to lunch. + +Coffee had been made in the two capacious tin pots, for on such a +bracing day as this they felt they needed something to warm their +systems. Plenty of condensed milk had been brought along, and a can of +this was opened by puncturing the top in two places. Thus, if not +emptied at a sitting, a can can be sealed up again, and kept over for +another occasion. + +"As good a feed as I ever want to enjoy!" was the way Bobolink bubbled +over as he reached for his second helping, meanwhile keeping a wary +eye on the boy who had warned them as to his enormous capacity for +food. + +"It is mighty fine," agreed Wallace Carberry, "but somehow, fellows, +it seems like a funeral feast to me, because it's the last time I'll +be able to join you. Never felt so bad in my life before. Shed a few +tears for me once in a while, won't you?" + +The others laughingly promised to accommodate him. Truth to tell, most +of them did feel very sorry for Wallace and the other boys whose +parents had debarred them from all this pleasure before them. + +When the hour was up another start was made. This time they headed up +the erratic Radway. The skaters still clung to them, bent on seeing +all they could of those whom they envied so much. + +Progress was sometimes very tedious, because the wind persisted in +meeting them head on, and it is not the easiest task in the world to +force an iceboat against a negative breeze. Tacking had to be resorted +to many times, and each mile they gained was well won. + +The boys enjoyed the exhilarating exercise, however, and while there +were a few minor accidents nothing serious interfered with their +progress. + +It was two o'clock when they sighted Lake Tokala ahead of them. +Shouts of joy from those in advance told the glad story to the toilers +in the rear. This quickened their pulses, and made them all feel that +the worst was now over. + +When the broad reaches of the lake had been gained they were able to +make speed once more. It was the best part of the entire trip--the run +across the wide lake. And how the sight of Cedar Island brought back +most vividly recollections of the happy and exciting days spent there +not many months before! + +Wallace and his three chums still held on. They declared they were +bound to stick like "leeches" until they had seen the expedition +safely across the lake. What if night did overtake them before they +got back to the Bushkill again? There would be a moon, and skating +would be a pleasure under such favorable conditions. + +"Don't see any signs of another wild man on the island, do you, Jack?" +asked Tom Betts, as the _Speedaway_ fairly flew past the oasis in the +field of ice that was crowned by a thick growth of cedars, which had +given the island its name. + +"Nothing doing in that line, Tom," replied the other with a laugh. +"Such an adventure happens to ordinary fellows only once in a +life-time. But then something just as queer may be sprung on us in the +place we're heading for." + +The crossing of Tokala Lake did not consume a great deal of time, for +the wind had shifted just enough to make it favor them more or less +much of the way over. + +"I c'n see smoke creeping up at the point Paul's heading for," +announced Tom Betts. "That must come from the cabin we heard had been +built here since we had our outing on the lake." + +"We were told that it stood close to the mouth of the creek which we +have to ascend some miles," remarked Jack. "And this man is the one we +think to leave our boats in charge of while away in the woods." + +"I only hope then that he'll be a reliable keeper," observed Tom, +seriously, "for it would nearly break my heart if anything happened to +the _Speedaway_ now. I've only tried her out a few times, but she +gives promise of beating anything ever built in this section of the +country. I don't believe I could duplicate her lines again if I +tried." + +"Don't borrow trouble," Jack told him. "We'll dismantle the boats all +we can before we leave them, and the chances are ten to one we'll find +them O.K. when we come out of the woods two weeks from now. But here +we are at the place, and the boys who mean to return home will have to +say good-bye." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE RING OF STEEL RUNNERS + + +As the little flotilla of ice yachts drew up close to the shore, the +sound of boyish laughter must have been heard, for a man was seen +approaching. He came from the direction of the cabin which they had +sighted among the trees, and from the mud and stone chimney of which +smoke was ascending straight into the air--a promise of continued good +weather. + +The boys were climbing up the bank when he reached them. So far as +they could see he appeared to be a rough but genial man, and Paul +believed they could easily trust him to take care of the boats while +away. + +"I suppose you are Abe Turner, spoken of by Mr. Garrity?" was the way +Paul addressed the man, holding out his hand in friendly greeting. + +The other's face relaxed into a smile. Evidently he liked this manly +looking young chap immediately, as most people did, for Paul had a +peculiarly winning way about him. + +"That's my name, and I reckon now you must be Paul," said the other. + +"Why, how did you know that?" demanded Bobolink, in surprise. + +"Oh! I had a letter from Mr. Thomas Garrity telling me all about you +boys, and ordering me to do anything you might want. You see he owns +all the country around here, an' I'm holding the fort until spring, +when there's going to be some big timber cutting done. We expect to +get it to market down the Radway." + +The scouts exchanged pleased looks. + +"Bully for Mr. Thomas Garrity!" shouted Tom Betts, "he's all to the +good, if his conversion to liking boys did come late in life. He's +bound to make up for all the lost time now. Three cheers, fellows, for +our good friend!" + +They were given with a rousing will, and the echoes must have alarmed +some of the shy denizens of the snow forest, for a fox was seen to +scurry across an open spot, and a bevy of crows in some not far +distant oak trees started to caw and call. + +"All we want you to do for us, Abe," explained Paul, "is to take good +care of our five iceboats, which we will have to leave with you." + +"And we might as well tell you in the beginning," added Bobolink, +"that several tough chaps from our town have come up here to spend +some time, just from learning of our plans." + +"Yes," went on Tom Betts, the anxious one, "and nothing would tickle +that Hank Lawson and his gang so much as to be able to sneak some of +our boats away, or, failing that, to smash them into kindling wood +with an axe." + +Abe nodded his shaggy head and smiled. + +"I've heard some things about Hank Lawson," he observed. "But take it +from me that if he comes around my shanty trying any of his tricks +he'll get a lesson he'll never forget. I'll see to it that your boats +are kept safe. I've two dogs off hunting in the woods just now, but +I'll fasten 'em nigh where you store the boats. I'm sorry for the boy +who gets within the grip of Towser's teeth, yes, or Clinch's either." + +That was good news to Tom, who smiled as though finally satisfied that +there was really nothing to be feared. + +"Sorry to say we'll have to be leaving you, boys," announced Wallace +just then, as he started to go the rounds with a mournful face, +shaking hands with each lucky scout whom he envied so much. + +"Hope you have the time of your lives," called out another of those +who were debarred from enjoying the outing. + +These boys started away, looking back from time to time as they +crossed wide Lake Tokala. Finally, with a last parting salute, they +darted into the mouth of the canal and were lost to view. + +There was an immediate bustle, for time was flitting, and much +remained to be done. The five owners of the iceboats proceeded to +dismantle them, which was not a tedious proceeding. The masts were +unstepped and hidden in a place by themselves. The sails were taken +into the cabin of Abe, where they would be safe. + +Meanwhile, the other boys had been engaged in making up the various +packs which from now on must be shouldered by each member of the +expedition. Experience in such things allowed them to accomplish more +in a given time than novices would have been able to do. + +"Everything seems to be ready, Paul," announced Jack after a while, as +they gathered around, each boy striving to fix his individual pack +upon his back, and getting some other fellow to adjust the straps. + +Bobolink seemed to have half again as much as any of the others, +though this was really all his own doing. Besides his usual share of +the luggage he had pots and pans and skillets sticking out in all +directions, so that he presented the appearance of a traveling +tinker. + +"It's a great pity, Bobolink," said Tom Betts, with a grin, as he +surveyed his comrade after helping the other load up, "that you were +born about seventy-five years too late." + +"Tell me why," urged the other. + +"Think what a peddler you would have made! You'd have been a howling +success hawking your goods around the country." + +Of course they had all adjusted their skates before taking up their +packs; for bending down would really have been next to a physical +impossibility after those weighty burdens had been assumed. + +"Hope you have a right good time, boys," said Abe Turner in parting. +"And don't any of you worry about these boats. When you come back this +way you'll find everything slick and neat here." + +"Good for you, Abe," cried Tom Betts. "And make up your mind to it the +Banner Boy Scouts never forget their friends. You're on the list, Abe. +Good-bye!" + +They were off at last, and it was high time, for the short December +day was already getting well along toward its close. Night would come +almost before they knew it, though they had no reason to expect +anything like darkness, with that moon now much more than half full up +there in the heavens. + +Some of the boys had noticed the mouth of this creek when camping on +Cedar Island the previous summer. They had been so much occupied with +fishing, taking flashlight pictures of little wild animals in their +native haunts, and in solving certain mysteries that came their way +that none of them had had time to explore the stream. + +On this account then it would prove to be a new bit of country for +them, and this fact rather pleased most of the boys, as they dearly +loved to prowl around in a section they had never visited before. + +Strung out in a straggling procession they skated along. The creek was +about as crooked as anything could well be, a fact that influenced +Bobolink to shout out: + +"In the absence of a better name, fellows, I hereby christen this +waterway Snake Creek; any objections?" + +"It deserves the name, all right," commented Spider Sexton, "for I +never saw such a wiggly stream in all my born days." + +"Seems as if we had already come all of five miles, and nary a sign of +a cabin ahead yet that I can see," observed Phil Towns, presently, for +Phil was really beginning to feel pretty well used up, not being quite +so sturdy as some others among the ten scouts. + +"That's the joke," laughed Paul; "and it's on me I guess more than any +one else. I thought of nearly a thousand things, seems to me, but +forgot to ask any one just how far it was up to the cabin from the +lake by way of this scrambling creek." + +"Why, I'm sure Mr. Garrity said something like six miles!" exclaimed +Jack. + +"Yes, but that may have meant as the crow flies, straightaway," +returned the scout-master. + +"At the worst then, Paul," Bobolink ventured to say, "we can camp, and +spend a night in the open under the hemlocks. Veteran scouts have no +need to be afraid to tackle such a little game as that, with plenty of +grub and blankets along." + +"Hear! hear!" said Phil Towns. "And as the sun has set already I for +one wouldn't care how soon you decided to do that stunt." + +"Oh! we ought to be good for another hour or so anyway, Phil," Tom +told him, at which the other only grunted and struck manfully out +again. + +As evening closed in about them, the shadows began to creep out of the +heavy growth of timber by which the skaters were surrounded. + +"Look! look! a deer!" shrieked Sandy Griggs, suddenly. Thrilled by the +cry the others looked ahead just in time to see a flitting form +disappear in the thick fringe of shrubbery that lined one side of the +creek. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +TOLLY TIP AND THE FOREST CABIN + + +"Oh! that's too bad!" exclaimed Spider Sexton, "I've been telling +everybody we'd taste venison of our own killing while off on this +trip, and there the first deer we've glimpsed gives us the merry +ha-ha!" + +"Rotten luck!" grumbled Jud Elderkin. "And me with a rifle gripped in +my fist all the time. But I only had a glimpse of a brown object +disappearing in the brush, and I never want to just _wound_ a deer so +it will suffer. That's why I didn't fire when I threw my gun up." + +"With me," explained Jack Stormways, "it happened that Bluff here was +just in my way when I had the chance to aim." + +"Well," laughed Bobolink, "you might have shot straight through his +head, because it's a vacuum. I once heard a teacher tell him so when +he failed in his lessons every day for a week." + +"Oh! there's bound to be plenty of deer where you can see one so +easily," Paul told them, "so cheer up. Unless I miss my guess we'll +have all sorts of game to eat while up here in the snow woods. Abe +said it was a big season for fur and feather this year." + +They kept plodding along and put more miles behind them. The moon now +had to be relied on to afford them light, because the last of the +sunset glow had departed from the western heavens. + +Phil was beginning to feel very tired, and feared he would have to +give up unless inside of another mile or two they arrived at their +intended destination. Being a proud boy he detested showing any signs +of weakness, and clinched his teeth more tightly together as he +pressed on, keeping a little behind the rest, so that no one should +hear his occasional groan. + +All at once a glad cry broke out ahead, coming from Sandy Griggs, who +at the moment chanced to be in the van. + +"I reckon that's a jolly big fire yonder, fellows, unless I miss my +guess!" he told them. + +"It is a fire, sure thing," agreed Bobolink. + +"Tolly Tip has been looking for us, it seems, and has built a roaring +blaze out of doors to serve as a guide to our faltering steps!" +announced Jud, pompously, although he could hardly have been referring +to himself, for his pace seemed to be just as swift and bold as when +he first set out. + +"It's less than half a mile away I should say, even with this crooked +stream to navigate," announced Bobolink, more to comfort Phil than +anything else. + +"Keep going right along, and don't bother about me, I'm all right," +called the latter, cheerfully, from the rear. + +In a short time the scouts drew near what proved to be a roaring fire +built on the bank of the creek. They could see a man moving about, and +he must have already heard their voices in the near distance for he +was shading his eyes with his hand, and looking earnestly their way. + +"Hello, Tolly Tip!" cried out the boisterous Bobolink. "Here we come, +right-side up with care! How's Mrs. Tip, and all the little Tips?" + +This was only a boyish joke, for they had already been told by Mr. +Garrity that the keeper of the hunting lodge was a jolly old bachelor. +But Bobolink must have his say regardless of everything. They heard +the trapper laugh as though he immediately fell in with the spirit of +fun that these boys carried with them. + +"He's all right!" exclaimed Bobolink, on catching that boisterous +laugh. "Who's all right? Tolly Tip, the keeper of Deer Head Lodge, +situated in Garrity Camp! For he's a jolly good fellow, which none can +deny!" + +Amidst all this laughter and chatter the ten scouts arrived at the +spot where the welcoming blaze awaited them, to receive a warm welcome +from the queer, old fellow who took care of Mr. Garrity whenever the +latter chose to hide away from his business vexations up here in the +woods. + +The boys could see immediately that Tolly Tip was about as queer as +his name would indicate. At the same time they believed they would +like him. His blue eyes twinkled with good humor, and he had a droll +Irish brogue that was bound to add to the flavor of the stories they +felt sure he had on the end of his tongue. + +"Sure, it's delighted I am to say the lot av yees this night," he said +as they came crowding around, each wanting to shake his hand fiercely. +"Mr. Garrity towld me in the letther he was after sindin' up with the +tame that ye war a foine bunch av lads, that would be afther kapin' me +awake all right. And sure I do belave 'twill be so." + +"I hope we won't bother you too much while we're here," said Paul, +understanding what an energetic crowd he was piloting on this +excursion. + +"Ye couldn't do the same if ye tried," Tolly Tip declared, heartily. +"I have to be alone most all the long winther, an' it do be a great +trate to hav' some lively lads visit me for a s'ason. Fetch the packs +along wid ye into the cabin. I want to make ye sorry for carrying all +this stuff wid ye up here." + +His words mystified them until, having entered the capacious cabin +built of hewn logs, with the chinks well filled with hard mortar, they +were shown a wagonload of groceries which Mr. Garrity had actually +taken secret pleasure in purchasing without letting the boys know +anything about it. + +A team had found its way across the miles of intervening woods, and +delivered this magnificent present at the forest lodge. It was +intended to be a surprise to the boys, and Mr. Garrity certainly +overwhelmed them with his generosity. + +Bobolink alone was seen to stand and gaze regretfully at the small +edition of a grocery store, meanwhile shaking his head sorrowfully. + +"What ails you, Bobolink?" demanded one of his chums. + +"It can't be done, no matter how many meals a day we try to make way +with," the other solemnly announced. "I've been calculating, and +there's enough stuff there to feed us a month. Then, besides, think of +what we toted along. Shucks! why didn't Nature make boys with India +rubber stomachs." + +"Some fellows I happen to know have already been favored in that +line," hinted Tom Betts, maliciously; "but as for the rest of us, we +have to get along with just the old-fashioned kind." + +"Cheer up, Bobolink," laughed Paul; "what we can't devour we'll be +only too glad to leave to our good friend Tolly Tip here. The chances +are he'll know what to do with everything so none of it will be +wasted." + +"When a man who all his life has been as tightfisted as Mr. Garrity +does wake up," said Phil Towns, "he goes to the other extreme, and +shames a lot of people who've been calling themselves charitable." + +"Oh! that's because he has so much to make up, I guess," explained +Jud. + +While some of the boys started in to get a good supper ready the +others went around taking a look at the cabin in the snowy woods that +was to be their home for the next twelve days. + +It had been strongly built to resist the cold, though as a rule the +owner did not come up here after the leaves were off the forest trees. +A stove in one room could be used to keep it as warm as toast when +foot-long lengths of wood were fed to its capacious maw. The fire in +the big open hearth served to heat the other room, and over this the +cooking was also done. + +Several bunks gave promise of snug sleeping quarters. As these would +accommodate only four it was evident that lots must be cast to see +who the lucky quartette would prove to be. + +"To-morrow," said Paul, when speaking of this lack of accommodations, +"one of the very first things we do will be to fix other bunks, +because every scout should have a decent place for his bed. There's +plenty of room in here to make a regular scout dormitory of it." + +"Fine!" commented Tom Betts; "and those of us who draw the short +straws can manage somehow with our blankets on the floor for one +night, I guess." + +"We've all slept soundly on harder beds than that, let me tell you," +asserted Bobolink, "and for one I decline to draw a straw. Me for the +soft side of a plank to-night, you hear." + +The other boys knew that Bobolink, in his generosity, really had in +mind Phil and one or two more of the boys, not quite so accustomed to +roughing it as others of the campers. + +That supper, eaten under such novel surroundings, would long be +remembered; for while these boys were old hands at camping, up to now +they had never spent any time in the open while Jack Frost had his +stamp on all nature, and the earth was covered with snow. + +It was, all things considered, one of the greatest evenings in their +lives. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FIRST NIGHT OUT + + +"Well, it's started in to snow!" + +Jud Elderkin made this surprising statement after he had gone to the +door to take a peep at the weather. + +"You must be fooling, Jud," expostulated Tom, "because when I looked +out not more'n fifteen minutes ago the moon was shining like +everything." + +"All right, that may be, but she's blanketed behind the clouds right +now, and the snow's coming down like fun," asserted Jud. + +"Seems that we didn't get here any too soon, then," chuckled Bluff. + +"Oh! a little snow wouldn't have bothered us any," laughed Jack. "We'd +never think of minding a heavy fall at home, and why should we worry +now?" + +"That's a fact," Bobolink went on to remark, with a look of solid +satisfaction on his beaming face. "Plenty of wood under the shed near +by, and enough grub to feed an army. We're all right." + +After several of them had gone to verify Jud's statement, and had +brought back positive evidence in the shape of snowballs, the boys +again clustered around the jolly fire and continued to talk on various +subjects that chanced to interest them. + +"I wonder now," remarked Bobolink, finally, "if Hank took Mr. Briggs' +money as well as set fire to his store." + +As this was the first mention that had been made concerning this +subject Tolly Tip showed considerable interest. + +"Is it the ould storekeeper in Stanhope ye mane?" he asked. "Because I +did me tradin' with the same the short time I was in town, and sorry a +bargain did I ever sacure from Misther Briggs." + +"Plenty of other people are in the same boat with you there, Tolly +Tip," Sandy told him with a chuckle. "But his run of good luck has met +with a snag. Somebody set fire to his store, which was partly burned +down the other night." + +"Yes, and the worst part of it," added Bobolink, "was that Mr. Briggs +accidentally, or on purpose, let his insurance policy lapse, so that +he can get no damages on account of this fire." + +"And the last thing we heard before coming away," Phil Towns went on +to say, "was that the safe had been broken open and robbed. Poor old +Levi Briggs' cup is full to overflowing I guess. Everything seems to +be coming his way in a bunch." + +"I suspect that this Hank ye're tillin' me about must be a wild +harum-scarum broth av a boy thin?" remarked the old woodsman, puffing +at his pipe contentedly. + +"He is the toughest boy in town," said Phil. + +"And several others train with him who aim to beat his record if they +can," Spider Sexton hastened to add as his contribution. + +"There's absolutely nothing they wouldn't try if they thought they +could get some fun or gain out of it," declared Jud emphatically. + +"Do till!" exclaimed their host, shaking his head dolefully as though +he disliked knowing that any boys could sink to such a low level. + +"Why, only the other day," said Bobolink, "Jack and I saw the gang +pick on a couple of tramps who had just come out of Briggs' store. So +far as we knew the hoboes hadn't offered to say a word to Hank and his +crowd, but the fellows ran them out of town with a shower of stones. +Didn't they, Jack?" + +"Yes. And we saw one tramp get a hard blow on the head from a rock, in +the bargain," assented Jack. + +"Wow! but they were a mad pair, let me tell you," concluded Bobolink. + +"By the same token," observed Tolly Tip, "till me av one of the tramps +had on an ould blue army coat wid rid linin' to the same?" + +Bobolink uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Just what he did, I give you my word!" he replied hastily. + +"And was the other chap a long-legged hobo, wid a face that made ye +think av the sharp idge av a hatchet?" the old trapper questioned. + +"I reckon you must have seen the pair yourself, Tolly Tip!" observed +Bobolink. "Were you in Stanhope, or did they happen to pass this +way?" + +At that the taker of furs touched his cheek just below his eye with +the tip of his finger, and smiled humorously. + +"'Tis the black eye they were afther giving me early this day, sure it +was," he explained. "Not two miles away from here it happened, where +the road cuts through the woods like a knife blade. I'd been out to +look at a few traps set in that section whin I kim on the spalpeens. +We had words, and the shorter chap wid the army coat ran, but the +other engaged me. Before he cut stick he managed to lave the +imprission av his fists on me face, bad luck to the same." + +"I guess after all, Jack," remarked Bobolink, "they must be a couple +of hard cases, and Hank did the town a service when he chased them +off." + +"It would be the first time on record then that the Lawson crowd was +of any benefit to the community," Jack commented; "but accidents will +happen, you know. They didn't mean to do a good turn, only have what +they call fun." + +"So the shorter rascal didn't have any fight in him, it seems, Tolly +Tip?" Bobolink observed, as though the subject interested him +considerably. + +"Oh! as for that," replied the trapper, "mebbe he do be afther +thinkin' discretion was the better part av valor. Ye say, he had one +av his hands wrapped up in a rag, and I suspect he must have been +hurt." + +"That's interesting, at any rate!" declared Bobolink. "When we saw him +he had the use of both hands. Something must have happened after that. +I wonder what." + +"You're the greatest fellow to _wonder_ I ever knew," laughed Sandy +Griggs. + +"Bobolink likes to grapple with mysteries," said Jud, "and from now on +he'll keep bothering his head about that tramp's injured hand, wanting +to know whether he cut himself with a broken bottle, or burned his +fingers when cooking his coffee in an old tomato can over the +campfire." + +"Let Bobolink alone, boys," said Paul. "If he chooses to amuse himself +in that way what's the odds? Who knows but what he may surprise us +with a wonderful discovery some day." + +"Thank you, Paul," the other remarked drily. + +After that the subject was dropped. It did not offer much of interest +to the other scouts, but Paul, glancing towards Bobolink several +times, could easily see that he was pondering over something. + +After all, the snow did not last long. Before they finally went to bed +they found that the moon had once more appeared through a rift in the +clouds, and not more than two inches of fresh snow had covered the +ground. + +There was considerable skirmishing around done when the boys commenced +to make their final preparations for spending the first night in their +winter camp. No one would think of taking Tolly Tip's bunk when he +generously offered it, and so straws were drawn for the remaining +three, as well as the cot upon which Mr. Garrity slept when up at his +Deer Head Lodge. + +The fortunate ones turned out to be Paul, Bluff, Frank and Bobolink, +though the last mentioned declared positively that he preferred +sleeping on the floor as a novelty, and insisted that Phil Towns +occupy his bunk. + +They managed to make themselves comfortable after a fashion, though +the appearance of the "dormitory" excited considerable laughter, with +the boys sprawled out in every direction. + +All of the boys were up early, and they were eager to take up the many +plans they had laid out for the day. Breakfast was the first thing on +the calendar; and while it was being prepared and dispatched the +tongues of that half score of boys ran on like the water over the +wheel of the old mill, with a constant clatter. + +There was no necessity for all of them to remain at home to work on +the new bunks, so Paul picked out several to assist him in that work. +The others were at liberty to carry out such scout activities as most +appealed to their fancy. Some planned to go off with the woodsman to +see how he managed with his steel traps, by means of which, during the +winter, he expected to lay by quite a good-sized bundle of valuable +fur. Then there was wood to chop, pictures to be taken, favorable +places to be found for setting the camera during a coming night so as +to get a flashlight view of a fox or a mink in the act of stealing the +bait, as well as numerous other pleasant duties and diversions, all of +which had been eagerly planned for the preceding night as the boys sat +before the crackling fire. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +"TIP-UPS" FOR PICKEREL + + +Tom Betts came up from the frozen creek. + +"I don't believe that little snow ought to keep us from trying the +scheme we laid out between us, Jack," he said, looking entreatingly at +the other. + +"Why, no, there wasn't enough to hurt the skating," replied the other, +readily, much to Tom's evident satisfaction. + +"Bully for you, Jack!" he exclaimed. "There was more or less wind +blowing at the time, and the snow was pretty dry, so it blew off the +ice. We can easily make the lake in an hour I reckon, with daylight to +help us. Besides, we know the way by this time, you see." + +"All right!" called out Frank, who had been detailed to assist Paul in +the making of the extra bunks out of some spare boards that lay near +by, having been brought into the woods for some purpose, though never +used. + +"Remember, you two fishermen," warned Paul, "we'll all have our mouths +set for pickerel to-night, so don't dare disappoint us, or there will +be a riot in the camp." + +"We've just got to get those fish, Jack," said Tom, with mock +solemnity, "even if we have to go in ourselves after them. Our lives +wouldn't be worth a pinch of salt in this crowd if they had to go +pickerelless to-night." + +"Oh! that'll do! Be off with you!" roared Jud Elderkin, making out to +throw a frying-pan at Tom's head. + +When at the lake talking to the man who had agreed to look after their +iceboats during their absence, the boys had learned that there was +fine fishing through the ice to be had at this season of the year. + +Abe Turner had also informed them that should they care to indulge in +the sport at any time, and should skate down to his cabin, he would +show them just how it was done. What was more to the point, he had a +store of live minnows in a spring-hole that never froze up, even in +the hardest winter, he had been told. + +This then was the object that drew the two scouts, both of them +exceedingly fond of fishing in every way. None of the boys had ever +fished through the ice, it happened, though they knew how it was +done. + +Accordingly, Tom and Jack set off down the creek, their skate runners +sending back that clear ringing sound that is music in the ears of +every lad who loves the outdoor sports of winter. + +Jack carried his gun along. Not that he had any particular intention +of hunting, for others had taken that upon themselves as a part of the +day's routine, but then a deer might happen to cross their path, and +such a chance if it came would be too good to lose. + +"You see," commented Tom, after a mile or so had been placed to their +credit, "the snow isn't going to bother us the least bit. And I never +enjoyed skating any better than right now." + +"Same here," Jack told him. "And we certainly couldn't find ourselves +surrounded by a prettier scene, with every twig covered with snow." + +"Listen!" + +Both of them stopped when Tom called in this fashion, and strained +their ears to catch a repetition of the sound Tom had heard. + +"Oh! that's only a fox barking," said Jack. "I've heard them do it +many a time. You know they belong to the dog family, just as the wolf +and jackal and hyena do. Tolly Tip has a couple of fox pelts already, +and he says they are very numerous this year. Come on, let's be moving +again." + +So they pursued their winding way down the straggling creek, first +turning to the right and then to the left. + +"It's been just an hour since we left camp," remarked Jack at length, +"and there you can catch a glimpse of the lake through the trees +yonder." + +Abe Turner was surprised as well as pleased to find two of the boys at +his door that morning. + +"Didn't expect us back so soon, did you, Abe?" laughed Tom. "But in +laying out the plans for to-day we found that some of the boys were +fish hungry, so we decided to run down and take you up on your +proposition." + +"Nothing would please me better," Abe told them. "And it is about as +good a day for ice fishing as anybody'd want to set eyes on. I'll go +right away and get my lines. Then we'll pick up a pail, and put some +of my minnows in it." + +Before long they were out upon the ice of Lake Tokala, Tom carrying an +axe, Jack the various lines and "tip-ups" that were to signal when a +fish had been hooked, and Abe with the live bait in a tin bucket. + +The day was not a bitterly cold one, and this promised to make fishing +agreeable work. + +"On the big lakes where they do a heap of this kind of work," +explained their guide as they went toward Cedar Island, "the men build +little shanties out on the ice, where they can keep fairly warm. You +see sometimes the weather is terribly cold. But a day like this makes +it a pleasure to be out." + +Coming to a place where Abe knew from previous experience that a good +haul could be made, the first hole was cut in the ice. As winter was +still young this did not prove to be a hard task. + +Abe had marked a dozen places where these holes were to be chopped, +but the boys chose to watch him set his first line. After the novelty +had worn off they would be ready to take a hand themselves. + +There are many sorts of "tip-ups" used in this species of sport, but +Abe's kind answered all purposes and was very simple, being possibly +the original "tip-up." + +He would take a branch that had a certain kind of fork as thick around +as his little finger. In cutting this he left two short "feet" and one +long one. To Tom's mind it looked something like an old-fashioned +cannon, with the line securely tied to the short projecting muzzle. + +When the fish took hold this point was pulled down, with the result +that the longer "tail" shot up into the air, the outstretched legs +preventing the fork from being drawn into the hole. + +At the end of the long "tail" Abe had fastened a small piece of red +flannel. When a dozen lines were out it often kept a man busy running +this way and that to attend to the numerous calls as signaled by the +upraised red flags. + +"Now that we know just how it's done," said Tom, after they had seen +the bait fastened to the hook and dropped into the lake, "we'll get +busy cutting all those other holes. My turn next, Jack, you remember. +Watch my smoke." + +They had hardly finished the second hole before they heard Abe +laughing, and glancing toward him discovered that he was holding up a +two-pound, struggling pickerel. + +"First blood for Abe!" cried Tom. "But if they keep on biting it'll be +our chance soon, Jack. My stars! but that is a beaut, though. A dozen +like that would make the boys stare, I tell you." + +When Abe had arranged four lines he would not hear of the boys cutting +any more holes. + +"I'll dig out a couple to make an even half dozen," he told them. "And +the way the pike are biting to-day I reckon we'll get a good mess." + +"All right, then," agreed Tom, much relieved, for he wanted to be +pulling in the fish rather than doing the drudgery. "I'll look after +these two holes, Jack, and you skirmish around the others. And by +jinks! if I haven't got one right now!" + +"The same here," shouted the equally excited Jack. "Whew! how he does +pull though! Must be a whopper this time. I hope I don't lose him!" + +Fortune favored the ice fishermen, for both captives were saved, and +they proved to be even larger than the first one taken. + +So the fun went on. At times it slackened more or less, only to begin +again with new momentum. The pile of fish on the ice, rapidly +freezing, once they were exposed to the air, increased until at noon +they had all they could think of carrying home. + +"The rest of the day we'll take things easy, and lay in a stock for +Abe here," suggested Tom; for the guide had told them he meant to cure +as many of the fish as he could secure, since later on in the winter +they would be much more difficult to catch, and it would be a long +time until April came with its break-up of the ice. + +The boys certainly enjoyed every minute of their stay at the lake. +Jack was wise enough to know that they had better start for camp about +three o'clock. It might not be quite so easy going back, as they would +be tired, and the wind was against them. + +They had skated for over half an hour, with their heavy packs on their +backs, when again Tom called to his comrade to listen. + +"And believe me it wasn't a fox that time, Jack!" he declared, "but, +as sure as you live, it sounded like somebody calling weakly for +help!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE HELPING HAND OF A SCOUT + + +When Jack, listening, caught the same sound, he turned upon his +companion with a serious expression on his face. + +"Let's kick off our skates and hang our packs up in the crotch of this +tree, Tom," he said. + +"Then you expect to investigate, and find out what it means, do you?" + +"We'd feel pretty mean if we went on our way like the Levite in the +old story of the Good Samaritan," remarked Jack, busily disengaging +his bundle of fish which Abe had done up in a piece of old bagging. + +"I'm the last one to do such a thing," asserted Tom, "only I chanced +to remember that there are some tough boys up here somewhere--Hank and +his crowd--and I was wondering if this could be a trick to get us to +put our fingers in a trap." + +Jack chuckled, and held up his gun. + +"We ought to be able to take care of ourselves with this," he told his +chum. + +"Right you are, Jack! So let's be on the jump. There! that sounded +like a big groan, didn't it? Somebody's in a peck of trouble. Maybe a +wood-chopper has had a tree fall on him or cut his foot with his axe, +and is bleeding badly." + +"Just what I had in mind," remarked the other, as they started into +the shrubbery. + +The groans continued; therefore, the two scouts had no difficulty in +going directly to the spot. In a few minutes Tom clutched his chum's +sleeve and pointed directly ahead. + +"Ginger! it looks like Sim Jeffreys," he whispered. + +"No other," added Jack. + +"But what's the matter with the fellow?" continued Tom. "See how he +keeps tugging away at his right leg. I bet you he's gone and got it +caught in a root, and can't work it free. I've been through just such +an experience." + +"We'll soon find out," remarked Jack, pushing forward. + +"Be mighty careful, Jack," urged the other, not yet wholly convinced +that the groans were really genuine, for he knew how tricky Sim +Jeffreys had always been. + +By this time the other had become aware of their presence. He turned +an agonized face toward them, upon which broke a gleam of wild hope. +If Sim Jeffreys were playing a part then, Jack thought, he must be a +clever actor. + +"Oh, say! ain't I glad to see you boys," he called, holding both his +hands out toward them. "Come, help me get free from this pesky old +trap here!" + +"Trap!" echoed Tom. "Just what do you mean by that, Sim?" + +"I ain't tryin' to fool you, boys. Sure I ain't!" exclaimed the other, +anxiously. "Seems to me like an old bear trap, though I never saw one +before. I was out with my gun, lookin' for partridges, when all of a +sudden it jumped up and grabbed me right by the leg." + +Neither of the boys could believe this strange story until they had +taken a look. Then they saw that it was just as Sim had declared. The +trap was old and very rusty. Jack saw that it had lost much of its +former fierce grip, which was lucky for poor Sim, for otherwise he +might have had his leg badly injured. + +Still the jaws retained enough force to hold the boy securely; though +had Sim retained his presence of mind, instead of tugging wildly to +break away, he might have found it possible to bear down on the +weakened springs and set himself free. + +Tom and Jack quickly did this service for the other, who was profuse +in his expressions of gratitude, though neither of the scouts believed +in his sincerity, for Sim had a reputation for being slippery and +double-faced. + +"Why, I might have frozen to death here to-night," he told them. "Even +if I had lived till to-morrow I'd have starved sure. The bears would +have got me too, or the wildcats." + +"Didn't you call when you first got caught?" asked Tom. + +"I should say I did, till I could hardly whisper, but nobody seemed to +hear me shout," came the reply, as Sim rubbed his swollen and painful +leg. "Guess I'll have to limp all the way back to the hole in the +rocks where the rest of the boys are campin'." + +"How far away from here is it?" asked Jack, wondering whether they +ought to do anything more for Sim or let him shift for himself. + +"Oh, a mile and more, due west," the boy told them. "Where that hill +starts up, see? We haven't got much grub along with us, b'cause, you +see, we depended on shooting heaps of game. But so far I've knocked +down only one bird." + +"Do you think you can make it, Sim?" persisted Jack. + +The fellow limped around a little before replying. + +"I reckon I kin. Though I'll be pretty sore to-morrow like as not, +after this silly thing grabbin' me the way it did. I know my way home, +boys, never fear, and I'll turn up there sooner or later. Much obliged +for your help." + +With that Sim started off as though eager to get his hard work over +with. And as there was nothing more to be done, the two chums returned +to the creek, shouldered their heavy packs after resuming their +skates, and went on their way. + +It was just about dusk when they made the cabin on the bank of Snake +Creek; and as the others discovered their burdens a shout of joy went +up. + +"The country's safe," said Jud, "since you've brought home a stack of +fine pickerel. Let's see what they look like, fellows." + +At sight of the big fish the boys were loud in their congratulations. + +"Wouldn't mind having a try at that fun myself one of these days," +asserted Jud, enviously. "Paul, jot it down that I'm to be your side +partner when you take a notion to go down to the lake." + +"Some of you get busy here fixing the fish, if we mean to have them +to-night," remarked Jack, who was too tired to think of doing it +himself. + +"Too late for that this evening. We've got supper all ready for you. +The fish will have to keep till to-morrow," announced Bobolink. + +"What's this I smell in the air?" demanded Tom. "Don't tell me you've +bagged a deer already?" + +"Just what we have!" said Bobolink, his eyes glistening so, that it +required little effort to decide who the lucky hunter was. + +"Why, he wasn't away from camp an hour," asserted Phil Towns, "when we +heard him whooping, and in he came with a young buck on his back. I +never thought Bobolink was strong enough to tote that load a mile and +more." + +"Huh! I'd have carried in an elephant if it had dropped to my gun, I +felt that good!" declared the happy hunter. + +"But all the adventures haven't fallen to you fellows who stayed here +in camp or wandered about in the adjacent woods," announced Tom, +mysteriously. + +"What else have you been doing besides catching that dandy mess of +fish?" asked the scout-master, voicing the curiosity of the entire +crowd. + +"Say! did you shoot some game, too--a deer, a wildcat, or maybe a big +black bear?" demanded Bobolink, eagerly. + +"No, the gun was never fired," continued Tom. "But we've got a right +to turn our badges over for this day, because we performed a Good +Samaritan act." + +"Go on and tell us about it!" urged Sandy Griggs. + +"We heard groans, and weak calls for help," said Tom, unable to keep +back his news any longer, though he would have liked very much to +continue tantalizing the others, "and after we had kicked off our +skates and hung our packs in a tree, we went over into the woods and +found----" + +"What?" roared several of the curious scouts in unison. + +"Who but our fellow townsman, Sim Jeffreys, whining and groaning to +beat the band," continued the narrator. "It seems that he had got +caught in a trap, and expected to be frozen to death to-night, or +starve there to-morrow." + +"A trap, did ye say?" asked Tolly Tip. And Paul noticed a sudden look +of enlightenment come into his face. + +"Tell us what sort of a trap, Tom?" urged Bobolink. + +"A regular bear trap!" replied the one addressed. + +"Oh, come now! you're trying to play some sort of trick on us, +fellows," cried Spider Sexton. "How ever would a real bear trap come +there?" + +"Ask Tolly Tip," suggested Paul. + +"That's right, lads, I know all about that trap," admitted the old +woodsman, as he grinned at them. "I had an ole bear trap that had +lost its grip and wasn't wuth much. I sot the same in the woods, but +nothin' iver kim nigh it, and so I jest forgets all about the same. +But bless me sowl I niver dramed it'd be afther grippin' a lad by the +leg. All he had to do was to push down on the springs, and he'd been +loose." + +"I could see that plainly enough," admitted Jack. "The trouble was Sim +fell into a panic as soon as he found himself caught, and all he could +do was to squirm and pull and shout and groan. It shows the +foolishness of letting a thing scare you out of your seven senses." + +"But do you mean to say there are real, live bears around here, Tolly +Tip?" demanded Bobolink, his eyes nearly round with excitement. + +"There's one rogue av a bear that I've tried to git for this two year, +but by the same token he's been too smart for the likes av me." + +"That interests me a whole lot," remarked Paul; "and I mean to devote +much of my spare time to trying to shoot that same bear with my camera +in order to get a flashlight picture of him in his native haunts!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +NEWS OF BIG GAME + + +"Faith and would ye mind tillin' me how that same might be done?" +asked Tolly Tip, showing considerable interest. "I niver knowed that +ye could shoot a bear with a shmall contraption like that black box." + +Some of the boys snickered, but Paul frowned on them. + +"When we speak that way," he went on to explain, "we mean getting an +object in the proper focus, and then clicking the trigger of the +camera. We are really just taking a picture." + +"Oh! now I say what ye mane," admitted the woodsman; "but I niver +owned a camera in all me life, so I'm what ye'd call grane at it. Sure +'tis a harmless way av shootin' anything I should say." + +"But it gives a fellow just as much pleasure to get a cracking good +picture of a wild animal at home as it does a hunter to kill," Phil +Towns hastened to remark. Tolly Tip, however, shook his head in the +negative, as though to declare that for the life of him he could not +see it that way. + +"If you can show me a place that the black bear is using," Paul +continued, "I'll fix my camera in such a way that when Bruin pulls at +a bait attached to a cord he'll ignite the flashlight cartridge, and +take his own photograph." + +At that the woodsman laughed aloud, so novel did the scheme strike +him. + +"I'll do that same and without delay, me lad," he declared. "I've got +a notion this very minute that I know where I might find my bear; and +after nightfall I'll bait the ground wid some ould combs av wild +honey." + +"Wild honey did you say?" asked Jud, licking his lips in anticipation, +for if there was one thing to eat in all the wide world Jud liked +better than another it was the sweets from the hive. + +"Och! 'tis mesilf that has stacks av the same laid away, and I promise +ye all ye kin eat while ye stay here," the woodsman told them, at +which Jud executed a pigeon-wing to express his satisfaction. + +"And did you gather it yourself around here, Tolly Tip?" he inquired. + +"Nawthin' else," acknowledged the old trapper. "Ye say, whin Mister +Garrity do be staying down in town it's small work I have to do; and +to locate a bee tree is a rale pleasure. Some time I'll till ye how +we go about the thrick. Av course there's no use tryin' it afther +winter sets in, for the bees stick in the hive." + +"And bears just dote on honey, do they, the same as Jud here does?" +asked Frank. + +"A bear kin smell honey a mile away," the woodsman declared. "In fact, +the very last time I glimpsed the ould varmint we've been spakin' +about 'twas at the bee tree I'd chopped down. I wint home to sacure +some pails, and whin I got back to the spot there the ould beast was a +lickin' up the stuff in big gobs. Sure I could have shot him aisy +enough, but I had made up me mind to take him in a trap or not at all, +so I lit him go." + +"So he got his share of the honey, did he?" asked Jud. + +"Oh! I lift him all I didn't want, and set a trap to nab him, but by +me word he was too smart for Tolly Tip." + +"Then I hope you salt the ground to-night," remarked Paul, "and that I +can set my camera to-morrow evening and see what comes of it." + +It was not long before they were sitting down to the first real game +supper of the excursion. Everybody spoke of it as "Bobolink's venison +treat," and that individual's boyish heart swelled with pride from +time to time until Spider Sexton called out: + +"Next thing you know we'll have a real tragedy hereabouts." + +"What do you mean?" demanded Phil Towns. + +"Why," explained Spider, "Bobolink keeps on swelling out his chest +like a pouter pigeon every time somebody happens to mention his deer, +and I'm afraid he'll burst with vanity soon." + +"And when the day's doings are written up," Bluff put in, "be sure and +put in that another of our gallant band came within an ace of being +terribly bitten by a savage wild beast." + +"Please explain what it's all about," begged Tom. "You see Jack and I +were away pretty much all day. You and Sandy went off with Tolly Tip, +didn't you, to see how he managed his traps? Was it then the terrible +thing happened?" + +"It was," said Bluff, with a chuckle. "You see Tolly Tip kept on +explaining everything as we went from trap to trap, and both of us +learned heaps this morning. Finally, we came to the marsh and there a +muskrat trap held a big, ferocious animal by the hind leg." + +"You see," Sandy broke in, as though anxious to show off his knowledge +of the art of trapping, "as a rule the rat is drowned, which saves the +skin from being mangled. But this one stayed up on the bank instead of +jumping off when caught in the trap. Now go on, Bluff." + +"Sandy accidentally got a mite too close to the beast," continued the +other. "First thing I knew I heard a snarl, and then Sandy jumped +back, with the teeth of the muskrat clinging to the elbow of his coat +sleeve. An inch further and our chum'd have been badly bitten. It was +a mighty narrow escape, let me tell you." + +"Another thing that would interest you, Paul," Bluff went on to say, +"was the beaver house we saw in the pond the animals had made when +they built a dam across the creek, a mile above here." + +"Beavers around this section too!" exclaimed Jud, as though it almost +took his breath away. + +"Only wan little colony," explained Tolly Tip. + +"I'd give something to get a picture of real, live beavers, at their +work," Paul remarked. + +"Thin ye'll have till come up this way nixt spring time, whin they do +be friskin' around like young lambs," the woodsman told him. "Jist now +they do be snug in their winter quarters, and ye'll not see a speck av +thim. If it's the house ye want to take a picture av, the chance is +yours any day ye see fit." + +After supper was over Jack and Tom took a look at the new bunks. + +"A bully job, fellows!" declared the latter, "and one that does you +credit. Why, every one of us is now fitted with a coffin. And I see we +can sleep without danger of rolling out, since you've fixed a slat +across the front of each bunk." + +"Taken as a whole," Frank announced, "I think the scouts have done +pretty well for their first day at Camp Garrity. Don't you, fellows? +Plenty of fish and venison in the locker, all these bunks built, lots +of valuable information picked up, and last but not least, coals of +fire poured on the head of the enemy." + +They sat around again and talked as the evening advanced, for there +was an endless list of interesting things to be considered. Later Paul +accompanied the old woodsman on his walk to the place where he +believed the bear would pass. Here they set out the honey comb that +had been carried along, to serve as an attractive bait. + +"Ye understand," explained Tolly Tip, as they wended their way +homeward again in the silvery moonlight that made the scene look like +fairyland, "that once the ould rascal finds a trate like that he'll +come a sniffin' around ivery night for a week av Sundays, hopin' +fortune wull be kind till him ag'in." + +As the boys were very tired after such a strenuous day, they did not +sit up very late. + +Every lad slept soundly on this, the second night in camp. In fact, +most of them knew not a single thing five minutes after they lay down +until the odor of coffee brought them to their senses to find that it +was broad daylight, and that breakfast was well under way. + +Paul and Jud left the camp immediately after breakfast intending to go +to the place where the honey comb had been left as bait. Tolly Tip, +before they went, explained further. + +"Most times, ye say, bears go into their winter quarters with the +first hard cold spell, and hibernate till spring comes. This s'ason it +has been so queer I don't know but what the bear is still at large, +because I saw his tracks just the day before ye arrived in camp." + +When the pair came back the others met them with eager questions. + +"How about it, Paul?" + +"Any chance of getting that flashlight?" + +"Did you find the honey gone?" + +"See any tracks around?" + +Paul held up his hand. + +"I'll tell you everything in a jiffy, fellows, if you give me half a +chance," he said. "Yes, we found that the honeycomb had been carried +off; and there in the snow were some pretty big tracks left by Bruin, +the bear!" + +"Good!" exclaimed Frank Savage, "then he'll be back to-night. It's +already settled that you'll coax him to snap off his own picture." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AT THE BEAVER POND + + +The second day in camp promised to be very nearly as full of action as +that lively first one had been. Every scout had half a dozen things he +wanted to do; so, acting on the advice of Paul, each made out a list, +and thus followed a regular programme. + +Jud, having learned that there were partridges about, set off with his +shotgun to see if he could bag a few of the plump birds. + +"Don't forget there are ten of us here, Jud!" called Spider Sexton, +"and that each one of us can get away with a bird." + +"Have a heart, can't you?" remonstrated the Nimrod, laughingly. "Cut +it down to half all around, and I might try to oblige you. Think of +me, staggering along under such a load of game as that. Guess you +never hefted a fat partridge, Spider." + +"I admit that I never _ate_ one, if that suits you, Jud," replied the +other, frankly. + +Paul on his part had told Tolly Tip he would like to accompany him on +his round of the traps on that particular morning. + +"Of course, I've got an object in view when I say that," he explained. +"It is to take a look at the beaver house you've been telling me +about. I want to take my camera along, and snap off a few views of it. +That will be better than nothing when we tell the story." + +"Count me in on that trip, Paul," said Spider Sexton. "I always did +want to see a regular beaver colony, and learn how they make the dam +where their houses are built. I hope you don't object to my joining +you?" + +"Not a bit. Only too glad to have you for company, Spider," answered +the scout-master. "Only both of us are under Tolly Tip's orders, you +understand. He has his rules when visiting the traps, which we mustn't +break, as that might ruin his chances of taking more pelts." + +"How can that be, Paul?" demanded the other. + +"Oh! you'll understand better as you go along," called out Bluff, who +was close by and heard this talk. "Sandy Griggs and I learned a heap +yesterday while helping him gather his harvest of skins. And for one, +I'll never forget what he explained to me, it was all so +interesting." + +"The main thing is this," Paul went on to say, in order to relieve +Spider's intense curiosity to some extent. "You must know all these +wild animals are gifted with a marvelous sense of smell, and can +readily detect the fact that a human being has been near their +haunts." + +"Why, I never thought about that before, Paul," admitted Spider; "but +I can see how it must be so. I've hunted with a good setter, and know +what a dog's scent is." + +"Well, a mink or an otter or a fox is gifted even more than the best +dog you ever saw," Paul continued, "and on that account it's always up +to the trapper to conceal the fact that a human being has been around, +because these animals seem to know by instinct that man is their +mortal enemy." + +"How does he do it then?" asked Spider. + +"You'll see by watching Tolly Tip," the scout-master told him. +"Sometimes trappers set their snares by means of a skiff, so as not to +leave a trace of their presence, for water carries no scent. Then +again they will wade to and from the place where the trap is set." + +"But in the winter-time they couldn't do that, could they?" protested +Spider. + +"Of course not, and to overcome that obstacle they sometimes use a +scent that overpowers their own, as well as serves to draw the animal +to the fatal trap." + +"Oh! I remember now seeing some such thing advertised in a sporting +magazine as worth its weight in gold to all trappers. And the more I +hear about this the stronger my desire grows to see into it. Are we +going to start soon, Paul?" + +"There's Tolly Tip almost ready to move along, so get your gun, and +I'll look after my camera, Spider." + +At the time they left Camp Garrity it presented quite a bustling +picture. There was Bobolink lustily swinging the axe and cutting some +wood close by the shed where a winter's supply of fuel had been piled +up. Tom Betts was busying himself cleaning some of the fish taken on +the preceding day. Jack was hanging out all the blankets on several +lines for an airing, as they still smelled of camphor to a +disagreeable extent. Several others were moving to and fro engaged in +various duties. + +As the two scouts trotted along at the heels of the old woodsman they +found many things to chat about, for there was no need of keeping +silent at this early stage of the hike. Later on when in the vicinity +of the trap line it would be necessary to bridle their tongues, or at +least to talk in whispers, for the wary little animals would be apt to +shun a neighborhood where they heard the sound of human voices. + +"One reason I wanted to come out this morning," explained Paul, "was +that there seems to be a feeling in the air that spells storm to me. +If we had a heavy fall of snow the beaver house might be hidden from +view." + +"What's that you say, Paul--a storm, when the sun's shining as bright +as ever it could? Have you had a wireless from Washington?" demanded +Spider, grinning. + +"Oh! I seem to _feel_ it in my bones," laughed Paul. "Always did +affect me that way, somehow or other. And nine times out of ten my +barometer tells me truly. How about that, Tolly Tip? Is this fine +weather apt to last much longer?" + +The guide seemed to be amused at what they were saying. + +"Sure and I'm tickled to death to hear ye say that same, Paul," he +replied. "By the powers I'm blissed wid the same kind av a barometer +in me bones. Yis, and the signs do be tilling me that inside of +forty-eight hours, mebbe a deal less nor that, we're due for a +screecher. It has been savin' up a long while now, and whin she breaks +loose--howly smoke, but we'll git it!" + +"Meaning a big storm, eh, Tolly Tip?" asked Spider, looking a bit +incredulous. + +"Take me worrd for the same, lads," the woodsman told them. + +"Well, if your prediction comes true," said Spider, "I must try to +find out how to know what sort of weather is coming. I often watch the +predictions of the Weather Bureau tacked up at the post office, but +lots of times it's away off the track. Bobolink was saying only this +morning that he expected we'd skip all the bad weather on this trip." + +At mention of Bobolink's name, the trapper chuckled. + +"'Tis a quare chap that same Bobolink sames to be," he observed. "He +says such amusin' things at times. Only this same mornin' do ye know +he asks me whether I could till him if that short tramp's hand had +been hurted by a cut or a burrn. Just as if that mattered to us at +all, at all." + +Paul did not say anything, but his eyebrows went up as though a sudden +thought had struck him. Whatever was in his mind he kept to himself. + +When they arrived at the marsh where Tolly Tip had several of his +traps set he told his companions what he wanted them to do. Under +certain conditions they could approach with him and witness the +process of taking out the victim, if fortune had been kind to the +trapper. Afterwards they would see how he reset the trap, and then +backed away, removing every possible evidence of his presence. + +Both scouts were deeply interested, though Spider rather pitied the +poor rats they took from the cruel jaws of the Newhouse traps, and +inwardly decided that after all he would never like to be a gatherer +of pelts. + +Later on Tolly Tip led them to the frozen creek, where they picked up +a splendid mink and an otter as well. Shrewd and sly though these +little wearers of fur coats were, they had not been able to withstand +the temptation of the bait the trapper had placed in their haunts, +with the result that they paid the penalty of their greed with their +lives. + +Finally the trio reached the pond where the beaver lived. It was, of +course, ice covered, but the conical mound in the middle interested +the boys very much. Paul took several pictures of it, with his two +companions standing in the foreground, as positive evidence that the +scouts had been on the spot. + +They also examined the strong dam which the cunning animals had +constructed across the creek, so as to hold a certain depth of water. +When the boys saw the girth of the trees the sharp teeth of the +beavers had cut into lengths in order to form the dam, the scouts were +amazed. + +"I'd give a lot to see them at work," declared Paul. "If I get half a +chance, Tolly Tip, I'm going to come up here next spring if you'll +send me word when they're on the job. It would be well worth the trip +on horseback from Stanhope." + +Upon arriving at the camp toward noon the boys and their guide found +everything running smoothly, and a great deal accomplished. Jud had +not come back as yet, but several times distant shots had been heard, +and the boys were indulging in high hopes of what Jud would bring +back. + +"You musn't forget though," Paul warned these optimists, "that we're +not the only pebbles on the beach. There are others in these woods, +some of them with guns, and no mean hunters at that." + +"Meaning the Lawson crowd," remarked Bobolink. "Your statement is +quite true, for I've seen Hank do some mighty fine shooting in times +past. He likes nothing so much as to wander around day after day in +the fall, with a gun in his hands, just as old Rip Van Winkle used to +do." + +"Yes," remarked Jack, drily, "a gun in hand has served as an excuse +for a _loaf_ in more ways than getting the family bread." + +"Hey!" cried Bluff, "there comes Jud right now. And look what he's +got, will you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +SETTING THE FLASHLIGHT TRAP + + +"Jud's holding up one measly rabbit, as sure as anything!" exclaimed +Bobolink, with a vein of scorn in his voice, as became the lord of the +hunt, who on the preceding day had actually brought down a young buck, +and thus provided the camp with a feast for supper. + +"We'd soon starve to death if we had to depend on poor old Jud for our +grub!" remarked Tom Betts, with a sad shake of his head. + +"All that waste of ammunition, and just a lone rabbit to show for it! +They say successful hunters must be born, not made!" Sandy Griggs went +on to say. + +Other sarcastic remarks went the rounds, while Jud just stood meekly, +seeming to be very much downcast. + +"Are you all through?" he finally asked, looking up with a grin. +"Because before you condemn me entirely as a poor stick of a hunter I +want to ask Bobolink here, and Spider Sexton to walk over to that low +oak tree you can see back yonder, and fetch in what they find in the +fork. I caved on the home stretch and dropped my load there." + +"Good for you, Jud!" exclaimed Paul. "I suspected something of the +kind when I saw the soiled condition of the game pockets in your +hunting-coat, and noticed that a partridge feather was sticking to +your hair. Skip along, you two, and make amends for joshing Jud so." + +Of course Bobolink and Spider fairly ran, and soon came back carrying +seven plump partridges between them, at sight of which a great cheer +arose. Like all fickle crowds, the boys now applauded Jud just as +strongly as they had previously sought to poke fun at him. + +"Oh! I don't deserve much credit, boys," he told them. "These birds +just tree after you scare them up, and make easy shots. If they flew +off like bullets, as they do in some parts of the country, that would +be a bag worth boasting of. But they'll taste mighty fine, all the +same, let me tell you!" + +During the afternoon the scouts found many things to interest them. +Tolly Tip, of course, had to take care of the pelts he had secured +that day, and his manner of doing this interested some of the boys +considerably. + +He had a great many thin boards of peculiar pattern to which the +skins were to be attached after stretching, so that they would dry in +this shape. + +"Most skins ye notice are cut open an' cured that way," the old +woodsman explained to his audience, as he worked deftly with his +knife; "but some kinds are cased, bein' taken off whole, and turned +inside out to dry." + +"I suppose you lay them near the fire, or out in the sun, to cure," +remarked Tom Betts. "I know that's the way the Indians dry the +pemmican that they use in the winter for food." + +"Pelts are niver cured that way," explained the trapper, "because it'd +make thim shrink. We kape the stretcher boards wid the skins out in +the open air, but in the shade where the sun don't come. Whin they git +to a certain stage it's proper to stack the same away in the cabin, +kapin' a wary eye on 'em right along to prevint mould." + +All such things proved of considerable interest to the scouts, most of +whom had very little practical knowledge along these lines. They were +eager to pick up useful information wherever it could be found, and on +that account asked numerous questions, all of which Tolly Tip seemed +delighted to answer. + +So another nightfall found them, with everything moving along +nicely. + +"Guess your old barometer didn't hit it far wrong after all, Paul," +remarked Sandy Griggs, about the time supper was nearly ready, and the +boys were going in and out of the cabin on different errands. + +"It has clouded up to be sure," said the scout-master, "and may snow +at any time, though I hope it will hold off until to-morrow. I mean to +set my camera trap to-night, you remember, with another comb of wild +bee honey for a bear lure." + +"I heard Tolly Tip saying a bit ago," continued Sandy, "that he didn't +believe the storm would reach us for twelve hours or more. That would +give you plenty of time to get your chance with old Bruin, who loves +honey so." + +"Jud's promised to go out with me and help set the trap," Paul +remarked. "You know it's a walk of nearly a mile to the place, and +these snowy woods are pretty lonely after the dark sets in." + +"If Jud backs out because he's tired from his tramp this morning, +Paul, call on me, will you?" + +"Bobolink said the same thing," laughed the scout-master, "so I'm sure +not to be left in the lurch. No need of more than one going with me +though, and I guess I can count on Jud. It's hard to tire him." + +"Wow! but those birds do smell good!" exclaimed Sandy, as he sniffed +the air. "And that oven of Tolly Tip's, in which he says he often +bakes bread, seems to do the work all right. Looks to me like one of +the kind you get with a blue flame kerosene stove." + +"Just what it is," Paul told him. "But it works splendidly on a red +coal fire, too. We're going to try some baking-powder biscuits +to-morrow, Bobolink says. He's tickled over finding the oven here." + +The partridges were done to a turn, and never had those hungry boys +sat down to a better feast than several of their number had prepared +for them that night. The old woodsman complimented Bobolink, who was +the chief cook. + +"I ralely thought I could cook," Tolly Tip said, "but 'tis mesilf as +takes a back sate whin such a connysure is around. And biscuits is it +ye mane to thry in the mornin'? I'll make it a pint to hang around +long enough to take lissons, for I confiss that up till now I niver +did have much success with thim things." + +Again some of the scouts had to warn Bobolink that he was in jeopardy +of his life if he allowed his chest to swell up, as it seemed to be +doing under such compliments. + +After that wonderful supper had been disposed of, Paul busied himself +with his camera, for he had several things to fix before it would be +ready to serve as a trap to catch the picture of Bruin in the act of +stealing the honey bait. + +Jud fondled his shotgun, having thoughtfully replaced the bird shells +with a couple of shells containing buckshot that he had brought along +in the hope of getting a deer. + +"No telling what we may run across when trapsing through the woods +with a lantern after nightfall," he explained to Phil Towns, who was +watching his operation with mild interest, not being a hunter +himself. + +"What would you do if you came face to face with the bear, or perhaps +a panther?" asked Phil. "Tolly Tip said he saw one of the big cats +last winter." + +"Well, now, that's hardly a fair question," laughed Jud. "I'm too +modest a fellow to go around blowing my own horn; but the chances are +I wouldn't _run_. And if both barrels of my gun went off the plagued +beast might stand in the way of getting hurt. Figure that out if you +can, Phil." + +After a little while Paul arose to his feet and proceeded to light the +lantern they had provided for the outing. + +"I'm ready if you are, Jud," he remarked, and shortly afterwards the +two left the cabin, Tolly Tip once more repeating the plain +directions, so that there need be no fear that the boys would get +lost in the snowy woods. + +Paul was too wise a woodsman to be careless, and he took Jud directly +to the spot which the bear had visited the preceding night. + +"Don't see anything of the creature around, do you?" asked Jud, +nervously handling his gun as he spoke. + +"Not a sign as yet," replied Paul. "But the chances are he'll remember +the treat he found here last night, and come trotting along before +many hours. That's what Tolly Tip told me, and he ought to know." + +"Strikes me a bear is a pretty simple sort of an animal after all," +chuckled Jud. "He must think that honey rains down somehow, and never +questions but that he'll find more where the first comb lay. Tell me +what to do, Paul, and I'll be only too glad to help you." + +The camera was presently fixed just where Paul had decided on his +previous visit would be the best place. Long experience had taught the +lad just how to arrange it so that the animal of which he wished to +get a flashlight picture would be compelled to approach along a +certain avenue. + +When it attempted to take the bait the cord would be pulled, and the +cartridge exploded, producing the flash required to take the +picture. + +"There!" he said finally, after working for at least fifteen minutes, +"everything is arranged to a dot, and we can start back home. If Mr. +Bear comes nosing around here to-night, and starts to get that +honeycomb, I reckon he'll hand me over something in return in the +shape of a photograph." + +"Here's hoping you'll get the best picture ever, Paul!" said Jud, +earnestly, for he had been deeply impressed with the clever manner in +which the photographer went about his duties. + +They had gone almost a third of the way over the back trail when a +thrilling sound came to their ears almost directly in the path they +were following. Both boys came to a sudden halt, and as Jud started to +raise his gun he exclaimed: + +"Unless I miss my guess, Paul, that was one of the bobcats Tolly Tip +told us about." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +WAYLAID IN THE TIMBER + + +"Stand perfectly still, Jud," cried Paul, hastily, fearful that his +impulsive companion might be tempted to do something careless. + +"But if he starts to jump at us I ought to try to riddle him, Paul, +don't you think?" pleaded the other, as he drew both hammers of his +gun back. + +Paul carried a camp hatchet, which he had made use of to fashion the +approach to the trap. This he drew back menacingly, while gripping the +lantern in his left hand. + +"Of course, you can, if it comes to a fight, Jud," he answered, "but +the cat may not mean to attack us after all. They're most vicious when +they have young kits near by, and this isn't the time of year for +that." + +"Huh! Tolly Tip told me there was an unusual lot of these fellows +around here this season, and mighty bold at that," Jud remarked, +drily, as he searched the vicinity for some sign of a creeping form at +which he could fire. + +"Yes, I suppose the early coming of winter has made them extra +hungry," admitted the scout-master; "though there seems to be plenty +of game for them to catch in the way of rabbits, partridges and gray +squirrels." + +"Well, do we go on again, Paul, or are you thinking of camping here +for the rest of the night?" demanded Jud, impatiently. + +"Oh! we'll keep moving toward the home camp," Jud was informed. "But +watch out every second of the time. That chap may be lying in a crotch +of a tree, meaning to drop down on us." + +A minute later, as they were moving slowly and cautiously along, Jud +gave utterance to a low hiss. + +"I see the rascal, Paul!" he said excitedly. + +"Wait a bit, Jud," urged the other. "Don't shoot without being dead +sure. A wounded bobcat is nothing to be laughed at, and we may get +some beauty scratches before we can finish him. Tell me where you've +glimpsed the beast." + +"Look up to where I'm pointing with my gun, Paul, and you can see two +yellow balls shining like phosphorus. Those are his eyes and if I aim +right between them I'm bound to finish him." + +Jud had hardly said this when there came a loud hoot, and the sound of +winnowing wings reached them. At the same time the glowing, yellow +spots suddenly vanished. + +"Wow! what do you think of that for a fake?" growled Jud in disgust. +"It was only an old owl after all, staring down at us. But say, Paul! +that screech didn't come from him let me tell you; there's a cat +around here somewhere." + +As if to prove Jud spoke the truth there came just then another +vicious snarl. + +"Holy smoke! Paul, did you hear that?" ejaculated Jud, half turning. +"Comes from behind us now, and I really believe there must be a pair +of the creatures stalking us on the way home!" + +"They usually hunt in couples," affirmed Paul, not showing any signs +of alarm, though he clutched the hatchet a little more firmly in his +right hand, and turned his head quickly from side to side, as though +desirous of covering all the territory possible. + +"Would it pay us to move around in a half circle, and let them keep +the old path?" asked Jud, who could stand for one wildcat, but drew +the line at a wholesale supply. + +"I don't believe it would make any difference," returned the +scout-master. "If they're bent on giving us trouble any sign of +weakness on our part would only encourage them." + +"What shall we do then?" + +"Move right along and pay attention to our business," replied Paul. +"If we find that we've got to fight, try to make sure of one cat when +you fire. The second rascal we may have to tackle with hatchet and +clubbed gun. Now walk ahead of me, so the light won't dazzle your eyes +when I swing the lantern." + +The two scouts moved along slowly, always on the alert. Paul kept the +light going back and forth constantly, hoping that it might impress +the bold bobcats with a sense of caution. Most wild animals are afraid +of fire, and as a rule there is no better protection for the +pedestrian when passing through the lonely woods than to have a +blazing torch in his hand, with lusty lungs to shout occasionally. + +"Hold on!" exclaimed Jud, after a short time had elapsed. + +"What do you see now, another owl?" asked Paul, trying to make light +of the situation, though truth to tell he felt a bit nervous. + +"This isn't any old owl, Paul," asserted the boy with the gun. +"Besides the glaring eyes, I can see his body on that limb we must +pass under. Look yourself and tell me if that isn't his tail twitching +back and forth?" + +"Just what it is, Jud. I've seen our tabby cat do that when crouching +to spring on a sparrow. The beast is ready to jump as soon as we come +within range. Are you covering him, Jud?" + +"Dead center. Trust me to damage his hide for him. Shall I shoot?" + +"Use only one barrel, mind, Jud. You may need the other later on. Now, +if you're all ready, let go!" + +There was a loud bang as Jud pulled the trigger. Mingled with the +report was a shrill scream of agony. Then something came flying +through the air from an entirely different quarter. + +"Look out! The second cat!" yelled Paul, striking savagely with his +hatchet, which struck against a flying body, and hurled it backward in +a heap. + +The furious wildcat instantly recovered, and again assailed the two +boys standing on the defensive. Jud had clubbed his gun, for at such +close quarters he did not think he could shoot with any degree of +accuracy. + +Indeed, for some little time that beast kept both of them on the +alert, and more than once sharp claws came in contact with the tough +khaki garments worn by the scouts. + +After a third furious onslaught which ended in the cat's being knocked +over by a lucky stroke from Jud's gunstock, the animal seemed to +conclude that the combat was too unequal. That last blow must have +partly tamed its fiery spirit, for it jumped back out of sight, though +they could still hear its savage snarling from some point near by. + +Both lads were panting for breath. At the same time they felt flushed +with victory. It was not every scout who could meet with such an +adventure as this when in the snowy forest, and come out of it with +credit. + +"If he only lets me get a glimpse of his old hide," ventured Jud, +grimly, "I'll riddle it for him, let me tell you! But say! I hope you +don't mean to evacuate this gory battle-ground without taking a look +to see whether I dropped that other beast or not?" + +"Of course not, Jud! I'm a little curious myself to see whether your +aim was as good as you believe. Let's move over that way, always +keeping ready to repel boarders, remember. That second cat may get his +wind, and come for us again." + +"I hope he will, that's what!" said Jud, whose fighting blood was now +up. "I dare him to tackle us again. Nothing would please me better, +Paul." + +A dozen paces took them to the vicinity of the tree in which Jud had +sighted the crouching beast at which he had fired. + +"Got him, all right, Paul!" he hastened to call out, with a vein of +triumph in his excited voice. "He fell in a heap, and considering that +there were twelve buckshot in that shell, and every one hit him, it +isn't to be wondered at." + +"A pretty big bobcat in the bargain, Jud, and well worth boasting +over. Look at his long claws, and the sharp teeth back of those short +lips. An ugly customer let me tell you. I'm glad we didn't have him on +our shoulders, that's all." + +"I'm bound to drag the creature all the way to the cabin, to show the +boys," announced the successful marksman. "Now don't say anything +against it, Paul. You see I'll hold my gun under my arm ready, and at +the first sign of trouble I'll let go of the game and be ready to +shoot." + +"That's all right, Jud, you're entitled to your trophy, though the +skin is pretty well riddled with that big hole through it. Still, +Tolly Tip may be able to cure it so as to make a mat for your den at +home. Let's be moving." + +They could still hear that low and ominous growling and snarling. +Sometimes it came from one side, and then again switched around to the +other, as the angry cat tried to find an avenue that would appear to +be undefended. + +Every step of the way home they felt they were being watched by a pair +of fiery eyes. Not for a second did either of the boys dream of +abating their vigilance, for the sagacity of the wildcat would enable +him to know when to make the attack. + +Indeed, several times Jud dropped his trailing burden and half raised +his gun, as he imagined he detected a suspicious movement somewhere +close by. They proved to be false alarms, however, and nothing +occurred on the way home to disturb them. + +When not far from the cabin they heard loud voices, and caught the +flicker of several blazing torches amidst the trees. + +"It's Tolly Tip and the boys," announced Paul, as soon as he caught +the sounds and saw the moving lights. "They must have heard the +gunshot and our shouts, and are coming this way to find out what's the +trouble." + +A few minutes later they saw half a dozen hurrying figures +approaching, several carrying guns. As the anxious ones discovered +Paul and Jud they sent out a series of whoops which the returning +scouts answered. And when those who had come from the cabin saw the +dead bobcat, as well as listened to the story of the attack, they were +loud in their praises of the valor of the adventurous pair. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE BLIZZARD + + +"Whew! but it's bitter cold this morning!" shouted Sandy Griggs, as he +opened the cabin door and thrust his head out. + +"Looks like a few flakes of snow shooting past, in the bargain," added +Bobolink. "That means that the long expected storm is upon us." + +Paul turned to Jack at hearing this, for both of them were hurriedly +dressing after crawling out of their comfortable bunks. + +"A little snow isn't going to make us hedge on that arrangement we +made the last thing before turning in, I hope, Jack?" he asked, +smilingly. + +"I should say not!" came the prompt reply. "Besides, if it's going to +put a foot or two of the feathery on the ground, it strikes me you've +just got to get that expensive camera of yours again. I'm with you, +Paul, right after breakfast." + +Tolly Tip was also in somewhat of a hurry, wishing to make the round +of his line of traps before the storm fully set in. + +So it came about that Paul and his closest chum, after a cup of hot +coffee and a meagre breakfast, hurried away from the cabin. + +"We can get another batch when we come back, if they save any for us, +you know," the scout-master remarked, as they opened the door and +passed out. + +"Kape your bearin's, lads," called the old woodsman. "If so be the +storm comes along with a boom it'll puzzle ye to be sure av yer way. +And by the same token, to be adrift in thim woods with a howler +blowin' for thray days isn't any fun." + +When the scouts once got started they found that the air was +particularly keen. Both of them were glad they had taken the +precaution to cover up their ears, and wear their warmest mittens. + +"Something seems to tell me we're in for a regular blizzard this +time," Jack remarked as they trudged manfully along, at times bowing +their heads to the bitter wind that seemed to cut like a knife. + +"I wouldn't be a bit surprised if that turned out to be true," Paul +contented himself with saying. + +They did not exchange many words while breasting the gale, for it was +the part of wisdom to keep their mouths closed as much as possible. +Paul had taken note of the way to the spot where the camera trap had +been set in the hope of catching Bruin in the act of taking the sweet +bait. + +A number of times he turned around and looked back. This was because +he had accustomed himself to viewing his surroundings at various +angles, which is a wise thing for a scout to do. Then when he tries to +retrace his steps he will not find himself looking at a reverse +picture that seems unfamiliar in his eyes. + +In the course of time the boys arrived at their destination. + +"Don't see anything upset around here," observed Paul, with a shade of +growing disappointment in his voice; and then almost instantly adding +in excitement: "But the bait's gone, all right--and yes! the cartridge +has been fired. Good enough!" + +"Here you can see faint signs of the tracks of the bear under this new +coating of snow!" declared Jack, pointing down at his feet. + +Paul, knowing that he would not go for his camera until after broad +daylight, had managed to so arrange it, with a clever attachment of +his own construction, that an exposure was made just at the second the +cord firing the flashlight was drawn taut. + +It was a time exposure--the shutter remaining open for a score of +seconds before automatically closing again. This was arranged so that +pictures could be taken on moonlight nights as well as dark ones. He +had tried it on several previous occasions, and with very good +results. + +Brushing the accumulated snow from his camera, he quickly had the +precious article in his possession. + +"Nothing else to keep us here, is there, Paul?" asked Jud. + +"No, and the sooner we strike a warm gait for the cabin the better," +said the scout-master. "You notice, if anything, that wind is getting +sharper right along, and the snow strikes you on the cheek like shot +pellets, stinging furiously. So far as I'm concerned we can't make the +camp any too soon." + +Nevertheless, it might have been noticed that Paul did not hurry, in +the sense that he forgot to keep his wits about him. The warning given +by Tolly Tip was still fresh in his ears, and even without it Paul +would hardly have allowed himself to become indiscreet or careless. + +Jack, too, saw that they were following the exact line they had taken +in coming out. As a scout he knew that the other did not get his +bearings from any marks on the ground, such as might easily be +obliterated by falling snow. Trees formed the basis of Paul's +calculations. He particularly noticed every peculiarly shaped tree or +growth upon the right side while going out, which would bring them on +his left in returning. + +In this fashion the scout-master virtually blazed a path as he went; +for those trees gave him his points just as well as though they +represented so many gashes made with a hatchet. + +"I'm fairly wild to develop this film, and see whether the bear paid +for his treat with a good picture," Paul ventured to say when they +were about half way to the camp. + +"Do you know what I was thinking about just then?" asked Jack. + +"Something that had to do with other fellows, I'll be bound," replied +the scout-master. "You were looking mighty serious, and I'd wager a +cookey that you just remembered there were other fellows up here to be +caught in the blizzard besides our crowd." + +Jack laughed at hearing this. + +"You certainly seem to be a wizard, Paul, to guess what was in my +mind," he told his chum. "But it's just as you say. Sim Jeffreys told +us the other day that they had come up with only a small amount of +food along. If they've stayed around up to now they're apt to find +themselves in a pretty bad pickle." + +"That's a fact, Jack, if this storm keeps on for several days, and the +snow happens to block all the paths out of the woods. Let's hope they +gave it up, and went back home again. We haven't seen a thing of them +since then, you remember." + +Jack shook his head. + +"You know how pig-headed Hank Lawson always is," he told his chum. +"Once he gets started in a thing, he hates everlastingly to give up. +He came here to bother us, I feel sure, and a little thing like a +shortage of provisions wouldn't force him to call the game off." + +"Then it's your opinion, is it, Jack, they're still in that hole among +the rocks Sim spoke of?" + +"Chances are three to one it's that way," quickly replied Jack. "They +have guns, and could get some game that way, for they know how to +hunt. Then if it came to the worst perhaps Hank would try to sneak +around our cabin, hoping to find a chance to steal some of our +supplies." + +A short time later they sighted the cabin through the now thickly +falling snow, and both boys felt very glad to be able to get under +shelter. + +Tolly Tip did not return until some hours had passed. By that time the +snow carried by a furious wind that howled madly around the corners, +was sweeping past the windows of the cabin like a cloud of dust. + +Everybody was glad when the old woodsman arrived. He flung several +prizes down on the floor, not having taken the time to detach the +pelts. + +"'Tis a screecher av a blizzard we're after havin' drop in on us, by +the same token," he said, with quivering lips, as he stretched out his +hands toward the cheerful blaze of the fire. + +Being very eager to ascertain what measure of success had fallen to +him with regard to the bear episode, Paul proceeded to develop the +film. + +When he rejoined the other boys in the front room some time later he +was holding up the developed film, still dripping with water. + +"The best flashlight I ever got, let me tell you!" Paul exclaimed. At +this there was a cheer and a rush to see the film. + +There was the bear, looking very much astonished at the sudden +brilliant illumination which must have seemed like a flash of +lightning to him. + +All day long the storm howled, the snow drifted and scurried around +the cabin. Whenever the boys went for wood they had to be very careful +lest they lose their way even in such a short distance, for it was +impossible to see five feet ahead. When they went to bed that night +the same conditions held good, and every one felt that they were in +the grip of the greatest blizzard known for ten years. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE DUTY OF THE SCOUT + + +When two days had passed and the storm still raged, the scouts began +to feel more anxious than ever. The snow continued to sweep past the +cabin in blinding sheets. It was difficult to know whether all this +came from above, or if some was snatched up from the ground and +whirled about afresh. + +In some places enormous drifts abounded, while other more exposed +spots had been actually swept bare by the wind. + +The scouts had not suffered in the least, save mentally. The cabin +proved to be fairly warm, thanks to the great fire they kept going day +and night; and they certainly had no reason to fear for any lack of +provisions with which to satisfy their ever present appetites. + +Still, from time to time, murmurs could be heard. + +"One thing sure!" Sandy Griggs was saying toward noon on this third +day of the blizzard, "this storm is going to upset a whole lot of our +plans." + +"Knock 'em into a jiffy!" added Bluff. + +"We'll never be able to skate down the creek to the lake, if it's +covered with two feet of snow," Sandy growled. + +"Oh! for all we know," laughed Paul, "this wind has been a good friend +to us, and may keep the smooth ice clear of snow. We'd better not cry +until we know the milk has really been spilled." + +"But any way," Bluff continued, bound to find some cause for the +gloomy feelings that clung like a wet blanket, "we'll never be able to +run our iceboats back home. Chances are we'll have to drag them most +of the way." + +"All right, then," Paul told him, "we'll make the best of a bad +bargain. If you only look hard enough, Bluff and Sandy, you'll find +the silver lining to every cloud. And no matter how the storm upsets +some of our plans we ought to be thankful we've got such a snug +shelter, and plenty of good things to eat--thanks to Mr. Garrity." + +"Yes, that's what I just had in mind, Paul," spoke up Bobolink. "Now, +you all needn't begin to grin at me when I say that. I was thinking +more about the fellows who may be shivering and hungry, than of our +own well-fed crowd." + +"Oh! The Lawsons!" exclaimed Bluff. "That's a fact. While we're having +such a royal time of it here they may be up against it good and +hard." + +Perhaps all of the boys had from time to time allowed their thoughts +to stray away, and mental pictures of the Lawson crowd suffering from +hunger and cold intruded upon their minds. They forgot whatever they +chanced to be doing at that moment, and came around Paul. + +"In one way it would serve them right if they did get a little rough +experience," observed Spider Sexton, who perhaps had suffered more at +the hands of the Stanhope bully and his set than any of the other +scouts. + +"Oh, that sort of remark hardly becomes you, Spider," Paul reminded +him. "If you remember some of the rules and regulations to which you +subscribed when joining the organization you'll find that scouts have +no business to feel bitter toward any one, especially when the fellows +they look on as enemies may be suffering." + +"Excuse me, Paul, I guess I spoke without thinking," said Spider, with +due humility. "And to prove it I'm going to suggest that we figure out +some way we might be of help to Hank and his lot." + +"That's more like it, Spider!" the scout-master exclaimed, as though +pleased. "None of us fancy those fellows, because so far we've failed +to make any impression on them. Several times we've tried to make an +advance, but they jeered at us, and seemed to think it was only fear +on our part that made us try to throw a bridge across the chasm +separating us. It's going to be different if, as we half believe, +they're in serious trouble." + +"But Paul, what could we do to help them?" demanded Bluff. + +"With this storm raging to beat the band," added Tom Betts, "it would +be as much as our lives were worth to venture out. Why, you can't see +ten feet away; and we'd be going around in a circle until the cold got +us in the end." + +"Hold on, fellows, don't jump at conclusions so fast," Paul warned +them. "I'd be the last one to advise going out into the woods with the +storm keeping up. But Tolly Tip told me the snow stopped hours ago. +What we see whirling around is only swept by the wind, for it's as dry +as powder you know. And even the wind seems to be dying down now, and +is blowing in spasms." + +"Paul, you're right, as you nearly always are," Jack affirmed, after +he had pressed his nose against the cold glass of the little window. +"And say! will you believe me when I say that I can see a small patch +of blue sky up yonder--big enough to make a Dutchmen's pair of +breeches?" + +"Hurrah! that settles the old blizzard then!" cried Sandy Griggs. "You +all remember, don't you, the old saying, 'between eleven and two +it'll tell you what it's going to do?' I've seen it work out lots of +times." + +"Yes," retorted Jud, "and fail as often in the bargain. That's one of +the exploded signs. When they come out right you believe in 'em, and +when they miss, why you just forget all about it, and go on hoping. +But in this case I reckon the old storm must have blown itself about +out, and we can look for a week of cold, clear weather now." + +"We'll wait until after lunch," said Paul, in his decided fashion that +the boys knew so well; "then, if things brighten up, we'll see what we +can do. Those fellows must be suffering, more or less, and it's our +duty to help them, no matter whether they bother to thank us or not." + +"Scouts don't want thanks when they do their duty," said Phil Towns, +grandly. "But I suppose you'll hardly pick me out as one of the rescue +party, Paul?" + +"I'd rather have the hardiest fellows along with me, Phil," replied +the scout-master, kindly; "though I'm glad to know you feel willing to +serve. It counts just as much to _want_ to go, as to be allowed to be +one of the number." + +Bobolink especially showed great delight over the possibility of their +setting out to relieve the enemy in distress. A dozen times he went to +the door and passed out, under the plea that they might as well have +plenty of wood in the cabin; but on every occasion upon his return he +would report the progress of the clearing skies. + +"Have the sun shining right away now, boys," he finally announced, +with a beaming face. "And the wind's letting up, more or less. Times +are when you can see as far as a hundred feet. And say! it's a +wonderful sight let me tell you." + +Noon came and they sat down to the lunch that had been prepared for +them, this time by Frank and Spider, Bobolink having begged off. The +sun was shining in a dazzling way upon the white-coated ground. It +looked like fairyland the boys declared, though but little of the snow +had remained on the oaks, beeches and other forest trees, owing to the +furious and persistent wind. + +The hemlocks, however, were bending low with the weight that pressed +upon their branches. Some of the smaller ones looked like snow +pyramids, and it was plain to be seen that during the remainder of the +winter most of this snow was bound to hang on. + +"If we only had a few pairs of snow-shoes like Tolly Tip's here," +suggested Bobolink, enthusiastically, "we might skim along over +ten-foot drifts, and never bother about things." + +"Yes," Jud told him, a bit sarcastically, "if we knew just how to +manage the bally things, we might. But it isn't so easy as you think. +Most of us would soon be taking headers, and finding ourselves upside +down. It's a trick that has to be learned; and some fellows never can +get the hang, I've been told." + +"Well, there's no need of our talking about it," interposed Paul, +"because there's only one pair of snow-shoes in the cabin, and all of +us can't wear those. But Tolly Tip says we're apt to find avenues +swept in the snow by the wind, where we can walk for the most part on +clear ground, with but few drifts to wade through." + +"It may make a longer journey av the same," the old woodsman +explained; "but if luck favors us we'll git there in due time, I +belave, if so be ye settle on goin'." + +Nothing could hold the scouts back, it seemed. This idea of setting +forth to succor an enemy in distress had taken a firm hold upon their +imaginations. + +Besides, those days when they were shut up in the storm-besieged cabin +had been fearfully long to their active spirits, and on this account, +too, they welcomed the chance to do something. + +There could no longer be any doubt that the storm had blown itself +out, for the sky was rapidly clearing. The air remained bitter cold, +and Paul advised those whom he selected to accompany him to wrap +themselves up with additional care, for he did not wish to have them +take the chance of frosting their toes and their noses. + +Those who were fortunate enough to be drafted for the trip were Jack, +Jud, Bobolink and Tom Betts. Some of the others felt slighted, but +tried to be as cheerful over their disappointment as possible. + +Of course, Tolly Tip was to accompany them, for he would not have +allowed the boys to set out without his guidance, under such changed +and really hazardous conditions. A trained woodsman would be necessary +in order to insure the boys against possible disaster in the +storm-bound forest. + +Well bundled up, and bearing packs on their backs consisting in the +main of provisions, the six started off, followed by the cheers and +good wishes of their comrades, and were soon lost to view amidst the +white aisles of the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +AMONG THE SNOWDRIFTS + + +"This is hard work after all, let me own up!" announced Jud Elderkin, +after they had been pushing on for nearly half an hour. + +"To tell you the truth," admitted Tom Betts, "we've turned this way +and that so often now I don't know whether we're heading straight." + +"Trust Tolly Tip for that," urged Paul. "And besides, if you'd taken +your bearings as you should have done when starting, you could tell +from the position of the sun that right now we're going straight +toward that far-off hill." + +"Good for ye, Paul!" commented the guide, who was deeply interested in +finding out just how much woods lore these scouts had picked up during +their many camp experiences. + +"Well, here's where we're up against it good and hard," observed +Bobolink. + +The clear space they had been following came to an abrupt end, and +before them lay a great drift of snow, at least five or six feet +deep. + +"Do we try to flounder through this, or turn around and try another +way?" asked Jud, looking as though, if the decision rested with him, +he would only too gladly attack the heap of snow. + +Before deciding, Tolly Tip climbed into the fork of a tree. From this +point of vantage he was able to see beyond the drift. He dropped down +presently with a grin on his face. + +"It's clear ag'in beyant the hape av snow; so we'd better try to butt +through the same," he told them. "Let me go first, and start a path. +Whin I play out one av the rist av ye may take the lead. Come along, +boys." + +The relief party plunged into the great drift with merry shouts, being +filled with the enthusiasm of abounding youth. The big woodsman kept +on until even he began to tire of the work; or else guessed that Jud +was eager to take his place. + +In time they had passed beyond the obstacle, and again found +themselves traversing a windswept avenue that led in the general +direction they wished to go. + +A short time afterwards Jud uttered a shout. + +"Hold on a minute, fellows!" he called out. + +"What ails you now, Jud--got a cramp in your leg, or do you think it's +time we stopped for a bite of lunch?" demanded Bobolink. + +"Here's the plain track of a deer," answered Jud, pointing down as he +spoke. "And it was made only a short time ago you can see, because +while the wind blows the snow some every little while, it hasn't +filled the track." + +"That's good scout logic, Jud," affirmed Paul; and even the old +woodsman nodded his head as though he liked to hear the boy think +things out so cleverly. + +"Here it turns into this blind path," continued Jud, "which I'd like +to wager ends before long in a big drift. Like as not if we chose to +follow, we'd find Mr. Stag wallowing in the deepest kind of snow, and +making an easy mark." + +"Well, we can't turn aside just now, to hunt a poor deer that is +having a hard enough time of it keeping life in his body," said Tom +Betts, aggressively. + +"No, we'll let the poor beast have his chance to get away," said the +scout-master. "We've started out on a definite errand, and mustn't +allow ourselves to be drawn aside. So put your best foot forward +again, Jud." + +Jud looked a little loth to give up the chance to get the deer, a +thing he had really set his mind on. However, there would still be +plenty of time to accomplish this, and equal Bobolink's feat, whereby +the other had been able to procure fresh venison for the camp. + +"How far along do you think we are, Tolly Tip?" asked Tom Betts, after +more time had passed, and they began to feel the result of their +struggle. + +"More'n half way there, I'd be sayin'," the other replied. "Though it +do same as if the drifts might be gittin' heavier the closer we draw +to the hill. Av ye fale tired mebbe we'd better rist up a bit." + +"What, me tired!" exclaimed Tom, disdainfully, at the same time +putting new life in his movements. "Why, I've hardly begun to get +started so far. Huh! I'm good for all day at this sort of work, I'm so +fond of ploughing through the snow." + +The forest seemed very solemn and silent. Doubtless nearly all of the +little woods folk found themselves buried under the heavy fall of +snow, and it would take time for them to tunnel out. + +"Listen to the crows cawing as they fly overhead," said Jud, +presently. + +"They're gathering in a big flock over there somewhere," remarked +Paul. + +"They're having what they call a crow caucus," explained Jack. "They +do say that the birds carry on in the queerest way, just as if they +were holding court to try one of their number that had done something +criminal." + +"More likely they're getting together to figure it out where they can +find the next meal," suggested Bobolink, sensibly. "This snow must +have covered up pretty nearly everything. But at the worst they can +emigrate to the South--can get to Virginia, where the climate isn't so +severe." + +As they pushed their way onward the boys indulged in other discussions +along such lines as this. They were wideawake, and observed every +little thing that occurred around them, and as these often pertained +to the science of woodcraft which they delighted to study, they found +many opportunities to give forth their opinions. + +"We ought to be getting pretty near that old hill, seems to me," +observed Tom, when another hour had dragged by. Then he quickly added: +"Not that I care much, you know, only the sooner we see if Hank and +his cronies are in want the better it'll be." + +"There it is right now, dead ahead of us!" exclaimed Jud, who had a +pair of wonderfully keen eyes. + +Through an opening among the trees they could all see the hill beyond, +although it was so covered with snow that its outlines seemed shadowy, +and it was little wonder none of them had noticed it before. + +"Not more'n a quarter of a mile off, I should say," declared Tom +Betts, unable to hide fully the sense of pleasure the discovery gave +him. + +"But all the same we'll have a pretty tough time making it," remarked +Jud. "It strikes me the snow is deeper right here than in any place +yet, and the paths fewer in number." + +"How is that, Tolly Tip?" asked Bobolink. + +"Ye say, the hill shunted off some av the wind," explained the other +without any hesitation; "and so the snow could drop to the ground +without bein' blown about so wild like. 'Tis a fine blanket lies ahead +av us, and we'll have to do some harrd wadin' to make our way through +the same." + +"Hit her up!" cried Tom, valiantly. "Who cares for such a little thing +as snow piles?" + +They floundered along as best they could. It turned out to be anything +but child's play, and tested their muscular abilities from time to +time. + +In vain they looked about them as they drew near the hill; there was +not a single trace of any one moving around. Some of the scouts began +to feel very queerly as they stared furtively at the snow covered +elevation. It reminded them of a white tomb, for somewhere underneath +it they feared the four boys from Stanhope might be buried, too weak +to dig their way out. + +Tolly Tip led them on with unerring fidelity. + +"How does it come, Tolly Tip," asked the curious Jud as they toiled +onward, "that you remember this hole in the rocks so well?" + +"That's an aisy question to answer," replied the other, with one of +his smiles. "Sure 'twas some years ago that I do be having a nate +little ruction with the only bear I iver kilt in this section. He was +a rouser in the bargain, I'd be after tillin' ye. I had crawled into +the rift in the rocks to say where it lid whin I found mesilf up +aginst it." + +"Oh! in that case I can see that you would be apt to remember the hole +in the rocks always," commented Jud. "A fellow is apt to see that kind +of thing many a time in his dreams. So those fellows happened on the +old bear den, did they?" + +"We're clost up to the same now, I'm plazed to till ye," announced the +guide. "If ye cast an eye beyont ye'll mebbe notice that spur av rock +that stands out like a ploughshare. Jist behind the same we'll strike +the crack in the rocks, and like as not find it filled to the brim wid +the snow." + +When the five scouts and their guide stood alongside the spur of rock, +looking down into the cavity now hidden by ten feet of snow, they were +somehow forced to turn uneasy faces toward one another. It was deathly +still there, and not a sign could they see to indicate that under the +shroud of snow the four Stanhope boys might be imprisoned, almost dead +with cold and hunger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +DUG OUT + + +The boys realized that they had heavy work before them if they hoped +to dig a way down through that mass of snow and reach the cleft in the +rocks. + +"Just mark out where we have to get busy, Tolly Tip," called out +Bobolink, after they had put aside their packs, and primed themselves +for work, "and see how we can dig." + +"I speak for first turn with the snow shovel!" cried Jud. "It'll bring +a new set of muscles into play, for one thing, and that means relief. +I own up that my legs feel pretty well tuckered out." + +The woodsman, however, chose to begin the work himself. After taking +his bearings carefully, he began to dig the snow shovel deep down, and +cast the loosely packed stuff aside. + +In order to reach the cleft in the rocks they would have to cut a +tunnel through possibly twenty feet or more of snow. + +So impatient was Jud to take a hand that he soon begged the guide to +let him have a turn at the work. Tolly Tip prowled around, and some of +the boys wondered what he could be doing until he came back presently +with great news. + +"'Tis smoke I do be after smellin' beyant there!" he told them. + +"Smoke!" exclaimed Bobolink, staring up the side of the white hill. +"How can that be when there isn't the first sign of a fire?" + +"You don't catch on to the idea, Bobolink," explained Paul. "He means +that those in the cave must have some sort of fire going, and the +smoke finds its way out through some small crevices that lie under a +thin blanket of snow. Am I right there, Tolly Tip?" + +"Ye sure hit the nail on the head, Paul," he was told by the guide. + +"Well, that's good news," admitted Bobolink, with a look of relief on +his face. "If they've got enough wood to keep even a small fire going, +they won't be found frozen to death anyhow." + +"And," continued Jud, who had given the shovel over to Jack, "it takes +some days to really starve a fellow, I understand. You see I've been +reading lately about the adventures of the Dr. Kane exploring company +up in the frozen Arctic regions. When it got to the worst they staved +off starvation by making soup of their boots." + +"But you mustn't forget," interposed Bobolink, "that their boots were +made of skins, and not of the tough leather we use these days. I'd +like to see Hank Lawson gnawing on one of _his_ old hide shoes, that's +what! It couldn't be done, any way you fix it." + +The hole grew by degrees, but very slowly. It seemed as though tons +and tons of snow must have been swept over the crest of the hill, to +settle down in every cavity it could find. + +"We're getting there, all right!" declared Bobolink, after he had +taken his turn, and in turn handed over the shovel to Paul. + +"Oh! the Fourth of July is coming too, never fear!" jeered Jud, who +was in a grumbling mood. + +"Why, Tolly Tip here says we've made good progress already," Tom Betts +declared, merely to combat the spirit manifested by Jud, "and that +we'll soon be half-way through the pile. If it were three times as big +we'd get there in the end, because this is a never-say-die bunch of +scouts, you bet!" + +"Oh! I was only fooling," chuckled Jud, feeling ashamed of his +grumbling. "Of course, we'll manage it, by hook or by crook. Show me +the time the Banner Boy Scouts ever failed, will you, when they'd set +their minds on doing anything worth while? We're bound to get +there." + +The work went on. By turns the members of the relief party applied +themselves to the task of cutting a way through the snow heap, and +when each had come up for the third time it became apparent that they +were near the end of their labor, for signs of the rock began to +appear. + +Inspired by this fact they took on additional energy, and the way the +snow flew under the vigorous attack of Jud was pretty good evidence +that he still believed in their ultimate success. + +"Now watch my smoke!" remarked Tom Betts, as he took the shovel in his +turn and proceeded to show them what he could do. "I've made up my +mind to keep everlastingly at it till I strike solid rock. And I'll do +it, or burst the boiler." + +He had hardly spoken when they heard the plunging metal shovel strike +something that gave out a positive "chink," and somehow that sound +seemed to spell success. + +"Guess you've gone and done it, Tom!" declared Jud, with something +like a touch of chagrin in his voice, for Jud had been hoping he would +be the lucky one to show the first results. + +There was no slackening of their ardor, and the boys continued to +shovel the snow out of the hole at a prodigious rate until every one +could easily see the crevice in the rocks. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Jud just then. + +"Oh! what do you think you heard?" asked Bobolink. + +"I don't know whether it was the shovel scraping over the rock or a +human groan," Jud continued, looking unusually serious. + +They all listened, but could hear nothing except the cold wind sighing +through some of the trees not far away. + +"Let me finish the work for you, Tom," suggested Paul, seeing that Tom +Betts was pretty well exhausted from his labors. + +"I guess I will, Paul, because I'm nearly tuckered out," admitted the +persistent worker, as he handed the implement over, and pushed back, +though still remaining in the hole. + +Paul was not very long in clearing away the last of the snow that +clogged the entrance to the old bears' den. They could then mark the +line of the gaping hole that cleft the rock, and which served as an +antechamber to the cavity that lay beyond. + +"That does it, Paul," said Jack, softly; though just why he spoke half +under his breath he could not have explained if he had been asked, +except that, somehow, it seemed as though they were very close to some +sort of tragedy. + +The shovel was put aside. It had done its part of the work, and could +rest. And everybody prepared to follow Paul as he pushed after the +guide into the crevice leading to the cave. + +The smell of wood smoke was now very strong, and all of them could +catch it. + +So long as the entrapped boys had a fire there was no fear that they +would perish from the cold. Moreover, down under the rocks and the +snow the atmosphere could hardly be anything as severe as in the open. +Indeed Paul had been in many caves where the temperature remained +about the same day in and day out, through the whole year. + +Coming from the bewildering and dazzling snow fields it was little +wonder that none of them could see plainly at the moment they started +into the bears' den. By degrees, as their eyes became accustomed to +the semi-darkness that held sway below, they would be able to +distinguish objects, and make discoveries. + +Stronger grew the pungent odor of smoke. It was not unpleasant at all, +and to some of the scouts most welcome, bearing as it did a message of +hope, and the assurance that things had not yet come to the last +stretch. + +Half turning as he groped his way onward, the guide pointed to +something ahead--at least Paul who came next in line fancied that +Tolly Tip was trying to draw his attention to that quarter. + +In turn he performed the same office for the next boy, and thus the +intelligence was passed along the line, from hand to hand. + +They could, by straining their eyes, discover some half huddled +figures just beyond. A faint light showed where the dying fire lay; +and even as they looked one of the partly seen figures was seen to +stir, and after this they noticed that a little flame had started up. + +Paul believed that the very last stick of wood was on the fire and +nearing the end. + +Bobolink could not help giving a low cry of commiseration. The sound +must have been heard by those who were huddled around the miserable +fire, for they scrambled to their knees. As the tiny blaze sprang up +just then, it showed the scouts the four Stanhope boys looking pinched +and wan, with their eyes staring the wonder they must have felt at +sight of the newcomers. + +Hank was seen to jab his knuckles into his eyes as though unable fully +to believe what he beheld. Then he held out both hands beseechingly +toward the newcomers. They would never be able to forget the genuine +pain contained in his voice as he half groaned: + +"Oh! have you come to save us? Give us somethin' to eat, won't you? +We're starvin', starvin', I tell you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +"FIRST AID" + + +Possibly the case was not quite as bad as Hank declared, but for all +that those four lads were certainly in a bad way. + +Paul took charge of affairs at once, as became the acting scout-master +of the troop. + +"It's a good thing we thought to pick up some wood as we came along," +he remarked. "Fetch it in, boys, and get this fire going the first +thing. Then we'll make a pot of coffee to begin with." + +"Coffee!" echoed the four late prisoners of the cave. "Oh, my stars! +why! we went and forgot to bring any along with us. Coffee! that +sounds good to us!" + +"That's only a beginning," said Bobolink, as he came back with his +arms filled with sticks, which he began to lay upon the almost dead +fire. "We've got ham and biscuits, Boston baked beans, potatoes, corn, +grits, and lots of other things. Just give us a little time to do some +cooking, and you'll get all you can cram down." + +Paul knew the hungry boys would suffer all sorts of tortures while +waiting for the meal to be cooked. On this account he saw that they +were given some crackers and cheese, to take the keen edge of their +voracious appetites off. + +It was a strange spectacle in that hole amidst the rocks, with the +fire leaping up, Bobolink bending over it doing the cooking with his +customary vim, the rest of the scouts gathered around, and those four +wretched fellows munching away for dear life, as they sniffed the +coffee beginning to scent the air with its fragrance. + +As soon as this was ready Paul poured out some, added condensed milk, +and handed the tin cup to Hank. + +He was really surprised to see the rough fellow turn immediately and +give it to Sid Jeffreys and hear him say: + +"I reckon you need it the wust, Sid; git the stuff inside in a +hurry." + +Then Paul remembered that Sid had recently been injured. And somehow +he began to understand that even such a hardened case as Hank Lawson, +in whom no one seemed ready to place any trust, might have a small, +tender spot in his heart. He could not be _all_ bad, Paul decided. + +Hank, however, did not refuse to accept the second cup, and hastily +drain it. Apparently, he believed the leader should have first +choice, and meant to impress this fact upon his satellites. + +What to do about the four boys had puzzled Paul a little. To allow +them to accompany him and his chums back to Deer Head Lodge would make +the remainder of their outing a very disagreeable affair. Besides, +there was really no room for any more guests under that hospitable +roof; and certainly Tolly Tip would not feel in the humor to invite +them. + +So Paul had to figure it out in some other way. While Hank and his +three cronies were eating savagely, Bobolink having finished preparing +the odd meal for them, Paul took occasion to sound the one who +occupied the position of chief. + +"We've brought over enough grub to last you four a week," he started +in to say, when Hank interrupted him. + +"We sure think you're white this time, Paul Morrison, an' I ain't +a-goin' to hold back in sayin' so either, just 'cause we've been +scrappin' with your crowd right along. Guess you know that we come up +here partly to bother you fellers. I'm right glad we ain't had a +chance to play any tricks on you up to now. An' b'lieve me! it's goin' +to be a long time 'fore we'll forgit this thing." + +Paul was, of course, well pleased to hear this. He feared, however, +that in a month from that time Hank was apt to forget the obligations +he owed the scouts, and likely enough would commence to annoy them +again. + +"The question that bothers me just now," Paul continued, "is what you +ought to do. I don't suppose any of you care to stay up here much +longer, now that this blizzard has spoiled all of the fun of camping +out?" + +"I've had about all I want of the game," admitted Jud Mabley, +promptly. + +"Count me in too," added Sim Jeffreys. "I feel pretty sick of the +whole business, and we can't get back home any too soon to suit me." + +"Same here," muttered Bud Phillips, who had kept looking at Paul for +some time in a furtive way, as though he had something on his mind +that he was strongly tempted to communicate to the scout leader. + +"So you see that settles it," grinned Hank. "Even if I wanted to hang +out here all the rest o' the holidays, three agin one is most too +much. We'd be havin' all sorts o' rows every day. Yep, we'll start fur +home the fust chance we git." + +That pleased Paul, and was what he had hoped to hear. + +"Of course," he went on to say to Hank, "it's a whole lot shorter +cutting across country to Stanhope than going around by way of Lake +Tokala and the old canal that leads from the Radway into the Bushkill +river; but you want to be mighty careful of your compass points, or +you might get lost." + +"Sure thing, Paul," remarked the other, confidently; "but that's my +long suit, you ought to know. Never yet did git lost, an' I reckon I +ain't a-goin' to do it now. I'll lay it all out and make the riffle, +don't you worry about that same." + +"We came over that way, you know," interrupted Jud Mabley, "and left +blazes on the trees in places where we thought we might take the wrong +trail goin' back." + +"That was a wise thing to do," said Paul, "and shows that some of you +ought to be in the scout movement, for you've got it in you to make +good." + +"Tried it once you 'member, Paul, but your crowd didn't want anything +to do wi' me, so I cut it out," grumbled Jud, though he could not help +looking pleased at being complimented on the woodcraft of their crowd +by such an authority as the scout-master. + +Paul turned from Jud and looked straight into the face of the leader. + +"Hank," he said earnestly, "you know just as well as I do that Jud was +blackballed not because we didn't believe he had it in him to make an +excellent scout, but for another reason. Excuse me if I'm blunt about +it, but I mean it just as much for your good as I did bringing this +food all the way over here to help you out. Every one of you has it in +him to make a good scout, if only he would change certain ways he now +has." + +Hank looked down at his feet, and remained silent for a brief time, +during which he doubtless was having something of an inward fight. + +"All right, Paul," he suddenly remarked, looking up again grimly. "I +ain't a-goin' to git mad 'cause you speak so plain. If you fellers'd +go to all the trouble to fight your way over here, and fetch us this +food, I reckon as how I've been readin' you the wrong way." + +"You have, Hank! You certainly have!" affirmed Bobolink, who was +greatly interested in this effort on the part of Paul to bring about a +change in the boys who had taken such malicious delight in annoying +the scouts whenever the opportunity arose. + +"Believe this, Hank," said Paul earnestly; "if you only chose to +change your ways, none of you would be blackballed the next time you +tried to join the organization. There's no earthly reason why all of +you shouldn't be accepted as candidates if only you can subscribe to +the iron-bound rules we work under, and which every one of us has to +obey. Think it over, won't you, boys? It might pay you." + +"Reckon we will, Paul," muttered Hank, though he shook his head at the +same time a little doubtfully, as though deep down in his heart he +feared they could never overcome the feeling of prejudice that had +grown up against them in Stanhope. + +"I wouldn't be in too big a hurry to start back home," continued Paul, +thinking he had already said enough to fulfill his duty as a scout. +"In another day or so it's likely to warm up a bit, and you'll find it +more comfortable on the way." + +"Just what I was thinkin' myself, Paul," agreed Hank. "We've got +stacks of grub now, thanks to you and your crowd, and we c'n git +enough wood in places, now you've opened our dooryard fur us. Yep, +we'll hang out till it feels some warmer, and then cut sticks fur +home." + +"Here's a rough map I made out that may be useful to you, Hank," +continued the scout-master, "if you happen to lose your blazed trail. +Tolly Tip helped me get it up, and as he's been across to Stanhope +many times he ought to know every foot of the way." + +"It might come in handy, an' I'll take the same with thanks, Paul," +Hank observed, with all his customary aggressive ways lacking. There +is nothing so well calculated to take the spirit out of a boy as acute +hunger. + +When they had talked for some little time longer, Paul decided that +it was time for him and his chums to start back to the cabin. Those +afternoons in late December were very short, and night would be down +upon them almost before they knew it. + +It was just then that Bud Phillips seemed to have made up his mind to +say something that had been on the tip of his tongue ever since he +realized under what great obligations the scouts had placed him and +his partners. + +"Seems like I oughtn't to let you get away from here, Paul, without +tellin' somethin' that I reckon might be interestin' to you all," he +went on to say. + +"All right, Bud, we'll be glad to hear it," the scout-master observed, +with a smile, "though for the life of me I can't guess what it's all +about." + +"Go ahead Bud, and dish it out!" urged Bobolink, impatiently. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +MORE STARTLING NEWS + + +Bud Phillips looked somewhat confused. Apparently, he did not figure +any too well in what he felt it his duty to confess to Paul and his +chums. + +"I'm ashamed that I kept mum about it when the old man accused some of +you fellers of startin' the fire, an' gettin' at his tight wad," he +went on to say; and it can be easily understood that this beginning +gave Paul a start. + +"Oh! it's about that ugly business, is it?" the scout-master remarked, +frowning a little, for, naturally, he instantly conceived the idea +that Hank and his three reckless cronies must have had a hand in that +outrage. + +That Hank guessed what was flitting through the other's mind was +plainly indicated by the haste with which he cried out: + +"Don't git it in your head we had anything to do with that fire, Paul, +nor yet with tappin' the old man's safe. I know we ain't got any too +good reputations 'round Stanhope, but it's to be hoped we ain't +dropped so low as that. Skip along, Bud, an' tell what you saw." + +"Why, it's this way," continued the narrator, eagerly. "I chanced to +be Johnny-on-the-spot that night, being 'mong the first to arrive when +old Briggs started to scream that his store was afire. Never mind how +it came that way. And Paul, I saw two figures a-runnin' away right +when I came up, runnin' like they might be afraid o' bein' seen an' +grabbed." + +"Were they close enough for you to notice who they were?" asked Paul, +taking a deep interest in the narration, since he and his chums had +been accused of doing the deed in the presence of many of Stanhope's +good people. + +"Oh! I saw 'em lookin' back as they hurried away," admitted Bud. "And, +Paul, they were those same two tramps we had the trouble with that +day. You remember we ran the pair out o' town, bombardin' 'em with +rocks." + +Paul could plainly see the happening in his memory, with the two +hoboes turning when at a safe distance to shake their fists at the +boys. Evidently their rough reception all around had caused them to +have a bitter feeling toward the citizens of Stanhope, and they had +come back later on to have their revenge. + +"Now that I think of it," Paul went on to say, "they had just come +out of the store when you ran afoul of the pair. The chances are that +Mr. Briggs treated them as sourly as he does all their class, and they +were furiously mad at him." + +"Yes," added Bobolink, "and while in there they must have noticed +where he had his safe. Maybe they saw him putting money in it." + +"I'm glad you told me this, Bud," the scout-master confessed, "because +it goes part way to clear up the mystery of that fire and robbery." + +"Bud was meanin' to tell all about it when we got back," said Hank. +"He kept still because he heard Briggs accuse you scouts of the fire +racket, and Bud just then thought it too good a joke to spoil. But +we've been talkin' it over, and come to the conclusion we owed it to +the community to set 'em right." + +This sounded rather lofty, but Paul guessed that there must be another +reason back of the determination to tell. These fellows had decided +that possibly suspicion might be directed toward them, and, as they +had had enough trouble already without taking more on their shoulders, +it would be the part of wisdom to start the ball rolling in the right +quarter. + +"Well, we must be going," said Paul. + +"Do you reckon on stayin' out your time up here?" queried Hank. + +"We haven't decided that yet," replied the scout-master; "but the +chances are we shall conclude to cut the trip short and get back home. +This heavy snow has spoiled a good many plans we'd laid out; and we +might be having a better time of it with the rest of the fellows at +home. We're going to talk it over and by to-morrow settle on our +plans." + +"Here's where we get busy and start on the return hike," announced Tom +Betts, just as cheerily as though he were not already feeling the +effects of that stiff plunge through the deep snowdrifts, and secretly +faced the return trip with more or less apprehension. + +Hank and his followers came out of their den to wave a hearty farewell +after their late rescuers. Just then all animosities had died in their +hearts, and they could look upon the scouts without the least +bitterness. + +"Sounds all mighty fine, I must say," remarked Bobolink, as they +pushed along, after losing sight of the quartette standing at the foot +of the snowy hill, "but somehow I don't seem to feel it's going to +last. That Hank's got it in him to be a tough character, and it'd be +next door to a miracle if he ever changed his ways." + +"Do _you_ think he will, Paul?" demanded Jud, flatly. + +"Ask me something easy," laughed the scout-master. "It all depends on +Hank himself. If he once took a notion to make a man of himself, I +believe he could do it no matter what happened. He's got the grit, but +without the real desire that isn't going to count for much. Time alone +will tell." + +"Well, we've seen something like that happen right in our town, you +know," Bobolink went on to say, reflectively, as he trudged along +close to the heels of the one in front of him, for they were going +"Indian-file," following the sinuous trail made during their preceding +trip. + +"I was talking with the other Jud," remarked Jud Elderkin just then, +"and he gave me a pointer that might be worth something. I don't know +just why he chose to confide it to me, instead of speaking out, but he +did." + +"Was it, too, about the fire and the robbery?" asked Tom Betts. + +"It amounted to the same thing, I should say," replied Jud, "because +it was connected with the hoboes." + +"Go on and tell us then," urged Bobolink. + +"He says they're up in this part of the country," asserted the other. + +"Wow! that begins to look as if we might be running across the ugly +pair after all!" exclaimed Tom Betts, his face lighting up with +eagerness. "Now wouldn't it be queer if we managed to capture the +yeggs and turn 'em over to the authorities? Paul, how about that +now?" + +"Oh! you're getting too far ahead of the game, Tom," he was told. "We +must know a good deal more about this business before we could decide +to take such desperate chances." + +"But if the opportunity came along, wouldn't it be our duty to cage +the rascals?" the persistent Tom demanded. + +"Perhaps it might," Paul told him. "But Jud, did he explain to you how +he came to know the tramps were up here in the woods above Lake +Tokala?" + +"Just what he did," replied the other, promptly. "It seems that Jud, +while he was out hunting, had a glimpse of one of the ugly pair the +day before this storm hit us. It gave him a chance to trail the man in +order to see what he was worth in that line. And, Paul, he did his +work so well that he followed the fellow all the way to where the two +of them had put up." + +"And that was where, Jud?" demanded the leader of the troop. + +"There's an old dilapidated cabin half-way between here and the lake," +explained Jud. "Maybe Tolly Tip knows about it." + +"Sure that I do!" responded the woodsman. "'Twas used years ago by +some charcoal burners, but has been goin' to decay this long time. +Mebbe now they've patched up the broken roof, and mane to stay there +awhile. It's in a snug spot, and mighty well protected from the wind +in winters." + +"That's the place," Jud assured them. "The hoboes are hanging out +there, and seem to have plenty to eat, so Jud Mabley told me. If we +concluded to take a look in at 'em on our way home it could be done +easy enough, I'd think." + +"We'll talk it over," decided Paul. "We must remember that in all +likelihood they're a desperate pair, and well armed. As a rule scouts +have no business to constitute themselves criminal catchers, though in +this case it's a bit different." + +"Because we've been publicly accused by Mr. Briggs of being the +persons who set his old store on fire, just in spite!" declared +Bobolink, briskly enough. "And say! wouldn't it be a bully trick if we +could take those two tramps back with us, having the goods on them? +Then we'd say to Mr. Briggs: 'There you are, sir! These are the men +you want! And we'd trouble you to make your apology just as public as +your hasty accusation was.'" + +"Hurrah!" cried Tom Betts. "That's the ticket." + +But Paul was not to be hurried into giving a decision. He wanted more +time to consider matters, and settle his plan of campaign. The other +scouts, however, found little reason to doubt that in the end he would +conclude to look favorably on the bold proposition Jud had advanced. + +Just as they had anticipated, the return journey was not anywhere +nearly so strenuous an undertaking as the outward tramp had been. Even +where they had to cross great drifts a passage had been broken for +them, and the wind, not being high, had failed to fill up the gaps +thus far. + +The rescue party arrived in the vicinity of the cabin long before +sundown, and could catch whiffs of the wood smoke that blew their way, +which gave promise of the delightful warmth they would find once +inside the forest retreat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE WILD DOG PACK + + +"Well! well! what under the sun's been going on here while we've been +away?" + +Bobolink burst out with this exclamation the very minute he passed +hastily in at the cabin door. A jolly fire blazed on the hearth, and +the interior of the cabin was well lighted by the flames. + +Paul, as well as all the other arrivals, stared. And well they might, +for Sandy Griggs and Bluff were swathed in seemingly innumerable +bandages. They looked a bit sheepish too, even while grinning +amiably. + +"Oh! 'tisn't as bad as it seems, fellows!" sang out Spider Sexton, +cheerfully. "Phil thought it best to wash every scratch with that +stuff we keep for such things, so as to avoid any danger of blood +poisoning. But shucks! they got off pretty easy, let me tell you." + +"What happened?" demanded Jud Elderkin, curiously. "Did they run +across that old bear after all, and get scratched or bitten?" + +"Or was it the other bobcat that came around to smell the pelt of his +mate, and gave you something of a tussle?" asked Bobolink. + +"Both away off your base," said Bluff, with a fresh grin. "It was +dogs, that's all." + +"Dogs!" echoed Jud, unbelievingly. "You must mean wolves, don't you? +They look a heap like some kinds of mongrel dogs." + +"'Tis the lad as knows what he is talkin' about, I guess," remarked +Tolly Tip just then. "Sure, for these many moons now there's been a +pack av thim wild dogs a-runnin' through the woods. Many a night have +I listened to the same bayin' and yappin' as they trailed after a +deer." + +A flash of understanding came into Jud's face. + +"Oh! now I see what you mean," he went on to say. "Wild dogs they +were, that for some reason have abandoned their homes with people, and +gone back to the old free hunting ways of their ancestors. I've heard +about such things. But say! how did it happen they tackled you two?" + +Bluff and his guilty companion exchanged looks, and as he scratched +his head the former went on to confess. + +"Why, you see, it was this way," he began. "Sandy and I began to get +awful tired of staying indoors after you fellows went away. Three days +of it was just too much for our active natures to stand. So we made +up a plan to take a little walk around, and see if we could run across +any game." + +At that Sandy held up a couple of partridges. + +"All we got, and all we saw," he remarked, "but they were enough to +set that savage bunch of wild dogs on us. Whew! but they were hungry +and reckless. But you go on and tell the story, Bluff." + +"When we saw them heading our way," continued the other, "we thought +they were just ordinary dogs running loose. But as they came closer +both of us began to see that they were a savage looking lot. In the +lead was a big mastiff that looked like a lion to us." + +"But you had your guns with you, didn't you?" asked Jud. + +"That's right, we did," replied Bluff. "But you see before we made up +our minds the kiyi crowd was dangerous they were nearly on us, yelping +and snapping like everything. That big chap in the lead gave me a +shiver just to look at him; and there were three others coming +full-tilt close behind him." + +"We've since made up our minds," again interrupted Sandy, "that they +must have scented our birds, and were crazy to get them. Though even +if we'd thrown the partridges away I believe the pack would have +attacked us like so many tigers." + +"At the very last," Bluff went on, "I knew we ought to be doing +something. So I yelled out to Sandy who had the shotgun to pepper that +big mastiff before he could jump us, and that I'd take care of the +next creature." + +"Well, I tried to do it," Sandy affirmed, "but my first shot went +wild, because Bluff here knocked my elbow just when I pulled the +trigger. But I had better luck with the second barrel, for I brought +one of the other dogs down flat on his back, kicking his last." + +"I'd shot a second creature meanwhile," said Bluff; "and then the +other two were on us. Whew! but we did have a warm session of it about +that time, let me tell you, fellows! It was at close quarters, so I +couldn't use my gun again to shoot; but we swung the weapons around +our heads as though they were clubs." + +"I made a lucky crack," declared Sandy, "and bowled the smaller cur +over, but he was up like a flash and at me again, scratching and +biting like a mad wolf. I never would have believed family pets could +go back to the wild state again like that if I hadn't seen it with my +own eyes." + +"I suppose the big beast tackled you then, did he, Bluff?" asked +Jack. + +"You just b-b-bet he did!" exclaimed the other, excitedly. "And +s-s-say, I had all I could do to k-k-keep him from knocking me over +in a h-h-heap. Lots of t-t-times I cracked him with the b-b-butt of my +rifle, and staggered him, but he only c-came at me again full tilt. +Oh! but we had a g-g-glorious time of it I tell you!" + +"And how did it end?" queried Jud. "Since we find you two here +right-side-up-with-care we must believe that in the final wind-up you +got the better of your canine enemies." + +"C-c-canine d-d-don't seem to fit the c-c-crime this time, Jud," +expostulated Bluff. "It sounds so mild. Well, we lathered 'em right +and left, and took quite a number of s-s-scratches in return. B-b-both +of us were getting pretty well winded, and I was b-b-beginning to be +afraid of the outcome, when all at once I remembered that I had other +b-b-bullets in my gun." + +"Wise old head, that of yours, Bluff," commented Jud, with a touch of +satire in his voice. "Better late than never I should say. Well, what +did you do then?" + +"Next chance I got I managed to turn my gun around and grip the +stock," and as he said this Bluff reached over to pick up his +repeating rifle to exhibit the dents, as well as the half dried blood +spots on the walnut shoulder piece, all of which went to prove the +truth of his story as words never could have done. + +"That was the end of Mr. Mastiff then, eh?" continued Jud. + +"Oh, well! I hated to do it," Bluff told them, "for he was a beaut of +a beast, so strong and handsome; but then those shining teeth looked +pretty ugly to me, and he was wild to get them at my throat, so there +wasn't really any choice." + +"I should say not!" declared Phil Towns, shuddering at the picture +Bluff was drawing of the spirited encounter. + +"So I shot him," said Bluff, simply. "And at that the remaining beast +lit out as fast as he could, because with the fall of the leader of +the pack he lost his grit. Course after that Sandy'n I couldn't think +of hunting any longer. We figured that we ought to get back home and +have our cuts looked after. And Paul, Phil has done a dandy job with +that potash stuff." + +"Glad to hear it," said the scout-master, quickly, "though I'll take a +look myself to make sure. Scratches from carnivorous animals are very +dangerous on account of the poison that may cling to their claws. It's +always best to be on the safe side, and neutralize the danger." + +"And Paul," continued Bluff, "will you accept one of these fat birds +from us?" + +"Not much I will!" declared the other immediately. "Why should I be +favored over the rest of the crowd? You and Sandy earned the right to +enjoy a feast, and we'll see to it that you have it to-morrow. Let +them hang until then; game is always better for lying a few days +before being eaten, you know." + +Of course, those who had remained at home were curious to know whether +the rescue expedition had been successful or not. + +"We needn't ask if you found Hank and his crowd," declared Spider +Sexton, wisely, "for as scouts we are educated to observe things, and +first of all we notice that none of you has come back with the pack he +took away. That tells us the story. But please go on and give the +particulars, Paul." + +"We managed to find them just when they had their last stick on the +fire," the scout-master commenced to relate. "We had to dig a way in +to them, for there was an enormous drift banked up against their exit +that they hadn't even begun to cut through." + +"How lucky you got there on time!" cried Frank Savage. "Once more +scouts have proved themselves masters of circumstances. Bully for +Stanhope Troop! I bet you they were glad to see you! Yes, and like as +not told you they were sorry for ever having done anything to annoy +our crowd." + +"You've hit it to a dot, Frank," admitted Jud. "Hank shows some signs +of meaning to turn over a new leaf, and Paul even believes there's a +hope; but somehow the rest of us reckon its the old story over again. +Once they get on their own stamping grounds, by degrees they'll forget +all we've done for them, and be back at their old tricks again. What's +bred in the bone can't easily be beaten out of the flesh, my father +says." + +"But it does happen once in a while," admonished Paul; "so we'll drop +the subject for the present. If Hank starts in to do the right thing, +though, remember that it's our duty as scouts to give him all the help +we can. And now let's settle on the menu for supper, because we're all +of us as hungry as wolves." + +While some of the boys were busying themselves around the fire, Paul +took a look at the slight injuries of the two aspiring hunters, and +complimented the pleased Philip on the clever way he had attended to +their necessities. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A CHANGE OF PLANS + + +That night, as the lads sat before the fire, those who had gone on the +expedition of succor had to tell further particulars, for the others +were curious to know about everything. + +When they heard how Bud Phillips had seen the two tramps running away +from the vicinity of the fire before hardly any one else was around, +of course Bluff and the four other scouts were fully agreed that the +mystery of the blaze had been as good as explained. + +"All the same," Jud remarked, "unless we can show some clinching +evidence our theory won't hold water with a lot of people who always +have to be given solid proof. That brings up the subject, we talked +about on the way home--should we pay a visit to that charcoal burners' +cabin, and try to make prisoners of the yeggs?" + +"Great scheme, I'd say!" burst out Frank Savage without any +hesitation. + +"B-b-bully idea, let me tell you!" added Bluff. + +"Whee!" exclaimed Sandy. "Nearly takes my breath away just to hear you +mention such a bold thing; but I'm game to try it if the rest are." + +Paul smiled. Truth to tell he had discounted all this, knowing what an +impetuous lot his followers were, and how prone to push aside all +thought of personal danger when tempted to perform some act that might +redound to their credit. + +"Plenty of time yet to talk that over," he told them. "We needn't +decide too hastily, and will let the subject rest for the present, +though I don't mind saying that the chances are we'll conclude to do +something along those lines when on our way home." + +"Is the charcoal burners' shack far away from the creek, Tolly Tip?" +questioned Bobolink, anxiously. + +"By the same token I do belave it lies not more'n a quarrter av a mile +off from the strame. I c'n lade ye to the same with me eyes shut," +announced the woodsman, evidently just as eager to take part in the +rounding up of the vagrants as any of the enthusiastic scouts; for his +eye was still a little discolored from the blow he had received in the +fight with the desperate tramps. + +As their time was limited, Paul knew that they should plan carefully +if they were to accomplish all the things they were most desirous of +carrying through. On that account he had each one make up his mind +just what was dearest to him, and set about accomplishing that one +thing without any unnecessary delay. + +As for Paul himself, he most of all regretted the fact that on account +of the deep snowdrifts and the bitter cold he would probably be unable +to get any more flashlight pictures. + +"You see," he explained to some of the others when they were asking +why he felt so disappointed, "most of the smaller animals are buried +out of sight by the snow. Like the squirrels, they take time by the +forelock, and have laid in a supply of food, enough to last over this +severe spell, so none of them will be anxious to show up in a hurry." + +"But I heard Tolly Tip giving you a real tip about the sly mink along +the bank of the creek. How about it, Paul?" asked Jud. + +"Well, that's really my only chance," admitted the scout-master. "It +seems that minks have a perfect scorn for wintry weather around here, +Tolly says, and are on the job right along, no matter how it storms. +He knows of one big chap who has a regular route over which he travels +nearly every night, going in and out of holes in the banks as if going +visiting." + +"I don't believe you've ever had a good snapshot of a live mink, have +you, Paul?" inquired Bluff, showing more or less interest, though +still somewhat stiff with the painful scratches he had received on the +previous day. + +"I've always wanted to get such a flashlight," admitted Paul, "because +the mink is said to be one of the shyest of all small, fur-bearing +animals, even more so than Br'er Fox, and considerably more timid than +Br'er 'Coon." + +"You'll have to set the trap to-night then, won't you?" asked Tom +Betts. + +"We've made all arrangements looking to such a thing," Tom was +assured. "I'm glad that it still stays clear and cold. We may only +have a couple more nights in Camp Garrity." + +"But it's getting a little milder, don't you think?" inquired +Bobolink. + +"It's a big improvement on yesterday, and I imagine to-morrow will see +a further change," the scout-master remarked. + +"Then if those fellows in the cave mean to strike out for home they'll +like as not find their chance by to-morrow," observed Jud. "Course +they've got enough grub to keep them for a week. But it isn't much fun +staying cooped up in a cave, and I reckon they've had enough of it. +Sim and Jud acted that way, not to mention Bud Phillips." + +"Before we make our start I'd like to take a last turn over that way," +Paul observed, as though he had been thinking the matter over. "I'd +just like to see if they did strike out across the timber. Their trail +would tell the story, and we'd know what to expect." + +"I speak to go with you then," flashed back Jud, even as Bluff opened +his mouth to give utterance to the same desire. + +"T-t-that's what a fellow gets for being a stutterer," grumbled Bluff. +"I meant to say just those words, but Jud--hang the l-l-luck--was too +speedy for me. Huh!" + +"Oh! as for that," laughed Paul, "both of you can go along if you care +to." + +As the day dragged along the scouts busied themselves in a dozen +different ways according to their liking. Some preferred to swing the +axe and chop wood, though doubtless if they had been compelled to do +this at home, loud and bitter would have been their lamentations. + +During the afternoon several went out for a walk, carrying guns along +so as to be prepared for either game, or another pack of hungry wild +dogs, though Tolly Tip assured them that, so far as he knew, there had +existed only the one pack, with that enormous mastiff as leader. + +"If ye follow the directions I've been after givin' yees, it may be +ye'll come on a bevy av pa'tridges," the woodsman told them as they +were setting out. "For by the same token whin we've had a heavy +snowfall I've always been able to knock down a lot av the birrds among +the berry bushes. 'Tis there they must go to git food or be starved +entirely. Good luck to ye, boys, an' kape yer weather eye open so ye +won't git lost!" + +"Remember," added Paul, "if you do lose your bearings stop right still +and fire three shots in rapid succession. Later on try it again, and +we'll come to you. But with such clever woodsmen along as Jack and +Bobolink we don't expect anything of that kind to happen, of course." + +Paul himself went with the keeper of the woods lodge to follow the +frozen creek up to a certain place where there were numerous holes in +the bank. Here Tolly Tip pointed out little footprints made he said by +the minks on the preceding night. + +"Av course," the woodsman went on to say, "ye do be knowin' a hape +better nor me jist where the best place to set the trap might be. All +I c'n do is to show ye the p'int where the minks is most like to +travel to-night." + +"That is just what I want you to do!" exclaimed Paul. "But you can +help me out in fixing things, so when the mink takes the bait and +pulls the string he'll be sure to crouch directly in front of my +camera trap." + +Between them they eventually arranged matters, and then the trapper +removed all traces of their presence possible, after which they +returned to the cabin. + +"If the trap isn't sprung to-night I'll have another try-out," Paul +affirmed, "for it may be a long while before I'll get another such +chance to snap off Mr. Sly Mink in his own preserves." + +"Oh! make your mind aisy on that score," said Tolly Tip, reassuringly. +"I do be knowing the ways av the crature so well I c'n promise ye +there'll be no hitch. That bait I set is sure to fetch him ivery time. +I've sildom known it to fail." + +The afternoon came to an end, and the glow of sunset filled the +heavens over in the west. The hunters came trooping in, much to the +satisfaction of some of the stay-at-homes, who were beginning to fear +something might have happened to them. + +"We heard a whole lot of shots away off somewhere," asserted Phil +Towns, "so show us what you've got in the game pockets of your hunting +coats to make them bulge out that way." + +"I've got three fat partridges," said Jack. + +"Two for me--one in each pocket!" laughed Bobolink. + +Then Jack and Bobolink looked expectantly toward Jud as though +expecting him to make a still better showing. + +At that Jud began to unload, and before he stopped he had laid six +birds on the rough deal table. At that there was much rejoicing. + +"Just enough to go around!" exclaimed Sandy Griggs. "I was beginning +to be sorry Bluff and I had gone and cooked our birds, but now it's +all right. Here's for a bully mess to-morrow." + +"We've certainly made a big hole in your partridge supply since coming +up here, Tolly Tip," announced Bobolink, proudly. "And there's one +deer less, too." + +"Only one," said Jud, regretfully; and Paul knew he must be thinking +of the stag responsible for the tracks seen on that day when they were +on duty bent, and could not turn aside to do any hunting. + +"Well, to-morrow may be our last day here," remarked the scout-master, +"so every one of you had better wind up your affairs, to be ready to +start home." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +GOOD-BYE TO DEER HEAD LODGE + + +"I think I'll sleep a whole lot better to-night," announced Bobolink, +as he gave a huge yawn, and stretched his arms high above his head. + +"What's the reason?" demanded Jud, quickly. "Are you happy because +we're going to break camp so much sooner than we expected, owing to +everything being snowed under up here in the woods?" + +"Bobolink doesn't get enough to eat, I reckon," suggested Tom Betts. + +"If he doesn't it's his own fault then," Jack went on to say, "because +he has more to do with the cooking end of the game than any of us." + +"I guess I know what he means," hinted Spider Sexton, mysteriously. + +"Then get a move on you, Spider, and enlighten the rest of us," coaxed +Sandy, as he cuddled a bit closer to the crackling fire, for the wind +had arisen again, and parts of the cabin were chilly, despite the +roaring blaze. + +"Why, the fact of the matter is, Bobolink has a new girl to take to +barn dances and all that this winter," said Spider, boldly. "It's that +pretty Rose Dexter belonging to the new family in town. Oh! you +needn't grin at me that way, Bobolink. I own up I was doing my best to +cut in on you there, but you seemed to have the inside track of me and +I quit. But she is a peach if ever there was one!" + +"Well, do you blame me then for feeling satisfied when we talk of +going home?" demanded the accused scout. "All the same you're all away +off in your guesses. I'm hoping to sleep soundly to-night just because +my mind is free from wondering who set that incendiary fire and tapped +Mr. Briggs' safe." + +"Oh! so that's the reason, is it?" laughed Paul. "I've been watching +you more or less since we came up here, and I wondered if you hadn't +been trying to figure that mystery out. I'm glad for your sake, as +well as for some others' sakes, that we've been able to clear that +thing up." + +"All I hope now is that on our way back home we can stop off and pay +the hoboes a little friendly visit," continued Bobolink. + +"Same here," Jud added, quickly. "Even if our outing hasn't been +everything we hoped for, it would even things up some if we could +march into Stanhope and hand the guilty men over to the police." + +Indeed, Bobolink was not the only scout who slept "like a rock" on +that night. Most of the boys were very tired after the exertions of +the day, and, besides, now that it had been decided to return home, +they really had a load removed from their minds. + +Of course, all of them could have enjoyed a much longer stay at Deer +Head Lodge had the conditions been normal. That tremendous fall of +snow, something like two feet on the level, Paul felt, had utterly +prostrated many of their best plans, and facing a protracted siege of +it did not offer a great deal of attraction. + +With the coming of morning they were once more astir, and were soon as +busy as a hive of bees. Each scout seemed intent on getting as much +done as possible while the day lasted. + +Tolly Tip alone looked sober. The quaint and honest fellow had taken a +great liking to his guests, and looked forward to their speedy +departure with something akin to dismay. + +"Sure the rist av the winter will same a dreary time with not a hearty +young voice to give me gratin' av a mornin'," he told Paul. "Indade, I +don't know how I'm goin' to stand for the same at all, at all." + +"I'll tell you this, Tolly Tip," replied the scout leader +emphatically. "If we get off during the Easter holidays some of us may +take a run up here to visit you again. And perhaps you'll find +occasion to come to Stanhope in some business dealings with Mr. +Garrity. In that case you must let us know. I'll call a special +meeting of the scouts, and you'll be our honored guest." + +The old woodsman was visibly affected by these hearty words. He led a +lonely life of it, although until the coming of these merry boys it +had not seemed especially so. They had aroused long buried memories of +his own boyhood, and given him a "new lease of life," as he declared. + +Nothing remarkable happened on this last day in camp, though numerous +things took place. Paul saw to it that in the afternoon the boys got +everything ready to pack so there would be little delay in the +morning, and they could get an early start if the weather conditions +were at all favorable. + +The weather remained good. The great storm must have covered a +considerable stretch of territory east of the Mississippi and the +Great Lakes and cleared the atmosphere wonderfully, for again the +morning dawned without a threatening cloud to give cause for anxiety. + +There was considerable bustle inside the cabin and out of it about +that time. Packs were being done up, though in much smaller compass +than when the boys arrived at the camp, since only enough food was +being taken along to serve for a couple of meals. + +All the rest they only too gladly bequeathed to their genial host. +Many were the silent resolves on the part of the boys as to what they +would send up to Deer Head Lodge if ever the chance arrived, tobacco +for Tolly Tip's pipe being of course the main idea, since he seemed to +lack nothing else. + +On Tolly Tip's part, he forced each of the lads to pack away a +particular pelt which they were to have made into some sort of small +article, just to remember the glorious outing in the snowy woods by. + +At last the time came to say good-bye to the camp, and it was with +unanimous agreement that the scouts clustered in a bunch, swung their +hats, and gave three parting cheers for the lodge in the wilderness. + +Tolly Tip had laid out their course, and on the way the main body +halted while he and Paul tramped over to the foot of the hill where +the cave among the rocks lay. + +Paul was pleased to find the cave empty and the ashes cold where the +fire had burned, thus proving that Hank and his three companions had +started overland for home on the previous day. + +Once more joining the others, they continued on their way. + +"Next in line come our friends, the hobo yeggmen!" remarked Jud, with +a grim closing of his lips. + +"Listen," said Paul, impressively, "for the last time I want to +caution you all to follow the directions I've given. We must try to +creep up on that old shack, and find out what the tramps are doing +before we show our hand." + +"Well, what have scouts been learning woodcraft for if they can't do a +bit of spy work?" asked Jud, boldly. "All you have to do, Paul, is to +pick those you want to keep you company when you make the grand creep; +while the rest hang out close by, ready to jump in at the signal and +make it unanimous." + +It might have been noticed, were one watching closely, that Jud said +this with a complacent smile hovering about his lips. The reason was +easily guessed, because Jud really had no peer among the members of +Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts when it came to creeping up on game or +some pretended enemy. + +He had often proved his superiority in this respect, and could +therefore take it for granted that the scout-master would pick him +out to accompany him on an occasion like this. + +"All right, Jud," said Paul, smilingly, for he understood very well +how the other felt, "I'll take Jack with me, Bobolink, and Tom Betts +as well--yes, and you may come along too, I guess." + +Some of them snickered at this, while Jud glared haughtily around and +shrugged his shoulders, looking aggrieved, until Paul took occasion to +whisper in his ear: + +"That was meant for a joke you understand, Jud. Of course, I couldn't +think of doing this thing without your help." + +Later on Tolly Tip announced that they would now leave the creek and +head in the direction of the abandoned charcoal burners' shack. All +the scouts felt more or less of a thrill in anticipation of what was +to come. + +"I only hope," Jud was heard to mutter, aggressively, "that they +haven't gone and skedaddled since Bud Phillips saw 'em in the place. +That'd make me feel pretty sore, let me tell you!" + +"Not much chance of that happening, Jud," Jack assured the grumbler, +"unless by some accident their supplies got low. And Bud said they +seemed to have enough on hand to last for weeks. Everything's going to +turn out as we want it, make up your mind to that." + +The old woodsman knew every rod of territory around that section, and +could have led his charges in a bee-line to the shack except for the +snowdrifts. Of course, these caused more or less meandering, but in +the end they came to a place where Tolly Tip raised a warning finger. + +Every boy knew by that they must be close upon the shack. Indeed, a +whiff of wood smoke floated their way just then, announcing that the +goal was at hand. + +They moved on for a couple of minutes. Then all could glimpse the +dilapidated cabin amidst the snow piles, with smoke oozing from its +disabled mud and slab chimney. Paul made a gesture that they +recognized, whereupon part of the company came to a halt and hid, +while the others crept on with the leader. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE CAPTURE OF THE HOBO YEGGMEN + + +Long practice had made the scouts adepts at this sort of work. They +could creep up on an unsuspecting sentry almost as cleverly as those +copper-colored natives of the American woods whom all Boy Scouts copy +when studying woodcraft. + +Then again the piles of snow helped, as well as hindered, them more or +less. But except for that column of blue wood smoke drifting lazily +upward over the cabin there was really no sign of life about the +place. + +Paul, Tolly Tip and the others of the scouting party soon reached the +rear of the shack. They could easily see where the two tramps had +actually worked to close up most of the chinks between the logs, to +keep the bitter cold air and the driving snow out of their refuge. + +Men of their sort would never think of staying for a week or two +amidst such barren surroundings so long as there remained a warm +county jail ready to accommodate them with free lodging--that is, +unless they had a good reason for wanting to avoid civilization. + +Paul, believing that they had set that fire and robbed Mr. Briggs' +safe, could understand just why they remained here in seclusion. They +doubtless feared suspicion may have been pointed in their direction, +and that something of a search was being indulged in looking to their +ultimate capture. + +As soon as they arrived close to the walls of the shack the boys +searched for some crevice through which they might gain a view of the +interior. + +Several managed to dig peep-holes by detaching the frozen mud that the +tramps had plastered over open chinks. They applied their eyes to such +crevices, and first of all discovered a blazing fire. Then a movement +on one side drew their attention to the taller vagrant sitting quietly +smoking his black pipe as though quite contented with his lot of +idleness, so long as his wants were fairly well supplied. + +It happened that the wind had gone down, and there brooded over the +snowy forest a deep silence. This fact allowed the listeners without +to catch the sound of voices inside the hut, for one of the tramps +talked heavily, and the other had a high-pitched voice that carried +like a squeaking fife. + +What they were saying just then instantly riveted the attention of the +listeners, for as though by some strange freak it had an intimate +connection with the object of the scouts' coming to the spot. + +The shorter man seemed to have been doing some work on his injured +hand, for he was now carefully wrapping a fresh rag around it. At the +same time he was grumbling because of the pain his injury gave him. + +"I never knowed how bad a burn was till now, Billy," was the burden of +his complaint. "I've been shot and hurted in every other way, but this +here's the fust time I ever got licked by fire. It's a-goin' to be the +last time too, if I knows it." + +"Any fool had ought to know better'n to play with fire," the other +told him between his teeth as he sucked at his pipe. "I reckons that +ye'd been wuss hurt nor that if I hadn't slapped a pail o' water over +ye, and put ye out. Gotter stand fur it, Shorty, till the new skin +comes along. A burn is wuss nor a cut any day." + +"I on'y hopes as how it's well afore we skip outen this hole," the +sufferer went on to say, still unappeased. "If we git in a tight hole +I'd need both my fins to do business with. A one-handed man ain't got +much chance to slip away when the cornfield cops make a raid." + +"They ain't goin' to bother us any! Make up yer mind to that same, +boy," continued the tall vagrant, complacently. "When the time comes, +an' the weather lets up on us a bit, why, we'll jest flit outen this +region by the back door. I'm only mad as hops 'bout one thing." + +"Yep, an' I know what it be, 'cause ye been harpin' on that subject +right along, Billy. Yer disapp'inted 'cause the old man didn't have a +bigger haul in his cracked safe." + +"Well, that's what ails me," admitted the other in a grumbling way. +"We'd a been fixed fur a year to come if only he'd had a good wad +lyin' low, 'stead of a measly bunch of the long green." + +"Better luck next time, Billy, say I," continued the shorter tramp, as +he finished fastening the soiled rag about his left hand and wrist. + +It can be easily understood that Paul had heard quite enough by this +time. There was not the slightest doubt in the world that Billy and +his partner had been guilty of setting fire to Mr. Briggs' store, and +had also broken open his ancient safe to extract whatever amount of +money happened to be in it at the time. + +Paul drew back and touched each one of his companions in turn. They +knew just what the gesture he made signified. The time for action had +come, and they were thus invited to take part with him in the holding +up of the desperate pair. + +That the tramps belonged to this class of wandering criminals there +could not be the least doubt after hearing snatches of their +conversation. This affair of Mr. Briggs' store was apparently but one +of many similar episodes in their careers. + +The little party now proceeded to creep around to the front of the +shack. They knew, of course, that the door had been repaired and that +it was also closed tightly, but Paul hardly believed they would find +any difficulty in pushing it open. + +Arriving at the point that was to witness their sudden attack, Paul +marshaled his followers in a compact mass. He meant to imitate in some +degree the flying wedge used upon the football field with such good +effect. + +Tolly Tip was given the post of honor in the van. This was done partly +because of the fact that he was a man, and the boys felt the tramps +would be likely to feel more respect for a company of invaders led by +a grown-up. + +After the woodsman came Paul and Jud. Jack, Bobolink and Tom Betts +formed the base of the triangle which was to push through the opening +with all possible speed, once the door had been thrown open. + +Even though they found it fastened by some sort of bar or wooden pin, +Paul had arranged in his mind just how such fastenings could be broken +without trouble. He had noted quite a good-sized log lying near by, +used by the vagrants in their seclusion to chop their firewood on. And +Paul had decided that this log would make an admirable battering ram. +The door was old and feeble, so that one good slam would doubtless +hurl it back, and give them free ingress. + +There was no need of all this display of energy, however, for upon +investigation Paul discovered that he could easily move the door, once +he got his hand on the wooden latch. + +He only waited to make sure that the others were ready, and then fell +back into his pre-arranged place, leaving to Tolly Tip the honor of +opening the way. + +When the woodsman felt a hand jab him in the short ribs he recognized +this as the signal from Paul for which he had been waiting. He +immediately threw the door back with such violence that it crashed to +the floor, its weak hinges giving way under the strain. + +In through the opening the whole six of them poured. The boys' hunting +guns were instantly leveled in the direction of the astounded tramps, +who started to scramble to their feet, but, cowed by the display of +force, sank back again in dire dismay. + +"Hold up your arrms!" roared Tolly Tip, just as he had been instructed +to do by the scout-master. + +Both hoboes made ludicrous haste to elevate their hands as far as they +could. In the excitement of the moment, having only caught glimpses of +khaki uniforms, they imagined that a detachment of the State militia +had been called out to search the woods for the firebugs guilty of +trying to destroy Mr. Briggs' establishment in Stanhope. + +By the time they realized that five of the invaders were only boys it +was too late to attempt anything like defiance. Besides, those +shotguns and rifles, even when held in boyish hands, had just as grim +a look as though gripped by grown-up warriors. + +"Jud, you've got the thongs I supplied!" called out Paul, "so get +busy, with Jack to help you, and tie their hands behind them. Slip +those mitts on before you do it, because we've got a long way to go, +and it would be cruel to have their fingers frost-bitten on the road +to Stanhope." + +The men dared not offer any objections, though they kept using strong +language, much to the disgust of some of the scouts. + +"Paul, tell them that unless they close their mouths and quit that +swearing we'll gag them both," said Jack, unable to endure it any +longer. + +"I was just about to say that when you took the words out of my +mouth!" declared the scout-master, indignantly. "I've got a couple of +gags ready here, made for the occasion. If you know when you're well +off, you fellows, keep still, and accept your fate like men. You're +only going to get what you deserve after all." + +"It was a bad day for you both when you struck Stanhope," said Jud, +with one of his tantalizing grins. "I only wish I knew the tramp +signs, so I could write a warning on every fence outside the town so's +to keep other hobo yeggs away." + +Having accomplished the object of their mission without any trouble +they now went back to join their comrades, who were anxiously waiting +for the signal Paul was to give in case their help was needed. And +great was the disappointment of Bluff, Sandy, Frank, Spider and Phil +when they found that they had been left out of the game. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +CONCLUSION + + +Once more striking the frozen creek the boys, accompanied by Tolly Tip +still, headed down the stream, bent upon reaching Lake Tokala early in +the afternoon. The two prisoners were well looked after, though there +was little danger of their giving any trouble. + +Upon searching them the boys had found some money and several small +articles of more or less value that they suspected had been taken from +the storekeeper's safe at the time of the robbery. These would perhaps +assist materially to convict "Billy" and "Shorty" when the time for +their trial came. + +The men, stolid, after their kind, seemed to have become reconciled to +their fate. Nevertheless, Paul did not mean to relax his vigilance in +the least degree. He knew very well that such cunning characters would +be ready to take advantage of the least opportunity to break away. + +In fact all of the scouts had resolved to be constantly on the watch. +They were in imagination already receiving the hearty congratulations +from some of the leading townspeople for capturing the guilty rogues, +and did not mean to be cheated out of their pleasure through careless +handling of the case. + +"There's the lake!" announced Jud Elderkin, presently. + +"Yes, and I can see smoke coming from the cabin of Abe Turner!" +Bobolink hastily added, for he knew just where to look for the humble +domicile of the man Mr. Garrity had stationed at the lake to make +preliminary preparations for the extensive logging operations he meant +to start on the following spring. + +Abe heard their shouts and greeted them warmly. Of course, he was +interested on discovering that they had captured the two tramps, and +admitted that there could be no reasonable doubt of their guilt, once +he heard the story, and saw Shorty's scorched hand. + +But the boys did not mean to stay over night at the lake. That would +make their next day's journey too long, for they hoped to get into +Stanhope before the setting of another sun. + +Tolly Tip said good-bye sorrowfully. He concluded that he might as +well stay with Abe that night for company. + +"'Tis harrd to say ye go away, lads," the old woodsman told them, as +he wrung each scout's hand with a vim that made him wince. "Depind on +it, I'll often think av ivery one av ye as the days crape along. +Here's a good luck to the whole bunch! And be sure to remimber me to +Mr. Garrity." + +"We will, Tolly Tip, and here's three cheers for you!" cried Bobolink; +and no doubt the vigorous shouts that arose would ring pleasantly in +the ears of the old woodsman for many a day. + +The boys managed to cross the lake and use their iceboats in the +bargain, for the violence of the wind had kept most of the surface +clear of snow. It was a new experience to the two vagrants, and one +they hardly fancied; though the boats they were placed on did not make +any remarkable time, the breeze being very light. + +Once on the Radway river, the boys found it necessary to drag the +boats pretty much all the way. They kept on, however, until the sun +was setting, and then concluded to camp for the night. + +Paul knew that this would be the time when the most danger would arise +concerning the possible escape of the prisoners. He was more than ever +determined that such a catastrophe should not occur, even if he +himself had to sit up and keep watch all through the night. + +The boys chose a very good spot for a camp, in that there was an +abundance of loose wood at hand that could be used for fuel. Jud also +suggested that they build two fires, so that they would have a certain +amount of warmth on either side. + +"That's a good idea," said Paul, falling in with it immediately, for +he saw how it would simplify matters in connection with their +prisoners. + +He did not dare allow these men to have the freedom of their arms, for +there could be no telling what they might not attempt in the desire to +gain their freedom. And with their hands tied the lack of circulation +might cause their extremities to freeze unless looked after. + +Supper was cooked, and things made as cheerful as the conditions +allowed. Indeed, most of the boys thought that it was rather in the +nature of a novel experience to be forced to sleep amidst the snow +banks, and with only a scanty brush shelter between themselves and the +clear, cold sky. + +Few of them secured much sleep, it may as well be admitted. Paul +himself was on the alert most of the night. Dozens of times his head +bobbed up, and his suspicious eyes covered the cowering forms of the +two prisoners, who had been placed where they would get the full +benefit of the twin fires. + +Then again the fires needed frequent attention, and Paul took it upon +himself to see that they did not die down too low; for the night was +still bitter cold. As an abundant supply of wood had been gathered by +willing hands it was not very hard to toss a few armfuls on each fire +from time to time. + +Morning came at last, and the scouts were up with the break of day. +The fires were again attended to, and breakfast started, for the lads +knew they would have a hard day's journey before them. + +There was a strong possibility that they would encounter some huge +drifts which might block their passage; and it was this that gave Paul +the most concern. + +It was nearly eleven when they finally sighted the place where the +one-time canal merged its waters with the Radway river, forming the +connecting link between that waterway and the home stream. + +"Looks like an old friend," asserted Jud, when they had turned off the +wider stretch and started to follow the canal. + +"But see the snow piles ahead of us, will you?" cried Bobolink in +dismay. "We're going to have some jolly work climbing through those!" + +"If you only look," remarked Paul, "in most cases you'll find you're +able to go around the hills that bar your way." + +It was very much as Paul said, for, as a rule, they were able to find +a passage around the huge drifts. Still progress was very tedious, and +when the scouts finally reached the river the afternoon was well +along. + +"Look! will you?" called out Sandy Griggs, exultantly. "The dear old +Bushkill is swept as clear as a barn floor, and the ice is +gilt-edged!" + +"Why!" echoed Bobolink, equally pleased, "our troubles have vanished +just like smoke wreaths. We can run all the way home with this nice +breeze that's coming up the river as fair as anything. Whoop! we're in +great luck, fellows!" + +Stanhope was reached half an hour before sundown. There were a good +many people on the ice, mostly boys and girls, and the coming of the +iceboat flotilla created something of a stir. This was considerably +augmented when it was learned that the scouts who had gone off on a +trip to the snow woods had brought back two vagrants, who were +responsible for the fire and the robbery that had recently occurred in +the town. + +Of course, the men were easily convicted with so much evidence against +them. Mr. Briggs publicly declared that he was very sorry for saying +what he had in connection with the scouts, and that from that time on +they could count on him as a friend of the organization. + +Some of the boys believed they would never again have the opportunity +of engaging in such interesting events as had come their way during +the midwinter outing. There were others, however, who declared that +such an enterprising group of scouts would surely meet with new +adventures while pursuing the study of Nature's mysteries. That these +latter were good prophets the reader may learn from the succeeding +volume of this series. + +At the very next meeting of the Banner Boy Scouts Mr. Thomas Garrity +was an honored guest, and had the privilege of hearing an account read +that covered all the doings of the ten lads during their midwinter +outing. + +At the conclusion of the meeting it was only proper that a vote of +thanks should be given to their benefactor for his kindness. This was +done and was followed by three cheers that made Mr. Garrity's ears +ring, and a smile of sympathy for these boyish hearts linger on his +lips. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BANNER BOY SCOUTS SNOWBOUND*** + + +******* This file should be named 28531.txt or 28531.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/5/3/28531 + + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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