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diff --git a/30958-h/30958-h.htm b/30958-h/30958-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74523a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30958-h/30958-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5050 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jack Winters' Campmates, by Mark Overton</title> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} +p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; text-align:justify; padding-left:2ex; padding-right:2ex;} +p + p {margin-top:0; text-indent:1em;} +h1,h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} +h1 {font-size:1.8em;} +h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size: 190%; } +h2 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4ex; margin-bottom:2ex;} +a {text-decoration:none;} +hr.pb {border:none; page-break-after:always; margin-top:4em;} +.pagenum {display:none;} +.pncolor {color:inherit;} +p.tp {text-align:center; text-indent:0;} +@media screen { +p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; text-align:justify; padding-left:0; padding-right:0;} +hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver;} +.pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; +position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; +font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; +background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} +.pncolor {color:silver;} +} +div.figcenter {text-align:center; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;} +div.figcenter p {text-align:center;} +p.center {text-align:center; text-indent:0em;} +p.caption {font-size:smaller;} +table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; clear:both;} +td.tcol1 {text-align:right; padding-right:1ex; vertical-align:top;} +td.tcol2 {text-align:left; padding-right:2ex; vertical-align:top; font-variant:small-caps;} +td.tcol3 {text-align:right; padding-right:2ex; vertical-align:bottom;} +span.h2fs {font-size:smaller;} +.footnote {font-size: 90%; } +.footnote .label {float:left; text-align:left; width:2em;} +.footnote a {text-decoration:none;} +.fnanchor {font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: 0.25em;} +div.footnote p {margin-bottom:1ex;} + +div.titlepage {margin-bottom:4px; margin-top:4px;} +div.titlepage p {text-indent:0em; text-align:center; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + + .centerpg { text-align: center; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Jack Winters' Campmates, by Mark Overton</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Jack Winters' Campmates</p> +<p>Author: Mark Overton</p> +<p>Release Date: January 13, 2010 [eBook #30958]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK WINTERS' CAMPMATES***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="centerpg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank, D Alexander,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<h1>JACK WINTERS’<br />CAMPMATES</h1> + +<p style='margin-top:40px;'>BY</p> +<p style='font-size:1.4em;'>MARK OVERTON</p> +<div style='margin:40px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/i001.jpg' /> +</div> + +<p style='margin-top:60px;'>MADE IN U. S. A.</p> + +<p style='margin-top:40px;font-size:1.4em;'>MˇAˇDONOHUEˇ&ˇCOMPANY</p> + +<p>CHICAGO          NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p>Copyright 1919, by</p> + +<p>The New York Book Co.</p> + +<p style='margin-top:30px;'>Made in U. S. A.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i003.jpg' id="img001" alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Here they knelt and waited and waited. +</p></div><!-- figure --> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<table summary='TOC'> +<tr><td colspan='3' style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1' style='font-size:smaller;'>CHAPTER</td><td></td><td class='tcol3' style='font-size:smaller;'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>I.</td><td class='tcol2'>A Great Streak of Luck</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_1'>11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>II.</td><td class='tcol2'>Jack and His Mates in Camp</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_2'>19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>III.</td><td class='tcol2'>The First Night Under Canvas</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_3'>27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>IV.</td><td class='tcol2'>Taking a Look Around</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_4'>36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>V.</td><td class='tcol2'>Toby’s Adventure</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_5'>45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VI.</td><td class='tcol2'>Signs of More Trouble</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_6'>54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VII.</td><td class='tcol2'>Prospecting for Pictures</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_7'>63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VIII.</td><td class='tcol2'>When the Cat Ruled the Roost</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_8'>72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>IX.</td><td class='tcol2'>Back to the Woods Camp</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_9'>80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>X.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Night Alarm</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_10'>89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XI.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Rascally Thief</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_11'>98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XII.</td><td class='tcol2'>Fisherman’s Luck</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_12'>107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIII.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Man With the Pickax</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_13'>116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIV.</td><td class='tcol2'>When the Sun Stood Still</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_14'>125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XV.</td><td class='tcol2'>Jack Lifts the Lid</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_15'>134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVI.</td><td class='tcol2'>Storm-Bound</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_16'>144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVII.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Prospectors</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_17'>151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVIII.</td><td class='tcol2'>Inside the Enemy’s Lines</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_18'>160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIX.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Coming of the Crisis</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_19'>168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XX.</td><td class='tcol2'>Out of the Woods–Conclusion</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_20'>177</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.6em;'><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_1'></a>1</span>JACK WINTERS’ CAMPMATES</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER I<br /><span class='h2fs'>A GREAT STREAK OF LUCK</span></h2> + +<p>“Anybody home?”</p> + +<p>“Sure, walk right in, Toby. My latch-string is always out to my chums. +I see you managed to pick up Steve on the way across; but I wager you had really +to pry him loose from that dandy new volume on travel he was telling me about, +because he’s such a bookworm.”</p> + +<p>The two boys who hastened to accept this warm invitation, and enter Jack +Winters’ snug “den” were his most particular chums. Those who +have been lucky enough to read the preceding volume of this series<a +id='FNanchor_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1' class='fnanchor'><sup>[1]</sup></a> +will of course require no introduction to Steve Mullane and Toby Hopkins. +However, as many newcomers may for the first time be making the acquaintance of +the trio in these pages, it might be just as well to enumerate a few of their +leading characteristics, and then we can get along with our story.</p> + +<p>Steve was a pretty husky fellow, a bit slow about making up his mind, but +firm as adamant, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> once +he had convictions. He had proved himself a wonder as a backstop in the +thrilling baseball contests so lately played with Harmony, the champion team of +the county. Indeed, it was due in great part to his terrific batting, and +general field work that the Chester nine came out of those contests, under Jack +Winters’ leadership, with such high honors.</p> + +<p>Toby Hopkins was something of a genius in many ways, a nervous sort of a boy, +and really deserving of his familiar nickname of “Hoppy” for short. +All the same, he was game to the core, and would never acknowledge himself +whipped as long as he could draw a decent breath. Toby ardently admired Jack, +and believed there never was another such born leader as the fellow who had +“placed Chester on the map” of outdoor sports.</p> + +<p>Jack Winters had not always lived in this same town of Chester. When his +folks came there from an enterprising place, he had been shocked to discover how +little genuine interest the boys seemed to take in football, baseball, and all +such healthy recreations.</p> + +<p>Jack had been accustomed to enjoying everything that had a tendency to arouse +a lad’s ambition to excel in all healthy exercises calculated to be of +benefit to both mind and body. He soon proved to be the much-needed “cake +of yeast in a pan of dough,” as Toby always declared, for he succeeded in +arousing the dormant spirit of sport <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_3'></a>3</span> in the Chester boys, until finally the mill town +discovered that it did not pay any community to indulge in a Rip Van Winkle +sleep.</p> + +<p>And now that the seed had taken root, and Chester was fully awake, some of +her most enterprising citizens were promising to take up the subject of a +gymnasium and boys’ club-house, where the young lads of the town could, +under the management of a physical director, have a proper place to spend their +spare hours with profit to themselves.</p> + +<p>Vacation had not as yet made any serious inroads on their summer season, and +for some little time now Jack and his two best chums had been trying to figure +out some scheme that would occupy a couple of weeks, and give them the outing +they were hungering for.</p> + +<p>All sorts of ideas had cropped up, but thus far nothing seemed to have caught +their fancy to such an extent that their enthusiasm ran wild. It was just at +this interesting stage of the game that Jack had called to the others over the +’phone, to ask them to drop in at his place that evening after supper, and +hinting after a boyish fashion that he might have something “real +interesting” to discuss with them.</p> + +<p>Familiarity with Jack’s den caused both the visitors to lose no time in +seating themselves in favorite seats. Steve threw himself haphazard upon an old +but comfortable lounge, tossing his cap at the same time toward a rack on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> wall, and chuckling +triumphantly when by sheer luck it stuck on a peg.</p> + +<p>Toby curled up in the depths of a huge Morris chair that had been discarded +as unworthy of a place in the living-room downstairs, and to which in due season +Jack had naturally fallen heir.</p> + +<p>“Now, we’ve strolled over this evening in response to your call, +Jack,” observed Steve, with one of his wide grins, “and full to the +brim with expectancy, as well as supper. Suppose you unload and tell us what +you’ve struck this time?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, spin the yarn, please, Jack, because I’m fairly quivering +with suspense, you must know,” urged Toby, with a vein of entreaty in his +voice.</p> + +<p>Jack laughed. He knew that while the others were trying to appear cool, +inwardly both of them were boiling with curiosity and eagerness.</p> + +<p>“Well, the conundrum is solved, I reckon,” he went on to say; +“that is, if both of you agree with me that this chance is something like +a gift dropped from the blue sky. We made up our minds a long time ago that it +must be some sort of outing for us this summer, and the only thing that looked +dubious was the state of our funds, and they have been drained pretty low, what +with buying so many things needed for our sports. Well, that part of it has been +settled. A magician bobbed up just when we needed one the worst kind.”</p> + +<p>Steve no longer reclined at full length on the lounge; he sat up straight and +turned a pair of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> +dancing eyes on the speaker. As for Toby, he actually leaped out of the depths +of his chair, and threatened to execute a Fiji Island war-dance on the spot.</p> + +<p>“Go on, tell us some more, please,” urged Steve. “Who is +this kind gentleman who has taken such an interest in our crowd that he’d +actually offer to stand for the expense of our outing?”</p> + +<p>“Well, in the first place,” Jack explained, “strange as you +may think it, it happens that it isn’t a gentleman at all, but a lady who +offers to pay for everything we’ll need, to have the greatest camping trip +of our lives.”</p> + +<p>“Re-markable!” gurgled Toby Hopkins. “Well, all I can say +is that I’m more than surprised. But it’s mighty evident to me that +she does this because of the admiration she feels for our chum, Jack Winters; +and I guess, Steve, once more we’re lucky to have such a general favorite +for a comrade.”</p> + +<p>“Listen, fellows,” remonstrated Jack, hastily, “there are +several reasons why the lady is doing this for us. One of them is admiration for +the way we acquitted ourselves in the baseball games lately played. She has a +healthy regard for the proper bringing up of boys, though she has never been +married herself, and therefore knows them only from hearsay. She is interested +in the projected gymnasium, and means to invest some of her means in the +enterprise, believing that it will pay enormous dividends to the young people of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> this community. But +you mustn’t ask me for her name, because I am not at liberty to mention it +even to you fellows just yet. Later on the promise of secrecy may be withdrawn, +after we’ve come back from our trip.”</p> + +<p>“Then there is another reason for her generosity besides the desire to +reward a select few of the Chester nine on account of their good work on the +diamond, eh, Jack?” asked Steve, persistently.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I own up to that,” he was told, “but that’s +also a secret for the present. She has made one provision which is that we are +to take a quantity of pictures of the region while there, and that will +certainly be an easy way of returning her kindness, especially since she stands +sponsor for everything, and we are not limited to the amount of our +expenses.”</p> + +<p>“Whew! that sounds like a fairy story, Jack,” breathed Toby, +entranced.</p> + +<p>“I take it,” continued the wise Steve, “that if she wants +certain pictures of the region for some reason or other, the camping country has +already been settled on?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it has, and I hope you’ll both be pleased when I tell you +we are going up into the Pontico Hills region, with a horse and covered wagon, +hired from Tim Butler’s livery stable, to carry all our stuff +along.”</p> + +<p>“The very place I’ve always wanted to spend a spell in!” +ejaculated Steve, exultantly. “It’s <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_7'></a>7</span> surely a wild region, and a better camping place +couldn’t be picked out, no matter how long you tried.”</p> + +<p>Toby, too, seemed delighted.</p> + +<p>“I suppose now, Jack,” he presently remarked, shrewdly, +“this unknown lady friend of yours doesn’t want it known that any +one is backing us in our trip?”</p> + +<p>“That is understood,” he was informed speedily enough. “Of +course our folks must know where the money comes from, but the story ends there. +It is a dead secret, though later on when I’m at liberty to open my heart +and tell you just what it all means, you’ll both agree with me that if the +kind lady is to get what she is aiming for, no one outside ought to know a thing +about her being interested in our trip.”</p> + +<p>Of course this sort of talk aroused the curiosity of the two boys to fever +pitch, but they did not attempt to “pump” Jack, knowing how useless +it would be; and at the same time realizing how unfair such a proceeding would +be toward their benefactress.</p> + +<p>So they spent an hour and more in discussing the various means for making +their vacation in the woods a memorable one, long to be talked of as the +greatest event of the year. Long lists of needed supplies were made up, and +corrected, so that by the time Steve and Toby thought it time to start homeward, +they had managed to fairly map out their programme.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span>“Fortunately +we can hire that splendid big khaki-colored waterproof tent belonging to +Whitlatch the photographer,” Jack said as the others were leaving, +“and all other necessities we’ll pick up at our various homes. +Goodnight, fellows, and mum is the word, remember.”</p> + +<div class='footnote'><a id='Footnote_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_1'><span class='label'>[1]</span></a> +<p>“Jack Winters’ Baseball Team.”</p> </div><!-- footnote --> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER II<br /><span class='h2fs'>JACK AND HIS MATES IN CAMP</span></h2> + +<p>It was rather late in the afternoon, some days later, when a light covered +wagon drawn by a stout though rather lazy horse, could have been seen moving +along the valley road among the famous Pontico Hills. Three boys dressed for +rough service in the woods sat upon the seat, with Jack doing the driving just +then, though both Toby and Steve had taken turns at this work during the long +day they had been on the road.</p> + +<p>They were many miles away from Chester now, and pretty close to the end of +the journey, as Jack informed them.</p> + +<p>“We’ll strike the old logging road just above here, you +see,” he explained, “and by following it a mile or so we are due to +come on the place where I’ve been told we’ll find a dandy camp-site, +with running water near by.”</p> + +<p>“Lucky for us you managed to get hold of that old map, and copy it, I +tell you, Jack,” ventured Steve. “This is certainly a pretty wild +country up here, and with mighty few settlers around. I doubt if you could run +across a single farm in four square miles of territory.”</p> + +<p>“It’s really worse than that, Steve,” admitted <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> the other. “I think +you’d have to go three or four miles in any direction before you struck a +living soul; and then the chances are it’d only be some wandering +timber-cruiser, taking a look at the fine lumber prospects, with a hazy idea +that he might be able to strike a bargain with the party who owns all this land +up here.”</p> + +<p>“If they at one time started in to cut this timber,” said Toby, +glancing around at the myriad of lofty trees that stretched their tops toward +the sky, “they didn’t get very far before being called off, did +they, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“I believe the land fell into other hands, and the new owner had no +desire to clean it of the timber. So operations stopped. But many an envious eye +has been turned in the direction of the Pontico Hills of recent years. They say +it carries the finest batch of uncleared land left in the county, if not the +whole State.”</p> + +<p>“How about that grown-up road ahead of us, Jack,” called out +Toby, who had very keen eyesight; “do you reckon now that might be the +logging trail we’re looking for?”</p> + +<p>“Just what it is, my friend,” chuckled Jack; and upon reaching +the spot he forced the horse to make a turn to the right, though the animal +seemed a bit loath to obey the pull at the lines, apparently anticipating harder +work ahead.</p> + +<p>They found it no easy task to push along the road over which the logging +teams had once made their way, so overgrown with vines and small saplings <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> had it become. Steadily +they advanced, all of them eagerly observing the many interesting things that +caught their attention.</p> + +<p>“There’s something moving back of that hanging vine, +fellows,” suddenly whispered Toby, hoarsely; “and I can’t tell +whether it’s a man or a sheep!”</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s a doe and a spotted fawn, as sure as you live!” +ejaculated Steve just then, as two objects flashed off with graceful bounds that +carried them lightly over fallen trees and all other obstacles. “First +time I ever saw wild deer in their native haunts. We’ve got a gun along, +but of course nobody’d think of shooting deer out of season; and the law +especially protects those with young.”</p> + +<p>“We’ve fetched that gun with us only as a sort of +protection,” said Jack, positively. “None of us would dream of +hunting in July. Fact is, I didn’t mean to carry it at all, but the lady +suggested that it might be just as well, since you never can tell what might +happen.”</p> + +<p>Toby and Steve exchanged quick and suggestive glances at hearing Jack say +this. Somehow it struck them as meaning there might be a trace of danger in the +secret mission which Jack had undertaken for their mysterious benefactress. And +doubtless from time to time they would have further reasons for believing that +there was something deeper in their errand than merely taking photographs of the +wild country for the edification <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_12'></a>12</span> of the lady, who, for all they knew, might be the +owner of these miles and miles of wooded land.</p> + +<p>“The sun is getting pretty low down in the western sky, fellows,” +observed Toby, after a while.</p> + +<p>“And I should say we’d come all of a mile since leaving that +valley road,” Steve added.</p> + +<p>“I’m expecting to strike the place any old time now,” Jack +went on to tell them in a soothing tone. “Here and there you can see where +trees have been cut, though they grow so dense around here the slashes hardly +show. Keep a bright lookout for the bunch of oaks that makes a triangle, because +that’s where we pull up and make our camp.”</p> + +<p>Two minutes afterwards and Toby gave an exultant cry.</p> + +<p>“I see them, Jack, sure I do, and I tell you they’re beauties in +the bargain. A better landmark it’d be hard to find. Well, for one +I’m right glad our journey is done.”</p> + +<p>“Tell that to Moses the nag, here,” laughed Jack, “because +he’d be mighty happy to know his work is through for a long spell. +We’ve fetched plenty of oats along, and mean to rope him out days, so he +can eat his fill of grass. Yes, that answers the description given on my map, +and we’ve finally arrived.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and if you listen,” went on Steve, eagerly, “you can +hear a soft musical sound like water gurgling over a mossy bed. That must be the +little stream you told us was close by, and which <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> would supply all our wants. Why, +I’m as thirsty as a fish out of water right now, boys; me for a +drink!”</p> + +<p>With that he hurled himself over the side of the wagon and went on a run in +the direction of the soft sweet murmur which he had rightly guessed could only +proceed from running water.</p> + +<p>When a little later Steve, his raging thirst satisfied, joined his chums +again, he found Toby unharnessing Moses, while Jack was investigating the +immediate vicinity with an eye to locating the camp-site.</p> + +<p>The wearied horse was led to water and then staked out with the long and +stout rope fetched along for this especial purpose. They anticipated having +little trouble with Moses while in camp, since all the beast would have to do +lay in the way of feeding, and being led to water twice a day.</p> + +<p>Next the wagon was unloaded, and from the pile of stuff that soon littered +the ground, it was evident that the three lads had taken a fair advantage of +their expenses being guaranteed, for they certainly had not stinted themselves +along the “grub” line at least.</p> + +<p>“We’ve just got to rush things, and do our talking +afterwards,” suggested Jack.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Toby, “because already the sun +is setting, and before long it’ll be getting plumb dark. Luckily enough we +thought to fetch that lantern along with us, though, and a supply of oil in the +bargain.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span>“I +wonder,” said Jack, with an amused chuckle, “if there was a single +thing we did forget to pack in the wagon. Talk about going into the woods light, +when you’ve got a convenient wagon to carry things along, you’re apt +to fetch three times as much as you really need.”</p> + +<p>“I’m one of those fellows who like comfort every time,” +admitted Steve; “and I suppose I’m responsible for a heap of these +things right now; but never mind, Jack, some of them may yet come in handy; you +never know.”</p> + +<p>They seemed to be fairly well versed in the art of raising a tent; at least +Jack knew how to go about it.</p> + +<p>“Time presses too much to be overly particular how we get it up +tonight,” he told the others when they suggested that it did not seem to +be quite as firmly staked as seemed proper. “Tomorrow we’ll rectify +all errors. Now, if Toby will begin to get the bedding inside, and sort over the +cooking things, I’ll make a fireplace. Steve, would you mind taking the ax +and cutting some wood?”</p> + +<p>“Happy to do so,” chirped the big fellow, who had always boasted +of being handy with an ax, as his muscular condition gave him an advantage over +both the others. “The only trouble is I’m as hungry as a wolf right +now, and so much extra exercise will make me wild for my supper.”</p> + +<p>The sound of the ax soon announced that Steve was doing his duty, and that a +supply of wood for the cooking fire was certain to be forthcoming.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span>Meanwhile, Jack +had started to build a fireplace with a number of stones which lay conveniently +near by. From the blackened state of some of these the boy suspected they had +served for just such a purpose on some former occasion.</p> + +<p>When he had fixed this to suit his ideas of the proper thing he had arranged +the stones so that one end of the fireplace was a little broader than the +other.</p> + +<p>Across this space he now laid a metal framework that looked like a grill, and +which was two feet square. This was bound to prove a most valuable camping +asset, since coffee pot and frying pan could be placed on it without much danger +of those accidents that occur so often when they are balanced upon the rough +edges of the stones themselves.</p> + +<p>All was now ready for the fire itself, which Jack quickly started. Toby gave +an exclamation of satisfaction the instant he saw the flames leap up.</p> + +<p>“Too bad we were in such a hurry,” he went on to say, +regretfully. “Some sort of ceremony ought to attend the starting of the +first fire in camp. It’s going to be our best friend you know, when even +we get ravenously hungry; and seems to me we might at least have joined hands, +and danced around the blaze while we crooned some sort of song dedicated to the +god of fire.”</p> + +<p>“None of those silly frills go in this camp, Toby, you want to +know,” said Steve, sternly, coming in just then with an armful of +firewood. “This is a business camp, and not a make-believe one. +We’re <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> up here +to enjoy ourselves, and take pictures, but no barbaric rites can be allowed. +Leave all that for the savages of the South Sea Islands, or those fire +worshippers we read about. I love a fire as well as the next fellow, but you +don’t catch me capering around a blaze, and singing to it like a foolish +goose.”</p> + +<p>Toby was too busily engaged then to attempt to argue the matter. He had +arranged most of the provisions so that a choice could be made, and now he ran +off a long string of edibles, most of which, however, would require too much +time in the cooking to be chosen.</p> + +<p>As is usually the case under similar conditions, they finally decided to cut +off a couple of slices from the big ham, and with some of the already boiled +potatoes fried crisp and brown, make that the main dish for their first +supper.</p> + +<p>Soon delicious odors began to arise and be wafted away on the evening air. If +any of those curious little woods rodents that might be peeping from their +covert at the invaders of their solitude had a nose capable of appreciating such +perfumes, they must have been greatly edified by these queer goings-on.</p> + +<p>But hungry boys have no thought save to satisfy their clamorous appetites, +and so little unnecessary talking was done up to the time when the trio curled +themselves up with their feet under them, tailor fashion, and proceeded to clean +off their heaping pie pans of the savory mess that had been prepared.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER III<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE FIRST NIGHT UNDER CANVAS</span></h2> + +<p>“This is something that just can’t be beat!” Toby remarked, +after he had made serious inroads upon his first helping, and taken off the keen +edge of his clamorous appetite. “I enjoy my food at home all right, but +let me tell you nothing can ever quite come up to a supper cooked under the +trees, and far removed from all the things you’re accustomed to meeting +every day.”</p> + +<p>“And this coffee is sure nectar for the gods,” said Steve, +helping himself to a second cup as he spoke. “Now, at home I never can +bear this tinned cream, yet, strange to say, up here in the woods it seems to go +first rate. Pass me the sugar, please, Jack. And Toby, after I’ve slacked +my hunger a bit so I can act half way decent I’m meaning to toast some of +the slices of bread at that splendid red-ash fire.”</p> + +<p>So they continued to sit there and fairly gorge themselves until Steve could +hardly sigh, he was so full; but then all boys are built pretty much alike in +that respect, so we can easily forgive Steve in particular. Cutting wood does +put an edge on a naturally keen appetite that knows no <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> limit save capacity; and Steve had many +good qualities to more than balance his greediness.</p> + +<p>Later on when they lay around enjoying the sight of the crackling fire, and +casting pleased glances toward the capacious khaki-colored waterproof tent that +stood close by, they talked of many things that had some connection with their +intended stay in the Pontico Hills country.</p> + +<p>“This sweet little stream with the ice-cold water is the Spruce Creek +you’ve got marked on your map, of course, Jack?” suggested Toby. +“Now how far away would you say Paradise River lies from our +camp?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! not more than ten minutes’ walk from here, I imagine, and in +that direction,” and Jack pointed as he spoke, showing that he already had +his bearings pretty well fixed in his mind.</p> + +<p>“Why do you suppose those loggers ever made camp here when they +expected to get their timber out through the river, and the lake below, perhaps +shipping by way of Chester?”</p> + +<p>Toby asked this question as though he sought information, and if so, he +appealed to the right person, for Jack was quick to reply.</p> + +<p>“Why, I understand that the ground lies pretty low down by the river, +Toby; and a camp there might be in danger of being flooded out with the spring +rise. You know Paradise River does get on a tear some years, and pours into our +lake like mad. These lumbermen had long heads, and didn’t mean to take +chances of being drowned out <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_19'></a>19</span> of their camp. This higher ground served them better, +just as it will us now. That’s the only answer I can think of.”</p> + +<p>“And it comes mighty near being the true one, I’m telling you, +Toby,” affirmed Steve, positively. “I’m right glad we’ve +been wise enough to look out for that sort of thing. Huh! had one nasty +experience of being flooded in a camp, where we had to wade up to our necks in +the stream that grew in a night, for the little island was all under water. No +more of that sort of thing for this chicken, thank you.”</p> + +<p>They talked until all of them began to grow sleepy. Then the horse was looked +after for the last time, and found to be lying down, well satisfied with the +feed of oats and sweet grass that had made up his supper.</p> + +<p>Inside the tent there was plenty of room, for the three intending sleepers. +Apparently Mr. Whitlatch, the photographer, carried quite a lot of paraphernalia +with him when going off on his periodical excursions, taking pictures of Nature +as found in the vicinity of Chester; and meant to have an abundance of room in +which to keep his camera and other traps safe from the heavy rainfalls that +frequently deluged that section of country.</p> + +<p>Making themselves comfortable, the three boys tried to compose themselves for +the sleep they needed so much, for very likely none of them had rested soundly +on the last night under the family <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_20'></a>20</span> rooftree, on account of nervous anticipations of the +fun in store for them.</p> + +<p>It turned out a difficult thing to do. Going to sleep away from the +surroundings with which they were familiar excited them so much that even though +they closed their eyes to shut out the fitful flashes of the fire burning just +outside they could not control their thoughts.</p> + +<p>Then again at times sounds that were not at all familiar came to their ears. +As a rule they understood that these were made by the small fur-bearing animals +inhabiting the wooded region, and which must have been thrown into an unusual +state of excitement by their arrival on the scene.</p> + +<p>The hours passed.</p> + +<p>In due time all of the campers managed to get asleep, though, if they +awakened during the night, it must have given them a queer feeling to realize +that they were no longer surrounded by the familiar walls of their rooms at +home, but had only a thin canvas covering between themselves and the +star-studded heavens above.</p> + +<p>Morning came.</p> + +<p>The whinny of old Moses acted as reveille to arouse the trio inside the tent; +possibly the animal was accustomed to having his breakfast at peep of day, and +wanted to know why it was not forthcoming now.</p> + +<p>First Toby, then Jack, and finally Steve came crawling forth, clad in their +warm pajamas. They stretched, and went through certain gymnastic <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> feats calculated to limber +up their cramped muscles. Then, as the fresh morning air began to make Toby in +particular shiver, he plunged inside again to commence dressing.</p> + +<p>“It really isn’t because I’m so ferocious for my breakfast, +boys,” he hastened to explain, when the others followed him under the +shelter; “but that air is pretty nippy, seems to me, and I don’t +like too much of it when minus my clothes. Steve, how about you trying your hand +at those bully flapjacks you’ve been boasting of being able to make ever +since this camping trip was first planned?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’m game, if you both say the word,” affirmed the +other. “That’s why I just insisted on fetching that self-raising +pancake flour along. What would a camp be like without an occasional mess of +flapjacks?”</p> + +<p>Later on, while Steve was making ready to carry out his job, Toby sought +Jack, who was doing something inside the tent.</p> + +<p>“Say, do you know, Jack,” he went on to remark, “I woke up +some time in the night and couldn’t just make up my mind what it was +roused me. Seemed like a clap of distant thunder; but when I peeped out under +the canvas the stars were shining to beat the band. Did you happen to hear it +too, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Just what I did, Toby,” returned the other, with a smile, +“and as you say, it did sound like far-away thunder. I saw you peeking +out, but <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +didn’t say anything, for old Steve was sleeping fine, and I didn’t +want to wake him up. After you went off again I crept outside for an +observation. It was around midnight then.”</p> + +<p>“Course you could tell by the stars,” suggested Toby, eagerly. +“I saw you taking their positions about the time we crept in for a snooze. +I must learn how to tell the hour of the night by the heavens before we finish +this camping trip. It must be a great stunt, I should think, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“As easy as falling off a log, once you begin to notice the heavenly +bodies, and their relations to each other,” Jack told him. +“I’ll take pleasure in putting you on the right track any time you +see fit.”</p> + +<p>“But about that sound, could it have been a blast of any sort, +Jack?”</p> + +<p>“That’s hard to say,” the other replied, looking +thoughtful, Toby saw. “It may be they are doing some quarrying miles away +from here; or else some railroad is being cut through the hills.”</p> + +<p>“But even if that’s so, Jack, why should any one want to set off +a blast in the middle of the night, tell me?”</p> + +<p>“I give it up, Toby. Possibly before we leave this region we may have +found out an answer to your question. Forget that you heard anything queer, +that’s all. We expect to scour this whole region up here, and if anything +like that is going on, as likely as not we’ll learn all about +it.”</p> + +<p>Toby looked strangely at his companion as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_23'></a>23</span> though a suspicion may have arisen in his mind to the +effect that perhaps this queer sound had something to do with the mission that +Jack had undertaken in coming to the Pontico Hill country; but Toby had the good +sense not to press the matter any further, though his boyish curiosity had +undoubtedly been exercised.</p> + +<p>When breakfast was ready, they made themselves as comfortable as the +conditions allowed. Already there was a vast improvement over the arrangements +of the preceding night. Two short logs had been rolled up so as to serve as +seats while they discussed their meals. This was much nicer than squatting on +the ground in attitudes that severely tried the muscles of their bodies. Toby +promised to make a rude but serviceable camp table upon which their meals might +be served. And a host of other things were considered by means of which their +stay in the woods might be made much more comfortable.</p> + +<p>They talked of numerous things besides those that concerned the present +outing. Football came in for a fair share of their attention, because the fever +to excel in sports had already seized hold of these Chester boys, and in the +fall they hoped to put a sturdy eleven in the field that would be a credit to +the town.</p> + +<p>Besides this other sports were mentioned, especially those having an intimate +connection with the season of snow and ice. Lake Constance offered a fruitful +field for iceboating; and there <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_24'></a>24</span> could hardly be a finer stream than the crooked +Paradise River when it came to skating distances during a Saturday, or in the +Christmas holidays.</p> + +<p>So the time passed. They had actually cleaned out the coffeepot and both +fryingpans of their contents, but at least no one could ever complain of getting +up hungry in that camp–not while Steve had anything to do with the +cooking. His flapjacks had turned out to be a big success, and Toby in +particular was loud in praise of them; though by the way he winked at Jack when +declaring them the best he had ever devoured, barring none, it was plainly +evident that he was saying this partly in the hopes that the gratified Steve +would repeat the dose frequently.</p> + +<p>“This will never do,” said Jack, finally; “we have too much +on hand this morning to be loafing here. First we’ll get the dishes out of +the way, and then arrange programme for the work. By noon I expect to have +things more ship-shape.”</p> + +<p>The others were eager to assist, and presently every one had his hands full. +The big tent was raised in better shape than could be done in their hurry of the +preceding evening. Then all their stock was gone over, some of it placed +securely away in the covered wagon until needed, and the rest kept handy for +immediate use.</p> + +<p>A dozen different artifices were carried through, each intended to make +things more comfortable and handy. Plainly Jack knew ten times as much about the +business of camping-out as either of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_25'></a>25</span> his chums; and they were only too pleased to take +lessons from him, being eager to “learn all the frills,” as Toby +said.</p> + +<p>And just as Jack had predicted when noon came they had most of these +innovations carried through, so that the afternoon could be used for other +enterprises as the humor suggested.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER IV<br /><span class='h2fs'>TAKING A LOOK AROUND</span></h2> + +<p>Toby had evidently been making up his mind about something, for they had +hardly finished a cold lunch when he turned to Jack and remarked:</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a hunch there ought to be some mighty good fishing over +there in the river, do you know, Jack? I fetched my stuff along, and would like +ever so much to make a try there this afternoon, if either of you cared to go +with me.”</p> + +<p>“Now, that’s too mean for anything,” grumbled Steve, +looking quite unhappy. “I’m just as fond of fishing as the next +fellow, and I’d like to take a whirl with the gamey bass of the upper +reaches of Paradise River; but hang the luck, I just oughtn’t to try to +walk that far.”</p> + +<p>“What ails you, Steve?” demanded Jack; “I haven’t +heard you complain any, though come to think of it, you did limp more or less +when walking around this morning doing your share of the chores. Got a cramp in +your leg?”</p> + +<p>“No, but one of these shoes has rubbed my heel till it’s +sore,” fretted Steve, taking off his shoe to sympathetically rub that +portion of his pedal extremity. “If I expect to be able to toddle around, +and have any sort of fun while we’re up <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_27'></a>27</span> here I ought to keep quiet the balance of the day; +and also put some sort of lotion on my heel that’ll start it to +healing.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t go with you, Toby,” Jack went on to say, +“because I have planned to take advantage of this clear day to snap off a +few pictures, just to get my hand in, you see. My old camera wasn’t good +enough, the lady said, and so she had me step in and buy the finest in Chester. +It looks like a dandy box, and I aim to pick up a lot of mighty smart +photographs while we’re up in this neck of the woods.”</p> + +<p>“Any objections then to my going off alone, Jack?”</p> + +<p>Toby asked this with such an appealing look on his face that Jack could not +find it in his heart to put any obstacle in the way.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why you shouldn’t take a little tramp by +yourself if you feel that you just can’t wait until tomorrow, Toby,” +he told the other. “Only be careful not to get lost. I’ll loan you +my map, which you can study while waiting for a bite; and then again, you must +carry the compass along, too. I reckon you know something about telling the +points of the compass from the green moss or mould on the northwest side of +nearly every tree-trunk. Yes, go if you feel disposed, but start back an hour or +so before dark.”</p> + +<p>“Just when the fishing is bound to be at its best, too,” +complained Toby; “but then after I know the way, and have broken a regular +trail to and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> from +the river, I can stay later. I dug a lot of worms in our garden, and picked up +some whopping big night-walkers besides, so I’m all fixed for bait, I +reckon.”</p> + +<p>Eagerly then Toby secured his jointed rod, and the little canvas bag in which +he kept all his paraphernalia, such as hooks, sinkers, extra lines and many +other things without which a fisherman’s outfit would not be complete.</p> + +<p>Taking his quota of bait in an empty can that had contained some Boston baked +beans which the three lads had eaten cold for lunch, Toby started gaily forth, +whistling as he went.</p> + +<p>“You said the river must lie directly west of here, Jack,” he +called back ere plunging into the woods; “so I’m heading that way +now. I expect to take notice of everything that looks at all queer, as I go +along, and make as broad a trail as I can, so I’ll have no trouble about +coming back the same way I go. Steve, wish me luck, because I know you just love +fried black bass.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon Steve waved both hands after him as if in blessing.</p> + +<p>“Hope you get a fairly good mess, Toby,” he shouted, “not +more than we can manage at one sitting, because I hate a fish hog who wastes +twice as much as he can make use of. But if they do bite like sixty, say, +I’ll be sorry I didn’t make up my mind to limp along with you, no +matter how much this heel hurts.”</p> + +<p>So Toby vanished. They could hear his merry <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_29'></a>29</span> whistle gradually growing more distant as he trudged +along, keeping his face set toward the west, and doubtless making sure of this +by frequent glances at the friendly compass.</p> + +<p>“Let me take a look at that heel of yours, Steve,” said Jack, +when they were thus left in charge of the camp. “Luckily I thought to +fetch some magic healing salve along, and I’m sure it’ll help you a +lot. We’ll fix that shoe, too, so it can’t do any more damage. +I’ve had a bruised heel myself, and I know how painful it always +is.”</p> + +<p>Steve was only too willing to have Jack’s assistance; and between them +the little operation was carried out. The limping camper declared his heel felt +ever so much better, and he believed he would have no further trouble from that +source, given a rest until the next morning.</p> + +<p>Then Jack got out his new camera, and fussed around for half an hour or so, +examining its working before loading it with a roll of film. He appeared greatly +pleased with its excellent workmanship, and felt that if he only did his part +the results must be exceedingly satisfactory.</p> + +<p>“I may be gone an hour, Steve,” he told the campkeeper, as he +prepared to make a start; “or, for that matter, don’t be surprised +if I’m away double that length of time. A whole lot depends on what I run +across interesting enough to make me take considerable pains to get a good +picture of it. I mean that our kind benefactress shall at least have the worth +of her money, and call it a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_30'></a>30</span> good investment, if a set of splendid pictures can +fill the bill.”</p> + +<p>“So long, Jack, and I reckon it would be silly for me to tell you not +to get lost. You’ve been too long at the business to need any compass in +order to get around in a strange region. But if you should stray away, remember +to shout and I’ll fire the gun twice in answer.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a bargain, Steve, and I won’t forget the +signal,” chuckled Jack. “If anybody should chance to drop in on you +while I’m gone, entertain them as your good sense tells you is the right +thing. But remember, we’re just up here for a vacation camping trip, and +nothing more.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I can be as close-mouthed as a clam, Jack, never fear!” sang +out Steve, as the other strode away the camera held over his shoulder by its +strap.</p> + +<p>Jack was gone almost two hours. Then he once more showed up at the camp, and +Steve pretended to be greatly overjoyed at seeing him.</p> + +<p>“I was just thinking I had better get out the gun, and fire off both +barrels so’s to let you know where the tent lay,” he chuckled, as +though such an idea amused him considerably. “But I suppose you’ve +found some things worth snapping off; how about it, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I used up a six-exposure film, and believe I’ve picked up +some things well worth the trouble. Next time I’ll go in another +direction, and farther away from camp. This is a wonderful country, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> Steve. I don’t +believe you could find grander bits of scenery than right here among the Pontico +Hills. Anything unusual happen since I went away?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’ve had a lot of visitors,” laughed the other boy, +“slick little chaps in their fur coats one and all. They are watching us +both right now, I reckon, behind the shelter of the leaves on the ground, and up +in some of these big trees. There were both red squirrels, and fat gray ones +that barked at me, and seemed to ask what business a chap walking on two feet +had in their domain. Then chipmunks galore live around here, and the little +striped fellows have already begun to get acquainted, for one ran in and picked +up a bit of bread I threw, and then whisked out of sight like fun over there +where he lives in the holes under the roots of that tree. Why, I’ve been +so employed watching them, and talking to them, that the time has just skipped +along. When I looked up at the sun just now and guessed you’d been gone +nearly two hours, I had to rub my eyes and figure it all out again. You see +I’m so used to telling time by clocks that it seems queer to use the sun +for it.”</p> + +<p>“No signs of Toby so far, I suppose, Steve?” asked Jack a little +later, as he emerged from the tent after putting his camera safely away.</p> + +<p>“Not a thing,” announced the other. “I hope you’re +not worrying about him, Jack, and sorry already you let him go off alone. Mebbe +I ought to have kept him company, sore heel or not.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span>“Don’t +fret about it, Steve. Toby has common horse-sense, and could hardly get lost if +he tried his hardest. You see, the formation of the valley is calculated to +always set a fellow straight, even if he gets a little mixed in his bearings. It +runs directly southeast to northwest around here. Besides Toby has the compass, +and the sun is shining up there full tilt. He may not be in for another hour or +so; but I wouldn’t be alarmed even if the sun set with him still away. The +light of our campfire would serve as a guide to him, once darkness +fell.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s a fact, Jack. We could build a roaring blaze that +might be seen a mile and more away. I did hear one thing that surprised +me.”</p> + +<p>“What was that?” demanded the other, looking expectant, as though +he could give a pretty good guess himself, which was as much as saying that he +had heard the same sound.</p> + +<p>“Why, there must be some sort of mining going on not many miles away +from here,” argued Steve, “because that was surely a blast I heard +half an hour ago. First I had an idea it meant a coming storm, but there +wasn’t a sign of a cloud in sight. It seemed to be a deep, heavy +reverberation, just like I’ve heard dynamite make at the red-sandstone +quarry near Chester when the workmen at noon set off their blasts. Of course you +noticed it, too, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should say so,” the other admitted, “and during +the night both Toby and myself were <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_33'></a>33</span> awakened by just the same sort of far-off dull +roaring sound.”</p> + +<p>“I must have been sound asleep then, because I never caught it,” +acknowledged the other, frankly; “but if you two boys talked it over, what +conclusion did you arrive at, may I ask?”</p> + +<p>“We were undecided,” said Jack, warily. “We sort of +inclined to the opinion that either a railroad was being cut through the hills +over to the north, or else there might be some sort of mining or quarrying being +carried on there. I told Toby that while it was an unknown quantity to us now, +the chances were in our scouting around while camping here for two weeks or +more, we stood to learn just what caused that queer booming sound.”</p> + +<p>“There’s Toby whistling, as sure as anything,” announced +Steve. “I figure from his merry tone that he’s met with a decent +bunch of luck. Yes, there he comes, swinging through the woods, and actually +following the trail he made in going out. Good boy, Toby, he’s all +right.”</p> + +<p>“And it’s fish for supper in the bargain,” asserted Jack, +“for you can see he’s carrying quite a neat string of the finny +beauties. There, he holds it up so you can get your mouth ready for a +feast.”</p> + +<p>As the fisherman came closer, Jack saw that he was looking a bit serious for +a fellow who had been so successful in his first fishing trip to the river.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span>“Something +happened, I calculate, eh, Toby?” demanded Steve, also reading the +signs.</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, I’ve got a story to tell that <i>may</i> interest you +both,” admitted Toby with an important air.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER V<br /><span class='h2fs'>TOBY’S ADVENTURE</span></h2> + +<p>“Now that’s what I get for staying home when I had a chance to go +along with you, Toby, old scout,” grumbled Steve. “Just my luck to +be left out of the running. Hang the sore heel, I say!”</p> + +<p>“Come over to the log and sit down, Toby,” tempted Jack; +“you must be a little tired after your long walk, and all the work of +catching such a bunch of fighters. It seems after all that the gamiest bass +frequent the upper reaches of Paradise River. And none of the fellows in Chester +cared to go that far when the fishing near home was always pretty +good.”</p> + +<p>So Toby was escorted to the sitting log with one chum on either side. He +would not have been a natural boy if he did not feel his importance just then, +with two fellows eager to hear his story.</p> + +<p>“Now pitch in and tell us what really did happen,” begged Steve; +“for of course by now you’ve got us all excited, and guessing a +dozen things in the bargain.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I didn’t have a bit of trouble finding the river,” +began Toby, just as though he felt he should conduct them gradually along until +the climax came, as good story-tellers do, he understood. <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> “All I had to do was to follow my +nose, and keep going ahead into the west.</p> + +<p>“I reckon the Paradise River must lie about a mile and a half over +yonder; but in places the going isn’t as easy as you’d like. +Finally, I glimpsed running water, though to tell the truth I’d heard it +some time before; because in places there are quite some rapids, and they make +music right along, as the water gurgles down the incline, and swishes around +rocks that stick out above the surface.</p> + +<p>“Let me tell you, boys, the old river may look pretty fine in spots +down our way, but shucks! it can’t hold a candle to what you’ll see +up here. Soon’s I got my eyes fastened on that picture I thought of you, +Jack, and how you’d just love to knock off such a handsome view for +keeps.</p> + +<p>“But fishing was what I’d come after, and so I put all other +notions out of my head. It didn’t take such an old fisherman as Toby +Hopkins long to settle on what looked like the most promising site for throwing +out in an eddy just below some frowning big rocks, and where the shadows looked +mighty inviting for a deep hole.</p> + +<p>“Say, the fun began right away. Hardly had my baited hook disappeared +in the dark water when I had a savage strike, and away my reel buzzed like fury. +He was a game fighter, let me tell you, and I had all I could do to land him, +what with his acrobatic jumps out of the water, and his boring deep down between +times. But everything <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_37'></a>37</span> held, and he chanced to be well hooked, so at last in +he came.</p> + +<p>“That sure looked like business, and I lost no time in baiting up +again, for I knew how finicky bass are about biting, and that you have to make +hay while the sun shines, because they quit work just as suddenly as they start +in, without you understanding the cause either.</p> + +<p>“Right away I had another, and then a third big chap followed which I +lost. But what did one fish matter when there seemed to be no end of them just +hanging around waiting a chance for grub–because that was just what I was +feeding ’em, having fetched along two dozen big white and brown fat +fellows I got out of rotten stumps around home.</p> + +<p>“Before there was a lull, I had landed five of the string. Then they +quit biting, and I had a chance to rest up a bit, and do some thinking. So mebbe +half an hour passed, when suddenly something happened. I heard a cough, and +looked around right away, thinking that either Steve here, or you, Jack, had +taken a notion to follow my trail across to the river just to see what was going +on.</p> + +<p>“Say, I had a little shock just about that time. A man was standing +there not a great ways off, and watching me for keeps. He seemed to be scowling +like a black pirate, and something told me right away he didn’t much fancy +seeing me there, taking fish out of the river.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span>“I guess I +must have thought of half a dozen things all in a minute. He was one of those +slick wardens prowling around to see that the game laws were enforced; or it +might be he owned the land up here, and took me for a poacher who hadn’t +any right to be fishing on his preserves; then again, he looked so ugly and +black that I even figured whether he could be a desperate fugitive from justice +who’d been hiding in the Pontico Hills country, and hated to see anybody +coming in to bother him.</p> + +<p>“When the tall man with the black mustache and goatee started to move +toward me I collected my wits and decided I’d have to seem cordial to him. +Then, Jack, I also remembered your warning not to peep a single word about our +having come up here for any other purpose besides having a jolly summer outing +during our vacation.</p> + +<p>“So I nodded my head and said good morning to him just as cheerful and +unconcerned as I could. He grunted something, and kept coming along, watching me +like a hawk all the while, I could see. Why, I had a cold shiver chase up and +down my spine just like somebody had thrown a bucket of ice-water over me; +because all sorts of horrible things began to flash through my mind.</p> + +<p>“If he chose to tumble me into the river and drown me, who’d ever +be the wiser for it, I thought; and perhaps I unconsciously moved back a bit +from the edge, as if I wanted to put on a fresh bait.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span>“‘Who may +you be, boy, and how does it happen that you’re fishing up here where not +a single soul have I seen in the weeks I’ve spent here?’ was what he +said to me.</p> + +<p>“’Course I up and told him my name, and that I lived in Chester; also +how with two chums I was camping about a mile or more to the east.</p> + +<p>“All the while I was speaking he kept those hawk-like black eyes of his +glued on my face. I felt my skin fairly burn, and wondered whether he could read +a fellow’s thoughts, which would surely give me away. But I told him the +truth, because we have come up here for our vacation camping, and mean to have a +bully good time of it fishing, walking, and eating until our grub runs low, and +we’ll have to head back to civilization.</p> + +<p>“I guess I must have put up a pretty fair article of a yarn; leastways +he seemed just a mite more cordial when I’d got through; though I could +feel that his suspicions hadn’t all been set at rest, for he seemed mighty +uneasy.</p> + +<p>“He told me he was a surveyor employed by the owner of the property all +around there; but that owing to an accident to a companion, he had to +temporarily stop work, and was waiting for another assistant to arrive. But he +never once hinted at such a thing as our visiting him in his camp; or suggesting +that he’d like to drop in on us here during our stay.</p> + +<p>“He asked a whole lot of questions about Chester folks and what was +going on down there; so <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_40'></a>40</span> thinking to interest him I told him about the new +spirit that had been aroused in Chester boys, and how we were going to have a +new gymnasium erected this coming fall; also how we licked Harmony at baseball, +and hoped to wipe their big eleven up on the gridiron when the football season +opened.</p> + +<p>“Would you believe it, that solemn-looking man never cracked a single +smile all the time I was giving him such a glowing description of sport events +down Chester way. And I want to go on record as saying that the man who has no +love for baseball or football in his system is fit for treason, stratagems and +spoils.</p> + +<p>“Then finally he said goodbye, just as short as if he was biting it off +from a plug of tobacco, turned on his heel, and walked away as cool as you +please. Anyhow, I did make a face after him when I could see that his back was +turned. And, believe me, fellows, that man isn’t all right; he’s got +something crooked about his make-up as sure as two and two make four.”</p> + +<p>Steve heaved a great sigh.</p> + +<p>“I want to say again I’m sorry I wasn’t along when you met +him, Toby,” he observed, disconsolately. “Not that I don’t +give you credit for being as smart as they make ’em, but two heads are +better than one, even if one of them is a cabbage head.”</p> + +<p>“Which one?” demanded Toby, suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“I’m not committing myself,” grinned Steve. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> “But all the same I +agree with you in saying that man must be crooked, though just what his game +could be up here I’m not able to even guess.”</p> + +<p>He gave Jack a quick, almost imploring look as he said this, as though +begging him to lift the veil and let them see a little light; but Jack only +turned to Toby and commenced to quiz him, asking numerous pointed questions, all +concerning the appearance of the dark-visaged stranger who had bobbed up so +unexpectedly to interrupt his sport with rod and reel.</p> + +<p>It could be seen that Jack took especial pains to inquire into the personal +looks of the man. He even startled Toby once by asking suddenly:</p> + +<p>“If you scrutinized his face as closely as you say you did, Toby, +perhaps you can tell me if he had a scar under his left eye, a sort of mark like +a small crescent moon, and which like most scars turns furiously red when any +excitement comes along?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Jack, I clean forgot to mention that!” Toby instantly +exclaimed. “He certainly did have just such a disfigurement, though I took +it for a birth-mark and not a scar or healed wound. So then you’ve already +got a good suspicion about his identity, have you? Well, this keeps on growing +more and more interesting. Steve and myself will be glad when the time comes for +you to open up and tell us the whole story.”</p> + +<p>“You must hold your horses yet a while, fellows,” said Jack, +gravely. “The lady made me <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_42'></a>42</span> promise to keep the secret until I had gained the +information that was so important, and then I could tell you everything. Toby, I +want to congratulate you on playing your part well. That man had reason to +suspect you might be up in the Pontico Hills for something a heap more important +than just camping out. Perhaps he’s satisfied now you spoke the truth; and +then again he may still suspect something wrong, and want to keep an eye on us; +so we must never speak of these things except when our heads are close together. +At all other times we’ve got to act just like care-free lads off on a +camping trip would appear. There are other days to come, and bit by bit I reckon +the thing will grow, until in the end I’ve found out all I want to +know.”</p> + +<p>“One thing sure, Jack,” ventured Steve, meditatively, +“it’s no ordinary game this man with the black mustache and goatee +is playing up here in these hills.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I can stretch a point,” Jack told him, with a twinkle in +his eye, “and agree with you there, Steve. It’s a <i>big</i> game, +with a fortune at stake; and so you can both understand how desperate that man +might become if he really began to believe that our being here threatened his +castles in the air with a tumble. So be on your guard all the time, boys, and +play your part. Suspense will make the wind-up all the more enjoyable; just as +in baseball when the score is tied in the ninth and Steve here has swatted the +ball for a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +three-bagger, with two men on bases, the pent-up enthusiasm breaks loose in a +regular hurricane of shouts and cheers, and we’re all feeling as happy as +clams at high tide. Now, let’s get busy on these fish, and have a regular +fry for dinner tonight!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER VI<br /><span class='h2fs'>SIGNS OF MORE TROUBLE</span></h2> + +<p>They had a most bountiful spread that evening. Steve and Toby insisted on +taking charge, and getting up the meal. Besides the fish, which by the way were +most delightfully browned in the pan, and proved a great hit with the three +boys, there was boiled rice, baked potatoes, warmed-up corned beef (from the +tin), and finally as dessert sliced peaches, the California variety; besides the +customary coffee, without which a meal in camp would seem decidedly poor.</p> + +<p>All of them fairly “stuffed” after the manner of vigorous boys +with not a care in the wide world, and plenty more food where that came from. +After supper was over they had to lie around and take things easy for a while, +inventing all manner of excuses for so doing, when in reality not one of them +felt capable of moving.</p> + +<p>“I must say the bass up the river seem to taste a whole lot better than +down our way,” remarked Toby, reflectively. “Sometimes when +I’ve fetched a string home with me, and the cook prepared them for the +table they had what seemed like a muddy flavor. It may have been because the +river ran high just then, and this affected the fish more or less.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span>“Don’t +you believe it,” snapped Steve, philosophically. “The difference was +in the surroundings, and the kind of <i>appetite</i> you had. No matter if a +fellow does think he’s hungry at home, when he sits down to a white +tablecloth, and silver, and cut-glass, and all that sort of stuff it sort of +dulls the edge of his appetite. Then again he has to just wait his turn to be +served, and mustn’t forget his table manners if he knows what’s good +for him. But say, up in the woods he can just revert back to the habits of +primeval man from whose loins he sprang, and his appetite compares to that of +the wolf. Oh! things do taste altogether different, somehow or other; and meals +seem an <i>awful</i> long time apart.”</p> + +<p>“What’s on your mind, Toby?” asked Jack, a short time +afterwards, when he noticed the other looking pensive, as though his thoughts +might be busy.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I was only wondering whether we’d hear that queer old +booming sound again tonight, that’s all, Jack; and mebbe, too, I was +trying to figure out just how <i>he</i> manages to make it.”</p> + +<p>Jack smiled.</p> + +<p>“Everything comes to him who waits, Toby,” he said, simply; +“and so don’t worry yourself about things yet awhile. Let me +shoulder the burden; if it gets too heavy a load for one fellow to carry be sure +I’ll call on you two for help.”</p> + +<p>Then he deftly guided the conversation into other channels. There was plenty +to talk about, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> for +these were observing lads, who kept their eyes open no matter where they might +be; and every little while Toby would remember something he had noticed as he +made his way to or from the river, that he must describe in order to arouse +Jack’s interest, and cause him to decide on a trip across country +soon.</p> + +<p>They sat up fairly late, for there was a peculiar fascination about the +crackling campfire that held them spellbound. They clasped their hands about +their knees, and stared into the glowing heart of the fire, as though capable of +seeing all manner of fantastic figures dancing there like madcap sprites. It was +the old, old story that never dies out, the spirit of devotion that mankind pays +to the element which he had compelled to serve him so well in a thousand +different ways, but principally to cook his food, and warm his chilled body.</p> + +<p>Finally Toby admitted that his eyes were closing in spite of himself, and +Steve on hearing that frank confession commenced to yawn at a terrific rate; so +Jack said for one he meant to creep between his blankets and get some sleep.</p> + +<p>All seemed well as they retired within the tent where, by the light of the +lantern, they could finish their disrobing, and don their warm flannel winter +pajamas, which, at Jack’s suggestion, they had fetched along with them, +because he knew how chilly the nights become in camp even during the “good +old summer-time.”</p> + +<p>After all Toby had his fears for nothing, because <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> he was not aroused by any mysterious +explosion. If anything of the sort happened he certainly failed to hear it, and +slept through the night.</p> + +<p>When morning arrived they were on the job again, as Steve termed it; that is, +taking their waking-up exercises in front of the tent by doing a number of +gymnastic feats, and then after dressing proceeding with breakfast.</p> + +<p>“So far we’ve been favored with good weather,” remarked +Steve, as they sat on the logs, and enjoyed the meal thus prepared. “Not a +drop of rain, and while fairly hot nothing unseasonable, to make us sizzle along +toward three in the afternoon. But seems to me there’s a change due before +long. I don’t quite like the looks of the sun this morning; and it came up +glowing red in the bargain.”</p> + +<p>“So it did, Steve,” assented Toby, “and they say +that’s a good sign of stormy weather. Well, all we can do is take things +as they come, the bad with the good. When fellows camp out for two weeks they +ought to go prepared for wet as well as dry weather. I’ve fetched along my +rain-coat, and the rubber cap that keeps your neck dry in the toughest of a +downpour; and rubber boots, so why should I worry?”</p> + +<p>“Since you’re prepared to be a regular waterdog, Toby,” +said Steve, “we’ll look to you to do all the stray jobs when it +rains. Jack and myself not being so well prepared can stick to the tent and keep +dry.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span>“Perhaps +you’re counting your chickens before they’re hatched,” +chuckled Jack, apparently much amused by this conversation on the part of his +chums; “for there’s no certainty that it means to rain today. That +sign business used to make a great hit with people before they began to reason +things out; but it as often misses making connections as it does strike the +truth.”</p> + +<p>“Guess it must be a whole lot like the almanac people,” laughed +Toby. “You know they just guess at probabilities when setting down what +the weather is going to be six months ahead. I remember reading a story about +one of the most famous of almanac makers, I forget what his name was, but let it +go as Spilkins. He was walking out in the country one fine morning when there +wasn’t a sign of a cloud in the sky. A farmer working in a field called +out to him that he’d better keep an eye above, for like as not +there’d be rain before the day was done. Spilkins only laughed at him, and +went on; but sure enough, an hour later it clouded over like fun, and down came +the rain, so that he had to seek shelter in a friendly barn.</p> + +<p>“Now, as an almanac man, he thought it worth while to go back and +interview that hayseed, and find out just how he could tell there was rain +coming when not a sign was visible. I guess Spilkins thought he might pick up a +valuable pointer that he could make use of in prognosticating the weather +ahead.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span>“The man was +working again in his field, where the shower had made things look fresh and +green. So Mr. Spilkins called him over to the fence, and after passing a few +pleasant remarks, bluntly asked him how he could scent rain when not a small +cloud was in the sky. The farmer grinned, and this is what he told him:</p> + +<p>“‘Why, you see, Mister, we all of us take Spilkins’ Reliable +Family Almanac around this region, and we goes by it regular like. When he sez +it’s going to rain we calculate we’ll have a fine day for haying; +and when he speaks of fair weather, why we just naturally git out our +rain-coats, and lay for having a spell in the woodshed. And I happened to notice +this same mornin’ that he predicted a fine day, so I jest knowed +it’d sartin sure rain; and, sir, <i>it did</i>!’”</p> + +<p>Both the others laughed at the story, which neither of them had heard before, +old though it was.</p> + +<p>“That’s just about the haphazard way almanacs are built +up,” observed Jack. “Of course in a few instances they do hit the +truth; so could any of us if we laid out a programme for a year ahead. +It’s natural to expect hot weather along about this time of the summer; +and such a spell is always followed by a cooler period. So we’ll take our +ducking when it comes, and not bother our heads too much ahead of that +time.”</p> + +<p>While sitting there they mapped out their intended plans for the day. Jack +figured on starting <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +out a little later, and securing some more photographs. Steve, not wanting to +spend another day in camp, asked permission to accompany him.</p> + +<p>“Certainly you can come along, Steve,” he was told; “if you +think your heel is equal to the long jaunt, because I may cover quite a good +many miles before coming back to camp again. How about that? I wouldn’t +like you to start limping, and be in misery for hours.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! the old thing seems to be all right this morning, Jack,” +Steve assured him. “That salve was sure a magic one, let me tell you, and +took all the pain out of the rubbed place. I’ve found a way to prevent it +ever hurting again; and right now I’d be equal to a twenty-mile tramp if +necessary.”</p> + +<p>“How about you, Toby, will you mind acting as camp guardian for today? +Tomorrow one of us might want to go over to the river with you, and have a try +at the bass; but on the whole, I think it would be wise to keep watch over our +things.”</p> + +<p>Jack said this seriously, so they knew he was not joking.</p> + +<p>“Why, do you really think that man, or any one else, for that matter, +would actually <i>steal</i> things from us?” demanded Steve, frowning as +he spoke, and perhaps unconsciously clenching his fists pugnaciously.</p> + +<p>“I’m only guessing, remember,” Jack informed him. “It +might be a raid on our camp would be <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_51'></a>51</span> made during our absence. Don’t you see, if our +being up here annoyed certain people, the quickest way they could get rid of us +would be to steal all our eatables while we were away from camp. We +couldn’t stick it out and go hungry, could we? Well, on that account then +we’d better keep a watch.”</p> + +<p>“Jack, you’re right!” snapped Toby, while Steve looked even +more aroused than ever at the bare possibility of such a calamity overtaking +them; for Steve, as we happen to know, was a good eater, and nothing could +appall him more than the prospect of all those splendid things they had brought +along with them being mysteriously carried off by unknown vandals.</p> + +<p>“Toby, just you keep that shotgun handy, and defend our grub with the +last drop of blood in your veins,” he went on to say. “Now, +I’ll step out and see if Moses has finished the oats I gave him before we +had our breakfast. While about it I’ll lead him over for a drink at Turtle +Creek below the spot where we get our supply of clear water.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks for your trouble, Steve; you’ll save me doing it +later,” spoke up Toby, graciously. “When you fellows are off +I’ll wrestle with the dishes and cooking outfit. After that I’ve got +several things I want to fix about my fishing tackle–some snells to tie +fresh after heating them in boiling water; and hooks that need filing about the +points, as they seem a bit dull. Then there’s <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> a guide on my pole–I mean my rod, +that needs winding with red silk thread. Oh! I’ll find plenty to keep me +busy I reckon.”</p> + +<p>Ten minutes afterward Steve came hurrying back with a look of concern on his +face that caused both Jack and Toby to jump to the conclusion that he had made +some sort of important discovery.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t Moses that’s broken away and given us the slip, I +hope?” gasped Toby, and then adding: “no, because I see him over +there where we tied him out so he could eat his fill of green grass. +What’s happened, Steve; you look like you’ve met up with a +ghost?”</p> + +<p>“We had a visitor last night, just as sure as anything, boys,” +said Steve, solemnly; “and we can thank our lucky stars he didn’t +run off with our stuff in the bargain!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER VII<br /><span class='h2fs'>PROSPECTING FOR PICTURES</span></h2> + +<p>“How do you know that, Steve?” asked the startled Toby.</p> + +<p>“Guess I can read tracks when I see them!” snapped the other.</p> + +<p>“Then you’ve come across some sort of trail, I reckon?” +ventured Jack.</p> + +<p>“Just what I have,” came the quick reply, “and here’s +the way I happened to hit on it. Tell me, do either of you chance to own this +pocket handkerchief?” and as he spoke Steve flipped the article in +question from its hiding place, and held it up before his comrades.</p> + +<p>Both gave a hasty look, and shook their heads in the negative.</p> + +<p>“Never saw it before,” Toby went on record as saying; “and +it’s an unusually fine piece of material, I should say, just such as a +gentleman who cared a heap for his personal appearance and clothes would be +likely to carry.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you picked that up first of all, and it excited your suspicions; +is that it, Steve?” queried Jack.</p> + +<p>“It started me to looking around the spot,” explained the other, +“and right away I saw the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_54'></a>54</span> tracks of shoes–long shoes in the bargain, +making prints entirely different from anything we’d be likely to do. So +says I to myself, ‘hello, Mister Man! I see you’ve been snooping around +here while we slept like the babes in the woods!’ And so I came in to let +you fellows know about it. Want to see for yourselves, don’t you? Then +just follow me.”</p> + +<p>They were soon examining the imprints. Just as Steve had said, there could be +no question as to the tracks having been made by some one other than themselves. +More than this, Jack could easily tell that they were comparatively fresh.</p> + +<p>“Let’s follow them a little bit, and see what he was up +to,” he suggested, which they accordingly set out to do, and found that +while the stranger did not actually enter the camp he did scout around it as +though desirous of seeing all he could.</p> + +<p>“Wanted to know if Toby here spoke the truth when he said we were only +a bunch of fun-loving boys off on a vacation camping trip, didn’t he, +Jack?” Steve asked, as if to confirm his own suspicions.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he actually went completely around our camp, and in several +places seems to have approached pretty close,” Jack went on to say, after +they had given up following the trail of the unknown man. “I think he must +have even heard some of us breathing inside the tent, and perhaps he could count +our number that way. But after all no great harm has been done; only it goes to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> show we must keep +our eyes open all the time we’re up here.”</p> + +<p>Toby heaved a great sigh.</p> + +<p>“Whew! but it’s getting some exciting, let me tell you, fellows. +All the while you’re gone today I’ll be nervous and think I heard +footsteps every time a gray squirrel whisks around a tree, or barks at me so +sassy like.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think this could be the same man who talked with Toby +yesterday, Jack?” Steve inquired.</p> + +<p>“We can guess that it must have been,” came the answer. “He +wasn’t wholly satisfied with things, and dropped over in the night to +learn if this camp was actually run by boys. You see how wise the lady was, +after all, for if this party had run upon three <i>men</i> in camp up here, the +chances are he’d be more apt to suspect their motives.”</p> + +<p>Steve shook his head as though ready to give it up. He never in all his life +had been so thoroughly mystified as just then. Toby, too, had an anxious +expression on his face, as though he would give considerable if only Jack felt +disposed to explain the whole matter. But Jack held his peace; apparently +nothing could induce him to betray the confidence of the lady who had trusted +him. When the right time arrived, he would divulge the secret; but until then +both his chums must content themselves with taking it out in speculations.</p> + +<p>Finally, Jack began to collect his photographic <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> paraphernalia as though about to get +ready to start forth on his tramp. Steve had meanwhile looked after a +“light lunch,” which he facetiously called a “snack”; +though it filled two of his coat pockets, and Jack had some difficulty in +stowing away his portion.</p> + +<p>Toby eyed these amazing preparations with something akin to awe.</p> + +<p>“Say, do you really expect to come back tonight, or are you figuring on +staying out a whole week?” he asked plaintively; at which Jack, taking +compassion on him, hastened to assure Toby there was no cause for worry.</p> + +<p>“You know Steve’s weakness,” he went on to say aside, +“and of course he is always in deadly fear of starving to death. +That’s why he loads himself down so with grub on the least provocation. +But never expect to see a crumb come back, for that would be against +Steve’s principles, you know. He thinks it a shame to waste food; and so +he’d stuff himself until he could hardly breathe rather than throw +anything away. We may be a little late in the afternoon, but we’ll bob up +serenely long before dark comes.”</p> + +<p>So they set out, Toby waving them goodbye with his dish towel, for he had +started in to do the breakfast things.</p> + +<p>For a whole they walked along, observing everything that seemed worth their +attention. Then Steve took note of a certain fact which he deemed significant. +This was that Jack was heading in <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_57'></a>57</span> an almost straight line, as though he had arranged a +plan of campaign for that day; and also that if they kept along that course, +sooner or later they were bound to fetch up in the neighborhood of the place +where that strange booming sound had originated.</p> + +<p>This fact agitated Steve, and made him think many things. He even found +himself speculating upon the chances of their running across the stranger who +was taking such a deep interest in their presence in the Pontico Hills +country.</p> + +<p>Jack did not make any pretense at hurrying. He was taking his time, it +seemed, and enjoying the scenery around him. A thousand things called for +exclamation of delight, for the woods looked especially grand with the sun +glinting on the green foliage of the various trees, some of which were veritable +forest monarchs.</p> + +<p>Once before noon arrived, Jack stopped short. The largest tree thus far +encountered confronted them. Just what size butt it had I should be afraid to +say, for fear I might not be believed, but it was perfectly enormous.</p> + +<p>“I must try to get a shot at that dandy oak,” said Jack, with +bubbling enthusiasm, such as becomes an amateur photographer who loves his +calling. “Never have I set eyes on such a majestic king of the woods. +I’m sure it will make a splendid picture with you standing alongside, +Steve, just to show its enormous girth. The pity of it is that I can’t +dream of trying to get the whole tree <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_58'></a>58</span> in the picture, for no camera could do that in these +dense woods, where you can’t get far away from the object you’re +photographing.”</p> + +<p>He found that the side toward the sun was after all the best for his purpose, +and accordingly, after a little maneuvering, Jack secured a picture of the +tremendous monarch of the woods.</p> + +<p>“I guess now he was a pretty hefty old tree when Columbus discovered +America,” said Steve, afterwards, as he tried to measure the butt by +passing around it many times with his arms fully extended. “Just think of +all the stirring events in history that this giant has outlived. It makes a +fellow look up with respect, and feel as if he wanted to take off his cap to the +patriarch, doesn’t it, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“You give him the right name when you say that, for a fact, Steve; +because there’s no way of our telling just how many hundred years he has +stood right in this same spot.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m glad I’m not a tree,” grinned Steve, +“because it must be terribly monotonous staying all your life rooted to +the ground, and never seeing anything of this beautiful world. As for me, I want +to travel when I grow up, and look on every foreign land. Going on now, Jack, +are you? Soon be time to take a little noon rest, and lighten the loads +we’re carrying in our pockets.”</p> + +<p>“Given half an hour more and it’ll be noon,” Jack informed +him, after taking a look aloft to where the beaming sun was high in the heavens. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> “I never like +to eat lunch until then, so let’s wait a bit. Besides, I’m not quite +as hungry as I ought to be to do justice to all that stuff you put in my +pockets.”</p> + +<p>After that Jack did not seem anxious to snap off further pictures, though +they came across a number that would have made excellent ones. Steve wondered +whether he might not be saving his film for something more important. Even the +thought gave a delicious little thrill, his imagination was so highly excited by +now.</p> + +<p>Then came the time when Jack, taking another look aloft, announced that the +sun had reached his zenith, or nearest point overhead. That was good news for +Steve, although truth to tell he had for some time been slily nibbling at the +contents of one of the packages he carried in his pockets, unable to resist the +temptation while the opportunity was within his grasp.</p> + +<p>Fortune favored them again; but then possibly the presence of that sweet +singing little rivulet that meandered through the forest may have had something +to do with Jack’s decision to stop for lunch; he was always seeing these +small but very important things, as Steve very well knew.</p> + +<p>They found a mossy bank and sat down, Steve with a great sigh of contentment; +but whether this was caused by the fact that his lame foot was hurting him a bit +again, or just from plain delight over the arrival of “feeding +time,” it would be hard to say; nor, indeed, fair to big Steve, who <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> might have his weaknesses, +but on the whole was a real good fellow.</p> + +<p>Here the pair sat and ate and drank of the cold water until they had fully +satisfied the inner man. After all, Steve was compelled to wrap up part of his +lunch again, being utterly unable to devour it.</p> + +<p>“Huh! guess that time my eyes were bigger ’n my stomach,” he +grunted, being too full for much speaking; “but, then, never mind, we are +quite a ways from camp, and I often take a little bite around three in the +afternoon, even when I’m home. So it isn’t going to be wasted, +believe me.”</p> + +<p>“Only waisted,” laughingly said Jack, and then apologized for +getting off such an atrocious pun.</p> + +<p>They decided to lie around for an hour, and then push on a little farther +before turning back. That Jack figured would bring them to the camp by the +triangle oaks an hour or so before darkness came on, which was time enough.</p> + +<p>It was very pleasant for Steve, lying there on his back, and feeling the +gentle breeze fan his heated face; for around about noon the sun’s rays +began to grow pretty fervid, and Steve often mopped his perspiring and beaming +face, though taking it good naturedly.</p> + +<p>Both of them shut their eyes and rested, though not meaning to even take what +Steve was pleased to call a “cat nap.” It was peculiarly still just +at that hour after the middle of the day. The little woods animals must all be +sleeping in their burrows, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_61'></a>61</span> or the hollow trees where they had their nests. Even +the inquisitive squirrels were only noticeable by their absence. A scolding bevy +of crows alighted in a tree some distance off, and kept up what Steve called +facetiously a “crow caucus.”</p> + +<p>The time Jack meant to remain there resting, had almost expired when both of +the boys suddenly sat up, and held their heads in a listening attitude.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHEN THE CAT RULED THE ROOST</span></h2> + +<p>“I’ve heard foxes bark before, Jack,” said Steve, with a +trace of excitement in his manner, “but never like that. I reckon now +those bowwows were plain dog!”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing,” remarked his companion, nodding his head at the +same time, while a pleased look flashed athwart his face.</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t so far away, either, was it?” continued Steve, +meditatively. “We have the air in our favor, that’s true, but the +sound was pretty strong. Huh! seems as if we may not be the only campers in this +stretch of the Pontico Hills. Other folks have taken a notion to come up here. I +wonder if they can be Chester fellows, or from some other place.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t matter much to us who they are, since we don’t +intend to mix with them,” said Jack, drily.</p> + +<p>“That was a pretty husky bark, Jack, and I should say on a venture the +beast might be a fair-sized dog. I think I’ll look around for a nice club +as we saunter along. Never did fancy being jumped on by a mastiff, or a vicious +collie. Been bitten twice already, and the third time might be fatal to poor +little Stephen.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span>“That +isn’t a bad idea,” his mate told him; “and I’ll copy +your example. Then if we are unlucky enough to run smack into the beast, we can +keep him at bay anyhow until his owners come up and rescue us. But I’d a +heap rather not have it happen. As you say, the air is coming toward us, which +is a good thing; for in that case even a dog with a good nose wouldn’t be +apt to get our scent in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>Jack now evinced a disposition to move on. It was as if that series of gruff +barks from the unseen dog had acted as a sort of challenge; and having a duty to +perform he meant to carry it out grimly.</p> + +<p>They accordingly walked on, not making any kind of haste. Indeed, Jack showed +a disposition to act cautiously. He was continually keeping a careful vigil, +and, as a rule, his eyes were directed ahead. There seemed to be no longer a +disposition to look for beautiful vistas that might draw forth exclamations of +delight; and as for snapping off a picture, why, Jack had slung his camera back +of his shoulder with a final air that told he had put such an idea completely +out of his head.</p> + +<p>As the minutes passed and they heard no further indications of the +dog’s presence near by, they concluded that he must have gone back to his +day dreams. Steve found himself more than ever puzzled by the actions of his +companion. He wished harder than before that Jack would lift the veil a little, +and tell him what it all meant, who <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_64'></a>64</span> that man might be, and what he was doing up there +among the hills that would bear watching.</p> + +<p>It began to get real exciting once, when Jack suddenly ducked and pulled +Steve down with him, as though he had glimpsed something suspicious. Valiant +Steve gripped his club with a firmer clutch, took a big breath, and awaited the +coming of the savage dog; for he believed nothing less than this was about to +confront them.</p> + +<p>Jack raised his head so that he might see above the bushes behind which they +chanced to be crouching. Then he gave a low chuckle as of amusement.</p> + +<p>“False alarm after all, Steve!” he whispered. “See, it was +only a red fox scuttling away, with his big brush dangling behind him. He was +just waking up after his afternoon nap, and wondering where he could get a fat +partridge for his supper when our coming disturbed him. I just caught a glimpse +of something moving, and on the spur of the moment of course could think only of +the dog.”</p> + +<p>Steve breathed freely again. He also knocked on the ground a bit savagely +with that elegant club of his.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m just as well pleased, Jack,” he remarked, +“though I had it made up to give the brute all that was coming to him. +Once let me get a fair crack at him with this stick, and he’ll go daffy, I +warrant you. I’ll put all the vim into the blow that stands for a home-run +hit on the diamond. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +But remember, I don’t like dog, and I’m not aching for a chance to +make the try.”</p> + +<p>So again they started along, still heading straight toward the region out of +which had come that tell-tale barking. They had come to a still wilder section +of country by now. The land was cut up by little ridges and gullies and walking +proved more tiresome. Jack appeared to notice this fact, as though it might have +a certain significance in his eyes. To Steve, however, it only meant that there +must be more chances of game holding forth amidst these dark and gloomy +depressions, where trees and heavy undergrowth combined to make an almost +impassable stretch.</p> + +<p>While there was really no trail for them to follow, it happened that the +easiest way to make progress took them along a direct line. On either hand the +impediments seemed to be such as to discourage any variation from their course. +Only with considerable effort could they have pushed through the tangled +vegetation, and for one, Jack did not seem disposed to try it.</p> + +<p>Then something happened.</p> + +<p>“Oh! did you hear that, Jack?” gasped Steve.</p> + +<p>Both of them had come to an abrupt halt, and were standing there, straining +their eyes to see what lay ahead of them.</p> + +<p>“The first time it was a dog,” muttered Jack, as if communing +with himself; “and now, unless I’m might mistaken, that meant +cat!”</p> + +<p>“Cat!” echoed Steve, incredulously. “Why, it <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> was a whole lot louder +noise than any cat I ever ran across could make! a snarl that sent a cold chill +racing up and down my backbone. Cat? What sort of a cat would you call it, +Jack?”</p> + +<p>“A wild cat, if anything,” replied the other, neither of them +stirring as yet. “Look around you and tell me if anybody could imagine a +better place for such a beast to live in. And I think I’ve located it. We +can find out quickly enough by making a move as if to go on.”</p> + +<p>He suited the action to the words. Instantly there came the repetition of +that vicious snarl. It seemed to contain all the concentrated essence of savage +hatred, and sent another shiver over Steve.</p> + +<p>“Now I can see the critter, Jack!” snapped Steve, extending his +club to point toward a certain tree standing directly in their path. +“Crouching right on that lower limb. Oh! how his yellow eyes glare at us! +Excuse me from wanting to come to close quarters with such a demon.”</p> + +<p>“For one thing, you’ve settled on the wrong gender, Steve,” +remarked Jack in a fairly cool tone; “because if you look sharper +you’ll see two other puffy balls close by the first one. Those are +half-grown whelps, and the mother stands ready to defend them to the last ounce +of her strength, and drop of blood. We’ve surprised Mrs. Cat at +home.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you’re right there, Jack, those must be cubs, for I saw one +move just then. But with such a combination against us what are we going <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> to do? Surely you +won’t think of trying to scare the old cat away?”</p> + +<p>“Twenty armed men couldn’t do that, so long as her kits were in +danger,” Jack told him. “If we still mean to advance there’s +only one way to do it. We can’t fly over, and consequently it’s up +to us to go around, or else turn back and acknowledge ourselves +baffled.”</p> + +<p>“I hate to do that last the worst thing,” grumbled Steve, giving +another whack at the ground with his long club, shaped somewhat like a baseball +bat; “but whatever you say goes, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“It looks a trifle easier traveling over on the left,” observed +Jack, “so let’s make our try there.”</p> + +<p>When they started, there was another volley of snarls from the beast in the +tree, evidently laboring under the impression that this flank movement had some +bearing on the safety of her precious offspring.</p> + +<p>Steve kept his eyes turned in that quarter about as much as he used them to +take notice of the way he was going. Every unusually loud snarl made him think +the cat was about to launch herself toward them in an attack; so that the boy +was kept worked up to fever heat all the time.</p> + +<p>“She’s on the move, Jack!” he now hissed. “I saw her +leap down to the ground and run along. Say, she’s keeping on a line with +us, would you believe it?”</p> + +<p>Jack took a look himself in order to be convinced.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_68'></a>68</span>“You’re right there, Steve,” he +said, with a short laugh. “After all our trying this little dodge may not +be worth the candle.”</p> + +<p>“She’s bent on keeping us from advancing, seems like,” +complained Steve. “Why, the pesky thing acts like she had a mortgage on +all that stretch of woods beyond here, and didn’t mean to let us foreclose +on her either.”</p> + +<p>“One thing sure, she isn’t afraid of two fellows like us,” +chuckled Jack. “Even our clubs have no terror for the mother of the +kitties. Why, if we dared push on ahead she’d jump at us like a +flash.”</p> + +<p>“I certainly feel cheap, being held up like this by an ordinary +cat,” gritted the burly Steve between his teeth.</p> + +<p>“When you’re up against an enraged wildcat mother,” Jack +told him, “and without a sign of a gun to back you, that’s the time +to spell prudence in big capital letters. They’ve got terrible claws, and +can use them to tear a fellow’s clothes to ribbons, not to mention what +they’ll do to your hide. No use talking, Steve, if the miserable beast is +dead set on keeping us from going on we’ll have to own up beaten, and +retire with our skins whole.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve lost track of her for a minute, Jack. Wonder now if +she’s gone back to her family, thinking we’ve been scared +off.”</p> + +<p>“You can test that easy enough,” he was informed; “just +take a step or two forward, and see what happens; but don’t be too rash, +Steve. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> You’ll +need all your good looks when you get back to Chester again. I’d hate to +see the map of Ireland across your face in red scratches. Besides, there’s +always danger of blood poisoning setting in when a wild animal has scratched +you, especially one that is carnivorous by nature. Go slow now.”</p> + +<p>The experiment met with an immediate success, for there broke forth a fresh +series of explosive snarls even more ferocious than any that had gone before. +Steve drew up in a hurry, evidently under the impression that he was in danger +of being made the object of an attack.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she’s there still, Jack!” he exclaimed, just as +though there could be any doubt of such a thing.</p> + +<p>“I saw her move, in the bargain,” his companion went on to say. +“She has kept on a line with us all the while, and still bars the +way.”</p> + +<p>“This is simply disgusting,” fretted Steve.</p> + +<p>“It’s something that can’t very well be helped,” Jack +told him: “and so what’s the use of feeling bad about it. There are +other days coming, when we may be able to pass along here without being balked +by a mother cat with kittens. You know the old saying, ‘what can’t be +cured must be endured,’ so we’ll have to make the best of +it.”</p> + +<p>“Does that mean we’re at the end of our rope for today, +Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Seems that way, Steve; the cat rules the roost this time, +apparently.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER IX<br /><span class='h2fs'>BACK TO THE WOODS CAMP</span></h2> + +<p>Steve had a fairly well developed stubborn streak in his nature, and he +certainly did hate to give a thing up, once he had got started. Worst of all was +the fact of their being compelled to acknowledge defeat through a miserable +wildcat; had it been a panther now, a tiger, or a lion, he might bow to the +inevitable with a good grace; but cats, in his mind, were always to be +associated with the night-singing Tommies at home, for which species he felt a +contempt that could best be displayed by a rock thrown from a bedroom +window.</p> + +<p>“Shucks! I hate to do it, but just as you say, Jack, the beast is set +on drawing a regular dead line ahead of us, which we can’t pass without a +fight. So when you’re ready give the word and we’ll quit cold. +I’ll never feel like telling any of the fellows at home, though, how two +of us were forced to turn tail by just one measly cat.”</p> + +<p>“We might sit down here for a spell, and see if the brute will slink +away,” suggested Jack, evidently also averse to giving up so easily.</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” agreed Steve; and accordingly they found a +convenient log upon which they could rest while waiting to see how the plan +worked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span>Time passed, and +Steve kept his face turned toward the spot where the last savage snarl had been +heard. He had a vague suspicion that perhaps the beast might try to stalk them, +just as he had seen a domestic tabby do a sparrow at home.</p> + +<p>When fully ten minutes had crept by Jack made a slight move.</p> + +<p>“Well, we can’t hang out here much longer,” he was saying; +“already the afternoon is so far along that I’m afraid we’ll +never be able to get back to camp before dark sets in. Let’s make a move, +and test things.”</p> + +<p>Hardly had they done so than once again they heard a repetition of those +warning growls. Jack shrugged his shoulders and laughed drily.</p> + +<p>“We hear you, old lady with the claws!” he called out, “and +we understand that you are still on the job. It looks like she didn’t mean +to lose sight of two such suspicious appearing chaps as we seem to be. Well, our +cake is dough, and we might as well acknowledge ourselves beaten.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! why didn’t we fetch our gun along, Jack?” sighed +Steve, looking angrily toward the spot from whence the warning snarls had +volleyed at them. “I’d give every cent in my savings bank for the +chance to knock that critter over. What use are pesky wildcats anyway? They live +on game birds and rabbits most always. If I had my way I’d clean out the +whole bunch of them, kits as well as mother cats.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we can’t do anything along that line this <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> trip,” Jack told +him. “So say what you’ve got on your mind to the lady, and +let’s clear out. These woods belong to her this afternoon, and we’ve +got no business here.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t mean to waste any more of my precious breath on the +silly beast,” grumbled Steve, as he turned his back toward the spot where +the unseen enemy lay concealed in the scrub.</p> + +<p>Jack headed toward the open space along which they had formerly been walking. +He had been wise enough to keep this in mind when trying to circumvent the +obstinate feline enemy that refused to let them pass. Once they found their +trail, and it would be an easy matter to follow it toward camp.</p> + +<p>They had lingered longer than either of them seemed aware. This fact was +presently brought to their attention by the growing gloom of the woods around +them.</p> + +<p>“Why, Jack, the sun has gone down, I do believe!” exclaimed +Steve, suddenly.</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t time for it to set yet,” his chum advised +him. “We can’t make sure of it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if +a bank of heavy clouds has risen in the west, and hidden the sun behind it. One +thing certain, we’re going to have the fun of tramping several miles +through a dark woods.”</p> + +<p>“Well, so long as there are no rattlesnakes around this section of +country, that won’t make much difference with me,” Steve assured +him. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> “Yes, and +I might add I hope that mother cat is the only specimen of her race up here, +too. It would be tough on us to run across another holdup, so we’d be +between two fires.”</p> + +<p>It grew constantly darker. Undoubtedly Jack must be right about the heavens +having clouded over in the west. Steve found another source for worry. This time +it did not partake of the nature of animal foes.</p> + +<p>“Say, wouldn’t it be a joke on us now, Jack, if a regular old +drencher came on, and soaked us to the skin? I’m listening in expectation +of hearing the mutter of thunder in the distance. After all, this wonderful day +seems bent on bringing us face to face with a number of queer happenings. There, +was that a growl of thunder then, or could it be another of those queer blasts +we heard before?”</p> + +<p>“Neither, I reckon, Steve. I think it was only the wind rising, and +making a moaning sound among some treetops. I’ve heard it call out in a +way to make you think some poor fellow had been caught under a falling tree, and +was being slowly crushed to death. Yes, there it goes again, you +notice.”</p> + +<p>“But doesn’t it sound spooky, though?” ventured Steve, +looking hastily over his right shoulder for luck. “Does that spell rain to +you, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“I hardly like to say, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we did have +a spell of it before morning,” the other went on.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span>“I only hope +then it’ll have the decency to hold off till we’re safe back in camp +again,” Steve ventured. “That tent is guaranteed to shed water in +the hardest downpour. Mr. Whitlatch, the town photographer, has tested it many +times and promised that it would not leak a drop; only you’ve got to keep +from touching it when wet with your fingers, because that’s a bad thing to +do, and may start a drip.”</p> + +<p>Both boys found themselves bending over more than at any previous time during +the return journey. This was all on account of the gathering darkness, for with +the passage of every minute the task of seeing their tracks was becoming more +difficult.</p> + +<p>“This thing is getting pretty tough,” wheezed Steve, finally. +“I’ve got fairly decent eyes, but I own up they’re going back +on me pretty fast trying to pick up our trail of the morning. How far away are +we from camp, do you reckon, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“An hour’s tramp yet,” he was told with an assurance that +surprised Steve. “If you’re wondering how I can tell, I’ll +show you. Don’t you remember our stopping to take a good look at this +queer twisted tree that seems to be trying to make its straight neighbors +support it? Well, I remember that we were just about one full hour out when we +got here.”</p> + +<p>“It takes you to notice everything, Jack. I never once thought to pay +any attention to our time when we were going, except to count the <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> hours until it would be +near noon, and feeding time.”</p> + +<p>“What about that snack you saved over?” chuckled Jack, who knew +what the answer was bound to be, because he had often seen Steve nibbling on the +sly.</p> + +<p>“Gone long ago, every crumb of it,” came the frank admission, +“and right now there’s beginning to crop up a strong desire for more +grub. I hope Toby thinks to have supper all ready for us when we do get +in.”</p> + +<p>Steve was limping more or less now as he trailed along behind the leader. He +felt tired, and that heel bothered him again; besides, sheltered by the friendly +darkness he thought he was at liberty to shuffle along in any old fashion that +offered him the most comfort.</p> + +<p>“We’ll ease up on the eye strain a bit for one thing,” Jack +was saying as he fumbled at one of his pockets.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a brilliant shaft of white light shot out ahead of them. Steve gave +utterance to a startled cry, in which delight was mingled with surprise.</p> + +<p>“So you fetched along one of those hand-electric torches, did you, +Jack?” he exclaimed. “Well, a flashlight never had a better chance +to make itself useful than right now. It’s going to be a picnic from here +on. I can see every little twig and blade of grass; and as for our trail, a +fellow could follow it with one eye shut. Thank goodness! our <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> troubles for the day are +ended; unless it comes on to rain cats and dogs before we get under +shelter.”</p> + +<p>He cast frequent anxious glances aloft whenever the trees were open enough to +allow of a view of the sky. There were no stars visible, as must have been the +case had it not clouded over; because the hour had grown late enough for an +exhibition of the usual heavenly display.</p> + +<p>“I hate to say it, Jack, but I really thought I felt a drop right +then,” Steve remarked.</p> + +<p>“We can stand it all right, if we have to,” commented the other, +as though determined not to be cast down by such a trifling happening. “I +have a hunch that it won’t amount to much, if it rains at all. +What’s a little wetting between friends, tell me? And neither of us +happens to be made of sugar or salt. This sort of thing lends variety and spice +to an outing in the woods. It would be too monotonous if every single thing just +happened as we planned it. Besides, we have gone half an hour since leaving that +twisted tree.”</p> + +<p>“Jack, just then it seemed to me I could glimpse some sort of a light +ahead of us. Toby might have built a roaring fire, to cheer us up as we came +along the back trail. Yes, there I could see it flame up again, over the trees +and against the background of the clouded sky. We’re getting close to +home, thank goodness!”</p> + +<p>“I agree with you, Steve, for I saw it just as you said. Toby, like a +good fellow, has started up a big fire. He must be getting a bit anxious <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> about us by this time, and +you can’t blame him much. No one likes to be left alone in camp all day, +and then have a dark night come along, with prospects of a storm, +too.”</p> + +<p>“Shall I give him a shout, Jack? It’ll ease the poor +fellow’s mind some.”</p> + +<p>“Just one whoop, then, Steve. He’ll understand, and can be +finishing supper while he waits. How about that rain now; have you felt any more +drops?”</p> + +<p>“No, I own up I haven’t,” confessed Steve, “and mebbe +I was mistaken about thinking as I did. Queer how things somehow do manage to +clear up. Often what we dread never happens at all. That old cat didn’t +tackle us, though I felt sure she would; the storm hasn’t caught us yet, +if I did count on getting soaked through; and there lies the camp before +us,” as a sudden turn in the trail allowed them to catch a glimpse of a +still distant fire that seemed to leap upward wildly.</p> + +<p>The thought of soon arriving at the end of their long tramp gave both lads +additional vigor, so that they actually increased their pace, and made better +time in the last half mile of the journey.</p> + +<p>Toby could be seen bustling about as though he had heard Steve’s whoop, +now and again he would stand and shade his eyes with his hand as he stared into +the darkness over the fire. Thinking to add to his peace of mind Jack flashed +his light several times as a signal, which he knew the other would understand, +for Toby had been with him <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_78'></a>78</span> when the hand-torch was purchased, and knew all about +it.</p> + +<p>Finally they reached the camp. How welcome did the sight of the big +khaki-colored tent, that cheery campfire, and the friendly wagon standing close +by seem to the eyes of the tired stragglers as they stalked in and threw +themselves down on the ground to rest.</p> + +<p>“Supper all ready, fellows, just when you say the word,” cheerily +chirped Toby Hopkins; “but if you’re overly tired you’d better +take things easy a bit before eating.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER X<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE NIGHT ALARM</span></h2> + +<p>Steve was so ravenously hungry after his long tramp that he could not be held +back long. Doctors might say it was very bad to eat when exhausted, but what boy +was ever known to restrain himself on that account?</p> + +<p>So they settled down on the logs, and had a surprise in store for them, +because Toby had actually fashioned a rude sort of table from several boards +fetched along in the wagon for that very purpose.</p> + +<p>“This is something like,” burst out Steve, when he found the +dishes being spread before him, and caught a scent of a savory stew the cook had +prepared in vast quantities, knowing Steve as he did.</p> + +<p>“Sorry I haven’t any tablecloth and napkins to do the thing up +brown,” ventured Toby, whereat a shout went up from the others, who +violently declared that such things were taboo in the woods, and never see +unless there were ladies in camp.</p> + +<p>Of course it was only natural that Toby should be eager to learn of their +adventures during the long day; but he knew nothing could induce them to talk +until at least the raw edge of their clamorous appetites had been taken off; so +he continued to ply them with more food.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span>Jack, seeing the +mute look of entreaty in Toby’s face finally took pity on him.</p> + +<p>“Now, you’ll want to hear what sort of time we’ve met with, +Toby,” he said; “and how we had to hand over the laurel wreath of +victory to one old mother cat that somehow seemed averse to letting us go +ahead.”</p> + +<p>“A cat!” ejaculated Toby, and then he looked wise; “Guess +you must mean a lynx, don’t you, Jack, and with whelps in the bargain. +Whee!”</p> + +<p>“No, this was a wildcat of the ordinary variety,” Jack told him. +“A Canada lynx is an altogether different object, and has tasseled ears +that make it look mighty queer. But Steve here will tell you why we didn’t +dare tackle the old lady when she threw down the gauntlet.”</p> + +<p>“I want to know!” cried Toby. “Tell me how it came about, +Steve. I noticed that both of you seemed to be carrying pretty hefty clubs when +you came in. So there <i>are</i> ferocious wild beasts at large up here in the +Pontico Hills country?”</p> + +<p>“Ferocious is hardly the word to describe that wildcat, I tell you, +Toby,” said Steve. “Wow! how she did spit and snarl until a +fellow’s blood ran cold. And when we glimpsed her yellow eyes they seemed +to glow like phosphorous.”</p> + +<p>So the story was told by degrees, Steve liking to linger when he reached the +point where their progress was barred the second time by the audacious and +persevering feline foe.</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t it too bad you didn’t have the shotgun <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> along just then,” +observed Toby, “because you’d have easily knocked that beast over, +and ended its ugly career.”</p> + +<p>“Just what I said several times,” Steve asserted, “and +I’d have been tickled half to death at the chance; but then I don’t +believe Jack would have fired, even if we had the gun along. You see, it would +have told anybody within a mile of the spot how we were poking around, and +that’s something against his plans.”</p> + +<p>They both looked yearningly toward Jack, but he only smiled, and made no +remark, upon which Steve sighed, and shook his head as if to confess that it was +no use trying to tempt their leader to anticipate his promised disclosure by +even an hour.</p> + +<p>By degrees everything was told, even to some of the remarkable sights that +they had run across during their tramp. Steve spoke of the enormous tree +alongside of which he had stood while Jack snapped off a picture, so as to show +by comparison just what a magnificent old forest monarch the mighty oak was.</p> + +<p>An hour passed, and they were enjoying every minute of the time. It felt so +good to be back in camp again. Those among my boy readers who have ever been +through a similar experience can easily understand the sensation of solid +comfort that took possession of Steve as he lolled there, filled to the limit +with supper, and enjoying the crackling fire in a way words could never +describe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span>Jack seemed to +have recovered from his fatigue, for he was busying himself in some sort of way. +Steve, too well satisfied with his position even to move, watched him for some +time, while Toby, like the good fellow he was, wrestled with the pots and pans +and pannikins that had been soiled with getting supper.</p> + +<p>“Would you mind telling me, Jack, what in the wide world you’re +doing with all that dark-colored cord, and those tin pans in the bargain?” +Steve finally burst out with, unable to restrain his bubbling curiosity +longer.</p> + +<p>“I’m trying to save our bacon, that’s all,” replied +the other calmly; but this explanation only increased the mystery; so far as +Steve was concerned.</p> + +<p>“I reckon I’m particularly stupid tonight, because I’m +tired, Jack,” he went on to say, desperately; “but, honest now, I +don’t get the hang of it at all. What do you mean by saving our bacon? +Does that apply to our fine pork products in the wagon yonder; or are you +hinting that perhaps our lives are in danger, and you’re fixing up a game +to keep us from going under?”</p> + +<p>Jack chuckled as he explained further.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got our provisions in mind when I designate them all under +the general name of bacon, you understand, Steve.”</p> + +<p>“But how are they in danger of being carried off, Jack? I wonder now if +you suspect that hungry old mother cat would follow us all the way <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> here, with the idea of +making a night raid on our well stocked larder. Could she know we must have +plenty of grub along in camp? Please explain a little further, won’t you, +Jack?”</p> + +<p>“It’s a two-legged thief I’ve got in mind, you see,” +he was told. “Have you forgotten what we said that perhaps the easiest way +to make us clear out of the Pontico Hills country would be by stripping us of +all our grub? Well, it’s to prevent the possibility of such a calamity +overtaking us that I’m working this game right now.”</p> + +<p>Steve evinced new interest on hearing this. He even bestirred himself, and +limped over to see what Jack was doing at closer range. After watching for a +short time, he gave a laugh as though he had solved the puzzling mystery.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’m on to your fine game now, all right, Jack, old +scout!” he exclaimed, as he saw the other fasten one end of the cord to a +collection of tins which he had assembled in a heap. “It’s going to +be a sort of home-made alarm clock, I reckon. You’ve fixed that cord low +down near the ground, so a man can’t get near the wagon without brushing +up against it. When he does he’s apt to break the cord and that’ll +let the bunch of tins drop down from where they’re dangling. Whoop! what a +glorious jangle there’ll be about that time. I warrant you the intended +thief will get the scare of his sweet life, and how he will run like +mad!”</p> + +<p>“You’ve guessed it finally, Steve, though it did take you a long +while,” Jack assured him. “And <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_84'></a>84</span> we’ll have the gun handy, so as to send a shot +up in the air, and add to his terror. Of course I may be off in my guess, and no +one may visit us tonight, or any other night during our stay. But then lots of +business men insure their houses and their goods when they never dream that they +will have a fire. This cord is our insurance policy.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” sang out Toby, who had been eagerly listening to all this +talk, although up to that point taking no part in the same, “an ounce of +prevention is always better than a whole pound of cure. They say, too, that a +stitch in time saves nine, though I’ve had many a one in my side, and it +didn’t save me at all. But Jack, it’s a bully good scheme all right, +and ought to work first rate.”</p> + +<p>“I can just imagine three fellows about our size piling out in the wee +small hours of the night, clad in their striped pajamas, and hearing a scared +individual go whooping through the woods, banging up against every other tree as +he runs. It will be a great picnic, for us I mean, boys; and I’m half +hoping he does come along this very night.”</p> + +<p>“How about that rain, Steve?” asked Jack, quietly.</p> + +<p>“Why, would you believe me, it has actually cleared up again, with all +the stars shining up there like fun? Which goes to show the folly of borrowing +trouble, eh, Jack? There I was, figuring out just how it’d feel to be wet +to the bone, and all that stuff, when never a drop came down. I had my worry for +nothing.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span>“It happens +lots of times with most people,” chuckled Jack. “There, I think that +ought to fill the bill. The string isn’t very strong, and even a slight +knock will serve to break it, because you see it’s being held pretty taut +by the weight of all those tin pans. Once that happens and you’ll hear +Rome howl.”</p> + +<p>“I think I’ll sleep easier, because of your precaution, +Jack,” asserted Toby.</p> + +<p>“Huh! I just <i>know</i> I shall,” added Steve. “I’ve +worried a lot about our supply of eats, and it gave me a pain even to think of +them being stolen. But if the trap only works like it promises to do, +we’ll be safeguarded all right. If the marauder means to come over the +same distance we covered, Jack, he’ll be doing great stunts. And then +there’s that cat to consider in the bargain. Oh! I hardly think +we’ll be bothered tonight, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>Later on they retired to their blankets. Steve declared that he would not +need to be rocked to sleep that night, and that there was nothing like +exhaustion to induce good sound slumber. Toby had kept himself busy much of the +day, finding many things to do about the camp, following out various suggestions +which Jack had mentioned in talking matters over, and which of course he had +meant himself to undertake when the right time came along. So Toby was tired +also and ready to welcome the “call of the blankets,” as Steve +humorously designated the proposition to go to bed.</p> + +<p>Jack took a last look around. He wished to be <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> sure everything was secure in case a rain +storm did drop in upon them during the remainder of the night; or some +light-fingered gentleman invaded the camp, on looting bent.</p> + +<p>Finally he too crept inside the canvas. They were eventually tucked away +snugly in their warm blankets, and had said the last goodnights as the lantern +was extinguished, and darkness reigned within the tent.</p> + +<p>Outside, the fire burned low, since Jack did not see any necessity for +leaving much of a blaze when it was a summer night. Besides, there must always +be more or less danger of embers being blown about by an increasing night +breeze, possibly to start an incipient conflagration amidst dead leaves gathered +behind some log, and thus cause trouble, for it is often much easier to start a +fire than to put one out.</p> + +<p>It must have been midnight or some time past when the trio of campers were +suddenly aroused by a most terrific clamor. It sounded as though all the small +boys in Chester had secured dishpans and such instruments of ear torture, and +assembled with the idea of giving a village serenade to some newly wedded folks +who would be expected to treat the bunch to cakes and fresh cider.</p> + +<p>Although possibly a bit confused on being so abruptly aroused from sound +slumber by such an unearthly din, Steve, as well as Jack and Toby, instantly +grasped the stunning truth–that was <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_87'></a>87</span> the alarm which had been rigged up to give fair +warning that their precious stores were being raided. A thief had invaded the +camp and unconsciously disclosed his presence in this loud-tongued brazen +fashion.</p> + +<p>It was now up to them to appear hastily on the scene and add to his alarm in +every way possible. So acting in concert they all started to crawl out from +under the canvas, Jack clutching the double-barrel shotgun in his hand.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER XI<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE RASCALLY THIEF</span></h2> + +<p>Could any one blame those boys for feeling highly worked up just about that +time when they were hustling to get outside the canvas shelter, and see what +strange things were taking place? The din created by the sudden fall of the +bunch of tin pans was still ringing in their ears. And doubtless all manner of +wildly exaggerated ideas must be crowding their brains in that same brief space +of time.</p> + +<p>Each had something to do in the general line of self-defense as arranged for +in case such an event transpired while they slept. There was Jack holding the +gun as became the leader of the flock. Behind, and crowding close upon his +heels, came Steve, bearing his jolly big club, with which he felt able to flay +even a wildcat, and he had quite a notion, too, along that same line. Toby +brought up the rear, not because of any undue timidity on his part, but because +somebody had to “take the drumstick,” as his father was wont to say +when they had turkey, and in this case all of them could not be either first or +second; so Toby guarded the rear.</p> + +<p>He grasped the flashlight in a trembling hand, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> and his orders were to make use of it +just when Jack gave the word.</p> + +<p>The night was dark, very dark, in fact. The old moon had not yet put in an +appearance in the eastern sky, which went to prove how aged and dilapidated it +must indeed be to rise at such a late hour. As for the fire, it was entirely +extinct by this time, and not able to render the first aid in time of need.</p> + +<p>Every fellow, upon emerging began to look eagerly around him. Just what +Steve, for instance, expected to discover would be a difficult question to +answer. He may still have had in mind Mrs. Bobcat and her brood of kits, and +half anticipated being called on to offer fight in order to defend the camp. +Anything seemed possible with that brooding and mysterious darkness hanging over +the place. Its sable depths might be peopled with a great variety of goblins, +and unnatural wood folks, gathered to expel these rash, invaders of their +haunts.</p> + +<p>After that one general look around Steve focused his sight upon the +particular spot where, as he well knew, the wagon had been standing at the time +they sought their blankets.</p> + +<p>Well, it was still there, if that fact could afford him any satisfaction. He +could just manage to dimly make it out in the darkness, for very little +starlight found entrance through an opening aloft in the interlocked treetops +and branches.</p> + +<p>Even as he looked Steve felt sure he saw some <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> object move as though it were possessed +of life. That caused him to have another nice thrill that sent a shiver up and +down his spine.</p> + +<p>Jack was already starting to creep that way, trailing his gun along, which +weapon he held in such a fashion that it could be brought into use without the +loss of more than a second.</p> + +<p>About this time Toby began to forge alongside Steve. He had remembered that +he was the torchbearer of the trio, and on that account had no business to be +hanging in the rear, when Jack at any second might call upon him to make use of +the flashlight.</p> + +<p>Strange noises greeted them, of which they could make nothing. Indeed, Steve +was of the opinion that possibly two persons were scuffling over there by the +supply wagon; for he likened the queer sounds to half-suppressed breathing, and +such struggles as wrestlers might indulge in. He could not make it out at all, +nor why two invaders of the camp should pick upon one another in such a +ridiculous manner.</p> + +<p>There, that sounded like a blow; and it was immediately followed by a plain +grunt, as though the recipient of the stroke had had his wind partly knocked out +of him.</p> + +<p>If only Jack would give the order for Toby to flash his light on the scene, +doubtless the mystery might be explained. But so far he had kept silent on this +score, although still creeping stealthily forward.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span>Steve, wondering +still, and trembling a whole lot in the bargain, believed he could understand +what Jack must have in his mind. He wanted to get close enough up before +betraying their presence, so that he could cover the pilferers, and let them see +that they were in range of a deadly weapon, so that to run away would very +likely get them into a peck of trouble.</p> + +<p>The strange sounds kept up, and in an increased ratio, Steve figured. +Undoubtedly whoever it was making them must be growing more and more vehement, +as though something which was badly wanted managed to evade his clutch. Even the +racket produced by those clanging tin pans had not frightened the intruder away, +which Steve considered most amazing indeed. He felt sure that had he been +invading a camp, and had such a fearful noise suddenly broke out, he must have +taken wildly to his heels, and made a record run of it in order to escape the +consequences of his folly.</p> + +<p>Then Steve caught what was plainly a loud snort, as of triumph. This gave him +a new idea, and which was hardly calculated to increase his comfort very +much.</p> + +<p>Why, that was hardly such a sound as a human being would emit, being much +louder, and along harsher lines. Then what else was likely to make it? Jack had +said a considerable number of wild game must exist among these same Pontico +Hills; indeed, on the way there had they not seen a live <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> doe and fawn; then there was the red fox +with the big brush of a tail that had slunk out of their path while they were +making their way through the woods; and last, but far from least, Steve +remembered the adventure with the wildcat and her kits.</p> + +<p>If in the brief space of their stay they had already run across such a +variety of game animals would it not be safe to believe there might also be +other species roaming the woods, and seeking to secure their daily meals +wherever they could find them?</p> + +<p>Now Steve had never seen a bear at large, nor yet a wolf at liberty, but like +all other wideawake boys he had fairly doted over these beasts when held in +captivity in the circus or menagerie that annually visited Chester.</p> + +<p>Would a bear, for instance, be apt to make such snorting sounds when +searching the wagon for some prize tidbit that its keen scent told it was to be +found there? Steve believed even this might be possible. He gripped his club +with a firm conviction that there would soon be a little ruction taking place +around that immediate region beside which the famous Donnybrook Fair in Ireland +could never hold a candle, “to use the language of his own +thoughts.”</p> + +<p>But then, of course, Jack must shoulder the main brunt of the fight, because +he had the gun in his possession. Steve only hoped Jack would be able to send +his first charge straight into the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_93'></a>93</span> heart of Bruin, so as to bring him down immediately. +That would save them all from a rough-and-tumble encounter where claws and teeth +would be apt to play havoc with their cuticle, and render their faces far less +attractive than when they left home.</p> + +<p>How about the law? Steve asked himself, for it seemed as though in that +minute of time the boy’s active brain were capable of grappling with every +sort of question, and finding an adequate answer. Of course bears were protected +in the summer close season; but when a fellow’s life was at stake no game +law had a right to force him to lay down and allow a measly bear to walk all +over him, as well as steal his precious grub.</p> + +<p>So in a flash of time Steve settled that matter in his mind, all right. Jack +would be acting well within his privilege as a citizen of the State if he +defended his property against robbery. No law could touch him for doing that; +and then besides, they could bury Mr. Bruin down deep, so that the game wardens +would never find a trace of him there.</p> + +<p>Steve really felt better after settling this weighty matter. Of course it +still remained for Jack to carry out the provisions of the plan of campaign; but +then Jack was a fellow with steady nerves, and might be trusted to do his part +without a slip-up. Only Steve did rather envy him the privilege of actually +shooting a big, hairy bear; for later on what a great thing it would be <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> to tell to some of the +Doubting Thomases of Chester. Yes, before burying the defunct beast they ought +to remember to cut off one of his great paws with its ugly claws, so as to have +some trophy to show as positive proof of their story.</p> + +<p>Well, while Steve’s active mind was fixing all these wonderful details +with so much accuracy they were all three of them creeping along inch by inch, +and drawing nearer and nearer to the scene of activity.</p> + +<p>Instead of diminishing the strange sounds actually increased in volume. They +were now accompanied by a crunching, of which Steve could make nothing, for he +was not sufficiently acquainted with the peculiarities of bears to know how they +acted when foraging for food, and climbing into a covered wagon at that in +search of the same.</p> + +<p>“Jack!”</p> + +<p>That was Toby trying to speak in a whisper, but his voice was wofully weak, +and moreover had a strange tremor about it that at another time would have made +Steve laugh uproariously; but he did nothing of the kind now, partly because he +suspected he could not have delivered himself in any stronger tones if he had +attempted to speak.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” came in a sibilant whisper over Jack’s +shoulder; for he was only a few feet ahead of the other pair of crawlers.</p> + +<p>“Hadn’t I better shoot with the flashlight now?” asked Toby +eagerly, showing how he had not forgotten what his line of duty was, in spite of +all <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> the excitement +attending their issuing from the tent.</p> + +<p>“I’ll give you the word right away, so be ready,” Jack told +him, cautiously; but the sounds over there at the wagon continued just as +vehemently as before, and it was plainly evident that the thief cared little or +nothing about their presence near by. “He’s around at the back of +the wagon, and I’m trying to get so as to cover him properly. Another six +feet ought to do the business, so keep steady, Toby.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’m as steady as a rock!” affirmed the one who carried +the flashlight; but it must have been a very wobbly rock then, if his bodily +condition corresponded with the decided quaver in his shaky voice.</p> + +<p>Ten seconds later and Jack suddenly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Turn the light on the rascal, Toby!”</p> + +<p>Toby hastened to comply with the demand. Just as he did so they were thrilled +to hear a flickering whinny, a very sociable whinny in fact, coming from the +rear of the covered wagon. Then as the strong white glow shot forth they made a +wonderful discovery.</p> + +<p>The dreadful thief was disclosed in all his grim proportions. He stood there +with his stubby tail switching back and forth, and contentedly munching great +mouthfuls of oats which he had managed to secure from the gaping sack, opening +which had doubtless given him all the trouble and caused those strange +grunts.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span>Yes, they +recognized him as soon as the light fell on his sides, and Jack instead of +raising the gun to his shoulder instantly let its muzzle drop to earth. For it +was only gaunt old Moses, the beast of burden, broken loose, and hunting the +fountain head of what he considered his too meagre meals.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER XII<br /><span class='h2fs'>FISHERMAN’S LUCK</span></h2> + +<p>“Why, it’s only our old Moses after all!” cried Steve, as +though the astounding truth had burst upon him like a thunderbolt from a clear +sky.</p> + +<p>“And he’s trying to founder himself with the whole supply of +oats, the rascal!” Toby added, indignantly.</p> + +<p>But Moses was not afraid of foundering, apparently. He just gave another +contented whinny of delight, whisked that impudent stump of a tail of his, and +plunged deeper into the oat sack, which he had succeeded in getting open.</p> + +<p>Jack was perhaps the least surprised of the trio, and even he had not more +than begun to suspect the true state of affairs when the light was turned on. He +doubled up with laughter, for it was really comical to see how eagerly Moses was +delving into his oat supply, as though he feared he was now about to be divorced +from his feast, and retired in disgrace, wherefore he wished to gobble all he +could while the golden opportunity lasted.</p> + +<p>After they had all had several convulsions of merriment Steve concluded it +was time they took things in hand. Such dreadful liberties could not be allowed, +or the offense condoned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span>“We’ve +got to make him break away from those oats, that’s all there is about +it,” he went on to say, seriously. “A poor old nag of a horse never +knows when he’s had enough.”</p> + +<p>“Horses don’t happen to be alone in that class, Steve,” +chirped Toby.</p> + +<p>“Never you mind about that,” snorted the other; “and it +doesn’t become you to give me a dig, Toby, because for a fellow of your +size you can go me one better when it comes to eating. But, Jack, we ought to +put a stop to this midnight feast, hadn’t we? Oats cost money, and even +horses have their price in the market.”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing, Steve,” chuckled the one addressed, as stepping +forward he endeavored to lead Moses away from the tail end of the wagon.</p> + +<p>The old horse strenuously objected, and upon finding Jack determined he took +one farewell grab at the fine contents of the sack, so that he could have +something to munch on for a while afterwards. He gave repeated backward looks +toward the wagon, and seemed very unhappy when all his dreams of a glorious +feast had been knocked on the head after this rude fashion.</p> + +<p>“Now, you hold him a minute or two, Steve,” remarked Jack, +“while I go and get into some clothes. This night air is salubrious all +right, but apt to set a fellow’s teeth to chattering.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, it is so,” Toby acknowledged; but despite +his shivering he would not retreat to his warm blanket until the show had +ended.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span>Jack hurried as +best he could, having pity on his chums. When he came back partly dressed he +sent them to their beds.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tie up old Moses so he won’t be apt to get loose +again in a hurry,” Jack advised them, and adding a bit reproachfully, +“for you must have been in a hurry after watering him in the evening, +Steve. After this I’ll make it a point to see he’s all right before +I turn in.”</p> + +<p>So the horse was led away, and his rope once more fastened, this time in such +a secure fashion that there was no possibility of its getting untied. He could +move around within a certain radius, and nip the sweet grass, as well as dream +of how close he had been to the greatest banquet of his natural life.</p> + +<p>Before he went into the tent Jack reset the tin-pan trap. It had already paid +for what little trouble it caused him, because only for the alarm having been +given none of them might have heard Moses at his surreptitious work; and +consequently he would have devoured the entire two weeks’ supply of oats, +or killed himself in the endeavor to dispose of them, which would have been a +calamity in several ways, both for Moses and the camping party.</p> + +<p>Again did the little hand-torch come in for a meed of praise on the part of +the one who had to carry out all these things in the middle of a dark night. +Both the others seemed to be pretty far gone along the road to dreamland when +Jack <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> crept under +his blankets. Toby did drowsily grunt, and ask if everything was all right, but +apparently hardly knew what he was saying; so Jack only answered with a word, +and cuddled under his coverings, for he felt a trifle chilled.</p> + +<p>There was no further alarm that night. The expected prowler did not show up, +much to the satisfaction of all concerned; and morning found them in good shape. +Moses was already whinnying as to remind them that horses got hungry. Apparently +the old reprobate never knew what a close call he had had; left to his own +resources, morning might not have been so calm for him, if he lived to see the +sun rise at all. And as Toby wisely said, horse doctors must be as “scarce +as hens’ teeth” up in the Pontico Hills district.</p> + +<p>Somehow the adventure of the night seemed to appear even more comical when +viewed in the broad light of day. Toby in particular laughed every time he +thought of old Moses standing there, monarch of all he surveyed, and trying to +gulp the oats down like mad, as though he feared it was too good a thing to +last.</p> + +<p>“Do you know,” Toby observed, as they sat at breakfast that +morning, “Moses actually seemed to have tears in his eyes when Jack here +forced him to leave the end of the wagon. Why, that was the one grand +opportunity of his life to stuff–a regular Thanksgiving jamboree spread +out before him. He kept turning his head and looking back as if he had lost his +best friend. If he’d been <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_101'></a>101</span> going to the execution block I don’t think he +could have shown more regret. Poor old chap, it was almost cruel to cheat him +out of his feast.”</p> + +<p>Then they turned their thoughts to other subjects, because, as Jack wisely +said, while this escapade on the part of Moses may have been a great event in +his life, it was only an episode with them.</p> + +<p>“How shall we spend today?” Jack asked.</p> + +<p>“Well, since you want to know my opinion,” spoke up Toby, +briskly, “I’ve got my mouth made up for another mess of those fine +and frisky Paradise River bass; and I’d like a whole lot to have one of +you fellows go over with me.”</p> + +<p>“How about you, Steve?” queried Jack, turning to the partner of +his previous day’s long trip.</p> + +<p>“Reckon I’d be wise to lay off a spell, because, to tell you the +truth that heel did give me a mite of bother, especially on the return trip. You +go with Toby, Jack, and take your camera along. He says there are some dandy +things you might want to snap off between here and the river. And in case either +of you hook a four-pound bass you can get a picture of the fight that will be +worth seeing, as well as of the beauty after he’s landed. I mean to get +over there later and try my luck, don’t forget, Toby, so leave a few in +the river, please.”</p> + +<p>So it was settled. Jack somehow did not seem disposed to take that long tramp +on two successive days, though doubtless he had certain plans arranged in his +mind which could be carried out <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_102'></a>102</span> later on. With nearly two weeks still ahead of them +it was needless to hurry matters. “Rome wasn’t built in a +day,” he often told the more impatient Toby, when the other was showing +signs of fretting because things failed to move quite as rapidly as he +wished.</p> + +<p>“Just leave the things for me to look after,” said Steve, as they +arose after finishing breakfast. “I’ve thought up a few jobs +I’d like to tackle while you’re away. And I’ll also agree to +see that old Moses doesn’t cut up any more of his capers. Have a bully +good time, boys. When do you expect to get back, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“By noon, so far as I know now,” he was told. “We ought to +have all the fish we can use by then, if they bite at all; and the fishing is +never worth much from eleven to three. I’ll be able to snatch off any +pictures I’d care to take in addition; so look for us by twelve, +Steve.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll have lunch ready then, remember that, Toby,” called +out the campkeeper, as the pair started to the tent to get their fishing outfits +and the camera.</p> + +<p>Toby having been over the route took it upon himself to act as guide to the +expedition. Indeed, a tyro could have found the way, for in going and coming +they had left quite a plain trail, easily followed.</p> + +<p>Of course Jack was interested in everything he saw. Toby frequently called +his attention to certain features of the landscape which apparently <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> had appealed to his love +of the beautiful on the former occasion. This showed that Toby kept his eyes +about him pretty much all the time; it also proved him to have an appreciation +of Nature’s handiwork, rather unusual in a boy.</p> + +<p>They did not take much more than half an hour to cross over to the bank of +the Paradise River. Toby himself remembered skating this far up the stream +several winters back, but everything looked so entirely different in the +summer-time that he could hardly be positive about this.</p> + +<p>It was a pretty scene, and with not a living human being in sight quite +appealed to Jack. Birds flitted from tree to tree; small woods animals were to +be seen frequently, and Toby even showed Jack where a deer had been down to +drink, leaving there a plain series of delicate hoof tracks.</p> + +<p>“Now let’s try the place that treated me best of all,” he +went on to say, with all the consequential airs of a first discoverer.</p> + +<p>“I want several pictures of this spot,” Jack remarked, “but +they will do better along about ten o’clock, when the sun gets stronger, +and the contrasts are more striking. Besides, the fishing must come first, and +its always in its prime early in the morning. So get busy, Toby, and let’s +see who lands the first bass.”</p> + +<p>Jack himself was something of a fisherman, as Toby well understood. Indeed, +he knew more about the habits of the tricky bass than any of <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> the boys in Chester; for +as a rule they had been content simply to angle with a worm, and take +“pot-luck,” while Jack had read up on the subject, and even done +more or less fancy fly fishing amidst other scenes.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Toby got the first fish. Perhaps this was because he knew just +how deep the water was, where a favorite swirl had yielded him several finny +prizes on the occasion of his former visit; or possibly just through “dumb +luck,” as he called it. There is no accounting for the freaks of fishing; +a greenhorn is just as apt as not to haul in the biggest bass ever taken in a +lake, where an accomplished angler has taken a thousand smaller fish from year +to year, yet never landed such a prize. “Fisherman’s luck” has +thus long become a famous saying.</p> + +<p>However, Toby was not too exultant over his success. He fancied that before +they were done with the morning’s sport Jack would be giving him a pretty +lively chase for the honors.</p> + +<p>They certainly did have plenty of fun, though perhaps the finny inhabitants +of Paradise River may not have enjoyed the game quite as well, since it was too +one-sided. Inside of an hour they had taken seven very good fish, really as many +as they could well use; though Toby kept saying that it was hard to gauge that +appetite of Steve’s, and one or two more wouldn’t come in amiss. It +is so easy for even a conscientious fisherman to find excuses for continuing the +sport as long as the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_105'></a>105</span> fish will bite, such is the fascination connected +with the game.</p> + +<p>Then the expected happened. Jack had a tremendous bite, and was speedily +playing a fish that made his fine rod bend like a whip. Toby, forgetting his own +line, began dancing up and down on the bank, and urging Jack to play him +carefully.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE MAN WITH THE PICKAX</span></h2> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Toby excitedly, as the hooked fish leaped wildly from +the water, and tried to fall across the taut line, with the idea of breaking +loose, though Jack skillfully lowered his tip, and avoided that impending +catastrophe. “What a dandy, Jack! Three pounds, and mebbe a lot more. Look +at him fight, will you? He’s a regular old bronze-back warrior, I tell +you. I hope you land that beauty. Play him for all you’re worth, Jack; +please don’t let him get away. And now I hope Steve will say he’s +got enough.”</p> + +<p>“We haven’t got him yet by a jugful, remember, Toby,” +remonstrated Jack. “They say you mustn’t count your chickens till +the eggs are hatched; and I tell you a big bass like that is never caught until +he’s flopping on the bank. They’re up to all kinds of tricks. Now +he’s boring down, and trying to find a rock to get under, so he can grind +the line, until it weakens and gives way.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t let him get to the bottom, Jack!” cried Toby, +anxiously. “That rod of yours will stand the strain all right. Give him +the butt, Jack; keep him on top of the water! Oh! but isn’t he a grand +fighter, though.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span>Toby could +hardly have shown more interest had he been holding the rod instead of Jack; for +he was not a selfish lad. By slow degrees Jack began to tire the big bass out. +His rushes were losing some of their fierceness now, and the boy, shortening his +line as he found opportunity, was able to partly drag the fish along to help in +exhausting or “drowning” him, since his mouth was gaping open.</p> + +<p>They had no landing-net, so Toby hastily stripped off shoes and socks in +order to wade knee-deep into the stream, and help get the prize safely ashore. +He would have willingly gone in up to his neck if necessary, to make a sure +thing of the landing part.</p> + +<p>Jack wisely selected a little strip of shallow beach as the best place for +carrying out the finishing stroke of his conquest. Here Toby was able to use +both of his hands, and actually push the big bass along, until in the end they +had him safe on the shore, flapping still, as though his defiant spirit had not +yet given in to the adversity that had overtaken him.</p> + +<p>Long they gloated over his beauty. Having no scales along they could only +guess at the weight of the prize. Jack said a good three pounds, but the more +enthusiastic Toby went half a pound higher.</p> + +<p>“Why, it wouldn’t surprise me much if he even tipped the scales +at four,” he assured Jack. “See how thick through he is, will you, +and a good <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +twenty-two inches long in the bargain. Oh! how he came down with a splash +whenever he’d jump two feet out of the water, and turn over! I’ll +never forget how finely you handled him, either, Jack, old chum! Now, if it had +been me I’d like as not have got so excited I’d lost my fish by some +fool play. But that ought to be enough for even Steve, and so I reckon we must +quit the fun.”</p> + +<p>He looked dolefully toward the river, as though disliking very much to give +up when the acme of the sport had just been reached.</p> + +<p>“I hope you’ll take his mate another day, Toby,” Jack told +him, hopefully. “Don’t forget the old saying that ‘there’s +just as good fish in the sea as ever were caught,’ and it applies to the +Paradise River in the bargain. And now I’ll wash up, so I can get busy +with my photographic work, as it’s about ten o’clock, and the sun as +strong as I’d want.”</p> + +<p>He seemed to have made up his mind just what pictures appealed most to him, +judging from the business-like way he went about his work. Toby stood by ready +to assist in any way possible, though he did not happen to be as greatly +interested in photography as his comrade. So after about half an hour Jack had +accomplished his task.</p> + +<p>“I think they ought to turn out pretty fine,” was his finishing +comment, as he closed his camera, the present of the lady who had engaged him to +combine business with pleasure on this camping trip. <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> “If there’s anything wrong +the fault will be wholly mine, because the conditions certainly couldn’t +be improved on.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose it’s home for us now, Jack?” asked Toby.</p> + +<p>“We might as well be making a start,” he was told. “Perhaps +I’ll want to snap off another picture on the way, because one or two +things struck me as worth while.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly Toby lifted the string of fish from the water, where they had +been keeping cool. He grinned as he pretended to stagger under the load.</p> + +<p>“Believe me, they’re going to turn out something of a weight, +Jack.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll fix that soon enough, and share the burden,” the +other told him, as he picked up a stout pole, and proceeded to fasten the fish +to its centre. “Many hands make light work, they say, and when we carry +our prize bag of fish between us the strain will hardly be noticed.”</p> + +<p>It proved just as Jack had said; what would have been a heavy weight for one +to carry was a mere bagatelle for both, thanks to that pole, which was some six +feet in length.</p> + +<p>“First time in all my life I ever had to tote home a string of fish in +this way,” Toby confessed, though with brimming good humor. +“Don’t I wish we were going through Chester with the bunch, though; +how the fellows’ eyes would pop out of their heads to see this whopping +big chap you landed. And I just know Steve will immediately <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> press both hands on his stomach, and +say: ‘That’s about my size!’”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too hard on Steve, Toby,” chided Jack. “All +of us have our failings, and for one I’ve got my appetite along with me +pretty much all the time. He happens to be a big fellow, and in fine health, so +he feels hungry as many as six times a day, especially when in the woods, where +the air tones up the system.”</p> + +<p>Leaving the river with some regret they started to head for the camp that lay +possibly a mile and a half away “as the crow flies.” Sometimes they +chatted as they walked along, and then again both of them would fall silent, +being taken up it might be with thoughts of those left behind in dear old +Chester.</p> + +<p>It chanced to be during one of those quiet periods that Toby suddenly shook +the pole from which the string of fish dangled, as though endeavoring to attract +the attention of his companion without making any noise. Glancing toward the +other Jack saw him pointing with outstretched finger; and as he turned his own +eyes in the direction indicated he discovered the cause of Toby’s singular +behavior.</p> + +<p>There was a man in sight, though just then, as he was bending over, he had +apparently failed to discover their nearby presence. Jack instantly sank down to +the ground, and Toby imitated his example; after which they crawled closer +together, until they could exchange whispers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_111'></a>111</span>“That’s the man!” was the first +low exclamation Toby gave utterance to.</p> + +<p>“The man who came to the camp, and asked questions, do you mean?” +demanded Jack, taking a cautious peep over the tops of the bushes that afforded +them an effectual screen.</p> + +<p>“Yep, he’s the same one,” Toby went on to say, decisively. +“I recognize his figure, and there, you can glimpse his face right now, +which I’d know among a thousand. But whatever can he be doing with that +pickax?”</p> + +<p>Jack seemed to be taking a deep interest in the actions of the mysterious +stranger. He watched him move a little further along, and then start to dig with +vigorous blows. They were quite close to him, and his face could be plainly +seen. Jack was studying it intently, as though he might be comparing its leading +features with a certain description that had been given to him.</p> + +<p>When presently Toby saw his chum starting to get his camera in working order +he drew a breath of admiration, for he guessed that Jack was intending to try to +secure a snapshot of the man working with that pickax, as though desirous of +offering it as positive proof that could not be denied.</p> + +<p>Creeping behind a neighboring tree the generous trunk of which offered him +the necessary asylum, Jack watched his chance. He waited until the man stood up +to rest, with the pickax held over his shoulder, and the sun well on his face. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> Then a tiny click +announced to Toby that the thing had been done.</p> + +<p>He was keeping his eyes glued on the man; but as several crows were holding a +noisy confab not far away, and a squirrel had taken to barking at the intruder +with the digging tool, such a slight sound as the clicking of the camera +apparently passed unnoticed.</p> + +<p>The stranger seemed to be more or less excited. After mopping his perspiring +forehead he once more commenced digging here and there in a most tantalizing +fashion. Toby could not comprehend what it could mean. Was there gold or some +other precious deposit to be found up here among these hills, and might this +strange man be an old prospector from the West who had had long experience in +searching for mineral lodes? But then such things were seldom discovered so near +the top of the ground, Toby recollected. He wished the man would go away so he +could speak to Jack, and ask him what he thought; because the more he considered +the matter the greater became his conviction that Jack must surely know.</p> + +<p>Now the man seemed to have satisfied himself, for he again shouldered the +pick, and started to leave the spot. Toby was glad to notice that he had turned +aside and consequently there would be no danger of his coming upon them in their +hiding-place. He waved a farewell after the other, boylike.</p> + +<p>“Goodbye, Mister Man,” Jack heard him whisper, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> exultantly; “come +again when you can’t stay so long. Your room is better appreciated than +your company. Who are you, anyway; and what’re you muddling about around +here, I’d like to know.”</p> + +<p>After the man had been swallowed up in the depths of the woods Jack made the +other lie quiet for something like five minutes. This was to make doubly sure +the stranger did not turn on his tracks, and come back again. It was hard for +Jack to hold in, because he was quivering with eagerness to investigate, and see +if he could find out what had interested the other so much.</p> + +<p>“Guess he’s gone for keeps, Jack,” suggested the eager +Toby, fretting like a hound held in the leash.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it looks that way,” returned the other, commencing to get +upon his feet, “and I suppose we’d be safe in going on our way +again.”</p> + +<p>“But, Jack, don’t you mean to take a peep over there where that +chap was digging so wildly to learn what he was up to?” demanded Toby.</p> + +<p>Jack looked at him as though trying to make up his mind.</p> + +<p>“Well, it has to come some time,” he remarked, as if to himself, +“and I suppose it’s hardly right to keep you in the dark much +longer, now that you’ve seen as much as you have. So come along, Toby, and +we’ll investigate.”</p> + +<p>They were quickly on the spot. Here and there could be seen evidences of the +man’s digging, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_114'></a>114</span> though he had hardly more than turned over the +upper crust of earth and rocks. So far as Toby could see there was not the first +sign of quartz, or anything else that, as he understood it, had to do with +mining. Indeed, just in that particular place the earth looked unusually grimy +and moist and oozy, a fact that struck Toby as surprising. Then he commenced +sniffing the air more and more vigorously, while over his face crept a smile +that kept growing broader and broader, as though the light of a great discovery +had burst upon him like a dazzling comet.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHEN THE SUN STOOD STILL</span></h2> + +<p>“I smell oil!” exclaimed Toby, “and that’s +what’s oozing out of the ground right here where the man was grubbing with +his tool! Jack, that was what he was looking for, wasn’t it? And you must +have known something about it right along, now I stop to think of a whole lot of +things that have happened.”</p> + +<p>Jack was busy bending down and examining the oil-soaked earth. He even went +to the trouble of taking some of it and wrapping it in a piece of waterproof +paper he was carrying in his pocket; just as though he had prepared himself for +just such an occasion, the observing Toby thought.</p> + +<p>“I know you’re burning with curiosity to know what it means, +Toby,” he went on to say, “and I’ve finally made up my mind to +explain the solution of all this mystery, as well as tell you who and what that +man is. But you’ll have to content yourself with figuring out as many +explanations as you please between now and tonight, for I don’t want to +say a word until Steve is also present. I take it you’ve got head enough +to reason things out after a fashion, and grasp the answer. So don’t ask +me any questions, because I won’t answer until after supper.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span>“Then I +won’t tell Steve a single thing about this affair,” Toby went on to +say, although he looked a bit disappointed, because with noon still an hour away +it would be a terribly long time until they had seen the sun go down, and eaten +their evening meal.</p> + +<p>“I think it would be best not to get him excited in the bargain,” +advised Jack. “It’s going to be a great surprise to Steve, too, +because he hasn’t been as keen as you on the scent, and is more in the +dark.”</p> + +<p>“And seeing this monster bass will be all the excitement he can stand +at a time,” chuckled Toby, beginning to make the best of the situation, +for he was usually an easy fellow to get along with, and Jack knew how to handle +him splendidly.</p> + +<p>They started off again, but not before Jack carefully concealed the tracks +they had made. This he did to prevent the man from making a discovery should he +again visit the spot, which he was very likely to do, since it would naturally +have a species of fascination for him henceforth.</p> + +<p>It was difficult for Toby to talk on any other subject while his mind was +filled with the strange actions of the man who seemed to resent their presence +in the neighborhood. Therefore he had little to say on the balance of the way +back to camp, though Jack knew he must be doing considerable thinking, that +would cover every angle of the case.</p> + +<p>Of course Steve was delighted when he saw the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> monster bass. He admired it from every +angle; though Toby took particular notice that Steve seemed more interested in +the glorious dish it would make when cooked than in the great fight it had put +up when at the end of Jack’s line.</p> + +<p>“Do you know I was just hoping you’d fetch such a dandy fish home +with you,” he went on to say, delightedly; “because I’ve made +all arrangements to bake it in an oven of my own manufacture. I’ve dug a +hole in the hard clay here, and when we’ve had lunch I mean to heat it +furiously with red embers. Then I’ll wrap that fish in a wet cloth and lay +it inside, after which my oven will be sealed over to keep the heat in for +hours. That’s the old hunter’s oven, and they do say it is the +originator of all these new-fangled fireless cookers, as well as the Thermos +bottles that keep things hot or cold for a whole day.”</p> + +<p>“Good boy, Steve!” cried Toby, slapping the big chum on the back +affectionately. “You’ve got a head on you after all, sure you +have.”</p> + +<p>Steve looked as though he considered this a dubious compliment, since it +seemed to imply that Toby must have at times doubted the truth of his assertion. +But Jack, after examining the earth oven, declared that it was sure to work +splendidly.</p> + +<p>“And six hours or so ought to be really enough to cook a fish, +especially if we get it as hot as we can,” he assured the architect.</p> + +<p>In due time this was carried out. Plenty of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_118'></a>118</span> red embers were placed in the hole in the hard +clay, and covered over; still more being added until the place was furiously +hot. Then the ashes being taken out the cleaned fish was placed carefully +within, after which the top was sealed over with wet clay, making the oven a +“hermetically sealed one,” as Steve proudly proclaimed.</p> + +<p>That was the longest afternoon Toby Hopkins ever knew during the entire +course of his young life. He seemed to look up at the sun forty times, as though +resting under a grave suspicion that some modern Joshua might have commanded it +to “stand still.” Steve began to notice his actions, and seemed +puzzled to account for them, being wholly unsuspicious of the real cause.</p> + +<p>He even at one time about the middle of the afternoon sought Jack out, +finding him working at his negatives; for he had fetched along a little daylight +developing tank, and had already announced himself as well pleased with what the +results seemed to promise.</p> + +<p>“Jack, see here, there’s something wrong with our Toby,” +Steve said in a cautious voice, although the object of his remark being some +distance away there was not the slightest chance of his overhearing +anything.</p> + +<p>Jack knew what was coming, but he did not even smile.</p> + +<p>“Why, what makes you say that, Steve?” he asked, +solicitously.</p> + +<p>“He’s acting so queer that I’m afraid the poor <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> fellow must be going +looney,” Steve told him, with a ring of sincere regret in his voice.</p> + +<p>“Queer in what way?” asked the other, continuing his work.</p> + +<p>“Oh! in lots of ways,” sighed Steve. “For one thing he +can’t keep still a minute, but jumps up, and walks around nervously. Then +he’s always looking up at the sun, and shaking his head as if he +couldn’t make things out. I’ve seen him looking at you as if he had +a grudge he was nursing. Now <i>something</i> has happened to Toby since he left +camp this morning, and I’d like to know what it is.”</p> + +<p>“Why, nothing has happened to him except that he’s seen a lot of +interesting things, the same as I have. We mean to speak of them after supper, +while we lie around taking our ease, you know. Don’t worry about Toby; I +give you my word the boy is all right. Little danger of him ever losing his +head.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I even asked him point-blank what ailed him, and if he felt any +way sick, but do you know, he just smiled at me, and shrugged his shoulders in +the silliest way ever. Yes, and would you believe me, Jack, he gave me a queer +look and said: ‘I’m not a bit sick, I tell you; I’m only tired of +waiting,’ and Jack, he wouldn’t even explain what he meant by that. +Even if you don’t feel bothered I do, and there’s something knocking +in Toby’s brain right now, I tell you. That boy has got something on his +mind.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span>“Listen, +Steve,” chuckled the amused Jack. “There may be a method in +Toby’s seeming madness. Remember the old story of the doctor who, being +called in to prescribe for an old gentleman addicted to much dram drinking, put +him on a strict allowance of one drink a day, which was to be taken when he sent +downstairs for his hot water for shaving. Some days afterwards, chancing to be +in the neighborhood again, he stopped at the door to ask how the old party was +getting on. To his surprise the butler held up his hands, and looked very solemn +as he declared that he very much feared his master was going out of his +mind.</p> + +<p>“‘And why do you fear that, James?’ the doctor asked, +alarmed.</p> + +<p>“‘Because, Doctor,’ said the butler, ‘every hour of the day the +master insists on sending down for hot shaving water!’ And so you see, +Steve, there was a method in his madness, for the doctor knew why he wanted that +hot water. You give Toby credit for being a sensible chap. He’s only +counting the minutes until that fine fish is done to a turn, and you sound the +gong for supper.”</p> + +<p>Steve looked a trifle relieved after that, though he still continued to watch +the uneasy Toby from time to time, and could be seen shaking his head as if his +doubts had returned in full force.</p> + +<p>Slowly but surely the glowing orb dropped closer toward the horizon. A doomed +prisoner in his cell might have watched its going with dread, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> as the setting of the +sun would bring the hour of his execution nearer; but with Toby it was just the +opposite, and he counted every minute as so much gain.</p> + +<p>Steve had evidently gauged the appetites of his chums by his own, and fearing +the big fish might not go around for a third helping had prepared a panful of +the smaller bass besides.</p> + +<p>“You never can tell the first time you try out a new dodge,” he +offered in explanation of his bountiful provision, “and if after all my +oven failed to cook in seven hours why where would we be at for supper tonight, +I’d like to know. I’m a great hand for preparedness, you must know, +fellows; and here’s a fair taste all around, no matter what happens to the +roast fish.”</p> + +<p>“But isn’t it time we began to get busy eating,” sighed +Toby, looking so woe-begone that Steve, under the impression he must be almost +starved, thrust a lot of soda crackers and a piece of cheese into his hand, +saying sympathetically:</p> + +<p>“There, that will take some of the gnawing away, Toby, and keep you up +another half hour. I know how you feel, because haven’t I been there +myself many a time? I mean to take a look-in at my dandy oven soon, and if +everything is lovely we can start business at the old stand right +away.”</p> + +<p>Poor anxious Toby, how he did suffer. Evidently he had not been able wholly +to clutch the truth, strive as he might; and the solution of the mystery seemed +to be dangling there just beyond <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_122'></a>122</span> his reach, as though to tantalize him. Jack himself +wished the time would hurry and come so that he might keep his word and +“lift the lid,” in the way of explanations.</p> + +<p>When Steve went to take a look at the oven Toby insisted on accompanying him; +and when the <i>chef</i> declared that the fish was done to a turn Toby beamed +with positive delight, as though the long agonizing period of his waiting was +now surely drawing near an end.</p> + +<p>The big fish was simply elegant. The boys used up all the available +adjectives at their command in order to do the subject ample justice. Never had +a fish been better baked. Steve looked as proud as any peacock that strutted +along a wall in self-admiration. He even promised to repeat the prize supper, if +only Toby could duplicate Jack’s catch.</p> + +<p>Again and again they all passed in for more until not only the big fish was +utterly gone but serious inroads had been made by them in the other mess.</p> + +<p>“You see, I gauged our appetites fairly well after all,” Steve +was saying, as if to clear himself of any reproach along the lines of +greediness.</p> + +<p>At length they one and all declared they were through, whereupon Toby sat up +eagerly, and turned an appealing face toward Jack.</p> + +<p>“The time has come for you to keep your promise, Jack,” he went +on to say, considerably to the amazement of Steve. “So please start in and +tell <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> us who that +man is we saw digging today; what he’s after up here in the Pontico Hills; +and just who the rich old lady in Chester may be who put up the cash to finance +this expedition. The whole story, mind, and nothing held back.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER XV<br /><span class='h2fs'>JACK LIFTS THE LID</span></h2> + +<p>If Toby’s manner was a trifle dictatorial when he made this demand, +perhaps he might be excused for feeling so. At least Jack did not seem to mind +in the least, if his smile stood for anything.</p> + +<p>Toby had waited long, and suffered horribly. Minutes had dragged out in an +almost intolerable fashion as he watched the lagging sun creep down the western +heavens. But at last his time of triumph had come, when according to the +arrangement made between them he could ask Jack to redeem his promise of a full +confession.</p> + +<p>As for Steve, he was staring as hard as he could, staring with his mouth +partly open after a habit he had when astonished. Of course he soon grasped the +idea, and across his face there began to creep a broad smile. He gave Toby a +grateful look, as though disposed to crown him with a laurel wreath becoming a +victor.</p> + +<p>“Just as you say, Toby, the time seems to have arrived when you fellows +ought to be told the whole story,” began Jack, as he settled back into an +easier position. “After what you saw today, and the discovery we both +made, it would be silly for me to keep you in the dark any longer. I <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> only bound you not to +bother me about it until we’d had our supper, when Steve also might hear, +and so save me considerable talking.</p> + +<p>“Well, first of all I must tell you who the lady in the case is, and +how she came to pick me out as the one she thought could best help her. She is a +leader in the Red Cross work, and a woman well liked by nearly everybody in +Chester. Her name is Miss Priscilla Haydock!”</p> + +<p>“Do you know,” burst out Toby, “I’ve been thinking of +her ever since you let slip that our backer wasn’t a gentleman at all. +Why, they say she’s got stacks of money, and uses it freely for every good +purpose.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not so very much surprised myself,” Steve told them, +composedly; “because I know Miss Haydock right well. She often visits at +our house; and my folks think a heap of her. But go on, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“She sent for me one day, and I called at her house, where she told me +that she had a strange job for some one to do, and somehow felt that a wideawake +boy might answer a whole lot better than a man. She also said a few nice things +about having watched me on the baseball field, and how folks seemed to believe I +tried pretty hard to <i>get</i> there, whenever I had anything on my hands; but +I’ll omit the bouquet part of the interview.</p> + +<p>“Coming right down to brass tacks now, Miss Haydock informed me that +she owned pretty nearly all this Pontico Hills district up here. She <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> had taken it some years +back simply as an investment, and was holding it in hopes that some fine day a +projected railroad would go through here, when it must become valuable +property.</p> + +<p>“Latterly she had been bothered by a nephew of hers, a man from New +York City by the name of Mr. Maurice Dangerfield, who had been trying to get her +to allow him to have an option on the entire strip of land, under the plea that +he believed he had a customer who would purchase.</p> + +<p>“As the price he offered was considerably more than what she had paid, +Miss Haydock was almost tempted to agree. On thinking the matter over, however, +she came to the conclusion not to be too hasty about deciding. She happened to +know this Dangerfield was a clever individual, who had, as a rule, made his +living by being smarter than most people. He told her he was in great need, and +that the commission he expected to receive, should the deal go through, would +save him possibly from becoming a bankrupt. He was working upon her generous +nature, you see, boys; but it happened that she knew a number of things not to +his credit, and so concluded to go slow about the matter.</p> + +<p>“So she wanted me to get a couple of my chums and spend several weeks +up in the Pontico Hills camping, the only provision being that we should take a +lot of pictures to show her what the country looked like. And I was to keep a +sharp eye out for any sign of Mr. Maurice, as well as learn, if I could, just +what he was up to.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span>“She +showed me a picture of her smart nephew, and of course as soon as Toby here +described the gentleman who came into camp that day, looking so sour, I just +knew it must be he.</p> + +<p>“Now, when Toby and myself today discovered a man poking about, and +using a pickax now and then, as though searching for minerals, I suspected +instantly that we were on the verge of a discovery, and it turned out that way. +We hid in the bushes, and I even managed to snap off the party, with his pick +over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>“When he had gone, Steve, we went over to see why he had been +scratching the soil as he did, and showing so many evidences of excitement. +Well, tell him what we found, Toby.”</p> + +<p>“Oil!” ejaculated Toby, theatrically, and Steve almost fell over, +such was his astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean petroleum–crude oil?” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“Why, in some places the ground was just rank with the black-looking +stuff,” Toby assured him. “I sniffed it even before we got on the +ground; and while I’m not wonderfully bright-witted, I didn’t have +the least trouble guessing what it was.”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” continued Jack, “we don’t know just how +this Dangerfield ever got wind of the fact that the big tract of land owned by +his aunt showed traces of being an oil district, because there are no such +places within fifty miles of here; but he must have scented it out in some way, +and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> then laid all +his pipes so as to tie the property up under an option.”</p> + +<p>“Why, it would be well worth a million, if a cent,” said Toby, +“in case the wells panned out half-way decent. I’ve read a heap +about this oil business, and how many a poor farmer who had never been able to +scratch a decent living from his hundred-acre farm, woke up some fine morning to +have speculators pounding on his door, and offering him all kinds of money up to +the hundreds of thousands of dollars to sell out to them.”</p> + +<p>“So that’s really all there is to the story,” Jack went on +to say. “You know as much as I do now. Dangerfield is here on the ground. +He’s conducting some sort of work over where we heard those explosions, +and I think he must be trying to put down an experiment well, so as to convince +the men he means to take into the deal with him that it means a fortune for each +one of them.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Toby went on to say, breathlessly, “and mebbe those +dull shocks we heard came from their shooting the well. I understand they have +to start things with a blast of dynamite, when the gusher begins to +flow.”</p> + +<p>“That may be the case,” Jack admitted, “though I hardly +think a shrewd man like Dangerfield would go quite so far until he had actually +secured the option from his aunt. It may be he feels certain she will give it to +him, and is going ahead on that foundation. No matter, he certainly <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> showed signs of being +mighty well pleased at what he saw today, didn’t he, Toby?”</p> + +<p>“Just what he did, Jack, as happy as a clam at high tide,” came +the answer. “Why, there was one time I actually thought the gent was +getting daffy, for he began to dance about like a darky boy, and slap his thigh +again and again. After that he hurried away. I guess if he had any doubts +lingering over, what he discovered today did for them.”</p> + +<p>“As likely as not,” mused Jack, “he’ll go back to +Chester again, and try harder than ever to coax Aunt Priscilla to give him the +option, making out that he’s doomed to go to prison, and drag the family +name in the dust if she refuses. But she told me she was resolved not to take a +single step until she had my report.”</p> + +<p>“Then it’s goodbye to all those castles in Spain that Maurice has +been building on the strength of deceiving his rich aunt,” chuckled Steve, +as though highly amused at the way things were turning out, and proud of the +part he and his chums had taken in the game.</p> + +<p>“Are you satisfied with what you’ve learned so far, Jack?” +Toby wanted to know with an anxious look on his face. “I certainly do hope +you won’t be wanting to skip out of this the very first thing, and +breaking up our vacation camp before we’ve gotten settled down and hardly +more than started enjoying it.”</p> + +<p>Jack smiled at the earnest manner of the other.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span>“That +would be too cruel, Toby,” he assured him. “If I thought it +necessary that Miss Haydock should know what we’ve learned, why, I’d +go myself and tell her, leaving you fellows here to keep camp while I was +gone.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon the cloud gathering on Toby’s face was suddenly dissipated, +and he grinned happily again.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I hope you won’t even have to think of doing that, +Jack,” Steve remarked.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see any necessity just yet,” Jack decided, +“and unless some new and very important developments come along I think I +can hold off until we all go back home. Besides, I hope to do a little more +looking around, and perhaps take more pictures while I’m up +here.”</p> + +<p>“I get you, Jack!” cried the alert Toby. “Chances are that +you’re making up your mind to drop in and see what they’re doing +over where those blasts came from. How about that for a guess, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“You hit the bull’s-eye plum centre that time, Steve,” +laughed Jack; “because while my plans are not exactly complete, I have +that in mind. But we’ll talk it over again. There’s no particular +hurry, you see, if we expect to stay here ten or twelve days longer. The more +time we take to enjoy ourselves the better it would look, in case a spy was +hovering about, trying to learn just what we wanted up here.”</p> + +<p>“One thing sure, Jack, I hardly think we’ll be <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> able to do much +tomorrow, because all the signs point to our having wet weather,” Steve +went on to say, with the air of a prophet who could read the signs about as well +as the head of the weather bureau at Washington.</p> + +<p>“There is a feeling in the air that way,” admitted Jack. +“I’ve noticed it myself even if I didn’t say anything about +it. So I’m glad, Steve, that you proved a good provider while at home +today, laying in a fine stock of firewood that ought to last us through a couple +of days. It’ll come in handy in case we’re shut in by the +rain.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! we’re well fixed for anything like that, Jack,” +chuckled the other. “There’s that dandy camp stove we fetched along, +and haven’t had a chance yet to try out. I made a place in the tent for +it, and Mr. Whitlatch has an asbestos collar to use so that the pipe can’t +set fire to the canvas, no matter how red-hot it gets. Why, it would be well +worth enduring a rainy spell just to see how the thing works.”</p> + +<p>“And I haven’t forgotten either, Steve,” spoke up Toby, +“that you promised to make a fine batch of biscuits in the oven of that +same camp stove the first chance you got. I want to open that bottle of honey, +and have been keeping it to go on hot biscuits–of course providing +they’re a success.”</p> + +<p>“Now don’t you worry about that,” said Steve, boldly. +“I took lessons from our hired girl, and she said my biscuits were mighty +near as good as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +hers. Why, at the table they were sure enough surprised when she told Mom +I’d made the bunch.”</p> + +<p>And so they chatted and laughed until it was time to turn in again.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /><span class='h2fs'>STORM-BOUND</span></h2> + +<p>Well, it rained, just as the weather sharp had so wisely predicted.</p> + +<p>Steve chanced to be the first to hear the drops begin to patter down on the +canvas covering that sheltered them from all inclemencies of the weather. He +gave a snort as he sat bolt upright and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“There, didn’t I tell you so, fellows; listen to her come down, +will you?”</p> + +<p>“What’s all this row about?” grumbled the sleepy Toby, +hardly stirring.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s raining, don’t you hear?” snorted Steve, +as though that might be a wonderful fact.</p> + +<p>“Let her rain pitchforks for all I care,” grunted Toby. +“Lie down and go to sleep again, can’t you, Steve? What do we care, +when this tent is guaranteed waterproof? Besides, haven’t we taken all +precautions? Only old Moses will get wet, and it isn’t going to hurt him +any. So please go to sleep again, and leave me alone. I was having the most +wonderful dream, and beating the whole crowd at skating for a wonderful prize of +a pair of silver-plated skates, when you had to go and spoil the whole show. Now +I’ll never get those skates, that’s sure.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span>All through the +balance of that night the rain continued to come steadily down. At least it was +no great storm, with accompanying wind and the crashing of thunder. When morning +came it was a dismal outlook that they saw, peeping from the tent. The rain was +still falling, and a leaden gray sky overhead gave promise of a hopelessly long +and wet day.</p> + +<p>Steve had fetched along a rubber coat and boots, so that one of them could go +and come on errands, without getting soaked. Moses must be fed, to begin with, +and there would be numerous trips to make between tent and supply wagon.</p> + +<p>The fire was started in the little camp stove used by the photographer when +he took his annual pilgrimage through the country, in search of lovely views to +add to a collection he was making that would be an art treasure when he had +completed it.</p> + +<p>“Say, that works mighty fine, let me tell you!” declared Toby, +when the grateful heat from the stove began to render the interior of the big +tent very comfortable. “We’ll have no trouble keeping as snug as +three bugs in a rug, with that sheet-iron contraption to help out.”</p> + +<p>“And,” added Steve, “the oven is getting hot already. I +really believe I can do that baking today, boys; so make up your minds to eat +some of the jolliest biscuits you ever put between your teeth. I made sure to +carry all the ingredients along, barring none.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span>“I notice +that an arrangement comes with the stove so that you can burn kerosene if wood +isn’t handy,” remarked Jack; “which makes it all the more +valuable as a camp auxiliary. Lots of times wood is out of the question, but you +can get plenty of oil.”</p> + +<p>At that Steve began to chuckle.</p> + +<p>“What strikes you as being so funny, Steve?” demanded Toby, who +was amusing himself by starting breakfast on the little stove, as though not +meaning to let Steve do <i>all</i> the cooking while on their camping trip.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I was only thinking of that old saying about carrying coals to +Newcastle, you know–which place is the head coal centre over in England. +It would seem pretty much that way for fellows to lug a big can of kerosene away +up here, when the ground is actually reeking with the stuff in an unrefined +state. Perhaps it’d be possible to find a little pond of the same, and dip +up all you’d want to use.”</p> + +<p>“One thing I’m hoping won’t happen, at any rate while +we’re up here,” Toby now went on to say, reflectively; “and +that is to have the woods get afire. Whee! if that ever did happen, goodbye to +Miss Priscilla’s gold mine, in the way of an oil gusher bonanza; for the +whole country might get ablaze.”</p> + +<p>“Not much danger of that, I guess,” Jack assured him. “The +traces of oil we’ve seen must be only seepage. The main supply is hidden +far <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> down in the +earth, and until wells are sunk will stay there safe.”</p> + +<p>After all, it was very cozy there in the tent as long as the stove burned. +Fortunately the rain came from another direction, so they could have the flat +open, and so get a fair amount of light and air. The table could be dispensed +with during the time they were thus imprisoned, for being agile boys they did +not consider it much of a hardship to curl their legs under them, tailor +fashion, while they discussed their breakfast.</p> + +<p>Steve later on got out a book of travel and adventure which he had fetched +along for a rainy day, but which, previously, he had not thought to look at. As +the morning began to pass he lay there on his blanket and devoured the graphic +account of hardships endured by some dauntless party of explorers who had sought +the region of the frozen Antarctic, and come very near losing their lives while +there. Now and again Steve would shiver and ask Toby if he wouldn’t please +drop the flap of the tent a little.</p> + +<p>“Not much I will,” protested that worthy, vigorously. +“It’s hot enough in here now nearly to cook a fellow, and none too +light, either. Suppose you tuck away that book of the ice regions, which is what +makes you shake all over when you’re reading about the terrible cold they +endured. Keep it for a sizzling hot day, Steve, when it’ll do you good to +shiver a little.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! guess I might as well,” grunted the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> other, as though convinced. +“Besides, it’s getting on toward eleven, I reckon, and I really +ought to be thinking of starting my baking.”</p> + +<p>“You’re away off this time, Steve,” laughed Jack, who had a +little nickle watch along with him, though he seldom carried it on his person, +“because right now it is only a quarter to ten.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! what a long day this promises to be,” groaned Steve.</p> + +<p>“Can’t beat yesterday in my opinion,” claimed Toby. +“I actually thought the sun was nailed fast up there in the sky, because +it didn’t seem to move an inch.”</p> + +<p>“That’s because you were on the job every second,” Jack +told him. “A watched pot never boils, they used to say; but of course it +meant that the water seemed to take an unusual time in bubbling.”</p> + +<p>So Steve yawned, and lolled in his blanket, until finally Jack told him he +might as well get busy if they expected to have a feast of camp biscuits for +lunch.</p> + +<p>It was no easy task which Steve had set himself. First of all he insisted on +going out and fetching the rude table inside the tent, even if it did crowd them +a trifle.</p> + +<p>“However could you expect a <i>chef</i> to make biscuits, with never a +table to work at?” he threw at Toby when the latter ventured to complain; +and of course after that they allowed Steve to have his own way, though Toby +hung around to quiz him, until the other ordered him off.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_138'></a>138</span>“You’ll queer these delicacies if you +bother me any more, Toby,” he told him severely. “Our cook says you +ought almost to hold your breath when making them, because it’s always +easy for them to drop. Mebbe she was joshing me, but I don’t want to be +bothered and forget to put the baking powder or the salt in.”</p> + +<p>Toby kept a roaring fire going, and finally the pan of biscuits was popped +into the oven. Steve looked a bit anxious, realizing that his reputation as a +cook was now at stake.</p> + +<p>“Since we’ve got this table inside here,” spoke up Jack, +“we might as well make all the use of it we can, chucking it out again in +the rain when supper is over. Here’s a box one can sit on, and we’ll +rig up seats for the others somehow.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Steve, on hearing this. “That gives my legs +a chance to keep out of snarls. I never could curl up like some fellows. But I +wonder how they’re coming on inside the oven?”</p> + +<p>“What, your legs?” exclaimed Toby, jeeringly; “why, I +didn’t know we were going to be treated to roast <i>mutton</i> today, did +you, Jack?”</p> + +<p>Steve took a peep.</p> + +<p>“Believe me, they’re beginning to turn a light brown already; and +say, they look as light as any Mary Ann ever made at our house,” was his +joyous announcement.</p> + +<p>He seemed to act as though the fate of nations depended on the successful +issue of his first camp baking. Indeed, Toby was secretly almost as <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> much concerned as Steve, +for he dearly loved hot biscuits, and counted himself a pretty good judge of +them.</p> + +<p>To dismiss the subject, it may be said that Steve’s experiment turned +out to be a success. Jack congratulated him on making such dainty biscuits; +while Toby declared that the proof of the pudding lay in the eating; and the +fact that he was making such desperate inroads on the stack that graced the dish +in the center of the table showed his appreciation.</p> + +<p>So Steve was made very happy, and readily promised that there would be no +lack of fresh bread while the stock of flour held out, and that dandy little +stove was in working order.</p> + +<p>The afternoon proved terribly long to all of them. Sometimes they would take +turns at dozing, for the patter of the rain among the leaves, and on the canvas +above their heads, made a sort of lullaby that induced sleep. Several times the +rain would die out for a short time, only to make a fresh start again after +exciting false hopes.</p> + +<p>“Well,” observed Jack, as evening drew on apace, “we might +have been a whole lot worse off. The tent hasn’t leaked a drop, that +I’ve noticed; and thanks to the stove we’ve been comfortable enough. +Let’s hope it’ll rain itself out during the night, and give us a +chance to get moving tomorrow.”</p> + +<p>This did not prove to be the case, for it turned out to be one of those +easterly storms that usually <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_140'></a>140</span> last the better part of three days, with almost a +constant downpour, though not very heavy at any time.</p> + +<p>When another day came, it was still dark and gloomy, though not raining just +then. They managed to get a chance to stretch themselves outside before it set +in again. Steve was the one who did most of the complaining, though Toby +grumbled quite a bit also.</p> + +<p>Along toward noon, it brightened up some. Toby even declared with bated +breath that he fancied he glimpsed a tiny patch of blue sky, “large enough +to make a pair of trousers.”</p> + +<p>“But the signs all show that it’s clearing off,” observed +Steve, exultantly, fixing his weather-sharp eye on the aforesaid patch of azure +sky. “You know the old saying is, ‘Between eleven and two it’ll tell +you what it’s going to do,’ so I’m counting on our having a +decent afternoon of it.”</p> + +<p>His prediction proved to be correct. The clouds began to part, and at exactly +noon, according to Jack’s watch, the sun looked out from behind the dark +curtains that had hidden his genial face for so long a spell.</p> + +<p>“It’ll take the whole afternoon for the woods to get decently dry +again,” Jack was saying just then; “so we’ll have to keep +quiet for a little spell. But I’ve got a scheme on foot that will take two +of us away all of tomorrow, and perhaps the day afterwards, leaving one to guard +the camp. And you two fellows must toss up to see who goes, and who +stays.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span><a id='link_17'></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE PROSPECTORS</span></h2> + +<p>“Well, for one, I don’t want to be kept in suspense so +long,” Toby began; “and I move we settle that question right away, +Steve, by drawing straws.”</p> + +<p>“After all, it had better be you who goes with Jack, Toby,” the +other generously went on to say. “To tell you the truth I’m a little +afraid that heel of mine hasn’t just given up the fight yet, and a very +long tramp just now might make it hurt again like sixty.”</p> + +<p>“No, that wouldn’t be fair,” urged Toby, doggedly. +“You’ve got to take your chance at it. If I do go I want to feel +that I’m not cheating you out of your opportunity. I like to have a clean +conscience. Here, Jack, you hold the straws. The one who gets the shorter stays +behind; that’s understood. And Steve shall draw first, because I picked +the straws.”</p> + +<p>Evidently, there could hardly be a more conscientious boy that Toby Hopkins, +for he was always looking out for the rights of the other fellow. That was the +main reason why Jack Winters had chosen him for one of his closest chums. He +knew he could depend on Toby to do the right thing every time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span>Well, Steve had +the nerve deliberately to draw the short straw. He grinned when he discovered +what luck he had had, as though not so very much displeased after all.</p> + +<p>“That settles it right, Toby,” he went on to say, pleasantly. +“’Course it’ll seem like an everlastingly long time while I’m +loafing here, but my heel is going to have a fair chance to get well. Then +I’ve got that bully book, which I can enjoy if the weather gets real warm, +so I won’t shiver at descriptions of the terrible times they had when +nearly freezing to death in the ice packs. Oh! don’t look like you pitied +me; I’m just as well satisfied it worked out that way.”</p> + +<p>They did a good many things that afternoon. Jack got his camera in order for +further work, because, of course, he meant to carry it along with him.</p> + +<p>“Will you want to take the gun, too?” asked Steve, with a touch +of solicitude in his manner; for he rather counted on having the firearm with +him in camp, as a sort of protection that would serve to ease his mind; because +it would be a pretty lonely night of it.</p> + +<p>“No, we’ll leave that for you, Steve,” said Jack, +immediately, as though all that had been settled in his mind.</p> + +<p>“How about your meals?” Steve now asked. “If you expect to +be gone over night, it’ll mean that three or four times you’ll want +to break your fast. What sort of grub do you mean to carry <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> along with you that doesn’t need +cooking; for I take it you’ll hardly expect to make a fire, for fear of +being discovered?”</p> + +<p>“You’re right about the fire part of it, Steve,” Jack +informed him; “as for our food, I’ve arranged all that. You see, we +fetched along a number of things that will come in handy for such a trip. In the +first place, we’ll carry a lot of sweet chocolate; that always sustains a +fellow when he’s weak from hunger. Then there’s that big hunk of +fine dried beef, which I’m particularly fond of, and can eat just as I cut +it from the strip.”</p> + +<p>“The Indians always used to carry pemmican along with them, to munch on +when going into the enemy’s country where a fire would endanger their +lives,” announced Toby. “And this modern dried beef is something +like the venison they smoked and cured until it was fairly black. They say a +redskin could travel all day on just a handful of maize or corn, and as much +pemmican; stopping to quench his thirst at some running stream or +spring.”</p> + +<p>“There are several other things we have with us that we can carry to +help out in the food line,” Jack continued. “You must know that they +have malted milk that only needs water to make a splendid and nourishing drink. +Besides, there is desiccated egg in the shape of powder that is the real thing +preserved. I have also several tins of soup that I can heat up day or night +without a trace of fire.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_144'></a>144</span>“That’s a queer thing, Jack,” +spoke up Toby; “tell us how the thing is done, won’t you +please?”</p> + +<p>Jack stepped over to the supply wagon and soon returned bearing one of the +tins in question, which Toby noticed now was a trifle more bulky than others +that he remembered seeing containing prepared soups.</p> + +<p>“This is quite a clever idea,” proceeded Jack. “You see, it +consists of really two cans, one inside the other. The narrow space between is +filled with unslacked lime. When you feel like having a meal, all you have to do +is to punch a hole close to the edge on top, and pour in some cold water. This +immediately makes the lime furiously hot, and in a short time you can open the +main can and your soup is almost scalding. I tried one can at home, and it +worked to a charm. My dad was quite tickled with it, and said they never had +such splendid things when he was young and used to go off into the woods on +camping or surveying trips.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I see we’re not going to starve yet awhile, even if we +can’t have a nice pot of coffee while on the job,” laughed the +pleased Toby, handling the wonderfully self-heating can of vegetable soup almost +reverently.</p> + +<p>So the afternoon passed.</p> + +<p>Jack had everything laid out, for, as he said, it might be well for them to +get an early start on the following morning, since they had quite a tramp before +them, and would want to take their <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_145'></a>145</span> time during the latter half of the journey, when +there might be more or less danger of discovery.</p> + +<p>“Of course,” Jack assured them, “I don’t expect to +keep this sort of thing up all the time we’re here in camp. That would be +making it too much a matter of business. Once I’ve settled on what this +Mr. Maurice is doing, and managed to gather up all the evidence necessary, I +shall put him out of my mind; and after that we’ll just enjoy ourselves to +the limit, as we deserve.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Toby; “and if ever any fellows had a better +chance to enjoy themselves I’d like to know it; with such a splendid tent +for a shelter, a jolly camp stove that keeps you warm in chilly or wet weather; +and ten days left that can all be filled with delight.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t forget that we’ve another cause for rejoicing in the +possession of a most delightful stock of things to eat,” interrupted +Steve, sagely, “as well as a real biscuit and flapjack <i>chef</i> +who’s willing to lay himself out to the limit for the good of his +chums.”</p> + +<p>The rest of the day proved all that could be desired. It warmed up +considerably, too, although when the sun had set in a blaze of glory, and +evening began to steal softly upon the scene, there was a little tang to the air +that made the campfire, built outdoors, feel doubly acceptable to them.</p> + +<p>Nor were they disturbed at all during the night that followed. Moses, being +well looked after, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +found no opportunity to slip his tether, and surprise them with a nocturnal +visit. Doubtless it was not from lack of trying that he failed to make a second +attack upon the oat-sack in the wagon, for fond memories of that other occasion +must still linger with him, to judge from the pitiful whinnies he gave vent to +from time to time throughout the night.</p> + +<p>Once Toby awakened the other two by talking. He fancied he had heard another +of those strange booming sounds; but as Jack, who was a light sleeper, declared +he had caught no such dull crash, it was determined that Toby must have been +dreaming.</p> + +<p>So morning found them.</p> + +<p>Toby being the first to crawl out immediately announced that the signs were +all propitious.</p> + +<p>“Going to be a fine day, Jack,” he went on to say, “though +I reckon it’ll warm up more or less along toward noon. But I’m so +glad the rain has gone that I’ll willingly stand any amount of heat +instead. Come, get a move on you, Steve; I’m starting up the cooking fire, +and you promised us we would have a batch of flapjacks this morning, +remember.”</p> + +<p>“I believe I did in a rash moment,” blustered Steve, making his +appearance, clad in his wonderfully striped pajamas; “and as I always try +to keep my word I reckon I’m in for it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! you’ll have it easy enough while we’re gone,” +Toby told him, “with only one to look <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_147'></a>147</span> after. Perhaps now you’ll be glad to see us +come trailing back home again some time tomorrow afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“No question about that, Toby,” the other told him, as he +commenced with his customary early morning exercises, modeled somewhat after the +type of those in use in the army, and which were best calculated to take all the +stiffness and numbness out of his system, brought about by curling up under his +blanket.</p> + +<p>There was really little to do save eat breakfast, since Jack had looked after +all necessary preparations on the previous afternoon. Steve did not seem quite +so hilarious as usual, Jack could not but notice. He understood the reason why, +and while he hated to think of leaving the other behind, it was really +necessary, since the camp must be guarded during their absence.</p> + +<p>Later on the pair prepared to sally forth. Steve allowed the breakfast things +to lie around, promising to look after them when he had seen the last of his two +departing chums. Toby had filled his pockets with crackers and cheese, in +addition to the amount of other things which he was to carry as his share of the +burden. It looked as though Toby did not mean to starve to death during his +absence from the fountain head of supplies. But then Toby did not differ to any +great extent from any other wholesome boy with an appetite that knew no limit. +Steve even urged various other edibles upon the adventures until one would think +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> they were planning +to be gone a whole week or more, instead of a scant two days.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe we’ve overlooked anything,” asserted +Toby, as they drew up to make their start.</p> + +<p>“Well, if we hang around here much longer we’ll be having the +entire supply of grub shoved on us,” laughed Jack, quite amused by +Steve’s generosity; “so I guess we’d better say goodbye, and +clear out while the going is good. Take care of yourself, Steve, and have as +easy a time as you can. You’ll get your chance to navigate after we come +back again, and must try the fishing with Toby here for a starter.”</p> + +<p>“So-long, fellows, and the best of luck go with you!” called out +Steve, as they launched upon their journey, Toby with a stout staff, and Jack +having his camera dangling over his shoulder by the strap.</p> + +<p>He stood there watching them plunge into the depths of the woods. Every time +one of them glanced back Steve would wave his hat to show that he still watched. +There was a trace of regret in his manner, though he had bravely tried to hide +it from Jack’s observing eye. Of course Steve hated to see them go away to +stay so long; it would be mighty lonely in camp all by himself; and the coming +of night could not be expected to give him a great amount of cheer.</p> + +<p>But then Steve was a sensible chap, capable of making the best of a bad +bargain. He would find plenty to do to amuse himself; and as a last resort <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> he had that entertaining +volume, only one-quarter read up to now, upon which he could depend to make the +time pass. So after they had vanished from his vision Steve turned around and +proceeded to clean up the breakfast things for a starter.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span><a id='link_18'></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>INSIDE THE ENEMY’S LINES</span></h2> + +<p>Jack and Toby pushed on through the woods. Having been over the course much +of the way before, going and returning, they would find it much easier than if +everything was strange to them.</p> + +<p>“No use trying to see our trail, is there, Jack?” the other had +remarked after they were fairly started on their way.</p> + +<p>“Well, it would have to be a pretty deep lot of tracks that would not +be washed out in all that downpour of steady rain,” Jack advised him. +“But then there are scores of other things by means of which we’ll +be able to know we are going over about the same route as before. For instance, +you remember seeing that stone yonder, that seems to be so neatly balanced on +another larger one, just as if human hands had placed it there?”</p> + +<p>“Why, of course I do, and we even stopped to look at it closer,” +replied Toby. “I called it Saddle Rock, because the top does resemble a +saddle a whole lot. Yes, and I shall be on the lookout for that remarkable +looking tree that made us think of a camel’s hump, it was so curved. It +wasn’t a great way beyond these same rocks, if I’m not off my +bearings.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_151'></a>151</span>“We’ll run across it before ten minutes +more,” commented Jack; and sure enough that was just what they did.</p> + +<p>So, thanks to the habit of observing things all the time, they were enabled +to follow their former course just as unerringly as though they had been picking +up a well-beaten trail.</p> + +<p>Of course they talked of many things as they trudged along, for as yet there +was no positive reason which made it necessary for them to keep quiet. That +would come later on, when they drew nearer the danger zone.</p> + +<p>As often happened Toby’s thoughts ran back in a groove and centred +about the home country. It was only natural that this should be so; for no +sooner are boys off on a vacation trip before home, which may have seemed very +monotonous before, with its school duties, and the many restrictions on their +liberty, begins to assume a highly magnified place in their concern. As the old +saying has it, “you never miss the water till the well runs dry,” +and boys become so accustomed to accepting the comforts of home that they fail +to appreciate them until all of a sudden they find themselves cast upon their +own resources, and face to face with responsibilities they may never have +dreamed of before.</p> + +<p>From time to time the faces of all his Chester comrades had a fashion of +rising up before Toby, and he could even imagine himself talking with them, +perhaps relating some of the lively happenings <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_152'></a>152</span> of that two weeks in the woods up in the wonderful +Pontico Hills country.</p> + +<p>“I got to thinking yesterday afternoon, while dozing there in the +tent,” Toby remarked at one time, “and wondering just what sort of +an eleven Chester could put in the field this Fall. Some of us have had a little +practice at football work, but other promising players would have to begin right +at the start, and learn all there is to the game.”</p> + +<p>“That can be done easily enough,” Jack informed him. “Fact +is, it’s a more simple thing to start right in the beginning, than to have +to undo some false notions, for let a fellow once get into a certain habit, and +it’s hard to break him of it.”</p> + +<p>“One thing we can count ourselves lucky over, Jack; that’s having +such a good coach as old Joe Hooker. He used to be a crackerjack football player +in his day; and it was a good deal owing to his work with the nine that Chester +won through with Harmony in baseball.”</p> + +<p>“We all give old Joe most of the credit,” Jack told him, bluntly; +“and he’s promised to whip the eleven into a smoothly running team +before the season begins. Inside of two months, or soon after school opens +again, there’ll be pretty lively doings in Chester, with the squad out for +drill nearly every afternoon. All of us have got to get as hard as nails, so we +can stand every kind of thumping without weakening.”</p> + +<p>“Have you made out any sort of list so far, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> Jack, as to who’s going to get a +chance for the big eleven?”</p> + +<p>“I have a list of all available candidates, if that’s what you +mean, Toby; but no selection can possibly be made until they’ve all had a +chance to show what’s in them. Some who don’t seem to promise a +great deal in the start will surprise everybody before they’ve been at +work a week. On the other hand there will be bitter disappointments in the +bunch, and fellows on whom I’ve depended may fail to come up to the +scratch and qualify.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I certainly hope I’m not one of that lot,” said +Toby, between his set teeth, since his heart had long been yearning for a chance +to shine on the gridiron as a particular star, to hear the roar of plaudits from +the vast crowd assembled, when fortune allowed him to make some sensational play +that would advance his side closer to final victory.</p> + +<p>“Nobody can tell until the test comes, what they will be able to do, +Toby. For my part I shall be bitterly sorry if both you and Steve do not make +the team. And then there’s Big Bob Jeffries, who ought to be a magnificent +full-back; while long-legged Joel Jackman, and Fred Badger should shine as right +and left tackle. Besides, I’d surely love to see Phil Parker, Herbert +Jones and Hugh McGuffey pull through, because they’re all good fellows, +and with the right sort of grit to do well in football.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span>“I know +I’m going to be on needles and pins up to the time the final selection is +made,” affirmed Toby. “And you’d better believe I want to go +in, if at all, on my honest individual merits. No favoritism can ever be +tolerated in football, where a single weak link in the chain spells ultimate +defeat for the team, no matter how strong the other ten men may be. The opposing +players can quickly learn where the soft snap lies, and after that will devote +all their efforts to tearing a hole through the ranks just there where the line +will give way soonest.”</p> + +<p>“Game words for you to speak, Toby,” commented Jack, full of +satisfaction over the thought of having such an honest chum, whose every +interest was for the glory of his team, rather than a desire to make an +individual reputation, regardless of the general good.</p> + +<p>Later on they found themselves at a well-remembered spot. The morning was +fairly well advanced by that time. Toby was looking around him eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Say, wasn’t it right about here we were held up by that onery +cat the other afternoon, Jack?” he asked, with a trace of excitement in +his voice.</p> + +<p>“There’s the tree right over in front of us, in which she was +located when we first heard her angry snarls and spitting,” his companion +told him. “But that’s no sign at all the beast is anywhere near here +now. For all we know she may be ten or a dozen miles away.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span>“I hope +so, anyhow,” honest Toby hastily remarked; but he still continued to cast +nervous glances to the right and to the left as they pushed slowly forward, +keeping to the open line of the little ridge.</p> + +<p>Several times something gave him a start. Now it was a rabbit that, without +warning, leaped from a clump of grass, and darted away with long bounds. Then a +bird flew up from a bush, and the sound of its wings made Toby unconsciously +remember the singular spitting noise which the mottled cat with the ears that +lay back on her head gave utterance to, as she warned them to advance no further +on penalty of being clawed.</p> + +<p>But they were not attacked. The neighborhood just then seemed singularly free +from malignant four-footed enemies armed with sharp teeth and nails. A +dun-colored object just vanishing in a sink some little distance away Toby +identified as an extra large fox that had been aroused from his noonday nap by +the rustle of footsteps amidst the foliage, or the murmur of their lowered +voices. No one made any attempt to interfere with the retreat of Reynard; +indeed, they carried no weapon that could have halted his flight, even though +inclined that way, which was far from being the case.</p> + +<p>Remembering that when stopped on the previous occasion they had had reason to +believe they must be within a mile or so of the region from whence those +singular blasting noises proceeded, the two scouts from that time on slowed down +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> their pace and +maintained a more vigilant watch than ever, particularly keeping an eye ahead +for any sign of enemies.</p> + +<p>It was Toby, it chanced, who made a discovery.</p> + +<p>“Stand still, Jack, and look through this vista ahead of us. +Isn’t that a man I can see standing there, with a gun in his +hand?”</p> + +<p>“Just what it is, Toby, and from his actions I’d say he is some +sort of sentry or vidette, who is busy watching the open trail we’ve been +following for so long, as it seems to be a sort of woods thoroughfare, possibly +running to the bank of the river somewhere.”</p> + +<p>“That looks suspicious, doesn’t it, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“It looks as if they’re up to some business that they do not want +to be discovered at,” came the low reply. “I suppose that Mr. +Dangerfield, learning of our presence in the woods, and that we’re all +from Chester, is afraid that we may take a notion to wander over this way; and +he has that guard stationed there to warn us back. Perhaps he’d tell some +sort of stiff story about Uncle Sam conducting an experimental proving station +with aerial torpedoes, or something like that, up here; and that no one is +allowed to set a foot on the ground under a severe penalty. But we’ll take +care to give that guard a wide berth.”</p> + +<p>“You must mean we’ll navigate around him, make a wide circle, so +to speak, eh, Jack?” asked Toby, thrilled with the prospect of soon +finding himself within the lines of the enemy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span>“Yes, and +right here is where we must begin the operation,” Jack announced. +“We can take his bearings, and cut around on the right, where the cover +seems to be exceptionally good and heavy. No hurry about it either, remember, +Toby. We must make sure of our ground as we go. Given half an hour, and we ought +to have left the vidette handsomely in the lurch.”</p> + +<p>It was very exciting, so Toby thought. Secretly he deplored the fact that +their only gun had to be left in camp with Steve. He would have felt better +could he but know they had some means of defense with them. However, Jack +evidently did not intend allowing anything to arise necessitating such action. +He expected to be able to carry out his little spying expedition without +betraying the fact of their presence to any of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Once they had circled around and come upon the open stretch again they kept +stealing forward. When once more they heard the deep-toned bark of that dog, +Jack stopped in his tracks.</p> + +<p>“We must change our course again, Toby,” he announced, briefly; +“the wind is striking us on the right cheek, when it should be dead ahead; +or that beast will soon be getting our scent. So let’s strike off here, +and make another half circuit; when we can push ahead, and reach our goal +unchallenged.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span><a id='link_19'></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE COMING OF THE CRISIS</span></h2> + +<p>It was now after three by the sun, Jack judged, after flinging a look up +toward the king of day, shining powerfully half-way down the western sky. There +would be plenty of time for them to do what spying they wished, and then, +seeking some retired spot, pass the night quietly. When another day came they +could lay their plans accordingly.</p> + +<p>They found some little difficulty in making the turn, for in places the +undergrowth was so dense as to delay their progress considerably. Jack had taken +his measures for the flank movement, and knew just when they had gone far +enough. The passing air fanning his cheek told him that much. Besides, +occasionally they heard some sign from the dog; which Jack judged must be tied +up, from the fretful character of his mouthings. There is all the difference in +the world between the cheerful bark of a hound free to go and come, and the +depressed utterance of one that is fastened to kennel or tree by rope or +chain.</p> + +<p>Thus another half hour slipped by.</p> + +<p>“I hear voices, Jack,” whispered the trembling Toby, when they +had been creeping forward for <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_159'></a>159</span> some little time after resuming their forward +progress.</p> + +<p>The other did not reply, only pressed a forefinger upon his lips, and nodded +his head in the affirmative. Toby understood from this that communications +between them were to be exceedingly limited in scope from that time on; and when +necessary, must be made in the most cautious of tones.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards they had a glimpse of moving objects some little distance +beyond. They could easily make them out to be several men, roughly dressed as a +rule, and who seemed to be rushing this way and that as though laboring under +considerable stress of excitement.</p> + +<p>But both boys saw more than that. Reared against the low sky-line was a +skeleton framework made of timbers. Jack had never actually seen an oil derrick +before in his life, but he knew that this was one. Undoubtedly their guess had +been a true one. Maurice Dangerfield, the unscrupulous nephew of Miss Priscilla, +was so convinced there was oil to be found on her property that he had entered +into an arrangement with some experienced parties accustomed to putting down +wells to make an experimental boring, and the skeleton framework had been used +in carrying out the said sinking.</p> + +<p>“They’ve gone and done it, as sure as anything, Jack,” +whispered Toby, feeling that it was still safe to do this, since the men were +all at some little distance from them; and moreover seemed <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> completely engrossed with what gripped +their attention. “That’s an oil derrick and they’ve sunk a +trial well. Isn’t it so, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“No question about it, Toby. We must move around a dozen feet, so as to +find fresh cover; then we’ll keep on creeping up. I’d like above +everything to get close enough to snap off a picture of that derrick.”</p> + +<p>“Sure you must, Jack,” breathed Toby, instantly falling in with +the scheme, as he usually did with anything originating in his companion’s +fertile brain. “Once they saw that thing, with Mr. Maurice standing near +the foot of the same, there’d be no trouble convincing a jury he was +guilty.”</p> + +<p>Jack lost no further time. He appeared quite anxious to close in before the +sun got too low in the heavens to allow a good strong picture. The wind +continued to favor them as before; and all doubt about the dog being tied up was +removed when once they had caught a glimpse of the beast sitting disconsolately +on his haunches in front of what appeared to be a rude kennel made from the +hollow butt of a big tree.</p> + +<p>All the while they were thus creeping up they could hear the men calling out +to one another. Jack suspected from the excited tenor of their conversation that +some great crisis was drawing near. He watched them working at the foot of the +derrick, and soon had convictions concerning the nature of their labor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span>Unable to resist +the temptation to learn whether his suspicions regarding the presence of oil +deep down in the earth were well founded or not, and possibly urged on also by +some speculator whom he had taken into the secret, Dangerfield had finally +consented to “shoot” the well, and settle the question once for +all.</p> + +<p>Apparently a kind Fate had led Jack and Toby to the spot just when the crisis +was reached. They were likely to witness the operation and learn the result, +though uninvited, and unwelcome guests.</p> + +<p>By degrees they managed to get close enough up to suit the purposes of the +intending photographer. If they ventured any further they ran a great risk of +being seen by one of the men, or else scented by the keen nose of the dog. +Already Jack could see from the actions of the beast that his suspicions had +been aroused. He no longer sat there as before, watching the men, but walked up +and down from side to side as far as his tether would allow, sniffing the air in +a significant manner, and occasionally giving a doleful howl; at which one of +the workers would turn to make a threatening gesture, and call out angrily at +him.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly every one of them must be worked up to a state of nervous +tension, and the actions of the dog irritated his owner.</p> + +<p>From the way in which Jack now commenced to act Toby knew he was getting +ready to snap off a picture. He picked away the green leaves <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> in front of him so as to +allow of a small round opening. Through this he expected to sight his camera, +and get the oil derrick in focus; after which a slight click would announce that +his object had been accomplished.</p> + +<p>Toby crouched there, fairly holding his breath. He knew that Jack did not +wish any further attempt to be made to hold even the briefest of conversations. +Toby, bound to witness whatever was going on out there in the open, had copied +the example set by his comrade, and picked away the leaves that intervened, +allowing himself an admirable peephole.</p> + +<p>Here he knelt and watched and waited. Jack evidently was quite particular. He +undoubtedly wanted his picture to be an excellent one, and would not risk +failure through being in too great a hurry. It seemed to the impatient Toby that +an hour must have passed since they ensconced themselves in their present +location, when he just faintly caught the anticipated click that announced the +accomplishment of Jack’s work.</p> + +<p>Twisting his head slightly around Toby could see his chum calmly turning the +film so as to bring another blank in line for a second shot. Jack believed in +making sure of such an important picture. Far better to waste good films than to +find that he had failed to get as clear a negative as he wished.</p> + +<p>Again he snapped off the scene, doubtless with the idea of catching +Dangerfield in full view, with <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_163'></a>163</span> his face exposed toward the camera, so that he +might be readily recognized by one who knew him as well as his aunt did.</p> + +<p>Nor did Jack stop there, but prepared for a third exposure. When he did not +press the bulb, but only held himself in readiness to do at a second’s +warning, Toby suddenly grasped what must undoubtedly be in the other’s +mind. Jack meant to try his best to secure a picture of the +“shooting” of the oil well, if such a thing lay within the bounds of +possibility! It was a splendid idea, and fairly staggered Toby by its immensity; +but then Jack always aimed high, and dared attempt things that might seem far +beyond attainment when viewed through the eyes of other boys.</p> + +<p>Well, whatever was in the wind, Toby thought, it would not be long in +developing now, judging from the increased tension out there where men were +running back and forth, calling to each other, and some of them removing +valuable instruments used in the boring as though to a place of safety.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was coming, and hidden there in their leafy retreat he and Jack would +be able to witness the great event. Toby was ready to call himself an +exceedingly lucky fellow, to be given this wonderful privilege, it must have +seemed a momentous thing even had they been present with the knowledge of those +oil workers; but the fact of lying concealed and spying upon the group, added +immensely to the thrill of the situation, Toby thought.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span>Now and again he +would shoot an apprehensive glance in the direction of the dog. Toby did not +exactly like the looks of the beast, nor his actions either. Plainly the animal +shared the excitement of the men, or else he suspected the presence of intruders +near by, and was becoming wild to break loose and find them.</p> + +<p>He jumped from side to side, and strained at his tether violently, while +uttering sharp, snappy barks, and low vicious growls. His master, not +comprehending what ailed the animal, picked up a stick and advanced toward him +threateningly; whereat the beast crept into his stump kennel; only to come out +again almost immediately and strain to get loose once more.</p> + +<p>Toby was greatly exercised lest that rope give way. If such a thing happened +he knew it would be all up with himself and Jack, for they would have to defend +themselves against the hound’s teeth, and must inevitably be made +prisoners by some of the men.</p> + +<p>What would happen then was an unpleasant thought for Toby to entertain. Why, +it might be they would be kept there until Maurice had been to see Priscilla, +and coaxed her to give him an option on the property; which would really be too +bad. So Toby hoped, and watched, and waited, to see the climax, his attention +divided between the hound dog and the oil derrick, where the cluster of men +moved to and fro.</p> + +<p>The minutes were “shod with lead,” according <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> to Toby’s notion, and he ought to +know what that meant, after his recent experience along the line of anxiety; if +something did not happen pretty soon he feared he would be worked up to such a +pitch that he must give a yell, or burst. And then again, unless the great event +came about inside of fifteen or twenty minutes surely Jack would be unable to +get the kind of picture on which his heart was set.</p> + +<p>Then Toby fell rigid, and stared again through his peephole. The men were +hurrying away from the vicinity of the derrick now! Plainly the stage was set +for the closing scene of the strange little woods drama, and the time had +arrived to make use of the electric battery in order to fire the dynamite +cartridge lowered into the hole from which the boring tool had been lifted.</p> + +<p>Toby held his breath from very awe, and pressed his face still further into +the leafy screen. No danger of discovery now, since those men were one and all +watching the derrick, as though it were a magnet that held their attention as +the North Pole draws the needle of the mariner’s compass.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a quiver to the earth, and a dull deep-seated roar. Then +an unseen giant arose in his might, and tossed the derrick upwards as though it +were composed of mere straws. With the flying timbers came what seemed to be a +stream of dirty water, flying far up in the air, as though a fireman’s +hose had been turned on! <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_166'></a>166</span> That must be the dark-looking crude oil, mingled +with water, Toby conjectured, as he continued to gape and wonder. Then after all +the suspicions of Maurice Dangerfield had proven true, and the Pontico Hills +region did harbor rich deposits of valuable oil!</p> + +<p>He hoped Jack had been equal to the emergency, and pressed the rubber bulb of +his camera just at the instant when remnants of the dislocated derrick, and that +rush of precious mineral oil stood out against the eastern heavens so +wonderfully clear!</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span><a id='link_20'></a>CHAPTER XX<br /><span class='h2fs'>OUT OF THE WOODS–CONCLUSION</span></h2> + +<p>“Now, let’s get away from here while the going is good,” +said Jack in the ear of his companion, after he had taken yet another view of +the scene, with the excited men running forward toward the sprouting oil well, +which possibly they might later on seek to plug up, if such a thing were +possible.</p> + +<p>Toby was nothing loth. He had seen all he wanted, and still feared lest that +hound dog might either break loose, or else be given his liberty by his master, +either case meaning immediate trouble and exposure for the two lads.</p> + +<p>Once they had withdrawn to some little distance and they could increase their +pace, Jack seemed to be fairly bubbling over with delight, since all his plans +had worked out so admirably. If those pictures only turned out as well as he +anticipated he expected to have a pretty spread to show Miss Priscilla Haydock +when once more he sought an interview with her. And certainly the clever schemes +of the plotting nephew would be nipped in the bud.</p> + +<p>“Are we heading for the camp, Jack?” asked Toby, a little +nervously, because he knew a long and arduous journey stared them in the face, +much of which would have to be undertaken after night <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> had fallen; and the prospect of going +through those dark wildcat-infested woods in the gloom, even with a little +electric torch to aid them, was far from a pleasing thought.</p> + +<p>“No, there’s no need of our hurrying like that,” the other +told him, greatly to Toby’s delight. “We’ll just go a mile or +so further on, and hunt up a retired gully, where we can make a little fire if +we want it, and pass the night in true hunters’ style.”</p> + +<p>This they proceeded to do. There was no difficulty about finding just such a +gully, because there were dozens from which to make a selection. And the chances +of their being discovered seemed negligible, according to Jack. Still, on the +way he took some pains to lose the scent by having Toby copy his example, and +wading for some little distance along in a brook. Water leaves no trail that a +dog can follow, and so Jack felt that he was making things additionally secure +by taking this trouble.</p> + +<p>They had their fire, and warmed some water in a cup Jack carried; with which +they made a mess of malted milk. It was not equal to fragrant coffee, both boys +agreed, but better than cold water.</p> + +<p>So they sat there munching their supper, and exchanging comments. There was +much of interest to talk about, for the wonderful things they had just witnessed +would always remain fresh in their memories.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_169'></a>169</span>“I’ll develop the film as soon as I +can,” Jack was saying later on, after the shades of night had gathered +around them, and they allowed the little fire to go out as an insurance against +discovery through its glow, which might be seen some distance away. “Then +if things turn out well I might take a run down to town, leaving the camp in +charge of you fellows for a day, and hurrying back again.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean with old Moses to take you?” asked Toby, +incredulously; “you’d have to figure on two days at his rate of +travel, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’ve got a scheme that can beat that all hollow,” +laughed the boy who was forever observing things, and turning them to his +advantage when the occasion or the necessity arose. “Down the road three +miles you remember we saw the last farm, and quite an extensive one at that. I +paid particular attention to the fact that the owner had a flivver of a car in +his shed, as most farmers do in these enlightened days. I’ll pay him well +to take me to Chester and back. He can be doing some errand in town while +waiting for me. And since we’re not limited as to money in a game that +might mean hundreds of thousands to Miss Priscilla, I’m sure I can get my +ride, if I have to coax the farmer with a promise of twenty dollars.”</p> + +<p>They had a quiet night, though from time to time when he chanced to be awake +Toby listened to the barking of the hound dog with a little trace of his former +apprehension. But nothing happened <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_170'></a>170</span> to disturb them, and with the coming of morning +they made another small fire, at which they prepared a warm drink from the +malted milk; and even after a fashion had a queer tasting omelette, using some +of the egg powder with milk added. Toby made a grimace while eating, but +nevertheless finished his share of the omelette that had been cooked on a smooth +flat stone, placed over the red-hot embers of the fire.</p> + +<p>Afterwards they set out for camp. Trudging along steadily, and without any +going astray, the pair finally arrived just when Steve was busying himself in +getting up a midday meal, and wisely cooking enough for three while about +it.</p> + +<p>Of course Steve was wild to hear what had happened. And as it would be cruel +to keep the poor fellow in suspense, after he had so willingly stayed at home, +Jack told him what they had seen and accomplished.</p> + +<p>Steve was delighted. He danced a regular sailor’s hornpipe upon hearing +how the several pictures had been snapped off, while the men remained in utter +ignorance of the presence of the two boys near by.</p> + +<p>Toby, too, related how nervous the barking dog had made him, and how much he +had feared lest the beast break loose, and disclose their presence back of that +leafy screen.</p> + +<p>Once the midday meal had been disposed of Jack busied himself with his +daylight developing tank. Toby hovered near, and seemed just as anxious <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> as could be concerning +the ultimate results. When Jack showed him the negatives, looking particularly +clear in blacks and whites, Toby gave a whoop of pleasure.</p> + +<p>“They’ll make dandy pictures, believe me, Jack!” he cried, +after closely examining the roll of film the other was holding up, after fixing +the same, and starting to wash the hypo off. “Why, I warrant you, with a +magnifying glass there’ll be no trouble at all in identifying that Maurice +and his crowd one by one, as they were nearly all facing the camera when you +shut it off. And say, you’ve caught the pyramid of timbers and oil and +stones just at its height! Shake hands on the strength of your big scoop, +Jack!”</p> + +<p>The artist himself fairly beamed with joy. He knew that he had met with +abounding success in his task, which had been one few professional photographers +could have accomplished as well.</p> + +<p>He meant to dry the film that afternoon, and if the sun remained strong +enough he could make some prints. If not, possibly he might succeed with his +little electric hand-torch after darkness had come.</p> + +<p>In the end he managed to secure all he required, and just as Toby had said +they turned out to be splendid pictures.</p> + +<p>When morning came Jack started off along the logging road, bound for the +thoroughfare which led to Chester, many miles away. He found the farmer ready to +make twenty dollars for a day’s <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_172'></a>172</span> run to Chester, and reached town inside of two +hours after leaving camp. His chums were pleased to see him show up before four +o’clock that afternoon and his radiant face told that everything had gone +well with him.</p> + +<p>“Miss Priscilla was delighted with my report, and the pictures,” +he went on to tell the others, as they came crowding around him. “She +promised not to do anything until we came back to town, for she didn’t +want to spoil our vacation outing, she said, and if her vicious nephew once +learned that his big scheme for a fortune had fallen through on account of our +work up here, he might feel disposed to do us some bodily injury. But she says +she’ll keep him on the anxious seat yet awhile. She is quite angry at him +for this nasty trick of his. If he had come to her honestly and told her of his +discovery, she says she would have gladly given him a good interest in the +property, and allowed him to have charge of the opening of the new oil district; +but since he tried to cheat her out of the whole business she will turn him down +flat.”</p> + +<p>“Just what he deserves, for a fact!” ventured Toby. +“He’s a bad egg, according to my notion; and I guess his aunt knows +it pretty well, too. I warrant you she’s had some unpleasant experiences +with Mr. Maurice before this. But I’m glad we’re all on deck again. +Now tomorrow we’ll start in to enjoy ourselves after our own fashion. +Playing the spy may be very exciting work, but <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_173'></a>173</span> say, it isn’t just what appeals to me as the +finest thing going. You feel a bit cheap looking in on folks, just as if you +were peeping through a keyhole. Steve, are you with me for a turn at the black +bass in the morning?”</p> + +<p>“I’m feeling fish hungry, if that answers your question, +Toby,” replied the other: “and I’m laying out to go across +country with you tomorrow to see what the Paradise River looks like away up +here.”</p> + +<p>It can be seen from this that the three boys had now cast all anxieties to +the wind, and meant to have a jolly time of it during the remainder of their +stay up among the Pontico Hills. It was a great relief to do away with suspicion +and spying, which really had no part in such a genuine woods outing.</p> + +<p>They had plenty of little adventures during the remainder of their camping +experience, but nothing of great moment happened; and in due time old Moses drew +the party all the way back home again, browned from their days in the sun and +air, and with a renewed appetite for the home cooking. Camp fare is all very +fine for a spell, but oh! how delightful do those doughnuts, cookies, apple pies +and all similar dainties taste to growing, healthy boys, after two weeks spent +in the woods!</p> + +<p>Maurice Dangerfield found himself balked in his designs, and was glad to +accept the really generous amount of money which his aunt offered <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> him, at the same time +being told that she never wished to see him again after his duplicity. She did +this because she felt under certain obligations to the man for having been the +first to discover the presence of oil on her vast holdings of property.</p> + +<p>Before many weeks had gone by there were several wells being put down, and +the Pontico Hills region began to have a very oily smell, that sometimes could +be detected away down in Chester when the breeze was favorable. And Miss +Priscilla urged Jack and his chums to accept a generous present from her, with +more to follow as time developed the value of the new discovery, which their +timely assistance had saved from falling into the hands of the unscrupulous Mr. +Maurice.</p> + +<p>During the balance of the summer vacation Jack and Toby and Steve enjoyed +many little outings that afforded them considerable profit in the way of +information, as well as pleasure. Like most of the other boys of Chester, +however, they were head and ears interested in the progress of the new building +that was being erected, and which when completed would be used as a gymnasium, +where they could have the time of their lives amidst such appurtenances as go to +make up a first-class physical culture department.</p> + +<p>With the first breath of Autumn, and the taking up of school duties came the +long anticipated season of outdoor Fall sports. The sound of the <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> “punk” of +the football kicked hither and thither over the green sward told what was in the +wind. And the title of our next story will explain how those boys of Chester +were eager to win more victories for their home town. You will find it all set +down in the pages of “Jack Winters’ Gridiron Chums; or When the +Halfback Saved the Day.”</p> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:30px;'>THE END</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:1.4em;'>BOYS +BANNER SERIES</p> + +<p style='text-indent:0;margin-bottom:10px;'>A desirable assortment of books for +boys, by standard and favorite +authors. Each title is complete and unabridged. Printed on a +good quality of paper from large, clear type. Beautifully bound +in cloth. Each book is wrapped in a special multi-colored jacket.</p> +<table summary='booklist'> +<tr><td>1. Afloat on the Flood</td><td><i>Leslie</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>2. At Whispering Pine Lodge</td><td><i>Leslie</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>3. Chums of the Campfire</td><td><i>Leslie</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>4. In School and Out</td><td><i>Optic</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>5. Jack Winter’s Baseball Team</td><td><i>Overton</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>6. Jack Winter’s Campmates</td><td><i>Overton</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>7. Jack Winter’s Gridiron Chums</td><td><i>Overton</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>8. Jack Winter’s Iceboat Wonder</td><td><i>Overton</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>9. Little by Little</td><td><i>Optic</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>10. Motor Boat Boys’ Mississippi Cruise</td><td><i>Arundel</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>11. Now or Never</td><td><i>Optic</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>12. Phil Bradley’s Mountain Boys</td><td><i>Boone</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>13. Phil Bradley’s Winning Way</td><td><i>Boone</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>14. Radio Boys’ Cronies</td><td><i>Whipple</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>15. Radio Boys Loyalty</td><td><i>Whipple</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>16. Rivals of the Trail</td><td><i>Leslie</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>17. Trip Around the Word in a Flying Machine</td><td><i>Verne</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>18. Two years Before the Mast</td><td><i>Dana</i></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:15px;font-style:italic;'>For +Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 40 cents</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:larger;'>M ˇ A ˇ DONOHUE ˇ & ˇ COMPANY</p> +<p class='tp' style=''>711 ˇ SOUTH ˇ DEARBORN ˇ STREET ˇ ˇ CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:1.4em;'>BOY +INVENTORS’ SERIES</p> + +<p style='text-indent:0;margin-bottom:10px;'>The author knows these subjects +from a practical standpoint. Each +book is printed from new plates on a good quality of paper and +bound in cloth. Each book wrapped in a jacket printed in colors.</p> + +<p class='tp' style=''><i>Price 60c each</i></p> + +<table summary='booklist'> +<tr><td>1. Boy Inventors’ Wireless Triumph</td></tr> +<tr><td>2. Boy Inventors’ and the Vanishing Sun</td></tr> +<tr><td>3. Boy Inventors’ Diving Torpedo Set</td></tr> +<tr><td>4. Boy Inventors’ Flying Ship</td></tr> +<tr><td>5. Boy Inventors’ Electric Ship</td></tr> +<tr><td>6. Boy Inventors’ Radio Telephone</td></tr> +</table> + +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/iad.jpg' /> +</div> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;font-size:1.4em;'>The +“How-to-do-it” Books</p> + +<p style='text-indent:0;margin-bottom:10px;'>These books teach the use of tools; +how to sharpen them; to design +and layout work. Printed from new plates and bound in cloth. +Profusely illustrated. Each book is wrapped in a printed jacket.</p> + +<p class='tp' style=''><i>Price $1.00 each</i></p> + +<table summary='booklist'> +<tr><td>1. Carpentry for Boys</td></tr> +<tr><td>2. Electricity for Boys</td></tr> +<tr><td>3. Practical Mechanics for Boys</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:15px;font-style:italic;'>For +Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of the above price</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:larger;'>M ˇ A ˇ DONOHUE ˇ & ˇ COMPANY</p> +<p class='tp' style=''>711 ˇ SOUTH ˇ DEARBORN ˇ STREET ˇ ˇ CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:1.4em;'>BOY +SCOUT SERIES</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:15px;'>By<br />G. HARVEY RALPHSON</p> + +<p style='text-indent:0;margin-bottom:10px;'>Just the type of books that delight +and fascinate the wide awake +boys of today. Clean, wholesome and interesting; full of mystery +and adventure. Each title is complete and unabridged. Printed +on a good quality of paper from large, clear type and bound in +cloth. Each book is wrapped in a special multi-colored jacket.</p> + +<table summary='booklist'> +<tr><td>1. Boy Scouts in Mexico; or, On Guard with Uncle Sam</td></tr> +<tr><td>2. Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone; or, the Plot against Uncle Sam</td></tr> +<tr><td>3. Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or, the Key to the Treaty Box</td></tr> +<tr><td>4. Boy Scouts in the Northwest; or, Fighting Forest Fires</td></tr> +<tr><td>5. Boy Scouts in a Motor Boat; or Adventures on Columbia River</td></tr> +<tr><td>6. Boy Scouts in an Airship; or, the Warning from the Sky</td></tr> +<tr><td>7. Boy Scouts in a Submarine; or, Searching an Ocean Floor</td></tr> +<tr><td>8. Boy Scouts on Motorcycles; or, With the Flying Squadron</td></tr> +<tr><td>9. Boy Scouts beyond the Arctic Circle; or, the Lost Expedition</td></tr> +<tr><td>10. Boy Scout Camera Club; or, the Confessions of a Photograph</td></tr> +<tr><td>11. Boy Scout Electricians; or, the Hidden Dynamo</td></tr> +<tr><td>12. Boy Scouts in California; or, the Flag on the Cliff</td></tr> +<tr><td>13. Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay; or, the Disappearing Fleet</td></tr> +<tr><td>14. Boy Scouts in Death Valley; or, the City in the Sky</td></tr> +<tr><td>15. Boy Scouts on Open Plains; or, the Roundup not Ordered</td></tr> +<tr><td>16. Boy Scouts in Southern Waters; or the Spanish Treasure Chest</td></tr> +<tr><td>17. Boy Scouts in Belgium; or, Imperiled in a Trap</td></tr> +<tr><td>18. Boy Scouts in the North Sea; or, the Mystery of a Sub</td></tr> +<tr><td>19. Boy Scouts Mysterious Signal or Perils of the Black Bear Patrol</td></tr> +<tr><td>20. Boy Scouts with the Cossacks; or, a Guilty Secret</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:15px;font-style:italic;'>For +Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 60 cents</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:larger;'>M ˇ A ˇ DONOHUE ˇ & ˇ COMPANY</p> +<p class='tp' style=''>711 ˇ SOUTH ˇ DEARBORN ˇ STREET ˇ ˇ CHICAGO</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK WINTERS' CAMPMATES***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 30958-h.txt or 30958-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/9/5/30958">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/9/5/30958</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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