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diff --git a/30958.txt b/30958.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08056d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/30958.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4992 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Jack Winters' Campmates, by Mark Overton + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Jack Winters' Campmates + + +Author: Mark Overton + + + +Release Date: January 13, 2010 [eBook #30958] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK WINTERS' CAMPMATES*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank, D Alexander, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 30958-h.htm or 30958-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30958/30958-h/30958-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30958/30958-h.zip) + + + + + +JACK WINTERS' CAMPMATES + +by + +MARK OVERTON + + + + + + + +Made in U. S. A. + +M. A. Donohue & Company +Chicago--New York + +Copyright 1919, by +The New York Book Co. + +Made in U. S. A. + + + + +[Illustration: Here they knelt and waited and waited.] + + + + +CONTENTS + CHAPTER PAGE + I. A GREAT STREAK OF LUCK 11 + II. JACK AND HIS MATES IN CAMP 19 + III. THE FIRST NIGHT UNDER CANVAS 27 + IV. TAKING A LOOK AROUND 36 + V. TOBY'S ADVENTURE 45 + VI. SIGNS OF MORE TROUBLE 54 + VII. PROSPECTING FOR PICTURES 63 + VIII. WHEN THE CAT RULED THE ROOST 72 + IX. BACK TO THE WOODS CAMP 80 + X. THE NIGHT ALARM 89 + XI. THE RASCALLY THIEF 98 + XII. FISHERMAN'S LUCK 107 + XIII. THE MAN WITH THE PICKAX 116 + XIV. WHEN THE SUN STOOD STILL 125 + XV. JACK LIFTS THE LID 134 + XVI. STORM-BOUND 144 + XVII. THE PROSPECTORS 151 + XVIII. INSIDE THE ENEMY'S LINES 160 + XIX. THE COMING OF THE CRISIS 168 + XX. OUT OF THE WOODS--CONCLUSION 177 + + + + +JACK WINTERS' CAMPMATES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A GREAT STREAK OF LUCK + + +"Anybody home?" + +"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." + +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[1] 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. + +Steve was a pretty husky fellow, a bit slow about making up his mind, +but firm as adamant, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 wall, and chuckling triumphantly when by sheer luck it stuck +on a peg. + +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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +Jack laughed. He knew that while the others were trying to appear cool, +inwardly both of them were boiling with curiosity and eagerness. + +"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." + +Steve no longer reclined at full length on the lounge; he sat up +straight and turned a pair of 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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Whew! that sounds like a fairy story, Jack," breathed Toby, entranced. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"The very place I've always wanted to spend a spell in!" ejaculated +Steve, exultantly. "It's surely a wild region, and a better camping +place couldn't be picked out, no matter how long you tried." + +Toby, too, seemed delighted. + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +[Footnote 1: "Jack Winters' Baseball Team."] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JACK AND HIS MATES IN CAMP + + +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. + +They were many miles away from Chester now, and pretty close to the end +of the journey, as Jack informed them. + +"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." + +"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." + +"It's really worse than that, Steve," admitted 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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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. + +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 had it become. Steadily they advanced, all of them eagerly +observing the many interesting things that caught their attention. + +"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!" + +"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." + +"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." + +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 of the lady, who, for all they knew, might be the owner of +these miles and miles of wooded land. + +"The sun is getting pretty low down in the western sky, fellows," +observed Toby, after a while. + +"And I should say we'd come all of a mile since leaving that valley +road," Steve added. + +"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." + +Two minutes afterwards and Toby gave an exultant cry. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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 would supply all our +wants. Why, I'm as thirsty as a fish out of water right now, boys; me +for a drink!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"We've just got to rush things, and do our talking afterwards," +suggested Jack. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +They seemed to be fairly well versed in the art of raising a tent; at +least Jack knew how to go about it. + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE FIRST NIGHT UNDER CANVAS + + +"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." + +"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." + +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 limit save capacity; and Steve had many good qualities to +more than balance his greediness. + +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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"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?" + +Toby asked this question as though he sought information, and if so, he +appealed to the right person, for Jack was quick to reply. + +"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 of their camp. This higher +ground served them better, just as it will us now. That's the only +answer I can think of." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 rooftree, on +account of nervous anticipations of the fun in store for them. + +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. + +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. + +The hours passed. + +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. + +Morning came. + +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. + +First Toby, then Jack, and finally Steve came crawling forth, clad in +their warm pajamas. They stretched, and went through certain gymnastic +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. + +"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?" + +"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?" + +Later on, while Steve was making ready to carry out his job, Toby sought +Jack, who was doing something inside the tent. + +"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?" + +"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 +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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"But about that sound, could it have been a blast of any sort, Jack?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +Toby looked strangely at his companion as 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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 his chums; and they were +only too pleased to take lessons from him, being eager to "learn all the +frills," as Toby said. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TAKING A LOOK AROUND + + +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: + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"Any objections then to my going off alone, Jack?" + +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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Thereupon Steve waved both hands after him as if in blessing. + +"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." + +So Toby vanished. They could hear his merry 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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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 good investment, if a set of splendid +pictures can fill the bill." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"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, 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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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?" + +"Well, I should say so," the other admitted, "and during the night both +Toby and myself were awakened by just the same sort of far-off dull +roaring sound." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Something happened, I calculate, eh, Toby?" demanded Steve, also +reading the signs. + +"Well, yes, I've got a story to tell that _may_ interest you both," +admitted Toby with an important air. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TOBY'S ADVENTURE + + +"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!" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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. "All I had to do +was to follow my nose, and keep going ahead into the west. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 held, and he chanced to +be well hooked, so at last in he came. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'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. + +"'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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"He asked a whole lot of questions about Chester folks and what was +going on down there; so 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +Steve heaved a great sigh. + +"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." + +"Which one?" demanded Toby, suspiciously. + +"I'm not committing myself," grinned Steve. "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." + +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. + +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: + +"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?" + +"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." + +"You must hold your horses yet a while, fellows," said Jack, gravely. +"The lady made me 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." + +"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." + +"Well, I can stretch a point," Jack told him, with a twinkle in his eye, +"and agree with you there, Steve. It's a _big_ 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 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!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SIGNS OF MORE TROUBLE + + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Don't you believe it," snapped Steve, philosophically. "The difference +was in the surroundings, and the kind of _appetite_ 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 _awful_ +long time apart." + +"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. + +"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 _he_ manages to make it." + +Jack smiled. + +"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." + +Then he deftly guided the conversation into other channels. There was +plenty to talk about, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +After all Toby had his fears for nothing, because 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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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: + +"'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, _it did_!'" + +Both the others laughed at the story, which neither of them had heard +before, old though it was. + +"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." + +While sitting there they mapped out their intended plans for the day. +Jack figured on starting out a little later, and securing some more +photographs. Steve, not wanting to spend another day in camp, asked +permission to accompany him. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Jack said this seriously, so they knew he was not joking. + +"Why, do you really think that man, or any one else, for that matter, +would actually _steal_ things from us?" demanded Steve, frowning as +he spoke, and perhaps unconsciously clenching his fists pugnaciously. + +"I'm only guessing, remember," Jack informed him. "It might be a raid on +our camp would be 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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +PROSPECTING FOR PICTURES + + +"How do you know that, Steve?" asked the startled Toby. + +"Guess I can read tracks when I see them!" snapped the other. + +"Then you've come across some sort of trail, I reckon?" ventured Jack. + +"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. + +Both gave a hasty look, and shook their heads in the negative. + +"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." + +"Well, you picked that up first of all, and it excited your suspicions; +is that it, Steve?" queried Jack. + +"It started me to looking around the spot," explained the other, "and +right away I saw the 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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 show we must keep our eyes open all the time we're +up here." + +Toby heaved a great sigh. + +"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." + +"Do you think this could be the same man who talked with Toby yesterday, +Jack?" Steve inquired. + +"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 _men_ in camp up here, +the chances are he'd be more apt to suspect their motives." + +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. + +Finally, Jack began to collect his photographic 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. + +Toby eyed these amazing preparations with something akin to awe. + +"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. + +"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." + +So they set out, Toby waving them goodbye with his dish towel, for he +had started in to do the breakfast things. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. "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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 might have his weaknesses, but on the whole was a real good +fellow. + +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. + +"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." + +"Only waisted," laughingly said Jack, and then apologized for getting +off such an atrocious pun. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +WHEN THE CAT RULED THE ROOST + + +"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!" + +"Sure thing," remarked his companion, nodding his head at the same time, +while a pleased look flashed athwart his face. + +"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." + +"It doesn't matter much to us who they are, since we don't intend to mix +with them," said Jack, drily. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 that man might be, and what +he was doing up there among the hills that would bear watching. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Steve breathed freely again. He also knocked on the ground a bit +savagely with that elegant club of his. + +"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. But remember, I don't like dog, and I'm not aching for a chance +to make the try." + +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. + +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. + +Then something happened. + +"Oh! did you hear that, Jack?" gasped Steve. + +Both of them had come to an abrupt halt, and were standing there, +straining their eyes to see what lay ahead of them. + +"The first time it was a dog," muttered Jack, as if communing with +himself; "and now, unless I'm might mistaken, that meant cat!" + +"Cat!" echoed Steve, incredulously. "Why, it 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?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 to +do? Surely you won't think of trying to scare the old cat away?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"It looks a trifle easier traveling over on the left," observed Jack, +"so let's make our try there." + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +Jack took a look himself in order to be convinced. + +"You're right there, Steve," he said, with a short laugh. "After all our +trying this little dodge may not be worth the candle." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I certainly feel cheap, being held up like this by an ordinary cat," +gritted the burly Steve between his teeth. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. 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." + +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. + +"Yes, she's there still, Jack!" he exclaimed, just as though there could +be any doubt of such a thing. + +"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." + +"This is simply disgusting," fretted Steve. + +"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." + +"Does that mean we're at the end of our rope for today, Jack?" + +"Seems that way, Steve; the cat rules the roost this time, apparently." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BACK TO THE WOODS CAMP + + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"Good idea," agreed Steve; and accordingly they found a convenient log +upon which they could rest while waiting to see how the plan worked. + +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. + +When fully ten minutes had crept by Jack made a slight move. + +"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." + +Hardly had they done so than once again they heard a repetition of those +warning growls. Jack shrugged his shoulders and laughed drily. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Well, we can't do anything along that line this 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." + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"Why, Jack, the sun has gone down, I do believe!" exclaimed Steve, +suddenly. + +"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." + +"Well, so long as there are no rattlesnakes around this section of +country, that won't make much difference with me," Steve assured him. +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"But doesn't it sound spooky, though?" ventured Steve, looking hastily +over his right shoulder for luck. "Does that spell rain to you, Jack?" + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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 hours +until it would be near noon, and feeding time." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"We'll ease up on the eye strain a bit for one thing," Jack was saying +as he fumbled at one of his pockets. + +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. + +"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 +troubles for the day are ended; unless it comes on to rain cats and dogs +before we get under shelter." + +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. + +"I hate to say it, Jack, but I really thought I felt a drop right then," +Steve remarked. + +"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." + +"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!" + +"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 +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." + +"Shall I give him a shout, Jack? It'll ease the poor fellow's mind +some." + +"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?" + +"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. + +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. + +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 when the hand-torch +was purchased, and knew all about it. + +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. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE NIGHT ALARM + + +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? + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +Jack, seeing the mute look of entreaty in Toby's face finally took pity +on him. + +"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." + +"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!" + +"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." + +"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 _are_ ferocious wild beasts at large up here +in the Pontico Hills country?" + +"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." + +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. + +"Wasn't it too bad you didn't have the shotgun along just then," +observed Toby, "because you'd have easily knocked that beast over, and +ended its ugly career." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +Jack chuckled as he explained further. + +"I've got our provisions in mind when I designate them all under the +general name of bacon, you understand, Steve." + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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!" + +"You've guessed it finally, Steve, though it did take you a long while," +Jack assured him. "And 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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"How about that rain, Steve?" asked Jack, quietly. + +"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." + +"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." + +"I think I'll sleep easier, because of your precaution, Jack," asserted +Toby. + +"Huh! I just _know_ 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." + +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. + +Jack took a last look around. He wished to be 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RASCALLY THIEF + + +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. + +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. + +He grasped the flashlight in a trembling hand, and his orders were to +make use of it just when Jack gave the word. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Even as he looked Steve felt sure he saw some 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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? + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"Jack!" + +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. + +"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. + +"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 the excitement attending their issuing from the tent. + +"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." + +"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. + +Ten seconds later and Jack suddenly exclaimed: + +"Turn the light on the rascal, Toby!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +FISHERMAN'S LUCK + + +"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. + +"And he's trying to founder himself with the whole supply of oats, the +rascal!" Toby added, indignantly. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Horses don't happen to be alone in that class, Steve," chirped Toby. + +"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." + +"Sure thing, Steve," chuckled the one addressed, as stepping forward he +endeavored to lead Moses away from the tail end of the wagon. + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +Jack hurried as best he could, having pity on his chums. When he came +back partly dressed he sent them to their beds. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 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." + +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. + +"How shall we spend today?" Jack asked. + +"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." + +"How about you, Steve?" queried Jack, turning to the partner of his +previous day's long trip. + +"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." + +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 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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +Of course Jack was interested in everything he saw. Toby frequently +called his attention to certain features of the landscape which +apparently 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 fish +will bite, such is the fascination connected with the game. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE MAN WITH THE PICKAX + + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 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." + +He looked dolefully toward the river, as though disliking very much to +give up when the acme of the sport had just been reached. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. "If there's +anything wrong the fault will be wholly mine, because the conditions +certainly couldn't be improved on." + +"I suppose it's home for us now, Jack?" asked Toby. + +"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." + +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. + +"Believe me, they're going to turn out something of a weight, Jack." + +"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." + +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. + +"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 press both hands on +his stomach, and say: 'That's about my size!'" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"That's the man!" was the first low exclamation Toby gave utterance to. + +"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. + +"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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. Then a tiny click announced to Toby that the thing +had been done. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Goodbye, Mister Man," Jack heard him whisper, 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." + +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. + +"Guess he's gone for keeps, Jack," suggested the eager Toby, fretting +like a hound held in the leash. + +"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." + +"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. + +Jack looked at him as though trying to make up his mind. + +"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." + +They were quickly on the spot. Here and there could be seen evidences of +the man's digging, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +WHEN THE SUN STOOD STILL + + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +Of course Steve was delighted when he saw the 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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +In due time this was carried out. Plenty of 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +Jack knew what was coming, but he did not even smile. + +"Why, what makes you say that, Steve?" he asked, solicitously. + +"He's acting so queer that I'm afraid the poor fellow must be going +looney," Steve told him, with a ring of sincere regret in his voice. + +"Queer in what way?" asked the other, continuing his work. + +"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 _something_ has happened to Toby since he left camp +this morning, and I'd like to know what it is." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"'And why do you fear that, James?' the doctor asked, alarmed. + +"'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." + +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. + +Slowly but surely the glowing orb dropped closer toward the horizon. A +doomed prisoner in his cell might have watched its going with dread, 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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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: + +"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." + +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 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. + +When Steve went to take a look at the oven Toby insisted on accompanying +him; and when the _chef_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +At length they one and all declared they were through, whereupon Toby +sat up eagerly, and turned an appealing face toward Jack. + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +JACK LIFTS THE LID + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 +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. + +"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!" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 _get_ there, +whenever I had anything on my hands; but I'll omit the bouquet part of +the interview. + +"Coming right down to brass tacks now, Miss Haydock informed me that she +owned pretty nearly all this Pontico Hills district up here. She 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Oil!" ejaculated Toby, theatrically, and Steve almost fell over, such +was his astonishment. + +"Do you mean petroleum--crude oil?" he gasped. + +"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." + +"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 then laid all his pipes so as to tie the property up under an +option." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 +showed signs of being mighty well pleased at what he saw today, didn't +he, Toby?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +Jack smiled at the earnest manner of the other. + +"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." + +Thereupon the cloud gathering on Toby's face was suddenly dissipated, +and he grinned happily again. + +"Oh! I hope you won't even have to think of doing that, Jack," Steve +remarked. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"One thing sure, Jack, I hardly think we'll be 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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 hers. Why, at the table they were sure enough surprised when she told +Mom I'd made the bunch." + +And so they chatted and laughed until it was time to turn in again. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +STORM-BOUND + + +Well, it rained, just as the weather sharp had so wisely predicted. + +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: + +"There, didn't I tell you so, fellows; listen to her come down, will +you?" + +"What's all this row about?" grumbled the sleepy Toby, hardly stirring. + +"Why, it's raining, don't you hear?" snorted Steve, as though that might +be a wonderful fact. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +At that Steve began to chuckle. + +"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 _all_ the cooking while on their camping +trip. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 down in +the earth, and until wells are sunk will stay there safe." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Huh! guess I might as well," grunted the other, as though convinced. +"Besides, it's getting on toward eleven, I reckon, and I really ought to +be thinking of starting my baking." + +"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." + +"Oh! what a long day this promises to be," groaned Steve. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"However could you expect a _chef_ 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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"What, your legs?" exclaimed Toby, jeeringly; "why, I didn't know we +were going to be treated to roast _mutton_ today, did you, Jack?" + +Steve took a peep. + +"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. + +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 much concerned as Steve, for he dearly loved hot biscuits, and +counted himself a pretty good judge of them. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +This did not prove to be the case, for it turned out to be one of those +easterly storms that usually last the better part of three days, with +almost a constant downpour, though not very heavy at any time. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE PROSPECTORS + + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"No, we'll leave that for you, Steve," said Jack, immediately, as though +all that had been settled in his mind. + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"That's a queer thing, Jack," spoke up Toby; "tell us how the thing is +done, won't you please?" + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +So the afternoon passed. + +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 time during the latter +half of the journey, when there might be more or less danger of +discovery. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 _chef_ who's willing to lay +himself out to the limit for the good of his chums." + +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. + +Nor were they disturbed at all during the night that followed. Moses, +being well looked after, 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. + +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. + +So morning found them. + +Toby being the first to crawl out immediately announced that the signs +were all propitious. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Oh! you'll have it easy enough while we're gone," Toby told him, "with +only one to look after. Perhaps now you'll be glad to see us come +trailing back home again some time tomorrow afternoon." + +"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. + +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. + +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 +they were planning to be gone a whole week or more, instead of a scant +two days. + +"I don't believe we've overlooked anything," asserted Toby, as they drew +up to make their start. + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +INSIDE THE ENEMY'S LINES + + +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. + +"No use trying to see our trail, is there, Jack?" the other had remarked +after they were fairly started on their way. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"We'll run across it before ten minutes more," commented Jack; and sure +enough that was just what they did. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 of that two weeks +in the woods up in the wonderful Pontico Hills country. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Have you made out any sort of list so far, Jack, as to who's going to +get a chance for the big eleven?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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 their pace and maintained a more vigilant watch +than ever, particularly keeping an eye ahead for any sign of enemies. + +It was Toby, it chanced, who made a discovery. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"That looks suspicious, doesn't it, Jack?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE COMING OF THE CRISIS + + +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. + +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. + +Thus another half hour slipped by. + +"I hear voices, Jack," whispered the trembling Toby, when they had been +creeping forward for some little time after resuming their forward +progress. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 completely engrossed +with what gripped their attention. "That's an oil derrick and they've +sunk a trial well. Isn't it so, Jack?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Undoubtedly every one of them must be worked up to a state of nervous +tension, and the actions of the dog irritated his owner. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Again he snapped off the scene, doubtless with the idea of catching +Dangerfield in full view, with his face exposed toward the camera, so +that he might be readily recognized by one who knew him as well as his +aunt did. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The minutes were "shod with lead," according 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! 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! + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OUT OF THE WOODS--CONCLUSION + + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Once the midday meal had been disposed of Jack busied himself with his +daylight developing tank. Toby hovered near, and seemed just as anxious +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +In the end he managed to secure all he required, and just as Toby had +said they turned out to be splendid pictures. + +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 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. + +"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." + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +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. + +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! + +Maurice Dangerfield found himself balked in his designs, and was glad to +accept the really generous amount of money which his aunt offered 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +"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." + +THE END + + + + +BOYS BANNER SERIES + +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. + + 1. Afloat on the Flood Leslie + 2. At Whispering Pine Lodge Leslie + 3. Chums of the Campfire Leslie + 4. In School and Out Optic + 5. Jack Winter's Baseball Team Overton + 6. Jack Winter's Campmates Overton + 7. Jack Winter's Gridiron Chums Overton + 8. Jack Winter's Iceboat Wonder Overton + 9. Little by Little Optic + 10. Motor Boat Boys' Mississippi Cruise Arundel + 11. Now or Never Optic + 12. Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys Boone + 13. Phil Bradley's Winning Way Boone + 14. Radio Boys' Cronies Whipple + 15. Radio Boys Loyalty Whipple + 16. Rivals of the Trail Leslie + 17. Trip Around the Word in a Flying Machine Verne + 18. Two years Before the Mast Dana + +For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 40 cents + +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY + +711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO + + + + +BOY INVENTORS' SERIES + +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. + +Price 60c each + + 1. Boy Inventors' Wireless Triumph + 2. Boy Inventors' and the Vanishing Sun + 3. Boy Inventors' Diving Torpedo Set + 4. Boy Inventors' Flying Ship + 5. Boy Inventors' Electric Ship + 6. Boy Inventors' Radio Telephone + +The "How-to-do-it" Books + +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. + +Price $1.00 each + + 1. Carpentry for Boys + 2. Electricity for Boys + 3. Practical Mechanics for Boys + +For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of the above +price. + +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY + +711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO + + + + +BOY SCOUT SERIES + +By + +G. HARVEY RALPHSON + +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. + + 1. Boy Scouts in Mexico; or, On Guard with Uncle Sam + 2. Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone; or, the Plot against Uncle Sam + 3. Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or, the Key to the Treaty Box + 4. Boy Scouts in the Northwest; or, Fighting Forest Fires + 5. Boy Scouts in a Motor Boat; or Adventures on Columbia River + 6. Boy Scouts in an Airship; or, the Warning from the Sky + 7. Boy Scouts in a Submarine; or, Searching an Ocean Floor + 8. Boy Scouts on Motorcycles; or, With the Flying Squadron + 9. Boy Scouts beyond the Arctic Circle; or, the Lost Expedition + 10. Boy Scout Camera Club; or, the Confessions of a Photograph + 11. Boy Scout Electricians; or, the Hidden Dynamo + 12. Boy Scouts in California; or, the Flag on the Cliff + 13. Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay; or, the Disappearing Fleet + 14. Boy Scouts in Death Valley; or, the City in the Sky + 15. Boy Scouts on Open Plains; or, the Roundup not Ordered + 16. Boy Scouts in Southern Waters; or the Spanish Treasure Chest + 17. Boy Scouts in Belgium; or, Imperiled in a Trap + 18. Boy Scouts in the North Sea; or, the Mystery of a Sub + 19. Boy Scouts Mysterious Signal or Perils of the Black Bear Patrol + 20. Boy Scouts with the Cossacks; or, a Guilty Secret + +For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 60 cents + +M. A. 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