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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Scouts in the Maine Woods + The New Test for the Silver Fox Patrol + +Author: Herbert Carter + +Release Date: February 25, 2010 [EBook #31389] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i1'></a><img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +“Can we make the pond, Jim?” asked Thad. “Not the big pond,”<br />Jim called back; “but there’s a little one about half way.”<br /><i>The Boy Scouts in the Maine Woods</i> <i>Page 241</i> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<p class='fs22'>The Boy Scouts<br />In the Maine Woods</p> + +<p>OR</p> + +<p class='fs14 mb40'>The New Test for the Silver Fox Patrol</p> + +<p class='sc fs14'>By HERBERT CARTER</p> + +<p class='fs08 mb60'>Author of “The Boy Scouts First Camp Fire,” +“The Boy Scouts<br />in the Blue Ridge,” “The Boy Scouts on the Trail,”<br /> +“The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber,”<br />“The Boy Scouts In the Rockies”</p> + +<p class='fs12'>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br />NEW YORK</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs08 mb00'>Copyright, 1913</p> +<p class='c fs08 sc mt00'>By A. L. Burt Company</p> +<hr class='hr10' /> +<p class='c'>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<h1>THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS</h1> + +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER I.<br /><span class='h2fs'>AFLOAT ON THE WINDING AROOSTOOK.</span></h2> + +<p>“I tell you, Bumpus Hawtree, I can do it as easy as turn my hand over, +once I get the hang of the thing!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! you don’t say so, Giraffe? Here you’ve been trying for +these three days past, with your silly old bow and stick, twirling away like an +organ grinder; and never so much as struck a single spark of fire +yet.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, there are a whole lot of things about the thing I +don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Sure there are. You can do everything but the right thing. You spin +that stick with the point that fits in the hole you made in that block of wood, +like fun; but your fine tinder don’t even smoke, as far as I can +see.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! you’ll see it do more than that, and before <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> the end of this Maine trip, +I’ll give you to understand, Bumpus.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! will I? How kind of you, Giraffe.”</p> + +<p>“You needn’t say that like you didn’t believe I’d +ever beat it out. I’ve made fires ten different ways, and you know that. +And listen to me–I’m just bound to get one going in that South Sea +Island method we’ve read about, ‘or give up trying!’ You hear me, +Bumpus?”</p> + +<p>“No trouble about that, Giraffe. Tell you what I’ll do, though, +in the generosity of my heart–make a wager with you about that fire +business; and it’s a treat of ice-cream for the crowd, for the +loser.”</p> + +<p>“I take you on that,” quickly snapped back the long-legged Boy +Scout who was curled up in the stern of the canvas canoe that was being pushed +along by the energetic arms of a sturdy guide, as straight as his name was the +opposite, it being Eli Crooks.</p> + +<p>“Then let’s have a clear understanding,” observed the fat +lad, squatting rather awkwardly in the bow of the same craft; “say, you +other fellows, d’ye hear what we’re talking about?” and he +raised his voice a trifle, so that the occupants of the two other boats that +were close by, might listen; just as if they had not been keeping their ears +wide open; for when Bumpus and Giraffe got into a hot argument, there was +generally plenty of fun in the air.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span>One of the other +canoes contained three scouts, as could be told from various parts of their +khaki uniforms that they wore, even when off on a hunting trip. The clear-eyed +fellow who seemed to be in charge of the party was Thad Brewster; one of his +companions was known as Step Hen Bingham, because, as a little chap he had +insisted at school that was the way his name should be spelled, while the third +was an exceedingly wiry boy, Davy Jones by name, and who had always been a human +monkey when it came to athletics, climbing trees, and doing all sorts of queer +stunts.</p> + +<p>In the third boat was a shorter Maine guide, a sort of slow chap who came by +the name of Jim Hasty just as the other did that of Crooks; and the scout with +him was Allan Hollister, a lad born in the very State they were now exploring; +and who assisted the scoutmaster in his duties.</p> + +<p>All these six boys belonged to the Silver Fox Patrol connected with a troop +of scouts located in a New York town called Cranford. Two more had been unable +to take the Maine trip, which had already carried the bunch through some +adventurous times in another part of the State, whither they had first gone in +order to overtake a gentleman just then moose hunting, and with whom Thad had to +get in touch for certain business reasons.</p> + +<p>Now they were on the Aroostook River, the three boats, as well as the party, +having been <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +transported from Grindstone by rail, and launched at the junction of the +Masardis with the first mentioned stream.</p> + +<p>One of the guides having been brought up in this region, had promised the +boys rare sport, if only they would trust to his judgment in the matter. The +trip was of indefinite length, the only stipulation being that they should not +go outside the United States, when approaching the New Brunswick border along +the great St. Johns River.</p> + +<p>All of them seemed to be just bubbling over with enthusiasm and spirits. With +a new voyage before them, plenty to eat aboard the canoes, guns with which to +secure game, tents provided by Jim Hasty at his home town; and “everything +lovely, while the goose hung high,” as Bumpus had put it, really there was +no excuse for any of the scouts to feel downcast.</p> + +<p>In their former trip around the Penobscot region the boys had had the good +fortune to be chiefly instrumental in causing the arrest of a couple of fleeing +yeggmen, who had broken into several banks, and for whose arrest quite a decent +reward was offered. Not only that, but they had recovered valuable bonds and +papers, that would undoubtedly cause the bank officials to back up the offer +they had made, which was to the effect that two thousand dollars would be paid +to the parties returning the said bonds, and no questions asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span>Bumpus had been the +one who seemed chiefly concerned over this money matter; for it happened that +the fat scout wanted dearly to visit the Far West, and was always talking of +California, together with the game to be met with in the famous Rock Mountains. +And with this windfall coming to their almost exhausted treasure box, it now +seemed as though the Silver Fox Patrol might get away when the next vacation +came around.</p> + +<p>Giraffe, the boy with the long neck, which he could twist around in a way his +comrades despaired of ever imitating, had one particular weakness. He was a +regular fire worshipper. They depended on Giraffe to start the fires, whether a +cooking blaze or the big camp-fire around which they loved to sit or lie, after +supper was over.</p> + +<p>Many times did Thad have to caution him about his recklessness in this +regard; and his vigilance increased, now that they were in a State where forest +preservation was of such moment that a special fire warden, with many +assistants, was employed, to see that the laws were strictly enforced; and +intending hunters were not allowed to go forth without being accompanied by a +licensed guide, to make sure that all fires were utterly extinguished before +breaking camp.</p> + +<p>Of course, when Giraffe took it upon himself to find out if he could not make +a fire after every known method, there was more or less fun for the <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> crowd. But he had proved +that his studies in this direction were worth while; for he had used flint and +steel, matches, a burning glass for the sun to do the business, and various +other methods with stunning success.</p> + +<p>But he had thus far been “stumped” as he himself expressed it, +when it came to starting a blaze after the formula of the South Sea Islanders. +His little bow was made according to directions, and would whirl the pointed +stick with tremendous force in the basin that had the hole in the bottom; but +thus far, just as Bumpus so exultantly declared, the aspiring Giraffe had failed +to accomplish the object he had in view.</p> + +<p>“Well, now,” remarked Giraffe, “since you’ve got all +the bears and moose in the Aroostook country to listen, suppose you go and +explain what we’re driving at, Bumpus,” when the other boys had +declared that they heard the whole argument.</p> + +<p>“The wager is cream for the crowd at the first chance,” the fat +boy went on, with pointed emphasis. “Giraffe says he can start a fire with +that bunty little bow of his, and the twirling stick that heats things up, and +makes the fine tinder take fire–when you’ve got the hang of things. +He’s got to do it before we wind up this particular trip; and at a time +when one or more of us are on deck to act as witnesses. Hear that, +fellows?”</p> + +<p>“What he says are the exact conditions,” added <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> the confident Giraffe. +“And just make up your minds I’m going to do that same stunt yet. +Why, half a dozen times already I’ve been pretty close to getting fire; +but something always seemed to happen just at the last minute. Once my bowstring +sawed through. Another time the plaguey stick burst. Then Bumpus had to fall all +over me just when I felt sure the spark was going to come in the tinder. And the +last time, you may remember, when I sang out that I had it, why, down came that +heavy rain, and put me out of business.”</p> + +<p>A general laugh followed these complaining remarks from the tall scout.</p> + +<p>“Looks like you might be hoodooed, Giraffe,” said Davy Jones.</p> + +<p>“All right, no matter what’s the matter, if grit and perseverance +can accomplish the business, you’ll see it done in great style sooner or +later!” cried Giraffe, who could be quite determined when he chose.</p> + +<p>“Then let’s hope it will be sooner,” remarked Step Hen; +“because you know him well enough to understand that we’ll have no +peace of our lives till he either gets his little fire started, or else makes a +failure of the game.”</p> + +<p>“Anyhow,” broke in Allan from the rear, “no matter how it +comes out, the rest of us stand to have a free feast later on. It’s ‘heads +I win, tails you lose,’ for the balance of the Silver Fox Patrol. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> And in advance, we hand +our united thanks to Bumpus; or will it be Giraffe?”</p> + +<p>“And,” Bumpus went on, calmly; “while Giraffe is worrying +his poor old head over that puzzle every time we get settled in camp, I’ll +be improving each shining hour like the busy little bee, trying out my new gun. +Told you fellows, I was going to invest the first chance I got; and here’s +my brand new double barrel; that’s guaranteed, the man said, to knock the +spots out of any big game that I hold it on.”</p> + +<p>“Huh!” grunted Giraffe, who seemed a trifle grumpy on account of +having his fire-making abilities made fun of, for he was quite touchy on that +score; “chances are, it’ll knock spots out of you, first of all, or +give you a few to remember it by, if you go and get excited, and pull both +triggers at once, as you’re likely to do, if I know you at all, +Bumpus.”</p> + +<p>“What in the wide world did you go and get a big ten bore for, when +you’re such a short fellow?” asked Thad, who had often wanted to +find out about this particular subject.</p> + +<p>Bumpus, who was fondling his new possession, grinned rather sheepishly.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he remarked, “you see, Thad’s Marlin, and +Davy’s gun are both twelve guage, and I thought we ought to have variety +in the crowd, so I got a ducking gun. Besides, I knew it would be <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> better when I came to +shoot buckshot in it, just like I’ve got in the chambers right now, ready +for any old moose bull that chooses to show up. And in fact, fellows, it was the +only sort of shotgun I could buy, unless I took one of them pump guns; and I +just couldn’t think of working all that machinery when I get so rattled, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Please keep that blunderbuss pointed the other way, Bumpus,” +said Step Hen.</p> + +<p>“Yes, for goodness’ sake don’t you turn it around +here!” called out Giraffe. “If ever you blew a hole in the bottom of +this canvas canoe, we’d go down like a stone.”</p> + +<p>“I’d be sorry for that,” remarked Bumpus, still fondling +his new purchase lovingly, although he kept it pointed ahead, as directed; +“because, you see, we’ve got a lot of good grub aboard this canoe, +and it might get soaked.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! thinking of the grub before you take me into consideration, are +you?” grunted Giraffe; and perhaps he might have said more, only just at +that instant Eli turned his head and made a remark to him which caused the +long-necked boy to lift his head, and then shout out excitedly:</p> + +<p>“A bear! A bear! over there on the bank ahead!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! where did I put my gun?” almost shrieked Step Hen, who was +forever misplacing things, and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_12'></a>12</span> then finding them again in the most unexpected +places.</p> + +<p>“Bumpus, knock him over! There’s the best chance to try your new +gun you ever saw! Let him have it, you silly!” roared Giraffe.</p> + +<p>The fat boy heard all the clamor. He also sighted the lumbering bear, which, +after taking one good look at the approaching canoes, turned to shuffle back +again into the shelter of the protecting brush, as though he did not much fancy +any closer acquaintance with the two-legged occupants.</p> + +<p>Bumpus scrambled to his knees. He was trembling like a leaf shaken in the +gale; but nevertheless managed to clumsily throw the double-barrel to his +shoulder, after pulling back both hammers.</p> + +<p>They saw him bend his chubby neck, as though to sight along the barrels. Then +a tremendous explosion occurred, as though a young cannon had been fired; and +the next instant Bumpus went over flat on his back, among the duffle with which +the canoe was loaded, his feet coming into view as he landed among the blankets, +and the packages of food, secured in the rubber ponchos to keep them from +getting wet.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER II.<br /><span class='h2fs'>A WARNING FROM A GAME POACHER.</span></h2> + +<p>“Did I g-g-get him?”</p> + +<p>Bumpus, as he spoke these eager words, managed to gain a sitting position, +though his first act was to rub his shoulder as though it pained him.</p> + +<p>There was a roar from all the boys at this remark, and indeed, even the two +Maine guides grinned more or less.</p> + +<p>“Listen to the innocent, would you?” shouted Giraffe; “when +his buckshot tore up the water half way between the boat and the shore, till it +looked just like one of those spouting geysers we read about, out in Yellowstone +Park. Did he get him, boys?”</p> + +<p>Step Hen put his hands to his mouth, megaphone fashion, and bawled out:</p> + +<p>“Hey, answer that, Mr. Bear, please; let the poor boy know whether he +tickled your tough old hide with one of his buckshot. Because, who knows, +fellows, but what it might a glanced off the top of the water, and +landed,” and he winked at Allan, who was in the canoe with Jim Hasty close +by.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span>“I +don’t hear any answer floating back,” remarked Thad; “and so +we’ll have to believe that either the bear is lying there, stone dead, or +else has skipped out to safe quarters. Bears never can stand being fired at by +cannon, they tell me.”</p> + +<p>“Cannon!” burst out Giraffe at this moment, for he had managed to +possess himself of the new gun by pointing to it, and having Eli Crooks pass it +along. “Cannon! well, I should smile! What d’ye think he did, +fellers? Just exactly what I warned him to beware of, when he saw game, and got +excited; pulled both triggers at the same time! Gee! no wonder it knocked him +over! I’d hate to have been behind that charge myself; and I’ve +stood a good many heavy ones.”</p> + +<p>“Ain’t we going ashore to see if I did just happen to bowl that +old bear over?” whined Bumpus, looking appealingly at Thad. +“I’d never forgive myself, you see, if I found out that he +<i>had</i> died, and no one even got a steak off him. A scout never wants to +waste the good things of life like that, does he, Thad?”</p> + +<p>But the scoutmaster shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I guess there’s no chance of that happening, Bumpus,” he +remarked. “By now your bear is a quarter of a mile away from here, and +running yet.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t blame him,” said Step Hen. “That new gun makes +enough noise to burst your ear drums, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_15'></a>15</span> Bumpus. And let’s hope you won’t ever +pull both triggers again. Just practice putting one finger at a time in action. +After you’ve shot the first barrel, let it just slip back to catch the +second trigger. It’s as easy as tumbling off a log.”</p> + +<p>“Or going over backward, when you do bang away with both barrels at +once,” added Davy Jones, wisely.</p> + +<p>As they were descending the river the work was comparatively easy for the two +guides. They would have their business cut out for them later on, when their +plan of campaign, looking toward reaching the Eagle chain of lakes, was more +fully developed.</p> + +<p>In the beginning there had been three of the paddlers in the party; but a +telegram had caught them as they left the train, calling the Oldtown Indian, +Sebattis, home, on account of the serious sickness of his wife.</p> + +<p>Thad was capable of assuming charge of one canoe, with the assistance of Step +Hen and Davy, both lusty fellows. And so they had not bothered trying to fill +the gap at the last hour. The chances were that they might have had to take some +fellow along who would turn out to be sullen, or else a shirk; thus spoiling +much of their pleasure on the trip.</p> + +<p>These members of the Silver Fox Patrol had reason to feel proud, because each +one of them was at that time wearing a trifling little badge that <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> proved their right to call +themselves assistant fire wardens, employed by the great State of Maine to +forever keep an eye out for dangerous conflagrations, and labor to extinguish +the same before they could do much damage.</p> + +<p>It had come about in this manner:</p> + +<p>On the train they had formed the acquaintance of a gentleman, who turned out +to be the chief fire warden, on his way right then to patrol a certain district +that nearly every year boasted of one or more severe fires.</p> + +<p>He was greatly interested in Thad’s account of the numerous things a +Boy Scout aspired to do each day; and as it was his privilege to take on as many +unpaid assistants as he chose, just as a sheriff may do in an emergency, the +gentleman had with his own hands pinned a little badge on the lapel of each +boy’s coat.</p> + +<p>They were very proud of the honor, and expressed their intention of serving +as fire-wardens to the best of their ability–all but Giraffe. He used to +shake his head every time he glanced down at his badge, and look solemn. The +fact of the matter was, Giraffe had all his life been so wrapped up in +<i>starting</i> fires, that the very idea of spending his precious time in +helping to <i>put one out</i> did not appeal to him very strongly.</p> + +<p>“Jim is telling me that we can expect to see the mouth of the Little +Machias River any old time <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_17'></a>17</span> from now on,” remarked Allan; “and while +I haven’t come up this way exactly, to the Eagle waters, I guess +he’s about right.”</p> + +<p>“Sure he is,” ventured Giraffe, “for we passed the place +where the Big Machias joins forces with the Aroostook some time back; and unless +my eagle eye fails me, away up ahead I can see the junction right now, where we +turn to the left, and leave this dandy old stream. Then the fun begins with the +paddles.”</p> + +<p>“What was that the fire-warden was saying to you, Thad, about some sort +of bad man up in this region, that gave the game wardens more trouble than all +the rest of the poachers combined?” Step Hen asked.</p> + +<p>Jim Hasty was seen to squirm a little; and Thad noticed this as he answered +the question.</p> + +<p>“Oh! yes, he was warning me to steer clear of one Caleb Martin, a +strapping big fellow who used to be, first a logger, and then one of those men +who get boats’ knees out of the swamps and marshes up here; but who for +some years has made up his mind to loaf, and take toll of other peoples’ +traps, or shoot game out of season.”</p> + +<p>“Caleb Martin, eh?” Step Hen went on; “seems to me it was +another name from that?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” Thad continued, “he did mention two others who were +said to be cronies of the big poacher. Let’s see, I believe their names +were Si <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> Kedge and Ed +Harkness; wasn’t that it, Jim?” and he turned suddenly on the +smaller guide.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” answered the other, promptly; “though +to be fair and squar’ with you, I didn’t hear him speakin’ +o’ ’em atall. But I lived up hyar, yuh knows, an’ Cale, +he’s been akeepin’ the hull kentry kinder riled a long time now. +I’m hopin’ we won’t run a crost him any, an’ +that’s a fact.”</p> + +<p>“Sounds like there wasn’t much love lost between you and this +same Cale Martin?” ventured Thad.</p> + +<p>“They hain’t,” was the only thing Jim would say; and Thad +knew there must be a story back of it, which he hoped later on to hear.</p> + +<p>“But why should the wardens be afraid of just three men, when they have +the law on their side; that’s what I’d like to know?” Bumpus +demanded.</p> + +<p>Giraffe gave a scornful laugh.</p> + +<p>“The law don’t count for a great deal away up in the wilderness, +Bumpus,” he remarked, in a condescending way. “All sorts of things +are done when men get away off in the Maine woods. They laugh at the law, till +they feel its hand on their shoulder, and see the face of a warden close to +theirs. Then p’raps they wilt. But this bully of the big woods has had a free +hand up yonder so long, that he just thinks he’s the boss of all creation. +He needs takin’ down, I reckon. And p’raps, if we happen to run across +him, it might be the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +mission of the Silver Fox Patrol to teach him a lesson. Queerer things have +happened, as we all know, looking back a little at our own +experiences.”</p> + +<p>“We don’t want to brag,” remarked Thad. “Perhaps the +shoe would be on the other foot, and he might kick the lot of us out of his +territory. But all the same, let’s hope our trail won’t cross that +of Cale Martin.”</p> + +<p>They were presently turning in to the left, and starting to ascend the Little +Machias; a pretty stream, which some years back used to fairly teem with +game-fish, but which, like many another river in Maine, has felt the effect of +the continual work of thousands of fishermen, and worse than that, the sly +netting at the hands of lawless poachers.</p> + +<p>Step Hen was interested in many things that opened to their view as they went +on, and his two companions did the paddling; for he had been working quite some +time himself, and was entitled to a resting spell.</p> + +<p>This was a new trait in Step Hen. Time had been when he would hardly notice a +single thing when out in the woods, unless his attention was especially directed +to it by a comrade. But it was so no longer; and the way his awakening came +about, as mentioned in a previous story, is worthy of being recorded again, as +showing what a trifling thing may start a boy to thinking, and observing the +myriad of interesting events that are constantly <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> occurring around him, no matter where he +may happen to be at the time, in a crowded city, or alone in a vast +solitude.</p> + +<p>Step Hen had once come upon a humble little tumble-bug, striving to push a +ball four times as big as himself up a forlorn road, at a point where there was +a “thank-you-mum,” intended to throw the water aside during a heavy +rain, and save the road from being guttered.</p> + +<p>He had grown so deeply interested in seeing the little creature try again and +again to overcome the stupendous difficulties that faced it, that he lay there +for half an hour, watching; clapping his hands when he thought success had come, +and feeling deeply sorry when a slip caused the ball to roll back again, often +upsetting the bug, and passing over its body.</p> + +<p>The astonishing pluck of the humble little bug had aroused the admiration of +the boy; and in the end he had picked up both ball and bug, and placed them +safely above the baffling ascent in the road. And after that hour Step Hen awoke +to the fact that an observing boy need never lack for something intensely +interesting to chain his attention, no matter where he might be. All he had to +do was to keep his eyes open, and look. Nature had ten thousand deeply +interesting and curious things that appeal to the one who knows how to enjoy +them.</p> + +<p>And so from that day Step Hen was noticed to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_21'></a>21</span> be eagerly on the watch for new sights. He asked many +questions that proved his mind had awakened; and Thad knew that that half hour +when the scout had lain alongside the mountain road down in North Carolina, had +possibly been the turning point in his career; for he would never again be the +same old careless, indifferent Step Hen of the past.</p> + +<p>“There comes another canoe down the river!” suddenly cried +Bumpus, who was still squatting in the bow of the leading canoe, industriously +rubbing his right shoulder as though it pained him considerably; a fact Thad +noticed, and which had caused him to promise that he would take a look at the +lame part when they stopped for their midday meal, very soon now.</p> + +<p>There was only one man in the canoe that was approaching, and presently Jim +Hasty remarked that he knew him.</p> + +<p>“It’s sure Hen Parry, from up where I used to hold out,” he +went on to say; and then called out to the approaching Maine guide, as his +make-up pronounced the other to be; “hullo, Hen, howd’ye? Glad tuh +see yuh. Come closer, and shake hands. How’s everybody up to the old +place?”</p> + +<p>The other dark-faced fellow seemed pleased to his old friend, and immediately +gripped the extended hand.</p> + +<p>“Guess ther putty well up thar, Jim; an’ no need o’ my +askin’ how ye be’n, ’cause yer lookin’ prime,” <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> he remarked; and then +suddenly an expression akin to dismay flashed across his weather-beaten face, as +he continued: “By the same token I got er message fur ye, Jim, in case I +run up agin ye on my way down to Squawpan, where I gotter meet a party +that’s bound up huntin’. Ye won’t like to hear it, neither, I +kinder guess, ’cause it’s from a feller ye got no use for.”</p> + +<p>“Cale Martin?” burst involuntarily from the lips of Jim Hasty, +while his face turned a shade whiter under its coat of tan.</p> + +<p>“Ther same critter,” Hen went on. “He’s still +runnin’ things to suit hisself up thar around the Eagle chain, an’ +larfin’ at all ther game wardens in Aroostook county ter stop him +ahavin’ his way.”</p> + +<p>“Why should he tell yuh anything tuh say tuh me; an’ how’d +he know I was acomin’ up this aways?” asked Jim, firmly.</p> + +<p>“He sez as how he heerd thet you was agoin’ to bring a pack +o’ boys along up to the Eagles; p’raps it kim in a letter he hed from +somebody, I don’t know jest how thet mout be; but he seemed to know it, +all right, Jim. Sez he to me, ‘Hen, ef ye happens to run acrost thet thar measly +little skunk what sails by the name o’ Jim Hasty, jest you tell him fur me +thet if he dares to put his foot up hyar in <i>my</i> deestrick, I’m bound +to pin his ears to a tree, and leave ’em thar to give him a lesson.’ +An’ Jim, I guess from the look he had on thet black face ob <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> his’n when he says thet, +Cale meant it, every blessed word. And if ’twas me, I’d feel like +turnin’ back, to take my people another way.”</p> + +<p>Thad fixed his eyes on Jim’s face to see how the shorter guide took it. +He realized that Jim was at least no coward, even though he might fear the wrath +of such a forest bully as the ex-logger, and present lawless poacher Cale +Martin; for he had shut his teeth hard together, and there was a grim expression +on his face, as if he did not mean to knuckle under to any such base threat as +that.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER III.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE MAKER OF FIRES.</span></h2> + +<p>“How about that, Jim; must we turn around, and go back, just because +this feller that thinks he owns the whole north of Maine, says so?” asked +Giraffe; who was really a fearless sort of lad, and could not bear to be ordered +around by a bully.</p> + +<p>Jim was looking a little “peaked,” nor could Thad blame him, +after hearing what a terror this Caleb Martin had been in the community for +years; and how even the officers of the law had never as yet dared arrest him, +even though there were rewards out for each one of the three men.</p> + +<p>“Naw, we don’t turn back, if I knows it,” said Jim, +doggedly.</p> + +<p>“Bully for you, Jim!” exclaimed Step Hen, eagerly. +“There’s eight of us, all told, in the party, and I think for my +part that it’s a pretty howd’yedo now if we can’t stand up for +our rights against just three cowards. I call them that because all bullies are, +when you come right down to it. My father says so; and I’ve seen it among +the boys in school.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span>“Yes, +Jim,” remarked Bumpus, with a grand air, though he immediately made a +grimace, as a quick movement gave his sore shoulder a wrench; “we’re +going to stand by you, through thick and thin, ain’t we, +fellers?”</p> + +<p>“Eight guns in the crowd!” remarked Davy Jones with an air of +confidence. “Sure we ought to hold the fort, and then some, if deadly +weapons count for anything up here, and I’m told they do. P’raps, instead +of pinning your ears to a tree, Jim, this same Mister Cale’ll consent to +walk back with us, and give himself up to a game warden of the great and +glorious State of Maine. We mustn’t forget that we’re all sworn-in +officers of the said State, and bound to assist any game warden who is trying to +do his duty, and earn his salary.”</p> + +<p>Presently the other guide said good-bye, and turning his canoe down-stream, +shot away with the current; while the scouts headed up further toward the +wilderness that lay around the country of the Eagle chain of lakes, close to the +northern border of the State.</p> + +<p>They landed presently to have a bite at noon. Thad took advantage of the +opportunity to look at Bumpus’ shoulder. As he anticipated, he found that +there was quite an ugly black-and-blue bruise there, which would cause the boy +considerable pain for several days; though he declared that nothing was going to +keep him from practicing with his new <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_26'></a>26</span> gun, which seemed like a toy in the hands of a +child.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure you could not have held the butt close against your +shoulder when you fired,” Thad ventured, as his opinion.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what,” admitted the other, with a sigh. +“Know better next time, though, Thad; and thank you for making it feel +easier. But I wish I’d got that bear. How fine it would be to eat steak +from a big bear I’d killed with the first shot from my new gun.”</p> + +<p>“Make that plural, Bumpus, for you fired <i>both</i> barrels, +remember,” laughed Thad.</p> + +<p>They were soon on the move again, and pushing steadily up against the current +of the Little Machias. An hour or two passed. The air was not nipping cold at +this time of the day; but as the season was now considerably advanced they +expected to meet with considerable frost, and even some ice, before coming back +once more to the home town.</p> + +<p>Lest the reader who has not made the acquaintance of the Boy Scouts in the +previous volume, should think it strange that these six lads were able to be +away from their school duties for such a length of time at this season of the +year, it may be best to enter a little explanation right here.</p> + +<p>An unfortunate epidemic of contagious sickness had broken out in Cranford, +and as a number of the scholars of the school were affected, the trustees <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> had reluctantly decided +that the session between early Fall and New Years must be abandoned. If all were +well at the later date, after the usual holidays, school would be resumed. But +the health of the community demanded that the boys and girls be separated for +the time being.</p> + +<p>Just then Thad’s guardian, a genial old man who was known far and wide +as “Daddy,” Brewster, found that he had urgent need of communicating +with a gentleman by the name of Carson, who had recently gone up into Maine on +his annual moose hunt in the big game country. As he might not come out before +January, and the necessity of giving him certain documents was great, Thad had +been asked to make the trip.</p> + +<p>They had long been counting on a chance to visit the home country of their +Maine fellow scout, Allan Hollister; and most of the scouts eagerly seized on +this opportunity to carry out the project, though two of the patrol were unable +to be along.</p> + +<p>And so they were now in a condition to thoroughly enjoy the outing, since +Thad had carried out his mission, and given the papers into the keeping of Mr. +Carson; receiving a message in return which he had wired to the old gentleman +when in touch with a telegraph station.</p> + +<p>Thad himself had believed that there was not the slightest cloud along the +horizon; and now that this <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_28'></a>28</span> Cale Martin business had cropped up, he began to +realize that after all it might not be such clear sailing as they had figured +on.</p> + +<p>Still, Thad was not the one to borrow trouble, though ready to grapple with +it in any shape or manner, once it found them out.</p> + +<p>They camped early on that night, because all of them were a little tired; and +the location on the shore looked especially fine.</p> + +<p>“Hey, look at what Giraffe’s going to do!” exclaimed +Bumpus, after they had carried part of their things ashore, and were busily +engaged in putting up the two big tents supplied by Jim Hasty from his camp +stores, such as all Maine guides delight to possess.</p> + +<p>“Why, ain’t it a part of my business to start the fire every +time?” demanded the party in question, who was on his knees; +“didn’t Thad promise me that job if I’d keep on being careful +about startin’ fires every-which-way? I ain’t had a blessed match on +my person since I gave that promise, have I, Thad? And what’s wrong about +my getting the blaze in my own way, tell me that, Bumpus?”</p> + +<p>“But we want supper, and we don’t mean to sit around here an hour +or two, just watchin’ you tinker with that silly old bow and stick, +twirling away like you had to saw through to China. How about that, Thad?” +and Bumpus turned <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +appealingly toward the patrol leader, well knowing that whatever he said would +go.</p> + +<p>“Bumpus is right, Giraffe,” the other said, kindly but firmly. +“You’re welcome to spend all the time you want with that +contraption, after you’ve started our cooking fire; but it wouldn’t +be fair to hold up the whole bunch just to please yourself. Your own good sense +tells you that, Giraffe.”</p> + +<p>Giraffe, of course, had to appear to be convinced.</p> + +<p>“Just when I had a new scheme in my head, too, that I just know would +have made the fire come,” he grumbled, as he hung the little bow on a twig +of a tree near by, and produced flint and steel, and a little bag in which he +kept tinder, in the shape of tiny shavings which he was always preparing at odd +moments; “and before I get another chance to try it, I’ll have +forgotten the combination, sure. But that’s always the way it goes; though +don’t you dare think Bumpus Hawtree, that I’m going to give up so +easy. I’ll fight it out this way if it takes all winter.”</p> + +<p>Being an adept with the flint and steel, Giraffe quickly had his fire +started.</p> + +<p>“And that’s the way it’ll be after I’ve just got that +one little snag passed,” he took occasion to remark, for the benefit of +the fat scout, who was hovering near by. “Everything’s easy as +tumbling off a log, once you know how. P’raps you remember what a time you had +learnin’ to ride a bike; <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_30'></a>30</span> and yet now you can cut around corners, and even +stand on the saddle while she’s going. Well, you wait and see my +smoke.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! that’s all I ever will see, I’m afraid,” +chuckled Bumpus.</p> + +<p>But presently Giraffe managed to drift into a more amiable humor. That was +when the coffee pot was bubbling on the fire, sending out its cheery aroma; and +the last of the eggs they had managed to buy from a potato grower on the bank of +the Aroostook were sizzling in the two large frying-pans.</p> + +<p>Most boys possess hearty appetites, and Giraffe was no exception to the rule. +Indeed, like most lean fellows, he had an enormous stowage capacity somewhere +about him, and could dispose of more food on occasion than any two of his mates. +Bumpus always declared he had hollow legs, and used them for receptacles, when +other places were filled to overflowing. But not one of the scouts could +remember the time when Giraffe complained of having eaten too much. Like the +crowded street car, there was always room for more.</p> + +<p>“Wish we’d struck this section of country an hour or two before +dark,” Bumpus ventured to remark, complacently, as he sat there with his +fat legs doubled under him, tailor-fashion and munching at the crackers and +cheese he had made a sandwich out of.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span>“For +why?” asked Giraffe, looking up.</p> + +<p>“Oh! a feller might have just taken a little turn around here, and +knocked over a deer, or something of the sort,” Bumpus replied, with the +utmost assurance in the world; just as though such a thing were of common +occurrence in his life. “Looks right gamey around here; how’s that, +Thad?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Jim Hasty told us that much!” declared Step Hen, before the +scoutmaster could find a chance to say anything. “Didn’t you hear +him tell how every season there’s been a moose or two killed within ten +miles of where we’ve got our camp right now. But we can’t hold up +yet to do any hunting; so you’ll just have to put a crimp in that sporting +spirit you’ve developed so suddenly, Bumpus.”</p> + +<p>“Listen to him talk, would you?” exclaimed Giraffe; “and +only a little while back you couldn’t get Bumpus to even touch a gun. Say, +you’re a marvel, all right, Bumpus. They’ll have you set up as the +eighth wonder of the world soon, ahead of the telephone, wireless, moving +pictures, and even the talking machine. Edison and all the rest of those old +wizards had better take a back seat when you come around.”</p> + +<p>Joking and chatting, they made the time pass very happily. If Jim Hasty were +in reality much concerned over the prospect of his meeting with the ugly poacher +who had a bone to pick with him, he <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_32'></a>32</span> at least did not show it outwardly any longer. But +then Jim was a man of few words as a rule; and it was hardly to be expected that +so hardy a fellow would tremble, just at the mention of a name.</p> + +<p>There was room for them all under the shelter of the tents, though as a rule, +so long as the weather kept on being fairly pleasant, the two hardy guides +declared that they much preferred to wrap up in their blankets and sleep under +the stars. Such men become used to what would seem hardships to the city bred +person, and in truth think very little of enduring them. And it was by no means +cold enough as yet, to drive them into taking shelter under the canvas.</p> + +<p>Giraffe had been working away at his fire-making business pretty much all of +the evening, and Bumpus had watched him for a while; but growing tired of seeing +the other sawing away as if for dear life, he had finally laughed, and turned +away.</p> + +<p>If Giraffe came near making things “go” that evening, at least +once more the glory of a full success slipped away from his eager hands, +outstretched to clutch it; for when it came time for them to “shut up +shop,” as Thad said, and crawl into the two tents, he had not brought +about his expected blaze, though his face looked more determined than ever.</p> + +<p>Bumpus, Giraffe and Allan occupied one tent; while the other three scouts +were assigned to the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +second. The guides promised to share their shelter only in case of a storm, or +very severe weather.</p> + +<p>The fire was allowed to die down. If any strong wind came up in the night it +would be the duty of the guides to see that burning brands were not carried into +the adjacent woods, to set fire to the brown pine needles that covered the +ground; and were so full of resinous matter that once ignited they would send a +wall of flame down the wind that would do incalculable damage.</p> + +<p>Soon quiet rested over the camp. The frosty night breeze sighed among the +branches overhead; the owl hooted to its mate deep in the wood; and the hour of +midnight, when Thad peeped forth, (and which he knew to have arrived from the +position of certain stars overhead), saw the last of the fire vanishing in dead +embers.</p> + +<p>Thad sought the warmth of his blanket again in a hurry, for the air was now +nipping cold, especially after the snug nest had been temporarily abandoned. And +he must have gone right to sleep, for he did not seem to remember anything after +again creeping under the double folds of the warm woolen covering.</p> + +<p>Now, when one sleeps like most boys do, soundly, it is impossible to figure +how time passes when awakened in a hurry. So that Thad could not tell what the +hour might be when he found himself starting up hurriedly, under the conviction +that <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> strange as it +might seem at that season of the year, and with the air frosty, there was a +storm bearing down upon them, for he thought it was thunder he heard.</p> + +<p>Then came a tremendous crash, and the tent swayed, but did not fall; though +from the wild shouts that arose close at hand the young patrol leader reckoned +the same good fortune could not have befallen the other shelter, because he +could plainly catch the howls of Step Hen, Bumpus and Giraffe.</p> + +<p>Quick as thought Thad whirled over to the exit, and crawled out. And what his +eyes beheld was enough to startle anybody, let alone a boy. If a genuine cyclone +had not struck the camp on the Little Machias, then something almost as bad must +have dropped down upon them, Thad thought, as he stared, hardly able to believe +his eyes, or understand what it all meant.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>A TERROR THAT CAME IN THE NIGHT.</span></h2> + +<p>Why, the second tent had utterly left the place where Thad remembered they +had erected it. He had just a fleeting glimpse of something dingy white +careering along over the ground among the trees, and then it vanished.</p> + +<p>But there was a high time going on near by, where the contents of the +interior of the late tent were scattered around. Blankets heaved, and legs were +thrust out, while the owners of the same were screaming at the top of their +voices.</p> + +<p>“Oh! what is this?” bellowed Bumpus, who seemed to be almost +smothered under the folds of his blanket, which he must have had up over his +head at the time the catastrophe came upon them.</p> + +<p>“It’s a hurricane, that’s what, and our bally old tent has +been carried away!” shouted Giraffe. “Hang on to anything you can +grab, fellers, or you may be taken next! Whoop! let her come! I’ve got +hold of a tree now!”</p> + +<p>“Not much you have,” remarked Thad, “that’s my leg +you’re hanging on to. Let go, and we’ll soon find out what +happened.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span>“Ain’t +it a storm after all then?” demanded Step Hen, as he came creeping out +under the canvas of the back of the one tent that had been left standing, with +most of his clothes hugged tightly in his grip, as though he did not mean to be +utterly left without something to keep him warm, if the worst had befallen +them.</p> + +<p>Thad had by now gleaned an inkling of the truth. And it was so utterly +ridiculous that he felt as though he must soon burst into peals of laughter.</p> + +<p>“First tell me if anybody was hurt?” he demanded, feeling that it +would be wrong to show any merriment if such should prove to be the case.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” remarked Giraffe; “seemed to me +something heavy came squash down on top of me like a thousand of bricks. Mebbe +it was only the tent pole falling. Guess I ain’t hurt much.”</p> + +<p>“How about you, Allan?” asked Thad, hardly thinking it worth +while to ask Bumpus, who seemed to be all right; though he was already beginning +to dance around, as the nipping fingers of Jack Frost got busy with his thinly +covered shanks, about which he had only his flimsy pajamas over his +underclothes.</p> + +<p>“Never happened to step on me, though he came within three inches of my +back!” replied the Maine boy; and there was something about his words to +tell that Allan must already have guessed what had been the cause for all this +commotion, and the stealing of their tent.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span>Bumpus caught at +the words.</p> + +<p>“What’s all that?” he demanded quickly; “was it the +work of some mean feller, after all? Hey, is that the way your old Cale Martin +gets in his work, sneakin’ up in the dead of night, when we’re all +sleepin’ as innocent as the babes in the woods, and snatchin’ off +our covers before you could wink an eye, or say Jack Robinson? Well, I like his +nerve, that’s what; and he’d better look out how he keeps on +tryin’ tricks on travelers. Say, he switched our tent, too!” and +Bumpus gave a whistle, as well as his trembling lips would allow, to emphasize +his disgust.</p> + +<p>“You can thank your lucky stars old fellow,” said Allan, +“that he didn’t plant one of his hoofs square on your +stomach.”</p> + +<p>“Hoofs!” echoed Bumpus, aghast; “say, then it wasn’t +that old poacher after all, was it? Hoofs? That must mean it was an animal. +Looky here, somebody get the fire started again, so we won’t shake to +pieces while we’re hunting our clothes, and listening to the explanation +of this latest outrage.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! let Davy do it,” said Giraffe; “I’m nearly +frozen stiff myself right now; and besides,” he added as a brilliant +after-thought, “you know I don’t carry matches with me any more. And +of course you wouldn’t want to wait while I swung my little +bow.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_38'></a>38</span>“Where’s my left shoe?” shouted Step +Hen just then; for there never was a time when he could find <i>all</i> his +belongings; and in a case of excitement like this it was a certainty that his +customary complaint would soon be heard in the land. “Who’s gone and +took my left shoe? I’m dead certain I had both of ’em when I started +to crawl under the canvas. Somebody thinks it smart to keep playin’ jokes +on <i>me</i> all the time. Why can’t they let <i>my</i> things be, +Thad?”</p> + +<p>“What’s that sticking out of the pocket of your coat?” +asked Allan, as Davy managed to strike a match, and apply the fire to the only +lantern they carried with them on the trip.</p> + +<p>“Why, whoever stuck that in there?” Step Hen went on, +unblushingly. “Thinks it smart to do such silly things, and have me +guessing all the time. Just switch off, and try it on one of the others, +won’t you?”</p> + +<p>Knowing that he must have undoubtedly placed the shoe in that pocket himself +in the haste of his departure from the tent that remained, Step Hen did not dare +accuse any one in particular; but glared around at vacancy when thus addressing +his supposed-to-be enemy.</p> + +<p>But they were so accustomed to his failings by now that no one paid much +attention to what he was saying. In fact, it would have been a cause for +astonishment if twenty-four hours ever slipped <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_39'></a>39</span> past without an outburst from Step Hen in connection +with some of his personal belongings, that seemed to have taken wings in the +most mysterious fashion, and vanished, although they always turned up again.</p> + +<p>“But what sort of an animal was it, Thad?” asked Bumpus, still +dancing about, and slapping himself in every conceivable place in order to keep +his blood in circulation.</p> + +<p>“Ask Jim, or Eli,” replied the patrol leader, who was really too +busy just then getting some of his own clothes, to bother answering.</p> + +<p>So the others turned to the two guides, who, not having removed any of their +ordinary garments, did not feel the chilly night air as much as the lads.</p> + +<p>“What was it banged us over, Eli?” asked Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Moose bull on the rampage!” replied the Maine woodsman, readily +enough.</p> + +<p>“A great big moose like that one we shot a while ago!” echoed +Bumpus, showing great excitement. “Just my luck. Why, if he’d heard +that I had a new gun, and was waiting to see what it could do, he couldn’t +have been kinder. Just knocked at our door; and when nobody answered him he went +away again, and by jinks! carried the door and the rest of the house with him. +However in the wide world do you suppose that happened, Eli? <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> I guess you ought to know, +because you’re acquainted with the queer ways of these woods’ +critters.”</p> + +<p>“Never knew such a thing before in all my experience in woods,” +asserted the older guide, shaking his head. “Fire was out, wind blowing +wrong way for moose to smell human critters; and he must a thought he heard +’nother bull on the edge o’ ther water, wantin’ to fight him. Anyhow +he jest natchrally tore right through that tent. It got fast to his horns, and +he’s been an’ kerried it off.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! what tough luck. If I’d only been on the watch I’d +have the honor of shooting the first moose that took to wearin’ clothes +human way,” groaned Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“D’ye suppose, then, he’s keepin’ our bally tent; and +won’t we ever set eyes on the same again?” asked Giraffe, holding +his chilled hands out toward the fire that in Davy’s charge had been +revived again until it sent out a genial warmth.</p> + +<p>“Soon know,” remarked Jim, who had a personal interest in the +matter, seeing that the purloined canvas belonged to him; though of course he +knew that his employers would stand for any loss he incurred while working in +their service.</p> + +<p>He took the lantern, and started away. Thad had managed to get some of his +clothes on by this time, and he hurried after the shorter guide, who seemed to +know exactly in which direction to pursue his investigations.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span>“I can see +something ahead there,” Thad remarked, presently.</p> + +<p>“That’s the tent, all right,” remarked Jim. “I only +hopes as how she ain’t too bad cut up now. ’Twas nearly new, and good, and +stout; so I guess the ole chap he had some trouble gettin’ loose from the +same.”</p> + +<p>They found the tent where it had caught on a sprout, and torn free from the +branching antlers of the moose, commonly called his horns.</p> + +<p>“Not so bad after all,” remarked Jim, when he had examined the +extent of the damage made by the tent’s being so forcibly carried off. +“I kin patch it up easy, when I gits a chance in the boat, to-morry. Guess +as haow we gut off right smart, all things considerin’, Thad.”</p> + +<p>And the young scoutmaster was ready to echo these words, when he got to +thinking how one of a dozen things might have accompanied the mad rush of the +moose through the camp.</p> + +<p>They never did know what had really caused his charge; whether some +vindictive spirit of rage provoked the huge beast; or that he fancied a rival +bull were challenging him to mortal combat, just as in the case of the fellow, +whom Sebattis had previously lured within gunshot, with his seductive moose +call.</p> + +<p>The balance of the night gave them only broken sleep; because of the sudden +and rude shock of this awakening. Bumpus hugged his new gun close to <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> his side; and raised his +head so often to listen, that both Giraffe and Allan vowed they would be +compelled to chase him outside if he didn’t get busy, and capture some +sleep right away.</p> + +<p>Morning came in due time, and they found that little damage had been done by +the rush of the moose, beyond some rents in the canvas of the tent.</p> + +<p>Once more they started forth, and all that day plodded on, making many miles, +and by evening reaching the spot where Jim said they could have their canoes and +luggage carried over to Portage Lake by a man he knew, who owned a team and a +wagon.</p> + +<p>“How far is it across from here?” asked Thad, seeking +information.</p> + +<p>“Depends on what way yuh go thar,” replied Jim, “but I +guesses as Nick he likes the three mile carry best. Start fresh in the +mornin’ sure.”</p> + +<p>After they had partaken of an early supper Jim went off to find his friend +who owned the team, while the others busied themselves getting their belongings +in as small a compass as possible, looking forward to what was expected to +happen on the following morning.</p> + +<p>Later, when Jim came back, he reported that he had interviewed Nick, and made +all necessary arrangements with him to take the three canoes, and the stuff that +went with them, across the carry in the morning. The boys were expected to walk +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> and if necessary +push at the wheels of the wagon, should it get stuck in a creek bed of soft +quicksand.</p> + +<p>The night passed quietly, and all hands managed to put in plenty of time +sleeping, to make up for the loss of the previous one. In the morning the loud +“whoa” of a stentorian voice announced the arrival of the expected +team. They proved to be oxen instead of horses, and once the canoes, and other +stuff, had been loaded on the big low wagon, the journey commenced.</p> + +<p>Slow progress was the order of the day. Giraffe grumbled, but it did no good. +And it was really noon when they finally came in sight of the lake.</p> + +<p>The canoes were gladly launched, a light lunch eaten, the teamster paid off, +and then again the voyage was resumed under a favoring sky; for the air was +bracing, and so far not a sign of the first snow storm had made its appearance, +though the guides warned their charges to be prepared for the worst, as a +downfall was nearly due.</p> + +<p>A cold wind was blowing from the northwest so that the wise guides hugged the +sheltered shore of Portage Lake, since the waves were of pretty good size, and +the flying spray would be far from pleasant in such weather.</p> + +<p>Finally they reached the place where the lake had its outlet into a small +stream, that, after flowing for a number of miles, emptied into the Lower Lake +of the great and famous Eagle chain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span>On the shore of +this lake then, they made their next camp. From the grave manner of Jim, the +scoutmaster easily guessed that they must by now have entered the territory +where Cale Martin, the slippery old poacher, held forth. Jim seemed to look +about him more than before. He also started at the least unusual sound, showing +that while he might try to disguise the fact, he was really nervous. Still, he +did not give the slightest indication of showing the white feather, or backing +down, before a dozen like Cale Martin.</p> + +<p>Davy had purchased a little snapshot camera at the town below, and also some +flashlight cartridges with which he wished to get some views of the group around +the camp-fire at night. No one had made any effort to perpetuate such scenes +which Davy declared were the very best part of the whole trip. And now that they +had become fairly launched upon the journey he was aching to start into business +with his new outfit.</p> + +<p>Davy knew a little about taking pictures, although far from being an expert. +He had never used flashlight powders, or cartridges before; and after reading +all the directions carefully, he declared he felt prepared to take a picture +that would be viewed with the greatest satisfaction in the world by all his +chums, when this great Maine vacation were only a memory of the past.</p> + +<p>So Davy warned his campmates not to be <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_45'></a>45</span> alarmed if there suddenly flashed upon them a great +light.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to get you all in characteristic attitudes, if I +could–that was the way the feller who sold me the camera called it; and he +said the best pictures were the natural ones. What I mean is, that if I could +grab Step Hen here, for instance, with that silly look of his on his face, +saying: ‘Anybody seen my camp hatchet around? Funny how it’s always +<i>my</i> things that get carried off! The jinx never hides anything belonging +to <i>you</i> fellers!’ I’d have something worth while.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! come off, will you, Davy; if I thought I looked like you say, +I’d let all my traps disappear every day but what I’d kick up a +row,” and Step Hen assumed an air of indignation with these words that +caused a general laugh to go around.</p> + +<p>Of course it had to be explained to the two guides, for they were to be in +the picture, smoking their pipes contentedly; and apparently Eli telling a +story, to which the rest of the scouts were listening eagerly, possibly +laughing.</p> + +<p>Having fixed things to his satisfaction, Davy disappeared, slipping away from +the camp-fire on the side he had decided upon as offering the best natural +advantages for a flashlight view.</p> + +<p>They could not see him, but guessed that he was working his way toward them +as slily as he could; since he had announced that he meant to play the <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> part of an enemy, stealing +up to spy upon the camp.</p> + +<p>Presently they did manage to get Eli started telling a story; for Thad knew +it would be better for the picture if the guides seemed natural, and not on +parade.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Davy was creeping forward, intent on reaching the place he had +picked out beforehand, and where, without exposing himself, he could set his +camera, and then fire the cartridge.</p> + +<p>When to his uneducated mind–in the line of photography–Davy had +things just about to his liking, he held himself in readiness for what he deemed +an extra fine view, when the boys were laughing heartily at the climax of +Eli’s queer story of a scrape he once found himself in that was really +humorous, though at the time it may have appeared anything but that to the +actor.</p> + +<p>“Now!” said Davy, partly to himself, as he fired his +cartridge.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden brilliant and dazzling flash, that must have been as +fierce as the display of lightning when the bolt hits close at hand. And while +those at the fire were schooled to repress their natural alarm, evidently the +same could not be said of a looker-on not counted in the bill; for there was a +hoarse cry of alarm from the bushes across the way, and the sound of crashing +seemed to tell of a precipitate flight.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER V.<br /><span class='h2fs'>JIM’S SECRET.</span></h2> + +<p>“What was that?” exclaimed Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Davy just had to let out a whoop!” commented Step Hen.</p> + +<p>“Think again, would you,” spoke up Giraffe, who sat there +twisting his long neck this way and that, in a comical way, as though seeking to +discover the object of the strange outcry; “it came from the other side of +the camp from where Davy is.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the indifferent Step Hen, as if not wanting to be +bothered, “then it must have been some animal that was curious enough to +prowl around our camp, and got a good scare, free, gratis, for +nothing.”</p> + +<p>“It was no animal that made that sound, and I leave it to Thad or Allan +here,” Bumpus insisted.</p> + +<p>Indeed, even the sleepy Step Hen sat up and took notice that the two +mentioned, as well as Jim and Eli, were already on their feet, exchanging +significant looks. Words were hardly needed to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_48'></a>48</span> proclaim that they deemed the circumstance as one +worthy of investigation.</p> + +<p>Just then Davy came in, bearing his little camera, and with a grin on his +face.</p> + +<p>“Got a fine picture that time, I reckon, fellers,” he announced, +after the manner of satisfied camera fiends the world over.</p> + +<p>“Did you give a shout, Davy?” asked Thad, thinking it best to +settle that point in the start, before going any further.</p> + +<p>“Not that I know of, I didn’t,” immediately replied the +other.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear one?” continued the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>“Sure I did, and took it for granted that Step Hen or Giraffe had been +scared by the fireworks display, in spite of my warning, and squealed,” +Davy replied.</p> + +<p>“That settles it, then,” Thad went on, turning to Eli and Jim; +“get a torch, or the lantern, and we’ll see what it was.”</p> + +<p>“Wow! this looks some interesting!” exclaimed Giraffe, beginning +to show signs of excitement himself.</p> + +<p>Eli picked up the lantern, and lighted it. Then he led the way into the +bushes at the exact spot where, according to his educated ear, the snort and the +crash had come from.</p> + +<p>“Keep back, the rest of you,” said Thad, “and <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> let Eli do the looking. If +he finds anything worth while, be sure you’ll all know about +it.”</p> + +<p>A minute later the old guide called to them to come on.</p> + +<p>“Bully for Eli; he’s lost no time in making good!” +exclaimed Giraffe.</p> + +<p>The whole party crowded around the old guide, who was on his knees on the +ground, apparently examining some tracks he had found. He waved a hand to keep +them from crowding too close to him, so as to interfere with his work.</p> + +<p>Bending low, Thad could easily see the marks. Some one had been crouching +there in the bushes, and spying on the camp. That he could not be an honest +woodsman it was easy to guess, for as such he would have stalked straight into +camp, sure of the warm welcome that is always extended to a stranger who looks +good.</p> + +<p>Eli pointed to the impression close to the footprints.</p> + +<p>“Thar’s whar he rested the butt o’ his rifle,” he +said, positively, and Thad knew it was exactly as Eli declared, just as though +he could himself see the actions of the hidden man. “Got on his knees and +crawled up to whar he c’ud poke his nose outen the scrub hyar, an’ watch +us. And hyar’s whar he was arestin’ on jest wun knee; cause ye kin +see the mark o’ his foot beyond.”</p> + +<p>“What was he doing that for?” asked Thad, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> though deep down in his heart he seemed +to instinctively know.</p> + +<p>“Wall, I kinder guess naow thet he mout a be’n a tryin’ to see +how he cud kiver wun o’ us with his <i>gun!</i>” replied Eli.</p> + +<p>He beckoned to Jim, and that worthy approached. There was a troubled look on +the face of the younger guide that Thad could not but notice; and he realized +that the affair might not be so great a mystery to Jim as it seemed to the rest +of them.</p> + +<p>“Take a squint at them hood tracks hyar, Jim; p’raps ye mout sorter +reckernize the same,” Eli remarked drily.</p> + +<p>Jim only needed that one glance, and then he gritted his teeth as he +observed:</p> + +<p>“Oh! twar <i>him</i>, all right, Eli; I knowed it.”</p> + +<p>“Wow! and again I say, wow! this here is sure getting mighty +interesting!” muttered Giraffe, shuffling uneasily from one foot to the +other; while Bumpus, filled with a sudden alarm, started back into the camp, to +arm himself with his new gun.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean Old Cale Martin?” demanded Thad.</p> + +<p>“None other,” answered Jim, moodily.</p> + +<p>“Then he must have seen you, Jim, sitting here?” the patrol +leader went on.</p> + +<p>“He shore did,” replied the short guide.</p> + +<p>“And amused himself covering you with his gun, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> just as if to say that he could put a +bullet in you, if so be he wanted; but he didn’t want to, did he Jim?</p> + +<p>“Reckon he didn’t, sir,” the other ventured. “Yuh +see, he ain’t jest <i>thet</i> mad at me, so’s tuh wanter kill me; +jest sez as haow I gotter keep away from whar he camps, yuh know.”</p> + +<p>“Sill, he said he meant to pin your ears to a tree, if he caught you up +here; those were about the words your guide friend, Hen Parry, used, +weren’t they, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“Thet’s what they was; an’ he meant it, too,” Jim +replied. “Thet’s one o’ his good points, thet he allers keeps +his word. If them game wardens cud ever git Ole Dad Martin tuh say as he never +wud kill game outen season agin, they’d know nawthin’ under the +sun’d tempt him tuh do hit, not even if he was a dyin’ fuh a bite +o’ meat. He ain’t all bad, this here Cale Martin.”</p> + +<p>“But what about you, Jim; seems to me this is taking big chances in +your coming up here, when such a lawless character has a grudge against you, and +is waiting to put his stamp on you that way. And strikes me, Jim, that you must +have had a motive in coming, that was more than just bluff. How about +that?”</p> + +<p>The young guide glanced at Thad when he said this, and evidently realized +that the patrol leader could read his mind better than most people; he <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> looked a little confused; +then gave a short nervous laugh, and said:</p> + +<p>“Wall, naow, sense yuh sized me up thet away, I’ll jest hev tuh +admit thet I did hev a notion in comin’ up here, ‘sides takin’ ye +through the Eagle Lakes. I hed my orders tuh come, an’ from one as I hes +tuh mind.”</p> + +<p>He turned away while speaking, as though not inclined to say more just then +in the presence of so many; but Thad made up his mind there was a story back of +the strange actions of Jim; and that a few point-blank questions might bring it +out. Before he slept he hoped he would find a chance to get Jim to one side and +ask him about it; for he had reason to believe the other was ready to confide in +him.</p> + +<p>“Do you think he’ll come back again to-night?” asked Davy +Jones.</p> + +<p>“Who cares?” remarked a voice at the elbow of the speaker; and +turning, they beheld Bumpus flourishing his new double-barrel gun, as though +only too anxious for a chance to hold somebody up at its muzzle.</p> + +<p>“Here, you keep that cannon aimed the other way, if you please!” +cried Giraffe, dodging behind a convenient tree. “You ought to be marked +with a red flag ‘dangerous–dynamite!’ that’s what I +think!”</p> + +<p>“Come, let’s get back to camp,” remarked Thad. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> “There’s +little chance of Old Cale coming back here to-night. He got the scare of his +life when that flashlight burst on him so sudden like. I wouldn’t be +surprised if he thought a rapid-fire machine gun was opening on him; or else +that lightning had taken to camping on his trail.”</p> + +<p>“Anyhow,” remarked Allan, “he just couldn’t help +turning and running as if the Old Nick were after him. And from that we can +guess that Cale never heard tell of flashlight pictures.”</p> + +<p>“Well, can you blame him?” asked Thad. “Makes me think of +the old fable, when the lion and the donkey went hunting together. The lion took +up his station at the mouth of the cave where some goats had hidden, while the +donkey went in; and made all sorts of terrible noises, braying. So the goats ran +out, and the lion killed as many as he wanted. When the donkey came out he asked +his partner if he had done the job in good shape. ‘Fine,’ said the lion, +‘and you would have frightened me too, if I hadn’t known that you were +only a donkey.’ And that’s the way with us, fellows; we were on to +the game in advance, or some of us might have taken to our heels too.”</p> + +<p>“Here, that sounds mighty much like you were calling me a +donkey,” remarked Davy, trying to display a certain amount of offended +dignity.</p> + +<p>“Oh! not in the least,” laughed Thad.</p> + +<p>“If the shoe fits, put it on,” jeered Giraffe. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> “You know they say +that wherever you see smoke, there’s sure to be fire.”</p> + +<p>“Not much there ain’t,” burst out Bumpus, with a grin. +“I’ve seen <i>heaps</i> of smoke started, without a sign of a +blaze,” and Giraffe subsided into silence knowing what was meant.</p> + +<p>“Did you get a good picture, Davy?” asked Thad, as they once more +settled down around the fire.</p> + +<p>“Seemed like it to me,” was the reply. “It was just when +you were all laughing at what Eli here was saying. He had his hand up, like he +was going to smack it down in the palm of the other, to emphasize a telling +point in his story. Say, wouldn’t it be a great stunt now, if, when I +developed that plate, I found a face sticking out of the bushes across yonder; +and Jim here recognized it as belonging to that big terror of the pine woods, +Cale Martin!”</p> + +<p>“Say, that would be just great!” ejaculated Step Hen; and all +eyes were turned toward Jim; but that worthy made no remark, though he must have +surely heard what was said.</p> + +<p>As the evening grew on apace Thad was watching for the chance he wanted, to +get a few words in private with the younger guide. Jim somehow had interested +Thad from the start. He never said anything about himself or his folks; but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> somehow the young +patrol leader had been drawn toward Jim. He believed the fellow to be a sturdy +chap, clean and honest as any guide ever employed by big game hunters in the +Maine woods. And now that it began to appear that there was a little mystery +attached to his past, of course Thad felt a deeper interest in Jim than +ever.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was accident that took Jim off after a while; he may have just +wanted to smoke his pipe alone, and ponder on the strange fate that seemed to +throw him once more in contact with the man who had crossed his life trail in +the past, and apparently not in a pleasant way either. But somehow Thad +conceived an idea that Jim just knew he wanted to have a quiet little chat with +him; and was thus making an opening.</p> + +<p>Just as he had expected he found the guide leaning against a tree near by. +The light from the flickering blaze of the camp-fire reached the spot, but +faintly; and Jim did not even show any signs of nervousness when Thad drew near, +which was one indication that he had half expected his coming.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Jim even invited a chance to bestow his confidence on the young +scoutmaster. He must have seen before now that Thad Brewster was no ordinary +boy; and when a man has been brooding over <i>something</i> a long time, he +often feels like having a friend to whom he may pour out the troubles <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> of his soul, and from whom +perhaps he may look for advice.</p> + +<p>“Not thinking of changing your mind, are you Jim?” asked Thad, as +he joined the other by the tree.</p> + +<p>“If yuh mean ’bout goin’ back, an’ feelin’ like +a whipped houn’ dog, sir, ’taint in Jim Hasty tuh do thet aways. +Fact is,” the guide went on, with a stubborn ring in his voice, +“meetin’ up with Ole Cale jest kinder makes me more sot in my mind +than ever. I stays with yuh right through, yuh kin bank on thet.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I only hope he’ll conclude to give us a wide berth, and +make up his mind that he’d better keep his hands off,” Thad went on. +“Seems like he doesn’t fancy you any too much, Jim?”</p> + +<p>This was a plain invitation, and the other so regarded it, for he immediately +answered:</p> + +<p>“I kinder guess Ole Cale does hate me wuss nor pizen, sir. P’raps +he’s gut reason fut hit; an’ agin, mebbe he hain’t. ‘Tall +depends on the way yuh look at hit. I on’y done what any man o’ +speerit’d adone, if so be he found himself up agin a stone wall like Cale +Martin’s ‘no, not on yuh life!’ meant.”</p> + +<p>“Then you asked him for something, did you, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“Jest what I done, sir; which something war what he happened to keer +more fur than anything <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_57'></a>57</span> else on the yarth,” Jim replied; and Thad could +detect something soft and tender underneath the words, that gave him a clue.</p> + +<p>“And that something, Jim?” he went on, invitingly.</p> + +<p>“War his darter, Little Lina, ther purtiest an’ sweetest gal in +all the Maine woods,” the guide made answer. “When he sez as haow I +never cud hev her with all her carin’ fur me so much, I jest up an’ +run away with her; an’ thet’s why Ole Cale, he hates me wuss nor +cold pizen!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>TAKING A RISK FOR THE SAKE OF LITTLE LINA.</span></h2> + +<p>Thad understood it all now, and the knowledge gave him a thrill. He thrust +out his hand to the young guide, with boyish enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“Shake, Jim!” he exclaimed. “I just know you did what any +decent man would have done. And so you managed to run away with the old +man’s daughter, did you? Was she all he had?”</p> + +<p>“On’y Little Lina; an’ he believed the sun rose an’ set in +her, like. They cud all say as Cale Martin war a bad man, an’ he +<i>war</i> rough as they make ’em, sumtimes; but he’d a laid down +his life fur thet gal, any day. I was dead sorry tuh hev tuh do hit; but I +knowed he’d never give in, an’ I jest cudn’t live without her. +We gut outen this deestrict while Cale war off on a hunt, an’ I +hain’t never seen hide nor hair o’ him sense. But he sent me word +thet ef so be I ever kim back tuh the old stampin’ grounds, he hed it in +fuh me, all right.”</p> + +<p>“How long ago was that, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“Nigh a yeah an’ er half now,” the other replied.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span>“And of +course your wife has often wished she could see her father again, +Jim?”</p> + +<p>The guide groaned.</p> + +<p>“Cried her putty eyes out, awantin’ tuh see her dad,” he +admitted; “but what cud a man do ’bout hit, if Cale, he wudn’t +forgive me? He sent word as haow Lina cud kim back, but me, never; an’ in +course she wudn’t quit me.”</p> + +<p>“But now, Jim; tell me about who gave you the orders you were saying +something about a while ago?” pursued Thad.</p> + +<p>“She done hit, in course,” answered the other, heaving a sigh. +“I knowed the risk I war takin’, but I’d do a right smart more +fur my Lina.”</p> + +<p>“Then as I take it, Jim, you don’t really want to avoid Old Cale, +this fiery father-in-law of yours; in fact, you mean to see him face to +face?”</p> + +<p>“Got ter,” replied the other, laconically; “’cause she sez +so. Hit may be I kin do hit on the way up to the lakes; but if not then +I’m acomin’ back with Eli an’ the canoes thisaways, arter yuh +gits aboard ther train; an’ I’ll hang around this deestrict till we +meets. Never’d dar’ show myself tuh her, ’less I done everything +agoin’ tuh kerry it out.”</p> + +<p>“And don’t you feel a little uneasy about your ears, +Jim?”</p> + +<p>“Wall, it wudn’t be jest the nicest thing agoin’ tuh lose +’em; but she sez as haow Ole Cale, he’s <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> bound tuh cave when he hears what I +gotter tuh tell him.”</p> + +<p>Evidently Jim had said all he meant to, and Thad took the hint.</p> + +<p>“Well, all I want to say is that I admire your nerve, Jim; and the lot +of us will stand back of you if you get in any trouble,” he remarked, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Hit’s right nice in yuh tuh say thet, sir, an’ sure I +’predate hit,” the guide went on to say, with a tremor in his voice; +“but arter all, I guess thar hain’t goin’ tuh be any row, if +me’n Cale, we kims tergether. I’m willin’ tuh resk it. But I must +say as haow I don’t like the ijee o’ him asettin’ thar in them +bushes, aimin’ his gun at me. But Cale Martin’s a squar man, as +wudn’t shoot daown another without givin’ him a show. An’ I +guess he jest done it fur fun.”</p> + +<p>So Thad went back to the fire, and sat down. But he did not join in the merry +talk that was going around. His thoughts were wholly given up to Jim and his +story. He liked the short guide more than ever; and in the same proportion +detested the big Maine backwoodsman whose daughter Jim had run away with.</p> + +<p>Presently some of the boys complained of feeling sleepy, and arrangements +were made for passing the night.</p> + +<p>Both Jim and Eli declared that it would be only the part of wisdom to keep +watch. There could <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +be no telling what deviltry Cale Martin, assisted by his two congenial spirits, +Si Kedge and Ed Harkness, might attempt to do. Perhaps, thinking that it would +reflect on the guides if they annoyed the party whom Eli and Jim were convoying +into the Maine woods, they might even try to set fire to the camp, and thus +spoil the entire trip.</p> + +<p>When morning came Thad and Allan had taken their turn at standing sentry; but +none of the other scouts were called upon, because the leader did not have the +greatest of confidence in their ability to remain awake, not to mention hearing, +and comprehending, any sounds that might arise, and which spelled danger.</p> + +<p>A consultation in the morning showed that only once had there been heard +suspicious sounds. It was while Allan held the fort; and he declared that to the +best of his knowledge they were far distant voices on the river. But although he +listened carefully, and was prepared to give the alarm if necessary, nothing +further developed that might be considered a peril to the camp.</p> + +<p>The boys were feeling pretty good that morning. They had most of them enjoyed +a fine sleep, and were as active as young colts.</p> + +<p>Davy in particular seemed to be full of animal spirits; and when he felt like +it, there was no end of the capers the athletic gymnast could do. One minute he +was hanging from his toes from a high <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_62'></a>62</span> limb, looking like a monkey; and the next he had let +go, whirled over three times in the air, and landed lightly on his feet on the +soft ground; after which he would make his little bow, just like the celebrated +performer in the great and only Barnum’s Circus, after he has thrilled the +audience with one of his marvelous acts.</p> + +<p>Bumpus sat and watched all these performances with open mouth. Secretly the +fat boy aspired to imitate Davy in some of his antics; though Giraffe always +scoffed loudly at the absurd idea of a heavy weight like Bumpus trying to play +the part of a nimble ape.</p> + +<p>Several times had the ambition of Bumpus got the better of his judgment, and +he had endeavored to follow in the wake of the active member of the party; but +always with disastrous results; so that for some time now he had taken it out in +gaping, and wishing, and longing for the time to come when he could get rid of +his surplus fat, so that he might be nimble like Davy.</p> + +<p>Giraffe during breakfast was unusually silent and sober. Thad guessed where +his thoughts were straying, and consequently it did not surprise him in the +least to overhear the tall boy muttering to himself, while he shook his head +stubbornly:</p> + +<p>“I c’n do it all right; I just <i>know</i> I can!”</p> + +<p>Step Hen amused himself watching a sharp-eyed little striped chipmunk +stealing some bits <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +thrown aside from the camp meal. Time was when Step Hen might have been guilty +of trying to hit such a fair mark with a club or a stone; but that was in the +past. He would not have lifted a finger now to injure that innocent little +creature for worlds; but sat there, deeply interested in observing every +movement it made, just as if it were a pet.</p> + +<p>Jim seemed to be himself again; at least when Thad looked toward him +inquiringly, the guide nodded his head, and smiled. Evidently Jim had slept over +his trouble, and decided that he was doing the right thing. For the sake of +Little Lina he was ready to go right along, taking big chances of losing his +precious ears; for only too well did he know that Old Cale was a man of his +word; and that he must have meant everything he said to the messenger who bore +the threat to Jim.</p> + +<p>Davy was wild to develop the film upon which he had taken that snapshot +picture on the preceding night; but there were a number of obstacles in the way +of doing that. First of all, there were five other exposures on that roll, as +yet untouched; and as a clinching argument, Davy had not bothered bringing a +developing tank, or printing outfit along with him, fearing that they would take +up too much room.</p> + +<p>And so he would have to be content to wait until they reached some place +where a photographer held forth, who would undertake to do the job, for a +consideration.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span>Of course the +picture of that breakfast would hardly be complete without Step Hen suddenly +breaking forth in his customary strain:</p> + +<p>“Where’s my–oh, here it is, on my head, of course! How +queer that I should forget I put it there,” and he had to actually take +his hat off, and look at it, as if hardly able to believe his eyes, and that for +once his anticipated difficulty had been smoothed over so easily.</p> + +<p>Davy joined in the general laugh that greeted this outbreak; then he walked +gravely over, and insisted on feeling of Step Hen’s neck.</p> + +<p>“Hey! what you up to, now, you Jones boy? Keep your paws off me!” +exclaimed the object of this solicitude, suspiciously dodging.</p> + +<p>“I only wanted to make sure that the connection was sound still,” +retorted the other; “because some fine day, all of us expect you to lose +your head.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ve seen you lose yours more’n a few times, when +you got flustrated and excited; and it didn’t seem to hurt much,” +Step Hen retorted.</p> + +<p>“There’s a big difference in heads,” remarked Davy.</p> + +<p>“I should say there was,” replied the other, meaningly; +“and the gray stuff that’s in ’em, too. Some are hollow, like +a punkin; while others, mine for instance, are just crammed full of +thinks.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’d advise you to use a few of the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> thinks trying to remember where you put +your belongings; and quit accusing the rest of us of playing tricks on you; or a +silly little jinx of stealing things.” Davy went on, shaking his finger at +the careless scout.</p> + +<p>“If all you fellows are done eating, perhaps we’d better get a +move on us,” suggested the scoutmaster; of course Thad was really only the +assistant, for according to the regulations governing all troops of Boy Scouts +connected with the parent organization, there had to be a grown-up acting in the +capacity of scoutmaster; though Thad had passed an examination that entitled him +to receive his commission as assistant, from the headquarters in New York +City.</p> + +<p>As this gentleman, a Dr. Philander Hobbs, had been unable to get away with +them on this trip to Maine, he had relegated his authority to the shoulders of +Thad; a proceeding that was greatly relished by the other five scouts, because +they liked to feel that they were depending on themselves, with no grown-up +along.</p> + +<p>Accordingly there was a movement among the campers. Tents had to come down, +and be stowed away; and all the material connected with the cooking department +made into as small a compass as possible.</p> + +<p>All of them worked but Giraffe, who was on his knees near by, doing something +that Thad could <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +easily guess the nature of. Knowing the stubborn qualities in the angular scout +Thad felt sure that none of them would know any peace until Giraffe had finally +managed to strike a clue, and effect the end he had in view, of making an actual +boni-fide fire after the way known to the South Sea Islanders, with his little +bow, his sharp-pointed stick set in a hole made in a block of wood, and his +inflammable tinder, backed by indomitable energy, and “get there” +spirit.</p> + +<p>And for the sake of harmony in the camp, Thad really wished Giraffe would +hurry up, and solve the knotty problem.</p> + +<p>Inside of half an hour they were all packed, and ready to make another start +in the direction of the Eagle chain of lakes to the north.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LONG-DRAWN HOWL OF A CANADA WOLF.</span></h2> + +<p>“All ready!” sang out Thad.</p> + +<p>Some of them were already settled in the canoes; but Giraffe still remained, +kneeling on the shore.</p> + +<p>“Come, we’ve waited long enough for you, old Slow-poke!” +called out Bumpus, who was the partner of the tall scout in the canoe paddled by +Eli.</p> + +<p>Very slowly did Giraffe approach, his eyes turned beseechingly on Thad.</p> + +<p>“Say, that’s the way it always goes,” he declared. “I +was just getting on to it the best ever, and if I only had half an hour more, +I’d made my fire as sure as I’m Conrad Stedman. I’ve got her +all figgered out; and by noon I’ll be twisted in my mind again, and the +whole combination lost.”</p> + +<p>But Thad only shook his head.</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t think of it, Number Six,” he declared. “It +was one part of the agreement made with you that on no occasion were you to +delay the balance of the party. All ready; Bumpus, give the signal.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span>Bumpus was a +natural musician. He could play “any old instrument,” and extract +very good music from banjo, guitar, violin, or even an accordion; he also had a +fine voice that often aroused the enthusiastic acclaim of his comrades while +sitting around the fire of evenings.</p> + +<p>Of course, then, he had been made the bugler of the troop as soon as the +organization was commenced. It had not been deemed just the right thing for him +to fetch his musical instrument along while the Silver Fox Patrol chanced to be +in the Maine woods on a hunt; but then that was no bar to Bumpus, who could put +his hands to his mouth, and give a splendid imitation of the reveille, assembly, +taps, or any other military call.</p> + +<p>So Giraffe had to climb into Eli’s canoe, looking very much +discouraged. Really, it did seem as though an evil spirit took especial delight +in baffling him, just when he seemed in a fair way to reach the goal of his +present ambition. As he had once before complained, he had even had his tinder +soaked by a sudden shower, and just at the critical moment when he felt sure it +was about to burst into a successful blaze.</p> + +<p>But one thing was sure, these successive defeats only served to make him shut +his teeth harder together, and resolve that nothing would ever prevent him from +getting that fire, if it took him a year. He might be beaten once, twice, or +fifty times; but <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +there would come a day to the patient plodder when the door of opportunity would +open for him. And surely success would stand for a great deal more if he had to +work like this for it, than if easily attained.</p> + +<p>Before noon came they had arrived at the place where the stream ran into the +Lower Lake of the Eagle Chain; and when they stopped for lunch, it was upon the +shore of this beautiful sheet of water.</p> + +<p>Thad had been secretly keeping an eye on Jim. He knew that the guide must +feel more or less anxiety, despite his brave outward showing. And when Jim +thought no one was observing he would look out of the tail of his eye at every +clump of bushes that seemed any way suspicious, as long as they were upon the +river.</p> + +<p>And hence, it was doubtless a positive relief when they started out on the +broader water of the lake; for after that he would only have to watch one +shore.</p> + +<p>About one o’clock they again started. The air continued cold, but +bracing, and this made paddling a pleasure, up to a certain point.</p> + +<p>All of the scouts took a hand at it, even Bumpus, and received more or less +valuable instruction from the two guides, as to how the paddle should be worked +in order to have as little “lost motion” as possible; and at the +same time secure the greatest amount of benefit. But when after half an hour +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> of labor, they found +their muscles beginning to tire from the unaccustomed motion, the boys +considered themselves lucky to be able to turn the paddles over once more to the +canoe men, who were used to the job, and could keep it up steadily all day, if +need be.</p> + +<p>When they drew near the outlet where the waters of the Lower Lake flowed into +Lake Winthrop, Thad, happening to look back, managed to discover a canoe +skirting the shore some miles distant. From the actions of those in it, they +seemed desirous of remaining unnoticed; for they took advantage of every +headland that jutted out; and when they had to make across the open, it was done +with all possible speed.</p> + +<p>Thad did not need to be told who was in that craft. And glancing toward Jim, +he understood that the Maine guide had doubtless been aware of the pursuing +canoe for some time; because he nodded at the scoutmaster when he caught his +eye.</p> + +<p>“It’s him, is it, Jim?” called out Thad; for the canoes +were some thirty feet apart at the time.</p> + +<p>“Yep,” came the answer, accompanied by an affirmative nod of +Jim’s head.</p> + +<p>“You know him, even at that distance, then?” continued the patrol +leader.</p> + +<p>“He’s workin’ the paddle right now,” replied the +other. “Yuh cain’t mistake his way o’ swingin’ <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> ther spruce blade. Ole +Cale hain’t gut his ekal at thet in all the State o’ +Maine.”</p> + +<p>It was plain to be seen, then, that the giant poacher was on the trail of his +detested son-in-law, possibly bent on carrying out his terrible threat; though +Thad hoped such might not prove to be the case.</p> + +<p>He knew that often these rough men of the woods could appreciate true +bravery; and that there <i>might</i> be a chance, however slight, that Old Cale +was lost in admiration for the recklessnes that could induce Jim to brave his +wrath. What if he had been consumed by a sudden deep curiosity to know what +really caused the other to take the risk and come up here? Could he suspect that +Little Lina had sent a message to him?</p> + +<p>All these things gave Thad occasion for considerable thinking. At the same +time he did not mean to lose sight of the main reason for their having come so +far from their homes, in order to get some hunting, and camping experience, that +would prove valuable to his fellow scouts, anxious to learn all that they could +at first hands, of wood-craft.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad we were as particular as we were about putting out the +very last spark of fire this morning,” Thad remarked, as the canoes moved +along close to one another.</p> + +<p>“Why?” demanded Giraffe, a little suspiciously; <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> for every time that +magical word was used he chose to think all eyes must be turned in his +direction; just as though he should be placed in the same class with fire.</p> + +<p>“Oh! because the wind came up like great guns shortly after we left +camp,” Thad went on, always ready to point a lesson to those under him; +“and from the river, too. Now, if we’d left any fire there, the +chances are it would have been picked up, and thrown into the woods. As there +was a lot of dry stuff around, you can see how easy a fire starts up here. And +when it once gets going, I reckon it can burn some, eh, Allan?”</p> + +<p>“If you ever have the good or bad luck to run across a forest afire, +while we’re up in this section, you’ll see a sight that none of +you’ll soon forget,” and he had to cast a meaning glance as he spoke +in the direction of the fire worshipper.</p> + +<p>But Giraffe only smiled in a satisfied way.</p> + +<p>“Talk all you want,” he remarked; “but I think I’ve +got that business down fine, now; and to-night, <i>to-night</i> I’m just +bound to prove to Bumpus here that the cream is on him. I knew I’d get it +sometime.”</p> + +<p>“Well, don’t crow till you’re out of the woods,” +remarked Bumpus, from the bow end of the canoe. “I’m willing to be +convinced; and it’ll be worth all it costs me just to see you work that +puzzle out.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span>“But you +just know I c’n do it, don’t you?” persisted Giraffe.</p> + +<p>“Won’t say,” answered the fat boy, obstinately.</p> + +<p>“Well, you might as well be counting up your spare cash, because +I’m bound to show you at the first chance. It just <i>can’t</i> slip +away from me much longer; and I reckon I’ve got it clinched this +time,” and after that Giraffe would not talk, but seemed to be muttering +to himself from time to time, as though he might be repeating a certain formula +that he believed to be the winning combination.</p> + +<p>They were not trying to make fast time now, because there was really no +necessity for doing so. Having arrived on the chain of lakes that, with the St. +Johns river, almost makes a great island of the northern portion of Maine, they +were bent on enjoying themselves. That meant going into camp at some point where +the guides were agreed they might have the best hunting; and from that time on +taking toll of the woods’ folks as their larder required, wasting nothing, +and refraining from hunting when food was not needed.</p> + +<p>They were true scouts, and believed in following the uplifting principles +that govern the actions of the better class of sportsmen. As Step Hen so often +declared, they did not want to be called “game hogs,” a term often +used to describe the man who flings his catch of bass or trout up on the shore +to die, no matter if he is taking ten times <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_74'></a>74</span> what he can use; or who shoots his deer in or out of +season, and allows it to lie there, wasted, on the ground, food for the foxes or +wolves.</p> + +<p>“This country seems to be rather sparsely settled up here?” +remarked Thad, after they had been moving along the shore of Lake Winthrop for +some time, looking up a desirable camp site.</p> + +<p>“In the summer you kin see a tent now an’ then, it bein’ +sum party as wants ter enjy the fishin’, which is prime,” Eli +replied; “but they ain’t many folks as keer ’bout +stickin’ out ther winters hyar. Ye’ll admit they must be sum cold, +this far up, nigh the Canady border.”</p> + +<p>“But there must be plenty of game hereabouts, I should guess,” +Thad went on. “Because, in the first place it has a gamey look to me; and +then again, you wouldn’t have agreed to come along with Jim here, unless +you’d heard good accounts of the region around the Eagle Lakes.”</p> + +<p>“Jest what I has, though I hain’t never be’n all over ’em +myself,” returned Eli. “But Jim hyar, he was bawn an’ fetched +up in this kentry; so what he doan’t know ’baout hit hain’t wuth +knowin’, I guess, sir.”</p> + +<p>It was about the middle of the afternoon that Jim declared they had reached +the point where their tents should be pitched. Thad noticed that the guide made +not the least attempt at trying to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_75'></a>75</span> hide the camp; indeed, the tents could surely be seen +in any direction out on the lake.</p> + +<p>This gave him to understand that Jim was not “taking water;” he +had come here to this danger ground with the main idea of meeting his irate +father-in-law face to face, be the consequences what they might, because his +wife had begged him to; and there was as yet no sign of Jim turning out to be +what Giraffe called a “quitter.”</p> + +<p>Everybody soon found plenty to do. The rest had enough pity for Giraffe not +to enter any complaint because he seemed to shirk his share of the ordinary +labor attending the starting of the camp. They knew he had his hands full in +solving what promised to be one of the greatest puzzles he had ever tackled.</p> + +<p>And so he was allowed to go off himself, and work his little saw monotonously +right along. Now it was the cord that failed to hold; again something else went +back on poor Giraffe. But he kept patiently at it, grimly determined; and even +the most interested of the lot, Bumpus, with whom the fire builder had laid his +little wager, could not but feel a touch of admiration and sympathy when he saw +how the tall scout kept at his task as the afternoon slipped away.</p> + +<p>When supper was announced Giraffe came in smiling.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span>“Got +it?” demanded Bumpus, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Well, just as good as done,” was the cautious reply. +“I’ve mastered a heap of little irritating troubles; and just now +the coast seems to be clear. Next time, now, and you’ll see something +doing.”</p> + +<p>“One more ribber to cross!” cooed Step Hen. “It’s +always ‘next time,’ with Giraffe, you notice, fellows.”</p> + +<p>But Giraffe was either too tired to argue, or else so confident of a speedy +success that he felt he could afford to bide his time. Revenge would be very +sweet, after all the chaff the fellows had poured upon his head. He would +wait.</p> + +<p>The supper tasted unusually fine that night, they all declared. Several of +the scouts assisted in its preparation, wishing to show the guides just what +knowledge of camp cookery they had picked up in their numerous outings. Even +Bumpus superintended the heating of the “canoeist’s delight,” +which turned out to be a hodge-podge, consisting of some left-over corned beef +taken from a tin, some corn, and beans with several cold potatoes sliced in the +same. And the hungry boys declared the only fault they could find with it was +that it disappeared too soon.</p> + +<p>But they had an abundance for all hands, even Giraffe admitting that he was +satisfied when the meal was over. Then came the several delightful hours of +lying around, as close to the cheery blaze as they <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> dared, and having a “good old +fashioned powwow,” as Step Hen called it.</p> + +<p>Jim was quiet; but then he had never been a noisy fellow; and knowing what +was on his mind right then, Thad felt that he had plenty of excuse for deep +thought.</p> + +<p>During a lull in the conversation later on, Bumpus sat upright, and +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“There, did any of you hear it again; sure as you live it was the same +long-drawn howl we caught on our other trip up the Penobscot region; and +Sebattis, as well as all the rest, told us it was a wolf come down across the +border from Canada. How about it Eli; was that one just then giving +tongue?”</p> + +<p>The old guide had not moved an inch; indeed, he seemed to be very little +concerned over the strange sound; but he nodded his shaggy head, and made +reply:</p> + +<p>“Yep, thet war a Canady wolf all right; an’ as they hunt in packs +thar must be more on ’em raound these diggin’s I spect.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE UPLIFT OF A BOY SCOUT.</span></h2> + +<p>They all listened, and heard the far-away howl several more times. Eli even +declared that it was not the same beast that gave tongue, but a different one; +and this seemed to bear out his statement that the animals usually hunted in +packs. If a bunch of them had crossed the St. Johns river, and taken to chasing +deer in the forbidden territory of Maine, the tidings would soon spread, and +every guide be on the lookout.</p> + +<p>“If so be ye run acrost ary wolves, knock ’em over like +vermin,” Eli remarked, during the discussion of the subject that +followed.</p> + +<p>“I guess everybody’s got his hand raised against the poor old +wolf, ain’t they?” asked Bumpus; who often felt sorry for the +underdog in a fight, no matter if it happened to be a strange cur he had never +set eyes on before.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked Thad, immediately; “when the wolf is no +respecter of persons, and will pull down anything that can be used for food? The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> world over, they are +hunted, because they do so much harm. It has always been so from the time the +shepherds of Bible times tended their flocks on the hills of Galilee. And as +long as living things stay on this old globe, man and wolf will never +agree.”</p> + +<p>“And in every State where they used to run, there has always been +declared a fat bounty on wolves,” Allan observed. “Why, right now, +Maine is paying large sums of money to get rid of her vermin, such as wolves, +wildcats, panthers and snakes. I’ve read that as much as four hundred +thousand dollars has been paid out in bounties since nineteen-three.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” laughed Thad, “and that’s where the joke comes +in. I read that same article, which was mighty interesting too. It went on to +state that some smarties are not content with getting the regular bounty. They +grow a gray cat that looks on the order of the wild article–shorten the +tail, draw out the claws, and then send in the skin, claiming the six dollars +that is paid for each bobcat actually slain within the borders of the +State.”</p> + +<p>It was the turn of old Eli to laugh now.</p> + +<p>“I heard tell o’ a sharper as cut off the rattles from a lot +o’ tame snakes he kept shut up, and send ’em in for the bounties +each rattle brings; and then he expects his pets ter grow new rattles, which +howsumever, I don’t guess they kin; but thet air story <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> goes ter show what some +men will try an’ do ter beat the pore old government people.”</p> + +<p>“Whew! and I just can’t stand for snakes at all,” remarked +Step Hen. “If ever I felt one touch me, I believe I’d nearly take a +fit.”</p> + +<p>“Ha! let Davy do that!” cried Giraffe, quickly; at which there +was a shout that must have made the two guides stare, until the joke was +explained to them.</p> + +<p>It seemed that once upon a time Davy had been subject to sudden severe cramps +in his stomach, that used to double him up like a hinge, and render him +incapable of action. His teachers at school had been duly warned, and many an +afternoon had Davy been granted leave to go home because of a sudden attack; +though it must have departed as suddenly as it came; since he was generally seen +flying his kite on that same afternoon. And the cramps never attacked him on a +dull, rainy day.</p> + +<p>When he joined the scouts Davy, wishing to shirk hard work, had commenced to +have these queer cramps; but wise Thad, believing that the other must long ago +have outgrown the disorder, and was only shamming, laid down a course of +treatment so severe that, singular to relate, Davy had ever since been utterly +free from the infliction; which the rest of the boys considered simply +wonderful.</p> + +<p>And that was why there was a shout, with all <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_81'></a>81</span> eyes turned toward Davy Jones, when by mere accident +Step Hen mentioned the word “fit.”</p> + +<p>But Davy only colored up a bit, and grinned amiably.</p> + +<p>“That’s a dead issue, fellers, so you needn’t stare at me +that way,” he remarked, composedly. “Never again. Thad cured me +right off the reel. ‘Nothing like heroic treatment, when all else fails,’ +he said; and it did the job, clean as a whistle. I never can have a fit again, +if I tried.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better not,” remarked Bumpus, solemnly winking his +left eye at Step Hen, and significantly touching a good-sized club he had at his +side.</p> + +<p>But that howling of the wolves, hunting their supper far away, did not keep +the boys from enjoying a good night’s sleep. Of course there was some sort +of watch kept; but those who were not entrusted with the vigil had no reason to +bother their heads over it. All night long they slept in absolute safety. If +Eli, Jim, Allan and the scoutmaster took turns being on deck, to make sure the +camp was not raided, that fact did not keep the other four from slumbering as +peacefully as though tucked in their beds at home, and under the parental +roof.</p> + +<p>Another dawn found them awake, and only too anxious to get a good warm fire +started; for the frost was surely around them, and at that early hour it bit +severely, too. But they could always depend on Giraffe to coax the wood to do +its best <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> in +dispelling the cold atmosphere; and soon they were no longer shivering, but +fully dressed, and assisted in getting breakfast.</p> + +<p>Thad cast his eye upward several times during the progress of the meal.</p> + +<p>“You seem to be anxious about something Mr. Scout Master?” +remarked Step Hen, who had been highly favored that morning, being chosen to +accompany the leader on a hunt for fresh meat; and Step Hen was therefore more +interested than the others in what seemed to have aroused the attention of +Thad.</p> + +<p>“I was wondering whether we mightn’t get our first snow-storm +before another sundown, that’s all,” replied the other, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>“Now, however could you tell that, when everything looks bright, and +oh-be-joyful to me up yonder?” burst out the wondering Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Well, there are some things one can know, partly by instinct, and find +it pretty hard to explain,” Thad went on to say. “I seem to feel a +something in the air that says ‘snow’ as plain as words. It may be just a +sort of dampness; but that’s the way about it. Then I notice the direction +of the wind, which is northwest; and the cut of those few cirrus clouds lying +low near the horizon. I can’t exactly explain so that you could +understand, but if I was asked my opinion, I’d say we’ll see the +snow flakes flying before many hours.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span>“How about +that?” demanded Step Hen, turning on Eli and Jim.</p> + +<p>“He’s right, ’cause thar’s agoin’ ter be summat +o’ a fall. P’raps ’twon’t amount ter much, nobody kin tell that; but +it sez snow, all right,” the first guide observed, after taking a look all +around.</p> + +<p>“Me tew,” was all Jim said; but he accompanied the words with a +vigorous nod in the affirmative, that stood for a lot.</p> + +<p>“That settles it,” Step Hen declared. “I’m going out +prepared for business. Never did like to be snowed under, any way you take +it.”</p> + +<p>“Too bad we ain’t got a snow shovel along,” remarked +Giraffe, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>“Oh! you can joke all you want to,” snapped back the other; +“you’re so lofty you needn’t mind an ordinary snowfall. If it +got up to your chin, you could still manage to stretch that rubber neck of yours +around, and feel comfortable. But I ain’t in the same class, you see, with +my ordinary figure, and short neck. But all I meant to say was, that I’d +keep my sweater on under my coat, and stick my woolen gloves in my +pockets.”</p> + +<p>“Loan you my earmuffs if you say the word, Step Hen,” spoke up +Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, that’s decent of you, Bumpus,” the other scout +remarked; “but you see, this old corduroy cap of mine has earflaps that +can be turned down. It’s just a bully thing for a cold, windy <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> day. But after such a +generous offer, Bumpus, why, I give you my full permission to turn over your +badge. You’ve begun the day bright and early, by trying to do a generous +deed for a comrade.”</p> + +<p>Of course, what Step Hen referred to was the well-known rule by which the +great body of members composing the Boy Scouts’ organization of America +has been governed, in order to teach the units of each patrol and troop the +benefits to be derived from making themselves useful to others.</p> + +<p>In the morning every scout is supposed to pin his badge upside-down, on the +lapel of his coat; and is not allowed to change its position until he has found +an opportunity for helping some one, either by act, or advice that is really +useful. It may only be a very simple thing; but it teaches the lad, first of +all, the useful attribute of observation; and after that the still more precious +one of service. Even though he but assist an old man across a street where +vehicles are numerous; or take a market basket from the hands of a housewife, +who is staggering homeward under the heavy burden, the effect is the same.</p> + +<p>It makes his boyish heart thrill with a satisfaction that develops the trait +of generosity; and gives every lad a more manly sensation; for he realizes that +small though he may seem, he is of some value to the world.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Bumpus, blushing, “I guess I hadn’t ought +to take advantage of such a little thing as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_85'></a>85</span> that, so’s to get my badge turned. I’ll +find a chance to do something that’s more worth while, before the +morning’s an hour old. And Step Hen, if you bring home the bacon in the +shape of a noble six-pronged buck, you must let me take your picture, with your +foot on the prize. Why, it will be the most valuable heirloom in your family, +years from now. Your great grandchildren will point to it in pride, and tell how +you slew the Jabberwock in the woods of Maine.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” grinned Step Hen, “wait till I get the buck. I +don’t count my chickens before they’re hatched. And I hope for one +thing–that when we do come back, there’s going to be a little peace +in the camp; and that our friend Giraffe here, will have solved the riddle +that’s been worrying him so long. Them’s my sentiments.”</p> + +<p>Giraffe made a mock bow, as he remarked in his most amiable way:</p> + +<p>“Much obliged for making that wish, Step Hen; and from present +indications I’ve got a sort of hunch that something is going to happen +along them lines. Woke up in the night after having a dream, and it all came to +me like a flash, where I’d been making a mistake. And as soon as I get +through eating, I’m going to work trying to start things just like I saw +in my dream. Oh! I’ll get there, sooner or later, by hook or by crook. You +never saw me give a thing up yet.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span>“Hey! +what’s that?” remarked Davy Jones, quickly. “How about that +time you got in old farmer Collins’ watermelon patch one night, and hooked +a nice big melon he had doctored, so as to teach the boys a lesson. Oh! I know, +because I was along with the crowd; and seems to me you gave up everything you +owned, during that never-to-be-forgotten hour. I know I did; and I’ve +never eaten a melon since without shivering.”</p> + +<p>“Say, quit that melancholy subject, won’t you?” demanded +Bumpus. “I don’t like to be reminded of my wicked past, because +I’ve turned over a new leaf since I joined the scouts. Why, you +couldn’t tempt me now with the biggest grandfather watermelon ever grown. +B-r-r! It makes me shake, just to remember some things that happened in those +old days, when I went with Giraffe, and Davy Jones, and the rest of that +lark-loving crowd.”</p> + +<p>Half an hour afterwards Thad and Step Hen started out, guns in hand. Knowing +that the patrol leader was perfectly at home in the woods, no one bothered about +giving them advice; or predicting all manner of direful calamities ahead. Let it +snow and blow as it pleased, Thad was enough of a woodsman to know how to make +himself comfortable, and get back to the camp on the lake shore in due +season.</p> + +<p>Of course Bumpus had been more or less disappointed because he did not have +an early chance to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +prove the merits of his new gun, since he had been taking private lessons from +one of the guides in the way of handling firearms. But Thad had promised that +the fat boy and Giraffe should have the next chance for a hunt; they were +canoemates, and seemed often thrown together, perhaps because they represented +the “fat and the lean of it,” and as Bumpus was fond of saying, +“extremes meet.”</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, and the two young Nimrods had managed to get a couple of +miles from the camp. But as yet they had not sighted that wonderful six-pronged +buck which Step Hen was to lay low. They walked along about fifty feet apart, +Thad generously allowing his companion to be a little in advance of him. This he +did really because he wished Step Hen to have the advantage of the first shot; +being confident that if the other failed to bring down the game he would still +have some show before the deer could vanish from sight.</p> + +<p>Then again, it was just as well to have Step Hen in front. He was inclined to +be nervous; and some sudden whirr of wings, as a partridge flew out of a nearby +thicket, might cause his finger to press on the trigger of his gun a little +harder than he intended. Thad believed in being on the safe side, every +time.</p> + +<p>Step Hen carried a lovely little repeating rifle of the thirty-thirty type; +and his ammunition was of the soft-nosed kind, which, as it +“mushrooms” on <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_88'></a>88</span> striking, is just as serviceable as a ball three +times as large; while Thad had his double-barrel Marlin shotgun, a twelve bore, +with buckshot shells meant for big game.</p> + +<p>As they were passing through what seemed to be a tangle such as is seldom met +with in the pine woods of Maine, where they had to dodge trailing vines, Step +Hen, in trying to avoid one that threatened to catch him by the neck, managed to +stumble over a log, and go sprawling forward, his gun flying from his grip, but +fortunately not going off. But immediately Step Hen commenced to thresh around, +as he shouted out:</p> + +<p>“Thad! Oh! Thad, hurry up, and help me out of this! My legs are twisted +in the vine; and something bit me! I know it must a been a rattlesnake, and +I’m a goner!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /><span class='h2fs'>STEP HEN’S GREAT LUCK.</span></h2> + +<p>“Snakes! well, Step Hen, you’re away off, if you think +they’re ever found out, with the weather as biting as it is right +now!” laughed Thad; who sized up the situation instantly, and knew full +well there was nothing of the sort the matter with his hunting companion.</p> + +<p>“Well, anyway, <i>something</i> gave me a bite, and you can see the +blood on my hand right now, Thad,” whined Step Hen, crawling once more +into view, and looking as though he could not be convinced to the contrary of +his statement, just because of a little frost.</p> + +<p>He held up his left hand as he spoke. Thad took hold of it, and with those +keen eyes of his, managed to grapple with the facts immediately.</p> + +<p>“You only managed to strike up against a sliver of wood, and got a +splinter in your hand,” he declared; “see here, I can show +you,” saying which he used the nails of his finger and thumb for a +forceps, and drew out a little splinter that had pushed <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> under the skin, just far enough to bring +a drop or two of blood, and give Step Hen a sharp pain.</p> + +<p>“Oh! thank you, Thad!” exclaimed the other, as though vastly +relieved. “You see, I just detest all kinds of crawlers the worst kind; +and that talk about rattlers, and the bounty paid for their tails, must have +been hanging on my mind. When I felt that sudden sharp jab, of course the first +thing that flashed into my brain was that I’d tumbled on the nest of a +rattlesnake, and he took me for one of the bounty jumpers. But only a sliver of +wood–huh, I can stand that easy enough.”</p> + +<p>“Suck it good and plenty,” advised the far seeing Thad. “I +always do as soon as I get a cut of any kind, and especially if it’s a +splinter. Sometimes it keeps you from getting poison in your system, that makes +a bad sore.”</p> + +<p>Step Hen obediently did as he was told. At least he had implicit confidence +in the patrol leader, and was ready to follow his advice under the slightest +provocation. That was a feather in the cap of Thad Brewster, in that he +possessed the full confidence of his comrades. They believed in him, and were +never in a state of mutiny concerning the orders he gave, as leader of the +Silver Fox Patrol.</p> + +<p>Once more the two boys tramped on. Thad thought it might be as well to impart +a little useful information concerning the dormant condition of all snakes +during winter time; and how many a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_91'></a>91</span> bunch of the wrigglers he had found, while the cold +season was on, looking as though they were frozen stiff.</p> + +<p>This information he imparted in almost a whisper as they moved along. When +out looking for deer, a muffler on speech is of paramount importance; and +knowing all about this, Thad soon relapsed into silence.</p> + +<p>“Tell you more some other time, Step Hen,” he remarked as a +wind-up; “that is, if you care to hear more about snakes. No matter how +you dislike the breed, you really ought to know more than you seem to, about +their habits. It might be the means of saving you from trouble some fine day, +when, by accident, you happen to run across some reptile in the woods. And now +we’ll forget all that. I’m not going to say another word, unless I +have to.”</p> + +<p>They kept pushing on; and Step Hen began to believe they must be many miles +from their starting point; at any rate he began to feel a little heavy-footed, +though too proud to mention the fact to Thad. Besides, Step Hen had walked +pretty good distances before, and believed that he must soon get what he called +his “second wind.” After that he would be good for hours, he +fancied.</p> + +<p>It must have been well on to eleven o’clock when Thad felt his +companion nudge him in the back. As he turned to look, Step Hen made a +suggestive gesture with his head, and pointed upwards.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span>There was a dead +gray sky above them, and already a few scattered flakes of snow, really the +first of the season, were drifting downward, looking like tiny feathers plucked +from the downy breast of a snow goose.</p> + +<p>Thad simply nodded his head to indicate that he too had observed them; and at +the same time he shook his finger toward Step Hen, afraid lest the other might +be itching to start a conversation. In fact, this was just what the other scout +was hoping to do. This grim silence had begun to work upon his nerves–just +walking on and on, with not a blessed sign of the fine buck they expected to +get, commenced to pall upon Step Hen, in whom the instincts of a hunter had +never been born; although of late he had begun to develop a taste for roaming +the woods with a gun over his shoulder. But he had much to learn concerning the +secrets that Nature hides from most eyes, but which are as the page of an open +book to the favored few.</p> + +<p>Step Hen began to twist his head around frequently. At first Thad thought he +was developing a new eagerness to discover signs of game; but then he soon saw +that the wistful expression on the other’s face was brought about by quite +a different cause.</p> + +<p>To tell the honest truth about it, Step Hen was trying to figure out in his +benighted brain just what the cardinal points of the compass might be. It <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> was not that he possessed +any alarming interest in proving certain facts Thad and Allan had explained, +concerning the fascinating game of learning where the north lay by marks on the +trees; the general direction in which they slanted; signs of moss on the north +or northwest side of the tree, and various other well proven methods of locating +one’s self. Oh! nothing of the kind. Step Hen wanted to find out one +particular fact. They had started <i>north</i> when leaving camp; and now, if he +could only learn that they were heading due south, it would tell him that Thad +had swung around, and was facing back home again; and thus he would not be under +the painful necessity of informing his companion that he was tired of the +useless hunt, when nothing worth while showed up.</p> + +<p>And then it happened!</p> + +<p>Step Hen happened to have his eyes in the right quarter when suddenly a fine +big buck sprang to its feet, and stared at them a second or two, before starting +to spring away. They had been heading up into the wind all the time, which was a +part of Thad’s principle as a true still hunter; and the deer had not +known of their presence until the greenhorn happened to step on a small branch, +which snapped under his weight.</p> + +<p>Possibly Step Hen never really knew just how he did it. Indeed, he afterwards +confessed to himself that his ready little rifle just seemed to swing <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> upward to his shoulder by +some instinct, which was probably the exact truth; for hunters seldom have time +to do any thinking.</p> + +<p>He saw that splendid deer standing there before him. Now, Step Hen had often +fired a target rifle at just such a picture of a deer as this in the shooting +gallery in Cranford. And when he took a hasty aim just behind the shoulder of +the startled buck, he was really following out his usual custom of covering the +bull’s-eye on the artificial deer, so familiar to his boyish eyes.</p> + +<p>Bang! went the rifle, as he pressed the trigger.</p> + +<p>Thad had his double-barreled gun in readiness, and could have supplemented +the shot of Step Hen by pouring in a broadside of small bullets that must have +dropped the animal in his tracks. But he refrained, for his instinct seemed to +tell him that the missile from Step Hen’s little rifle had struck home, as +the buck gave a convulsive leap, and pitched over; and Thad knew how much a new +beginner in the game delights in the knowledge that he has accomplished the work +of bringing down a deer unassisted.</p> + +<p>True, the buck managed to scramble to its feet again, and run; but even then +the patrol leader held his fire, for he knew that the animal could not go more +than a hundred or two feet before it must drop.</p> + +<p>“I rung the bell then, Thad; didn’t you hear <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> me?” almost shrieked Step Hen, so +excited that he never once thought of pumping the exploded cartridge from the +firing chamber of his repeating rifle, and sending a fresh one in after it; and +then, as the stricken buck scrambled to his feet again, and went off at a +wobbling gait the astonished and dismayed Step Hen, who should have been +prepared to send in another shot on his own account, actually forgot that he +held a rifle calculated to repeat, and wildly besought his chum to fire.</p> + +<p>“Oh! there he’s going to get away after all, Thad!” he +cried, jumping up and down in his excitement; “why don’t you blaze +away, and knock my buck over? Thad, oh, do let him have it good and hard! There, +now he’s gone, and we’ve lost him! It’s a shame, that’s +what it is, when I so nearly got him. And he had six prongs too! Oh, me! oh, my! +what tough luck!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry, Step Hen,” said Thad, quickly; “that +deer can’t get away. You shot him to pieces, and he’s just bound to +drop before five minutes. We’ll just follow him up, and find him lying as +dead as―”</p> + +<p>Just what Thad had in mind as a comparison Step Hen never knew. Perhaps he +was going to say “as dead as a door nail,” that being a favorite +expression among the scouts; or it might be Thad meant to take a little flight +into ancient history, and compare the condition of that buck inside of five +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> minutes with the +Julius Caesar of olden Roman times. It did not matter.</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a sudden loud explosion. The sound came from the +quarter in which the buck had just gone, and could not have been far distant. +And even the tenderfoot understood what it meant.</p> + +<p>“Oh! listen to that, would you, Thad?” he burst forth with. +“There’s somebody else hunting up in this neck of the woods, and +they’ve got my fine buck! Now, ain’t that the worst thing ever; and +just when it began to look as if he ought to belong to me, too; for you said he +was hard hit; and I just know I rung the bell with that bullet. And now I reckon +it’s all off. Oh! why <i>didn’t</i> you knock him over when you had +the chance, Thad?”</p> + +<p>“I sure would if I’d had the least suspicion that there was any +other hunter around these diggings,” declared Thad, with a frown on his +usually smooth brow; for he instantly began to scent trouble. “But come +on, let’s start along, and see what it all means. Perhaps now old Eli, or +Jim may have wandered out to take a little side hunt.”</p> + +<p>“But anyway, it’s <i>my</i> buck, Thad; you said I got +him!” grumbled Step Hen, as he started after his leader.</p> + +<p>They had no trouble in following in the direction taken by the stricken deer; +even Step Hen, upon having his attention directed to the ground by Thad, could +readily discern the trail of blood spots that <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_97'></a>97</span> told how the buck had been badly hurt by the shot +back of the shoulder.</p> + +<p>And less than three minutes later the two scouts came upon a scene that +caused Thad to frown; while Step Hen’s mouth opened with surprise, even as +his eyes were unduly dilated in his intense excitement.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER X.<br /><span class='h2fs'>BARE-FACED ROBBERY IN THE MAINE WOODS.</span></h2> + +<p>Three men were bending over the dead deer, and all of them carried rifles. +They were a rough-looking set, all told; and any one would know at a glance that +they could not be city sportsmen, up here in the Maine woods on a hunt; but must +belong to the native class of guides, loggers, or possibly something worse.</p> + +<p>One of them was in truth a giant; and as soon as Thad set eyes on this +individual he knew that his worst fears were about to be realized. This could be +no other than the big poacher, Old Cale Martin, the man whom the game wardens +seemed to dread like poison, and had never yet dared arrest, though his breaking +of the laws had become notorious all through that section where he roamed.</p> + +<p>Despite his sensation of acute alarm, Thad surveyed the man with more or less +interest and curiosity. He had heard so much about his doings that he would have +actually felt a certain degree of disappointment had he gone away from Maine and +never met Cale Martin.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span>Then, what Jim +Hasty had told him, added to his desire to look upon the face of Little +Lina’s awful father.</p> + +<p>No doubt Step Hen must also have jumped at some sort of right conclusion with +regard to the identity of the three men. The unusual size of the leader was +quite enough in itself to tell who they must be.</p> + +<p>Thad did not halt long upon sighting the others, but walked forward. Even +though poachers, this did not mean that the three men were desperate outlaws by +any means. No doubt they walked in and out of the villages in this extreme +northern section of the State, and were greeted by those who knew them as fellow +guides, though seldom were any of them employed in such a capacity nowadays.</p> + +<p>Step Hen tagged at the heels of his chum. He did not know what Thad might be +going to do; but although white of face just then, with a sudden fear of +trouble, at least Step Hen showed no sign of running away.</p> + +<p>The three men looked up as the boys approached. All of them seemed to be +grinning, as though amused. But while the big man really looked somewhat as a +mastiff might appear to a little terrier, his two companions had a sneer on +their dark, evil faces that gave Thad more or less uneasiness.</p> + +<p>He knew that while Step Hen was entitled to that fine buck, the chances were +his claim would never <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_100'></a>100</span> be considered for a single minute. Might made right +in the Maine woods, with men of this stamp.</p> + +<p>“Hullo! younkers, lookin’ arter yer deer, hey?” remarked +the giant, as the boys boldly approached. “Wall, they hain’t any, +d’ye see? We got a fine leetle buck here as Si fetched down with his big +bore cannon; only fur him the deer’s been in ther next county afore now, +eh, Si?” and the giant as he said this, turned on the man who wore the +greasy suit of buckskin, and sported a coonskin cap, after the style of the +old-time hunters, now so nearly extinct.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, Cale, he’d a ben agoin’ like two-forty +yet, on’y for the ounce of lead I throwed into him on the jump. I guess as haow +that leetle pepper box jest tickled him a mite, an’ made him feel frisky. +Step right up, an’ take a look at <i>my</i> buck, ef so be yeou wanter, +strangers; I hain’t begrudgin’ yeou that much conserlation; but +doan’t yeou be sayin’ yeou had any hand in knockin’ him over, +’cause I don’t stand fur any foolishness, see?”</p> + +<p>He looked particularly ugly when saying this last, and Thad knew there was +not the slightest shadow of a chance that they would get justice from these +fellows. Seeing the sadly wounded deer plunging blindly toward them, Si had +fired at the animal, and now they claimed to own the prize!</p> + +<p>Well, there was no use trying to make a fuss over it; two boys could hardly +expect to overawe three <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_101'></a>101</span> such hardened woods’ rangers as these. +Nevertheless, for his own satisfaction Thad accepted the rude invitation of Si +Kedge to advance closer, so that he could stand over the deer.</p> + +<p>Something caught his eye as he looked, and bending down he deftly took the +object from the motionless body of the deer, just back of the shoulder, where a +patch of blood appeared.</p> + +<p>Thad held the object up so that all could see. Even Step Hen recognized it as +the mushroomed bullet that had been fired from his rifle. The evidence was as +positive and clear as noonday; for that bullet, after spreading out, had bored +completely through the body of the buck, and was ready to drop from the other +side when it caught the sharp eye of Thad. And that other wound in the neck must +have been where the boasted large calibre bullet from Si’s big gun had +gone, producing only a superficial hurt that would not have seriously +inconvenienced the sturdy buck.</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s my bullet!” exclaimed Step Hen, hardly +comprehending what a storm his words might bring about their ears; “and +just as you said, Thad, I hit him in the side where his heart lies. That would +have killed him in a short time, I just guess, don’t you, Thad?”</p> + +<p>But Thad did not make any answer. He was keeping his eyes on the three men, +even while dropping the spread-out bullet into his pocket to <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> show it to Eli and Jim +and Allan when they returned to camp, as proof that the glory of killing the +fine six-pronged buck really belonged to Step Hen.</p> + +<p>The giant actually gave a little chuckle. Evidently he admired the nerve +shown by this half-grown lad; for like most big men Cale Martin could on +occasion, exhibit a sense of generosity toward those smaller than himself.</p> + +<p>With just that brief chance to see what the three poachers looked like, Thad +was able to size them up along different lines. He believed that Si and Ed were +both shallow brained bullies, with revengeful natures; but that Cale Martin, +while known as a desperate man, was really more so through his association with +such rascals as these, than for any other cause. And Thad chanced to know just +why he had doubly earned this reputation for ugliness during the last year or +so; Jim Hasty’s running away with his little girl, Lina, had been the last +straw that broke the camel’s back; since it had made Old Cale feel +reckless, and as though he cared no longer for anything in this world.</p> + +<p>“What d’ye think of that, Si,” burst out the other fellow, +who had not spoken, up to now; “the pesky critter is aclaimin’ as +how his friend sent that bullet through ther buck’s ribs, w’en we all know +’twar from yer gun.”</p> + +<p>The shorter poacher gritted his teeth, and looked <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> daggers at Thad. He even made a +significant movement with his heavy rifle, which the boy saw was of the +repeating pattern, and had the hammer raised at that moment.</p> + +<p>“I doan’t stand for any sech talk ez that,” he declared, +with savage energy; “an’ ef ther cubs knows what is good fur +’em, they’ll turn tail, an’ mosey outen this here region some +quick. Scat naow! an’ be mighty keerful haow yeou start tew claimin’ +a deer agin, what another man shot. It’s sumpin that ain’t +goin’ ter be allowed up here in the woods. I gives yeou fair warnin’ +tew change base, an’ clar out.”</p> + +<p>“Come on, Thad, let’s move along!” exclaimed Step Hen, who +was white in the face, and trembling more or less.</p> + +<p>Of course, the patrol leader was far too smart to think of trying to defy +that ugly lot. At the same time Thad showed no sign of fear as he turned and +gave the bully of the woods one sneering look, as though plainly telling him +what he thought. Indeed, it seemed to stir the ire of the man who claimed to +have killed the deer, for with a snort, he started to throw up his gun, as if +bent on threatening mischief, unless the boys ran in a hurry.</p> + +<p>But it was the hand of the giant that grasped the gun, and turned it +aside.</p> + +<p>“Don’t ye try it, Si,” roared Old Cale. “We done +enuff as ’tis, atakin’ ther game away from ’em, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> without layin’ a +hand on ther hides. But ye’d better skip out, as Si sez, younkers. +An’ say, wile I think o’ it, jest tell thet sneak, Jim Hasty, fur +me, thet I’m agoin’ ter keep my word ’bout them ears o’ +his’n. I’ll larn him what it means ter defy Old Cale Martin.”</p> + +<p>For the life of him Thad could not help making some sort of reply to +this.</p> + +<p>“I’ll carry your message, just as you say,” he went on; +“but let me tell you right here and now, you never made a bigger mistake +in your life when you call Jim Hasty a sneak or a coward. Would a coward dare +come up here, when he knew how you hated him, and had it in for him? I guess not +much. Fact is, Jim’s got a message for you; somebody’s sent him up +here! And he meant to hunt you up, and see you face to face. A coward! Well, I +guess not.”</p> + +<p>And without giving the giant a chance to say another word Thad wheeled, +striding away, with the nervous Step Hen at his side, casting many an anxious +glance back over his shoulder, as though not quite convinced that the warlike Si +might not think it best after all to shoot after them.</p> + +<p>But ten minutes later, and the two boys were well away from the spot which +had come very near looking upon a tragedy.</p> + +<p>“How do you feel about it now?” asked Thad.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” inquired the other. <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> “I’m as sore as can be +about losing my lovely six-pronged buck, and knocked over all by myself, too. +Wouldn’t I just like to give it to that low-down liar of a Si Kedge, +though, for saying that was his bullet, when anybody could see that it came from +my rifle? Why, he only pinked the deer in the neck, because I could see the +mark. Oh! the thieves, the miserable skunks, to cheat me out of my prize! +I’ll never, never get over this, Thad!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! yes you will, Step Hen,” remarked the other, soothingly, for +he felt that the bare-faced robbery had been a terrible shock to his companion. +“But what I meant when I asked that, was, do you want to head toward camp +now; have you had enough hunting for to-day?”</p> + +<p>“Now, I know you’re saying that, Thad, just to let me down +easy,” declared the other. “I acknowledge that I was beginning to +get tired, up to the time I killed that deer; but it’s all passed away +now. The excitement did it for me; and I’ve got my second wind.”</p> + +<p>“Then you want to keep on hunting?” asked the scoutmaster, +feeling that Step Hen was exhibiting considerable grit under the circumstances, +and delighted to see this same brought out by the ill turn fortune had given +him.</p> + +<p>“Sure I do,” instantly replied the other. “I’m just +wild to get another chance to knock over a six-pronged buck; and now that I know +the ropes, it’s <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_106'></a>106</span> easy as falling off a log. Looks like this snow +ain’t agoing to amount to much, after all; and we’ve got pretty +nearly half a day ahead of us yet. So let’s keep on for a while. When I +get a little tired, we’ll stop to eat our snack of grub, when I can rest +up, and be ready for another hour or two. But I’m afraid my luck has +turned, and we won’t sight another deer this blessed day; do you, +Thad?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll hope to, at any rate,” replied the other, as he +started off again; “and it’s that constant expectation of starting +up game that makes hunting all it’s cracked up to be. So come along, Step +Hen; and if we fail to bring in our share of venison it won’t be because +we lay down too easy. Now for quiet again, remember, and keep a constant lookout +ahead.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER XI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS.</span></h2> + +<p>It must have been a long time after the noon hour when Step Hen did as he had +promised, called a halt in order that they might eat their lunch, and take a +rest.</p> + +<p>As the cold was still with them, though the snow had thus far amounted to but +little, Step Hen insisted on starting a small fire, at which they could sit, and +be comfortable, while they devoured the food provided for the midday meal.</p> + +<p>“You make a fire as quick as the next one, Step Hen,” admitted +Thad, really meaning what he said, and at the same time wishing to raise the +drooping spirits of his hunting mate, who was feeling very sore over the loss of +his game.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I don’t pretend to know much about starting a blaze in half +a dozen styles, the way Giraffe’s got it down pat,” observed the +other, smiling a little; “but if you pin me down to going at it the +easiest way, with matches, and dead pine cones, why I’m there every time. +And say, it does feel some handy, don’t it, Thad?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span>They sat there, +and chatted for quite a long time after they had consumed the last morsel of +food. And during that resting spell Step Hen picked up many a crumb of useful +knowledge concerning the ways of the woods. Thad did not know all that Allan +Hollister had learned through practical experience; but he had made the most of +his opportunities when belonging to that other troop of scouts; and never forgot +what he learned.</p> + +<p>“Let’s be agoin’ on again,” remarked Step Hen, +finally, scrambling to his feet, and picking up his little rifle with a new +eagerness.</p> + +<p>“Feel like another spell of it, eh?” asked the patrol leader, +following suit.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I do,” replied the other. “Nothing like +a rest, and a bite, when you’re pretty near played out. I’m feeling +fine and dandy again, and ready for several hours’ hard tramping. But +something just seems to tell me we’ll never again have such a chance to +get a six-pronged buck as that. And to think how it should a been just what the +boys were telling me to knock over. I wonder now―”</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Thad, as his chum came to a sudden stop.</p> + +<p>“P’raps you’ll say I’m silly if I tell you; but anyhow, +here goes, Thad. It just struck me all of a sudden that we might go back to +where we lost our deer, and do a little trailing on our own account. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> Them three fellers +wouldn’t bother trying to hide their tracks, and chances are they’ve +gone into camp to eat some of that venison by this time, if not +sooner.”</p> + +<p>Thad smiled; he could not help it, upon hearing Step Hen talk in this strain; +for only too plainly did he remember how white the other had been, and how even +his voice trembled when he spoke, while facing those three poachers.</p> + +<p>“And after we’ve managed to track them to their camp, what +then?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>Step Hen looked wonderfully brave as he instantly replied:</p> + +<p>“Why, we might catch ’em off their guard, and hold ’em up. +That deer belongs to <i>me</i>, and I’d just like to have it the worst +kind, especially that head, with the six-pronged antlers on it. But if you +thought that proposition a little too risky, Thad, why we might conclude to wait +around, keeping under cover, till it got plumb dark. Then we could carry off as +much of the buck as we could tote, including the head; and them fellers not be +any the wiser for it, till it was too late to follow us! How’s +that?”</p> + +<p>Thad nearly had his breath taken away by the boldness of Step Hen’s +astonishing proposals. He looked at the other, and a smile spread completely +across his face. Then he puckered up his lips, and <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> gave a little whistle, that somehow +caused Step Hen to turn a bit red in the face.</p> + +<p>“Whew!” ejaculated Thad, “I never before suspected what a +fire-eater you could be, Step Hen. Why, nothing fazes you, nowadays. I believe +you’d be ready to snap your fingers in the faces of a dozen of the worst +rascals that ever hid up here in the piney woods of Maine. But I’m afraid +that’s too risky a job for me to back up, as the leader of the patrol. I +feel the burden of responsibility too much to allow it. What could I say to your +father and mother if there was no Step Hen to answer to the roll-call, when we +mustered out after this Maine hunt? So, on the whole, Step Hen, much as I hate +to disappoint you, I’m afraid I’ll have to put a damper on your +scheme.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! all right, Thad,” quickly remarked the other, with an +evident vein of relief in his voice; “I was only telling you what came +into my head. You see, that’s the way with me; I’m always having +these brilliant plans, though my own good sense won’t let me try to carry +them out. So we’ll just continue our old hunt; and hope another buck may +heave in sight. But if one does, please let fly the same time I shoot, Thad; +because we hadn’t ought to take any chances of his getting away. You will, +won’t you, Thad?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, I think I’m entitled to a shot by now, Step +Hen,” replied the other; “seeing that I <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> held back purposely, so as to let you +have all the glory of getting that first prize. But as you say, we need venison; +and the next time we’ll shoot together so’s to make sure.”</p> + +<p>“Good! Then let’s be moving, Thad.”</p> + +<p>Since Step Hen was so set upon doing everything in their power to retrieve +the misfortune that had come upon them earlier in the day, by means of which +they had lost the first deer, Thad meant to try his level best in order to run +across another like prize.</p> + +<p>Whenever he saw a piece of ground that looked more than ordinarily promising +he would head that way, regardless of distance or direction. Little Thad cared +as to whether they were able to return to camp that night or not. He had spent +too many nights in the open, not to feel certain that he could manage to be at +least fairly comfortable. And then, too, Thad had the hunter’s instinct +pretty fully developed, and thought little of fatigue when pursuing his favorite +sport.</p> + +<p>They kept moving in this way until the afternoon began to be pretty well +spent. Thad would not think of offering again to head toward the camp on the +shore of the lake, so long as Step Hen made no complaint. He could not afford to +be outdone by a tenderfoot, and he the patrol leader at that.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the gray of evening had commenced to spread around them when, with no +more warning <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> than +before, they came upon a second buck that had possibly been lying down in the +bushes.</p> + +<p>The deer sprang away like lightning, and perhaps it was just as well that +Step Hen had asked his companion to shoot with him; for the flitting buck made +rather a difficult target to hit in that poor light.</p> + +<p>So close together did the two lads fire that the reports blended, though the +louder bang of the smooth-bore partly drowned the sharper report of the little +repeating rifle.</p> + +<p>Thad started to run forward, holding his gun in readiness for a second +discharge, if such were needed. Step Hen trailed along after him, working +desperately with his pump-gun; and like most excitable greenhorns, trying every +which way to work the simple mechanism but the right way, in his eagerness to +get the weapon in serviceable condition again.</p> + +<p>“Oh! <i>did</i> we get him, Thad?” he cried; for possibly the +smoke of the double discharge had interfered with his vision, and he did not +know whether the deer had dropped, or sped unharmed out of sight, even before +the alert Thad could give him the contents of his second barrel.</p> + +<p>“Looks like we’ll have venison for supper to-night, +anyway,” laughed Thad.</p> + +<p>And then, Step Hen, looking more closely ahead, saw a slight movement on the +ground, which he <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +realized must be the last expiring kick of their quarry.</p> + +<p>His spirits arose at once, and he gave a wild whoop of joy.</p> + +<p>“Bully! bully!” he exclaimed, as he still ran forward after his +chum; “we did get him all right, didn’t we, Thad? And I’d just +like to see any woods’ thief try to hook <i>this</i> deer away from us. +Don’t you let ’em do it, Thad, will you, even if we have to fight +for it?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry,” said Thad, as they came to a halt over the +fallen buck; “we’re not going to have any trouble–not from +that source, anyway.”</p> + +<p>If Step Hen had been less excited he might have noticed that the words of his +companion seemed to admit of their having trouble of another kind; but just then +the tenderfoot was too much wrapped up in other things.</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s too bad, Thad!” he remarked.</p> + +<p>“What is?” asked the other; “both of us hit him, all right; +for there’s the place your bullet went in; and these smaller holes show +where my buckshot struck.”</p> + +<p>“But look at his antlers, would you, Thad?” the other went on; +“why, this is only a two-year-old, I sure reckon, because he’s got +only two prongs on his horns.”</p> + +<p>“Well so much the better for us, when we start <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> to eat him,” chuckled Thad; +“because the meat’ll be just that much more tender, you +see.”</p> + +<p>“Then let’s get busy, and cut him up, Thad,” Step Hen went +on. “Seems to me night’s coming right along down on us; and the +chances are we’ll be awful late getting back to camp.”</p> + +<p>What Thad really thought he did not take the trouble to mention; but no doubt +he had long before then made up his mind that they would never make camp that +evening, for he felt that Step Hen must be nearly all in.</p> + +<p>He did start to work, however, and with the other to assist in various ways, +managed to get the deer cut up, after a fashion. The meat they expected to carry +with them, together with the head, which Step Hen would not think of leaving +behind, was made up into two packs, so that each of them might carry a fair +portion.</p> + +<p>By that time it was pitch dark. Indeed, Step Hen had to kindle another little +fire of dry pine cones in order that the operation of getting the meat secured +might be brought to a finish.</p> + +<p>“Wow! just look how dark it is!” exclaimed Step Hen, when finally +Thad announced that he was ready to go on, after getting his bearings, which he +did easily by sighting the North star, the clouds having very conveniently +disappeared, and all present danger of a heavy snowfall vanishing with their +going.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span>Step Hen was +rather slow and clumsy about getting his load fastened, and Thad had to assist +him. He knew full well what was the matter. The other was really dead tired, and +could hardly put one foot before the other without a great effort. He had been +artificially kept up by the excitement until the game was secured, and now the +reaction was setting in.</p> + +<p>They had been slowly moving along for about ten minutes, when from a little +distance away there broke out a strange sound that, heard under those peculiar +conditions, struck Step Hen as more blood-curdling than he had ever thought it +before, when sitting safely in a camp beside a cozy fire, and surrounded by +comrades.</p> + +<p>It was that same long-drawn howl of the Canada gray wolf; and as he listened +to a second answering cry from another quarter, somehow Step Hen found himself +shuddering.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER XII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>BROUGHT TO BAY BY WOLVES.</span></h2> + +<p>“Ooh! how awfully queer them howls seem, Thad!” remarked Step +Hen, presently, just as the patrol leader expected he would; for he had a pretty +good idea as to what was just passing in the mind of the tenderfoot.</p> + +<p>“Well, they do sound different somehow, from what they did when we were +sitting around the cheery camp-fire, listening to stories told by the +guides,” Thad admitted. “But then, wolves as a rule are cowardly +brutes. They may do a heap of howling, but they seldom show any bravery. Only +when in packs are they feared by hunters, away up in the frozen-up parts of +Canada, I’m told.”</p> + +<p>“But, say, don’t you think there’s a pack around here, +right now?” demanded Step Hen, apprehensively.</p> + +<p>“What makes you ask that?” the other questioned.</p> + +<p>“Why, in the first place, old Eli told us they never came away down +here unless in numbers; and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_117'></a>117</span> then again, Thad, didn’t you notice that when +one gave tongue over yonder to the right, a second answered him back from the +left; and by jinks! listen to that, would you, a third and a fourth, as sure as +you live! Say, they’re all around us, Thad; they’ve got us +surrounded!”</p> + +<p>“Let ’em surround, if it does ’em any good,” laughed +the other; and if he felt the slightest bit of uneasiness himself on account of +those wolfish howls, Thad at least managed to conceal it; because he knew Step +Hen was feeling “creepy” enough as it was, without having his alarm +augmented by seeing his companion concerned.</p> + +<p>“But don’t you think they might be able to pull us down just by +force of numbers, Thad?” the other went on.</p> + +<p>“Oh! there can’t be any such bunch of the cowardly brutes around, +as all that, I guess, Step Hen. And don’t forget, please, that we’re +armed with weapons calculated to knock the spots out of any gray sneak that ever +tried to steal venison won by two husky hunters. Think how you have six bullets +in that little gun of yours; and each one ought to count for a wolf, if it came +to the worst.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! there’s where I was a fool!” said Step Hen, in a +disgusted tone.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” demanded his chum, stopping short.</p> + +<p>“Why, I never stuck a blessed cartridge in my <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> pocket, you see. Thought the six I had +in the magazine of the gun would be good and plenty for all the needs I’d +run up against. Now I wish I had the whole hundred along. Just my luck. +I’m always losing things, and if it ain’t anything else, it must be +chances. Think of a hundred dead wolves, and all killed with this great little +gun while I sat perched up in the crotch of a nice tree! It makes me sick to +think of it, that’s what, Thad.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you did put six cartridges in the magazine before we +left?” asked the other.</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s what I meant to do, and I reckon I did, all right; +though Giraffe was joking me at the time, and he might have upset my +calculations,” Step Hen admitted.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, suppose you drop your bundle of meat, and take a +look,” advised Thad. “If it gets to warm quarters it’s just as +well that you know how many wolves you can account for. Throw them out in one, +two, three order, now.”</p> + +<p>So Step Hen began working the mechanism of his little gun. Not being excited, +he was able to do this excellently. With the first cast a cartridge flew out of +the rejecting opening; but when he tried to repeat, nothing happened. He looked +at the gun blankly, and tried twice more; but with the same result.</p> + +<p>“No use,” remarked Thad, grimly; “nothing doing, it seems. +When you <i>thought</i> you put six <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_119'></a>119</span> cartridges in the magazine, you stopped at three. +And just such little mistakes have cost many a hunter his life before now, let +me tell you, Step Hen.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! mercy, what do you mean, Thad?” asked the other, +alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Why, suppose now, several wolves were rushing at you with open mouths; +and when you stood there, feeling able to take care of them all, your gun missed +fire, not because it went back on you, but through your silly fault in not +making sure it was fed to the limit when you started; things would look kind of +gloomy just then, wouldn’t they?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll never go out without being dead sure my magazine is plumb +full; and a handful in my pocket besides, catch me again,” said Step Hen, +solemnly.</p> + +<p>“That’s a good resolution to make, and see to it that you +remember it. But all the same, my boy, it isn’t helping us any just now. +You’ve got one bullet, and I advise you to hang on to that to the bitter +end. Let me do most of the shooting, if it ever comes to it, which I hope it +won’t; because I’ve got a belt full of all sorts of shells, from +buckshot to Number Sevens. Now, shall we go on again?”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” replied Step Hen, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>But when he had managed to get his arms through the loops of his bundle, and +began to heave it up on his back, he groaned audibly, so that Thad knew full +well they would hardly make camp that <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_120'></a>120</span> night, at least not without several rests by the +way.</p> + +<p>“How far d’ye think it is, Thad?” asked Step Hen a few +minutes later, as he dragged along behind the other.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can’t just tell,” replied Thad. “It may be +only three miles, and then again perhaps it would tally up twice that. +We’re going to strike the lake shore by keeping on as we are; but just how +far away from camp, gets me. Like as not we can sight their fire, and give the +boys a hail that will fetch a canoe for us.”</p> + +<p>“Whee! wish that blessed canoe was here right now,” murmured poor +Step Hen.</p> + +<p>“You’re pretty near at the end of your rope, ain’t +you?” asked Thad.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, I acknowledge the corn, Thad. I never was so dead +tired in all my life. But I’ve still got the grit to keep along as far as +I c’n put one foot in front of the other.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you; we’ll try it a little further, and see,” +Thad went on.</p> + +<p>He was chuckling to himself even while he spoke; for he knew full well that, +although it pleased the tenderfoot to call it “grit,” in truth it +was fear of those lurking, howling wolves that was driving Step Hen to making +these astonishing efforts. After all there is absolutely nothing like fear to +make a laggard run like a Marathon sprinter. It has even <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> effected cures in people supposed to be +paralyzed, as Thad remembered reading not a great while before.</p> + +<p>They continued on for some time longer; but from the increasing puffing and +grunting that came from the region where Step Hen was staggering along, it was +evident that he was about ready to give up.</p> + +<p>“Thad!” he gasped, presently.</p> + +<p>“Yes, what is it, Step Hen?”</p> + +<p>“Here’s a tree,” remarked the other; “I mean one +that’s got limbs near the ground, and not like these other tall ghostly +pines that I’d need a lineman’s spurs to shin up.”</p> + +<p>Thad stopped for a minute.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you can’t walk on any further, Step Hen, say so, and +I’ll get up something that ought to keep the wolves away; but of course, +if you’re ready to call quits, why I suppose we’ll have to climb up +here, and squat like a couple of owls all night.”</p> + +<p>The prospect evidently did not please Step Hen any too well; besides, he +still retained a shred of his former pride. So he bristled up as he made answer, +saying:</p> + +<p>“Why, of course I c’n go on for quite a distance yet, if you think +there’s any use of it, Thad. Now, what was you agoin’ to do, you +said?”</p> + +<p>“Under this pine tree, you see, that’s been badly <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> used in some storm, +there are a lot of branches lying. We can knock off a couple of the ones that +look like they might burn pretty well, and use ’em for torches. +Let’s get busy and see if it’ll work.”</p> + +<p>At any rate it gave Step Hen another chance to rest up, and get his breath. +He still clung to that heavy deer’s head with its antlers. Step Hen could +be a most obstinate fellow when he chose; and having once made up his mind, it +was like trying to move the rock of Gibraltar to change it.</p> + +<p>After considerable effort, and the wasting of many matches, so as to get the +pine cones and needles started into a blaze, on account of the night wind that +kept blowing them out as fast as Step Hen lighted them, the torches were finally +made an accomplished fact.</p> + +<p>“Wave it around some more, and the wind is going to keep it +going,” advised Thad; “besides, the swinging motion will warn the +wolves to keep away, if they don’t want to get their old hides singed. +Now, if you’re feeling fit, we’ll make another stab at getting over +the ground.”</p> + +<p>Still Thad knew they would not go far before something else would happen; and +he really expected that sooner or later they would have to do battle with the +hungry four-footed denizens of the pine woods that had scented their fresh meat, +and gave signs of meaning to possess some of it, no matter at what cost.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span>So Thad bent his +mind on figuring out what they had better do if it came down to a halt. He knew +that once they went into camp they could build several fires, so as to virtually +surround themselves with a circle of flames, across which no wolf that ever +lived would have the daring to jump. And consequently Thad did not feel so +deeply concerned about how things would come out as his comrade did.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear that and wasn’t it a nasty snarl, though?” +demanded Step Hen after possibly five minutes more had passed.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I heard it, and I suppose the beasts are closing in now,” +Thad replied.</p> + +<p>“Closing in! Oh! my gracious! Thad, we had ought to be finding a good +tree like that Jim dandy one I wanted to climb, when you said no. These torches +ain’t agoin’ to last much longer; and I don’t believe the +critters care about ’em anyway. Hadn’t we better change the +programme, Thad?”</p> + +<p>“Well, one thing I object to,” the other answered; “after +going to all this trouble to get venison, and losing our first deer to those +woods’ pirates, I don’t feel like letting these measly wolves share +in this second lot.”</p> + +<p>“Them’s my sentiments exactly, Thad; but tell me how we’re +agoin’ to prevent ’em, won’t you? If it comes right down to +brass tacks we’ve just got to think of saving our own lives, first of all, +and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> let the +precious meat go. But then, if we found a tree, we might hang it up before +climbing among the branches ourselves. Then, while they were jumping, and trying +to snatch it down, we could be peppering the bunch like fun.”</p> + +<p>“Leave it to me, Step Hen; I’ve got a plan worth two of that; +though we might as well stop under this tree to try out; and if it comes to the +worst we can climb up. But I don’t think it’s going to be necessary. +Throw down your bundle, now, and get busy. We’re going to have a fire, +two, three of ’em; and squatting in the middle of the string, we’ll +just cook us some of this tender young buck, and snap our fingers at Mr. Wolf. +If he gets too brash, why, we’ll give him a card with our compliments. +Hurry up, and get a fire going, while I stand guard over you, Step +Hen.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE FIRE CIRCLE.</span></h2> + +<p>“That’s me, all right, Thad; I’ll have a spark going the +quickest ever, if that old wind only holds up a bit. Here’s aplenty of +loose stuff, to begin with, that I can kick together. Wait till I stick my torch +in this crotch of the tree. Just as well to have some light to work by,” +and as he kept up this running fire of talk, Step Hen was busying himself right +swiftly.</p> + +<p>For the moment he forgot all his aches and pains, and worked like a Trojan; +indeed, no defender of ancient Troy ever had more urgent reason for getting +things going than Step Hen thought he did just at that minute.</p> + +<p>He used his feet and hands to gather the loose pine needles in a heap; and +when he thought he had things fixed to suit him, the next business that engaged +his attention was getting the pile to take fire. After that Step Hen said he +would be “on Easy Street.”</p> + +<p>All this while the night wind had been moaning <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> and whistling through the tops of the +tall pines, making a mournful kind of music, calculated to add to the uneasiness +caused by the savage howls of the hungry wolves from the north. But Step Hen had +learned a lesson while lighting his torch, and knew that the wind came in gusts, +with short intervals between. By waiting a few seconds after it had started to +blow at quite a lively rate, he was able to find a lull; and making the most of +his opportunity, he hastily struck his match, and applied it to the dry stuff he +had made sure to keep underneath.</p> + +<p>But after all he came very near spoiling it; for just at that very second +there was a loud howl, so close at hand that Step Hen was impelled to look over +his shoulder, under the impression that the wolf pack was even then about to +overwhelm him while he bent down, almost defenseless, above the pile of dry +stuff.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right; don’t worry!” exclaimed Thad, who +was standing guard, with his faithful Marlin gripped tight in his hands; and any +wolf that attempted to try conclusions with that reliable little gun would +surely regret his temerity.</p> + +<p>The flame managed to catch before the wind could come back again to blow it +out; and once the connection had been made, the draught only served to make the +fire burn the better.</p> + +<p>“There, that’s done; and now what?” asked <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> Step Hen, whirling +around to pick up his own weapon, under the belief that he would feel easier in +his mind if in a position to defend himself.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to extend the fire belt, and make several more like +the one you’ve got going,” replied Thad, laying his gun down, so +that he might busy himself. “Here are plenty of branches, and all sorts of +good burning stuff. If only Giraffe were with us now, wouldn’t he be in +his glory, though?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Step Hen, slowly; “he might; and again, +perhaps Giraffe don’t like wolves any better than I do. And he gets so +rattled too, whenever he’s nervous. I try to take things as cool as +anything. What’s the use getting excited, when it ain’t agoin’ +to help a single bit. And I know you’ll say the same, eh, Thad?”</p> + +<p>“You never spoke truer words, Step Hen,” replied the scoutmaster, +gravely; and yet secretly he was shaking with laughter, because everybody knew +that Step Hen was the worst offender in that line the patrol boasted; so that it +seemed almost as “good as a circus,” Thad afterwards declared, to +hear him talk in this way.</p> + +<p>They worked diligently, and soon managed to not only extend the fire so as to +take in three more points, and thus completely surround the spot where they had +dumped the packs of venison; but to secure quite a supply of fuel besides, with +which to feed the flames from time to time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span>“Now +what?” again demanded Step Hen, when he saw that his companion meant to +call a halt upon these proceedings.</p> + +<p>“Supper is the next thing on the programme,” observed Thad. +“I feel just like enjoying some of that same venison. It will not only +make us feel stronger, but considerably lighten our loads when we take a notion +to go on again.”</p> + +<p>“Count me in on that deal; because, honest Injun now, I’m that +empty my stomach feels like it wanted to shake hands with my backbone. Say, this +must be a real hunter’s feast, Thad. I never went through such an +experience as this before. And just listen to the nerve of them rascals, +ahowlin’ themselves hoarse, just because we object to sharing our grub +pile with ’em. D’ye suppose, now, we’ll have to knock over a +few of the pesky varmints, as old Eli calls ’em.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t be one bit surprised,” replied Thad; and the +other noticed that he did not move in the least without making sure that his gun +was within reach; from which it was evident that Thad had no intention of being +caught unprepared, should the hungry wolves make a sudden dash.</p> + +<p>Of course Step Hen was next to totally ignorant as to how to cook meat +without the frying-pan to which he had been accustomed. And he watched just how +Thad did it, closely imitating him.</p> + +<p>Taking a stout and fairly long sliver of wood, a <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> small piece of the meat was secured to +one end, after which the other point was thrust into the ground in such a +position that the meat came pretty near a place where the embers burned red, and +glowed invitingly. Presently the heat began to make the meat sizzle, and then it +slowly cooked, turning a delightful brown color, and sending out odors that made +the boys fairly shiver with eagerness to start eating.</p> + +<p>When one piece was considered done, it was quickly eaten by a hungry hunter, +and its place taken with a fresh supply.</p> + +<p>So the good work went on. Both boys were ravenously hungry, and only small +bits could be cooked this way at a time, so that it was pretty much a whole hour +before they had fully satisfied their clamorous appetites. And although the meal +had been eaten under the strangest conditions of any which he could remember, +Step Hen was ready to declare he had enjoyed it immensely.</p> + +<p>“But they’re gettin’ madder and madder all the while, just +because we didn’t send ’em an invite to our little feast!” +declared Step Hen. “Just listen to the critters yawp, would you, Thad? +They’re buttin’ in closer and closer, a foot at a time. And honest +now, I reckon there must be all the way from half a dozen to ten thousand of +’em around us.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a pretty good and safe range,” laughed the patrol +leader; “and I guess you’ve covered the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> ground, all right. There are surely +half a dozen of ’em, and how many more I wouldn’t like to say, +because I don’t know just how much noise one old wolf can kick up. But +don’t they sing sweetly, though? Shall we be generous, and throw them out +the balance of the venison, to show them how we like their song?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should say, not any,” returned Step Hen, after giving +his companion a quick glance, as if to see whether he really meant it, or was +only joking. “We had too much hard work getting our supply to throw it to +the dogs. Let the lazy curs run along, and find some for themselves. Besides, +it’s too good to think of wasting it. I want the rest of the fellers to +taste <i>our</i> venison. Mine went glimmering, and I hope it half choked that +villainous crowd. Anyway you vowed it was a whole lot tougher than this haunch; +and there’s that comfort.”</p> + +<p>But it was evident that if the hungry animals around heard this decision they +refused to pay any attention to it; for instead of decreasing, the howls +actually became louder and more insistent, until finally Thad picked up his +gun.</p> + +<p>“I begin to see that we’re going to have a little target practice +after all, Step Hen,” he remarked, quietly. “When things get so bad +that you can see the skulking beasts creeping about your camp, and even catch +the glitter of their yellow eyes, it’s nearly <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> time to begin to bowl a few of them +over, so as to inform the rest that we’ve got a dead line marked around +here.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t say?” answered Step Hen, in an awed tone; +“show me one, Thad, please. I’d just like to say I’d seen a +wolf, really and truly, for once in my life, outside of a menagerie or a +circus.”</p> + +<p>“All right, then,” replied the other; “just follow the line +of my finger, and I give you my word that skulking thing in the shadows is a +real genuine, Canada wolf. I’m going to prove it to you in a minute or +two, by taking a crack at him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! now there’s two of ’em, Thad, crossing each +other’s trail. And see there, if that ain’t a third, and even a +fourth. Why, I believe the woods are full of ’em!”</p> + +<p>“You’re about right,” replied the patrol leader, more +seriously than before, the alarmed Step Hen thought. “Here, let’s +throw a few blazing brands around, to scare ’em off some, while we lift +the bundles up among the branches of this tree. Then, if anything should force +us to take refuge there, at any rate we wouldn’t have to listen to the +plaguey things chewing at our grub.”</p> + +<p>This was accordingly done. When the burning bits of wood were hurled out +toward them, the wolves temporarily retreated; but Thad knew full well they +would soon crowd back, drawn by the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_132'></a>132</span> scent of the fresh meat; and besides, he did not +like to take the chances of setting the woods afire; just after he, and the +balance of the Silver Fox Patrol, had accepted this new test of their abilities +in the line of doing a good act as fire wardens.</p> + +<p>The two packages of venison were easily hoisted into the tree, Step Hen +readily climbing up himself in order to lift them still higher; so that by no +possibility could a leaping wolf manage to get his teeth in either bundle.</p> + +<p>Step Hen came down again a little unwillingly, Thad saw. It must have seemed +good and safe up there, so far removed from the fangs of the encircling wolves; +but after the fires had burned completely out, it would prove a pretty cold +perch; and for one the young scoutmaster did not yearn to try it, unless every +other resort failed them.</p> + +<p>“Now watch what happens!” remarked Thad, as the other joined him +again, gun in hand; “and remember, only shoot if you have to. I’ll +hold one barrel in reserve all the time. After I shoot you’ll see me get a +new shell in the chamber as quick as I can work it. Be ready, now; and watch +sharp!”</p> + +<p>No need to tell Step Hen that. He was already keyed up to top-notch condition +by the excitement that caused his nerves to quiver, and his breath to come in +gasps. And yet, if any one had accused the boy of being afraid, he would have at +once indignantly denied the imputation. Perhaps he was <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> holding himself sternly in hand; Thad +hoped as much; but then some persons have a queer way of showing that they are +cool and collected. Step Hen was one, for instance; but if all of us could +realize just how we look to our neighbors, we might not feel quite so proud.</p> + +<p>Thad had his gun ready for quick work. He only waited until he could glimpse +one of those skulking, shadowy forms on the outside border of the light cast by +the fire circle. Then he glanced along the barrels of his gun, though instinct +enabled him to cover the target better than all this aiming; after which his +finger pressed the trigger.</p> + +<p>The boom of the gun was instantly succeeded by a series of alarming howls; +and then Step Hen was heard shouting exultantly:</p> + +<p>“You got him then, Thad! I saw him turn a back somersault. He’s a +dead one, all right, I tell you, whoop!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>STEP HEN HAS VISIONS OF A FUR COAT.</span></h2> + +<p>Thad was already hastily inserting a fresh shell in the left chamber of his +little shotgun. He felt fully satisfied that he had done just what Step Hen so +vociferously proclaimed, knocked over one of the skulking wolves; but there were +more of the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> same +breed around, and presently they would get over the temporary fright caused by +the flash of fire, together with the heavy crash, when possibly they might show +themselves bolder than ever.</p> + +<p>And like a true Boy Scout, Thad Brewster believed in always being prepared. +He had really taken that for his motto long before he thought of joining a troop +of the scouts; so that much of what he agreed to do when signing the muster +roll, lay directly in a line with his own ideas of what a wide-awake boy should +be.</p> + +<p>“They backed off after that hot reception, Thad,” Step Hen went +on. “Oh! I hope I’ll get a chance to pop over just one of the sneaky +beasts. I’d like to say I’d shot a real wolf. Think of me, Step Hen +Bingham, who up to a year ago had never gone off camping or hunting, with a bear +to my credit, a buck actually knocked over, even if it was stole away from me; +and now, as the crowning event of all, I want to get a savage wolf, a real +Canada wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Thad, laughingly; “I don’t know that +they’re different from any other kind they have out on the plains; though +perhaps they may be a little larger, and ready to attack a man quicker. But +perhaps you’d better take the next good chance then, Step Hen.”</p> + +<p>“May I, Thad? That’s kind of you. Suppose you give me pointers, +then, and tell me just when to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_135'></a>135</span> blaze away. I want to make a dead sure thing of +it.”</p> + +<p>“Of the wolf, you mean, I guess,” Thad went on, keeping a bright +lookout while he talked. “Well, watch that place where I got my fellow, +and I think you’ll soon see something moving.”</p> + +<p>“You must mean the rest will be wanting to make a supper off the +critter you killed; is that it, Thad? Are they such cannibals as all +that?” asked Step Hen.</p> + +<p>“Always said to be,” the patrol leader returned, and then quickly +added. “Keep on the lookout, and if you see anything moving, tell me. +Above all don’t waste ammunition by firing recklessly. We’re not +trying to scare ’em off by noise; every shot ought to count for a +wolf.”</p> + +<p>They lapsed into silence for some little time, during which both boys used +their eyes to the best advantage. Several times Step Hen’s eagerness +caused him to imagine he had caught a glimpse of a moving object; but upon +calling the attention of his more experienced comrade to the spot, in every +instance Thad had pronounced it a false alarm.</p> + +<p>But in the end there came a time when Thad himself saw something move, and as +he watched more closely he made positive that it was another wolf creeping up in +the direction of the spot where his first victim probably lay.</p> + +<p>“Are you all ready, Step Hen?” he asked, quietly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span>“Just try +me, that’s all,” came the whispered reply, as the other scout +clutched his rifle nervously, and strained his eyes to see what had caught the +attention of his chum.</p> + +<p>“Then watch that spot where my game kicked the bucket; one of his mates +is right now coming to drag the body away, to give it a wolf burial. See him, +Step Hen?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, and be sure and tell me just when to let him have it, +Thad,” replied the other, beginning to cover the indistinct moving figure +with his ready gun.</p> + +<p>“Now, hold on for a bit,” Thad cautioned. “I’m going +to give the fire here a kick that will make it spring up. Then, when you can be +sure you’re getting a bead on the slinker, give him Hail Columbia. Watch +out, now, old fellow. It’s going to be your only chance to bag a genuine +wolf from the Canada bush.”</p> + +<p>Just as Thad had said, the fire burned briskly after he had used the toe of +his boot to give it new life; and sure enough, Step Hen could see the outlines +of a long, dim figure that seemed to be hugging the ground. He could even catch +the odd gleam of the wicked yellow eyes that were doubtless watching their every +movement.</p> + +<p>With the sharp report of his rifle there was another howl, this time of +pain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span>“Did I get +him, Thad?” cried the marksman, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“You hit him, that’s certain, because I saw him flop over,” +replied the other; “and that yelp meant sudden pain, as sure as it stood +for anything. But he managed to get off, though possibly he will fall within +twenty feet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! that’s too bad, because his chums’ll chew him all up, +and I’ll never have my nice wolf-skin to get a coat made out of for +winter,” exclaimed Step Hen; and then, as he was seized by a new thought, +he went on: “But Thad, suppose I took a torch and went out there, +d’ye think I’d be apt to find him lying on his back? I’d like +the worst kind to get hold of him before the rest of the bunch muster up courage +enough to come back.”</p> + +<p>“Well, since you haven’t even a load in your gun, that would be +too risky a game for you to play, Step Hen, and just for an old wolf-skin at +that. Perhaps we’ve given ’em such a bad scare now that the rest of +the pack may skip out, and leave us in peace. Then in the morning you’d +find your chap, all right.”</p> + +<p>“Listen! there’s something crashing through the bushes right back +of us, Thad!” exclaimed Step Hen, a minute later, though his companion +knew it before he spoke. “Sounds like an elephant might be coming down on +us; but they don’t have such animals up here in the Maine woods, do they? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> Just hear the +racket he keeps making Thad; whatever do you suppose we’re up against +now?”</p> + +<p>Thad laughed.</p> + +<p>“That’s a two-legged elephant, then, Step Hen,” he +remarked. “Fact is, we’re going to have company, for that’s a +man pushing through the brush, and making all the noise he can, so as to scare +the wolves away, and at the same time keep us from firing on him.” Then +raising his voice, Thad called out: “Hello, there!”</p> + +<p>“Thet you, Thad?” came an answering call.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! it’s Old Eli!” exclaimed Step Hen, readily +recognizing the voice of the guide. “This way, Eli; we’re having a +healthy old time knocking over some of your Canada wolves. Each got one so far, +but I reckon the rest of the pack must a lit out when they heard you coming. I +see you now, Eli; and mighty glad you dropped in on us. Where did you spring +from anyway; don’t tell me we’re as near the camp as +that.”</p> + +<p>Eli came up, with a wide grin on his face.</p> + +<p>“Oh! camp about mile and a half down lake,” he remarked, as he +gravely shook hands with each hunter in turn. “We saw light of fire over +point, and think it might be you boys; so I paddled canoe across here. It +ain’t jest five minits walk ’cross this strip ter the lake. So ye got sum +o’ the critters, did ye?”</p> + +<p>“Thad, can’t we look up that one I shot now; <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> I’d just hate to lose him, you +know?” begged Step Hen.</p> + +<p>“Why, I suppose it would be safe for all of us to go out,” +returned the patrol leader. “Here, pick up something that will burn, and +come along.”</p> + +<p>They found Thad’s victim without any trouble, but the second one was +not within range of the light from their torches. But poor anxious Step Hen +begged so piteously to be allowed to extend the search “just a little +further,” that Thad did not have the heart to say no. And a minute later, +after they had gone forward twice as far as Thad had at first intended, Step Hen +gave a gurgling cry.</p> + +<p>“Looky there, Thad, what’s that thing lying over yonder? Seems to +me mighty like a dead one. Yes, sir, that’s what it is, as sure as +I’m Step Hen Bingham. Oh! how terrible he looks, even when stretched out +there, and gone up the flue. <i>My</i> wolf, too. What a fine coat he’s +got, and as gray as they make ’em. Say, won’t I just cut a swell +when I wear that out in a sleigh with Sue Baker; and every time she rubs the +sleeve she’ll say: ‘And just to think that <i>you</i> shot this savage old +wolf all by yourself, Step Hen; oh! what a brave fellow you +are!’”</p> + +<p>It was a second dead wolf, sure enough. The little repeating rifle had, as +usual, given a good account of itself, and the stricken beast had only <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> been able to drag +himself a little distance away, before giving up.</p> + +<p>Both animals were dragged over to the fires, and then Eli set to work taking +off the skins with a rapidity that told of long experience along the trapping +line.</p> + +<p>“No use aluggin’ these critters over ter the canoe, and then ter +camp,” Eli had announced. “Ther two skins’ll make a purty good +coat, I guess naow. An’ so ye gut a pack o’ prime venison to tote +home as well, hev ye? Thet’s good. My mouth’s jes’ made up fur +a steak; an’ the boys’ll feel tickled ter death when they sees +yer.”</p> + +<p>Step Hen was a little nervous at leaving the fire zone, especially since Eli +and Thad insisted on putting out every spark before departing, according to the +law of the State; but then he managed to carry one torch, and with that to serve +them, they took up their line of march.</p> + +<p>It was not so very far to the edge of the lake. Thad laughed, and said the +joke was on him; because, when they halted he really believed they were a couple +of miles away from water. If he had known the shore was so near by he would have +managed to coax the tired Step Hen to trudge on just a little further, so as to +camp with the water covering one side, and bringing that much security; not to +speak of the chances for signaling to the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_141'></a>141</span> home camp by means of the code which he and Allan, +as Boy Scouts, understood.</p> + +<p>But it was all right now, and Step Hen felt quite merry over the chance of +being taken comfortably to the camp by means of the canoe.</p> + +<p>Eli did the paddling, and the two weary lads just snuggled down in the boat, +feeling that they had had a great day of it, all told. The presence of the +venison, as well as the wolf-skins, would be positive proof as to the +reliability of their astonishing story; should there be any skeptic around. And +then Thad had the wonderful mushroomed bullet that had killed that six-pronged +buck; so that as they narrated the first adventure that had come their way, they +could produce evidence to back up the story.</p> + +<p>Their coming was greeted by more or less enthusiasm, although the boys had +evidently been coached by Allan not to be too vociferous, as they were in a +country where timid game abounded, and it was poor policy to frighten away the +quarry they had come so far to secure.</p> + +<p>Step Hen forgot all his weariness as he found himself being shaken by the +hand again and again, while he and Thad told the tale of their day’s +outing. It was nice to play the hero part once in a while, and more than ever +did Step Hen feel that life had become more worth living than ever, since he +joined the Cranford troop of Boy Scouts. But <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_142'></a>142</span> for that he would never have discovered what +splendid things there were to be met with in the great forests; and the spirit +of the hunter and the fisherman, which had lain dormant in his nature, might +never have been awakened.</p> + +<p>And while the hour was rather late, all of the boys insisted on tasting a +small piece of the deer meat brought in by the two successful Nimrods.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER XV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE FOX FARMER.</span></h2> + +<p>“Say, this is the greatest venison I ever tasted!” declared +Bumpus, after he had disposed of his share, and sighed to think that the rules +of the game debarred him from having a second piece; because they had had a +bumper supper only a few hours before.</p> + +<p>“Just dandy!” added Giraffe, who was in the same class as his fat +campmate, and would have been only too glad for an invitation to “cut, and +come again.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Step Hen, suddenly, “I reckon we’ve +got to congratulate you, Giraffe.”</p> + +<p>“Me? Er, what d’ye mean, Step Hen?” replied the tall scout, +at the same time beginning to look a trifle confused.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span>“Why, you +know you told us we’d be <i>surprised</i> when we got back,” the +other went on to say, a little maliciously; “and I reckon you’ve +gone and done it at last; and now you’re ready to show us just how easy it +works.”</p> + +<p>Bumpus could not refrain for the life of him from giving a sarcastic chuckle, +which of course added to the evident embarrassment of Giraffe; who, however +assumed a serious air upon making his reply.</p> + +<p>“Well,–er–not exactly, Step Hen. I’ve got her +figgered out all right, in my mind, so that in the morning I c’n go ahead, and +work out the details. I calculate a short half hour ought to see me wind up in +just a blaze of glory. But just yet it’s a toss-up who the +ice-cream’s going to be on, Bumpus or me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I ain’t worrying even a little mite,” asserted the +confident Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Well, you wait and see!” declared Giraffe, defiantly. “You +don’t all know what I’ve got up my sleeve. The feller that laughs +last laughs loudest, they say. And I give you all fair warning that’s +going to be me.”</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Thad managed to get in close touch with Jim Hasty. When the others +were joking, and having a merry time, he was wondering how the guide’s +little affair had been working out.</p> + +<p>Many hours had passed since he had seen Jim, and he wondered whether the +latter could have had <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_144'></a>144</span> any further communication from Old Cale, or even +run across the father of his wife in the pine woods.</p> + +<p>Jim was looking a little more serious than ever; but so far as Thad could +discover there was nothing about him to indicate that he had been in violent +collision with an enemy. And there were both his ears in their proper places; +which fact might be taken as positive proof that the giant poacher had at least +so far not attempted to carry out his terrible threat.</p> + +<p>Jim seemed to know what was passing through the boy’s mind; for he +smiled faintly, and shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>“Nothing new happened, then, Jim?” questioned the patrol +leader.</p> + +<p>“Naw. I hain’t been far from camp the hull blessed day; an’ +consequently never had no chanct tew run up against Pa Martin,” replied +the other. “But I’m more sot than ever tew see him face tew face, +afore I quits this here region. It’s jest <i>gut</i> tew be done, else I +wudn’t hev ther nerve tew face Little Lina agin. She made me promise; +an’ by thunder! nawthin’ hain’t agoin’ tew skeer me off. +If he doan’t hunt me out, by ding! I’ll take a turn at hit, +an’ find Cale Martin myself, ef so be I gotter tramp all the way tew his +shack, wich I knows on’y tew well.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Jim!” said Thad, admiringly; “but I suppose +you understand what risk you’re <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_145'></a>145</span> taking in trying that game? From all I’ve +heard about Cale Martin, he’s surely a terror; and then the threat he made +about your ears would be enough to scare most men away.”</p> + +<p>Jim drew a long breath as he answered this.</p> + +<p>“Lot’s o’ people doan’t know Ole Cale like I does. He +hain’t so black nor they jes’ paints him. Them game wardens is +afeerd o’ him, and they piles all kinds o’ things on his shoulders +thet he hain’t no business to kerry.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ve heard before about giving a dog a bad name, and then +he has to bear the sins of the whole neighborhood,” remarked Thad. +“There is never a sheep killed but that Dog Tray is the guilty one. And so +you think Cale isn’t altogether so bad as we’ve heard?”</p> + +<p>“He’s a big man, and he’s gut an’ <i>orful</i> +temper; but it’s them tew critters he goes with thet’s the wust +cases. They jest draw him inter slick games, Cale, he’d never think +o’ tryin’, left by hisself. But we heerd as haow he’s struck a +new thing, if so be he on’y knows enuff ter keep it agoin’, an’ +shakes them other fellers. An’ if anybody kin make a success o’ fox +raisin’, I jest guess Cale is ther man, ’cause he knows all erbout the +slick little varmints from A ter Z.”</p> + +<p>“Fox raising?” exclaimed Thad, at once deeply interested. +“Tell me about that, Jim. Seems like it ought to be worth while listening +to.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_146'></a>146</span>“Why,” said Jim, apparently only too +well pleased to say something in favor of the big and reckless parent of his +little wife; “yer see, thar’s a company as hes been formed away +daown in Bosting, tew raise foxes o’ all kinds, jest tew git the pelts. I +s’pose yew knows as haow them skins air agittin’ more valerable every +blessed year. More people tew wear furs, an’ less animals tew give +’em. Why, thar was twelve hundred dollars paid fur a black fox pelt jest +last Spring; an’ I seen the check with my own eyes.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Thad went on, deeply interested. “I’ve +understood that tremendous prices were being paid out for that scarce skin; but +is Cale meaning to try and raise black or silver foxes for the market? I was +told by several people that they considered the silver fox only a freak, and +that they would never breed true to species. How about that, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve allers hed an ijee thet way myself,” returned the +short guide, scratching his head in a reflective manner; “but Cale, he +thinks the other way; an’ Cale, he sure knows more about foxes in a day +than I wud in a year. Wall, we done heard as haow he hed made a contrack with +this company fur a number o’ years, tew act as manager o’ ther farm. +It’s in another part o’ ther State; an’ when Cale, he leaves +here arter a leetle while, he never ’spects tew come back again. Wouldn’t +be surprised naow if he hed a few foxes over tew ther <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> old shack as he means tew kerry away +with him when he quits up here.”</p> + +<p>“But do you suppose he’ll stick to those two tough characters, +and keep them with him in his new job? Won’ they queer his game with the +company, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“Wall, I doan’t know, of course, what his plans be, but Cale, +he’s a great feller tew keep his word; an’ if so be he’s told +this company as he’ll run things straight jest believe me they ain’t +agoin’ tew be no place for them two poachers around <i>his</i> fox farm. +He’d run ’em off with his gun mighty quick. Yes, Cale keeps his +word; an’ thet’s what makes me a leetle bit shy ’bout +bein’ able tew convince him tew leave my ears whar they belongs. But Lina, +bless her, sez as haow he jest cain’t hold aout, when he hears what I +gotter tell him; an’ Lina, she orter know.”</p> + +<p>Thad admired the man more than ever. Just because of his faith in Lina, here +was Jim ready to put his head in the lion’s mouth, so to speak. Thad +suspected that he might be carrying some very important intelligence to the +bearded giant of the pine woods; but whatever it was, Jim did not take the +trouble to enlighten him; and Thad did not really think he had any business to +ask.</p> + +<p>After that Jim seemed to lapse into silence, and seeing that he did not +appear anxious to continue the talk along lines that concerned his personal +matters, the scoutmaster turned to the others again.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span>The hour was now +getting rather late, and while those who had remained in camp during much of the +day might not be unusually tired, Step Hen gave signs of falling asleep by the +fire. Several times his head gave a lurch to one side, so that presently Giraffe +caught him roughly by the arm.</p> + +<p>“See here, d’ye want to take a header square into the blaze, Step +Hen?” he demanded, as the other opened his eyes, and looked sleepily at +him. “I like fires as well as anybody, but excuse me from getting roasted +in one. Don’t you think he ought to be sent to bed, Mr. Scoutmaster? +He’s so logy right now, that the chances are ten to one he’ll climb +in, and wrap the blanket around his head instead of his feet. Seems like +you’ll have to appoint a dry-nurse to look after the poor baby, or else he +may freeze to death in the night.”</p> + +<p>But Step Hen did not wait for any permission to retire. He just crept away, +and vanished under the folds of the second tent, which he shared with Thad and +Davy Jones.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the others were that sleepy they declared they would not be long in +following his example. Thad himself was the first to get up and stretch.</p> + +<p>“It’s late, fellows, and we ought to be turning in, if we want to +be good for anything to-morrow. And remember, that if this sort of thing keeps +up, we’re going to change the programme, and let every scout have a share +in keeping sentry duty, working <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_149'></a>149</span> in couples. It doesn’t seem exactly fair that +when Eli and Jim have to work all day with the paddles, or in any other way, +they ought to spend half the night standing guard. Hello! there’s Eli +right now, coming in on the trot, as if he had some news for us. What’s +up, Eli?”</p> + +<p>The old guide had been down to the shore of the lake to take a look at the +canoes; and he was plainly bringing some sort of news, if they could judge from +his hasty steps; and the look of concern on his dark face.</p> + +<p>“Canoe comin’ along daown yonder; mout be Cale’s +agoin’ ter pay us a visit,” he remarked; and his words aroused the +sleepy boys as thoroughly as though they had been ducked with a bucket of +ice-water.</p> + +<p>They all hastened to step off toward the shore. Bumpus even picked up his +gun, possibly under the belief that there might be a speck of war on the +horizon. Jim looked a trifle uneasy, but there was a grimness in the way he shut +his jaws together that told of his set purpose to face the music somehow or +other, before leaving this country of the Eagle Lakes.</p> + +<p>“There it comes!” announced Giraffe, in a half whisper, as he +pointed to the left.</p> + +<p>They could soon all make out the dim, shadowy canoe that was stealing along, +some little distance from the shore, and evidently bent on passing the camp.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span>“I kin +jest make out two fellers in her,” said Eli, who had sharp eyes.</p> + +<p>“I reckon one of them must be Old Cale, then; he seems to be +shadin’ his eyes with his hand, alookin’ toward our fire, and us +astandin’ here,” Giraffe went on to say, though no one could be +really positive, because the light was so poor.</p> + +<p>The canoe passed by in this spectral fashion. There was no hail from those +who sat in the boat, one using the paddle with the usual dexterity of a Maine +guide; and of course none of the scouts thought of calling out, knowing who and +what the voyagers were.</p> + +<p>“I suppose that was Old Cale in the bow?” remarked Thad, after +the canoe had faded away.</p> + +<p>“An’ he was alookin’ fur me, I kinder guess,” said +Jim, mournfully; at the same time, as if mechanically raising a hand to feel of +his ears.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>A STARTLING AWAKENING.</span></h2> + +<p>It was about four o’clock on the following afternoon when the three +canoes containing the boys of the Silver Fox Patrol, accompanied by their two +guides, drew up once more on the lake shore, and <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> preparations for going into camp were +hastily commenced, since night would soon be upon them.</p> + +<p>Jim had selected this site for their last camp on this lake. When they left +it, they intended going through the rest of the chain, and then seeking the +railroad, with the idea of starting homeward again.</p> + +<p>And Thad wondered whether, in picking out this camp, Jim might not have had +an eye to his own affairs. Perhaps it was not many miles away from the shack of +Cale Martin, the man who had been logger, trapper, guide, and was now about to +turn his superior knowledge concerning foxes into a profitable channel, and +raise them for their valuable furs.</p> + +<p>Thad hoped that for the sake of Jim’s peace of mind he might carry out +his plan before they broke camp here. And secretly he was determined that, +should the guide decide to take a chance at finding Old Cale at home, he would +not be averse to accompanying Jim across country to the place where Little Lina +used to live, before she ran away with Jim.</p> + +<p>Despite his positive conviction that he was really on the eve of succeeding +with his fire-making, by the aid of his little bow, and the twirling stick, +Giraffe had failed to accomplish what he expected that morning. Why, he hardly +ate any breakfast, so engrossed had he been in his “fiddling” as +Bumpus contemptuously called it, whenever he saw <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> the tall scout working that clumsy +little bow. But as usual, some little thing went wrong that spoiled the whole +combination; and of course fire did not reward the hard labor Giraffe put +in.</p> + +<p>He looked so bitterly disappointed that even Bumpus did not have the heart to +taunt him; though as a rule the fat boy could be depended on to do his share of +such.</p> + +<p>But then, it had been arranged that Giraffe and Bumpus were to go out on a +hunt on the following day, all by themselves, and without even a guide along. +Giraffe had boasted so often now, that he felt himself fully competent to look +after himself when adrift in the woods, that Thad thought it might be a good +thing to give him the chance. And there was Bumpus, eager to make use of his new +gun; nothing would please him better than to accompany the tall scout.</p> + +<p>Of course neither Thad, nor any one else for that matter, ever suspected that +they would bag any game, unless it might be a few half-tame partridges, that +would sit on a limb, and wait to be knocked over. Indeed, Thad was of the +opinion that in the end the two bold Nimrods might even get lost, and have to be +searched for.</p> + +<p>But then, they would unquestionably leave a plain trail that the guides could +pick up without great trouble; and the experience would be worth much to both +Giraffe and Bumpus. They were really <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_153'></a>153</span> getting too “scrappy” in their dealings +with each other; and a little spice, such as must accompany losing themselves in +the woods, and being dependent on each other entirely, might draw them together, +Thad thought, and make them appreciate each other more.</p> + +<p>As they sat around the blaze that night, after they had partaken of a +generous supper, Thad purposely led the conversation to the subject of fires in +the woods. Allan had told of some experiences he met with some years back, and +of course both guides were able to supplement this with stirring yarns that +thrilled the blood of the young listeners.</p> + +<p>“And I reckon, now, Eli?” Thad went on, after the guide had +finished what he had to tell; “that you never saw the pine woods in better +condition for a fire than they are right now?”</p> + +<p>“Thet air a fact,” replied the other, emphatically. “Dry as +tinder, an’ ef we doan’t git sum snow mighty soon, I guess as haow +ther’ll be thousands o’ acres o’ vallerable land burned over +afore Thanksgivin’ time.”</p> + +<p>“Yeou must a seen sum lands thet hed be’n burned, on ther way up on +ther train,” interjected Jim, breaking his long silence; “an’ +yeou kin understan’ jest how lonesum they ’pears like, with ther tall +pines astandin’ thar like flagpoles, black, and withaout ary limb; er else +alayin’ in windrows on <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_154'></a>154</span> ther ground. Allers makes me feel bad tew see sech +things.”</p> + +<p>“And the game deserts a burned tract, too,” declared Allan.</p> + +<p>“It sure dew,” Jim went on, with a shake of the head. “Yew +never seen a more desolate region than sech a burned territory. Everybody moves +aout quick as they can; fact is, most on ’em hes gut ther houses burned, +an’ doan’t hev ter kerry much away with ’em. I hopes as haow +it’ll snow er rain right soon, so’s tew save miles an’ miles +o’ woodland.”</p> + +<p>“And the fire wardens have their work cut out for them at this season +of the year, you can easily believe,” observed Allan.</p> + +<p>“Wonder now if we’ll see a real genuine forest fire while +we’re up here,” remarked Giraffe, with considerable interest. +“My! but she must look great to see them pines aflamin’ up like big +torches. Now, you needn’t give me that look, Thad, because I haven’t +forgot my promise, an’ I ain’t acarryin’ a single match along +with me day after day. But if <i>somebody else</i> sets fire to the woods, I +have as good a right to look as the next one, ain’t I?”</p> + +<p>“Of course you have, Giraffe,” replied the scoutmaster, relieved, +because this overpowering passion on the part of the tall boy had given him many +anxious minutes since coming into Maine.</p> + +<p>“Lots of these fires come after the loggers have <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> done their work,” Allan +volunteered. “You see, they leave a tremendous amount of stuff behind; all +the limbs and branches of the trees they have cut down, as they are only after +the main stem; so when this gets nice and dry, after a year or so, and a fire +starts, with a brisk wind to whip it, what follows is more than I can describe. +I saw one such fire, and we only escaped with our lives by the quick wit of a +logger along with the party.”</p> + +<p>“What did you do, Allan?” asked Bumpus, eagerly. “You know, +I’m goin’ out with Giraffe to-morrow, and if we did meet up with a +forest on fire, I couldn’t run like he can, with his long legs; so +I’d like to know another way to give the old fire the go-by. Please +explain how you cheated it. Why, Allan, it might save my life too, for all you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Glad to hear that you’re interested, Bumpus,” answered the +other readily. “And I think every one of you ought to know about it. When +you’re out hunting, try and keep the location of any stream you happen to +pass, in your mind. Then in case of being beset by fire, make your way there, +and get in, up to your neck. You’re going to be safe there, every time. If +it gets hot, duck under, and cool off. I’ll sure never forget the time I +had; but then I hope none of you will ever have to hunt for a stream, or that +you’ll even see a forest fire when up here, no matter how much Giraffe +wants to look on one.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span>Giraffe had +dropped out of the circle, and apparently some idea had just flashed into his +mind connected with his pursuit of that slippery contract, whereby he expected +sooner or later to make fire come, after the fashion of the far away islanders +of the Pacific.</p> + +<p>No one paid much attention, for they were heartily sick of seeing him sawing +away with his little bow, wasting so much time, most of them thought; though +Thad for his part was secretly pleased to see that the tall scout stuck at his +apparently hopeless job; with a persistence that must win out in the end.</p> + +<p>Thad had been explaining just what the new system of standing sentry was to +be. Each of the scouts would have his turn, even Bumpus being called on, though +his partner was to be old Eli. There being eight of them, their fixed posts +would not run much over an hour and a half each; and it was to be expected that +the boys might receive more or less benefit from having to assume some of the +responsibility of the camp’s security.</p> + +<p>Bumpus had been yawning for some time; and presently, taking advantage of a +lull in the conversation the fat boy clumsily gained his feet, and made a lunge +for the nearest tent, in which he was supposed to sleep.</p> + +<p>No one was really surprised to see Bumpus trip, and go floundering to the +earth, for he frequently <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_157'></a>157</span> got his legs twisted, and did that; but when there +was a shout of consternation, and the tall form of Giraffe bounded erect they +realized that Bumpus had actually fallen over his chum, not noticing him, +because his eyes were so heavy with sleep.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Giraffe, excuse me, please!” he remarked, as he rolled over, +and sat up. “I give you my word I didn’t know you were there. I was +rubbing my eyes, because they felt so hot and tired, lookin’ into the fire +so long. Hope I didn’t hurt you any?”</p> + +<p>“Hurt me,” grumbled Giraffe; “I wouldn’t care for +that so much, even if you’d broken a rib or two in my side; but to think +that you’d upset me just when I was agoin’ to make it burst out into +a nice little flame! Why, she was smokin’ to beat the band when you +knocked it all into a cocked hat by bustin’ my bow; an’ now +I’ll have to sit up another hour makin’ a new one. It’s always +the way. I’m havin’ the toughest luck ever was, about that business; +but I can hang on, like a bulldog to the seat of your trousers when you’re +gettin’ over the fence. I’m game, all right. I’m agoin’ +to get that, if it takes a leg.”</p> + +<p>But his bow, he found, could be easily repaired, as it was only the cord that +had been broken. And half an hour later everybody in camp was sound asleep, +saving Thad and Allan, who had taken the first watch, so as to sit there, and +talk in whispers; for the patrol leader wanted to tell his chum all <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> about Jim’s case, +because he felt so great an admiration for the short guide.</p> + +<p>When their turn had expired, according to the little nickel watch Thad +carried, they woke up Eli, who, with Bumpus was to take the next spell; in turn +they were expected to arouse Step Hen and Davy Jones, to be followed by Jim and +Giraffe; and this would finish the night, as daylight must arrive while the last +named were on duty.</p> + +<p>Thad was a good sleeper, although as a rule the slightest thing of an unusual +nature aroused him. He believed that the camp would be well watched, and when he +lay down did not allow himself to get to thinking of anything to the contrary, +for fear that if his brain once got to working, he might lie awake for a long +time.</p> + +<p>He had a dim recollection of the two boys who occupied the tent with him, +Step Hen and Davy, creeping out, when Eli summoned them. Then came an uncertain +length of time, which Thad could never measure; for he was sound asleep when it +seemed to him some one was shouting something in his dreams. He sat up, and +bumped his head on some object that had fallen out of place; but he was now +fully awake, and felt a thrill when he heard real shouts outside, in the voices +of Step Hen and Davy Jones:</p> + +<p>“Hey, everybody get busy here! The whole <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> camp’s on fire, and the wind +driving it into the woods like hot-cakes! Hurry up! Hurry up, +everybody!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_17'></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>FIGHTING THE FLAMES.</span></h2> + +<p>Out of the tent crawled Thad, utterly regardless of the fact that he was not +altogether warmly clad for a cold night. And what met his eyes when he reached +the open was enough to excite him still further.</p> + +<p>The wind was blowing pretty stiffly, and the fire had already jumped into the +brush surrounding the camp. If given its head for even a short time it seemed +bound to get started in the dead pine needles; and once it spread there, all the +desperate efforts of a dozen fire-fighters would be wasted.</p> + +<p>Several figures could be seen, bounding here and there, and slashing at the +red flames with anything they could get hold of that would answer to bring about +a halt in their spread.</p> + +<p>Of course these must be the late guardians of the sleeping camp, who were now +shouting so strenuously, and begging the rest of the campers to come to their +aid–Step Hen and Davy Jones; besides, there were the guides, hard at work, +having been aroused with the first cries; for they still persisted <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> in sleeping under a rude +shelter they had made out of branches and weeds.</p> + +<p>Thad rushed into the fray, and began to do his very utmost to keep the +dreaded fire in check. He saw that the others were also crawling forth, Bumpus, +Giraffe and Allan, all occupants of the first tent. And realizing the importance +of concerted action, they lost not a second in getting busy.</p> + +<p>Bumpus, in particular, was a sight to behold, and had he been less busy Thad +felt that he must have doubled up with laughter to see him. He persisted in +donning a most stunning red-checked suit of pajamas; for being so stout he did +not suffer from the cold as much as some of the others. And as his simple heart +was wrapped up in the business that just then engaged his full attention, Bumpus +was prancing around, looking more like a clown from the circus than anything +Thad could think of. But all the same the fat boy fought, tooth and nail, at the +spreading fire. He had on his shoes, as had the others, so that he could jump on +the creeping flames when all else failed; and using an extra piece of canvas +that sometimes had done duty as a tent floor, Bumpus sailed into the fray like a +hurricane.</p> + +<p>Indeed, they were all as busy as beavers for a short time. Every scout seemed +to feel that it would be a lasting disgrace on the name of the Silver Fox Patrol +if that fire got away into the woods. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_161'></a>161</span> They had assumed the responsibilities of assistant +fire wardens; and it would be a sorry joke indeed if, instead of putting out a +conflagration they themselves were the cause of one that swept the whole +adjacent territory.</p> + +<p>“Give it thunder!” shouted Giraffe, as he threshed wildly at +every head of fire he could see near his boundary of action.</p> + +<p>“Hit him again, boys!” shrilled Bumpus, as he continued to do his +great act of working with both hands and feet at the same time, all serving to +quench the threatening flames.</p> + +<p>But Step Hen and Davy were strangely silent, though they worked as hard as +any one. They knew that they were to blame for all the trouble; for they had +slept on their post, and with this sad result.</p> + +<p>Finally success came to the hard working scouts, and their allies, the two +guides. The fire was completely routed, bag and baggage, before it managed to +get a good foothold in the dry woods. And perspiring as though it were the good +old summer time, the boys hastened to get more clothes on them, for fear of +catching cold.</p> + +<p>The fire was resurrected, and they sat down to have a powwow.</p> + +<p>“Oh! you needn’t all look at us that way,” grunted Step +Hen. “We’re guilty, all right. Knock us all you want to, because I +just guess now <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> we +deserve it. But we never meant to go to sleep there by the fire, did we, +Davy?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should say not,” replied the other culprit, looking +quite dejected. “We kept atellin’ each other that we mustn’t +sleep right along; and then to think that after all we did drop off, and both +together.”</p> + +<p>“First thing I remember,” said Step Hen, as if resolved, after +pleading guilty, to open up, and throw himself on the mercy of the court; +“I heard a queer crackling noise, and openin’ my eyes, my stars! the +whole world seemed like it was afire. I gave Davy a punch in the side, and then +jumped for it. We thought at first we could get her under control; then I saw it +was no go, for the old fire kept extendin’ all the while. So I started to +wake you all, and Davy, he joined in. After that Eli and Jim joined us, and then +the rest of you came. And believe me, fellers, Davy and me’ll never forget +it. You did handsome by us, and we’ve been saved from disgrace that would +have sent us into an early grave, hey, Davy?”</p> + +<p>“Just so,” grunted the other, who was licking several burns he +had received on his bare hands during the fierce little engagement just ended, +though he made no complaint, seeming to think he had gotten off pretty easily, +considering the serious offense of which he had been guilty, that of sleeping on +his post, and which might have cost him his life in war times, had he been a +soldier.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span>Thad noticed +this fact, and quietly getting out some salve he carried for just such occasions +forced Davy to let him attend to his hurts, though the other insisted that they +“did not amount to much, anyway.”</p> + +<p>“How do you think it started?” Giraffe asked, and in so doing he +really voiced the thoughts of everybody.</p> + +<p>“Huh! I reckon that’s an easy one to answer,” replied Step +Hen, promptly. “Anybody c’n see at just a single look that the wind must +have picked up a live coal from the fire, and carried it into a bunch of stuff +to leeward. After that it was fanned, till it spread wider and wider. That was +going on while Davy and me snoozed away like a pair of sillies. No use talking, +boys, I’m ashamed of myself; and let me tell you, it’ll be a long +time before I ever go to sleep on duty again–not if I have to keep jabbing +a pin into my leg every minute or so, to make me jump.”</p> + +<p>“Does that explanation go, Thad?” asked Bumpus, still breathing +hard after his recent violent exertions.</p> + +<p>“Well, it looks that way, for the fire was actually to leeward of the +camp when I first saw it,” answered the patrol leader; but there must have +been something in his manner rather than his speech that caught the attention of +Giraffe.</p> + +<p>“But you ain’t <i>quite</i> satisfied, are you, Thad?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> he remarked, +pointedly. “You just keep athinkin’ that perhaps it +<i>wasn’t</i> an accident after all? Am I right, now?”</p> + +<p>“Wow! what does that kind of talk stand for?” burst out Bumpus. +“Are you hinting that it was all a part of a dark scheme to burn us out of +camp?”</p> + +<p>“Wait till Eli and Jim come back,” Thad went on. +“You’ve noticed that they’re not with us right now. Fact is, +they took the lantern, and went off about the time we were finishing our +dressing. But before they went, Jim gave me to understand what they had some +reason to suspect.”</p> + +<p>“The work of big Cale Martin and his crowd? Is that what you’re +aiming to tell us, Thad?” demanded Giraffe.</p> + +<p>“Here they come!” was all Thad said.</p> + +<p>“Oh! my, I thought you meant the game poachers!” exclaimed +Bumpus, who had made a half movement in the direction of his gun, standing +conveniently near.</p> + +<p>The two guides joined the circle around the fire. Eli held his hands out to +the blaze, as though they felt cold in that nipping night air. Jim simply caught +the inquiring eye of the scoutmaster, and immediately nodded his head in the +affirmative. And Thad knew from that they had surely made some sort of important +discovery.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Jim?” he asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_165'></a>165</span>“They’ve been around here; we found ther +tracks lots o’ places,” came the reply.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean Cale and Si and Ed?” asked the other.</p> + +<p>“On’y Si and Ed,” answered Jim. “Cale he wa’n’t thar +’tall. We’d sized up his big tracks ef he’d be’n. They was two men +in thet canoe larst night, ye seen; wall them must a be’n ther lot as fired the +brush. I guess as haow Cale, he muster gone back tew his shack by +naow.”</p> + +<p>“But what on earth could they expect to get by burning us out?” +demanded Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Fust place they never oxpected tew burn ther camp,” observed +Jim; “ef they hed, doan’t yew believe they’d agone tew +windward tew start thet blaze? Wall, they hed a game wuth tew o’ thet up +ther sleeve.”</p> + +<p>“Tell us what it was, Jim,” urged Thad, though he himself had +already jumped to a conclusion in the matter.</p> + +<p>“I guess as haow they thort we’d hev tew make off a long distance +away frum the camp tew fight the fire; an’ then they’d hev plenty +o’ time tew clean her aout; but yeou see, we didn’t get fur away +’tall, so they hed all ther work fur nawthin’. But them tracks was as +plain as anything, wa’n’t they, Eli?” Jim went on.</p> + +<p>“They be,” was the conclusive testimony of the older guide; and +every one of the scouts understood <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_166'></a>166</span> that Eli had set the seal of his approval on all +that Jim had said.</p> + +<p>It was certainly very unpleasant to realize that they were objects of desire +on the part of even a pair of unscrupulous scamps, granting that big Cale Martin +had retired from the combination. The boys seemed to get more indignant the +longer they discussed the situation.</p> + +<p>There was Bumpus, usually so mild and peaceful, fairly palpitating with a +desire to draw a bead upon those two unprincipled rascals.</p> + +<p>“We don’t stand for much nonsense from outsiders, do we +fellers?” he appealed to the other five. “Once before on this trip +some bad men thought to get fresh with the Silver Fox Patrol. You all know what +happened to Charley Barnes, the leader of that bunch of yeggs that broke into +the bank. Didn’t we make the capture though, and astonish Sheriff Green? +And ain’t we going to get ever so much money for recovering the stolen +stuff? Well, that’s what’s going to happen to those husky chaps if +they get too gay with us. They’d better go slow. If they can read, +they’ll see we’re marked ‘dangerous, handle with +care!’”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Giraffe, “we’ll just have to get busy, +and hand these sillies over to the head game warden. They’re trying to +interfere with our having the time of our lives up here in Maine; and we +don’t stand for anything like that.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span>None of them +felt like getting back to their blankets in a hurry, after all that scare; so +they just sat there around the fire, some of them with the blankets thrown over +their shoulders, and compared notes all along the line; for what the guides had +just told concerning the scheme of the unprincipled poachers filled the scouts +with both indignation and anger.</p> + +<p>And more than one of them resolved that when his time came to watch, he would +make sure to keep a loaded gun close to his hand, to be used to give the +prowlers the fright of their lives.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_18'></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHEN EVEN A COMPASS FAILED THEM.</span></h2> + +<p>“What would you do, Bumpus,” said Step Hen, after a while, +“if you couldn’t find a creek to wade in, with the fire all around +you?”</p> + +<p>“Well, d’ye know, I was just athinkin’ about that same +thing,” replied the fat scout, who had thrown a blanket around him, and +not bothered dressing; and as he sat there on a log he looked somewhat like a +lazy Indian.</p> + +<p>“I hope you came to some conclusion,” observed Giraffe; +“because, if we happen to run across a conflagration to-morrow, when +we’re out hunting, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_168'></a>168</span> it’ll be some comfort to me to know, when +I’m spinning along, that you’re snug and safe behind, and not being +devoured by the flames.”</p> + +<p>“Well, the only thing I could think of,” Bumpus went on, soberly; +“seeing that a feller can’t sprout wings right away when he needs +the same; nor hatch up an aeroplane to carry him out of the danger +zone–the only thing for me to do would be to hunt around for a +woodchuck’s hole, and push in, feet first.”</p> + +<p>There was a laugh at that remark, which seemed to surprise Bumpus, for he +looked with elevated eyebrows at each of the others in turn.</p> + +<p>“You seem to think I’m joking,” he remarked, as if offended +by the levity.</p> + +<p>“Well,” continued Giraffe, “in the first place you’d +possibly find a heap of trouble discovering a woodchuck’s hole in these +Maine woods, especially when you were in a big hurry; and then again, fancy the +kind of woodchuck that had a hole of a size to accommodate <i>you</i>, Bumpus +Hawtree!”</p> + +<p>The fat boy sighed.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I get all along the line,” he declared. +“There ain’t no place in all this world for a feller that’s +nearly as round as he is tall. I tell you I’m goin’ to find +<i>some</i> way of getting rid of all this superabundance of flesh, if I have to +walk it off by taking tremendous tramps. Some people tell me it c’n be done by +going hungry a week or two at <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_169'></a>169</span> a time; but what’s the use of living if you +can’t eat, that’s what? So I’m in a peck of trouble. +Won’t somebody tell me what to do?”</p> + +<p>Of course, with such an open invitation, they hastened to accomodate him; and +if poor Bumpus tried even a part of the numerous joking plans offered for his +consideration, he would soon have no need for either food or energy, since they +would, as he declared, be “putting his wooden overcoat on him.”</p> + +<p>Finally, however, the boys began to slip back once more into the tents, all +but Giraffe, who was to finish the night with Jim; although there was hardly +another hour now before daylight.</p> + +<p>“Just suits me, boys!” declared the tall scout, as he prepared to +sit out his turn as sentry; “you see, I can be thinking over that knotty +problem I’ve just <i>got</i> to figure out before we leave this part of +the country. And I’ve an idea that I’m getting mighty warm on that +proposition now. Would sure had it dead to rights, only for clumsy Bumpus +tumbling over me.”</p> + +<p>But no one paid much attention to what Giraffe was saying; they had by now +grown so accustomed to hearing him always promising great things by +“to-morrow” that it “went in one ear, and came out of the +other,” Davy Jones said.</p> + +<p>When the morning came, the camp became a scene of activity. While some of the +party were <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> busily +engaged cooking a good breakfast–and it needed a lot to satisfy the +healthy appetites of six growing boys, not to mention two husky +guides,–others were examining the tracks that had been found after the +fire.</p> + +<p>And it was the universal opinion that two prowlers had indeed started the +fire with the idea that the inmates of the camp, rushing out to fight its +spread, might get so far away that it would leave the way open for the thieves +to make a sweep of any valuables left unguarded in that exciting hour.</p> + +<p>Bumpus and Giraffe were making all their preparations looking to their +“sallying forth,” as the latter termed it, “like Don Quixote +and Sancho Panza of old, determined to do wonderful things.” Thad saw that +they felt as if they knew it all; and he realized that in such a case advice was +not desired, so he said nothing about what they ought to take. If they forgot +anything, they must do without, and next time think again.</p> + +<p>Presently the two waved their hands merrily to their chums, and started +forth. Bumpus looked like a well-laden, led animal as he trotted along at the +heels of the tall scout, who was to do the piloting of the expedition.</p> + +<p>“Don’t keep supper for us if we’re late,” airily +called back Bumpus. “We may get further away than we can manage in one +day, and have to camp <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_171'></a>171</span> alone, like Thad and Step Hen did. And if some of +them old wolves pay us a visit, they’ll wish they hadn’t. Giraffe is +toting his old heavy weight rifle; and here I am with my new double-barreled +gun, and fifty shells. Ketch me gettin’ caught like Step Hen did, with a +few charges for my trusty weapon. Good-bye, fellers! See you later!”</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, and good luck!” called out Davy Jones, waving his cap +three times to represent his idea as to the right kind of a send-off.</p> + +<p>The hunters got along very well for several miles, though Giraffe was forever +forging protests from Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“What d’ye take me for, Giraffe?” he would exclaim, as he +caught up with the waiting leader, and wiped the perspiration from his brow, +despite the fact that the day was pretty cold. “You know I ain’t +built on the same lines as you; and in a case of this kind, the one that c’n go +faster just has to accommodate himself to the pace of the slow one. You’re +the hare, and I’m like the poor old tortoise; but please remember that the +turtle came in winner after all in the race. Not always to the swift, you know, +does the race go. I may beat you out in the long run, with the endurance test. +If I’ve got anything at all, it’s grit.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you will,” sneered Giraffe; but after the third stop he did +moderate his speed considerably; perhaps he was beginning to get a little tired +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> himself, and did +not feel unwilling to draw in a peg or two.</p> + +<p>At noon they ate a cold lunch, for they had come upon certain tracks that +told Giraffe there had been an animal of some kind there–he wished he knew +how to tell what species it belonged to, and just how long ago the tracks had +been made.</p> + +<p>“And mark me, Bumpus,” he said impressively, “I’m +going to learn all those kind of things right away, as soon as I can take my +mind off this pesky fire puzzle. I c’n see how handy it is to be able to read +signs when you’re off huntin’. Why, when we start to follerin’ +these here tracks, after we’ve eaten our grub, how on earth do we know +whether they were made a week ago; or if some cow broke loose from a backwoods +home up here, and wandered this way. A nice pair of chumps we’d be, +wouldn’t we, if we went and shot up a pet cow, and had to pay damages? I +reckon the boys’d never got over the joke.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I was thinking myself, Giraffe,” agreed +the other, as he sat down beside the tall scout on a fallen tree, and took out +the lunch from his haversack, for he had carried it all morning, and Giraffe had +let him, too; “if we’re going in for this scouting business, we +ought to swallow the whole business. Now, as for learning things connected with +the woods, where could you find any fellers better qualified to put us straight +than we’ve <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +got in Thad and Allan? What one don’t know, the other sure does. I’m +bound to learn the game. Owning this dandy gun has given me a new idea. I used +to say ‘oh! what’s the use of bothering, when you’ve got somebody +else to do your thinking for you?’ But now I begin to see that you +can’t always depend on others. Right here is a case in point.”</p> + +<p>As their minds ran about in the same channel the two boys managed to get +along splendidly. Their little differences of the past were, for the time being +at least, quite forgotten; and they seemed drawn toward each other as two +comrades should be.</p> + +<p>But both began to complain because thus far neither of them had had occasion +to make use of their gun. If this was a game country, why was it two such +industrious hunters did not get a crack at something, whether a deer, a moose, +or even a fox–anything would have been welcome as a change from the +monotony.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Giraffe would have been surprised if told that he and the puffing +Bumpus made quite too much noise to prevent any wary and timid deer from staying +within a quarter of a mile of them. And also that often they were doing their +hunting “down the wind,” so that their scent at such times was +carried to the nostrils of the suspicious game long before the hunters came in +sight.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span>Finally they +came across some partridges, and Bumpus managed to bag a couple with two shots +from his new gun. He was greatly elated by the success attending his efforts, +even though Giraffe did mention something about the birds insisting on remaining +on the branch of that tree so long that they must either have been frozen there, +or else wanted to commit suicide.</p> + +<p>“Well, they came to the right place, then,” said Bumpus, +sturdily, as he crammed new shells in his gun; “I’m the feller to +help every partridge and deer pass over the divide, that feels like going. Bring +on your game; now we’re going some!”</p> + +<p>But as the afternoon began to wane they had a shot at nothing else, though +once Giraffe became excited, and declared he had caught a glimpse of a deer +making off in the distance.</p> + +<p>“Now, ain’t it a shame,” he went on to say, “how that +deer just knew we were coming? Seems like somebody went ahead with a trumpet, +and announced that two hunters were on the trail. After that they all hike out. +But seems to me it’s getting some cold right now, Bumpus. My fingers begin +to tingle.”</p> + +<p>“Told you to wear the old mitts Step Hen offered you, but you sneered +at the idea. I’m feeling pretty cold myself, considerin’ that +I’m on the move all the time. Say, where are we anyhow, and how far from +the camp?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span>Giraffe looked +blankly at Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Here’s the compass, and we c’n see which way is north, all +right. Then east is off that way on the right, south around yonder, and west +here. But where in the dickens is that camp, south, north or east? Honest, +Bumpus, I don’t know!”</p> + +<p>“No more do I, Giraffe,” replied the other. “And d’ye +know, this makes me think of that Injun that got lost, and was found, half +starved, by some white men; but he was too proud to admit his little +shortcoming; so when they asked him if he hadn’t kinder managed to get +twisted in his bearings, he slaps his breast with his hand, take a pose like +this, and says he: ‘Injun not lost; wigwam lost; Injun <i>here</i>!’ And +we’re like that Injun, Giraffe; oh! no, we’re not lost one little +bit, because we know we’re here. But I just can’t amble on any +longer. Suppose we stop and camp. These partridges will taste prime. Yum! yum, +can’t get at ’em too soon to please me. Get busy, and light a fire, +Giraffe; that’s your part of the contract always.”</p> + +<p>“I sure will, if you give me a few matches, Bumpus,” replied the +other, wearily dropping his heavy rifle, that began to feel like a ton of +lead.</p> + +<p>“Matches! Why, you’re the fire-maker; and I thought you’d +take care of that part of the business!” exclaimed Bumpus, looking a +little alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Why, what a silly you can be, Bumpus; don’t you know I promised +Thad never to carry a single <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_176'></a>176</span> match around with me? And now, look what a fix +we’re in, lost in the Maine woods, with night coming on, and gettin’ +colder every minute; and not a single match to start a fire with. I see our +finish all right. When they find us some days from now, we’ll be just +frozen stiff, that’s what!”</p> + +<p>The two tenderfeet looked at each other, but there was no smile on either +face now; for affairs had assumed too serious a phase to admit of merriment.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_19'></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br /><span class='h2fs'>GIRAFFE TRIES FOR THE FOURTEENTH TIME.</span></h2> + +<p>“Whatever can we do, Giraffe?” asked Bumpus, presently, after he +had sighed several times, in a most forlorn way.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” remarked the other, making out to be little concerned about +the matter, although his manner did not deceive the fat boy in the least, for he +knew Giraffe was worried greatly; “there are lots of things we can do, all +right; but you see the trouble is, Bumpus, they ain’t agoin’ to help +out much.”</p> + +<p>“We’re in a tough hole, all right,” grunted the other, +disconsolately.</p> + +<p>“Talk about Thad and Step Hen camping out;” Giraffe went on to +say, “why their troubles couldn’t <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_177'></a>177</span> be mentioned in the same breath with ours, and you +know it. They had aplenty of matches along, and could get all the blaze they +wanted.”</p> + +<p>“And say, think of having the best part of a fine young buck to +cook!” burst out Bumpus, with another groan. “As for us, we’ve +got the game all right; but however can we get down to eating partridges that +ain’t ever even been near a fire.”</p> + +<p>“Quit talkin’ of eating, Bumpus; you fairly set me wild,” +declared the tall boy, rubbing his empty stomach, as though its calls were +growing more insistent with a knowledge that they must pass unheeded now.</p> + +<p>“Then you must be hungry?” suggested Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Hungry ain’t no name for it,” Giraffe replied. +“That’s always the way, I’ve been told. When there ain’t +no water, a feller feels as if his tongue was stickin’ to the roof of his +mouth. And Bumpus, bein’ hungry ain’t the very worst of it, +either!”</p> + +<p>The fat boy sat up, and looked at his companion in misery as though +startled.</p> + +<p>“What you mean, Giraffe, by slingin’ that scare into me; +I’d like to know what’s worse than starvin’ to death in a +single night?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“Oh! shucks! don’t you worry about that,” the other went +on, with a sneer. “Not so much chance of our comin’ to such an end +in so short a time. But there is real danger around us, Bumpus.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span>“Say, do +you mean about them wolves?” exclaimed Bumpus, with a tremble in his +voice.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I do mean,” came the reply “When +they tackled our comrades, why they were bold as anything, even if the boys did +have a fire burning all the time. Think of how we’re up against it, +without a single match to start a blaze.”</p> + +<p>“Then there’s only one thing for us to do, Giraffe.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose you tell me what that is?” demanded the tall scout.</p> + +<p>“Climb a tree,” replied Bumpus, promptly.</p> + +<p>Giraffe made an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>“Of course we could do that, as a last resort, Bumpus; but the chances +are, if we did, we’d freeze before morning!” he declared. +“I’ve heard old hunters say that of all the agony they ever endured, +being kept in a tree all night was the worst. Feel in your pockets again, +Bumpus; try everywhere, and see if you can only scare up <i>one</i> single +match. If you did, we’d be mighty careful not to waste it, I tell you. +This is a case of ‘my kingdom for a match!’”</p> + +<p>So the fat scout commenced a systematic search, Every single pocket did he +feel in with trembling fingers, while his comrade watched his face anxiously, +knowing that it was likely to indicate the success or failure of the search.</p> + +<p>When he saw a sudden grin come upon that <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_179'></a>179</span> broad countenance Giraffe felt like bursting out +into a yell of joy.</p> + +<p>“Got one, haven’t you Bumpus?” he exclaimed, eagerly. +“That was a bully good idea of mine after all, you see, having you look +again. Say, won’t we be careful of that one precious match, though? And +won’t we have the fine dry stuff all ready to kindle, as soon as I strike +it. You must let me handle things, Bumpus, because, you know, I’m more +used to–what’s the matter with you? Don’t tell me it +<i>ain’t</i> a match after all? Oh! thunder!”</p> + +<p>Bumpus had slowly drawn his hand out of his pocket, and held some object up +between his forefinger and his thumb. It was about the length of a match, but +had a sharpened point, instead of a blunt head.</p> + +<p>“A–a miserable toothpick that I just dropped into my pocket when +we ate that dinner at the restaurant!” groaned the wretched Bumpus, +staring first at the offending object, and then turning a piteous face toward +his comrade.</p> + +<p>Giraffe managed to rise to the occasion. Perhaps he remembered that Thad had +really committed the other into his charge; and that it was to him the +scoutmaster would look to give a good account of the expedition. And then again, +Bumpus was so shocked by the series of calamities which had befallen them that +he looked almost ready to collapse.</p> + +<p>So Giraffe drew himself up, and assumed a confidence that he was far from +feeling.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_180'></a>180</span>“Don’t take on so, Bumpus,” he +went on to say, almost cheerily. “It may not be so very bad, after all. +Don’t let’s forget that we’re scouts; and must keep a stiff +upper lip whenever things turn out wrong. We’ll just do the best we can; +and I reckon it’ll all come out right in the end. It nearly always does, +you know.”</p> + +<p>At least his words and manner had some effect on the almost exhausted fat +boy, who brightened up more or less.</p> + +<p>“Now, that’s nice of you talking that way, Giraffe,” he +said. “You’re the right kind of a chum to have in time of trouble. +But say, ain’t it gettin’ cold though? Is that why you’re +slapping your arms around so?”</p> + +<p>“Try it, and see how quick you feel warmer, Bumpus,” replied the +other, with the patronizing air of one who is superior in knowledge, and willing +to impart all he knows; “you see, the violent action starts the heart to +beating nearly twice as fast as it does ordinarily; and that pumps the blood +harder, so it gets to the very end of your extremities. That’s what Thad +says, anyhow; and it sure enough works.”</p> + +<p>So, for a minute or two both lads kept up a strenuous exercise, though it was +too much for poor Bumpus, who presently stopped.</p> + +<p>“Feel better, don’t you?” demanded Giraffe imperiously.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span>“A whole +lot; but doin’ that has one bad point, I find,” said Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“As how?” asked his companion.</p> + +<p>“Why, it keeps on making you all the hungrier; exercise always has that +effect on me. Why, Giraffe, I feel like I could eat a whole ham right +now.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tell you to let up on that style of talk; you’re +just making me groan inside every time you speak of eatin’. We ought to be +tryin’ our level best to better our condition.”</p> + +<p>“But I don’t know anything that would help us, Giraffe; so +it’s up to you to get us out of this ugly hole. Perhaps we might use a +shell from my gun, and by taking out most of the powder, snap it off, and start +a fire going.”</p> + +<p>Strange to say, Giraffe did not seem to take to the idea, simple though it +was; and later on commended by Thad and Allan, when they heard about the +trouble. The fact was, Giraffe had suddenly remembered something.</p> + +<p>“You leave it to me, and see if I don’t pull out a trick worth +while,” he remarked mysteriously; and Bumpus saw him turn aside to get +down on his knees.</p> + +<p>For some time the fat boy sat there, apparently lost in bitter reflections. +Now and then he would give a start, and look around him hastily, after which he +would heave a great sigh, or else groan <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_182'></a>182</span> dismally. From this it might be assumed that Bumpus +was allowing himself to dwell upon many a glorious supper he had devoured in the +company of his Boy Scout chums; and just then he was enjoying things the best he +knew how, he would remember the desolation that confronted himself and +Giraffe.</p> + +<p>Then he would pick up one of the two partridges that had fallen to his new +Marlin ten bore, look critically at it, feel the meat on the plump breast; and +then shake his head, as though the idea of having to turn cannibal, and devour +the game raw did not appeal at all to him.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, when he aroused himself from this abstraction he became +conscious of a strange humming sound.</p> + +<p>“What you doin’ there, Giraffe?” he demanded, as the noise +certainly proceeded from the spot where his chum was down on his hands and +knees.</p> + +<p>“Why, you see,” replied the other, slowly, “I fetched my +little bow and fire-makin’ outfit along with me, thinkin’ I might +have a chance to try a scheme I got in my head. I’m gettin’ right +into it now, because I want to start business before it’s real plumb +dark!”</p> + +<p>But far from reassuring the dejected Bumpus, these words only made him grunt. +Had he not watched Giraffe working away for dear life with that miserable little +outfit a dozen times, and always <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_183'></a>183</span> with the same result–getting perilously near +success, but always missing it by a hair’s breadth?</p> + +<p>What chance did they have of securing the much desired fire, if all depended +on Giraffe succeeding in inducing that twirling stick to generate enough heat to +throw off a spark that would catch in the dry tinder? None at all. It was only a +hollow mockery. Some smart scouts might be able to do the little trick; but up +to now it had baffled the skill of Giraffe. Why, even Thad had lost pretty much +all hope of his ever succeeding, Bumpus suspected; and believed that the only +good thing about the tall scout’s labors was his persistence.</p> + +<p>So, shaking his head again dolefully, Bumpus allowed himself to once more +figure out a bill of fare that he would like to commence on, if he only had the +good fortune to sit down at a table in a first-class restaurant. It seemed to +give him untold satisfaction just to imagine the heaping platters that were +being brought before him in rapid succession. Why, in his vivid imagination he +could almost get the delicious odors of the various dishes that had long been +favorites with him; particularly the liver and bacon and fried onions. Oh! how +tantalizing to suddenly arouse himself with a start, to look around at the +rapidly darkening scene of those lonely pine woods, and hear, instead of the +waiter’s cheery voice, only that continual grinding sound, as the boy with +the never-give-up nature kept sawing <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_184'></a>184</span> away with his miserable little bow; and the poor +stick kept whirling back and forwards with a violent motion, in the socket that +held one end.</p> + +<p>In the estimation of Bumpus, that was coming down from the sublime to the +ridiculous. He had little confidence in all this labor of Giraffe; though +goodness knows, that if ever success would prove a boon to a couple of stranded +hunters caught in the darkness of a wintry night, with not a match in their +possession, it was then.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_20'></a>CHAPTER XX.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LONG VIGIL OF A SCOUT.</span></h2> + +<p>It really looked to Bumpus as though sooner or later they must come to +climbing a tree, no matter how cold they found it on such a perch. And as it +would presently be dark, since night was rapidly coming on, he wondered whether +he would not be showing good judgment in selecting the proper kind of a tree, +while there was enough light to see by.</p> + +<p>But before he started to look around him, he thought it worth while to +ascertain how his companion was doing; although to tell the truth Bumpus did not +have the slightest hope of any good news.</p> + +<p>“Ain’t you gettin’ anywhere yet, Giraffe?” he asked, +as he rose clumsily, and wearily to his feet; <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_185'></a>185</span> for his short legs felt very stiff after resting so +long.</p> + +<p>The other gave a grunt as he replied:</p> + +<p>“Oh! don’t bother me with such silly questions, Bumpus. You make +me think of that story of Blue Beard, where the old feller’s a +waitin’ for his last wife to come down, and get her head taken off; and +she keeps callin’ to her sister, who’s in the lookout tower: ‘Sister +Ann, Sister Ann, don’t you see anything comin’?’”</p> + +<p>“But I want to know before I–” began Bumpus, when the other +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>“You <i>will</i> know all right, if I get it. But you keep away from +me, Bumpus. Once before, you fell all over me, just when I was on the point of +grabbing a spark. If you know what’s good for you, keep clear of me now. +I’m desperately in earnest, I tell you. So be warned, Bumpus!”</p> + +<p>The fat scout realized that if he knew what was good for him he had better +give Giraffe a wide berth while he was strumming away with his “old +fiddle,” as some of the boys sneeringly described the fire outfit that +continually refused to “fire” even a little bit.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to look for a good tree,” he said.</p> + +<p>“All right, go, and climb up in it, good and hard,” Giraffe +answered pettishly; “but unless you want to get lost, don’t you dare +go out of sight of this place. Call if you lose sight of me, Bumpus, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> d’ye hear? I +don’t want Thad to say I didn’t keep an eye on you; but this is a +business that must be attended to.”</p> + +<p>All the while he was sawing away as if his very life depended upon bringing +the ordeal to a successful termination; and possibly Giraffe thought it did.</p> + +<p>So Bumpus began to look around him.</p> + +<p>He realized that the tall pines were rather out of the question so far as +affording them a chance to climb up; and that he must find some tree of a +different type, with low branches.</p> + +<p>It was not hard to find such a retreat in the shape of a thick hemlock, with +its glossy green foliage that had such a delightful scent. Bumpus knew it well, +because on numerous occasions the scouts had plucked masses of similar +“browse,” to make the ground feel easier where they slept.</p> + +<p>If they had to climb a tree as a last resort, this hemlock would offer all +the advantages they wished. Why, Bumpus could even remember how Eli had told of +an adventure that had befallen him along somewhat similar lines; and how in +order not to fall from his perch in the crotch of a tree, he tied himself there +by means of some stout cord he happened to have along.</p> + +<p>Bumpus felt all through his pockets again, and was grievously disappointed +not to discover a hank of fishing cord.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span>“Seems +like I’m just out of everything that a feller’s apt to want when he +gets in a bad pickle like this,” he grumbled. “Ketch me bein’ +in such a hole again. Why, I’m goin’ to make it the point of my life +to always carry a plenty of matches along; and a line that would be strong +enough to hold a feller, if I had to use it. How would Jim fished up his gun, +and shot them wolves, like he told us, if so be he didn’t tear his shirt +into strips, an’ made a rope, with a loop at the end, to slip over the end +of his rifle lyin’ on the ground. Next time I get the chance I’m +goin’ to fix a nice clothes line, and wrap it around me every time I go +out in the woods. Never know how handy such things might come in. Wonder how +Giraffe’s gettin’ along with his sawin’? But I don’t +dare say another word, or he’ll be so mad he might break his silly old bow +on my back.”</p> + +<p>He walked toward the spot where he could see the dim figure of the +industrious fire worshipper bending low over at his labor.</p> + +<p>Again Bumpus sank down to the ground; although he was shivering with the +cold, he did not dare swing his arms around as before, lest it make him remember +how hungry he was.</p> + +<p>Sitting there, he listened to the breeze sighing among the branches of the +pines; and to his excited mind it was actually laughing at the predicament of +the wretched chums.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span>Something else +came stealing to his hearing, something that made Bumpus suddenly sit up, hold +his breath, and strain his senses trying to locate the direction from which it +seemed to spring, and at the same time guess the nature of the sound.</p> + +<p>“I wonder now, was that a wildcat growling?” he asked +himself.</p> + +<p>The thought was so disquieting, owing to the gathering gloom, that he could +not help reaching out his hand toward the heavy Marlin that he had temporarily +laid on the ground near by.</p> + +<p>While the sound, whatever it may have been, was not repeated, so far as +Bumpus could tell, still he felt far from satisfied about it. What if the sly +old cat was at that very moment creeping up on them? For all they knew, it might +be close by just then, “inching” its way along, just as he had +watched a tame Tabby do at home, when trying to steal upon a sparrow it wanted +for its dinner.</p> + +<p>Bumpus became quite nervous over the thought. He drew back the hammers of his +double-barrel, and began to look around him. All sorts of stories that he had +heard told from time to time about these bobtailed cats of the pine woods, with +their cousin, the lynx, that had tassels on its ears, now floated before his +mind. Naturally they did not tend to ease the strain under which he was +laboring; for where he had before only imagined he could see one pair of yellow +eyes staring at him from out the gloom, he now began to see them everywhere.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span>Why, the woods +must be full of the creatures, and they were going to set upon the unfortunate +scouts, to make a meal for that cold night. And another thing gave Bumpus great +uneasiness; there was no use of trying to get away from this army of +“yellow-eyes” by climbing that hemlock; since cats were as much at +home in any kind of tree as on the ground.</p> + +<p>No wonder Bumpus shivered now, with something more than the cold air. They +were certainly up against it, good and hard; and if ever they saw Thad and the +rest of the scouts again, how happy they should be.</p> + +<p>Why didn’t Giraffe quit his fooling with that silly old bow, and take +to thinking up some scheme that was worth while? It seemed the height of +foolishness for him to be wasting all his time with that ridiculous fire-making +dodge, that never could be done anyway. Bumpus was almost tempted to stumble +forward, and pretend to fall over his kneeling figure, just to upset things, and +make Giraffe come to his proper senses. He would, only he was a little afraid +that the tall scout might be so furious that he would do something violent; for +he was getting “awful touchy” on the subject of making a fire in +that way.</p> + +<p>“If I could only make dead sure of one of them yellow eyes, I’d +like to knock the beast over,” Bumpus was muttering to himself; and then +he <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> rubbed his eyes +with his knuckles, as if trying to see better, after which he said +disconsolately: “It ain’t no use, they just keep dancin’ all +around me. P’raps there ain’t any cats there at all. P’raps I’m just +imaginin’ things, like my dad used to say I did, when they put me to bed +in the dark, tellin’ me the angels was all around me, an’ +wouldn’t let anything hurt me; but pretty soon, when the skeeters got +busy, I let out a whoop, and told ’em the angels was bitin’ me +something awful. P’raps if I shut my eyes I’d feel better.”</p> + +<p>But when he started to try this, Bumpus found that it would not work. The +agony of not being able to see created new fancies in his mind, much more +dreadful than those that had gone before.</p> + +<p>And so the anxious scout crouched there, not far from his industrious chum, +gripping his gun tightly in both hands, and breathing stertorously as he twisted +his fat neck around from side to side. He was trying to figure out a line of +action to be followed in case the worst came to pass; and be it said to his +credit that Bumpus was resolved to die game, as became a true scout.</p> + +<p>At any rate, Giraffe could not keep up that silly business much longer. +Either he would just have to give over through complete exhaustion; or else his +“bally bow,” as Bumpus liked to call it, would break, as it had a +faculty for doing when the cord became weakened from constant friction.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span>Bumpus only +wished that time would hurry along, for he wanted Giraffe to forget about his +fad, and turn his attention to a more sensible way of getting fire. Now, there +must be a way of snapping an emptied shell into a little pile of tinder, and +catching the spark in some manner.</p> + +<p>He tried to figure out how it could be done; but Bumpus never was very bright +with regard to details, for they confused him; so that he was soon floundering +about like a fish out of water; or a boy who did not know how to swim, when he +gets beyond his depth.</p> + +<p>Why, it was real dark, and he could just barely make out the crouching figure +of Giraffe; but that everlasting humming sound still kept up, until Bumpus +thought it would set him crazy.</p> + +<p>Now Bumpus started on a new tack. He tried to imagine the delight of his +companion if only he could suddenly remember having thrust a little box of +safety matches into his haversack before starting out; but he knew it was +useless to look, for he had certainly done nothing of the sort.</p> + +<p>Then, all of a sudden, Bumpus was given an electric shock, when Giraffe let +out a shrill whoop; for with his mind so filled by visions of armies of wildcats +all ready to pounce upon them by and by, Bumpus was in a condition to be +startled.</p> + +<p>He scrambled to his knees, and half raised his gun to his shoulder, under the +full belief that the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_192'></a>192</span> crisis so long dreaded was at last upon them, and +they would have to fight desperately for their very lives.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_21'></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LITTLE FIRE BOW DOES ITS WORK AT LAST.</span></h2> + +<p>“Oh! what is it, Giraffe?” exclaimed Bumpus, in a quavering +voice.</p> + +<p>“I <i>told</i> you I c’d do it! On’y gimme time, and I’ll +figger the old thing out, I said; <i>and I have</i>!” cried the exultant +Giraffe.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s burnin’!” gasped the other, staring at the +tiny flame that was playing hide-and-seek in the midst of the dry tinder that +had so long awaited its coming.</p> + +<p>“Sure it is; anybody with one eye could see that!” Giraffe sent +back, about as happy a fellow as the sun ever shone on, because his long +endurance test had in the end met with such grand success. “Hey! +what’s the matter, Bumpus? Get a move on, and collect some stuff to add to +this, before the thing goes out on me. Lively, boy, lively with you, while I +shield it with my hands!”</p> + +<p>He hugged the little blaze with his body and hands while Bumpus, dropping the +now useless <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> gun, +eagerly gathered a lot of dry pine needles, and made a pile of them close to his +chum.</p> + +<p>“Oh! glory! Bully for you, Giraffe! You’re the scout who can +stick to a thing like a plaster. Don’t it look good, though?” cried +the shorter lad; but the fire-maker would not let him loiter.</p> + +<p>Presently there was no longer any dread of the fire burning out; and both of +the scouts could get busy collecting fuel. Dead branches were in demand, and +fortunately enough, there happened to be plenty of the same close by, so that +without much effort they were able to get quite a heap near the fire.</p> + +<p>“Now let’s sit down, and warm up a bit,” suggested Bumpus; +although truth to tell, he was at that moment perspiring from his recent +exertions.</p> + +<p>“And if you want to talk about eating <i>now</i>, Bumpus, you’re +quite welcome,” the taller scout went on to say, with a grin; +“because there’s something to it. We’ve got the birds, and +we’ve got the fire to cook ’em by. Who said I couldn’t start a +fire by sawin’ at my fiddle till I burst a blood vessel? Wasn’t it +Davy Jones? Well, you c’n just tell him for me, next time you see him, Bumpus, +that he was all wrong. Why, it’s just as easy as fallin’ off a log; +er, that is, after you know how.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we start in plucking the feathers off these birds, +Giraffe?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span>“Might as +well, if we mean to eat ’em; and speakin’ for my own feelings I want +to say that a partridge’d go mighty well about now. Yum! yum! get busy +with one, and I’ll tackle the other.”</p> + +<p>Both boys knew how to do the job of plucking the birds, and soon had the +feathers flying.</p> + +<p>Both of them were feeling a thousand per cent better than before; and Bumpus +even hummed as he worked. Giraffe’s thoughts very naturally kept along the +line of his recent triumph. He had labored so long, and against such a handicap, +that he might well be excused for feeling proud of his success.</p> + +<p>“Good little bow!” he muttered; “you did the business, all +right, didn’t you? The trouble was, I didn’t just know how to handle +you; but I’ve got it down pat now, and I’ll never forget again, +never. Wonder what the boys’ll say when they hear about it? And Bumpus, it +came in right pat, didn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“I should say it did, Giraffe,” replied the other, +enthusiastically; “when we didn’t have a single match, night here, +cold as the dickens, wolves howling pretty soon, and no way of cooking these +plump partridges. Why, if you’d gone and arranged all the particulars, I +don’t believe you could a had it hit us at a better time. It’s just +great, that’s what.”</p> + +<p>“And the cream is on you, Bumpus.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span>“Shucks! +who cares for that? Why, a little while ago I’d given all the spending +money I expect to get as my share of the rewards for returnin’ those lost +bank papers, for just one little penny box of matches. Why, I’ll be only +too happy to treat the whole crowd six times over, after this. There, my +bird’s done, Giraffe.”</p> + +<p>“Same here; and now how are we agoin’ to cook ’em?” +the other scout remarked.</p> + +<p>Bumpus looked at him rather blankly.</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” he observed, “we ain’t got a sign +of a frying-pan, have we?”</p> + +<p>“But there must be a way of cooking ’em by keeping the birds +close to the fire. All old hunters cook their game that way. And don’t you +remember, Bumpus, Thad and Step Hen took sticks, and stuck ’em in the +ground, with chunks of venison on the other end. Step said it was just prime. +Well, what’s to hinder our trying that same old game?”</p> + +<p>“But the partridges are too big and heavy; they won’t ever cook +through?” objected the fat scout, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“All right; I guess now we can manage to slice the same in half,” +Giraffe continued, hopefully. “I’ve done the job for my folks at +home, more’n a few times, when they wanted to broil a Spring chicken for +some sick person. We’ll have our game broiled, Bumpus, see?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span>“Sure we +will; and while you’re about it, with that big-bladed knife of yours, +Giraffe, give mine a rip down the back, so I c’n split it open. It’s easy +to see you know how. Thad and Allan ain’t got so very much on you, when it +comes to doin’ things.”</p> + +<p>By this artful flattery did Bumpus manage to get his bird divided. He spread +it out carefully, and then started a hunt for the long sticks, by means of which +the bird was to be held in a proper position before the hot fire.</p> + +<p>After considerable waste of energy, they finally managed, after a fashion, to +get the birds placed so that they received a fair portion of the heat that came +out of the fire. Several times the sticks either broke, or else failed to hold +properly, so that the game fell into the ashes, to be hastily rescued, and wiped +off before again being put over the fire.</p> + +<p>The minutes dragged, and to the hungry scouts it seemed as though the two +partridges had tantalized them long enough. They gave forth an odor that was +positively appetizing; and finally Giraffe just could not stand it another +minute.</p> + +<p>“Say, they must be done by now,” he remarked, eying his bird +ravenously.</p> + +<p>“They look pretty brown,” remarked Bumpus, “though that may +come from the scorching they got each time they dipped in the red-hot ashes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> But I feel just +like you do, Giraffe; and if you say the word, it’s a go.”</p> + +<p>At that the tall scout started to savagely tear at one-half of his bird; and +not to be outdone the other boy copied his example. Perhaps at home they would +have complained long and loudly because the cook had sent food to the table only +half done; but then circumstances alter cases; and sitting there by their lonely +camp-fire under the pines and hemlocks, those two boys munched away, and nodded +toward each other in a suggestive way, that told how much they were enjoying +it.</p> + +<p>What if the meat was far from being well cooked, did not those who knew say +that game should never be browned; and as for the gray ash that still clung to +the outside of each bird, why, the wood was sweet and clean that it came from; +and every fellow has to eat his peck of dirt sometime or other, they +understood.</p> + +<p>And so they kept persistently at it until nothing but the bones remained of +the two partridges; and each boy was sighing because, like Alexander of old, +there were no more worlds to conquer.</p> + +<p>“That was just prime!” declared Bumpus; “and to think that +I shot the dandy birds too; so you owe your fine supper to me, +Giraffe.”</p> + +<p>“I do, eh?” chuckled the other. “How about the fire, tell +me that? How’d them same birds tasted raw? You wouldn’t have liked +’em as <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> much, +I reckon. So, you see, after all, Bumpus, honors are about even; you supplied +the game, and I fixed up the fire. Better call it a drawn battle, and end +it.”</p> + +<p>“All right, just as you say; but the only trouble I can see is they +wasn’t near big enough to fit in with my capacity. There’s a vacuum +still under my belt; even if I don’t feel faint any longer.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I guess we can hold out now till morning,” said Giraffe. +“Then we’ll take our bearings again, and make another start for the +camp. And p’raps some of them might just be out looking for us right now; and +seeing this bright fire, they’ll head this way. So we’ll act like +we’re havin’ the time of our lives; and don’t you ever go and +let on that we felt scared even a little bit, hear now?”</p> + +<p>Bumpus, having a little pride of his own, readily promised. Besides, now that +they had partaken of a very good supper, and had that bright and cheery fire to +keep them company during the remainder of the cold night, things looked vastly +different; so that it was hard to believe he had ever shivered and groaned as he +contemplated their forlorn condition.</p> + +<p>They sat there, talking about various things, for quite a little time. Once +or twice Bumpus fancied he heard some sort of sound in the woods that caused him +to send a quick glance toward where <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_199'></a>199</span> he had laid his “trusty Marlin” down; +but then, as Giraffe did not seem to pay any attention to the noise, he soon +forgot it.</p> + +<p>But there came a time when both of them plainly heard a cough.</p> + +<p>Giraffe grinned, and nodded his head.</p> + +<p>“The boys are comin’ all right,” he said, as if pleased; +“just like I said they’d be apt to do. Now, just sit where you are, +Bumpus, and make out to be as happy as a king. We’ll make ’em +believe we’re quite at home at this sort of thing; and the only thing +we’re sorry for is that we can’t offer ’em a nice hot bird +apiece. Look pleasant, now.”</p> + +<p>Presently they caught what sounded like the low murmur of voices, and they +seemed to be approaching too. It did not occur to the two scouts that the +parties were coming from a direction opposite to the camp where their chums had +been left; partly because they had not the remotest idea where that same camp +lay.</p> + +<p>Now they could hear the swishing of bushes, as though the newcomers were not +very particular about how they walked. Then it must be Step Hen or Davy Jones +who made all the noise, because they were greenhorns, and did not know how to +walk noiselessly.</p> + +<p>“I c’n see ’em comin’,” remarked Bumpus, who happened +to be sitting in a position that allowed of his using his eyes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span>“Remember, +now, what I told you; just be feelin’ as fine as silk, as if this camp +business was an old story with us,” and to further the deception Giraffe +started to stretch his arms, and yawn at a tremendous rate.</p> + +<p>Bumpus did not answer; and thinking this a little strange the tall scout +turned his eyes that way. He discovered that Bumpus was staring as though his +eyes would almost pop out of his head. That, of course, made Giraffe twist his +long neck half way around, so that he might share in what had aroused his +companion to such a state of excitement.</p> + +<p>And Giraffe also experienced a decided thrill when he saw two men come half +staggering into camp, who from their looks he knew must be Si Kedge and Ed +Harkness, the rough and lawless game poachers and bullies of the pine woods.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_22'></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>“BE PREPARED!”</span></h2> + +<p>The two poachers were undoubtedly partly under the influence of liquor; for +the boys could see that they did not walk as straight as they should have done. +Besides, their eyes looked red, and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_201'></a>201</span> there were other evidences of drunkeness, familiar +to Giraffe and Bumpus, who had often seen drunken men.</p> + +<p>This made the situation the more critical, because in this condition men +often do things that they might hesitate to attempt if not under the influence +of strong drink.</p> + +<p>They halted not far from the fire, and looked at the two scouts sitting +there.</p> + +<p>“On’y two boys arter all, Si,” remarked the one they supposed was +Ed Harkness, as he swayed slightly to and fro, while coming to a halt. “I +guessed as haow yuh must a be’n mistook w’en yuh said it mout be ther hull +outfit. Les sit down, Si, an’ make us tuh hum.”</p> + +<p>Fitting the action with his words he dropped on the ground, and held out a +pair of red and trembling hands to the fire. His companion still stood there, +glaring at the two boys, just as though they had done something to offend him. +Plainly Si Kedge was something of a pine wood’s bully; and he thought it +good policy to cow Giraffe and Bumpus right at the start, so as to take the +spirit out of them.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Bumpus looked so white and frightened that it encouraged the man to +follow up his half-conceived idea.</p> + +<p>“Say, whaz yuh doin’ here? Where’s the rest o’ the +bunch? Know me? I’m Si Kedge, an’ I’m <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> a bad man to rile; so don’t get +gay now. Got anythin’ to eat ’raound here?”</p> + +<p>Bumpus cast a quick, apprehensive glance toward his companion. His one +prevailing idea just then was that they ought to get up, and skip out as lively +as they could, leaving their nice fire for the two rough woodmen to enjoy. As +far as he could see, neither of the men seemed to possess any firearm; at least +they certainly did not carry guns, as might be expected.</p> + +<p>But Bumpus saw something in the face of his chum that told him Giraffe was +not thinking of giving up that hard earned fire. He had worked too long to get +it, to desert the comfortable camp, just because two half drunken fellows +chanced to wander that way.</p> + +<p>Bumpus saw more than that. Giraffe had his big old rifle across his knees. He +must have reached out his hand and secured it, while his chum was still staring +at the unpleasant couple who had invaded their camp.</p> + +<p>That gave the fat boy an idea, following which he too reached for his gun, +though not making any show of it, for fear of arousing a storm.</p> + +<p>“We’ve been hunting, and got twisted in our bearings; so we +thought it best to go into camp,” Giraffe started to say, trying to keep +his voice from wabbling, as it seemed to be trying its best to do. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> “And as for grub, +we haven’t got a single bite along with us.”</p> + +<p>“They lies, Si!” burst out the second man; “’case I kin see +a heap o’ bones clost ter whar they is settin’, like they’d +be’n eatin’ some game.”</p> + +<p>“We have,” replied Giraffe; “we knocked over a couple of +birds, but they wasn’t half enough to satisfy us.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! got any licker?” went on Si, still eying the boys steadily +with that half threat in his bloodshot eyes, that Giraffe knew meant trouble, +sooner or later, so that he almost instinctively allowed his thumb to draw back +the hammer of his big bore rifle.</p> + +<p>“We never use it; and on that account don’t carry a drop along +with us,” he answered.</p> + +<p>“I guess naow, ther foolin’ yuh, Si!” broke in the fellow +who was sitting down. “And looky thar, d’ye see they gut guns? +Them’s w’at we needs ther wust kind, sense Cale Martin took ours away, +w’en he sez as haow we’re that drunk we’d git inter trouble with +’em. Bring me thet double-barrel. Allers did say as haow I’d like +tuh own a scattergun, tuh use on pa’tridge. D’ye hear me?”</p> + +<p>Bumpus looked to Giraffe. He was unable to grapple with the situation +himself; but perfectly willing to do whatever his chum directed. Had the tall +boy told him to step over, and present the poacher with his nice new Marlin +ten-bore, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> Bumpus +no doubt would have done it without a murmur.</p> + +<p>“Get the hammers raised,” was what Giraffe said instead.</p> + +<p>“Gee! are you agoin’ to fight?” muttered Bumpus; but +obeying instantly.</p> + +<p>The poacher who had made the demand made a move as though half tempted to get +up and enforce his words; but seemed to think better of it.</p> + +<p>“I’ll step over, an’ tackle yuh arter I got my hands warm, +see ef I don’t,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>Bumpus breathed again, for he had thought that the crisis was upon them. He +saw that Si Kedge had also stepped closer to the fire, and thrust out his hands, +as if not averse to taking some of the cold tingle out of them by the +application of warmth.</p> + +<p>“What we goin’ to do, Giraffe?” whispered Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“Stand up for our rights, that’s what,” replied the other, +in about the same style of voice. “They ain’t going to chase me out +of this camp, not if I know it.”</p> + +<p>“But they’re ugly, and mean to give us trouble,” urged the +alarmed Bumpus.</p> + +<p>“You mean they think they are,” returned Giraffe, grinding his +teeth, as if by that method he could infuse his soul with more of the fighting +spirit that was required to grapple with the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_205'></a>205</span> situation. “When they start to making a rough +house here somebody’s liable to get hurt. And as we hold guns, and they +ain’t got any, you c’n easy see who it’s apt to be.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Giraffe; tell me what to do, that’s all; because you +see, I’m that rattled I just can’t think for myself.”</p> + +<p>“Keep as cool as you can, Bumpus, and it’ll all come out right. +If we can’t handle a pair of fellers as unsteady as they are, it’ll +be some queer.”</p> + +<p>“But if they keep right along comin’ at us?” queried the +other, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Then shoot!” replied Giraffe, savagely, between his teeth.</p> + +<p>“Right at ’em?” gasped the shorter scout.</p> + +<p>“Oh! aim at their legs, like I’ll do,” returned Giraffe. +“We’d hadn’t ought to do anything worse than that. But mark +me, Bumpus, when they see we mean business, they won’t dare come +far.”</p> + +<p>Giraffe was still very white, but his eyes shone with resolution. He had made +up his mind just how he ought to act under the circumstances; and being +exceedingly stubborn by nature it would require something little short of an +earthquake to make him change now.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the two men had been muttering between themselves on the other side +of the fire. What they were talking about the boys did not <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> know; but doubtless it must have had +something to do with the nice guns which they expected were so soon to fall into +their possession; for neither of them could imagine that these two city boys, as +they deemed the scouts, would dare defy them, once they ordered them to lay the +guns on the ground.</p> + +<p>“Be ready!” whispered Giraffe again, and thus unconsciously +repeating the motto of the organization to which both of them belonged, for +preparedness is the cardinal virtue in every Boy Scout.</p> + +<p>The two poachers had evidently managed to map out some scheme by means of +which they expected to overawe the lads, and secure everything they chanced to +have about them, which was worth taking.</p> + +<p>Bumpus could see that they were about to get upon their feet, and this must +mean they intended to force conclusions. He shot one last look at Giraffe, to +imbibe some artificial courage, if such a thing were possible; and he saw that +while the thin face of his chum looked ghastly white, it at the same time showed +a pair of set jaws, and back of it gleaming eyes that told of a resolute spirit. +And somehow the very realization that Giraffe could be brave gave the fat scout +the consolation he sought.</p> + +<p>He had followed out the injunction of the other, and both hammers of his +Marlin ducking gun were <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_207'></a>207</span> drawn back, while his forefinger toyed with the +trigger of the right barrel.</p> + +<p>Yes, the two men were about to start trouble, for already had the one they +knew to be Si Kedge gained his feet, as he seemed a little more spry than his +partner in wickedness.</p> + +<p>Bumpus saw that he was starting to go around the fire in such a way that it +must be Giraffe who would have to look after him; while the second scoundrel, Ed +Harkness, fell to his lot.</p> + +<p>He elevated his gun a little, so that he could throw it to his shoulder in +the wink of an eyelid, if necessary. Then he waited for the turn of events.</p> + +<p>“We’re acomin’ ’raound tuh see yuh, kids,” called out +Si Kedge, in a thick and meant to be threatening tone; “an’ see tuh +it yuh don’t give us any trouble; er it’ll be the wuss fur ye. Stand +up, an’ make us a present o’ them fine traps yer holdin’. It +ain’t right thet boys shud be kerryin’ guns, w’ile men goes without. +Go on, Ed; what yuh standin’ back fur?”</p> + +<p>Ed knew. He did not like the way that double-barreled gun was aiming in his +direction. The two boys had hastily climbed to their feet at the proper instant; +and both of them were now standing there, presenting their guns, but not in the +fashion Si had intended when he gave the order, for they were “muzzle to +the front.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span>“Just +stand where you are, both of you!” said Giraffe, in a low but threatening +voice. “I’ve got a bead on you, Si Kedge, and if you want to see how +well I can shoot this big-bore gun, just take two more steps forward. Bumpus, +got that other coward covered, have you?”</p> + +<p>“You’re right, I have!” sang out the fat scout, trying to +appear as bold as if the whole thing might be only a little comedy that he was +enjoying immensely; when, to tell the honest truth, Bumpus could feel his fat +knees striking each other just like he had seen the telegraph operator pound the +key of his instrument; but if his gun wabbled, the fact was hardly apparent to +the man he was trying to keep covered.</p> + +<p>It was certainly a fine tableau, that would often come back to the memories +of those two lads in future days. But while they seemed to be holding the fort, +so to speak, Giraffe knew only too well that they were up against two desperate +characters, and that if they slipped just one cog, it might have a different +ending than the one they wished to see.</p> + +<p>What to do with the two men, now that they had thrown down the gage of +battle, and virtually made them prisoner, was a puzzle that Giraffe had to +solve. But his success thus far gave him courage to go at the new difficulty +with resolution. And Bumpus, content to bask in the glory of his <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> chum’s more +aggressive nature, gave promise of proving himself a good scout, obedient to the +one in authority over him and capable of doing his little part in the game.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_23'></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>CAPTURING THE GAME POACHERS.</span></h2> + +<p>“Don’t yuh shoot, younker!” called out Si Kedge, when, on +advancing just one more step, he found himself confronted by the rifle held by +Giraffe, who had his cheek laid down on the stock, as though he were taking +aim.</p> + +<p>“I won’t, if you do just what I tell you!” said the scout, +growing bolder when he saw that a sudden spasm of alarm had taken possession of +the poacher, as he realized the conditions confronting him.</p> + +<p>“Wat yuh want us tuh do?” asked Si.</p> + +<p>“Throw up your hands, in the first place, and be quick about it!” +commanded the scout, thinking that was the proper thing to demand; because, in +every account he had ever read of such events, the one who held the gun always +gave that order.</p> + +<p>Si Kedge did as he was told, but only after a vast amount of hard +language.</p> + +<p>“You too!” Bumpus managed to call out; for <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> since his comrade had shown the way, he +did not find it quite so difficult to follow.</p> + +<p>“Ther up, doan’t yuh see, ez far ez I kin git ’em!” +complained Ed Harkness; and then seeing the fat boy elevating his gun, he made +out to duck, under the evident impression that Bumpus might be tempted to pull +trigger, and fill him full of bird shot. “Keep thet gun daown thar, kid; I +don’t like ther way yuh handles ther same. Yuh got us fur keeps; an’ +we ain’t squealin’, is we, Si?”</p> + +<p>Giraffe thought fast. If they allowed these two men to go free, the chances +were they would hang around, and try to give them all the trouble they could +during the night that was now well upon them. And the idea of letting them +remain there by the fire without being put under bonds, never occurred to the +boy. He knew neither of them could be trusted further than they could be seen; +that was stamped on their ugly faces, and the shifty look in their evil +eyes.</p> + +<p>There was really only one thing to do, and that was to make them prisoners. +Once that had been accomplished, at least they might pass a peaceful night; and +then in the morning, if the humor seized them, it would be just as easy to let +the men go as to keep them.</p> + +<p>But how on earth were they to tie the two men up? It looked like a hard +proposition, and Giraffe had to cudgel his brains with considerable gusto before +he was able to produce any result. But it <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_211'></a>211</span> dawned upon him finally that if the men were +compelled to lie flat on their faces on the ground, and place their hands behind +them, Bumpus might straddle each in turn, and fasten their wrists, while he, +Giraffe threatened with the guns.</p> + +<p>“Listen to me,” he said, with the air of a commander giving his +final orders on the field of battle; “Both of you have got to lie down on +your faces, and put your hands behind your back; do you understand?”</p> + +<p>“Be yuh agoin’ tuh tie us up?” asked Si, his face as black +as a thundercloud.</p> + +<p>“Just that, and nothing more,” replied Giraffe, resolutely. +“You think that because we’re only two boys that we’ll stand +for a heap; but that’s where you’re away off your base. Get busy +now, and down on your marrowbones, both of you!”</p> + +<p>“Air yuh agoin’ tuh let us go free in the mornin’?” +asked Ed Harkness, already on his knees, for he wished to placate that uneasy +fat boy, who kept raising his gun again and again, as though anxious to press +the trigger just a little harder all the time.</p> + +<p>“If you don’t give us any trouble, we might; because so far as +we’re concerned we’re not up here to help the game warden arrest you +fellows. Lie down now, or else we’ll have to help you!”</p> + +<p>This was a ferocious threat for Giraffe to make; and doubtless he would have +been exceedingly loth to put it into operation; but then the case was a <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> desperate one, and +required a remedy of like nature.</p> + +<p>Even such a fire-eater as Si Kedge “threw up the sponge,” as +Bumpus put it, and knuckled down to the half grown tyrant. Perhaps he realized +that in his half boozy condition he was in no shape to grapple with the dilemma +by which he and his companion found themselves faced. What with their hands tied +by the fact of their guns having been taken by Cale Martin, they were perfectly +helpless. And two firearms held in the hands of a couple of determined boys can +be just as dangerous as if grown men had them.</p> + +<p>So, still uttering more or less protestations, coupled with hard language, +both Si and Ed sprawled out flat on their faces.</p> + +<p>“Now, Bumpus, it’s going to be your job to secure them both, +while I cover you with the guns; and if either of them tries any funny business, +he’ll wish he hadn’t right speedy, believe me,” said Giraffe, +loud enough for the others to hear, for he wished them to wholly understand the +situation.</p> + +<p>Bumpus placed his shotgun close to the feet of his chum. Then he looked +blankly around.</p> + +<p>“That’s easy to say, Giraffe,” he remarked in a stage +whisper; “I’m willing enough to do it, tell you that; but where in +Sam Hill am I agoin’ to get the rope? We didn’t bring any with us, +you know; though I’m resolved never to go off again without a whole +clothes line along. How c’n a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_213'></a>213</span> feller tie ’em up when he ain’t got +even a top string with him?”</p> + +<p>If Bumpus thought to get his chum in a corner with that question, he figured +too soon, for the other had discounted it already.</p> + +<p>“Here, take this,” he said, throwing his red bandana handkerchief +on the ground; “and I reckon you’ve got the mate to it in your +pocket. Use one to wrap around the wrists of each feller. And see to it that you +tie it in half a dozen of the hardest knots you know how. Understand, +Bumpus?”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, and I c’n do it too. You watch me.”</p> + +<p>As the fat boy spoke he picked up the large bandana handkerchief, and stepped +gingerly forward, Giraffe accompanying him part way. Evidently Bumpus had +recovered somewhat from his fright. Possibly this new boldness sprang from +confidence in the ability of his comrade to handle the situation.</p> + +<p>At any rate, he threw a leg over the prostrate figure of Ed Harkness, and +seizing both his wrists, jerked them together. The man might have raised some +protest, or even attempted to show resistance; but once that plump form of +Bumpus came down on him he had the breath partly pressed out of his body, and +must have experienced a sudden weakness.</p> + +<p>At any rate, he lay still, while the other wound <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> the crude rope around his wrists, and +knotted it good and hard.</p> + +<p>“Fine!” declared Giraffe, who had been watching the operation +with one eye, all the while he kept the other on Si Kedge; “now take your +own handkerchief, and use it on Si. And put in three extra knots, Bumpus, +because he’s that much more a slick one than the other feller. Lie still, +now, I warn you, Si; we ain’t going to stand for any fooling, I tell +you!”</p> + +<p>Si also relapsed into silence as soon as Bumpus dropped on his back; he was +pinned to the ground almost as effectually as though secured there by ropes.</p> + +<p>Bumpus finished his part of the job, and arose, perspiring, but +triumphant.</p> + +<p>“She’s done, Giraffe, and as good as I know how,” he said, +exultantly. “I just warrant you that neither of them game stealers is +agoin’ to break loose in a hurry now. What’s next on the little +programme? This is sure turning out to be a warm night for us, Giraffe. Tell me, +won’t the fellers stare when we walk into camp drivin’ these jail +birds before us? Oh! my! Oh! me, I can see Davy and Step Hen give us the royal +salute. And I’ll whistle ‘Lo, the Conquering Heroes Come,’ see if I +don’t.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we ain’t in camp yet awhile,” retorted Giraffe; +“and give me a hand to assist old Si here over to that there tree. We c’n +lean him up against the trunk, so he can keep warm, and look around <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> him. Then Ed, he might +have a place against this other pine, here. But Bumpus, there ain’t going +to be any sleep much for us this blessed night, with two toughs to watch like +these fellers.”</p> + +<p>Bumpus sighed, for he was very tired after a whole day’s tramp.</p> + +<p>“I suppose not, Giraffe;” he remarked, but stiffening up to add; +“you’ll find me ready to back you up in anything you start +goin’. I’m game for it, I reckon; and if you see me agoin’ to +sleep in spite of everything, why, Giraffe, just give me a kick or a punch in +the ribs. I want to do my duty every time.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Bumpus; I ain’t goin’ to make fun of you any +more, because of your size. Even fat fellers c’n come in mighty handy sometimes, +especially when you’ve got a game poacher to hold down.”</p> + +<p>They managed to get the two men against the trees, and as they still had +their legs free this was not so difficult a task. Then the watch began. Giraffe +kept his gun close to his hand. He spoke to his chum occasionally, more to see +if Bumpus were awake, than because of any desire to engage in conversation.</p> + +<p>The two men mumbled for a while, but finally their heads dropped on their +chest and they seemed to slumber, though Giraffe was suspicious, and would never +slacken in his watchfulness on this account.</p> + +<p>He had made up his mind, however, that if <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_216'></a>216</span> Bumpus did fall asleep, he would not arouse him, +when there was no necessity for more than one guard at a time.</p> + +<p>An hour passed thus. Then Bumpus, who was just losing himself, in spite of +his determination to remain on duty, felt his chum give him a shake.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’m awake, all right, Giraffe; no need to scare me that +way!” grumbled the fat scout, stirring himself, and looking around.</p> + +<p>“They’re coming, just like I said,” said Giraffe. +“Looky over yonder, and you c’n see the lantern; and I reckon now, +it’s old Eli that’s followerin’ our trail. But we don’t +want to be fooled a second time, Bumpus, so get your gun ready for +boarders.”</p> + +<p>“Boarders!” muttered the fat boy; “now I like that, when +they ain’t a blessed bit of grub in the pantry. Better skip this +boarding-house, and go on further. But Giraffe, that sure <i>is</i> Eli; I c’n +tell the way he swings along from here. Whoever is it with him, d’ye +think; why, see, there are two of ’em, and men, not boys of the Silver Fox +Patrol?”</p> + +<p>Three minutes later, and Old Eli, grinning his pleasure, stalked into camp, +to say:</p> + +<p>“Huh! glad tuh find ye so well taken keer of, boys. An’ so yeou +hed a wisit frum Si an’ Ed, did yeou; an’ wall, what d’ye +think o’ thet, gents, here’s yer birds all triced up, ready tew be +transported to jail. This here is the game warden o’ this deestrict, boys, +lookin’ for them critters. Say as heow he don’t calkerlate ter +bother with Old Cale yet awhile; but hearin’ as he’s be’n an’ +contracted with a fox <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_217'></a>217</span> breedin’ company, they’ll wait +an’ see heow it pans eout. Kinder guess they will. An’ we’ll +jest stay by this fire till mornin’, when we kin start back tew camp. Thad +knowed as heow yeou’d come out all right, Giraffe; but he thort along +abeout noon I’d better take up the trail; and I met these gents a few +miles back, wonderin’ if ther birds had made this here fire, so we stalked +it!”</p> + +<p>And Bumpus felt like venting his delight in one long loud yell of +thanksgiving as he realized that their troubles were now at an end.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_24'></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>TO BEARD THE TIGER IN HIS DEN.</span></h2> + +<p>“Sure you can go, Jim; and what’s more, I’d like to take +the tramp with you, if it’s agreeable to you!”</p> + +<p>Jim Hasty, the guide, swallowed something in his throat, when he heard Thad +say these words, for he was plainly much affected.</p> + +<p>He had come in a hesitating way to ask as a favor that, since the scouts were +now settled for a few days in camp on the lake shore, could he be spared to make +the run through the pine forests to where the well remembered cabin of Old Cale +Martin stood, from which he had carried Little <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_218'></a>218</span> Lina away, after her father had positively refused +to even hear of their marriage.</p> + +<p>“It’s mighty kind o’ yeou tew say thet, an’ I feel +it, I swan,” he finally stammered, as he managed to thrust out his brown +hand, and take that of the boy which had been so impulsively offered to him.</p> + +<p>“Why,” Thad went on, heartily, “you know, Jim, I’m as +much interested in this matter between you and Cale Martin as can be. And +I’m just bound to see you through. I heard what one of those men told you +about Cale going off to his cabin, so’s to try and keep away from +temptation, while Jim Hasty was around the neighborhood. He’d sworn to pin +your ears to a tree, and feared that he’d up and do it, if he had the +chance. Something better inside Old Cale was a tuggin’ away at his hard +old heart; and Jim; you and I know what it is.”</p> + +<p>The short guide nodded his head violently, while his eyes glittered.</p> + +<p>“Pore ole dad, he wants tew see his leetle gal ther wust kind, +an’ it’s jest his consarned pride as keeps him frum knucklin’ +right down, an’ ownin’ he war wrong. Thet’s what I sez in ther +fust place. I jest knowed he dassen’t raise a hand tew hurt me, as he +threatened, ’cause Lina keers fur even ther leetle finger o’ my hand; +an’ she war ther apple o’ his eye. An’ shore I feels as +it’s agoin’ tew be awl right, ef so be I kin on’y git a few words +wid ther ole man, face tew face.”</p> + +<p>“And you shall, if I can help you out, Jim,” <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> declared the boy, with emphasis. +“Perhaps some day, I might even see the Little Lina that all this fuss has +been about. I’d sure like to, the worst kind. But about when do you think +we’d better hike out across country for the Martin cabin, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“I’d like tew start inside o’ an hour,” returned the +other, quickly, as his eye instinctively turned upwards toward the heavens, with +the idea of gauging what the weather might have in store for the State of Maine +during the next twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>“I see, you’re afraid of a heavy snowfall, that would make the +going and coming a hard job; is that it, Jim?”</p> + +<p>“It shore is, Thad,” replied the guide, promptly. “Yew see, +it’s long past due. The woods is as dry as tinder, and we need a big fall +o’ snow er rain ther wust kind. D’ye think we mout git away by thet +time?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why not,” answered the young scoutmaster +“I’m feeling in apple pie condition this morning, myself; and +you’re just wild to make the venture. So we’ll call it a go in an +hour, Jim. By that time breakfast will be done with, and the boys have their +plans arranged for the day. Eli will take charge with Allan; and there ought to +be no trouble. Both Bumpus and Giraffe are too tired after what they went +through with the day before yesterday, to want to wander; the game warden is +well on his <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> way +with his two prisoners; and everything looks just fixed to carry out your little +plan.”</p> + +<p>“It does thet,” returned the other, eagerly. “Seems like +things happened jest tew suit me. I calls it ‘Little Lina luck,’ fur they +nigh allers turn thetaways when I’m tryin’ tew please her. I worried +a heap over them tew critters, Si Kedge an’ Ed Harkness; thinkin’ +thet w’ile I mout convince dad, they was apt tew give me a lot o’ trouble. +An’ see haow they was kerried off tew jail tew clar ther field fur me! Oh! +sumpin’ tells me hit’s goin’ tew be awl rite yit.”</p> + +<p>“Is there anything we ought to take along with us besides our guns, and +some grub, enough for several meals, because we won’t have any time for +hunting?” asked Thad.</p> + +<p>“Nawthin’ as I knows on; I’m makin’ sure to kerry +ther life preserver,” and as he said these mysterious words, Jim pressed +his hand against his breast, where in an inner pocket <i>something</i> +undoubtedly snuggled unseen; but somehow Thad never once dreamed that the guide +could refer to a pocket flask, because he happened to know Jim did not +drink.</p> + +<p>However, Thad did not bother about trying to fathom Jim’s little +secret. He fancied that it would all be made plain shortly; certainly when they +happened upon the stern old man who was day after day cheating himself out of +happiness, by refusing to let bygones be bygones, and accept things as they +were.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span>Of course the +balance of the Silver Fox Patrol showed great interest when they heard what was +the plan. Thad could read a trace of disappointment on more faces than one when +he announced that he meant to go alone with Jim. A larger detachment would do +more harm than good, since Old Cale might be angry at having his solitude +invaded by a party that Jim was piloting through the piney woods. And besides, +Allan was needed to take charge of the camp while the leader was away, Step Hen +had had his outing in the company of Thad, himself; Bumpus and Giraffe were +fairly saturated with adventure, and still feeling the effects of their +experience; while Davy was needed in camp, and complaining of a lame foot +besides.</p> + +<p>So within the hour that had been set for the start, Thad and Jim left camp, +with many hearty wishes for their success.</p> + +<p>“Be sure and tell us all about it when you get back!” called +Bumpus; for some of the boys scented a little romance back of Jim’s queer +actions, and knew more or less about his relations with the giant father of his +little wife.</p> + +<p>“And look sharp for forest fires, because, seems to me I smelled smoke +in the air a little while ago!” were the last words from Allan, who, being +a Maine boy, knew what such a thing meant.</p> + +<p>Thad glanced sharply at Jim.</p> + +<p>“Do you imagine we’ll stack up against anything like that, +Jim?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Thet’s hard tew say,” replied the guide. “At <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> this time o’ year, +an’ with ther woods as dry as they be, anything is possible, I’d +say. I don’t smell smoke right naow, but then ther wind mout a changed +sense Allan sez he did.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I hardly know whether I want to run up against a real +woods’ fire, or not,” Thad declared. “Of course, I’ve +always wanted to see what one looked like, because I’ve heard so much +about them; we’re on a new test now, for the Silver Fox Patrol; being +assistant fire wardens of the state of Maine; and as such none of us should wish +a fire to occur. So I’ll just forget all about it. If one happens to come +along, I guess there’s no harm in my looking at it.”</p> + +<p>Jim laughed at this quaint philosophy.</p> + +<p>“I jest reckons naow, yeou’ll be doin’ a heap more’n +jest lookin’ at hit,” he took occasion to remark, with a sage shake +of his head.</p> + +<p>Thad laughed outright.</p> + +<p>“I can guess what you mean, Jim,” he remarked. “You think +that about that time the fire will take to chasing after me, and I’ll have +all I want to do in skipping out. Well, let’s forget all about that, now, +and talk of something else. For one thing, this is a splendid crisp fall +morning. I saw pretty good ice on the edge of the lake. And say, I’d like +to be up here a month or two from now. I warrant you there’s some mighty +fine skating on that sheet of water.”</p> + +<p>“Thet they be, sumtimes,” replied the other, with a nod. +“I’ve seen hit jest as slick as a big pane o’ <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> glass fur miles +an’ miles. With ther wind ablowin’ great guns I’ve jest opened +my coat, an’ been blown like a thistle-down from one end tew t’other, in +less time than yew cud think. My dad, which is long gone, onct had an adventure +with a pack o’ wolves on thet same smooth ice, I kin remember him +tellin’ ’bout.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to hear it, Jim,” said the scout, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Wall, I’m a pore hand at tellin’ a story,” the guide +admitted. “Seems like he war askatin’ home, arter killin’ a +deer, an’ hed sum o’ ther meat on his back, when ther wolves took +arter him. They chased him right fast, and ther on’y way dad he cud ’scape ther +fangs war by making a sharp turn every time they gut too clost. Yer see ther +critters cudn’t swerve fast enuff, an’d slide a long ways on ther +ice ’cause it war so smooth. An’ in that way he kept goin’ till he +gut nigh home; when sum o’ ther neighbors, they kim out, an’ knocked +spots outen ther wolves.”</p> + +<p>“Whew! I can just imagine it,” declared Thad, “and I wager, +now, it must have been some exciting while it lasted.”</p> + +<p>Chatting in this way they tramped on through the pine woods, heading in a +direct line for the distant cabin of Cale Martin, whose wife had long since been +dead, so that with Little Lina also gone, the old woodsman had lived alone for +more than a year, always nursing his grievance against Jim Hasty.</p> + +<p>When noon came, and they stopped a little while <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> to refresh themselves with some of the +food carried along in Thad’s haversack, Jim announced that they must be +more than half way to their destination.</p> + +<p>Thad looked into the face of the guide frequently, wondering if Jim’s +heart was beginning to fail him the closer he drew to the implacable giant who +had uttered such ferocious threats against his new son-in-law; but the only +thing he did notice was a smile of supreme confidence whenever Jim happened to +put up his hand to touch the breast of his coat, about the place where an inner +pocket would be. And from this Thad understood that the other had the fullest +confidence that the message he was bearing to Lina’s father, the olive +branch he meant to extend to Old Cale, was sure to work as she had intended it +should.</p> + +<p>It was about an hour and more, possibly two, after the noon halt, that Thad +saw Jim come to a stop, and start to sniff the air suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“What it it, Jim?” he asked, though he could give a pretty good +guess even before the woods’ pilot uttered a word.</p> + +<p>“I smells smoke, sure enuff, naow,” replied Jim.</p> + +<p>“Then the wind’s changed, hasn’t it?” inquired Thad, +bristling up, as a vision of more or less excitement to vary the monotony of +this rather dreary tramp through the piney forest flashed before his mind.</p> + +<p>“It sure hes, Thad; and I kinder guess afore a great while yeou might +be havin’ thet wish o’ <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_225'></a>225</span> yeourn kim true; ’cause ther’s a fire sumwhar +not far away right naow; which, with ther change o’ wind, is liable tew +sweep daown on us like a whirlwind. Mebbe so be yeou mout see more’n yeou +bargained fur, Thad!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><a id='link_25'></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>CAUGHT IN THE FOREST FIRE.</span></h2> + +<p>“What’s to be done about it, Jim?” demanded the +scoutmaster.</p> + +<p>“Nawthin’ as I kin see,” came the guide’s +philosophical reply. “We hain’t knowin’ which way ther ole +wind’ll turn next, so it’s as safe fur us tew keep right along like +we was aheadin’, as tew turn back fur camp.”</p> + +<p>“Then let’s go on; an’ perhaps after all, the fire’ll +give us the go-by,” and as he said this Thad put his best foot +forward.</p> + +<p>“Anyway,” Jim pursued, presently, “we cudn’t know +haow tew shape our plans till we cotched sight o’ ther fire, an’ +knowed jest what she be. By naow p’raps ther hull woods ahind us mout be aflame; +so by turnin’ back, we’d jest be puttin’ aour noses tew ther +grindstone.”</p> + +<p>They walked on a little faster than before. The talk was of course all about +forest fires now, since it began to seem likely that Thad was about to witness +the first real big one of his experience.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span>Thad had a way +of asking leading questions, and Jim was no way averse to giving all the +information in his power; so that before long the Boy Scout had learned a great +many interesting facts connected with these terrors of the piney woods, by means +of which thousands of acres of valuable timber used to be wiped out of existence +every year, and often many lives lost as well.</p> + +<p>Things are not the same as they used to be. The State of Maine has a well +equipped fire warden department; and during the fall season when the danger is +greatest, extreme care is taken to call out these seasoned fire-fighters +whenever their services are needed. Besides, every licensed guide is expected to +work in conjunction with the authorities in seeing that no party which he pilots +into the woods becomes reckless about leaving fires burning after breaking +camp.</p> + +<p>When another half hour had passed Thad could no longer doubt that there was a +fire burning somewhere not far away, and that they were now much closer than +before to the scene of the conflagration.</p> + +<p>The smoke had become a thing that could be easily seen as well as smelled, +and felt in the way of burning eyes and tickled nostrils.</p> + +<p>Jim was on the alert. Well did he know that it was no child’s play, +matching one’s wits against a forest fire that was apt to encircle the +unwary woodsman, and cut off his retreat, finally roasting him in a trap.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span>“Do you +think it’s already swept down on the Martin cabin?” Thad asked, +somewhat anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Thet I kain’t tell,” replied Jim, as he looked up at the +smoke that was sweeping above the tops of the tallest pines. “Time was +when it wudn’t amattered any, ’cause yer see, Dad Martin, he kept a good +clearin’ all ’raound his shack; but I guess as haow he’s been +an’ neglected it sense I took Lina away, an’ it’s all growed +up with brush, thet’d burn like tinder.”</p> + +<p>“How far away are we now from the cabin?” continued Thad, +presently.</p> + +<p>“It mout be a matter o’ two mile er so,” grunted Jim; for +they were pushing on at a lively pace, and there was not much breath to waste in +long sentences.</p> + +<p>“That smoke keeps on getting heavier all the while,” remarked +Thad.</p> + +<p>“She dew thet,” admitted Jim.</p> + +<p>“And my stars, how it stings a fellow’s eyes,” continued +the scoutmaster, who from time to time felt the tears running down his +cheeks.</p> + +<p>Jim shook his head as he answered:</p> + +<p>“’Tain’t a circumstance tew what we’ll run up aginst right +soon, ef things keeps on a gettin’ wusser all ther while.”</p> + +<p>“Look! there goes a moose, upon my word; and he’s making tracks +as if he didn’t fear human beings one half as much as he did that +crackling fire he left behind!” Thad cried out, about five minutes +later.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span>Shortly +afterwards he discovered a huge lumbering animal rushing through the woods to +one side of them.</p> + +<p>“Why, isn’t that a black bear, Jim?” he asked, pointing as +he spoke.</p> + +<p>“It sure is,” replied the guide, grinning; “an’ +’baout as skeered a black as ye cud see in a week o’ Sundays. Like as not +he smelled ther smoke while he was boxed up in sum holler tree, whar he ’spected +tew stay till Spring kim along. But say, he knowed what’d happen tew him; +an’ forgettin’ as haow he orter be sleepin’ ther winter aout, +alivin’ on his fat, he jest climbs aout, an’ scoots fur sum hole in +ther ground he knows is awaitin’ fur him. He’ll git thar, awl rite, +too; ’cause I never seed a bar cort in a forest fire, an’ burned tew a +crisp.”</p> + +<p>“The deer can easily escape, I suppose, being so fleet of foot?” +Thad went on.</p> + +<p>“Gin’rally speakin’ they kin,” Jim replied; +“an’ thar goes wun rite naow. Look at ther way he jumps over thet +fallen tree like it was nawthin’. Ef yeou an’ me hed ther gift +o’ leapin’ like thet, Thad, we cud larf at forest fires +tew.”</p> + +<p>They lapsed into silence again. The smoke began to enter their lungs when +they talked too much, and half choked them. It was getting darker, Thad saw; and +looking up, he realized that clouds had covered the heavens; though at first he +rather fancied this might be another strata of smoke further up.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span>“Oh! if +that snow-storm Jim believes is due would only hurry, and come along,” he +was saying to himself, “it might do some good in putting out this fire. +While I’d like right well to see what it all looks like, still, as a fire +warden, I ought to want it to be smothered as quick as possible. And between the +two why, I’ll just have to take what comes, and be thankful it’s no +worse.”</p> + +<p>Then he thought of the other scouts. Were any of them in danger from the +fire? He did not believe this could be the case, for, so far as he knew, there +had been no plan on foot for a hunt that day, the boys being satisfied to hang +around camp, and do things they had in mind.</p> + +<p>And as they were right on the edge of the lake, if the worst came, and fire +happened to sweep down upon them, the tents could be thrown into the canoes, and +all hands put out upon the surface of the lake where they would be safe.</p> + +<p>So Thad, as the one in charge of the patrol in the absence of Dr. Philander +Hobbs, the regular authorized scoutmaster, made up his mind that he need not +worry about his chums any more. Indeed, as the situation grew worse and worse +around himself and Jim, it began to look as though he had need of all his +anxiety in connection with his own condition.</p> + +<p>Of course he relied entirely on Jim. The guide had had long experience with +the fires in the pines. He had served as one of the fire wardens, and so long as +he was in charge of the expedition there <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_230'></a>230</span> was no need of Thad trying to figure out any plan +of campaign. Had he been alone, or with some of his companions, Thad would have +striven to meet the necessities of the situation manfully, and done all in his +power to outwit the flames. Now he was in Jim’s charge, and depended on +the astute Maine guide to pilot him through.</p> + +<p>“I can hear the flames roaring, I think, Jim!” the scout +remarked, presently.</p> + +<p>“Thet’s rite,” returned the other; and from his manner Thad +knew Jim had known of the circumstance longer than he dreamed possible.</p> + +<p>“It lies over there on our right, don’t it?” Thad persisted +in asking.</p> + +<p>“Yep,” the guide answered, shortly.</p> + +<p>Gauging the direction of the wind, Thad saw that they would in a measure be +running a race with the fire, to see which could get to the cabin of Old Cale +first. He knew Jim was figuring things out closely. A mistake in calculations +might cost them dear. Even a change in wind, which was liable to occur at any +time now, would bring them face to face with new difficulties, and make them +grapple with problems of a serious character.</p> + +<p>Thad asked no more questions, for he saw that Jim did not want to have his +mind distracted from his duty. He would do the right thing, of that the boy felt +assured.</p> + +<p>One thing was plain enough, and this seemed apt to have more or less bearing +on the final outcome of their race to the cabin.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span>The wind was +gradually increasing in force all the while. It had been gentle at first, but +was now blowing at the rate of ten miles an hour, and Thad could notice how +rapidly even this was changing.</p> + +<p>Should it reach hurricane force ere long, the fire must be driven ahead at a +speed that would be simply frightful. Thad already began to experience some of +the thrill he had been told was connected with one of these woods’ fires; +even though as yet he had to see the first flash of flame. What must it be when +surrounded on all sides by the leaping tongues that, they said, looked like +great red snakes coiling up the pine trees, licking the resinous foliage with +greedy breath, so that it seemed as though the whole world must be ablaze?</p> + +<p>Well, the boy had wanted to look upon just such a sight, so that he could say +he had been caught in a forest fire; and from the way things were turning out, +his wish was in a fair way to be gratified.</p> + +<p>They must surely have come about a mile since he last asked Jim how far away +the cabin might be; that would indicate half of the distance had been passed +over. He wondered why Jim did not start running, so as to beat the fire, that +was apparently aiming for the same place; but on second thought Thad believed he +could guess the reason for this. Jim was saving their wind for an emergency. If +that came upon them, they might have to change their own course, and head for +the pond Jim had spoken of as offering a fair haven of refuge in a case of this +kind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span>The roaring +sound had grown more audible. It sounded now very much like a freight train on +the railroad, Thad thought; and drawing closer all the while! This would seem to +indicate that the fire was catching up with them, and shortening the gap between +at the same time.</p> + +<p>Thad began to cast curious glances in the direction of the ominous sound; nor +could it be said that anxiety was not unmixed with his other feelings. He was +but a boy, after all; and even by now the dark masses of smoke that were +sweeping over the pine tops, as well as the other indications of a great +conflagration around him, had begun to affect Thad.</p> + +<p>And as they pushed along it chanced that they came to a little break in the +wall of pines that rose around them. For the first time the Boy Scout saw, when +he turned his head toward the right, and the rear, something that seemed to leap +madly upwards, as though endeavoring to lick the overhanging clouds.</p> + +<p>There was no need of Thad to ask the guide what that was, for he knew only +too well. Those leaping, tossing billows were flames; and they sealed the death +warrant of many a noble pine that for years and years had seen the lovely summer +come and go, to give place to the furious gales of the Maine winter season.</p> + +<p>And Thad Brewster experienced a real genuine thrill, that might be tinged +with alarm, as he viewed this fiery panorama over the tops of the trees.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span><a id='link_26'></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>TRUSTING TO THE WOODS’ PILOT.</span></h2> + +<p>It was by this time getting about as exciting as anything Thad had ever +dreamed of. The noise made by the sweeping flames began to din in his ears as he +had never expected to hear the roar of fire.</p> + +<p>Still, he noticed that Jim had not changed his course much. Plainly then, he +was heading for the cabin of Cale Martin, and had not yet given up hopes of +being able to make it.</p> + +<p>Only for the intense desire of the guide to please his Lina, doubtless he +would ere now have changed his flight, and headed for that pond, where they +could be certain of finding security. Thad only hoped Jim would not be tempted +to take too many chances, in his endeavor to accomplish the reconciliation.</p> + +<p>So the boy began to strain his eyes, looking ahead, hoping that any minute +they would sight the lonely home of the late poacher, who had turned fox +farmer.</p> + +<p>The fire could now be seen more plainly than ever, and Thad noted how the +wind seemed to carry <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_234'></a>234</span> all manner of whirling sparks far ahead, to set the +dead pine needles ablaze in turn; so that there was an ever marching procession, +as fresh patches of woods fell into the grip of the flames.</p> + +<p>Something went squealing past them, almost upsetting Thad.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious, wasn’t that a pig?” he exclaimed, startled +by the sight.</p> + +<p>Jim nodded his head, as he replied:</p> + +<p>“Cale’s pig. Let’s ’em hev ther run o’ ther +woods sumtimes. But he’ll never see that porker agin. It’ll sure be +roasted ter a turn, I guess naow.”</p> + +<p>“What next, I wonder?” thought Thad, as he heard, rather than +saw, several frightened partridges go sweeping past.</p> + +<p>All these things served to add a certain element of spice to the situation, +although Thad really believed it hardly needed anything to make it seem the most +exciting in all his experience.</p> + +<p>Well, at any rate, Jim had certainly thought it wise to increase his speed +now, so that he was running fairly fast, considering the difficulties that lay +in the way of making good time.</p> + +<p>When Thad came upon a broken-down rail fence, he knew they must be close in +the neighborhood of the cabin; and at the same time he thought that it was well +this was the case, because contact with the fire could not long have been +delayed.</p> + +<p>A minute later, and he sighted the side of the cabin. As Jim had said, it +stood in comparatively open ground; but the brush had grown up again, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> owing to lack of care +when the owner lost interest in the home that no longer knew the presence of +Little Lina.</p> + +<p>A couple of low sheds could also be seen near by; but even to Thad’s +uneducated eye it was plainly apparent that if the fire worked this way, +everything was bound to go. Cale Martin may have escaped by reason of his energy +before, on other occasions, but this would wind his place up.</p> + +<p>There was no sign of any human being around. Jim seemed to look to the right +and to the left with more or less eagerness. Plainly he was disappointed because +he did not see the giant poacher somewhere. He hurried over to one of the low +sheds, and as Thad followed close after him, he saw that there was an enclosure +made of chicken wire, in which several red foxes were running furiously back and +forth, as though conscious of their peril, and wild to get out and escape.</p> + +<p>“He cain’t be here!” Jim called out, for the fire was +really so noisy now that it required more or less of an effort to make +one’s self heard.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked Thad.</p> + +<p>“’Cause he’d never let them foxes stay in thar. Cale, he’s +human, ef he used ter be a hard case; an’ knowin’ ther fire’d +like as not git ’em if they stayed cooped up, he’d sure broke the +wire fence daown so’s ter let ’em run.”</p> + +<p>Saying which Jim deliberately did this himself, tearing up a stake, and in +almost the twinkling of an eye making a big hole, through which the four <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> red foxes shot like +lightning. The last seen of them, the shrewd little animals were flying away +into the woods that as yet had not felt the scorching breath of the fire.</p> + +<p>“Will they escape, Jim?” asked Thad, unable to repress his desire +for knowledge, even while facing such a scene of havoc as this.</p> + +<p>“Sure they will,” grunted the guide, who was already turning +hastily in the direction of the cabin.</p> + +<p>The thought struck Thad just then that perhaps something had happened to the +big owner of the place. He might be found there, sick, and unable to move hand +or foot. In that case a new problem would have to be faced, and a solution +worked out.</p> + +<p>But no matter what happened, they could not remain here long. The fire was +edging around, and working in toward Cale’s cabin. In ten minutes, perhaps +not so long a time as that, it would have swept over this territory, and gone +roaring and leaping into the woods beyond.</p> + +<p>Now they were at the door of the cabin. It was shut, and there was no +evidence that Cale was within. Jim did not hesitate a second. He knew this was a +time for action rather than thinking; and so he immediately started to push open +the door.</p> + +<p>Fortunately this did not seem to be fastened in any way, so the guide had no +trouble to speak of in doing what he desired.</p> + +<p>Then Jim rushed inside, and Thad followed closely after him.</p> + +<p>One glance around seemed to tell them that the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> cabin was empty. It was a cheerless +looking place, according to the mind of the boy, accustomed as he was to the +comforts of a good home in a civilized community. But no doubt it had been +“home” to Cale Martin, up to the time the light of it was taken away +by young Jim Hasty.</p> + +<p>The guide pointed to a small photograph that was fastened to the wall. It was +not a work of art by any means, and evidently represented the labor of some +aspiring village photographer; but as Thad bent hastily over to examine it, in a +couple of seconds, he saw that it was the face of a very sweet looking girl.</p> + +<p>And he did not need to be told that he was looking on the face of Little +Lina, Jim’s wife, and the only child of the lonely poacher, Old Cale +Martin.</p> + +<p>“He isn’t here, Jim. What will we do now? Do you have any idea +where he’s gone?” the boy demanded, in his excitement clutching at +the sleeve of the guide’s coat.</p> + +<p>“I kin give a guess, ’baout it,” replied Jim. “Seems like +he keeps a litter o’ foxes sumwhar off in ther woods; an’ chances +air the ole man, he’s risked his life tew git out thar, an’ set +’em free so’s they cud ’scape. ’Twud be jest like him tew dew thet +same thing.”</p> + +<p>“Hark! I thought I heard a shout!” exclaimed Thad.</p> + +<p>Both of them listened anxiously; Jim even hurrying toward the open door; but +before he could reach <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_238'></a>238</span> it, a huge form darkened the opening, and a man +came staggering in.</p> + +<p>Thad knew that he was looking upon Cale Martin, long feared by every man in +the pine woods of Northern Maine. But to tell the truth he did not look very +formidable now; for his beard was singed, his face blackened, and his clothes +smouldering in patches, as though he might have been compelled to run the +gauntlet of fire in returning from his self-imposed errand of mercy in +connection with the impounded fox whelps.</p> + +<p>He stared hard at them as though he could not just believe his senses. Thad +saw he was very nearly overcome with the smoke that had entered his lungs, as +well as the burns he must have received. And just then the boy realized +something of the real horror of a terrible forest fire. At a distance it might +seem a glorious spectacle; but close at hand its dreadful nature was +revealed.</p> + +<p>Jim knew that this was neither the time nor place to waste a second in trying +to enter into explanations. Those could all keep until a more convenient season. +Cale Martin was all but played out. He swayed as he stood there, and Thad could +see that the wonderful strength that had many years before made him the marvel +of the lumbering camps, as Jim had told him, was very nearly utterly +exhausted.</p> + +<p>And yet so great a hold had his dislike for Jim Hasty taken upon his nature, +that at sight of the man in his home he frowned blackly.</p> + +<p>“We gotter mosey outen this right smart, Cale,” <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> said Jim, boldly. +“Keep ther talkin’ till we is safe from ther fire. Plenty o’ +time then tew tell me what yew wants tew say. I kim hyar tew see yew ’cause +Lina, she made me. Naow, let’s be headin’ fur ther pond, ’less we +wants tew be roasted an’ stewed an’ b’iled.”</p> + +<p>The giant did not seem inclined to make the first move to save himself; and +it burst upon Thad’s mind that he was really in some sort of a daze. +Perhaps the heat of the fire had affected his head, and he could not gather his +wits. He may have headed straight back to the cabin, through the border of the +fire, simply because of that intuition which will carry a man, walking in his +sleep, past dangers and difficulties.</p> + +<p>Jim must have guessed something of the same thing. That would account for his +daring to leap forward, and catch hold of Cale’s sleeve, though he had to +beat out a small conflagration at the same time.</p> + +<p>“Help me get him away!”</p> + +<p>Jim did not say this, but his look did, as he turned toward Thad; and the boy +instantly sprang forward to take hold of Cale’s other arm. The giant, +strangely enough, did not seem to offer any objection. Perhaps he realized that +he was in a bad way, and that if left to his own devices must surely perish +there. And life may even have been sweet enough to accept it at the hands of the +man whom he believed had so terribly wronged him in stealing away his girl.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span>The instant they +stepped out of the cabin Thad was appalled at the change that had taken place. +Surely they could not have been inside for more than three minutes at the most; +and yet so rapidly had the smoke and fire headed in toward the cabin of Old Cale +that it was a fearful spectacle which burst upon their vision now.</p> + +<p>The crackling of the flames, the crash of falling trees, the howl of the +wind,–all these made a combination that was deafening. Added to it was the +fierce glow of the fire itself, rising and falling as new patches of woods fell +into its never satisfied maw.</p> + +<p>Thad began to wonder how it would all end, and whether that wish of his to +look on a real forest fire was not going to end in a tragedy. But he shut his +teeth hard together, and determined to play his part, as a true scout +should.</p> + +<p>Jim was still there, and Jim would know what to do. The fire warden of the +past had learned many ways of outwitting the red-tongued enemy; and there was +hope of escape so long as he could remain on deck.</p> + +<p>And so Thad drew in a long breath, half choked as he was, and waited to see +what course the woods’ pilot would take.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span><a id='link_27'></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>JIM DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE.</span></h2> + +<p>“Can we make the pond, Jim?” asked Thad.</p> + +<p>He knew from what little the guide had said before, that it was a +considerable distance to the body of water to which Jim had intended heading; +and with the almost exhausted giant on their hands, it did not not seem likely +they could get there before being overtaken by the flames.</p> + +<p>“Not ther big pond,” Jim called back; “it’s tew late +naow fur thet; but they’s a littler un ’baout half way. Thet’ll hev +tew dew fur us, I guess.”</p> + +<p>Cale seemed able to walk, after being thus supported, and they started off. +One thing Thad noticed; and this gave him more or less satisfaction. They were +heading now directly away from the fire, and not keeping alongside, as +before.</p> + +<p>This gave them a new chance to escape, unless that change of wind came, which +was liable to occur at any moment.</p> + +<p>Hardly had they been moving for a minute than <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> Thad thought he felt something wet fall +on his nose. He could hardly believe it, but when a second and a third followed, +he became positive.</p> + +<p>“It’s raining, Jim!” he shouted, partly because of his new +excitement, and also on account of the racket the fire caused.</p> + +<p>“Thet snow storm’s gut ’raound et larst,” called back Jim; +and Thad knew from that the heat of the atmosphere had melted the flakes ere +they fell, causing them to turn back into water.</p> + +<p>It was all the same though, since both were bitter enemies to fire; and +presently the merry war of the elements, that has gone on since the world began, +would be in full play.</p> + +<p>He wished that it would come down as never before; indeed, it would need to +be a record fall, to extinguish those monster flames that were rising like a red +wall over the treetops now. But since the woods beyond would be undergoing a +gradual soaking, possibly the fire might find it more and more difficult to get +a foothold, and finally die out from lack of fuel.</p> + +<p>Thad was astonished at the meekness of the giant. Why, he seemed to have lost +his grip on things, and let them carry him along just as though he were a big +baby. That would seem to indicate he must have been severely hurt while escaping +from <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> the burning +forest. For aught they knew he may have been struck on the head by a falling +limb from a tree, which would account for his dazed condition.</p> + +<p>At any rate, it was fortunate for the entire party that this proved to be so; +because any delay at this stage of the game must have proven fatal.</p> + +<p>All of them were panting, but it was more from the intense heat than +weariness. Thad hoped the pond would show up soon. He was half choked with the +smoke, and coughed with nearly every breath. A drink of cool refreshing water, +he believed, would make him feel a thousand per cent better.</p> + +<p>There could no longer be any doubt about the anticipated change in the wind +having taken place; for the fire was certainly coming after them, full tilt. +Jim, too, was beginning to cast glances over his shoulder; and when a runner +does this Thad knew it was a good sign that he is anxious about something. It +may be the presence of a rival sprinter back of him; in this case that racer was +the fire.</p> + +<p>“Will we make it, Jim?” Thad found himself just forced to ask, in +order to relieve the terrible sensation of suspense that gripped him.</p> + +<p>“Dead sartin!” came the reassuring reply; “thar she be, +right naow!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span>And looking +ahead Thad saw the sheen of a body of water in the dull glow of the forest fire. +It was not a large pond, but would offer them an asylum, where in all +possibility they might laugh at the efforts of the fire to get them.</p> + +<p>When they gained the shore Jim kept pushing on until a point had been reached +that was opposite to the course over which they had just come. This threw the +water of the little pond between them and the source of danger.</p> + +<p>Thad drew a long breath of relief as he realized that their race with the +flames was over, and safety assured. The giant sank down upon the ground, and +scooping up the water in the cup of his hand, drank savagely, showing that he +must be almost parched with thirst.</p> + +<p>Feeling a little the same way himself, Thad followed suit; and never in all +his life had water tasted as refreshing as then. After that, he just stood and +watched the terrible panorama that was being gradually unfolded before his eyes; +listening to the roar of the devouring element as it seized whole rows of pines +in its grip, and enveloped them with a mantle of flames.</p> + +<p>Thad was fairly awed by the sight. He had never dreamed it could be so +terrible, even when his imagination played at its liveliest clip. He saw the +leaping billows toss higher and higher; he watched them play tag with one +another; and all the while realized what havoc was being made with that splendid +forest. When the fire had passed on, or <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_245'></a>245</span> been finally extinguished by the downpour from +above, it would leave blackened and smouldering trunks where just a brief while +before the glorious pines stood in all their robes of green.</p> + +<p>The heat was rather fierce, too, and often they would bend forward to lave +their faces in the cooling waters of the pond. Long since had the rim of ice +around the edge of the pool vanished, as though by magic; this was on account of +the warmth that had taken possession of the atmosphere while the conflagration +lasted.</p> + +<p>But Thad was satisfied that they were going to escape, for the main body of +fire had already gone rushing away before the wind. Only straggling trailers +worked in behind the pond, and they were already feeling the effect of the rain +that was now falling heavily, though at other places it must have taken the form +of snow.</p> + +<p>Jim was apparently more or less anxious about Cale. He feared the old man +might have received serious injuries that needed attention; and taking advantage +of the first opportunity that presented itself, he confided his fears to Thad, +knowing full well that the boy was something of a doctor, in his way.</p> + +<p>So the scoutmaster sat down beside Cale. He saw that the other was getting +back to something like his normal self, now that he had in a measure recovered +from the exhaustion resulting from his fight for life with the flames.</p> + +<p>“Did you get badly hurt anywhere, in the fire?” <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> Thad asked, trying to +put on a professional look, so as to inspire some confidence in the old man.</p> + +<p>The giant for the first time, seemed to wake up. He felt of his head, and +winced a little as though it pained him.</p> + +<p>“Ther burns they don’t amount ter much,” he said, in his +heavy voice; “but thar be a bad bump on my head as hurts sum.”</p> + +<p>“Let me look at it,” asked the boy. “I’ve picked up +some knowledge of medicine, and perhaps I can do something to make it seem +better; if nothing else, cold water may reduce the feverish feeling +some.”</p> + +<p>And Cale allowed him to examine his big head, with its mass of hair that was +like a lion’s mane in thickness, having been protected from the fire by +the skin cap he wore. Perhaps it was the presence of that same cap, as also the +shock of hair, that had saved Cale from having a broken skull; he certainly did +have a lump there as large as an egg, that must have been very painful; and it +was no wonder he had seemed dazed at the time he rushed into his cabin, hardly +knowing why he came there, unless he had been laboring under the impression that +Little Lina was still waiting to be saved from the fire.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Thad happened to be carrying a little bottle of witch hazel in +his haversack, which he often found exceedingly useful. This he got out, and +after warning the other that it might sting a little at first, he poured some of +the extract on the <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span> +lump; and then wetting a piece of rag with it, he laid this over the wound, +Cale’s cap holding it in place.</p> + +<p>“That’s all I can do for you,” Thad said. “But +it’s not a serious thing, and in a few days you’ll be all over it. +But you must have had a fearful knock. Was it a limb that fell on +you?”</p> + +<p>“Just what it war, younker,” replied Cale; “an’ +it’s a feelin’ better some, already.”</p> + +<p>Thad moved back. He seemed to know that Jim was just itching to have a few +words with his father-in-law; and that the opportunity seemed ripe. Besides, +Thad was more or less curious to know just what that clinching argument might +be, which Jim meant to advance, and which he seemed so positive would bring the +determined old man around.</p> + +<p>When Jim took his place, Cale gave him one look, and then turned his head +away. “I wisht yew wudn’t feel like yew does agin me, Dad +Martin,” Jim started to say.</p> + +<p>“Stop right thar!” burst out the other, as his old temper began +to sway him again. “I don’t want anything ter do wid yer, Jim Hasty. +Time was when I vowed ter pin yer ears ter a tree, if ever ye showed up hyar +agin; an’ I meant it, I shore did. Then sumhow, thinkin’ o’ +that leetle gal, an’ how she sot sum store by ye, kinder flabbergasted me, +an’ I dassent stay around whar ye was, lest I do all I’d threatened, +an’ it’d break her heart. So I kim hyar ter my lonely home, thet +ain’t hed a single ray o’ sunshine in it sense ye stole her away. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span> But I don’t +forgit it, Jim Hasty, an’ I ain’t never agoin’ ter forgive ye, +er make up. So don’t waste yer breath atryin’.”</p> + +<p>But when Thad saw the grin on Jim’s face he knew the guide felt +encouraged. His reception had been far less stormy than he had had reason to +expect from all he knew of the violent temper of his respected father-in-law. +And knowing that Jim was getting ready to spring his surprise, Thad almost held +his breath while listening and watching.</p> + +<p>“I tole yeou I kim here ’cause she sent me,” Jim went on, in a +pleading tone. “It grieved her gentle heart all this while ’cause she +cudn’t see yeou, Dad Martin. She sez as haow it’s jest gut tew stop! +She wants yeou, and wants yeou bad. An’ so be they’s another as ort +tew see yeou. Here’s ther message Little Lina sends tew yeou by me, her +husband. Sez she, ’take this tew him, an’ when he sees the face o’ +my baby and knows thet we calls him Leetle Caleb, p’raps then he’ll +forgive yeou, Jim, fur takin’ me away; an’ come back tew us all. +Tell him we want him the wust kind, Leetle Caleb an’ +Lina!’”</p> + +<p>He had thrust something into the hand of the old poacher as he spoke. Thad +felt almost like giving vent into his overwrought feelings in a yell. Why, all +the excitement attending the race with the forest fire had not been a +circumstance to the thrill that swept over him when he saw that hard-hearted old +man staring at the pictured faces of mother and child on that bit of cardboard, +and <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> then, filled +with a return of the old love, pressing it wildly to his bearded lips.</p> + +<p>And Thad knew, just as Jim had said, that the message which Lina had sent in +the form of her baby’s picture, had broken down the barrier of the old +man’s pride and obstinacy; for in another moment he was squeezing +Jim’s hand convulsively.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span><a id='link_28'></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>“HOME, SWEET HOME!”</span></h2> + +<p>“Yes, I’ll go home with yer, Jim! I shore I’m sick fur a +sight o’ my leetle gal. Lina’s baby too–I’d be ther +biggest fool in all Maine, not ter give in, arter yer kim up hyar, riskin’ +yer ears ter tell me <i>thet</i>! We’ll jest try an’ furgit +what’s gone by, Jim, an’ start fresh. An’ yer kin help me +raise my foxes fur ther company thet’s hired me fur five years ter run +ther farm.”</p> + +<p>That was what Old Cale was saying as he pumped the hand of the delighted and +grinning Jim. And Thad was glad he was there to witness this joyous +reconciliation.</p> + +<p>The fire had passed, and left them safe. Jim, when he could do so, made his +way back to the cabin; and on his return announced that it was only a blackened +ruin. Whereupon Old Cale sighed, and then seemed to look forward to a new home, +in which there would be an abundance of sunshine, because Little Lina, and +Caleb, the boy who was named after him, would reign there.</p> + +<p>They managed to spend the night somehow, and in the morning started back to +the camp on the border of the lake; though after leaving the region <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> where the fire had +swept, they found the snow quite deep, and the going bad. But apparently the +coming of the storm had extinguished the last lingering flames, so that the +saving to the state of Maine was beyond computation.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the camp, Thad found the boys getting uneasy about him, and Eli +about to start out to see if he could get trace of the absent ones. They +understood that the distant fire, which had not come near them, must have been +in the neighborhood of Old Cale’s cabin, as described by Jim; and it was +this that made them worry. But it was all right now, and they received the +wanderers with hearty shouts.</p> + +<p>The story, upon being told by Thad, evoked renewed cheering, especially for +the old poacher who had reformed, and was now going to show what he could do in +a line that appealed to him especially, since he knew all about the woods’ +animals.</p> + +<p>Just as Thad had said while Cale was feeling his burns, and the bump on his +head, he declared that nothing serious was the matter with him; and that even if +there had been, the glorious news that Jim had brought, at such risk to himself, +would have cured him effectually.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Giraffe, as they gathered around the supper that +evening; “This is our last camp in Maine, seems like; for to-morrow Thad +says we start for the railroad station at Eagle Lake, through Lake Winthrop; and +soon we’ll be booming along for home.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span>“That +sounds good to me, fellers,” spoke up Bumpus. “Always did like my +home pretty well, and it never seems half so nice as when you’re away, +trying to make out you’re having a bunkum time sleeping on the hard +ground, with roots diggin’ holes in your sides; and all sorts of creepers +crawlin’ over your face. Home, sweet, sweet home for me, just +now!”</p> + +<p>“But just remember that you owe us all a treat, Bumpus,” spoke up +Davy Jones.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we know Giraffe can make a fire that way now, because he showed +us yesterday, as easy as anything; but when I tried it, never a spark could I +get,” and Step Hen looked disgusted because of his lack of knowledge.</p> + +<p>“Huh! you needn’t feel bad,” declared Giraffe. “If it +took <i>me</i> all that time to get on to the proper wrinkle, and me a regular +fire fiend, how could you have the nerve to think you could hit her up the very +first thing? But Bumpus ain’t never going to question that I won that +wager, fair and square. Only because if I hadn’t, we’d a gone +without a supper that night, and been near frozen in the bargain. Lots of things +hinged on that fire, I’m telling you, fellers.”</p> + +<p>“I should say they did,” observed Bumpus, frankly. “Why, +on’y for its cheery twinkle them two poachers, Si and Ed, wouldn’t have +known we were around; and you see how we’d have missed doin’ that +great stunt which will go down in the history of the Silver Fox Patrol as one of +the shining examples―”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span>“Oh! let +up on that stuff, Bumpus, and help me to some more stew,” Giraffe broke +in, as he passed his platter along.</p> + +<p>“Well,” remarked Allan, “we’ve had a pretty good time +of it up here, all told, counting the two separate trips we took. And +it’ll be a long time before we beat the record for big game we’ve +made in Maine.”</p> + +<p>But Allan did not know what was before the Silver Fox Patrol before many +moons had passed, or he would not have uttered this rash prediction. When the +summer holidays came along, they had another long journey in prospect, provided +the money was received from the bank, that had been offered for the restoration +of the securities carried off by the bold yeggmen captured by the scouts, and as +related in the preceding volume of this series. This trip would take them many +hundreds of miles from home, into a country toward which a number of the boys +had long looked with yearning eyes. And that Thad and his chums were fated to +meet with new and thrilling adventures that really exceeded any they had +encountered before, the reader will doubtless admit if he but secures the +succeeding volume to the present story, and which has been issued under the name +of “The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber; or, The Search for the Lost +Tenderfoot.”</p> + +<p>There is not a great deal more to add. Jim must have managed to send some +sort of message home, for at a certain station further down the road, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span> (after the boats had +been shipped through as freight, the two guides and Old Cale accompanying the +scouts on the regular train,) Jim said they would have to spend half an hour +there, and that they might as well get out to stretch. And lo and behold, there +came a girlish cry, and they saw a small figure flying straight toward Old Cale, +bearing a small bundle, which she immediately pressed into the clumsy arms of +the giant, who immediately wrapped mother and baby in a warm embrace.</p> + +<p>Of course it was Little Lina, and Caleb Jr.; and the boys all had to be +introduced to Jim’s wife. They parted from them there; but upon arriving +home, one of the first things Thad and his chums did was to subscribe a round +sum apiece, and send up the nicest baby’s crib they could find in +Cranford; for somehow they felt a personal interest in Little Caleb.</p> + +<p>Giraffe was feeling very proud those days. He had accomplished what looked +like the impossible when he finally managed to make his “silly fire +bow” work, and saved himself and Bumpus from going hungry and cold that +night they were adrift in the Maine pine woods.</p> + +<p>Indeed, all of the boys had considerable to be proud of; and from that day +until school finally began, after the trustees had declared the quarantine +broken, each member of the Silver Fox Patrol was always the center of an +admiring crowd of listeners whenever he went abroad.</p> + +<p>And the consequence was that a new patrol was <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span> quickly organized, eight fellows +subscribing to the rules and regulations of the organization of Boy Scouts, and +being mustered in during the winter as the Eagle Patrol of the Cranford +Troop.</p> + +<p>“That’s one of the best things that came out of our Maine +trip,” said Thad to his chum Allan, as they were on the way home from the +meeting when those eight new members had been sworn in, and promised to live up +to the rules laid down for the guidance of all scouts by the heads of the +organization.</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied the other, “I was looking back the other +day, at the diary I kept while we were gone; and I find that a heap of things +came out of that same hunt up among the pines of Maine. All of us felt better +for the outing; more than one learned a lesson in perseverance that will follow +him all his life; we did a good thing in capturing those hobo thieves, Charley +Barnes and his crowd; then we made something of a record in hunting, you with +your first moose, and Bumpus with that honey thief of a black bear; after that +we helped wind up the poaching careers of Si Kedge and Ed Harkness; and last but +not least, had a hand in bringing about that splendid family reunion that we saw +on the platform, when we stepped off the train. On the whole, Thad, all of us +ought to be mighty well satisfied with the way things have gone. I know I +am.”</p> + +<p>“And you can say the same for me,” added the young scoutmaster. +“But after all is said, I think <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_256'></a>256</span> the most wonderful thing to happen was how Giraffe, +after missing fire a dozen times with his little bow and stick, should strike it +<i>just right</i> when it meant so much for him and Bumpus. And then Bumpus paid +for that treat like a little man, saying it was worth it, ten times over, just +to hear Giraffe <i>yell</i> when he’d succeeded in making his tinder flame +up without using a single match.”</p> + +<p>And here we will leave the boys of the Silver Fox Patrol, to take up their +further adventures in the succeeding volume.</p> + +<p class='c mt20'>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts in the Maine Woods, by +Herbert Carter + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAINE WOODS *** + +***** This file should be named 31389-h.htm or 31389-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/3/8/31389/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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