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diff --git a/32045-h/32045-h.htm b/32045-h/32045-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2210610 --- /dev/null +++ b/32045-h/32045-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7632 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Boy Scouts In A Trapper's Camp, by Thornton W. Burgess. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + .poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts in A Trapper's Camp, by +Thornton W. Burgess + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Scouts in A Trapper's Camp + +Author: Thornton W. Burgess + +Illustrator: F. A. Anderson + +Release Date: April 18, 2010 [EBook #32045] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY SCOUTS IN A TRAPPER'S CAMP *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/title.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>The Boy Scouts in a Trapper's Camp</h1> + +<h2>By Thornton W. Burgess</h2> + +<h4>Author of "The Boy Scouts of Woodcraft Camp", "The Boy Scouts on Swift +River", "The Boy Scouts on Lost Trail"</h4> + +<h3>Illustrated by F. A. Anderson</h3> + + +<h4>The Penn Publishing<br /> +Company Philadelphia</h4> + +<h4>COPYRIGHT<br /> +1915<br /> +BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h4><i>To<br /> +W. H. T.,<br /> +A lover of the open, and his three boys,<br /> +this book is affectionately dedicated</i></h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>HE SAW SOMETHING MOVE</h3> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#Introduction">Introduction</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">An Interrupted Dream</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">Pat Sees White Magic</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">The Blue Tortoise Patrol</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">"Help!"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Off for Woodcraft</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">Snow-Shoes and Fish</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">On the Trail</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">Alec Hints at Dark Things</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">Snowbound</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">Life on the Fur Trails</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">Christmas in Smugglers' Hollow</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">A Deer Yard</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">Poachers</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">The Silver Fox</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Sparrer's Temptation</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">The Conference</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">The Camp of the Poachers</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">Smoking Out the Indian</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">Sparrer Saves the Skin</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">The Black Fox is Sold</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#The_Stories_in_this_Series_are">Stories in this Series</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Illustrations</h2> + + +<p><a href="#frontis"><span class="smcap">He Saw Something Move</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1"><span class="smcap">He Jotted Down the Number</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2"><span class="smcap">Once More They Buckled Down to the Task</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3"><span class="smcap">Not Ten Feet Away Was a Big Buck</span></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4"><span class="smcap">For a Few Seconds He Stood Motionless</span></a></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Introduction" id="Introduction"></a>Introduction</h2> + + +<p>To those who have read the preceding volumes in this series, "The Boy +Scouts of Woodcraft Camp," "The Boy Scouts on Swift River," and "The Boy +Scouts on Lost Trail," some of the characters in the present volume will +be familiar. To me they are old friends in whose struggles and +adventures I have taken the keenest personal interest.</p> + +<p>In this, the fourth and concluding volume, I have endeavored to portray +in some small measure the life of the trapper who in solitude and +loneliness pits his skill against the cunning of the fur-bearers, and +his courage and fortitude against the forces of Nature in her harshest +and most relentless mood; to bring to my young readers a sense of the +mystery of the great life eternal that broods over the wilderness to an +even greater degree when its waters are fettered in ice, and its waste +places wrapped in snow than when it rejoices in its summer verdure; to +show that the standards a man or a boy sets for himself are as binding +upon him in remote places where none may see as in the midst of his +fellow men; and lastly to demonstrate what a powerful factor in the +development of character and true manhood are the oath and law of the +Boy Scouts of America when subscribed to in sincerity and +conscientiously observed.</p> + +<p>Man or boy is never so true to himself as when in intimate contact with +nature. Adventures such as herein described may not fall to your lot, +oh, boy reader, but be assured that whenever you heed the call of the +Red Gods and hit the long trail you will find adventure of a degree +awaiting you, and you will return stronger physically and mentally for +having come in closer contact with the elemental forces which we term +nature.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Author.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Boy Scouts in a Trapper's Camp</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>AN INTERRUPTED DREAM</h3> + + +<p>Walter Upton pushed aside books and papers, yawned, stretched, yawned +again, then settled back in his chair comfortably, his hands clasped +behind his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad that vacation is only one week off," he murmured. "School is +all right, and I know I'm going to be mighty sorry when school-days end +for good. Just the same, this infernal grind to get a scholarship does +get a fellow's goat sometimes. If I don't win it I don't see how I can +go to college next year unless I can find some way to earn the money. +Poor old Dad! That slump in stocks pretty nearly bowled him over. Lucky +I thought of this scholarship when he tried to tell me that unless +business picked up he couldn't send me to college next year. It sure +did me good to see the shine in his eyes when I told him about this and +that I was going to win it. He's a great old scout, and I'm going to get +it now if for nothing more than to see that shine in his eyes again. My, +but it's a tough old grind! Wonder how it would seem to go to a prep +school like Hal Harrison and not have to think about money and where it +is going to come from. I guess scholarships don't bother Hal any. Wonder +if he is coming home for the Christmas winter vacation."</p> + +<p>Idly Walter allowed his eyes to wander over the walls of his den. It was +a snug little room, simply furnished with a spring cot, which was a bed +by night and a couch by day, a desk, a deep-cushioned Morris chair, a +revolving desk chair, a foot-rest and two well filled bookcases. The +walls were covered with photographs. Nearly all of them were of outdoor +scenes, most of them of his own taking, for he was an expert with the +camera. A number were enlargements neatly framed. Among these was the +famous flashlight made during his first summer at Woodcraft Camp which +had furnished the evidence to put Red Pete, the outlaw and poacher, +behind the bars. There, too, were the splendid portraits (they were +nothing less) of the bull moose of Swift River, a lasting tribute to the +nerve of Plympton, the tenderfoot comrade of that memorable cruise.</p> + +<p>There were studies of deer and other wild animals, views of Woodcraft +Camp, of scenes along Swift River, and of the various camps and points +of interest on Lost Trail, the relocating of which by Walter and his +four fellow Scouts of the Lone Wolf Patrol had won for them the +distinction of a special letter of commendation from national +headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America.</p> + +<p>Above the door hung a hard-used set of boxing gloves. Crossed above one +window were a pair of snow-shoes, while above the other window were a +pair of fencing foils. In one corner, each in its case, were two +fishing-rods, a rifle and a tennis racquet. In the opposite corner +leaned a Scout staff and a couple of canoe paddles. A great horned owl +stared unblinkingly down from the top of one of the plain oak bookcases. +On the wall just back and above it was fastened a small banner having +the head of a wolf worked in black against a white background, and +bearing the one word "Persistence." It was the Lone Wolf banner which +had been carried on that never-to-be-forgotten search for Lost Trail. By +unanimous vote of the patrol, it had been presented to Upton at the +conclusion of the trip in recognition of successful leadership.</p> + +<p>Several small silver cups on the bookcases and half a dozen medals +pinned to a little square of black velvet on one wall attested to +well-won victories in various lines of sport. The books on the shelves +were what one might expect in such surroundings, well selected stories +of adventure and exploration, treatises on hunting, fishing and outdoor +sports, a very complete nature library, handbooks on woodcraft, camping, +first aid, forestry and surveying, a well-thumbed Scout manual and other +books which attested to the owner's love of the great outdoor world. But +these were not all. A whole shelf was devoted to history, and another to +selections from standard American and English authors, including several +of our best loved poets.</p> + +<p>Altogether, it was a room such as a keen, red-blooded, broad-minded boy +might well delight in. Upton did delight in it. Everything in it held +some special significance or sentiment for him, and now as his eyes idly +roved from one object to another one memory after another was stirred +within him. At last his eyes rested on the snow-shoes and remained +there.</p> + +<p>"Wonder if I'll get a chance to use those things this winter," he +muttered. "Little old New York doesn't know much about that kind of +foot-gear. I suppose Pat has worn out two or three pairs since he gave +me those, and here I haven't had 'em on but once in three years, and +then there was hardly snow enough for an excuse. I guess I'd be some +tenderfoot all right, all right, on those things up in the woods. Good +old Pat! Wonder what he's doing. It's a long time since I've heard from +him. Well, I ought not to kick over a little extra grind! He's trying to +get an education and support himself and help his folks at the same +time. Wish he could come down here for the vacation. What fun it would +be to show him around and listen to his remarks on the big city. It +would be almost as much fun as going into the big woods in the winter. +Fact is, I envy him right now, and I'll bet he doesn't envy me a penny's +worth."</p> + +<p>Swiftly his thoughts reverted to his first meeting with Pat Malone, +chore boy and bully of a sawmill village in the North Woods, and of the +thrashing he had given the young woodsman in spite of the latter's +advantage in weight and strength.</p> + +<p>"It was all in the know how. Imagine me trying to do it now," he +chuckled. "Why, Pat could take me across his knee just as he did the +youngster who mistook him for a deer and put a bullet through his hat +last fall. I've never seen anybody take to an idea as Pat did to +scouting. He just soaked it up. It was the principle of the thing that +got him right from the start, and not just the fun that goes with it. +And just see what it's done for him! I don't know of any one it's done +so much for, unless——"</p> + +<p>Almost unconsciously Walter turned to stare through the gathering dusk +at a photograph on the nearer of the two bookcases. A pair of frank +eyes, kindly but keen, looked down at him from a face good to see, the +face of a boy of about his own age. It was a handsome face and the +beauty lay, not in regularity of features, but in the strength of +character and purpose written in every line. It was the face of Hal +Harrison, son of a multi-millionaire, and comrade and fellow Scout in +the fun and adventures of the last three summers. It was the sudden +remembrance of Hal that had caused the abrupt break in the trend of his +thought. Not even for the poor, rough, tough young bully of the woods +had scouting done more than it had for this other lad, brought up in the +lap of luxury, his every whim gratified, toadied to, petted, spoiled. +From opposite extremes of the social strata it had brought these two +together on the common ground of true brotherhood—the brotherhood of +democracy. It had discovered to the young savage, for Pat was little +more than that, his own manhood. It had stripped from Hal, the cad, the +veneer of false social rank based on wealth and found there also a man. +And now these two—the one whom he had fought and the one whom he had +despised—Upton regarded not only as comrades and brother Scouts, but +almost as chums.</p> + +<p>Some such thoughts as these were floating through his mind as he sat +there in the soft dusk of winter twilight. It was just the hour for +dreaming the dreams which every boy loves to dream, half thought, half +idle fancy. He tried to picture what the future might hold for himself +and for these two comrades. Hal would be a captain of industry. It could +hardly be otherwise. He would inherit vast wealth. He would in time take +charge of the great enterprises which his father had built up. Would he +apply to their management the principles of which as a Scout he was now +so earnest a champion? Pat dared to dream of some day becoming a +naturalist. Would he succeed? Remembering what Pat had been and what he +now was Walter somehow felt that he would. As for himself he could not +see his own career with a like clearness. He would like—</p> + +<p>Ting-aling-ling! It was the telephone in the hall. With a start Walter +came back to earth and the present. He went to answer the call. Picking +up the receiver he called, "Hello." For a moment there was no response, +but he caught a sound as of voices and something that sounded like a +laugh. Then over the wire came a rich brogue that caused Walter to +nearly drop the 'phone.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Misther Leader. I have to reporrt the discovery av the city av +Noo Yor-r-k and the losing av mesilf entoirely."</p> + +<p>"Pat! You big red headed son of Erin! Are you really in New York? When +did you get in? Where are you? Are you——"</p> + +<p>"Aisy, aisy now. Have ye not learned thot ye can make but wan bull's-eye +at a shot? Shure I be in Noo Yor-r-k, an' 'tis proud the city ought to +be av the honor I be doin' ut."</p> + +<p>"Quit your kidding, Pat, and tell me where you are and when you came and +all about it," interrupted Walter.</p> + +<p>"Shure, wasn't I afther telling ye thot I be in Noo Yor-r-k?" protested +Pat in a grieved tone. "'Tis at the illigant home av an illigant +gintleman thot I be, but begorra I forgot entoirely to blaze the trail +and I don't know how I got here at all, at all."</p> + +<p>There was a sound of a scuffle and a smothered laugh, then another voice +broke in:</p> + +<p>"Hello, old Scout!"</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking that voice, and Upton grinned more broadly than +before as he replied:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Hal. It sure does me good to hear your voice. I might have known +whose illigant home Pat is honoring. Where did you find him, and why +didn't you tell me? Didn't expect you home until the end of next week. +Funny thing, but I was thinking of you two fellows when the 'phone rang. +Same old Pat, isn't he? Gee, but it's good to hear the voices of you two +fellows! Now when do I see you and where?"</p> + +<p>"Right after dinner. We'll drive around and pick you up and then give +Pat a glimpse of the Great White Way," replied Hal, answering the last +questions first. "I've had this all planned for a month by way of a +surprise. I have a week more vacation than you do, and I got in just in +time to meet Pat's train. Had hard work to persuade him to come, but I +got him at last. Say, got any plans made for your vacation?"</p> + +<p>"Nary a plan. Been waiting to hear from you," replied Walter.</p> + +<p>"Good! I've got the greatest little stunt you ever heard of to tell you +about to-night. Pat suggested it, and I had to promise to try to put it +through before he would agree to come down here. We've got to go clean +up for dinner now, but we'll be around about eight o'clock. So long +until then."</p> + +<p>"So long," replied Walter, and hanging up the receiver he whooped +joyously and proceeded to execute a war dance that ended with a crash as +a rug slipped under his feet and he came down in a heap. It happened +that at that very instant his father, just home from the office, opened +the hall door briskly and a second later landed on Walter with a force +that brought a grunt from each. He had tripped over one of the boy's +sprawling legs. As quickly as he could disentangle himself Walter +scrambled to his feet. Concern was written in every line of his face as +he extended a helping hand to Mr. Upton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dad, are you hurt?" he cried anxiously.</p> + +<p>Mr. Upton's eyes twinkled good-humoredly as he replied: "Only in my +dignity. But tell me, son, why all this hilarity that led to the utter +downfall of the house of Upton? I heard you break loose, and was +hurrying to share in it."</p> + +<p>"It's a shame," declared Walter contritely as he brushed off his +father's coat. "I ought to know better than to be acting like a wild +Indian in the house. Fact is, I had just got some mighty good news over +the 'phone. Guess what."</p> + +<p>"Hal is coming home for the vacation," hazarded Mr. Upton promptly, for +these two, father and son, were chums, and he knew just how eagerly +Walter had hoped for Hal's homecoming.</p> + +<p>"Right and wrong, both!" whooped Walter. "You're a good little guesser, +Dad, but you didn't guess enough this time. He's home already, and Pat's +with him!"</p> + +<p>"Pat! Pat who?" A puzzled frown wrinkled Mr. Upton's forehead.</p> + +<p>"Pat Malone, of course! As if there was more than one Pat! They got in +half an hour ago, and they're coming around here after dinner to get +me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Upton's face lighted with a smile of pleasure. "That's splendid," he +declared. "It's news worth getting upset for. How ever did Hal lure +that young giant out of his beloved woods?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Walter. "All I know is that he is here, and the +rest we'll find out when they get here. Hope he's going to stay through +vacation. It'll be no end of fun showing Pat around. Wish you could be +with us."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could," replied Mr. Upton, smiling. "Suppose we eat dinner now +so that you will be ready for them when they arrive."</p> + +<p>Promptly at eight o'clock a big touring car drew up in front of the +house, and Walter was down the steps before the two figures in the +tonneau could disentangle themselves from the robes. Three voices +mingled in a joyous shout, there was a swift clasping of hands in the +Scout grip, and then the three boys started up the steps to the open +door, where Mr. Upton stood waiting with outstretched hand.</p> + +<p>"Welcome to our city, Pat!" he cried heartily.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. If everybody receives such a welcome as I have had it +is no wonder that we cannot keep people in the woods."</p> + +<p>Walter actually gaped open mouthed at Pat. There was not a trace of +accent. Pat caught the look and his blue eyes twinkled. Suddenly he +whirled and hit Upton a resounding whack between the shoulders with his +open palm. "Did I not tell ye thot whin I got the leaves out av me hair +and the Irish out av me shpach I would come? And here I be. Tell me now, +do ye want to foight? 'Twas the reception I was afther giving ye whin ye +first came to the woods, and 'tis no more than roight thot ye should +trate me the same whin I land in Noo Yor-r-k."</p> + +<p>Walter ran a calculating eye over the brawny young woodsman, six feet in +his stockings and broad in proportion, and backed away. "I waive the +privilege—out of politeness," said he with a low bow.</p> + +<p>"'Tis loike Noo Yor-r-k to be gentle with the helpless. Shure 'tis a +foine settlemint and foine people in ut," retorted Pat.</p> + +<p>"I am interested to learn how Hal induced you to come here, Pat," said +Mr. Upton as he ushered them into the library.</p> + +<p>Hal chuckled. "I trapped him," said he. "I set a trap and baited it and +he walked right into it. Don't you think I'm some little trapper?"</p> + +<p>"You certainly are," declared Mr. Upton, while Pat grinned. "Let's hear +all about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, first I made sure that I could get passes from Dad. You know he +controls the railroad to Upper Chain. Dad was tickled to death with the +idea. Even offered to send up his private car. You know he's a great +admirer of Pat. Then for a bait I arranged through a friend to get an +introduction for Pat to some of the head people out at Bronx Park and at +the American Museum of Natural History. I knew that he just couldn't +pass that chance up, but to make sure I wrote to Doctor Merriam at +Woodcraft Camp, and of course he joined the conspiracy right away. For a +clincher I promised Pat that Walt and I would spend Walt's vacation with +him up in the woods."</p> + +<p>Walter came out of his chair with a bound. "What's that?" he cried. "Say +it again!"</p> + +<p>"I said that to get Pat down here I promised him that we—you and +I—would spend a week in the woods with him this winter. Is that +perfectly clear?" Hal spoke slowly and with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"It sounds clear, but it isn't," replied Walter, glancing at his father +with a rueful smile. He was thinking of the expense and that as things +then were he could not afford the trip.</p> + +<p>Hal intercepted the glance and understood. "Oh, yes, it is," said he. +"It is perfectly clear. We leave here next week Friday night and you and +Pat are my guests until we reach Upper Chain the next morning. Then the +three of us become the guests of Doctor Merriam at Woodcraft Camp for a +day or two, and after that you and I will be the guests of—guess who?"</p> + +<p>Walter shook his head. He was a trifle dazed by the way in which Hal +took everything for granted.</p> + +<p>"Pat and his partner!" cried Hal, while Pat grinned broadly. "Pat's +trapping this winter instead of lumbering, and we're going to spend a +week in a real trapper's camp, and snow-shoe and have no end of fun. +Won't it be great? Walt may go, mayn't he, Mr. Upton?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Upton laughed aloud. "I wouldn't dare say no in the face of such +completely organized plans," he confessed. "Of course he may go. It's a +splendid idea, and I suspect that when he comes back for the next term +of the school year he will be feeling so fine that nothing can stop him +from winning that scholarship he has set his heart on, and has been +working so hard for."</p> + +<p>"Then it's all settled!" cried Hal. "Pat is going to stay and go back +with us, and while he is here it is up to us to show him what New York +is like. We'll begin by showing him the Great White Way to-night. Get +your coat and hat, Walt. The car is waiting. Won't you go with us, Mr. +Upton?"</p> + +<p>"Not this time, thank you, Hal," replied Mr. Upton. "I have an +engagement for this evening, though I would much rather join you +youngsters than keep it. I feel that I am to lose something really worth +while—a rare pleasure."</p> + +<p>"And the loss is equally ours, sir," said Pat as they rose to don their +coats.</p> + +<p>Once more Walter eyed Pat quizzically. It was clear that the young +Irishman had been pursuing his studies under Doctor Merriam to good +advantage. Without the rich brogue it was a new and wholly different +Pat. But he forbore to make any comment, and in a few minutes they were +off to show Pat one of the most wonderful scenes in the world, New +York's famous Broadway by night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>PAT SEES WHITE MAGIC</h3> + + +<p>Mindful of the lasting effect of first impressions Hal had contrived to +give Pat no opportunity to get more than a fleeting glimpse of crowded +streets and glaring lights. He had met Pat at the train, which had not +arrived until the early winter evening had set in, hurried him to a big +touring car with curtains drawn and then whirled him away to the +palatial Harrison home on Riverside Drive without giving him a chance to +sense more than a glare of lights and that confusion of sounds which +constitutes the voice of a great city. The same car had brought them to +Walter's modest home. While they had been making their brief call there +the chauffeur, under Hal's orders, had put back the top of the machine, +so that as they descended the steps Pat did not recognize the car at +all. In fact, until that day Pat had never so much as seen a motor car, +a buck-board being the most stylish equipage of which Upper Chain could +boast.</p> + +<p>"Arrah, 'tis black magic!" exclaimed Pat as he settled himself +comfortably between Hal and Walter in the tonneau, convinced at last +that he was really in the same car which had brought him there.</p> + +<p>"And we're going to show you some white magic," cried Hal, as he leaned +forward to give orders to the chauffeur.</p> + +<p>A quick run through side streets, comparatively deserted at this hour, +brought them to Broadway at the junction with Sixth Avenue. Turning +north the dazzling splendor of the "Great White Way" burst upon the +startled eyes of the young woodsman. His companions heard him catch his +breath with a little gasp. Then he closed his eyes for the space of a +few seconds, opening them slowly as if he suspected them of playing him +tricks. An instant later he seized a leg of each of his companions just +above the knee with a grip that brought both half-way to their feet with +a little yell of surprised protest.</p> + +<p>"'Tis true, then, and no drame," said he as he settled back with a +little sigh of relief. "Sure and had I pinched mesilf I would not have +believed me own sinse av feeling. White magic, did yez call ut? Sure +'tis the city av enchantment."</p> + +<p>It was a rare bit of thoughtfulness on Hal's part to give Pat such an +introduction to America's greatest city. Whatever the disillusionment in +the garish light of day he would always think of New York as he saw it +for the first time—a fairy city of twinkling lights, the street crowded +with pleasure seekers, the great buildings towering into the sky with +all harsh and rigid lines softened by the protecting shadows, and above +all the moving pictures in many colored lights of the advertising signs. +These were indeed a revelation to the young woodsman, and he was soon +oblivious to all else. The usual ready tongue was silent. Only once did +he speak after the first outbreak and this was when the car was stalled +for a few minutes where he had a full view of the famous chariot race +from Ben Hur. As he saw that wonderful picture leap out of the darkness +between two flaming torches, the driver leaning from his chariot and +shaking the lines above the four galloping horses, Pat leaned forward +with tense, eager face. Then the picture disappeared and he dropped back +with a little sigh.</p> + +<p>"I knew ut was not true," he murmured half to himself, staring at the +blank space between the lighted pillars. A second later the picture +again flashed out of the darkness and the young Irishman relapsed into a +silence that was not broken until, having gone up one side and down the +other of the Great White Way, Hal proposed they spend the remainder of +the evening at a theater. But this Pat vetoed and he did it so tactfully +as to remove all possible sense of disappointment which Hal might have +felt.</p> + +<p>"Ye may fill a cup no more than full," said he, "and one drap more would +be making the cup av me joy run over. 'Tis poor shcoutcraft to be +wasteful even av pleasure, and by the same token the Scout thot tries to +see everything at wance remimbers nothing. I have seen the white magic, +and thot be enough for wan noight. Tis just the two faces av yez I would +be seein' now, and hearing the voices av yez to remoind me thot I be +still Pat Malone av the North Woods."</p> + +<p>"We'll go back to my house and spend the rest of the time in my den with +the pictures and other things to help make us think we are back in the +woods," declared Walter. "I'm crazy to know about this scheme you +fellows have cooked up for the vacation, and all the news from the +woods. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"Suits me to a dot," replied Hal promptly. "I'd rather have a good old +gabfest than see the best show in the city, and if Pat feels that way +too it's all settled."</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes later the three boys were lounging comfortably in +Upton's den and Pat was undergoing a regular bombardment of questions.</p> + +<p>"How's Doctor Merriam?" demanded Walter.</p> + +<p>"The Big Chief is just as fine and a little finer than ever," replied +Pat, dropping his brogue. "He's one grand man. There's none grander +blesses the earth with the touch of his feet. I've been living with him +at Woodcraft ever since you fellows left, except for a week or two at a +time on the trap line, and if ever I amount to anything it will be +because of Doctor Merriam. 'Tis he that has taken the Irish from my +tongue, though not from the heart of me. Shure I be as good an Irishman +as iver, and the Saints defind me if I iver be anything else," he added, +with a twinkle at this lapse into his mother tongue.</p> + +<p>"You're a wonder, Pat!" broke in Walter. "I wouldn't have believed that +even Doctor Merriam could have taken that burr off your tongue. What did +he do it with—a file? Gives me a funny feeling, as if you were not you +at all, every time I hear you speak without it. Feel sort of—well, you +know—like an old friend had disappeared. And—and—I don't think I +quite like it."</p> + +<p>Pat's face suddenly sobered and rising to his feet he strode over to +where Upton sat tilted back in his chair, his feet on the desk, and +swung a big fist, hard as nails, perilously close to Upton's nose. "Take +ut back, ye little spalpeen," he commanded. "Take ut back and tell me ye +loike me betther for what I am than for what I was!"</p> + +<p>Walter ducked in mock fear. The sudden move threw him off balance, and +with a crash he and the chair went over backward. One of Pat's big +hands clutched him by the collar and lifted him to his feet. An +exaggerated sigh from the young giant followed. "I don't know but that +ye be roight afther all," he said mournfully. "The first toime we met ye +gave me the best thrashing av me loife and I loved ye for ut. Now I have +but to shake me fist to put ye down for the count. Shure 'tis not I that +was, and yet if I be not I that was, who be I that I be?" The humorous +blue eyes grew tense and earnest. There was a new note in the deep +vibrant voice as he continued.</p> + +<p>"I am still Pat Malone, and proud of it. If I am not the old Pat I am +proud of that too. And what I am to-day is due to Walt Upton, Doctor +Merriam and the Boy Scouts of America. It was Walt who first blazed the +trail for me. It is Doctor Merriam who is teaching me how to follow it, +and it is the principles of the Boy Scouts which have brought out +whatever of good there is in me. I tell you, fellows, if there is any +one thing that I am proud of it is that I am a Scout."</p> + +<p>"Same here," interrupted Hal. "Scouting hasn't done any more for you +than it has for me."</p> + +<p>"You fellows are surprised because I can speak the King's English +without wholly murdering it, as I used to, and as I have a sneaking idea +you liked to hear me," continued Pat. "Let me tell you it has cost me +something. I've talked to the trees all day long when I've been alone on +the trap line—just practicing, and even now it's easier to slip into +the old way than to stick to the new. Don't for a minute think that I am +ashamed of the old. I love it, and I always will. But I've begun to +understand what education means, and this is the first step. It isn't +easy. Don't think it. I have to keep guard on this slippery tongue every +minute. I believe it's harder than it would be to learn a foreign +language. It's up to you fellows to help me while I am here. I've used +the old brogue to-night because I knew you liked to hear it, but I'm not +going to any more unless it slips out when I am excited or my feelings +get the best of me. Now this is enough about myself. What are the plans +for the rest of my stay here?"</p> + +<p>"Hold on," protested Upton. "You haven't told us a thing about the +woods or what luck you've had trapping, or what has become of Alec +Smith, or what we are going to do if we go up there, or who your partner +is. Now fire away and we'll make plans afterward. What are the woods +like now?"</p> + +<p>"Two feet of snow and ten below zero when I left, and the beauty of them +is not for the tongue to tell, but for eyes to see. It's even whiter +magic than you have shown me this night, and I am not going to spoil it +by trying to tell what it is like," replied Pat.</p> + +<p>"And the trapping?"</p> + +<p>"Fair to good."</p> + +<p>"Who's your partner? You haven't said a word about him."</p> + +<p>"An old woodsman and trapper I scraped acquaintance with. He's a little +rough, but when you get to know him I think you'll like him." There was +a twinkle in Pat's eyes which neither Hal nor Walter caught.</p> + +<p>"Now tell us about Alec Smith, and we'll let you off. How is that broken +leg, and what is he doing? Say, he must have felt good when Black +Charley confessed to having knifed The Mick! Looked pretty bad for Alec +for a while, didn't it? Is he living up to all those good resolutions he +made?"</p> + +<p>"You bet he is!" Pat answered the last question first. "After Big Jim +and I got him out to Woodcraft Camp he stayed there doing odd jobs +around the camp until that leg was strong enough for him to go into a +lumber camp as cook. He was there a month and then quit for the trap +line. The last I heard of him he was somewhere up in the Smugglers' +Hollow country, and I guess probably he's there yet. You remember he had +some traps cached up there. Leg's as good as it ever was, and he swears, +and believes it too, that Walt here is the greatest little doctor that +ever came into the woods. He'll talk any one who will listen deaf, dumb +and blind on the Boy Scouts, and I believe he'd cut his right hand off +any time for Doctor Merriam. Alec's all right."</p> + +<p>"And Big Jim! What's Jim doing and how is he?"</p> + +<p>"He's the same old Jim. He's the boss of the Atwater lumber camp this +winter, with two crews under him and out to make a record cut. If the +weather holds good he'll come pretty near to doing it. Jim's the best +logging boss, as well as the best guide, in the North Woods. Now what +are you fellows going to do with me in Noo Yor-r-k?"</p> + +<p>"That's mostly up to Hal, I'm afraid," replied Upton ruefully. "You see +I have to go to school next week. To-morrow is Saturday, and a holiday +of course, so I've got that free. No, I haven't either, come to think! I +promised to take my patrol out for a hike to-morrow afternoon, and I +don't quite see how I can avoid it now because there is no way of +getting word to the fellows unless——" He paused and scowled +thoughtfully. "I have it!" he exclaimed. "Scout McNulty has a 'phone in +his house, and I'll send him around to notify the others to-morrow +morning that the hike is off."</p> + +<p>He jumped to his feet to go to the 'phone, but Pat stopped him. "What's +the matter with us going on that hike?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Instantly Walter's face lighted with pleasure. "Will you? Are you sure +you want to?" he cried. "The boys have heard so much about you that they +will be tickled silly to have a real, live, sure enough guide from the +woods with them. We were planning to go out to Bronx Park and try a +little winter woodcraft and——"</p> + +<p>"That settles it. If it's Bronx Park I'm right with you, my son, unless +Hal has something else planned," interrupted Pat. "In that case, why, I +be in the hands av me frind, of course."</p> + +<p>"Suits me," declared Hal promptly. "We'll take Pat down-town in the +morning and show him the sights and take him into Scout headquarters. +Then we'll go out to the park and show him that your Blue Tortoises are +not so slow as he may think from the name. We'll frame up something else +for the evening. That's a bully scheme. I'll bet that Pat will be +jealous of that patrol of yours, Walt, before we get through. Just you +put 'em on their mettle and give him something to tell that patrol of +his at Upper Chain about. I suppose you're still leader of the Bull +Moose, Pat?"</p> + +<p>Pat shook his head. "Yes and no," said he. "You see I've been away so +much that I had to resign. A patrol to be what it should be needs a +leader on the job every minute, and so one of the boys at the sawmill is +leader now, and he's a good one, too. He's a Scout of the first class +and is working for merit badges now. He's got five already—personal +health, physical development, taxidermy, signaling and stalking—and has +won a medal for saving life. When I happen to be at home I just give +them my valuable advice." Pat grinned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we've got some little patrol up there in the woods, and I'm just +waiting to be shown what your city Scouts have got on us," he concluded.</p> + +<p>"That takes care of to-morrow, then," said Hal. "We'll plan doings next +week so that Walt can be with us out of school hours. Then Friday night +we'll head for the good old woods. My, but that does sound good to me! +Ten days up among the big trees, where there's snow enough to make a +footprint without having to photograph it in order to prove it isn't a +fake; where the foxes and the other critters with nice fur coats are +sitting 'round waiting to put their little footsies in our traps; where</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The Red Gods dwell<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Neath a mystic spell;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The red flame glows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the red blood flows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a man's a man<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a little span."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A sofa pillow full in the face cut short this poetic outbreak, followed +by an inquiry from Pat as to Hal's experience on snow-shoes.</p> + +<p>"Never had 'em on in my life, but I'm crazy to," replied that exuberant +youth. "Bought a pair yesterday purpose for the trip. Don't look to me +as if it can be much of a trick to walk on 'em."</p> + +<p>"Did you buy any liniment to go with them?" asked Pat.</p> + +<p>Hal looked puzzled. "Liniment? What for?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, just to be prepared. You know a good Scout always is prepared," +replied Pat evasively, at the same time tipping Walter a wink.</p> + +<p>"Meaning what?" persisted Hal.</p> + +<p>"It's a long, long way to Tipperary, especially on snow-shoes," was +Pat's enigmatic reply. "I'd lay in a good supply of that liniment if I +were you."</p> + +<p>Hal made a wry face at Pat. "Quit your kidding," said he. "We'll take a +gallon of liniment if you say so. Now tell us what else we'll need. Do +we take guns?"</p> + +<p>Pat shook his head. Then seeing a look of disappointment in both faces +he hastened to say that the closed season was now on for all game +excepting rabbits and hares, and if they wanted to hunt these they might +take their 22 caliber rifles. In fact he wasn't sure but this would be a +good idea, as bunnies were plentiful and hunting them on snow-shoes +might afford some excellent sport.</p> + +<p>"What about fish? Will there be a chance to do some fishing through the +ice?" asked Hal.</p> + +<p>Pat smiled at Hal's eagerness. "There are just as big pickerel under the +ice as ever swam," he averred, "and if you are willing to do some real +work and chop out holes I think I can promise you some whales without +the trouble of swimming for them."</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh at this thrust at Hal, whose adventure with a +big pickerel, during which he and Plympton had been capsized from a +raft, was one of the never-to-be-forgotten incidents of the search for +Lost Trail.</p> + +<p>"But you haven't told us yet just where we are going, where your camp +is, you know," Walter broke in.</p> + +<p>Just then the honk, honk of an automobile sounded from the front of the +house.</p> + +<p>"There's the car!" cried Hal. "We'll have to be getting a move on, or +Pat will lose his beauty sleep and be in no shape for to-morrow. We'll +be round at 9:30 sharp in the morning, Walter. I don't want to get Pat +up too early."</p> + +<p>"Early!" Pat fairly snorted. "Arrah now! Do yez play all night and slape +all day in Noo Yor-r-k?" he demanded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE BLUE TORTOISE PATROL</h3> + + +<p>Sparrer, otherwise Edward Muldoon, smallest Scout in the Blue Tortoise +Patrol, darted back from the corner to the group waiting about the +up-town entrance to the subway.</p> + +<p>"He's coming!" he shrilled. "An' two guys wid him, de one wid de dough +an' de biggest rube yer ever put yer peepers on!"</p> + +<p>The announcement was electrifying and there was an immediate rush to +look down the street.</p> + +<p>"It's Walt and Harrison all right, but who in the dickens is that with +them, and where did they find him?" exclaimed Ned Patterson.</p> + +<p>"Gee, look at the size of him! He's a rube, all right, by the looks of +him, but I'd hate to tell him so," muttered Chick Parsons.</p> + +<p>"Red headed and Irish at that! Say, fellers, we'll have some fun with +him," chortled Jack Norwood.</p> + +<p>"Quit your kidding and fall in for a salute!" snapped Assistant Leader +McNulty.</p> + +<p>Instantly the patrol lined up and as Walter approached, Hal on one side +and Pat on the other, seven hands were raised as one in the Scout +salute. It was returned by the three older lads.</p> + +<p>"Somebody's wised him to de game, all right," whispered the +irrepressible Sparrer to his neighbor as his sharp eyes took note of the +fact that Pat had saluted quite as if accustomed to it. "Mebbe he +belongs to some rube patrol."</p> + +<p>There was a nudging of elbows and here and there a half smothered giggle +as the youngsters sized Pat up and noticed the awkward fit and rough +material of his "store suit," the celluloid collar and the flaming red +four-in-hand clumsily tied. In the eyes of his young critics he was +branded by these things quite as much as if he had worn a placard "Just +from the Country."</p> + +<p>"Green goods right from the farm," whispered Chick to Sparrer. "I dare +you to ask him how the caows are."</p> + +<p>Whether or not Sparrer would have taken the dare will never be known, +for at that instant Upton introduced the big stranger, and the effect +was magical to say the least. "I want you fellows to shake hands with +some one you already know all about, Corporal Malone of the Lone Wolf +Patrol, which had the honor of finding Lost Trail last fall, and one of +the best guides in the North Woods," said he. "He and Harrison, whom you +all know, are going with us on the hike this afternoon, and if you chaps +feel as I do about it you know that we are the luckiest patrol in New +York City. Pat, shake hands with Assistant Leader McNulty."</p> + +<p>Then in turn the others were presented, ending with Sparrer. Pat's blue +eyes twinkled as his big hand closed over the little one put out to him. +"'Tis Irish ye be," said he, "and 'tis the same blood flows in me own +veins. Pwhat iver would the wor-rld do widout the Irish? The Blue +Tortoise Patrol should be proud thot it has a son av St. Patrick."</p> + +<p>"It is," laughed Upton. "Now, fellows, the Blue Tortoise yell for the +best Scout I know—Pat Malone!"</p> + +<p>The yell was given with a will and caused many a head to turn in the +hurrying throng, and many a smile, for the trim uniformed youngsters, +faces alight with eagerness for their afternoon outing, were good to +see. Laughing and joking the patrol squeezed into the crowded subway +express and they were off for Bronx Park, the wonderful great playground +where for a five cent fare one is lifted as by magic from the heart of +the city to the heart of the country.</p> + +<p>As the train roared through the great tunnel Pat scanned the individual +members of the patrol with manifest approval. They were a clean-cut, +sturdy looking lot of boys ranging in age from thirteen to sixteen, +McNulty, the assistant leader, being the only one of that age. And they +were a representative lot. Two were the sons of well-to-do merchants, +one was the son of a broker, another was from the modest home of a +patrolman on the police force, a fifth was the son of a subway guard, +and the remaining two were Bernstein, whose features unmistakably +stamped him as a Hebrew of the upper class, and Sparrer Muldoon, newsboy +and street gamin.</p> + +<p>Pat's interest promptly centered in the latter, and he took the first +opportunity to ask about him and how he happened to be associated with +others seemingly so far above him in the social scale. Upton smiled.</p> + +<p>"There isn't any social scale among Scouts, you know," said he.</p> + +<p>Pat nodded. "I ought to know," he agreed. "If there were Pat Malone +wouldn't be this very minute the guest of the son of a millionaire. But +I wasn't one of a regular patrol of fellows better off. Tell me +something about this imp you call Sparrer, and how you dared take him +into this bunch. He seems to fit all right, so far as I can see."</p> + +<p>"Sure he fits," replied Walter. "I put it up to the fellows themselves +and they invited him to join. First time I ran into Sparrer made me +think of the first time I met you. He had just trimmed the life out of a +bully half a head taller than himself for stealing the papers of a +little Jew."</p> + +<p>Pat's eyes began to dance appreciatively. "Go on," he commanded.</p> + +<p>"He had a black eye and a bloody nose and he was as dirty a little +heathen as ever you laid eyes on. But he sure packed a healthy punch in +each fist and knew where to put 'em, to judge by the looks of the bully, +who was sneaking away with a whole crowd of newsies jeering at him. +Sparrer didn't pay any attention to the rest of 'em, but went over to +the little Jew and gave him half of his own stock of papers to make up +for the ones the bully had taken, and which had been destroyed in the +scrap. When the youngster tried to thank him Sparrer swore at him, and +he could swear in those days, believe me! That was the Irish in him, +trying to cover up a good deed."</p> + +<p>"A bye afther me own heart," murmured Pat.</p> + +<p>"The whole affair, or rather the motive underneath it, struck me as so +Scout-like that I thought I'd try to get acquainted," continued Upton.</p> + +<p>"'Good boy,' says I.</p> + +<p>"'Wot's it to you?' says he. 'Oi'll smash yer the same way fer a nickel, +yer big dude!' That tickled the bunch, and they began to egg him on and +guy me until I saw that if I didn't want to be mixed up in a common +street scrap I'd better retreat, which I did ingloriously. Later I +managed to scrape acquaintance with him, and by making some inquiries I +found out that his mother is a widow and he was helping support the +family, that he had a reputation as a scrapper and that though he swore +like a pirate, smoked and chewed tobacco, as most of these street gamins +do, he was strictly honest and was a terror to the bullies of his +neighborhood. Also that he'd rather fight than eat. Just by chance I +discovered that his ambition was to become a soldier, but he was worried +for fear he never would be big enough. He's small for his age, stunted +for lack of good food when he was a kid, I guess. Next to going into the +army he wanted to be a prize-fighter. I talked scouting to him a little, +but he didn't seem interested until one day I happened along in full +uniform. That got him. I suppose it looked next best to being a soldier. +Then I told him all about my patrol and what we were doing and what +scouting stands for, and he gulped it all down like a hard run buck +trying to drink a lake dry.</p> + +<p>"'Gee, Oi'd like dat, but it ain't for poor blokes the loikes of me,' +said he. That gave me an idea. There was a vacancy in the patrol, and at +the next meeting I put it right straight to the fellows. I told them all +about Sparrer and got 'em interested, and then I just kind of hinted at +the brotherhood and democracy idea of scouting and what a mighty good +turn it would be if Sparrer could be given a chance to get into the +game, and then dropped the subject. The hint worked all right. They're a +pretty good bunch, these fellows. They talked it all over and then they +came around and asked me if I supposed Sparrer would like to join the +Blue Tortoise Patrol. I told them that I was sure he wouldn't if he +suspected that the invitation was charity on their part. They chewed +this over for a while and then came around and said that they really +would like to take him in, and there wasn't any charity about it. I took +the invitation to Sparrer and he went up in the air like a rocket, just +as I knew he would.</p> + +<p>"'Say, yer can't put no stuff loike dat over on me,' said he. 'Wot do +yer tink Oi am to fall fer a steer loike dat? Dat bunch of high-brows +ain't wantin' me trainin' in dere camp. Youse has been on de level wid +me, now hand it ter me straight—wot's de game?'</p> + +<p>"I did my best to make him see that the invitation was sincere and +explained all over again how there is no social distinction between +Scouts, and how money and that sort of thing doesn't count, but I +couldn't break through his pride. I'd about given up when I had a happy +thought. 'Sparrer,' said I, 'I thought you were a dead game sport, but I +guess you've got a streak of yellow in you after all. Some of these +fellows are from fine homes and some are not, but they're white right +through, and they've got more sand than you have. They dare to take you +in on the same footing that they are on, and you haven't got the nerve +to show 'em that you are just as good as they are.'</p> + +<p>"That got him. The long and short of it was he agreed to come around to +my house the next night and meet the bunch, and he did. The fellows were +good Scouts, all right, and treated him on the level just as if he were +one of 'em. When he saw those photos of mine and the snow-shoes and +paddles and the rest of the junk, and heard about the good times the +bunch was having, he was eager to be a Scout, but he wouldn't say that +he would join the patrol. It wasn't until about three weeks later when +he came around in full uniform and said that he would like to be a Blue +Tortoise that I tumbled to what the trouble had been. He wouldn't join +until he could at least look as well as the rest, and he'd been working +over time and saving every penny to get that uniform. I guess he was +right, at that. The fellows wouldn't have cared, but he cared, and being +dressed like the rest made him feel more as if he belonged with the +crowd."</p> + +<p>Again Pat nodded his full understanding of the youngster's feelings.</p> + +<p>"Sparrer took to scouting like a duck to water," Upton continued. "He +cut out tobacco and swearing, and being naturally quick from his life in +the streets he learned quickly and passed the tenderfoot and second +class tests quicker than anybody else in the patrol. He's a first class +Scout now, and a mighty good one. He is so full of life and fun that it +wasn't any time at all before he was one of the most popular fellows in +the patrol, and when he's on hand he keeps things moving. The hardest +thing he has to overcome is slang. You know he was brought up in the +streets. It's his mother tongue. I'm afraid the boys don't help him +much. They like to hear him. But he's doing his best, and now he's going +to night school. Of course I've told him all about you and the fight +you've made and I rather fancy he's made something of a model and hero +of you."</p> + +<p>"The saints forbid!" exclaimed Pat. Nevertheless he looked pleased.</p> + +<p>"Bronx Park! All out!" sang out the guards.</p> + +<p>Once out of the car the patrol fell into line and with Upton in the lead +headed for the park. Once inside the turnstiles he called a conference, +"You fellows know what we planned to do to-day," he began, "but that was +before we knew that we were to have the honor of Corporal Malone as our +guest. You know he is something of a naturalist, and there are a lot of +animals and birds and snakes and things here that I expect he is +anxious to see. I propose that we show him around instead of doing the +field work we had planned."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Leader!" Pat saluted as he spoke. "The beasties and the bur-rds +will not know what they are missing if they have no chance to inspect +green goods to-day."</p> + +<p>Chick started violently, remembering his remark to Sparrer, and the +latter maliciously punched him in the ribs and ducked to hide a grin. +"But I know what I shall miss if you do not carry out your plans, and I +have no mind to be handed that kind of a lemon. I have all next week to +look at the beasties and only this afternoon to see how little a city +patrol knows of scouting. Arrah now, 'tis mesilf belaves ye be afraid to +be showing me how much betther the Scouts av Upper Chain be than the +Scouts av the great city av Noo Yor-r-k!"</p> + +<p>"That settles it!" cried Upton when the general laugh had subsided. +"We'll show him that the Blue Tortoise Patrol isn't afraid to take a +dare from any one, and we'll show him a few stunts to make his Bull +Moose up there in the woods turn green with envy. You're on your mettle +now, fellows. We'll go over to the wildest and most lonesome part of the +park and divide into two companies. Pat can take one and be the enemy +which has made a successful raid and made its get-away. Hal can go with +him because he knows the country as well as any of us. We'll give them +ten minutes' start and then go in pursuit. There's enough snow in +patches to make snowballs. Any one hit on the arms or legs is wounded. A +hit on the throwing arm puts that man out of the fighting, but he is +still at liberty. A hit on either leg puts a man out of action, but he +may hide if he can within a radius of a hundred feet of the place where +he was hit. A hit on the head or any part of the body puts a man wholly +out of action and he becomes a first aid man to take care of the +wounded. You fellows have played the game before, and I presume each of +you has a Red Cross arm band to pin on when you are hit so that you will +be recognized as a non-combatant."</p> + +<p>There was a general assent and Upton continued: "Our camp will be at the +point we start from. If the enemy can elude us and get back and capture +the camp they win. If we run them down and defeat them or defeat them +in a battle at the camp we win. Any man taken prisoner becomes a member +of the other side. Scouts sent out by either side will make full reports +not only of signs of the enemy but of the country and its conspicuous +characteristics and animals and birds which are seen. Pat, you can pick +your side. You get three besides Hal."</p> + +<p>Pat's first choice was Sparrer, to the youngster's secret delight. He +then chose McNulty and Bernstein, and the two companies, Pat at the head +of one and Upton at the head of the other, started at the Scout pace for +the scene of action. Arrived there a camp was marked off and Pat and his +company at once started off to make the most of the ten minutes allotted +them. Meanwhile Upton laid out his plan of campaign. The camp had been +chosen with a view to defense. On two sides were dense thickets of +bushes from which it would be practically impossible to throw a +snowball. Moreover, to reach these thickets it would be necessary for +the enemy to cross a bare hilltop, which meant that surprise from that +quarter was virtually out of the question. On the third side was an +outcropping ledge of rock behind which the defenders could take shelter. +The fourth side was open, but could not be approached without the enemy +being in sight for some time. Moreover, in the flat open country beyond +there was no snow, hence the enemy attacking from that direction would +not be able to replenish their ammunition. Upton decided that two men +were ample for defense, and at once set all hands to work making a +supply of snowballs from the patches of snow still lingering in the +thickets. Promptly at the end of ten minutes Chick Parsons was sent out +as scout to try to pick up the enemy's trail at the point where they had +disappeared from view with instructions to signal what he should +discover. Norwood was sent in the opposite direction to look for signs +on the chance that the enemy had circled as soon as they were out of +sight. Patterson and Chambers were left to guard camp and Upton climbed +to the top of the little hill which flanked the camp and from which +point he could get signals from both Scouts. The game was on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>"HELP!"</h3> + + +<p>Every member of the Blue Tortoise Patrol was on edge, eager to show Pat +that though they were city born and bred they still knew something of +practical woodcraft and the art of tracking; also of the even more +difficult art of covering up tracks. But it was ordained that things +should be otherwise that day and that the big woodsman should witness a +real and not an artificial test of Scout resources and pluck.</p> + +<p>Chick, studying what struck him as a suspiciously broad trail leading +west from the point where the enemy had last been seen, and suspecting a +ruse, was startled by the faint sound of a whistle to the north. It was +the patrol signal for help and was used only in case of an emergency or +when, as in the present game, a Scout was in danger of capture by the +opposite side and wanted to summon aid. His first thought was that one +of his own side had run onto the enemy and was summoning help. Then he +remembered that he was the only one who had gone out on that side of +camp and so it was manifestly impossible that this could be.</p> + +<p>"Wonder if that's a trick to lead us into an ambuscade," he muttered, +listening with growing suspicion. Again he heard the signal, and there +was something in the sound of it that banished all idea of trickery. +"Something's happened to one of the fellows!" he exclaimed, and +scrambled up a knoll to his left where he could get a fairly clear view. +Far in the distance toward the outer boundary of the park he saw a +figure which the instant he came in sight began to signal with a whistle +in the Morse code.</p> + +<p>"M-o-t-o-r s-m-a-s-h o-n r-o-a-d h-e-l-p c-o-p-s," he spelled out. +Raising his own whistle he signaled O. K. and saw the distant figure +turn and race away at top speed.</p> + +<p>"Phew!" he gasped. "Must be bad if they need the cops. That must mean +they need an ambulance." He whirled toward camp, and caught sight, of a +figure on the hill just back of it. It was Upton watching for signals, +and Chick knew that he must have heard him whistle the O. K. Once more +raising the whistle he repeated the message, adding the location of the +accident as nearly as he could judge. He heard Upton whistle for Norwood +and then saw him bound down into the hollow where the camp lay. A minute +later Patterson, the best runner in the patrol, sprang into view headed +for the park administration buildings at top speed. Satisfied that help +would come in the shortest possible time Chick picked up his staff and +started swiftly for the point where he had seen Sparrer disappear, for +it was he who had first signaled.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Pat, Hal and the three members of the Blue Tortoise Patrol who +had started out with them were working with might and main at the scene +of the accident and in their hearts praying that help would reach them +speedily. It was one of those disasters which in these days have become +so common that often they receive no more than a paragraph or two in the +daily papers. Two automobiles had come together on a turn in a road at +this time of year little frequented, and the smaller of the two had +turned turtle. The other, a powerful roadster, had escaped with but +trifling damage and the driver of it had not even paused to ascertain +the results of the collision, but had thrown on full power and left the +scene at racing speed.</p> + +<p>The accident had occurred at a point about one hundred yards from where +Pat and Sparrer were about to emerge from a thicket of bushes lining the +drive and at the sound of the crash they sprang out. An instant later a +big roadster tore past and they caught a fleeting glimpse of a strained +white face behind the big steering wheel and beyond, partly raised and +half turned to look back, a fur-coated figure, evidently that of a young +man. For just a second his face turned toward them, then hastily turned +away. But that brief glimpse was enough to show them that it bore the +stamp of guilty fear.</p> + +<p>Pat confessed later that the whole thing was so sudden and so wholly +foreign to anything within his experience that he was too confused to +think or act quickly. Not so Sparrer. His life in the streets of New +York had made him no stranger to accidents of a more or less tragic +nature, and he had seen too many violators of the law seeking to escape +the consequences of their own acts not to grasp the situation instantly.</p> + +<p>"They are trying to make a get-away!" he snapped. "Get de number!"</p> + +<p>This was Greek to Pat, whose acquaintance with automobiles was too +recent for him to appreciate the importance of a license number at a +time like this. But Sparrer had not practiced taking automobile numbers +in the rush hours at Madison Square for nothing. It had been only fun +there, by way of training his eyes to quick and sure observation. Now as +a result eye and brain worked in unison and almost automatically and +despite the speed of the car he got the number as surely as if it had +been at a standstill.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>HE JOTTED DOWN THE NUMBER</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>"Jersey car! Dey'll beat it fer across de river," said he as he jotted +down the number in his note-book. "Did yer pipe dere monikers? Oi'd know +dem in a tousand! Now let's see wot happened to de others."</p> + +<p>They started on a run for the overturned car and as they drew near the +sound of moaning from the wreck gave wings to their feet. A small +touring car was bottom up at the side of the road, a rear wheel off at +one side. Half among the bushes and half in the road lay the body of a +young woman, whether dead or simply unconscious they did not take time +to find out. If dead there was nothing for them to do. If unconscious +she could receive attention later. The moans from beneath the wrecked +car told them that there was where aid was needed first.</p> + +<p>The driver, a middle-aged man, was pinned under the steering post, which +was bent and rested across his chest in such a way that while the full +weight of the car did not fall on it, still it was crushing in the ribs +on one side. One leg was doubled under him in a way that denoted a bad +break. His face was badly cut by the glass of the wind-shield and what +was worse, the crimson stream gushing in little spurts from a jagged +gash on one arm, fortunately thrust beyond the edge of the car, +proclaimed a severed artery.</p> + +<p>That must be stopped immediately at all costs, before any attempt was +made to get the man out, or he would bleed to death. Both boys saw this +on the instant, and without a word Pat stooped and gripped the arm +above the cut, bringing to bear all the strength of his powerful +fingers. The effect was immediately apparent. The wound still bled, but +no longer in those fateful jets. Sparrer meanwhile had snatched off his +neckerchief and was preparing a tourniquet. From a shrub by the roadside +he cut a stout stick a foot long, then hastily made search for a smooth +pebble. Finding none he started to feel in his pockets for some small +object that would serve his purpose when his alert glance fell on Pat's +mackinaw. Whipping out his knife once more he cut one of the big smooth +buttons from the mackinaw. Tying the handkerchief loosely around the +injured arm just above where Pat was gripping it he slipped the button +in so that it rested directly on the artery. Then putting the stick +under the handkerchief on the outer side he rapidly twisted it until the +pressure of the button on the artery was sufficient to stop the flow of +blood and Pat could release his grip. The stick was then tied so that it +could not untwist, and they were ready for the next move.</p> + +<p>By this time Harrison, McNulty and Bernstein had come up. They had not +been so far away but that they had heard the crash. Then, too, Sparrer +had whistled for help as soon as he had seen the extent of the disaster. +The quick wits of the newsboy, trained to acute sharpness in the school +of the streets, peculiarly fitted him to take command of the situation. +Also familiarity with suffering and with scenes of violence made him +less susceptible to the shock of the grim spectacle before them than was +the case with his comrades, and he now assumed leadership by right of +fitness. Indeed, he did it quite unconsciously and his comrades quite as +unconsciously accepted the situation and turned to him for directions.</p> + +<p>"We got to git de cops and an amb'lance. Youse guys git de man out from +under de car and Oi'll chase fer de cops!" Without waiting another +second he plunged through the bushes and started in the direction of the +camp, which lay in almost a direct line with the park administration +buildings, the nearest point at which he could be sure of getting help. +He knew the lay of the land perfectly, and he reasoned that by this time +one or more of the other party would be out on the trail and that if he +could signal them and they in turn signal those behind valuable time +would be saved. So on the first high ground he stopped to blow the help +signal with the result already noted. To gain time he made his message +as brief as possible. "Motor smash" told the nature of the accident. +"Help—cops" told the urgency of the case and the need of police aid. He +counted on Upton's knowledge of the way things are handled in a big city +to make the message as clear as if he took precious time to spell out +the full story, and when he heard Chick's O. K. he turned back confident +that help would reach them in the shortest time possible.</p> + +<p>Nor was his confidence misplaced. As soon as Upton got the message from +Chick he understood the situation exactly. Getting down into the hollow +where the camp was he issued orders. The others had heard Chick's +message and knew where the accident had occurred. "Get over to the +administration building as fast as you can run," he ordered Patterson. +"Tell 'em to notify the police and put in an ambulance call. If you +meet a mounted cop on the way tell him. It may be life or death, so run +for a record."</p> + +<p>Patterson was off before the last words were out of Upton's mouth. +Upton, with the other two boys at his heels, at once started for the +scene of the accident, running at top speed. Half-way to his goal +Patterson caught sight of a mounted policeman, hailed him with a shrill +yell, and brought him at a gallop. Briefly he told his story, and the +officer was away to put in a call for an ambulance and get help.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the boys at the wreck had been working with might and main. +Pat's great strength had stood them in good stead, and they had managed +to raise the car sufficiently to free the victim and draw him out. The +cushions and robes were pulled out of the wreck and on these the still +unconscious woman and the man were laid. By the time Upton and his +comrades, panting for breath, reached the scene both victims had been +made as comfortable as possible. The first aid kits had been opened and +temporary bandages were being applied where most needed. In this work +the newcomers at once took a hand.</p> + +<p>Seeing that his assistance was not needed Sparrer had busied himself +elsewhere. He went along the road for some little distance in each +direction, studying the ground carefully. The top surface of the ground +had softened a little in the sun and in places the wheel marks were +visible. This was especially true of the wrecked car, as this had been +fitted with chains. It was comparatively easy to trace the course of +this car, and Sparrer was soon satisfied in regard to it. On the wheel +marks of the other car he spent more time, and he had just completed his +examination as two mounted police dashed up. Swinging down from their +horses they made hasty examination of the victims.</p> + +<p>"Good work, boys," said one of them. "You've done all that can be done, +so far as I can see, until the ambulance gets here. Now then, which of +you is the leader?"</p> + +<p>Upton stepped forward. "Tell us what you know about the accident," +commanded the officer.</p> + +<p>"I know nothing about it," replied Upton curtly. "Everything was +practically as you see it now when I reached here. Pat, did any of your +party see the thing happen?"</p> + +<p>Pat shook his head. "None of us saw it, but two of us were right handy +when it happened, and were on the spot in less than two minutes," said +he, addressing the policemen. "We heard the crash and saw a car which +seemed to be trying to get away, and then we saw this car overturned. +When we got here the young woman was lying by the side of the road half +in the bushes, and out of her senses, just as she is now. The man was +pinned under the car and bleeding like a buck that has just felt the +knife. We stopped that as soon as we could, and then got him out. +Muldoon there can tell you more than I can, because he saw more than I +did. He proved himself a better Scout."</p> + +<p>Sparrer flushed with pleasure. Praise from this source meant more to him +than it would have from any one else, and at a sign from one of the +officers he stepped forward to tell what he knew.</p> + +<p>"We was in de bushes," said he, "about a hundred yards up de road, when +we heard de smash an' jumped out just in time to lamp a big gray +roadster wid two guys in it making dere get-away, and dey was beatin' it +fer fair."</p> + +<p>"Don't suppose you thought to get the number," interrupted one of the +officers.</p> + +<p>Sparrer grinned as he fished out his note-book. "Sure Oi got it," said +he. "Jersey car, and dey was beatin' it fer de ferry loike New York was +bad fer de health. No cops around, same as usual." Sparrer winked at the +other boys. "Prob'ly dey think dey made dere get-away and dey would +have, if some real Scouts hadn't happened to be around."</p> + +<p>One of the officers had reached for the note-book and hastily glanced at +the number. "I'll 'phone this number in and see if we can't head off +that car while you take care of things here," said he, as he vaulted +into the saddle, and a second later was off at full gallop.</p> + +<p>"Go on with your story," commanded the other.</p> + +<p>"Dey ain't no more 'cept while de others was getting the man out from +under de car Oi signaled to de fellows over across de park to get word +to youse, and dey done it," replied Sparrer, quite as if his +quick-witted handling of the matter was as commonplace as his grammar +was bad.</p> + +<p>"The man didn't come to, and make any statement?"</p> + +<p>The boys shook their heads. "He's been just as you see him now," said +Pat, with a pitying glance at the injured man.</p> + +<p>The officer shook his head. "Too bad," said he, "that there wasn't a +witness. If we nab those fellows they'll swear that it was this fellow's +fault. Their running away will make it look bad for them, but they'll +frame up some sort of cock and bull story about being so frightened that +they didn't realize what they were doing and without evidence their word +will be as good as the other man's. If the latter doesn't recover +sufficiently to make a statement, and the young lady doesn't either, the +case will fall through. Was that car right where it is now when you +first saw it?"</p> + +<p>"Say," drawled Sparrer scornfully, "do 'youse tink we had nothing to do +but to pick up a ton or two of scrap and lug it 'round?"</p> + +<p>The policeman grinned. "You chaps seem to be equal to about anything," +said he. "I didn't know but that you had moved the car in getting that +fellow out. Unless he was knocked over here by the collision it appears +that he was on the right side of the road."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," retorted Sparrer. "He was on de right side of de road and +driving easy. De other blokes was burning up de road and tried to make +de turn wide. Dey skidded and side-swiped de little car, and it turned +turtle. Dat's all dey is to it."</p> + +<p>He spoke with such an air of finality that the officer looked at him +suspiciously. "I thought you said none of you saw this happen," said he.</p> + +<p>"None of us did, but even a cop orter be able ter see what <i>has</i> +happened," retorted Sparrer. He walked back up the road a short +distance. "Here's de marks of de chains," he called, "an' dey's all on +de right side of de road. Here's a place where de ground is pretty soft, +but de tracks are clean-cut. If de car had been beatin' it de mud would +have been trown more. Now lamp de tracks comin' de other way."</p> + +<p>He led the way around the curve in the opposite direction, pointing out +soft spots where the tracks of a heavy car without chains were clearly +visible. Little globules of mud had been thrown some distance on both +sides, conclusive evidence that the car was being driven at high speed. +The curve was rather sharp, and the tracks showed that the car had +started to take it wide, but at the scene of the accident had been +pulled sharply to the right and had skidded, striking the smaller +machine and causing it to turn turtle. For those with eyes to see the +whole story was written out on the road surface, and yet the tracks were +comparatively faint, because the surface had softened only where the sun +had lain longest, and might easily have been overlooked by those not +trained to close observation.</p> + +<p>The officer looked at Sparrer curiously. "Hurry up and grow, sonny," +said he; "we need you on the force."</p> + +<p>Sparrer's retort was interrupted by the clang of a gong as an ambulance +dashed up. The young surgeon made a hasty examination of the two victims +and then as they were lifted into the ambulance he turned to the group +of boys and spoke crisply.</p> + +<p>"You fellows have done just the things to be done and all that could be +done here. If this man lives he'll owe his life to you. If you hadn't +known enough to get a tourniquet on that arm at once he would have bled +to death by this time. Officer, I hope you will report the good work of +these Scouts. If there was nothing more to scouting than the teaching of +first aid to the injured it would be a great thing."</p> + +<p>He swung up on the rear of the ambulance, and as it dashed away raised +his hand in the Scout salute, which was promptly returned by the patrol. +Meanwhile the officer was taking down the names and addresses of the +boys, as they would in all probability be needed later as witnesses in +court. When he had finished Upton ordered the patrol to fall in.</p> + +<p>"I guess, fellows," said he, "that none of us feels much like continuing +our game after what's happened. What do you say if we spend the rest of +the afternoon showing Pat around the park? Those in favor say aye."</p> + +<p>The vote was unanimous. As soon as it had been taken Pat stepped +forward. "Mr. Leader," said he, "I want to say just a few words."</p> + +<p>"Speech! Speech!" shouted half a dozen together.</p> + +<p>Pat's face lighted with a grin, and his eyes began to dance. "Arrah now, +yez be looking for a bear in the wrong tree," said he, "for there be no +silver on me tongue and me thoughts be too bashful to be dressed in +wor-rds. So 'tis no spache yez will be getting from me this day." Then +abruptly he dropped the brogue. "Mr. Leader, you started out this day to +show me what city Scouts can do, and you have shown me in a way that +none of us dreamed of. I take off my hat to the Blue Tortoise Patrol. +That was as good scouting as ever I have seen, and we've got some Scouts +up where I come from. They can do stunts in the woods that probably +would make you fellows green with envy if you could see them. If you +were to come up there in the woods I expect that they would laugh at you +behind your backs, just as you would laugh at them if they should come +down here. As nearly as I can make out that seems to be the way with the +world—to laugh at others who happen to be different in speech or ways +or dress. You city boys call a country boy a rube and green just because +his ways are different from your ways and he isn't wise to the things +that you are. He thinks just the same way of you when you visit him in +the country. What I have seen to-day has taught me a lesson. Out in the +woods I know just what to do, how to do it and when to do it, no matter +what happens. When I started out with you to-day I smiled down inside at +the idea of you being able to show me anything in the way of scouting. I +wished I had the Bull Moose Patrol here to show you what real scouting +is like.</p> + +<p>"Then that accident happened, and found me as helpless as a new-born +babe. But Sparrer here was right on the job from the jump. He had the +number of that car before I had it through my head what had happened, +and he knew just what to do next. I expect that it would have been the +same with any of the rest of you in his place. Anyway, I've been shown +the very finest kind of scoutcraft, and that little smile I started with +has turned to pride. I'm proud to be out with the Blue Tortoise Patrol, +as fine a bunch of real Scouts as I know of. And I am particularly proud +of my friend Sparrer Muldoon. I might be able to give him some points on +tracking a deer or a moose or even a man in the woods, but when it +comes to tracking a crazy motorcar Sparrer has got my number. I would +like to propose, Mr. Leader, three cheers for Scout Muldoon."</p> + +<p>The cheers were given with a will and with a rousing tiger at the end, +to the confusion of Sparrer. Then Upton called for the patrol yell for +Pat Malone, and in that Sparrer found vent for his own feelings. These +preliminaries out of the way the patrol fell in to escort Pat about the +park and show him the hardier animals which winter out-of-doors. Nor was +their courtesy without gain to themselves, for the young naturalist's +comments as they visited one enclosure after another revealed an +intimate knowledge of the characteristics and habits, not only of those +species with which he was familiar in their native wilds, but of many +which he was now seeing for the first time, which was a revelation to +his young admirers. Chick wasn't far wrong when he whispered to Norwood:</p> + +<p>"We ain't showing him anything; he's showing us."</p> + +<p>It was an afternoon never to be forgotten by the Blue Tortoise Patrol, +and it was an equally memorable one for Pat. And when they parted that +night there was a mutual respect and liking which found expression in +the hearty grip of Scout brotherhood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>OFF FOR WOODCRAFT</h3> + + +<p>Edward Muldoon, otherwise Sparrer, surreptitiously pinched himself to +make sure that he was not dreaming. He, newsboy from the lower East Side +of New York, who had never been farther from it than Coney Island, +riding in a brilliantly lighted Pullman coach on his way into the great +woods of which he had dreamed so much since he became a Scout, and of +which he had only the vaguest idea! It couldn't be.</p> + +<p>And yet it was. The roar of the wheels told him that it was. The very +feel of the luxurious seat in which he was sitting told him that it was. +And to clinch the fact and at the same time make it harder to believe +there were his three companions, Upton, his patrol leader, Harrison and +Pat Malone, whom he had secretly made his hero. Yes, it was all true, +and yet he couldn't get rid of the idea that sooner or later he would +wake up and find it all a beautiful dream.</p> + +<p>The fact is, this trip was in the nature of a Christmas present. From +their first meeting Pat had taken a great fancy to the street gamin. He +recognized a kindred spirit. Instinctively he realized that the +difference between Sparrer and himself at the same age was mainly one of +environment. The youngster's sturdy independence and self-reliance, his +quick wit, even his impudence, struck responsive chords in the young +woodsman. Sparrer was what he himself would have been had his nursery +been a New York East Side tenement instead of the log cabin of a mill +settlement in the lumber district of the North Woods.</p> + +<p>The night after the motor accident the three older boys had been +discussing Sparrer and his prompt resourcefulness. Pat dropped a remark +that he wished with all his heart that he could have the youngster in +the woods with him for a couple of weeks.</p> + +<p>"Let's take him with us! It would be no end of fun," cried Hal on the +spur of an inspiration.</p> + +<p>Upton shook his head. "It would be bully if we could, but I'm afraid we +can't," said he.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" demanded Hal. "I can get a pass for him, and between us I +guess we can take care of him. It won't cost him a cent."</p> + +<p>"That's just it," declared Upton. "There is nothing on two legs in New +York more independent than Eddie Muldoon. He'll scrap for his rights as +long as he can swing a fist, but the minute you try to hand him anything +for nothing he'll turn you down hard and cold. Sparrer pays his way, or +he don't go, and wild horses couldn't drag him. He would stand for the +pass, all right, because he would be on the same footing as the rest of +us, but if we tried to give him anything in the way of an outfit, and it +goes without saying that he hasn't anything suitable for the weather we +are likely to have up there, he would kick like Barnum's trick mule. +That's one thing I like about the little beggar. And when you come right +down to it, independence is one of the fundamental principles of +scouting."</p> + +<p>Once more Hal was inspired. "I have it, fellows!" he cried. "We'll make +him a Christmas present of the trip. He can't refuse a Christmas gift, +if it is put to him right. I'll get the passes and chip in toward +whatever he needs in the way of outfit. You two can make up the rest. +He'll be Pat's guest when he gets there, the same as Walt and myself, so +he can't kick on that. You're all my guests on the train anyway, so I +don't see how Sparrer's independence is going to be hurt a little bit."</p> + +<p>"That will be great, if we can put it across," declared Upton, "and I +for my part would like nothing better than to have the youngster along. +It would be the event of a lifetime for him."</p> + +<p>So it was decided that Upton should use all his diplomatic powers to +persuade Sparrer that he was needed for the largest success of the +party. His success was the result of a great deal of argument, helped +out by the boy's own longing to know what the woods life of which he so +often dreamed really was like. So now here they were actually on their +way, four as happy boys as ever set forth in quest of pleasure.</p> + +<p>The week had been a busy one. Pat had spent a good part of it at Bronx +Park and the American Museum of Natural History, where his letters of +introduction and his own ready wit and evident thirst for knowledge had +made him a welcome visitor. During the rest of the time there had been +something doing every minute. Hal had seen to that. Upton had dug at his +books as if that scholarship hung on that one week's work. As for +Sparrer, he had worked early and late that he might leave a few extra +coins to make Christmas for the brother and two sisters at home.</p> + +<p>"Did you telephone the hospital before we left?" asked Hal, turning to +Upton as they waited for their berths to be made up.</p> + +<p>Walter nodded. "Did it the last thing before I left the house," he +replied. "The young lady is practically all right now, and has gone +home. Her father is getting along nicely and it is only a matter of time +when he will be right as ever. By the way, their story is exactly as +Sparrer had it. Looks like a sure case against the owner of that other +car. I understand that they are going to bring suit for damages. I +suppose that means that we'll have to go on the witness stand when the +thing comes off."</p> + +<p>"Lucky they caught those fellows at the ferry."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose there's any truth in that claim by the owner of the car +that it was a joy ride by unknown parties who had taken the car without +his consent or knowledge?" Hal asked.</p> + +<p>"Looks pretty fishy to me," replied Upton. "Still, he may get away with +it. Understand that neither of the victims can identify the men in the +other car. You remember that curve is pretty sharp, and they were hit +almost before they saw the other car, let alone who was in it. Sparrer +and Pat seem to be the only ones who even had a glimpse of the +scoundrels, and that a mighty brief one. If there is any identifying +done I guess it is up to you two fellows. Think you can do it?"</p> + +<p>"Not I!" declared Pat with emphasis. "I could shwear to the number of +points on a jumping buck in the brush, but nary a thing could I shwear +to about that ingine av destruction."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Sparrer?" demanded Hal.</p> + +<p>"If Oi was one of them artist guys Oi could draw you a picture of both +of them. Let me put my peepers on them and Oi'll shwear to them in a +tousand," replied the newsboy with such an air of finality that there +was no doubt in the minds of his companions that he could do just what +he said he could.</p> + +<p>"Well, you're likely to have a chance if that case goes to court," Upton +remarked. "For my part, I hope you can do it. I'd like to see those +fellows get what's coming to 'em. I move we turn in now, for we've got +to get up at an unearthly hour. It's bad enough to turn out before +daylight in the summer, but it makes me shiver to think what it will be +at this time of year. Br-r-r-r."</p> + +<p>Pat laughed. "If you're going out on the trap line you may as well get +broken in to early rising at once. We often have some miles behind us by +the time the sun is up," said he. "However, I guess you're right about +turning in. I'm ready, for one."</p> + +<p>It seemed to Sparrer that he had hardly closed his eyes when some one +shook him, and he tumbled out of his berth to find the others in the +dressing room hurriedly getting into their clothes. They had no more +than time to dress and gather up their baggage and various parcels +before the train stopped. They had reached Upper Chain.</p> + +<p>As they stepped down into the night, for day had not yet begun to break, +Upton recalled his first arrival there, a rather lonely youngster, +uncertain that this was the right place. It had been summer then, but +everything had been shrouded in a heavy night mist and the chill of the +high altitude had struck clear to the marrow in his bones. He had been a +tenderfoot then, his only knowledge of woodcraft what little he had +gleaned from books. He remembered how the mystery of the great woods had +swept over him and engulfed him even as did the night mist, and how +insignificant he had felt. Even now, after three years of experience in +camp and on the trail he felt something of that same spirit of awe, and +he knew that it would always be thus. It was the tribute exacted by +nature from the true devotee entering her temples.</p> + +<p>He glanced curiously at Sparrer, wondering what responsive chords might +be struck in the soul of this waif of the great city, but it was too +dark to see his features clearly, and he could only dimly surmise +something of the younger lad's feeling from Sparrer's quick intake of +breath as the dark, heavy coaches of the train rumbled off into the +night, leaving them standing between two walls of white. Overhead a +myriad of stars burned like jewels. Never had they seemed so near, so +brilliant, so alive. The snow thrown high on either side of the tracks, +for there was a siding at this point, was above their heads. The +stillness was almost oppressive now that the train was beyond hearing.</p> + +<p>Pat stretched his arms and drew a long breath of the cold, rarified air, +then expelled it in an audible sigh of supreme content.</p> + +<p>"Arrah now, 'tis me foist breath av real air in a week, and the two +lungs av me aching for ut," said he. "Shure 'twill make the likes av ye +grow to a man's size in a week, me bantam, and thot's more than Noo +Yor-r-k will be doing for ye in a loifetoime," giving Sparrer a hearty +slap on the back. "Hal, I thought those passes read to Upper Chain, and +here we be dropped in a snow-bank. I'll be after making complaint to +the management for inconveniencing four gentlemen and reducing them to +the ranks of common laborers."</p> + +<p>The others laughed as they followed Pat's example and shouldered their +duffle to tramp the hundred yards up to the station, for they had been +in the rear car. In a few minutes they were in the bare little waiting +room, in the middle of which a big stove was radiating welcome heat, and +exchanging greetings with the night operator, who having wired the +arrival and departure of the train was preparing to go home, for there +would be no more traffic for many hours. He shook hands warmly with +Walter and Hal, whom he recognized at once as Woodcraft Camp boys, was +introduced to Sparrer, and jollied Pat on what he was pleased to term +his "New York airs."</p> + +<p>"I reckon your mother is waiting for you, Pat," said he. "I saw a light +over at the house when I came along. You're welcome to stay here until +daylight, but I expect she's looking for you over there."</p> + +<p>"I wrote her we'd be there to breakfast, but not to get up any earlier +on that account," replied Pat. His eyes danced. "Shure the ould lady +thinks her son has been in the hands av the inimy and cannot rest aisy +'til she sees for herself that not a hair av his red head has been left +in Noo'Yor-r-k. God bless her. We'll go over there and relieve her +mind."</p> + +<p>In speaking of his mother as the "ould lady" there was nothing +disrespectful on the part of Pat. In reality it was a term of +endearment. The stars were beginning to pale as the boys made their way +in single file along a narrow path through the snow toward the yellow +gleam of a light set in the window of one of the rough frame houses that +made up the village. Pat led straight for this.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed Upton in surprise. "Have you deserted the old cabin?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Pat, and there was just a suggestion of pride in his +voice. "The mother was a long time between log walls, but now, the +saints be praised, she do be living in one of the illigant mansions of +Upper Chain, and by that token is a member of the aristocracy. Moved in +last fall."</p> + +<p>By this time they had reached the house and at the sound of voices the +door was thrown open and Mrs. Malone stood in the doorway looking out +eagerly. It was a warm Irish greeting that the boys received and Hal, +who never had met her before, understood where Pat got his humor and +ready tongue. He at once dropped into his old brogue entirely and while +Mrs. Malone bustled about putting a hot breakfast on the table Pat told +her of his adventures in the great city as only he could. From time to +time she interrupted with comments so like Pat's own ready repartee that +between the two the boys were kept in a gale of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Eating breakfast by lamplight is a new experience to me," declared Hal +as they sat down to bacon, corn bread just from the oven, flapjacks with +thick maple syrup, and coffee.</p> + +<p>"'Tis pwhat yez will be doing every day for the next week, and lucky if +yez get the breakfast, as good a wan as this, anyway," declared Pat.</p> + +<p>They had just finished the meal when Pat's younger brother and two +little sisters shyly joined them. They were neatly dressed, and Walter +was immensely tickled with Pat's manifest pride in them. It had been +decided to spend the day there to prepare for the trip into the woods, +and also to give Pat a day at home. They would take the train the next +morning over to Lower Chain, a twenty minute run, and from there they +would have to depend on their own good legs to take them the twelve +miles on the lake to Woodcraft Camp. One of Pat's first inquiries had +been as to whether there had been any snow during his absence, and great +was his satisfaction to learn that there had not. He explained that that +meant clear ice on the lake, for the heavy snows had come early this +year, before the lake froze, and they would be able to make practically +the whole distance on skates.</p> + +<p>While Pat was attending to affairs at home the three visitors went out +to do the village. The sun was well up and as they stepped out into the +clear still air both Hal and Walter paused with a little gasp of +surprise and pleasure. This was not the ugly sawmill village of their +acquaintance. But for the tall stack of the mill and the whine and +scream of the saws there was nothing familiar. It was as if a good fairy +had touched the scene with a magic wand and all the sordid ugliness had +been transformed to beauty. Over everything lay the white mantle of +snow. It half buried the smaller cabins. It hid completely the stumps of +the clearings. It had buried the litter of the mill yard. It glittered +and sparkled in the rays of the sun. Beyond the clearing the evergreens +rose in great pyramids of white. No, Upper Chain was no longer a blot on +the landscape. It was beautiful.</p> + +<p>As for Sparrer, he was dumb. While he could not appreciate the wonder of +the transformation he could and did appreciate the wonder of the scene, +and for the time being his tongue was tied. From the mill office they +called up Woodcraft Camp to tell Doctor Merriam of their arrival and +that they would be with him on the following day.</p> + +<p>"Gee, didn't it seem good to hear the Big Chief's voice again?" said Hal +as they went out into the mill to show Sparrer how logs are transformed +into boards, timbers and shingles. "Sparrer, to-morrow you are going to +meet one of the finest men in the whole world, bar none. He's a great +old Scout."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Malone was naturally disappointed that Pat was not to be home for +Christmas, but she said little and busied herself in helping the boys +prepare for their holiday. Her motherly Irish soul warmed at once to +Sparrer, and she fussed over his outfit and comfort in a way that was +new to the youngster, for his own mother, working from daylight to dark +and often late into the night, had had little time for mothering. The +boys had brought some gifts for the children, and these their mother hid +against the arrival of good St. Nick. A part of Sparrer's outfit as a +Christmas gift from his comrades had been a warm mackinaw, and to this +Mrs. Malone insisted on adding a pair of thick woolen stockings of her +own knitting. Pat's contribution was a pair of snow-shoes, which he +brought out at the last moment as they were starting for the train, and +as he took them a lump rose in the younger lad's throat and cut off +speech. But the shine in his eyes expressed more than his tongue could +have. Such kindness was a new experience in his life, and he hardly knew +how to meet it.</p> + +<p>The short run by train to Lower Chain was quickly made, and the boys +piled out, eager to be on their way. Pat had provided a stout toboggan +which showed the effects of long use, and on this he deftly loaded their +duffle and supplies, lashing them securely into place. Sparrer watched +him with troubled face. Ever since the mention of skates the day before +he had worried over that twelve mile trip down the lake. He knew that +Upton and Harrison had brought skates, but he had none, and if he had +had he couldn't have used them. He had never been on a pair in his life. +Skating is not an accomplishment of the lower East Side of New York.</p> + +<p>So Sparrer had worried. If it had been merely a matter of a twelve mile +hike he would have been on edge to show the others that he could keep +up, but he knew that with the others on skates for him to try to keep up +was as absurd as for a truck to try to keep pace with a racing car, and +it hurt his pride to feel that he would be a drag on the others. Hal and +Walter already had their skates on and were cutting circles, figure +eights and grape-vine twists on the smooth ice. With the fastening of +the last lash Pat put on his own skates.</p> + +<p>"Now, me bantam, get up on that load," he ordered.</p> + +<p>Sparrer demurred, but the young giant picked him up bodily and plumped +him down on a roll of blankets, wrapped him up in a blanket left out for +the purpose, ordered him to sit still, with dire threats of what would +happen to him if he did not, called to the others to get on to their +jobs, and they were off, Hal and Walter with the rope of the toboggan +between them pulling, and Pat pushing behind with his hands on Sparrer's +shoulders.</p> + +<p>Before them stretched the gray-white expanse of the lake, and on either +side the glistening white shores, now receding as they passed a deep +bay, again creeping out in a long point. There was no sound save the +sharp ring of the skates and the soft grate of the smoothly slipping +toboggan. Past two big summer hotels with blank staring windows, past +shuttered and deserted summer camps they sped until all sign of man's +handiwork disappeared. The keen air was like wine in their veins and it +was hard to believe that the thermometer had registered eighteen below +zero that morning, for the air was dry and did not penetrate as would +the moisture laden air at home at a temperature many degrees above the +zero mark.</p> + +<p>"I just can't believe that thermometer was on its job," protested Hal, +as they stopped for a breathing spell half-way down the lake. "Why, I'm +so warm I wish I was rid of this mackinaw."</p> + +<p>"Me too," added Walter.</p> + +<p>Pat suddenly whirled Hal around and looked keenly at his left ear. The +rim was a dead white. "If you can't believe the thermometer perhaps you +can believe this," said he drily as he touched the ear. "What did I tell +you about keeping your cap down over your ears? Shure, 'tis a tenderfoot +and not a first class Scout at all, at all, thot ye be."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" demanded Hal as he slipped a glove off to feel of +the ear. At the look of blank astonishment that swept across his face as +he discovered that the edge of his ear was stiff and wholly without +feeling the others roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>"I mean that you're frost-bitten already," replied Pat, "and I hope that +this will be a lesson to the whole bunch of you. You may not feel him, +but old Jack Frost is right on the job just the same, and it don't do up +here to needlessly expose yourself. It is because the air is so dry that +you don't feel the frost, but you freeze just the same. We'll run over +to that point and thaw you out, and then I guess you'll keep your cap +down where it belongs."</p> + +<p>At the point Pat rubbed the frosted ear vigorously with a handful of +snow until the frost was out and for a few minutes Hal danced with the +ache of it, while the others grinned. "That's one on me, all right, and +you're welcome to laugh, but little Hal Harrison has learned his lesson. +No more frost-bites for me, thank you," he growled. "I don't wish you +fellows any hard luck, but I hope you'll get a taste of it yourselves +just to know what it feels like."</p> + +<p>Walter and Sparrer took warning from Hal's experience and saw to it that +their ears were well covered before they started on. As they drew near +the end of the lake Old Baldy and Mount Seward loomed up with a grandeur +and forbidding austerity that was almost menacing, and which was yet +grandly heroic. The long pier of Woodcraft Camp jutting out into the +lake was now clearly visible and on the end of it were two figures +waving greetings.</p> + +<p>"It's the Big Chief and Mother Merriam! Let's give them the old yell!" +cried Upton.</p> + +<p>They stopped and with Upton to lead sent the old Woodcraft yell ringing +down the lake—"Whoop-yi-yi-yi! Whoop-yi-yi-yi! Whoop-yi-yi-yi! +Woodcraft!" And even as the echoes flung it back from Old Baldy it was +returned to them in the mingled voices of a man and a woman. The doctor +and Mrs. Merriam were sending them welcome.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later they reached the pier and were exchanging warm +greetings. Sparrer had felt a natural diffidence at the thought of +meeting the man of whom he had heard so much, but it vanished in the +first hand-clasp and by the time he had reached the snug cabin he felt +as if he had always known this great-hearted, kindly man and the +sweet-faced woman whom the others called "Mother." In a dim way he +understood the loyalty and affection of his comrades for these two who +were devoting their lives to the making of strong men from weak boys.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>SNOW-SHOES AND FISH</h3> + + +<p>Around the great log fire that night Pat told Doctor Merriam about his +trip and his impressions of city life, winding up with the emphatically +expressed conviction that while it might be a good place to do business +it was no place in which to live, and that he would rather have a cabin +in the shadow of Old Baldy than a palace on Riverside Drive.</p> + +<p>"So you don't envy Hal?" laughed the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I do not!" roared Pat. "I wouldn't give the poorest muskrat pelt I ever +took to change places with him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you young savage!" cried the doctor. "Still, I share in a measure +your feeling. I have lived in many cities, but you see here I am buried +in the woods, and some of my friends wonder why. I'll tell you. It is +because here I can live simply, unaffectedly, true to myself and to God. +Here," he swept a hand toward the book-lined walls, "are my friends +ready to give me of inspiration, comfort, advice, knowledge, whatever I +demand or may need. They are not dead things, these books. They are +living personalities, which have enriched and are enriching the world. +When you boys listen to me you are not listening just to an audible +voice. You are listening to an expression of that invisible something +that we call the spirit—the true personality. And so it is that the +writer of a great or good book never dies. His spiritual expression is +there on the printed page just as much as if he were giving expression +to it in audible speech. So with all these great and wonderful men and +women constantly about me how can I ever be lonely? And then when I step +out-of-doors it is directly into the temple of God. His nearness and +presence are manifest in every phase of nature. The trees are alive, +some of them sleeping, but alive nevertheless, and others not even +sleeping. Sometimes I wonder if the very rocks are not alive. The +elements seemingly war with one another, but there is nothing mean or +petty or base in the mighty struggle, as there invariably is in the +conflict of human passions. The Indian sees the Great Spirit in the +lightning, and hears him in the rushing wind and the thunder, and is not +afraid, but bows in reverence. He has a sense of nearness to the creator +and loses it when he is confined in the man-made world of brick and +stone and steel and is eager to get back. It is elemental in him. In +nature he sees God made manifest. We call him a savage, but I sometimes +wonder if he is not more nearly a true child of the Father of all than +many so-called civilized men who win the plaudits of the world and seem +to forget whence they came and whither they will go.</p> + +<p>"But I didn't mean to preach a sermon, but just to give you an idea of +why Pat and I prefer to be savages, if you please, and spend our lives +with nature. Now, Pat, what are your plans? When do you start in for +camp? Haven't heard a word since you left from"—he paused at a warning +wink from Pat, and then finished—"your partner. Big Jim was down from +the lumber camp this week and reported seeing a silver gray. If you +could catch a couple of those fellows that problem of going away to +school would pretty nearly settle itself."</p> + +<p>"What's a silver gray?" asked Hal, whose knowledge of fur bearers was +rather limited.</p> + +<p>"A color phase of the common red fox," replied the doctor, "and if not +worth its weight in gold it is worth so much that a single skin is often +worth twice over the whole of a season's catch of other furs. Why it +should be called silver I don't know, for the only silver about it is +the tip of the tail. The color is black, and single skins have sold as +high as $2,500 and more and $800 to $1,500 is not at all unusual. So +valuable are the skins that black fox farming has become an established +industry and a pair of black foxes for breeding purposes are worth from +$1,000 up. So you see, Jim saw considerable money running loose when he +saw that fox."</p> + +<p>"Phew!" exclaimed Hal with a low whistle of astonishment. "I didn't +suppose there was anything on four legs except blooded live stock worth +so much money. Wouldn't it be great if Pat could catch three or four +this winter!"</p> + +<p>Pat threw back his head and laughed heartily. "Make it a dozen while +you're about it, son," said he. "Don't be so modest. I've lived in these +woods some years, but I never yet have seen a live black fox, and I've +known of only two being caught. If Jim says he saw one he did. There's +nothing the matter with Jim's eyesight. I guess I'll have to have a look +around the neighborhood where he saw it. As for our plans, Doctor, we +are going to spend to-morrow with you and give these tenderfeet a few +lessons on snow-shoes. We'll hit the trail for camp bright and early the +next morning."</p> + +<p>The next day dawned clear and cold and after a hearty breakfast the +snow-shoes were brought forth. First Pat explained the tie in common use +and showed just how to adjust the rawhide thongs to give free play to +the ankles and yet prevent the toes from creeping forward to the +crossbars. With the thongs properly adjusted the shoes could be easily +kicked off or put on again without untying the knots.</p> + +<p>"The chief thing to remember," said he, "is to take a long stride with +the toes pointed straight ahead. If you take a short step you will be +almost certain to step on the tail of one shoe with the toe of the +other and over you go. Now I'll show you how, and you fellows can +practice a while out here in front where the snow has been cleared away +until you get the hang of the thing. Then we'll make a little trip out +into the woods and visit some of the old places, so you can see how +different they are from what they were last summer."</p> + +<p>"I have a suggestion to make," said the doctor. "While Mother puts up a +lunch, you get these youngsters so that they can keep right side up. +Then we'll all take a short hike and show Muldoon how real woodmen can +have a hot meal when there is three feet of snow in the woods."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Hal. "That will be bully! Come on, Walt, and let's see +your paces."</p> + +<p>For the next fifteen minutes the three boys tramped back and forth in +front of the cabin, the shoes clacking merrily amid a running fire of +chaff and comment from Pat. Once Sparrer stepped on one of Upton's shoes +and sent him headlong, to the huge delight of the others. Again Hal did +just what Pat had warned them against, took a short step and tripped +himself up. But at the end of a quarter of an hour they had pretty well +"got the hang of the thing," as Pat expressed it, and were eager to try +it on deep snow.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing to it," declared Hal. "I thought there were something +to learn, like skating, but this is a cinch. I could keep it up all +day," and by way of emphasizing his remarks once more tripped himself +up, and sat down abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Sure, it's no trick at all," chaffed Walter. "When you can't keep up +sit down, and when you're down stay down. There's nothing to it." For +Hal, forgetting the width of his present underpinning, had no sooner +scrambled to his feet than he had gone down again, because of the +overlapping webs.</p> + +<p>The doctor and Mrs. Merriam now joined them, for the latter was an +expert on shoes and had no mind to miss the outing. Pat and the doctor +swung to their backs the packs wherein were the supplies and dishes, and +they were off, the doctor in the lead, Mrs. Merriam next, then Sparrer, +Hal, Upton and Pat in the rear to keep the tenderfeet from straggling +and to pull them out of the snow, he explained.</p> + +<p>For a short distance a broken trail was followed. Then the doctor +abruptly swung off among the trees where the snow lay deep and unbroken. +The three novices soon found that progress here was a very different +matter from walking on the comparatively hard surface of the packed +trail. The shoes sank in perhaps a couple of inches and it was necessary +to lift the feet more, to step high, which put more of a strain on the +muscles. Also there was a tendency to step higher than was at all in +good form, and to shorten the stride by so doing, losing the smooth easy +forward roll from the hips.</p> + +<p>Still, all things considered, the three novices were doing themselves +proud until in an unguarded moment Hal stepped on the stub of a broken +branch of a fallen tree buried in the snow. It caught in the tail of the +shoe just enough to break his stride. He took a short step to catch his +balance, stumbled and took a beautiful header. At Pat's roar of laughter +the others turned to see two big webs wildly waving above the snow and +nothing more of the unfortunate Hal. Now being plunged head first into +deep snow with a pair of snow-shoes on your feet is a good deal like +being thrown into the water with a life preserver fast to your feet—you +can't get them down. For a few moments the others howled with glee as +they watched the frantically kicking legs and listened to the smothered +appeals for help from the luckless victim. Then Pat reached out and +loosened the shoes, gripped Hal by the ankles and drew him forth, red in +the face from his exertions and spitting out snow. He looked so wholly +bewildered and withal so chagrined and foolish that he was greeted with +a fresh peal of laughter, to which he responded with a sheepish grin as +he tried to get the snow out of his neck and from up his sleeves.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing to it, nothing at all!" jeered Walter.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know but you thought you heard that black fox down there and +were trying to get him," said Pat.</p> + +<p>At that instant Upton involuntarily stepped back, a thing for which +snow-shoes were never designed, and a second later had measured his +length in the snow. Falling at full length he did not disappear as Hal +had done, but he was hardly less helpless. Every effort to help himself +by putting his hands down was futile. He simply buried his arms to the +shoulders in the yielding snow without finding anything on which to get +a purchase. Hal was jubilant.</p> + +<p>"When you're down stay down!" he yelped. "Laugh at me, will you?"</p> + +<p>Walter had by this time managed to kick his shoes off and once free of +these was soon on his feet and was enjoying the joke as much as any one. +Both he and Hal were up to their hips in the snow, for here among the +evergreens it had not packed and flounder as they would they could not +get out.</p> + +<p>The doctor's eyes twinkled as he picked up Hal's shoes and handed them +to him. "Well, boys," said he, "it's high time we were hitting the trail +again. Suppose you put your shoes on, and we'll make up for lost time."</p> + +<p>Hal took the shoes and then looked helplessly across at Walter, who had +just secured his, and it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps the +doctor's remark was not so guileless as it seemed.</p> + +<p>"How in thunder are we going to?" he demanded, vainly trying to force a +shoe down to meet an upraised foot half-way, in the doing of which he +once more lost his balance.</p> + +<p>"I thought I showed you fellows just how to put your shoes on this +morning. A good Scout ought not to have to be shown twice how to do a +simple thing like that," said Pat, without cracking a smile. "What kind +of Scouts are you, anyway, crying for help the first time you tumble in +a little bit of snow?"</p> + +<p>"Who's crying for help?" demanded Upton, vainly striving to get a shoe +down where he could get his foot into the fastening. "I wouldn't take +any help now if I thought I'd got to stay here all day. Take that and +that!"</p> + +<p>He began to dig furiously with the shoe, throwing the snow with malice +aforethought full in Pat's face. Hal instantly took the cue and there +was a hasty retreat on the part of their tormentors, in the midst of +which Sparrer came to grief and had his turn at the snow-shoer's +baptism. In a few minutes Walter had dug away enough snow to get his +shoes under him and walked forth in triumph, followed by Hal. Sparrer, +anxious to prove himself a good sport, refused all aid. Being small and +light he had not sunk in as the others had and managed to get one shoe +under him. With this for a support he soon had the other fastened. It +was the work of a moment to adjust the first one and he was ready to +take his place in line.</p> + +<p>There were no more mishaps and as they tramped on through the great +still woodland the wonder and the beauty of it silenced them, for it +seemed like a vast cathedral in which the human voice would be a +profanation of the solemn hush. Upton knew every foot within a radius of +two miles of Woodcraft Camp, and for five miles in the direction in +which they were heading, and yet not even to Sparrer did the +surroundings seem more strange, such is the alchemy of the snow king to +make the familiar unfamiliar, the commonplace beautiful. So it was that +when at the end of three miles they emerged on the shore of a frozen +sheet of water Walter at first failed utterly to recognize it, and it +was not until Pat made some reference to the huge pickerel Walter had +caught during his first summer at Woodcraft that it dawned on him that +this was the very setback where he had discovered Pat's secret fishing +grounds and on the shore of which he had given Pat his first lesson in +boxing and in the meaning of the word honor.</p> + +<p>"I've come over here because Mother insists that a dinner in the woods +is no more complete without a fish course than it would be in a New York +hotel, and because to tell the truth I have a hankering for a taste of +fresh fish myself. Pat, I hope that spring is still open where you put +the minnows last fall. Suppose you take this net and pail and see what +you can find." He opened a small folding net as he was speaking. "I take +it for granted that you youngsters have your belt axes with you, as good +Scouts in the woods should. One of you can run over to that alder +thicket and cut a dozen straight sticks about three feet long and as +thick as my forefinger. The other two can chop holes in the ice. They +don't need to be very big, you know, not over a foot across. I suggest +that you scatter them pretty well. It adds to the fun to have them some +distance apart, and it multiplies the chances of a good catch. While you +are doing that I will start a fire and get things started for lunch."</p> + +<p>Sparrer, having no axe, but a stout Scout knife, volunteered to cut the +alder saplings while Hal and Walter attended to the holes in the ice. +Hal was radiant. This was one of the things he had counted on, and he +had brought from New York a dozen type, as the modern tip-ups for +fishing through the ice are called. But when they had started out that +morning he had not dreamed that he would have a chance to use them on a +snow-shoe trip, and so they were neatly rolled in his duffle bag at the +camp.</p> + +<p>"Wonder what kind of a rig the Big Chief has got, and how he's going to +use those sticks," said he to Upton as he came up to where Walter was +making the ice fly in glittering chips.</p> + +<p>"Don't know, but whatever it is you can bet your last dollar it is all +right," replied Walter. "How many holes have you cut?"</p> + +<p>"Five; I'm going to chop one more over there toward the north shore. How +many have you?" replied Hal.</p> + +<p>"Six. That ought to be a good place over there, and that will make the +dozen. Here come Sparrer and the Big Chief, and I guess we'll soon see +what the idea is. Pat must have found the spring open, for Sparrer has +the pail."</p> + +<p>The guess was a good one, for when he peeped in the pail Walter found +that it contained a couple of dozen minnows. Together the three walked +over to where Hal was just finishing the last hole. The doctor took from +under his arm a bundle of short pieces of lath, each about eighteen +inches long, tapering toward one end, to which was fastened a bit of red +flannel. Two inches from the other end was a hole big enough for one of +the alder sticks to pass through freely. Fastened close to the end, and +neatly wound around it, was a short length of stout line on the end of +which was a hook with wire snell. Unwinding one of these lines the +doctor passed one of the alder sticks through the hole in the lath, +baited the hook with a lively minnow and dropped it through the hole in +the ice. The alder stick was placed across this so that the lath came in +the middle and lay on the ice at right angles. A pull on the line would +drag the end of the lath down, making it stand upright with its little +red signal on the end, and that was all there was to it.</p> + +<p>It was simple in the extreme, but quite as effective as Hal's more +elaborate type could have been, as was presently demonstrated. They were +just preparing to set the last tip-up when Hal, glancing over to the +first one set, saw the red signal and with a wild yell of "We've got +one! We've got one!" started for it at top speed. The others paused to +see what the result would be, and saw him yank out a flapping prize.</p> + +<p>"It's a beaut!" he panted as he rejoined them, holding out a handsome +pickerel. "Bet it weighs five pounds if it weighs an ounce. Say, this is +great!"</p> + +<p>The fish was already stiff, but much to their surprise the doctor told +them it was not dead, frozen fish often retaining life for some time +after being taken from the water. He now left the tip-ups to the care of +the three boys, warning them to make frequent rounds of the holes to +break the ice as it formed and keep the lines free. The fish he took +with him to where Mother Merriam was busy beside the fire, for which Pat +was chopping wood.</p> + +<p>Pickerel were numerous and hungry, to judge by the way they bit. It was +novel and exciting sport to the three city boys. There would be a yell +of "There's one!" and then a wild race to see who could reach it first. +At first they almost invariably forgot in their excitement to take along +the bait pail, which meant a second trip for one of them to rebait the +hook. Sometimes the signal would drop before they reached it and they +knew that the fish was off. Several times there were two signals waving +at once and one time there were five. By the time the doctor's welcome +hail of "Din-ner!" came ringing across the ice the bait pail was empty +and they had fourteen fish, none under three pounds, and from that up to +six. With the first one caught they had a total of fifteen. The doctor +smiled as he scanned the eager faces of the young fishermen and then +looked at the long row of fish laid out on the snow.</p> + +<p>"Enough is plenty," said he, "and I guess this will do for to-day. We +want to leave some for the boys next summer. We'll take the lines up +after dinner."</p> + +<p>How good that dinner did smell to the hungry boys with appetites +whetted by exercise in the keen air! The snow had been shoveled away +nearly to the ground for the bed logs for the fire and ample space +cleared in front and spread with balsam boughs on which to sit. There +was a steaming kettle of pea soup and a pot of hot chocolate. The +pickerel had been split and, broiled in halves pinned to pieces of +hemlock bark, stood before the fire and basted with bacon drippings. +There was a venison steak done to a turn, for the doctor had hung a deer +in his ice house at the end of the open season. There were potatoes +boiled in their jackets. There was a brown johnny-cake baked in a +reflector oven, and to cap all a plate of the doughnuts for which Mother +Merriam was famous.</p> + +<p>"And you call this a lunch!" cried Walter when he had eaten until he had +to let out his belt. "No wonder it required two packs to bring it here. +Well, is there anything to beat this in New York?"</p> + +<p>"Not in a tousand years. Oi'm going to run away and live here," declared +Sparrer, and while the others laughed he stared with dreamy eyes into +the leaping flames of the huge fire Pat had built, and who shall say +but that in them he saw the symbols of new hopes and ambitions springing +from the colorless, sordid drudgery which until this time had been his +life.</p> + +<p>After the meal was finished and the dishes washed there was an hour of +story-telling by the doctor, ending with the singing of America under +the towering snow-laden spruces and then the homeward trip. Thanks to +their experiences on the outward trip and the watchfulness resulting +therefrom there were no further mishaps, and when they reached camp and +kicked off the big webs once more the boys were ready to vote their +first day in winter woods all that they had dreamed it would be and +more. Also they were quite willing to second and carry by unanimous vote +the motion that they seek their beds early in preparation for an early +start the next day.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>ON THE TRAIL</h3> + + +<p>Day was just breaking when the boys bade farewell to Doctor and Mother +Merriam, and with a hot breakfast under their belts started for the +trapping camp. As yet Pat had given no hint as to where it was located, +and Walter and Hal, respecting his reticence, forbore to ask questions. +Walter did venture to ask if they would reach there before dark.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Pat. "We'll have to make a camp to-night," and advanced no +further information.</p> + +<p>All their duffle and the supplies which Pat was taking in were loaded on +the toboggan, and to this Pat had rigged a sort of harness so that two +walking single file could drag it. This relieved them of packs. Walter +and Hal each carried his rifle on the chance of picking up a rabbit on +the way. The snow-shoes were slung over their backs, Pat explaining +that for a time they would follow a broken out lumber trail and it would +be easier walking without the shoes than on them.</p> + +<p>It was when they turned into this trail that the first suspicion of +where they were bound for flashed through Upton's mind, but he held his +peace and settled to the task of doing his share of the pulling. And +this proved to be no easy matter. The trail was but roughly broken out +by the passage of lumber sleds, and it soon became necessary for one to +steady the load to keep it from capsizing. It was slow, toilsome work, +and when at the end of ten miles Pat called a halt for a rest while he +made four cups of hot pea soup by the simple process of melting snow and +crumbling into it a roll of erbswurst the others were ready to declare +that they had come twenty miles.</p> + +<p>As he drank his soup and munched a cracker Walter scanned his +surroundings closely. Presently he discovered what he sought, a +partially obliterated blaze on a big tree just beyond and to the right +of where they were squatting.</p> + +<p>"I've got you now, old Mr. Foxy!" he cried. "This mysterious camp of +yours is the cabin in Smugglers' Hollow, and we're going to camp +to-night at Little Goose Pond. More than that, your partner is Alec +Smith. Why didn't I guess it before? Own up now, old Crafty!"</p> + +<p>Quite unabashed, Pat bestowed a grin on Upton. "Three bull's-eyes," he +commented. "I've been wondering how long it would take you fellows to +catch the scent. Began to think I'd have to rub your noses in it."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" interrupted Hal, who had been an eager listener. "I never +thought of the Hollow, and yet there is no place I should like to go to +so much as that. Say, Walt, these heads of ours sure are thick. Don't +you remember that Pat told us that first night in New York that Alec was +trapping, and the last he heard of him he was over in the Hollow? Well, +we'd make good detectives, we would. I've done a lot of wondering about +Pat's partner and what sort of a fellow he would prove to be and whether +or not we'd like him. And to think it's Alec! If you weren't such a +young and tender innocent I'd throw you in the snow and give you a +shampoo. What do you say, Walt, to doing it anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Pat, "the two of you, or all three!"</p> + +<p>Upton shook his head mournfully. "I'd like to, but it wouldn't be right. +He isn't as big as the two of us, and so it wouldn't do at all. It would +be the same as a big fellow picking on a little one. You know I thrashed +him once for doing that very thing, and now if we should turn around and +do it I'm afraid the force of my beautiful example would be wholly +destroyed. I tell you what, you do it alone, Hal."</p> + +<p>"He's too small," declared Hal. "That's why I wanted you to help. Then +my conscience would be only half guilty. I'm going to let him off this +time with just a snowball."</p> + +<p>Suiting his action to the word he landed a big soft snowball full on the +side of Pat's head. Pat made a rush for him, but Walter thrust out a +foot and sent him headlong into the snow, and before he could regain his +feet Hal was on him endeavoring to wash his face with snow. In a second +there was the liveliest kind of a snow fight, Upton and Sparrer yelling +encouragement with absolute impartiality. It ended with Hal's smothered +cry of "enough" and Pat's allowing him up just in time to see Walter and +then Sparrer unceremoniously pitched into the snow, by way of showing +that all Scouts are equal, Pat explained, as he rubbed their faces.</p> + +<p>Panting and glowing from the frolic they put out the fire built to heat +their soup and were ready to hit the trail again. From this point on the +snow-shoes were an absolute necessity, for they left the lumber trail +for another ten miles through the woods. This time they were not +dependent on the blazed trees as they had been when they went that way +in the fall, for some one had been over the trail since the last +snowfall, evidently coming out from Little Goose. Pat studied the tracks +for a few minutes. Then his face cleared. "It was Big Jim," said he. "I +wonder now if he took a look in the Hollow to see how Alec was getting +on. He may have been over to the Gillicuddy camp, the trail from which +comes in at the pond, you remember, but I have an idea he swung around +to see Alec. I wonder now where he saw that fox. I just took it for +granted that it was around where he is cutting and didn't ask any +questions for fear of letting the coon out of the hole about where we +were going. Then when I was alone with the doctor we both forgot all +about Jim, there were so many other things to talk about. It may be that +he saw that silver gray somewhere along this trail. We'll keep our eyes +peeled for signs."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that Big Jim made these tracks?" asked Walter, who had +been studying them closely, hoping to find out for himself the clue +which made Pat so sure of his man, but unable to see anything +distinctive save that they were of odd shape, being nearly round.</p> + +<p>"By a combination of two things—the shape of the tracks and the length +of the stride," replied Pat. "Jim always uses bear's-paw shoes, and I +don't believe there are more than half a dozen other pairs in this neck +of woods. Then look at the length of the stride. It's a good three +inches longer than mine, and there's nothing dainty about mine. There +isn't a man in the woods who could take that stride and hold it but Jim +Everly. So I'm as sure it was Big Jim as I am that if we don't get a +hustle on we'll have to camp in the snow, and it'll be a lot more +comfortable at the pond. We've got another long hike to-morrow, and we +want to be in shape to do it."</p> + +<p>For some miles the going was fairly level, and once they had got into +the swing of the thing the boys found it comparatively easy. There were +two or three mishaps, but these were counted part of the sport. About +two miles from their destination they came to a spur of a mountain over +which the trail led. In fact, it was the very spur on the other side of +which Spud Ely had overrun the trail and got lost the fall previous. Pat +called a halt.</p> + +<p>"It's going to be no small job to get this load up there," said he. "We +can go around the spur, but to do that will add a good three miles, and +in the valley it will be dark before we can reach camp. What do you +think? Are you game to try the hill?"</p> + +<p>"The hill! The hill! Follow me, comrades, up yonder heights, and drive +the enemy from their guns!" shouted Hal, striking a heroic attitude and +pretending to flourish an imaginary sword.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Where lives the Scout, by difficulties pressed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who will admit a chicken heart possessed?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who will not rather bravely face the wust<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And do and dare and conquer or go bust!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Bravo!" cried Walter.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When dares our comrade coin and use a word like wust<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We'll take his dare and see who'll scale yon hillside fust!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Lead on, Mr. Malone. We'll make it or die in the attempt."</p> + +<p>"All right, me brave Scouts," replied Pat. "Up we go! 'Tis a chance to +see the kind of stuff that's in the likes of you, for 'twill be no +child's play getting this load up there. And when we get up there where +you see the bare rock watch your footing. That rock is slippery, and a +fall there would be serious."</p> + +<p>The next half hour was one of panting, sweating toil. In the first +place, as soon as the grade began to rise sharply the boys found that +the only way they could progress was by digging their toes into the snow +through the toe holes in the shoes, which brought an added strain on the +already weary muscles of the calves. It would have been bad enough in +view of their inexperience if they had had nothing else to consider, but +there was that heavy load, and it grew heavier every minute. As they got +higher where the wind had had full sweep there was comparatively little +snow, and in some places the bare rock was exposed. Here they found it +easier going without the snow-shoes than with them.</p> + +<p>Hauling and pushing they worked the toboggan up until at last the spur +was crossed.</p> + +<p>"Gee whiz!" exclaimed Hal. "I'm sweating like a butcher. That's what I +call work."</p> + +<p>"And we're doing it for fun," added Upton. "Funny what a difference the +view-point makes. I suppose it's all in the way you look at it whether +work is fun or fun is work. I can tell you one thing, and that is that I +for one am mighty glad that there isn't another one of those things to +cross to-day. I'm afraid I'd lie down and holler quits. What are you +rubbing your legs for, Sparrer?"</p> + +<p>"Just feeling of 'em to get wise if dey's all dere," replied Sparrer.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the trail to Little Goose was comparatively easy and +they reached the familiar lean-to just as dusk was settling down, and +there was more than one sigh of thankfulness as the shoes were kicked +off for the last time.</p> + +<p>"I'm tired enough to drop right down and go to sleep in the snow, but my +little tummy won't let me," confessed Hal. "Ring for the waiter, please, +and have him bring me a planked steak with half a chicken on the side, +grapefruit salad, and a pot of coffee with real cream. Wake me up when +it comes."</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing," declared Pat. "This isn't the Waldorf Astoria, but +Hotel de Shivers; heat and food supplied only to those who pay in labor, +all bills payable in advance."</p> + +<p>"That's me!" Hal seated himself on the pile of stuff and gave vent to an +exaggerated sigh of contentment. "Haven't I labored all day? Tell the +bellhop to take my stuff to my room. I think I'll have my dinner served +there."</p> + +<p>He ended with a grunt, the result of a sharp poke in the pit of his +stomach from an axe handle. "To turn on the heat with," explained Pat +sweetly, thrusting the axe into Hal's hands, and pointing to a pile of +birch logs.</p> + +<p>Hal got to his feet with a groan and a grimace and followed Upton who, +with another axe, had already started for the wood-pile. "You're a slave +driver! That's what you are, a flint-hearted slave driver," he grumbled, +albeit with a twinkle that belied his words.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My tummy, oh, my tummy!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It gives me such a pain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wonder will it ever<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Feel really full again!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"That depends on how soon you get that wood split," grinned Pat. "If you +don't get a move on it will be so dark you can't see what you are doing, +and I give you fair warning—no wood, no dinner."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Let it never be said I am ever a shirk<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When a dinner depends on the way that I work,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>retorted Hal, and forthwith fell to his task with a vim that put Upton +on his mettle to break even with him, for Hal was no mean axeman, as Pat +well knew. The handling of an axe was one of the things which Hal had +learned, and learned well during his three summers in the woods. To the +thorough woodsman an axe is a complete tool-chest. With it he can do +almost anything that needs to be done from the cutting of fire-wood to +the building of a log cabin.</p> + +<p>Sparrer was put to work pulling down the hemlock boughs which had been +piled in front of the lean-to to keep out the snow, while Pat unpacked +things, started the fire and made preparations for the evening meal. +This was Sparrer's first experience in a lean-to, and when the boughs +were out of the way he examined it with interest. The back and two ends +were of logs, the front being open its whole width. The roof was of big +sheets of hemlock bark laid overlapping and with a sharp pitch to the +back.</p> + +<p>On the ground about seven feet from the rear wall two six-foot logs +about eight inches through had been staked end to end so that they +reached from one side wall to the other. Midway a similar log had been +laid across to the rear wall, making two pens, as it were. These had +been filled with small balsam boughs thrust at an angle, butts down, so +that they "shingled," and packed closely. The result was two beds +fifteen inches thick and so springy and comfortable that it made one +sleepy just to look at them. It was perhaps three feet from the beds to +the open front. In this space at one end was a table two feet square +made by driving four stakes into the ground and nailing on a top made of +a flattened sheet of cedar bark.</p> + +<p>A little snow had sifted in through the protecting boughs and this +Sparrer swept out with a fir bough for a broom. Pat, meanwhile, had a +kettle of snow melting for water for soup and was mixing up a +johnny-cake. The reflector oven was set before the fire to get heated +and while Sparrer helped bring in the wood which the two choppers had +split Pat sliced bacon and put it on to parboil in the frying-pan, +having melted snow to make water enough to cover it.</p> + +<p>"Wot youse doing that for?" asked Sparrer. "Oi thought youse always +fried bacon."</p> + +<p>"To get some of the salt out of it, son," replied Pat. "I'll fry it all +right when the time comes. Just you lay out the plates and cups where +they will keep warm."</p> + +<p>Sparrer ranged the four agate-ware plates, which were really shallow +pans so that soup could be served in them as well as dry food, against +a stick where they would get warm but not too hot to handle. The +erbswurst was crumbled into the now boiling water, a handful of +julienne, or evaporated vegetables cut in thin strips, was added, the +pan of johnny-cake was put in the oven and the four boys gathered around +to watch and wait with many a hungry sniff. The soup was soon ready, and +Pat announced the first course. How good it did taste as they sat on +their blanket rolls near enough to the fire to enjoy its warmth, each +with a pan of the hot soup on his knees.</p> + +<p>Before this was finished Pat poured off the water from the bacon and +that was soon sizzling and throwing off that most delicious of all odors +to a hungry woodsman.</p> + +<p>"Course number two!" called Pat as he apportioned the brown slices among +the four plates and then drew forth the johnny-cake, baked to a turn, a +rich even brown all over with a heart of gold, the very sight of which +brought forth gasps of delighted anticipation.</p> + +<p>"What's course number three, Mr. Chef?" asked Walter as he prepared to +sink his teeth into his quarter of the corn bread.</p> + +<p>"Something worth saving your appetite for," replied Pat, re-greasing the +pan and pouring in the remainder of his batter for another cake. He +poured off all but a little of the bacon fat from the big frying-pan, +and then dropped into it a slice of meat which he had kept hidden under +a towel.</p> + +<p>"Venison, by all that's great!" shouted Hal as the meat began to sizzle +on the hot iron. "Why didn't you tell us you had venison, so that the +thought of it would have helped us up that pesky hill?"</p> + +<p>"Tis the docthor's contribution to the joy av living," responded Pat, +deftly flipping the steak over to sear the other side. "But I mistrust +yez have eaten so much already thot 'tis not the loikes av yez will be +wanting more than maybe a wee bite. But never ye moind. 'Tis meself will +do justice to the docthor and his gift."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it!" roared the three in unison.</p> + +<p>The steak and the second johnny-cake were done together and were +finished together to the last scrap and crumb, and along with them went +hot chocolate. There was a general loosening of belts, and then Hal +broke the silence of contentment which had fallen on the little group.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My tummy, oh, my tummy!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It has now another pain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wish that it were empty<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That it might be filled again,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>said he, gazing mournfully into his empty plate.</p> + +<p>"Them's my sentiments too," said Walter, when the laugh that followed +had subsided. "But any fellow who springs a thing like that has to pay +for it. I move that Hal wash the dishes. All in favor say aye."</p> + +<p>Three ayes made the woods ring. "All opposed say no!"</p> + +<p>Hal's "No!" was shouted at the top of his lungs.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a vote," declared Walter. "Mr. Harrison will now attend to his +duties and carry out the action of this assembly."</p> + +<p>After the dishes were out of the way Pat built a huge fire with three +great backlogs one above another and slanting back to keep them from +rolling down. They were held in place by braces at the back. In front +of these smaller logs were piled, the backlogs reflecting the heat +forward into the lean-to. Then the blankets were spread on the rough +beds, and with all their clothing on, including moccasins, four weary +young woodsmen turned in for the night.</p> + +<p>Pat was asleep almost as soon as he touched the bed, and Hal and Upton +were not far behind him. But to Sparrer, tired as he was, the novelty of +his surroundings was too great for immediate sleep, and for a long time +he lay staring out at the flickering flames and above them at the +brilliant stars, his active imagination keyed to a high pitch. It was +like fairy-land to him. Nothing seemed real. He had read and heard of +these things, but that he, Eddie Muldoon, could actually be experiencing +them, sleeping in a real hunter's camp in the dead of winter, tramping +on snow-shoes through great lonely forests, eating such meals as he had +never known before in all his short life—meals cooked over open fires +in the great wonderful out-of-doors, couldn't be. And yet here he was.</p> + +<p>The fire died down until only a deep glow, a warm ruddy glow which grew +less and less, lighted the rough interior, and before it had quite +vanished Eddie had slipped from the real which seemed unreal to the +unreal which so often seems real in the realm of dreams.</p> + +<p>Three times during the night Pat crawled out of his blankets to put wood +on the fire, but the other sleepers knew nothing of it. They slept the +deep heavy sleep of healthy, tired boys and it mattered not to them that +the temperature dropped until the very trees cracked and split with the +cold. They were as warm and comfortable as if in their own beds at home. +Overhead the stars shone down on a great white world wherein the fire +made but a flickering point of yellow light, and wherein was no sound +save the heavy breathing of the sleepers, the sputter of hot coals +snapping off into the snow, the occasional crack of a frost-riven tree, +and the soft stamp of a snow-shoe rabbit gazing wonder-eyed at the dying +embers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>ALEC HINTS AT DARK THINGS</h3> + + +<p>Hal was willing to swear that he had not been asleep more than ten +minutes when he was awakened by the beating of a pan with a stick and +Pat's roar of "Breakfast! All hands out for breakfast!" He rolled over +sleepily so as to look out. Pat was laughing at him. Beyond the +firelight and from the tiny strip of sky above the dark tree tops he +could see a few pale stars blinking at him weakly.</p> + +<p>"Aw, Pat, that's no joke. You may think it's funny, but it isn't," he +growled, and there was a note of real anger this time.</p> + +<p>"What?" demanded Pat with a deep throaty chuckle.</p> + +<p>"You know what—waking a feller up when he's just got to sleep and is +dead tired and got a hard day coming!" flared Hal.</p> + +<p>"Aisy, aisy, son! Do ye think I would be frying bacon in the middle of +the night for a joke? 'Tis meself has been up this good hour and 'tis +six o'clock this very minute. 'Twill be daylight by the toime we be +ready to start," returned Pat good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>Hal had it on the tip of his tongue to say that he didn't believe it, +but by this time he was sufficiently awake to smell the bacon and hear +it sizzle and sputter in the pan. Moreover, his companions were already +kicking off their blankets, and he had the good sense to realize that +Pat meant just what he said. Still, it was hard to believe, and it was +not until he had reached for his watch that he was convinced that it +really was time to prepare for another day's tramp. Then he hastily +crawled from his blankets, his good humor fully restored, for Hal was a +good sport, and there was nothing of the shirk about him.</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon, Pat," said he, as he joined the two shivering figures +crowding as close to the fire as they could comfortably get while they +watched Pat stir up the pancake batter. "I honestly thought you were up +to one of your old tricks and putting something across on us. Doesn't +seem as if I'd more than closed my eyes. Phew! but it's cold!"</p> + +<p>It was. It was the hour just before the break of day when, perhaps +because the blood has not yet begun to circulate freely, the cold seems +to have reached its maximum of strength. Beyond the narrow radius of the +glow from the fire it seemed to fairly bite to the bone.</p> + +<p>"Get busy with the axe and you'll forget it," advised Pat, adding, "It +is the courtesy of the woods to leave a little wood ready for the next +fellow who may hit camp late, as we did yesterday. You'll have just +about time enough to get warmed up before these flapjacks are ready."</p> + +<p>"Good idea!" cried Walter, seizing an axe. "Come on, you fellows! +Sparrer can lug it in as we split it."</p> + +<p>At the end of ten minutes Pat called them to eat, and by that time they +had forgotten the cold, for they were in a warm glow from exercise.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet it was cold in the night," said Upton as they sat down to +bacon, flapjacks and hot chocolate.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, my boy," replied Pat. "When I got up the second time it +was cold enough to freeze the tail off a brass monkey."</p> + +<p>"When you got up the second time! What in the dickens were you up for?" +exclaimed Hal.</p> + +<p>"To kape yez from freezing to death," grinned Pat. "Did yez think the +fire would feed itself?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't think anything about it," confessed Hal. "Gee, it must have +been cold when you crawled out to start things this morning! Makes me +shiver to think of it. I guess the rest of us are the lucky little boys +to have everything started for us and a ripping good fire going before +we turned out. Do you always get up before daylight in the woods, Pat?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Pat. "It's nothing when you're used to it. Most trappers +are on the trail by break of day. The days are all too short in winter, +anyway, especially when you've got a long trap line to work over. I +expect Alec is on the line now. He'll be trying to get through early +to-day so as to have things ready for us when we reach the cabin. It's +going to be a stiff pull to-day for you fellows, and the sooner we get +started the better."</p> + +<p>As soon as breakfast was finished the toboggan was packed, the brush +piled once more in front of the lean-to and the fire put out by the +simple process of throwing snow on it. The cold light of the stars had +given way to the colder gray of the dawn as they once more slipped on +the shoes and hit the trail around Little Goose Pond. It was then that +the three novices realized that they were indeed tenderfeet. They had +not gone half a mile before it seemed as if every muscle from their +thighs down was making individual and vigorous protest. But they were +game, and if Pat guessed their feelings it was not from any word which +they let drop.</p> + +<p>Gradually the stiffness wore off, and at the end of a couple of hours +they were traveling with some degree of comfort. Pat purposely set an +easy pace for the first few miles and he kept a watchful eye on Sparrer, +for whom he felt personally responsible. As a matter of fact the +youngster was standing it even better than the other two. For one thing, +he was considerably lighter, and his shoes bore him up better than was +the case with his companions. In places where the snow was packed he did +not sink in at all, whereas the others broke through slightly, and on +soft snow he did not begin to sink as far as they did. Of course this +meant far less strain on his muscles, and greater ease in walking.</p> + +<p>As they rounded the end of the pond Pat pointed out the place where he +had been mistaken for a deer by two city boys and got a bullet through +his hat. A little beyond this point they saw the first sign of life +since they had entered the woods, the tracks of a hare or snow-shoe +rabbit, and with them other tracks which at first glance all but Pat +mistook for those of another rabbit.</p> + +<p>"You fellows wait here a minute," said he and followed the trail into a +thicket of young hemlocks. A few minutes later he called to them to join +him. They found him at the farther side of the thicket. At his feet the +snow had been considerably disturbed, and there were some blood-stains +and torn scraps of white fur. Beyond a single trail led to the foot of a +tree and there ended.</p> + +<p>"Marten," explained Pat briefly in response to the looks of inquiry. +"He ran Mr. Longlegs down here, ate his dinner and took to the trees. +I've had a hunch that there were marten in this neck of woods, but +haven't had a chance to trap them yet."</p> + +<p>Later they put up a flock of spruce grouse, but it was out of season and +the boys had too much respect for the spirit as well as the letter of +the law to be even tempted to shoot. After the noon lunch Pat quickened +the pace somewhat. The temperature had moderated rapidly and the sky was +overcast. "It's a weather breeder, and we're in for more snow," said Pat +as he scanned the sky with some appearance of anxiety. "I don't like the +looks of it. We want to reach the cabin before the storm breaks, and +we've got to hit it up faster in order to do it. How are your legs?"</p> + +<p>"Still doing business," replied Hal. "The stiffness is out, but I guess +I won't object to reaching that little old cabin. How about you, Walt?"</p> + +<p>"Same here," replied Upton. "I'm game for the rest of the distance, but +the cabin will look good to me, all right, all right. Hope Alec will +have dinner ready. I've no sooner eaten than I'm hungry again."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My tummy, oh, my tummy!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>began Hal, but Pat cut him short with the order to fall in, and started +off at a pace which left Hal no breath to waste on doggerel. They now +buckled down to the trail in earnest. Pat's fears proved well grounded, +for they were still some three miles from the cabin when the first +needle-like particles began to hiss through trees and sting their faces. +By the time they entered the pass to Smugglers' Hollow the tracks of Big +Jim had been entirely obliterated and Pat was holding the trail by the +blazed trees, a feat by no means easy because of the difficulty of +looking ahead in the face of the storm.</p> + +<p>In the narrow pass they stopped for a few minutes for a breathing spell. +There the force of the storm was broken, but when they emerged into the +Hollow they found that they must force their way into the very teeth of +it. The wind had risen, and it drove the fine icy particles with a force +that almost cut the exposed skin. The blinding cloud swirled about them +and completely hid their surroundings. Pat, in the lead, partly broke +the force of the storm for those behind. It seemed to them as if he must +be going by blind instinct, but if he was he had a dogged confidence +that was at least reassuring. At last when it seemed to the three city +lads that they simply could not push on another foot Pat stopped and +raised a warning hand. "Listen!" said he.</p> + +<p>With straining ears they listened, but for a couple of minutes heard +nothing. Then seemingly out of the heart of the storm there came a faint +"Hello-o!"</p> + +<p>"Alec," said Pat briefly. "He's getting worried."</p> + +<p>Together they gave an answering shout, but the wind seemed to snatch the +sound from their lips and whirl it behind them. "No use," said Pat. +"Wind's the wrong way, and we better save our breath. We'll need it. It +isn't far now, and he'll keep yelling to guide us."</p> + +<p>Once more they buckled down to the task in hand. The few minutes' +respite had eased the weary muscles, and the sound of Alec's voice was +wonderfully stimulating. Fifteen minutes later, panting and gasping, +powdered with snow from head to feet, they stumbled up to the cabin just +as Alec Smith threw open the door to renew his signals. For a second he +stared, then a look of intense relief swept across his rugged features.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>ONCE MORE THEY BUCKLED DOWN TO THE TASK</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>"Glory be!" he cried, springing forward and unceremoniously shoving the +exhausted boys into the cabin. "I was feared that ye would be having to +spend the night in a snowdrift. Did ye no hear me shouting?"</p> + +<p>Pat nodded as he sank on to a stool, panting for breath. "We heard you +all right, Alec, but we couldn't make you hear us because the wind was +the wrong way. Besides, we didn't have any breath to spare."</p> + +<p>But Alec wasn't listening. He was delightedly shaking hands with Walter +and Hal and helping them to strip off their mackinaws, not forgetting +Sparrer, whose presence was a surprise, Pat having sent no warning of +this addition to the party.</p> + +<p>"My, but ye be a sight for sore eyes!" he declared as he bustled about +preparing hot chocolate and in other ways striving to make his guests +comfortable. "Saving Big Jim, who spent one night here, I haven't laid +eyes on a living soul since Pat left, and that was three weeks gone, +though I mistrust that there be others no so very far away."</p> + +<p>Pat looked up quickly. "What's that?" he demanded sharply.</p> + +<p>Alec's face clouded. "I've seen signs which I dinna like. I'll be +telling ye more aboot it after dinner," said he briefly.</p> + +<p>"And the catch since I've been away?" asked Pat.</p> + +<p>"Is no what it should be. There's na doot aboot that; it's no what it +should be." The face of the young Scotchman darkened still more. Pat +flashed him a look of understanding. "We'll talk that over by and by," +said he. "Just now we're half famished. My, but that stew smells good. +I'll unpack while you are getting the stuff ready. With that toboggan in +here there isn't room to turn around."</p> + +<p>The toboggan had been dragged in when they first arrived and it occupied +most of the available room. Walter helped him unload, piling the stuff +on one of the bunks for the time being. Presently Alec called for their +eating outfit, confessing that his establishment didn't possess dishes +enough for so many. At length he announced dinner ready and bade the +four draw up to the little rough deal table spread with a piece of white +oilcloth. For seats there were two five-foot benches made by splitting a +log, smoothing the flat sides and inserting four stout birch legs in the +convex side of each. These were drawn up on either side of the table, +and at one end Alec drew up an empty box for his seat.</p> + +<p>Alec had, as Walter expressed it, laid himself out on that dinner. There +was venison stew with dumplings, and a rich thick gravy. There were +baking-powder biscuits as light as feathers. There were baked potatoes +and canned string beans. And last but not least there was a great brown +loaf of hot gingerbread.</p> + +<p>"How's your tummy now?" asked Walter as Hal at last was forced to refuse +a third helping of stew.</p> + +<p>"It's too small," Hal complained. "I want more. I want a lot more, and I +can't eat another mouthful."</p> + +<p>Pat insisted on helping Alec do up the dishes and flatly refused to +allow any one else take a hand, so the others spent the time in stowing +away their duffle and inspecting the interior of the cabin. To Sparrer +it was, of course, all new and strange. As for that, it was hardly less +so to Harrison and Upton. When they had last seen it it had been +windowless, doorless and the roof at the rear had been but temporarily +patched. Now there was a stout door. Four small windows had been fitted +into the openings left for this purpose. The temporary repairs which Pat +had made on the roof at the rear end had been replaced with a permanent +roof. In fact, the whole roof had been put in first class shape. The +side walls had been repacked with moss between the logs, the four side +bunks repaired and a new one built at the back, and all filled with +freshly cut balsam. The floor had been repaired. So also had the +fireplace and chimney. A small cupboard and shelves had been added. On +the floor were two big deerskins.</p> + +<p>But the thing which caught and held the attention of the boys most was a +big bearskin which had been thrown on one of the upper bunks.</p> + +<p>"When and where did you get him?" asked Upton eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Shot him within less than half a mile of the cabin just before real +cold weather set in," replied Alec. "He was just gettin' ready to den up +for the winter. I misdoot he was the same one that give that young +feller you called Sister the scare the day he was alone here last fall. +Tracked him in a light snow and was lucky enough to see him first. +Regular old he feller, and he sure took some killing. First shot got him +right back of the shoulder and made him squall a plenty, but it didna +stop him. Knew by that that I had hit him and hit him hard, but the way +he beat it you never'd have guessed he was hurt at all. When I see the +blood on the trail I kenned he was hard hit and would no travel far if +left alone, so I sat down and smoked a pipe. Then I took up the trail +and sure enough he had laid down behind a windfall about a quarter of a +mile from where I first see him. The old fox heard me coming and sneaked +away again, but he was getting weak and didna go far before he laid down +again. This time I got another shot and broke his backbone, but at that +it took two more shots to finish him. You ain't never killed a bar till +he's dead. What do you think that feller Ely will say when he gits that +skin?"</p> + +<p>"Spud? Is that for Spud? Do you mean to say that you are going to send +that skin to Spud Ely?" cried Walter.</p> + +<p>Alec nodded. "I promised him a barskin when he left, and I reckon that +that's hisn. Hope he'll like it."</p> + +<p>"Like it! Alec, he'll be tickled silly. He wrote me that you had +promised him one," cried Walter. "It's perfectly bully! Good old Spud! I +wish he could be here with us now to make a little sunshine. Not that we +need it," he hastened to add, "but he sure would enjoy this. I bet he's +green with envy if he knows that we fellows are up here now."</p> + +<p>"He knows, all right," Hal broke in. "Wrote him when I first thought of +this trip, but he couldn't get away."</p> + +<p>"I wanted to get that skin to him for Christmas, but didn't have a +chance to pack it out," explained Alec. "Guess I'll send it out when you +fellers go. A little old barskin don't begin to pay what I owe that +boy. If it hadn't been for him I'd probably died up there in that +hide-out where he found me. And if it hadn't been for the little doctor +here I'd likely have died anyway. Anyhow I'd have lost my leg. There's a +barskin coming to you too, some day."</p> + +<p>Walter flushed. It made him uncomfortable to be called the little +doctor, as Alec persisted in calling him, yet at the same time he was +conscious of a warm glow of pride which he tried hard to stifle. "Pooh, +Alec, that was no more than any of the other fellows would have done if +I hadn't been here. You know all Scouts know what to do for first aid to +the injured," said he.</p> + +<p>"Just the same I don't believe there was one of us would have had the +nerve to tackle that broken leg of Alec's. I wouldn't for one," declared +Hal.</p> + +<p>To relieve Walter's embarrassment Pat abruptly changed the subject. +"What was that you hinted at when we first got here about signs of some +one else in these diggings?" he asked, turning to Alec.</p> + +<p>The Scotchman's face darkened. He threw a couple of big logs on the fire +and then as the others made themselves comfortable he told his story +briefly. For the last two weeks there had been little fur in the traps, +especially on the forty mile line to the north. He had made the round of +this line twice in this time with only one marten, a fox and a few rats +to show for it, but he had found signs which led him to believe that +some of the traps had been robbed. He was morally certain that some one +had been systematically making the rounds of the traps, timing the +visits so that there would be no danger of running into him and so +cunningly following his trail that it was only by the closest study of +the tracks that he had made sure that a stranger had been on the line. +At one unsprung marten trap he had found a couple of drops of blood +which indicated that there had been something in the trap. At another +there had been the faint imprint of the body of an animal laid in the +snow off at one side. In one trap he had found the foot of a muskrat, +nothing unusual in itself, but it had been cut off with a knife and not +twisted or gnawed off.</p> + +<p>These things he had discovered on his trip two weeks ago, and on his +return trip he had thrust tiny twigs into the snow of the trail in such +a way that they would not be noticed. On his second round from which he +had returned only the day before, he had found some of these crushed +into the snow, sure evidence that they had been stepped on. He had kept +a sharp watch for a strange trail joining his own, but had discovered +none, doubtless due to the fact that the thief or thieves had come +across the bare ice of one of the lakes near the farther end of the line +and then it had been an easy matter to step into his trail where it +skirted the edge of the lake. On this last trip he had found an empty +rifle shell which apparently had been dropped unnoticed.</p> + +<p>Pat's face had hardened as he listened to the recital. "Any signs of the +bloody minded thaves in the Holler or on the short lines?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Alec shook his head. "They've kept away from here. The catch on the +short lines has been fair, and on the long line it ought to have been +better."</p> + +<p>Pat stood up and shook himself. "Arrah now, 'tis time I was back on me +job," he growled. "Wance I lay the two hands av me on the thafe 'tis the +last time he will be wantin' to look wid the eyes av envy on fur thot +don't belong to him. A thafe who would shtale another man's fur would +rob his own grandmother. This storm will cover up all tracks, but 'tis +like there will be a chance for some real scouting after it is over. +'Tis thaves we'll be trappin' and not fur for a while. Did Big Jim say +anything about a silver fox when he was here?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alec, his face lighting. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"He told Doctor Merriam that he saw one on his way out, and we've been +wondering if it was over this way," Hal broke in eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Likely he saw it on his way out of the Hollow," replied Alec. "There's +one here. I've seen him twice, but didn't get a shot. I've got traps set +for him, but he's been too smart for me so far. He's a big feller, and +his skin will grade No. 1 prime. If we can get him the thieves are +welcome to all the rest of our furs."</p> + +<p>"No, they're not!" retorted Pat. "They're going to fork over every pelt +they've taken, to the smallest rat, or Pat Malone will know the reason +why." He shook a big fist by way of emphasis. "Now, let's turn in and +forget our troubles," he ended with a mildness that brought a general +laugh.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>SNOWBOUND</h3> + + +<p>All that night the storm raged and in the morning the snow was still +falling. Pat and Alec from force of habit were up early, but seeing that +there would be nothing doing outside they forbore to waken the three +visitors and were not averse to returning to their blankets for a couple +of hours of extra sleep. How long the three boys would have slept is a +question had not Alec dropped a pan which clattered noisily. Upton poked +a sleepy face out from his bunk.</p> + +<p>"What you fellers doing?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Pat grinned. "Getting dinner. Will you have some or will you wait for +supper?"</p> + +<p>Walter felt for his watch and looked at it. Then he tumbled out in a +hurry. "Hey, you fellows!" he yelled. "Are you going to sleep all day? +It's eleven o'clock and Alec is cooking dinner. We've missed breakfast +and——"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My tummy, oh, my tummy!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>murmured a sleepy voice from the opposite bunk. "What you giving us? It +isn't morning yet." Hal thrust out a tousled head and blinked stupidly.</p> + +<p>"It isn't to-morrow morning, but it will be this afternoon in about an +hour," laughed Pat. "'Tis the way they do in Noo Yor-r-k, turn day into +night," he explained to Alec.</p> + +<p>"No such thing!" protested Hal indignantly. "It isn't more'n daylight +now."</p> + +<p>There was some foundation in fact for Hal's statement, for the little +cabin, but dimly lighted at best, was even at this late hour in a semi +twilight, due to the snow that partly covered the windows; the effect +was very much that of daybreak. The odor of frying bacon, however, was a +potent inducement to get up, and by the time dinner was ready the boys +were ready for it. There was considerable good-natured joshing over +their ability to sleep and Pat warned them that if they repeated the +performance they would be taken out and dropped in a snow-bank. It had +been a good thing for them, however, just what they needed after their +strenuous experience of the previous day, and beyond some stiffness +they confessed that they never had felt better in their lives.</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do this afternoon—start scouting for those +thieves?" Hal asked as he wiped the dishes.</p> + +<p>Pat laughed. "Not so that you'd notice it, me bye. We're going to stay +right here. The storm's not over yet, and if it keeps on I'm thinking +we'll be buried completely. However, it looks to me as if it will break +away shortly, and then you'll have a chance to show what good little +diggers they raise in Noo Yor-r-k."</p> + +<p>"And in the meantime?"</p> + +<p>"We'll enjoy all the comforts av home." Pat yawned and stretched.</p> + +<p>"Which means, I suppose, that we'll sit around and play Simon says +thumbs up, or something like that, all the afternoon," laughed Hal.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps ye'd like to sleep some more," suggested Alec slyly.</p> + +<p>"And perhaps you've got another guess coming," retorted Hal. "What's +that thing you're whittling on?"</p> + +<p>"A stretching board for marten," replied Alec.</p> + +<p>"What's a stretching board, and how do you use it?" Hal was all +interest.</p> + +<p>"To stretch skins on. Dinna ye know that all skins have to be +stretched?" Alec tossed the board one side and reached for another.</p> + +<p>"Don't know a thing about trapping or furs except that Dad has promised +me a new fur coat when I get back," retorted Hal. "I'm painfully and +sublimely ignorant, but willing to learn, and I have a hunch that there +are others. Suppose you elucidate the facts by way of killing time."</p> + +<p>"Here, here! That will do for you, Hal!" cried Upton. "Your alleged +poetry is bad enough without springing anything like that. What have you +been doing at that prep school—confabulating with the profs or flirting +with the dictionary? Elucidate! I move, fellows, that if he springs +anything more like that we throw him in the snow. I would suggest doing +it anyway if his idea wasn't so good. Go to it, Alec, and tell us about +fur."</p> + +<p>"I dinna ken where to begin," protested Alec as he carefully rounded the +smaller of his board to a point so that it looked much like one of the +shingle boats every boy knows.</p> + +<p>"Begin with that thing you're making—stretching board, I believe you +called it," said Hal.</p> + +<p>"That would be holding the gun by the wrong end," protested Pat. "The +story all happens before one of these things is needed." Pat was himself +at work on a stretching board.</p> + +<p>"Begin with the kinds of fur, and the ways in which it is trapped, and +the life of a trapper and all that sort of stuff," suggested Upton.</p> + +<p>"Just tell us what youse do every day and how youse live all alone and +de scraps youse gets inter wid de bears 'n' things, and how youse has t' +foight for life, an' pass it out hot—right off de fire."</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff, Sparrer! That's what we want," cried Hal, as +everybody laughed. "Give us the story of trapping right off the +griddle."</p> + +<p>"Ye dinna find anything very hot aboot a trapper's life." Alec paused in +his work to gaze reflectively into the fire. "It's mostly cold and +lonesomeness and hard work. There's no fighting with the beasties worth +mentioning; it's mostly fighting with storms and sometimes hunger, and a +struggle with nature. I've sometimes wondered if some of the grand +ladies and men, too, would be so proud and take so much pleasure in +their fine furs if they knew what it has cost in suffering to man and +beastie to get them. And yet I am no complaining, laddies. Ye ken that. +It's a hard life, and yet there is something aboot it that gets down +into a man and calls him, and he has to hit the trails and is no happy +until he does.</p> + +<p>"The fur that we get in this country is muskrat, mink, otter, marten, +fox, lynx and once in a while fisher. Sometimes we get a few skunks, but +not many so far in as this. We used to get beaver, but it is against the +law to take the beasties at any time now."</p> + +<p>"Which is the most valuable?" Hal interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Black or silver fox. They're worth so much they don't count. I've +trapped ever since I was knee high to a speckled fawn and haven't taken +one yet. I dinna ken what they're worth, but I've heard that more'n +$2,500 has been paid for an extra prime skin."</p> + +<p>"What makes 'em worth so much? Is it because the fur is so extra fine?" +asked Upton.</p> + +<p>"Fine nothing!" Pat broke in. "If there is any poorer wearing fur than +fox I wish you'd show me. A large prime red fox will bring only four +dollars to perhaps six or seven in a year when fur is scarce and high, +and the fur of a black fox isn't any different or better. All that +difference in price is because once in a blue moon Nature gets tired of +red and tries black for a change, and people with more money than brains +pay the price because it is rare and they can wear something that mighty +few others can have. It's fox, just the same, and it will wear out just +as quickly as if it were common every-day red. It's a fad. But the +saints defind us from any more brains till afther we have the hide av +the black gintleman thot Jim and Alec have seen here in the Hollow!"</p> + +<p>"Money does talk, doesn't it, Pat?" chuckled Hal. "Here's hoping you get +both the fox and the long price. By the way, what's a cross fox?"</p> + +<p>"The prettiest baste in the woods," returned Pat promptly. "He has +black legs and underparts, black tail with white tip, and gray head and +body with a dark cross on the shoulders. But he's just a sport of the +red fox, a variation in between the red and black. A perfect specimen is +worth a lot of money, but nowhere near what a black will bring. Between +the red and all black there are a lot of variations of the cross, and +the price varies accordingly. But let's get back to regular fur instead +of freaks. Have you looked over that price list I brought in, Alec?"</p> + +<p>Alec nodded. "I see otter and fisher are quoted just the same, $15 for +No. 1 prime. I think the two otter and the fisher we've got will grade +that all right. Up here," he continued, turning to the boys, "marten pay +us best because they bring us from $6 for No. 2 to $12 for large No. 1 +prime and some years more than that. Lynx pay pretty nearly as well, +when we can get 'em. The trouble is we don't get enough of 'em. We get +some foxes and some mink. The latter are rather down now, but some years +they are high and pay right well. Last and least, but like the pennies +that make the dollars, are the muskrats. They're bringing only thirty +cents now, but I have seen 'em as high as a dollar.</p> + +<p>"In other parts of the country are other furs. Coon disna get up as far +as this, and Arctic and blue fox dinna get as far south. We get some +weasel which when pure white is quite worth the trouble of skinning, +little as the critters are. Ye ken it is the ermine of royalty."</p> + +<p>"How about bearskins? I suppose they are worth considerable," said +Walter, glancing over at Spud's prize.</p> + +<p>"Less than ye will be thinking," replied Alec. "Yon skin is prime—and +will grade as large. What now would ye be thinking it would be bringing +me from a fur buyer this minute?"</p> + +<p>"Fifty dollars," ventured Hal.</p> + +<p>Alec and Pat smiled. "What do you say, little doctor?" Alec turned to +Upton.</p> + +<p>Walter did some quick thinking. He had set in his own mind the same +figure Hal had given, but he had caught that smile of the two trappers +and he suspected that Hal was rather wide of the mark. It didn't seem +possible to him that such a beautiful great skin could be worth less, +but at a venture he cut it in halves. "Twenty-five," said he.</p> + +<p>"Knock ten off of that, and ye will be aboot right," said Alec.</p> + +<p>"What? Only fifteen dollars for that big skin?" Hal fairly shouted.</p> + +<p>Pat laughed outright. "That's all this year. And they never are worth a +great deal. You see, for his size even a rat is worth considerable more, +and is therefore not to be despised. And when you consider the labor of +skinning a big brute like that and then packing out his hide the rats +are more to my liking if there be enough of them."</p> + +<p>"Don't you trap for bears at all?" asked Hal. "I had figured on seeing a +bear trap and perhaps finding old bruin in one."</p> + +<p>Pat smiled as he noted the look of disappointment on Hal's face. "We +don't trap them this time of year, son, because there are none to trap; +they're denned up for the winter," he explained. "But you shall have a +chance to see a deadfall before you go back. Alec built a couple, but it +was rather too late in the season. They'll be ready for early spring +when bears begin to move again. Then I suspect Alec will build one or +two more, eh, Alec?"</p> + +<p>"A couple, I guess. I've marked some likely places," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"What about steel traps?" asked Upton. "I had an idea that most trappers +used those almost altogether these days."</p> + +<p>By way of reply Alec dragged out from under one of the bunks a clanging +mass of steel. "Heft it," said he briefly, passing it to Walter.</p> + +<p>"My, but that's heavy!" he exclaimed. "What does it weigh?"</p> + +<p>"Nineteen pounds," replied Alec. "Tell me, how would ye like to pack +three or four of those in addition to a lot of smaller traps for ten or +fifteen miles?"</p> + +<p>"Not for me!" declared Upton. "I begin to see the why of the deadfalls. +It's easier to build a few of those than to lug these heavy things +around. I didn't suppose they were as heavy as this. Are all of 'em like +this?"</p> + +<p>"No, there are some that weigh only a little over eleven pounds, but +those are for small bars. I don't no ways favor 'em myself because, ye +ken, I never yet have found a way of being certain what size bar would +be stepping in one, leastways not until he was caught. A big feller will +sometimes get out of the smaller trap, but a little feller never gets +out of the big trap. So I sets only the big ones. This is a No. 5, and +big enough for any bars around these parts. There's a bigger one made +for grizzly bar and lions and tigers and such like critters, but that +weighs forty-two pounds. We've got two of these No. 5's to set in the +spring. If I was in good bar country, where the critters are plenty, I'd +use more of these, but as long as they ain't plenty and I'm after other +fur I'd rather use the deadfall. In the first place it kills the +critter, and if he's caught you know right where to find him. He's right +there. But if he gets caught in one of these things he may be a couple +of hundred yards away and he may be in the next county, which is mighty +inconvenient, 'specially if ye've got a lot of traps to tend to."</p> + +<p>"How's that? I thought you fastened the traps." Hal was plainly puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Sure we fasten 'em," returned Alec, "but do ye no see that if it was to +anything solid like a tree the critter would be breaking the trap or +the chain, maybe, or tearing himsel' loose? So we cut a log small enough +at one end for the ring on the end of the chain to just barely slip over +it and down to the middle where it is fastened with a spike. The clog is +six or seven feet long and of hard wood. Then when Mr. Bar gets caught +he has nothing solid to pull against to tear himself free. He marches +off with nineteen pounds of trap and the clog dragging from his foot. +The clog catches in the brush and between trees and usually he disna get +very far, because the heavy drag tires him. Besides that, every time +he's pulled up short it must hurt like the mischief and take the heart +out of him. Sometimes we find where he has stopped to fight the clog. +Once in a while a swivel breaks or something else gives way and he gets +rid of the clog, but still has the trap fast to his foot. Then he's +likely to dig out for parts unknown. I've known a trapper to camp two or +three nights on the trail of a bar that had gone off with a trap before +he could catch up with the critter. Mostly they will go a ways and then +make a bed, lie down a while, get uneasy and move on to do the same +thing all over again. Sometimes they won't lie in the bed after they've +made it, but move on and try again."</p> + +<p>Sparrer's eyes were bulging. "Do youse mean dey really make a bed same +as us?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Surest thing you know," replied Pat. "When a bear dens up for the +winter he makes himself comfortable. Does it when he's traveling, too. +Don't know how he got wise to the danger of rheumatiz from sleeping on +the bare ground, but he seems to be on all right. Breaks a lot of brush +and makes a regular bough bed. Sometimes he uses rotted wood when it is +handy and brush isn't. Oh, he's a wise proposition, is Mr. Bear. If he +once gets nipped in a trap and gets away it is a smart trapper who can +get him in another."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Hal had been examining the trap and trying to force down the +springs. "I'm blessed if I see how you set one of the things," said he +at last.</p> + +<p>"I'll show ye, only when it's set ye want to keep away from it. It's +more dangerous than a bar himsel'."</p> + +<p>He brought forth two screw clamps and adjusted them to the double +springs of the traps. By turning thumb-screws the springs were +compressed and held so that the jaws of the trap could be opened and the +pan set to hold them. The boys noticed that in doing this he worked from +underneath, sure sign of the careful and experienced trapper. In the +event of the clamps slipping there would be no chance of his hand or arm +being caught in the jaws.</p> + +<p>"How does the bear get caught?" asked Sparrer, to whom traps were an +unknown quantity.</p> + +<p>"By stepping on that pan," explained Pat. "I'll show you."</p> + +<p>He removed the clamps and then with a long stick touched the pan. +Instantly the jaws flew up and closed with a vicious snap, biting into +the soft wood so that pull as they would the boys were unable to get the +stick out.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" exclaimed Hal, "I'd hate to have that thing get me by the leg! I +should think it would break the bone."</p> + +<p>"It very likely would unless your leg was pretty well protected. A +bear's bones are not so brittle and do not break easily, but once that +thing has got a grip it's there to stay," said Pat.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you cover the trap up so that the bear won't see it," +ventured Upton.</p> + +<p>"Right, son. That is just what we do," replied Pat. "We cover it with +leaves or moss, according to where the set is made."</p> + +<p>"Where does the bait go?" inquired Hal. "Do you put it right on the trap +or hang it over it?"</p> + +<p>"Neither," laughed Pat. "We build a bait pen of brush or old logs, +roofing it over, and set the trap just at the entrance in such a way +that Mr. Bear must step in it in order to get into the pen or cubby +where the bait is staked at the rear. Sometimes we lay a stick across +the entrance close to the trap and six or eight inches from the ground +so that the bear will try to step over it and in doing so he will be +sure to put one foot in the trap. An old bear who has lost a toe or two +in a trap and so has learned his lesson will sometimes tear the bait pen +down from the rear and so get the bait. A deadfall is about the only way +of catching one of that kind."</p> + +<p>"I should think other animals would spring the trap," ventured Hal.</p> + +<p>"They do sometimes, especially your friend Prickly Porky the porcupine," +replied Pat. "But when we are after bear we try to set the trap so that +nothing less than a bear will spring it. Show 'em the trick, Alec."</p> + +<p>Good-naturedly Alec once more set the trap. Then he took a small springy +stick and fastened it upright in a crack in the floor. Then he bent it +over until the other end was hooked under the pan of the trap. The +spring of it held the pan in place even when considerable weight was +placed directly on the pan. "That would allow small animals to pass over +it freely, ye see," he explained, "but the weight of a bar would spring +it. We do the same thing with other traps, using smaller sticks +according to what we are after."</p> + +<p>At this point Pat went to investigate conditions outside. "Hi, you +fellows!" he called. "Storm's over, and it's time to get busy and dig +out. It's been raining, but it's clearing off cold, and by morning +there'll be a crust that'll hold a horse. Walt, you and Hal know where +the spring is, so you fellows make a path down to it. The rest of us +will shovel out the wood-pile and the storehouse."</p> + +<p>"What's the storehouse? There wasn't anything of that kind last fall." +Hal was all eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Just a bit of a log shack we put up to keep the meat and supplies in. +You'll see it when you get outside. Now, everybody to wor-r-rk!" Pat +flung the door open. A wall of snow faced them.</p> + +<p>Alec produced a home-made wooden shovel and an old iron one. With these +he and Pat soon cleared a space in front of the cabin. Then the others, +armed with snow-shoes and an old slab, went to work with a will and soon +Smugglers' Hollow rang with the laughter and shouts of the merry crew. +It was not far to the spring, and the task of digging out and trampling +down a path was not difficult. When they finished Walter and Hal turned +for their first good look at the surroundings. It was a wilderness of +white broken only by the thin column of smoke from the cabin chimney, +and the figures of their comrades busy at the wood-pile and storehouse. +The cabin itself was nearly buried in snow, which was more than +half-way to the low eaves. It had drifted quite over the little shack +where Pat and Alec were at work. All tracks had been obliterated and for +a few minutes it was difficult for them to get their bearings, so +changed was the landscape. Then one by one they picked out the landmarks +they had learned to know so well in the fall, but which now were so +changed as to be hardly recognized.</p> + +<p>They stood in silence, something very like awe stealing over them as the +grim beauty, combined with pitiless strength, of the majestic scene +impressed itself upon them.</p> + +<p>"Just think of a man living here all alone for weeks at a time. That's +what I call nerve. I believe I'd go dippy in a week," murmured Hal +hardly above a whisper as if he were afraid to trust his voice in the +great solitude.</p> + +<p>"And yet there is something fascinating about it. I can feel the call of +it myself," replied Upton. "I suppose when one gets used to it it isn't +so bad. It's—it's—well, I suppose it's what you would call elemental, +and there is something heroic about this battling with the very hills +and elements to wrest a living from them. Hello! Pat's calling us."</p> + +<p>They hurried back to the cabin, where Pat promptly shoved a pail into +the hands of each and ordered them back to the spring for water. When +they returned Alec had begun preparations for supper.</p> + +<p>"This evening," announced Pat, "Alec will finish his yarn about trapping +and then we'll plan for to-morrow. Will you fellows have baking-powder +biscuit or corn bread for supper?"</p> + +<p>"Corn bread!" was the unanimous shout.</p> + +<p>"Corn bread it is then," declared Pat. "And how will yez have the +murphies?"</p> + +<p>"French fried!" cried Hal.</p> + +<p>"Yez be hearing the orders av the gintle-min—corn bread and French +fried praties, Misther Cook," said Pat, turning to Alec. "I'll be mixing +the corn bread whoile ye cut the spuds. The rest av yez can bring in +wood and set the table, an' the wan who loafs most gets the least to +eat."</p> + +<p>At once there was a grand scramble to see who could do the most, in view +of such a dire threat.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>LIFE ON THE FUR TRAILS</h3> + + +<p>Supper out of the way the boys made themselves comfortable and gave Alec +the word to take up his yarn.</p> + +<p>"To begin with," said Alec, throwing a log on the fire, "when a trapper +is thinking of going into new country he generally prospects it first, +same as a prospector for gold, only he looks it over for signs of fur +instead of for minerals. Sometimes he does this in summer or early fall, +and sometimes he does it in winter, planning for the next winter. Friend +o' mine went up into Brunswick last winter, and looked over some country +which never has been trapped to amount to anything and this year he's up +there with a line over one hundred miles long."</p> + +<p>"Jerusalem! where did he stay nights when he was looking it over?" asked +Hal.</p> + +<p>"Wherever he happened to be," replied Alec.</p> + +<p>"Didn't he have no tent nor nothin'?" Sparrer was round eyed with +wonder.</p> + +<p>Alec shook his head. "Nothin' but a week's supply of grub, his axe, +rifle and blanket. That's all any good woodsman needs."</p> + +<p>"But was it as cold as it is now?" asked Hal.</p> + +<p>"Colder, because that part of Brunswick is consid'rable farther north. +When night came he would just dig away the snow, build a fire and when +the ground was het up move his fire back, lay some boughs down where the +fire had been, make a little bough shelter over it, build a good big +fire to reflect the heat, and turn in. Sometimes when there's a big rock +handy or an upturned tree we warm up a place a little way in front of +that and then move the fire over against it and turn in without any +shelter at all. More'n once I've slept in just a hole in the snow. +Tisn't so bad when you're used to it. Have to get up a few times in the +night to put wood on the fire, but that ain't nothin', is it, Pat?"</p> + +<p>"Tis no more than a reminder av how good it is to shlape," returned +Pat.</p> + +<p>"When a man's prospectin' for fur he not only looks for signs of the +beasties but he looks the lay of the land over and gets the landmarks +fixed in his mind," continued Alec. "He picks out a place for his main +camp, locating it where he can get his supplies and stuff in and his +furs out at the end o' the season without too much difficulty. If it is +in lumbered country he picks out a place that can be reached by some old +trail with a little clearing out so that a team can get in. More often, +though, he locates on a river where he can get his stuff in by canoe, +and can get out again the same way in the spring.</p> + +<p>"At the same time he tries to choose a location that will be to his best +advantage in working his trap lines. If he's got a long line laid out he +also picks out likely places for temporary camps, places handy to +springs and fire-wood. Early in the fall he gets his stuff together and +goes in to build his camps. Trappers mostly work in pairs, but sometimes +one goes it alone like my friend up in Brunswick. He took his traps an' +stuff in in September, so's to get his camps built and be ready for +bus'ness as soon as fur got prime."</p> + +<p>"Can one man build a log cabin without any help?" asked Walter.</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Pat, "if he's reasonably husky, and most woodsmen are. A +smart axeman can roll one up in four days, but of course it's easier and +quicker if there are two."</p> + +<p>"The main camp is made stout and comfortable as possible, same as 'tis +here, only usually 'tis no so big." Alec resumed the thread of his +story. "The other camps are just big enough for a bunk an' to cache some +supplies, and are one to two days' journey apart, accordin' to the +country. In good weather a feller disna mind sleeping oot one night +between camps if he must, though he disna aim to if he can help it. A +few supplies are left in each camp, and fire-wood cut and left handy. +When this work is done it's usually 'bout time to be gettin' after the +critters.</p> + +<p>"A long line is usually planned on a sort of loop when the country will +permit, so that the trapper may go out one way and return another. When +two are trapping together, pardners like Pat and me, one works the line +one way and one the other. Of course two can work a longer line than one +can, and cover it the way it ought to be covered. I've put in more'n one +winter alone, but ye ken it's michty satisfying to hae speech wi' some +one once in a while. When I'm alone it gets so that I talk to the +varmints just to hear a human voice, even though it be my own."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think it would be safe for a man to be all alone for so +long," Upton interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Tisn't altogether safe," replied Alec. "There was old Bill Bently. +Never was a better woodsman than old Bill. He used to trap way up north +of here. Used to go it alone mostly, but one winter he took a pardner. +Lucky thing for Bill he did. They had a long line that year and Bill +covered it one way and his pardner, Big Frank, covered it the other. +They would meet at the upper end and then again at the main camp. Well, +one time Big Frank was a day late getting to the upper camp. A big bar +had busted a swivel on a trap and gone off with the trap. Took Frank a +whole day to catch up with him. When he got to the camp he expected to +find Bill waiting for him, but nary a sign of Bill could he find.</p> + +<p>"This wasn't su'prisin' considerin' his own luck, but somehow it made +Big Frank uneasy. He hit the trail 'fore daylight the next morning and +didna stop to look at traps, but just made tracks watching out for some +sign of Bill. Long about noon he found him by a deadfall alongside of a +bar. Of course the critter was dead, and Bill would have been if he had +to lay there much longer. Seems in resetting the deadfall the lever with +which he was raising the 'fall' log broke, and somehow Bill got one leg +under it and there he was caught in his own trap and with a broken leg +to boot. Lucky for Bill it was early in the season, or he would have +frozen to death long 'fore Frank got there. As it was he was in pretty +bad shape. If he'd been trapping alone it would have been the end of +him.</p> + +<p>"But I'm getting off my story of how we catch fur. Of course we have to +have a number of sizes of traps. For muskrats we use No. 1; for mink No. +1 or No. 1-1/2. This is also big enough to hold fox, coon and fisher, +but No. 2 is better. For marten we use mostly No. 1, but if there are +signs of fisher or lynx we use No. 1-1/2 so if one happens to get into a +trap it will hold him. These critters are so strong that they would pull +out of the smaller trap."</p> + +<p>"It's marten that you are after mostly, isn't it? I understood you to +say that," Upton interposed.</p> + +<p>"We're after anything we can get, but most of our sets are for marten," +returned Alec. "In the fall we took a good many rats and will again in +the spring, but at this time o' the year when everything is frozen 'tis +only around spring holes that we can get a rat now and then since the +law will no let us trap them at their houses. I dinna ken what these +lawmakers want to meddle with a poor man's business for. So long as the +rat is killed I dinna see what difference it makes where he's killed or +how. We used to get good fur when it was no against the law to trap at +the houses."</p> + +<p>"Walt, here's a subject for a little missionary work. Alec is still an +uncivilized savage in some things, especially when what he calls his +rights to hunt and trap are concerned," Pat broke in.</p> + +<p>Upton looked a bit puzzled. "I don't quite get the point about the house +trapping," said he.</p> + +<p>"You've seen muskrat houses a-plenty, haven't you?" asked Pat.</p> + +<p>Walter nodded. "Well," continued Pat, "before this law was made trappers +used to chop a hole in the side of a house and set a trap on the bed +inside. Of course this drove the rats out, but they would soon be back, +because there was nowhere else to go. By visiting the traps night and +morning it was no trick at all to get all the rats. Now the law forbids +this kind of trapping. Alec here doesn't approve of the law. He thinks +that there are rats enough and to spare and he can't see that that kind +of work is cutting his own nose off and killing the goose that lays the +golden egg. Says you can clean all the rats out of a place and in time +more will come to take their places, and I can't make him see it any +different."</p> + +<p>"How about beaver?" asked Walter, turning to the Scotchman. "Nowhere +near as plentiful as they used to be, are they?"</p> + +<p>The trapper shook his head. "Been trapped pretty near out of this +country. I'm for protecting the beaver, all right, but rats is +different. Ye couldn't trap out all the rats in a million years. There's +rats enough and there always will be."</p> + +<p>"Ever hear of the passenger pigeon?" asked Upton.</p> + +<p>Alec signified that he never had. "Guess they dinna live in this +country," he added.</p> + +<p>"I guess they don't," replied Upton drily. "Fact is they don't live in +any country any more. What is supposed to be the very last specimen died +in captivity in Cincinnati last year. A reward of several thousand +dollars for proof of a single pair nesting anywhere in America has stood +for several years. But the bird is believed to be absolutely extinct. +And yet seventy-five years ago they were numbered by millions and +extended over America from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains. Probably +billions would be nearer the truth. The ornithologist Wilson once +watched a flock which he estimated to be a mile wide, moving at the rate +of a mile a minute, and it took four hours to pass. Allowing three birds +to each square yard there must have been more than two billion birds in +that one flock. In 1869 one town in Michigan shipped to market in forty +days almost twelve million birds. They were so plentiful that they sold +as low as twelve cents a dozen and netters made money at that. When the +first efforts to protect them were made they were fruitless because +people said that the numbers were so great that it would be impossible +ever to reduce them to a serious extent. And to-day there is not one +living. It doesn't seem possible, but it is a cold, hard fact. And man +alone is to blame.</p> + +<p>"The same thing is happening right now with a lot of animals and birds. +Just as sure as that fire is burning fifty years will see a lot off them +extinct unless they are better protected. The hunters of the pigeon +didn't believe it any more than you believe it about the rats. On the +level, Alec, do you think it a square deal to take a rat in the only +place he's got to stay in the winter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not taking them that way," Alec protested with some haste. "I +believe in respecting the law, even if it is a fool law."</p> + +<p>"But is it a fool law? I don't think so," said Walter quietly. "In a +boxing match it is a foul to hit a man when he's down."</p> + +<p>"'Tisn't in a lumberman's fight," Alec broke in. "If a man's down so +much the better. Then you've got him. That's the thing to do—get him +down and then do him good."</p> + +<p>"Aw say, youse don't mean that!" Sparrer's eyes were round with +indignation, for even a street gamin has better ethics than this.</p> + +<p>"It's the way they fight up here, Sparrer, I'm sorry to say," said Pat. +"In a rough and tumble fight here they kick, bite and gouge, and you may +well pity the under man. But they're learning better."</p> + +<p>"Would you hit a man who was bound and helpless?" asked Walter quickly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" cried Alec indignantly. "That's different."</p> + +<p>"Not so very different from your rats in their houses," protested Upton. +"They come pretty near to being helpless. Besides, they have no reason +to suspect harm there, and they don't. Put it up to any Scout and he'd +say right off the reel that it is unfair, and that is something that no +Scout will stand for. But this is nothing to do with marten. You were +saying, Alec, that you trap for marten, mostly."</p> + +<p>"Aye," replied Alec, rather glad to have the subject changed, if the +truth were known. "And it's the prettiest and most comfortable kind of +trapping in the winter. Ye see the beasties are found in heavy timber +and broken country, and that gives the trapper more protection from cold +and storms. Then the beasties are no so hard to trap as some others. +When ye find marten sign ye may be pretty sure that the critter will be +along there again. They live on mice, rabbits, birds and squirrels. Fish +makes good bait. When the snows are not too heavy I build a little +cubby, a pen, ye ken, of sticks, at the foot of a big tree, the tree +forming the back, and roof it over with evergreen branches to keep out +the snow. On a little bed of boughs I set the trap just inside the +opening of the cubby and cover it lightly with tips of evergreen. The +bait is placed on a stick at the back of the cubby. I hang a couple of +boughs partly over the opening so that if Whiskey Jack happens along he +won't see the bait and steal it."</p> + +<p>Here Pat interrupted to explain for Sparrer's benefit that a Whiskey +Jack is the common name in the north for the Canada Jay.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think the marten could get his peepers on the bait, then," +said Sparrer.</p> + +<p>"He disna need to, laddie," replied Alec. "His nose finds it for him. +Another set which I like and use a good deal is this. I cut a small +spruce of about four inches through so as to leave a stump about two +feet above the snow. In the top of this I cut a V or crotch, and after +trimming off the lower limbs of the tree I rest it in this crotch so +that the butt end projects some distance and is three or four feet above +the snow. About a foot from the butt end I flatten off a place for the +trap and tie it in place with a bit of string and loop the chain around +the trunk of the tree. Then I make a split in the end of the butt and in +this fasten the bait. Mr. Marten runs up the tree to get the bait, steps +in the trap and falls off and hangs there. He can't twist a foot off or +pull free in any way. Once he steps in the trap he's a goner.</p> + +<p>"Deadfalls work pretty well with marten. Ye'll have a chance to see +some, as I've got some right handy here, in some draws off the Hollow. +Ye'll understand them better by seeing than by me trying to tell you +about them."</p> + +<p>"How about otter?" asked Hal.</p> + +<p>"Steel traps for them, and we have to be some pertic'lar how we set 'em. +There's nary a critter that I know of more suspicious of man," replied +Alec. "In the fall and spring we get 'em with water sets. I got one this +fall up at one of the beaver dams. I cut a hole in the middle of the dam +so that the run-off from the pond was all through this but not enough to +lower the pond and bring the beavers to stop up the hole. I made the +passage only eight or nine inches wide and set the trap in the water at +the upper end. The first otter to come along tried to go through that +opening and I had him. Sometimes when we find a point of land running +out into a lake or big stream we'll find an otter trail across it where +the critter has taken a short cut. Then we set a trap in the water at +one end. Water sets are best, because there is no human scent. In the +winter we set under the ice, and I'll show you a couple of sets of that +kind before you go back."</p> + +<p>"And foxes?" prompted Upton.</p> + +<p>Alec grinned. "They're worse than otter," he confessed. "Ye think ye ken +all about the critters, and then ye meet up with one that just gives ye +the laugh, like the silver that's hanging around here. I've tried every +set I know of for that feller, but he's still grinning at me. And this +crust ain't going to help matters any. It's bad enough in dry snow, but +with a crust there won't be anything doing. In the fall I use water sets +where I can. One of the best is at a shallow spring, four or five feet +across. About a foot and a half from the shore put a moss-covered stone, +or a sod, so that it will come just above the level of the water. +Half-way between this and the shore set the trap, covering the jaws, +springs and chain with mud or wet leaves from the bottom. The pan should +be just under water and on this place a little piece of moss or sod so +that it will come an inch above the water. On the outer stone or sod put +a small piece of bait and a little scent. Mr. Fox comes along, smells +the bait and promptly investigates. He disna like to wet his feet, and +the bit of covering on the pan of the trap looks like a good +stepping-place. Then you have him.</p> + +<p>"Ye must take care to leave everything in a perfectly natural state. I +wade up the outlet and take care not to touch the banks. Some trappers +boil the traps in hemlock boughs to kill the scent. Others just leave +them over night in running water. I wear clean gloves to handle the +traps. There are a lot of dry sets, some with bait and some without, the +latter being used in frequented runways. A very good set is to find an +old moss-covered log or stump and set the trap on the highest point, +covering it so that the whole thing looks just as it did before. Then +toss a big bait like a muskrat or rabbit eight or ten feet from it. Mr. +Fox is always suspicious, and before he goes too near anything like that +he will go to the highest point to look the ground over. That's when ye +get him. Of course, there mustn't be any other high point for him to get +on."</p> + +<p>"You spoke of scents, Alec. I've read about them. What are they, +anyhow?" asked Upton.</p> + +<p>For answer, Alec got up and went to a corner of the cabin and brought +forth an old fruit jar. Pat grinned. "Here's some," said Alec simply as +he unscrewed the cover while the boys crowded around. They took one +whiff and then fairly tumbled over each other to get away.</p> + +<p>"Cover it up! Take it away!" howled Hal, holding his nose. "I won't be +able to eat a square meal for a week."</p> + +<p>"Me too!" yelped Sparrer. "Dey has some awful smells in New York, but +dis is de limit."</p> + +<p>"Jumping crickets! I should think that stuff would drive things away and +not attract 'em!" exclaimed Upton. "What is it, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Skunk fat and mice cut up and put in the jar and hung in the sun until +thoroughly rotted, and then some skunk and muskrat scent added. Sorry +you don't like it," replied Pat. "A drop or two judiciously used seems +to be a great attraction for foxes and some other critters. Alec has got +another brand if you would like to sample it—fish oil made by cutting +up fish and letting them rot in the same way. It's a mighty good scent."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks!" cried Hal hastily. "We'll take your word for it. What +about those stretching boards?"</p> + +<p>"I'm coming to that," replied Alec. "Raw furs are handled in two ways, +'cased' and 'open.' Mink, marten, fox, fisher, weasel, muskrat, skunk +and bob cat are 'cased.' That is what these boards are for. We skin 'em +by cutting loose around the feet and then cutting down the back of the +hindlegs to and around the vent and then skin the hindlegs carefully, +and also the tail. Then the skin is turned back and stripped off the +body wrong side out to the ears, taking as little fat as possible. The +ears are cut off close to the head, and the skin is cut loose around the +eyes and nose. The easiest way is to hang the critter up by the hindlegs +after skinning out these and the tail.</p> + +<p>"These small boards Pat and I are making are for muskrats in the spring. +For marten, mink, otter, fisher and such like we use longer, narrower +boards; that is, they are narrower in proportion to their length. I'll +show you some presently. The best boards are those with a narrow strip +ripped out of the middle for the whole length. This makes a wedge or +tongue. Of course it should be tapered. This makes it possible to use +the board for various size animals and to stretch the skin to its +fullest extent. It also makes it easy to remove a skin from the board, +as taking out the wedge at once loosens the whole board.</p> + +<p>"The skins are put on the stretchers fur side in. Then with a blunt +knife they are fleshed. That is, they are scraped clean of every +particle of fat and flesh. Then they are stretched to their fullest +extent and put to dry or cure in a cool, airy place. As soon as dry +enough to prevent shrinking or wrinkling they are taken from the boards. +Lynx and fox are then turned fur side out, but the others are left as +they are.</p> + +<p>"Beaver, coon, bear, wolf and badger are skinned 'open.' That means that +a cut is made from the point of the jaw straight down the belly to the +vent. A cut is made down the inside of the forelegs across the breast to +the point of the brisket and another down the back of the hindlegs. Big +animals like bars, wolves and wolverines should be skinned out to the +ends of their toes and have the feet left on. These skins are stretched +flat, a coon nearly square, a beaver round, and others to their natural +shape. The best way is by lacing them with twine in a frame. Many +trappers lose money by careless handling of the furs. All dirt, blood +and lumps should be carefully removed. Lots of skins, prime when caught, +grade way down because of careless handling. Now I guess you chaps have +got your fill of furs. What about to-morrow? It's Christmas, ye ken."</p> + +<p>"That's so, and it will be the queerest Christmas I ever have spent," +said Hal thoughtfully. "We ought to celebrate, somehow. What's the +program, Pat?"</p> + +<p>"How about a rabbit hunt in the morning, a big dinner and a +shooting-match in the afternoon?" replied Pat.</p> + +<p>"Bully!" cried all three together.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with a Christmas tree in the evening?" added Upton. +"We ought to do something Christmasy."</p> + +<p>"I was going to suggest that very thing," retorted Hal. "We'll make it +the greatest Christmas this old Hollow ever saw. Now, let's turn in. I +want to be out for those rabbits right early. By the way, Alec, I hope +there's some of that venison left for the big feast."</p> + +<p>"Dinna ye worry, laddie. I hae saved a roast special," replied Alec as +he prepared things for the night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>CHRISTMAS IN SMUGGLERS' HOLLOW</h3> + + +<p>"Merry Christmas!"</p> + +<p>At the sound of Pat's roar the three guests hastily tumbled out of their +bunks with answering greetings. A cheerful fire blazed up the chimney +and added its flickering light to that of a couple of candles, for the +sun was not yet up. Alec was cutting bacon and Pat was mixing flapjack +batter.</p> + +<p>"Breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes, and the one who isn't ready +goes hungry," he announced.</p> + +<p>"It won't be yours truly," declared Hal, reaching for his clothes.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My tummy, oh, my tummy!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It gives me such a pain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wonder will it ever——<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Say, who swiped one of my socks? I can't find but one, and I left 'em +together." He began to toss things left and right in search of the +missing article.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Upton was down on his knees fumbling under his bunk. At Hal's +complaint he looked up suspiciously. "I can't find one of mine," he +sputtered. "Somebody's been putting up a job on us. Hi! What the——" He +finished by pointing toward the fireplace.</p> + +<p>Hal looked. There hung his missing sock. Also one of Upton's and one of +Sparrer's, all three misshapen and bulging.</p> + +<p>"Ut would not be Christmas an' we did not hang the childer's stockings," +announced Pat gravely.</p> + +<p>With a whoop the three boys fell on the stockings. Entering into the +spirit of the occasion they seated themselves on the floor in front of +the fire and pulled out the contents as gleefully as ever they had +emptied Christmas stockings at home in their younger days. The gifts +were trifling in themselves, but the better for that very fact. There +were little packages of spruce-gum, a carved paper-knife, a tiny +birch-bark canoe, whistles made from buck's horn, a rabbit's foot charm, +and other knickknacks of the woods. Pat's voice broke into the midst of +the babel produced by the discovery of the socks and their contents. +"Five minutes for those who want breakfast," he announced.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a mad scramble to finish dressing and when time was +up it was evident that no one proposed to go hungry that Christmas +morning. During the meal it was decided that Alec should remain at camp +to prepare for the grand feast while the others went in search of +rabbits. Walter and Hal, knowing the surrounding country, were to go +each on his own hook while Pat would take Sparrer with him. Just before +starting the two former held a whispered conference. They had brought in +with them a few gifts for Pat and his partner and also some small +packages which the home folks had pledged them not to open until +Christmas day. At Hal's suggestion it was decided to say nothing about +these until night and spring them as a surprise at the Christmas tree on +which Hal had set his heart.</p> + +<p>As Pat had foreseen, there was a crust on which the shoes made no +impression. Hal elected to go down the north side of the brook while +Upton took the opposite side. Pat and Sparrer were to visit a certain +swamp not far distant. All were to be back at the cabin by eleven +o'clock.</p> + +<p>To Upton the tramp in that wonderful wilderness of glistening white +meant far more than the hunt. As a matter of fact the very thought of +killing anything amid such pure surroundings was repugnant to him. To +this feeling a big white hare which foolishly sat up to stare at him +within fifteen minutes after he had left the cabin undoubtedly owed its +life. Slowly the rifle had been raised until the sights rested squarely +between the two innocent staring eyes. Then it had been as slowly +lowered. "I can't do it, puss. The others will get all we need to eat, I +guess, so suppose you remove your pretty self from the range of +temptation," said he, taking a sudden forward step. Thereupon puss +promptly acted upon his advice, and so precipitately that Upton laughed +aloud. "Merry Christmas!" he shouted as the bounding white form +disappeared.</p> + +<p>That decided him. His heart was not in hunting that morning. What he did +want to do was just to tramp and drink in the beauty of the wonderful +scene. His rifle was a nuisance. He wished that he had not brought it at +all. Why not cache it and pick it up on his way back? A hasty survey of +his surroundings discovered a fire blackened hollow stub split its full +length on one side. It was the very thing he was looking for. It was a +landmark he could not very well miss on his return. He put his rifle in +it, tightened his belt, and then deliberately turned his back on the +valley and headed for the top of the ridge. He was in quest of views, +and not of game.</p> + +<p>Climbing a ridge on a snow crust is no child's play, as Walter soon +found out. It sometimes seemed as if he slipped back two feet for every +one he gained. He tried taking off the shoes, only to find that in +sheltered places he broke through and was worse off than on the slipping +shoes. But he was grimly resolved that he would get to the top of the +ridge, cost him what it might. It was characteristic of the boy that +what he set out to do he did. So he ground his teeth and kept at it, +slipping, scrambling, pulling himself up by brush and trees. After a +little he discovered that by zigzagging back and forth along the face +of the slope and taking advantage of every little inequality he could +make fairly good progress.</p> + +<p>Still it took an hour and a half of strenuous work to gain the coveted +top of the ridge, and he was thoroughly winded and weary, to say nothing +of sundry bruises and scratches from frequent falls. Panting and +perspiring he turned to look back. Below him lay Smugglers' Hollow, but +how different from the Hollow into which he had gazed for the first time +in September! It was not less lonely or less wild. In fact if anything +these features were accentuated. The mountains which seemed to enclose +it on all sides were no less heroically grand and rugged, but they had +been robbed in a measure of their forbidding, somber gloom by the +transforming mantle of snow. The heavy stand of spruce on the opposite +mountain no longer cloaked it with the shadows of night like a perpetual +threat of evil. Each tree was a pyramid of myriad gems flashing in the +sun.</p> + +<p>He could trace the course of the frozen brook through the heart of the +Hollow, a ribbon of white, smooth and unbroken, between the fringe of +alders on either side. He could see the cabin, or rather the roof and +eaves, for the cabin itself was nearly buried in a drift. From the +chimney a thin pencil of blue smoke rose straight up in the still air. +It was the one thing needed. It in no way marred the grandeur of the +scene, but it saved it from utter desolation. Something of this sort +flitted vaguely through Upton's mind. Then he heard the faint crack of a +rifle on the opposite side of the Hollow, followed by two more cracks. +The smoke and the sound of the rifle removed the last vestige of +temporary depression which the grandeur of the scene and the utter +silence of the vast solitude had tended to produce.</p> + +<p>"Hal's got into a bunch of 'em or else his shooting eye is off," he +chuckled and turned to scan the ridge he was on to the west. It +presented a broken line of low peaks. One slightly higher than the rest +marked the place where the pass to the Hollow entered. It was the hill +from which the Lost Trail party had first looked into Smugglers' Hollow, +and the view from the summit was more complete than from the point +Walter now occupied.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to get up there," he thought, "but it's a little too much of +an undertaking on this crust. Besides, it would make me late for dinner. +Hello! Wonder what that is."</p> + +<p>He had caught a sudden flash on the highest point of the peak. As he +watched he saw it again. His first thought had been that it was the sun +reflected from a bit of ice, but an instant's thought convinced him that +this couldn't be. It would of necessity be fixed and steady. The flashes +he had seen were made by something moving. With this knowledge came the +sudden conviction that the flashes were caused by the sun striking on +polished metal. Hastily feeling in his rucksack he drew out a pair of +opera-glasses which he always carried with him for use in studying birds +and animals. They were not very strong, but sufficiently so to bring the +peak perceptibly nearer. At first he could make out nothing unusual. +Then through the glasses he caught that flash again and focussed them as +nearly as possible on the spot from which it had come. For some minutes +he saw nothing suspicious. He was almost ready to give up and conclude +that it was in his imagination when he was positive that he saw +something move back of a stunted little spruce growing from a cleft in +the rocks at the point where he had located the flashes.</p> + +<p>Instantly every instinct of the true scout was aroused. There was +something alive back of that little spruce. It might be an animal and +then again it might be a man. At once there flashed into his mind Alec's +account of the robbed traps. Could it be that one of the thieves was +reconnoitering the Hollow? His heart gave a queer jump at the thought. +Anyway it was clearly up to him to find out what he could.</p> + +<p>Rapidly he reviewed the situation. It was clear that from his present +location he would gain no further information if his suspicions were +true. If an enemy was watching from behind that spruce he was +undoubtedly aware of Walter's presence, for he was standing in the open. +Beyond question he had been watched from the time he left the cabin. To +make a false move now would be to give warning. He regretted that he had +gazed so long at the suspected point. That in itself would be sufficient +to arouse suspicion in the mind of any one hiding there. The first +thing then was to allay any such suspicion.</p> + +<p>Deliberately he turned his glasses across the Hollow and studied the +opposite mountain for a greater length of time than he had watched the +point where he had seen the flash. Then he squatted down and leisurely +turned his glasses from point to point in the Hollow in the manner of +one having no interest in anything but the view. Not once did he glance +back along the ridge, although he was burning with curiosity and desire +to do so. He ignored it as if it held no further interest for him +whatever. For perhaps ten minutes he continued to act the part of a mere +sightseer. Then putting his glasses back in his rucksack he stretched +lazily and in a leisurely manner began to pick his way down into a +little draw which cut back into the ridge in the opposite direction from +the pass. Once down in this he would be out of sight of a possible +watcher at the spruce lookout.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was sure that he was beyond observation Upton hurried. The +draw led back into a thick stand of young growth, and he hoped by +working up through this to be able to cross the ridge unobserved and +work back to a point which he had carefully noted and from which, owing +to the change of angle, he felt sure he would be able to see back of the +little spruce tree which had previously cut off his view. Getting up to +the top of the ridge was stiff work for an inexperienced snow-shoer in a +hurry and was productive of many tumbles, but it was accomplished at +last. After this it was comparatively easy to work along just below the +top on the back side to the point he had selected.</p> + +<p>There he cautiously crept into a thicket of young spruce and, his heart +beating like a trip-hammer with excitement, carefully parted the +branches until he could get a clear view. His hands trembled as he drew +out the glasses. Would he discover anything, or had he been wrought up +to such a pitch over nothing? The little spruce leaped out clear and +distinct as he got the focus. "Ha!" The exclamation was wholly +involuntary and he experienced an absurd impulse to look around to make +sure that he had not been overheard, although he knew that he was +absolutely alone.</p> + +<p>The cause was the figure of a man squatting behind the spruce and +peering intently into the valley. He wore a fur cup pulled low to shade +his eyes, and this, together with the distance, made it impossible for +Upton to see his features clearly, but somehow he received an unshakable +conviction that it was an Indian or a half-breed. A rifle leaned against +the tree and doubtless it was the glint of the sun on its polished +surface that had produced the mysterious flashes that had first caught +his attention.</p> + +<p>"He's watching to see if I go back to the cabin," thought Walter. "If he +doesn't see me by the time the others return he'll smell a rat. There's +nothing more to be gained by staying here. I've proved that we are being +watched, and that's all I can do. It's up to me to get back and tell the +others."</p> + +<p>Cautiously the boy retreated through the thicket until he was below the +cap of the ridge. Then he hurried, running when he could and finding it +less difficult than he had imagined. He crossed above the head of the +draw and went on until he had reached a point which he judged must be +about opposite to where he had left his rifle in the hollow tree. His +first impulse had been to keep on until he could come out directly in +the rear of the cabin, but on second thought he had decided that it +would be wiser to return by the same way that he had left and get his +rifle. If he had been seen leaving the cabin with his rifle it would +look odd, to say the least, if he should be seen returning without it.</p> + +<p>In climbing the ridge he had zigzagged back and forth, picking the +easiest grade, but now he was too impatient for so slow a method of +descent and plunged straight down, slipping, sliding, checking himself +by catching at trees and brush, getting a fall now and then as the web +of his shoes caught in a stick, but on the whole doing very well. One +thing he had not considered as he should have—the possibility of +slipping over an unseen ledge. It was brought home to him when he +brought a rather long slide to an abrupt end by catching a tree on the +very edge of a sheer drop of perhaps eight feet.</p> + +<p>"Phew!" he gasped. "A little more and I'd have gone over that and had a +nasty tumble. Been the same way if it had been a fifty foot ledge. I +see where little Walter will be turning up missing one of these days if +he doesn't look out. It's a poor scout who takes needless chances in +territory he isn't familiar with. I'll be more careful hereafter."</p> + +<p>He peered over the edge of the ledge. Below the snow had drifted deep +and it was clear. The ledge ran east and west for some distance, and to +make a detour would take time. His first thought was to kick off his +shoes, toss them down and then jump. But if he did this he would be sure +to break through the crust and he had no means of knowing the depth of +that drift or what might be underneath it. He had no desire to find out. +He must either jump on his shoes or go around, and the temptation was to +jump.</p> + +<p>"May as well learn to jump now as another time," he muttered, for the +time being forgetting that in the event of a mishap, such as a twisted +ankle, he would be helpless in a temperature far below zero.</p> + +<p>He walked back a bit, took three or four long quick strides and leaped. +As he left the edge of the little bluff he felt the tails of his shoes +drop until the big webs hung from his feet at an angle but slightly off +the perpendicular. A momentary doubt of a successful landing flashed +through his mind. He had a vision of an ignominious plunge through the +crust and perhaps broken shoes. Then automatically he set himself for +the landing, arms spread, body thrust forward and knees bent. It seemed +as if those hanging shoes certainly must trip him. A second later he +struck the crust in a half crouch. The crust cracked and gave a little, +just enough to prevent the shoes from sliding. With a quick step he +regained his balance and with a sense of exhilaration realized that he +had made successfully his first jump on snow-shoes.</p> + +<p>From this point he had little difficulty in reaching the hollow stub, +where he secured his rifle and then turned toward the cabin. Hal was +just coming in. From one hand dangled a snow-shoe rabbit.</p> + +<p>"Is that all you've got for all that shooting I've heard?" chaffed +Walter.</p> + +<p>Hal grinned. "Couldn't hit a balloon if it was big as a mountain and +tied down in front of me," he confessed. "Don't know what the trouble +was, but I just couldn't shoot. Wouldn't have got this fellow if he +hadn't sat up and begged to be shot. Missed him a mile the first time at +ten yards. Bullet didn't go near enough to scare him. Second shot was no +better. Got him on the third shot, but I believe at that he jumped in +front of the bullet. You don't seem to have had even that much luck. +What was the trouble? Haven't heard your rifle this morning."</p> + +<p>"Didn't feel like hunting. Went up on the ridge to get the view +instead," returned Walter carelessly. "Wonder how Sparrer made out."</p> + +<p>They entered the cabin to find Pat and Sparrer already there, the latter +so excited that he gave vent to a joyful whoop when he caught sight of +them and rushed precipitately to the back of the room to drag forth two +pairs of rabbits.</p> + +<p>"Plugged 'em all meself!" he declared proudly.</p> + +<p>The rabbits were duly examined and Sparrer was praised for his +marksmanship until his cheeks burned, Pat leading in piling it on thick. +Two of the rabbits had been neatly drilled through the heads, a third +had "got it in the neck," as Pat put it, and the fourth had been shot +through the body. Pat forestalled any criticism by explaining that this +was the first rabbit they had found and he had told Sparrer to "shoot at +thot little lump av snow just by way av gettin' yer hand in." Quite +innocently Sparrer had done so, and had nearly dropped the rifle in +surprise when the lump of snow had resolved itself into a rabbit which +gave a few spasmodic kicks and then lay still.</p> + +<p>Of course Hal was chaffed unmercifully over his one lone contribution to +the larder, especially when he admitted that he had shot at no less than +five. But he took it good-naturedly, confessing that he was utterly at +loss to account for his bad form.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Upton had said nothing about his discovery on the ridge. His +first impulse had been to blurt out the news, but on second thought he +had decided not to. At the first opportunity he drew Pat aside and told +him. The big fellow's face darkened. "Say nothing about it," he +counseled. "There's no use in spoiling a merry day, and the knowledge +that we are being watched will do them no good. There's nothing we can +do about it to-day. 'Tis not likely they mean us any harm. It's the fur +they are after, and they've just taken advantage of the crust which +leaves no trail to look us over and find out how many are in our party."</p> + +<p>So Walter held his peace, and threw himself into the preparations for +dinner as if he had nothing of more importance on his mind. That +Christmas feast will never be forgotten by the three city lads. There +was the promised roast of venison, a rabbit stew, potatoes baked in the +ashes, canned peas, biscuit, a jar of jam, and, to top off with, a hot +apple pie made from evaporated apples. But the real surprise was a steak +done to a turn over the hot coals.</p> + +<p>"Bear!" shouted Hal as he set his teeth in the first mouthful.</p> + +<p>Alec smiled. "I see ye have tasted it before," said he.</p> + +<p>"Once," replied Hal. "Louis Woodhull got one on that Swift River trip a +year ago last fall. But when did you get this fellow, and why have you +kept so mum about it?"</p> + +<p>Alec nodded toward the skin which was to be Spud Ely's. "It's the same +one," said he. "I've kept part of him ripening out in the storehouse +against this day," he explained.</p> + +<p>When they could eat no more there was a general loosening of belts and +sighs of complete satisfaction into which Pat rudely broke with a demand +for dishwashers and wipers.</p> + +<p>"Oh, can it!" grunted Hal. "When a fellow's in the seventh heaven what +do you try to bring him down to earth again for?"</p> + +<p>But Pat was obdurate, and with many an exaggerated grunt and groan the +remains of the feast were cleared away, the dishes washed and the cabin +set to rights. Then followed a lazy hour before the rifle match. It was +agreed that Pat and Alec, both of whom were expert shots, should count +as a clean miss any shot not striking in the black, while the others +should be credited with whatever their actual scores were. Each was to +be allowed ten shots. The bull's-eye counted ten, the first ring outside +counted nine, the next ring eight, and so on. Each was allowed three +trial shots to get the range.</p> + +<p>Hal was the first to take his trial shots. At the crack of the rifle +Upton ran forward to examine the target. "Never touched it! Didn't even +hit the board! Some shooter you are, Hal!" he yelled.</p> + +<p>Hal flushed, but said nothing. For his second shot he took plenty of +time and was as careful as he knew how to be. The result was the same. +For his third shot he used a rest, which was contrary to the rules, but +was allowed, as this was only a trial shot. This time he nicked a +splinter from one edge of the board on which the target was fastened.</p> + +<p>"Here, let me see that rifle," cried Pat, striding forward and snatching +the gun out of Hal's hands. He sighted it, then handed it back with a +grin. "Will ye tell me how iver ye got thot wan rabbit wid a gun the +loikes av thot?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's the matter with the gun?" demanded Hal, reaching for it, a +puzzled scowl furrowing his brows.</p> + +<p>Alec forestalled him and took the rifle from Pat's hands. He in turn +sighted along the barrel. "Laddie," said he, the soberness of his face +belied by the twinkle in his eyes, "do ye no ken that a gun is like a +fine lady? It must be treated wi' respect."</p> + +<p>Hal took the gun with a puzzled look. "I don't quite get you fellows +yet," said he.</p> + +<p>Pat laughed outright. "Look at your forward sight, man. You've hit the +end of your barrel against something and knocked that sight a wee bit +out of alignment. It must have been pure luck that you got that rabbit +this morning."</p> + +<p>"Use my rifle," interrupted Walter.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," replied Hal. "I believe I will. Even if I got the sights +adjusted on my gun I shouldn't be able to shoot. Every time I made a +poor shot I'd have the feeling that it was the gun's fault. My, but it +is a relief to know that I haven't gone back in my shooting quite so +badly as all that."</p> + +<p>All having made their trial shots the match was on. Walter shot first, +getting five tens, four nines and an eight, a total of ninety-four. Alec +was next, and his first shot was a nine, followed by nine bull's-eyes, a +total of ninety under his handicap. Hal started off with a seven, went +into the black six times in succession, then got two eights and wound up +with a nine, total ninety-two. Sparrer gave them a surprise with +eighty-seven and Pat slapped him on the back. The coaching he had +received that morning during the rabbit hunt had not been in vain. Pat +was the last man up, and shot rapidly and with seeming carelessness, but +the succession of bull's-eyes was proof that this was more apparent than +real. His last shot, however, barely touched the edge of the black, and +he insisted that it be counted a miss, tying him with Alec and giving +Walter the match.</p> + +<p>After this Pat and Alec shot a friendly match. While this was going on +Hal slipped back to the cabin. He had marked a small spruce of perfect +shape not far from the rear of the cabin, and this he now cut and +dragged in. By the time the shooting was over he had it set up at the +rear of the room and had stretched a blanket across so as to screen it. +When his comrades came trooping in they were warned not to peep behind +it under threat of dire penalties. He made one exception. He needed +Upton's help and also the gifts that Walter had brought from home.</p> + +<p>By the time they had finished it was quite dark in the cabin. They +piled logs on the fire and when the blaze was leaping merrily up the +chimney and casting a warm ruddy light over the room Hal suggested that +they draw up to the fire for a Christmas story. He chose the German +legend of the origin of the Christmas tree. He possessed no mean skill +as a story-teller and he threw himself into the telling of this so that +his listeners sat in rapt attention.</p> + +<p>Just before the conclusion he gave Walter a signal and the latter arose +and slipped back of the blanket. As the story ended the blanket was +pulled down and there was the little tree glittering with lights and +tinsel and hung with the gifts which the boys had brought. There was a +delighted gasp from Pat, Alec and Sparrer and then a silence that was a +tribute in itself as they watched the colored candles gradually shorten. +The truth is it was the first Christmas tree within the experience of +any one of the three, and they were as delighted as any children could +have been.</p> + +<p>When the candles had burned down to the danger point Hal blew them out +and then distributed the gifts, which were opened amid much hilarity +and fun making.</p> + +<p>"This makes up for the stockings this morning," he laughed as the others +showered him with fulsome praise.</p> + +<p>"It more than makes up," declared Pat. "'Tis a Christmas I'll never +forget." Then as he lovingly fingered a long desired book sent in by +Doctor Merriam he added: "But when did you think of the tree idea? Was +it in New York?"</p> + +<p>Hal nodded. "The idea came to me the very day we left. Saw a window full +of tree fixings and on the impulse ran in and got the candles and +tinsel. Glad you like it."</p> + +<p>An hour of story-telling followed ere they turned in and silence like a +Christmas benediction settled over the cabin.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>A DEER YARD</h3> + + +<p>"Would you fellows like to visit a deer yard?" Pat asked at breakfast +the next morning when the subject of the day's program had been brought +up.</p> + +<p>"Would we!" Upton fairly shouted it. "Say, Pat, do you mean that there +is a really, truly sure enough deer yard anywhere near here? I've read +about 'em, and I'd give all my old shoes to see one."</p> + +<p>"Right O, my fine bucko! You shall see one, and it won't cost you so +much as a shoestring," replied Pat. "It's not over a mile from camp, and +on the ridge just above it is one of those deadfalls for bear that Alec +built last fall. We'll take that in and kill two birds with one stone if +you say so. There are some marten traps on that same ridge that I want +to have a look at. What do you say, Alec?"</p> + +<p>"Verra good," replied Alec. "You show the laddies the yard and look over +that line, and I'll take the short line east. We'll get back here by +noon and this afternoon we can show them some other sets."</p> + +<p>To this plan the others agreed with enthusiasm and preparations for an +immediate start were begun. "Shall we take rifles?" asked Hal eagerly.</p> + +<p>"For what?" demanded Pat. "We be going to visit a deer yard, and 'twould +be tempting fate and flying in the face of Providence to let such a +bloodthirsty young gintleman in among the poor cratures with a gun in +his hands."</p> + +<p>Hal joined in the laugh at his expense and then added rather lamely:</p> + +<p>"We might run across that silver fox."</p> + +<p>"And we might jump over the moon. The one is as likely as the other," +retorted Pat.</p> + +<p>So the guns were left at the cabin. Pat led the way straight to the +ridge on which Spud Ely had missed his first chance to get a buck in the +fall, but instead of climbing the ridge worked along the foot of it, +skirting a swamp. They followed the edge of this for some distance and +then abruptly turned into it. The growth was dense in places, with +thickets of young hemlocks which afforded both warmth and shelter in +severe weather. Almost at once they came to a deeply trodden path which +led them presently to a maze of paths running in all directions.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said Pat.</p> + +<p>Sparrer's face was a study. "Where's de yard?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"All around here," replied Pat with a comprehensive sweep of his arm, +"wherever you see these paths." Then, a sudden light breaking over him, +he added, "Did you expect to find a fence around it, son?"</p> + +<p>Sparrer grinned, not at all embarrassed by the general laugh and +perfectly willing to confess his ignorance. "All de yards ever Oi seen +had fences round 'em. Oi thought a fence was what made a yard," he +confessed.</p> + +<p>"Not a deer yard," replied Pat. "A deer yard is a place where the deer +tramp out paths in the snow and spend the winter. It is made where they +get both shelter and food. When the first deep snow comes they collect +in such a place and start the paths while browsing for food. Then as the +snow gets deeper they follow the same paths because it is easier going, +and make new paths only when they have to to reach new food supplies. By +continually using these paths they keep them open and manage to pick up +a living browsing on twigs and pawing down to the ground moss. By the +time the heaviest snows come they can't very well get out if they want +to, especially when there is a crust like this. You see some of those +paths are two to three feet deep. The more plentiful the feed and the +smaller the herd the smaller the yard. Before there were any laws to +protect deer and moose they used to be slaughtered in the yards by +trappers and lumber jacks because it is no trick at all for a man on +snow-shoes to run them down. Once get them frightened so that they break +out of the yard and they can be run down in no time. There's a deal of +poaching goes on now when a yard is discovered near a lumber camp. It's +just plain murder and nothing less. I've known a whole family of moose, +bull, cow, yearling and calf, to be wiped out in one day by a +bloody-minded game-hog. Didn't even waste a shot on the calf, but ran it +down and cut its throat. Red Pete, the brute Walt helped to put in the +pen the first year he came up here, used to make a business of locating +deer yards and keeping lumber camps supplied with fresh meat all winter. +The poor critters haven't even a running chance for their lives."</p> + +<p>"Oi hope we'll be able to lamp some. Oi wud loike to put me peepers on a +real live wild deer before we go home," said Sparrer, his eyes shining +with suppressed excitement.</p> + +<p>"I guess I can promise you that, my son," replied Pat. "We'll separate +here. Sparrer and I will work off to leeward, Hal will keep straight +ahead and Walt will swing to windward. If you two start any they will +work over to us and give Sparrer a chance to see em. Yell if you start +any. I reckon you'll find 'em pretty tame. They haven't been bothered +here and they know as well as we do that the law protects 'em now. Watch +for fresh sign and follow it up."</p> + +<p>They separated as suggested, Hal and Walter moving slowly so as to give +Pat and Sparrer time to gain a good position. Walter swung well to the +windward side. Of course this meant that his chances of getting a close +view of any deer which might be on his side of the yard were +comparatively slim. They would wind him and at once move on. He was in +effect a driver for the others. But he didn't mind this. Wild deer were +no new sight to him, and he was only too anxious to give Sparrer the +pleasure which he knew a glimpse of Peaked-toes in the freedom of his +native woods would be.</p> + +<p>He chose what appeared to be one of the most used paths and followed +this as quietly as he could. He soon found that still hunting on +snow-shoes and with moccasined feet on bare ground were two very +different matters. He was not yet sufficiently adept on the big webs to +keep them from clacking as the rim of one shoe passed over the rim of +the other. The harder he tried not to the more noise he made, it seemed. +Clack, clack, clack. It was most annoying. He stopped to consider. Then +on the impulse of a sudden idea he slipped his shoes off and dropped +down into the path he had been following. Here he could walk without +noise. The droppings of the deer, known as "sign" by all hunters, were +numerous, and the brush within reach from the path showed indications of +having been browsed on recently, and he found several places where sharp +hoofs had pawed away the snow since the last storm.</p> + +<p>The path twisted and turned and doubled on itself, showing that it had +been made originally by aimless wandering in quest of food. Other paths +crossed it, but Walter avoided these, judging that the one he was on was +as likely as another to lead him to the quarry. At length after an +abrupt turn it led straight into a thicket of hemlocks, young growth. As +he approached this there was a sharp sound like the sudden release of +compressed air, repeated a second later from a point a trifle to the +right. It was the alarm warning of deer. Above the snow just to the +right of and beyond the thicket he caught a glimpse of the heads and +necks of two does moving rapidly. The effect was most peculiar. It was +as if they possessed no bodies until one of them made a high jump for +just an instant, bringing the back and rump, with its snowy white flag +stiffly erect, into view.</p> + +<p>"From the way they go I should think it was the hunting season. I had an +idea that they wouldn't be particularly timid, but those two lit out in +a regular panic. Act like they'd been hunted until their nerves were all +on edge," thought the boy as he hurriedly forced his way through the +thicket.</p> + +<p>He had no expectation of finding more there, but was eager to see where +the two had been lying and then to follow them up as rapidly as +possible. So he burst through the screen of hemlocks in rather +precipitate fashion, an unusual proceeding for Upton, whose natural +caution had been supplemented by a very thorough training in woodcraft +during the three summers he had spent at Woodcraft Camp. The instant he +was through the barrier he realized the folly of his action. Facing him, +not ten feet away, was a big buck with a splendid pair of antlers.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>NOT TEN FEET AWAY WAS A BIG BUCK</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>If the does were panic stricken their lord was not. On the contrary he +was the embodiment of vicious anger. The hair on his neck was raised, +his eyes blazed with rage; and he was pawing the snow with impatience. +These details were registered on Walter's mind to be recalled later, but +at the time he was conscious of but one thing—that he had stumbled into +a predicament which might easily cost him his life. No sooner was he +clearly in view than the buck charged. Telling of it at the cabin that +night Upton declared that in that fleeting instant it seemed to him that +he was staring at a whole forest of horns pointed straight for him.</p> + +<p>Intuition is subconscious direction without the aid of conscious thought +and is usually the result of wisely directed thinking in the past. As a +Scout Upton had tried to train himself to meet emergencies, to be +prepared, and it was the result of this training that governed him now. +Dropping his snow-shoes he leaped aside. Fortunately the snow had been +trampled down for a sufficient space at this point to allow of this. As +it was the buck swept past so close as to almost graze his clothing.</p> + +<p>Indeed so narrow had been the margin that the shoes, released as he +jumped, fell directly in front of the infuriated animal and the brow +antlers pierced the meshes of one of them. It was this lucky +circumstance which was Upton's salvation. For a few minutes the buck's +attention was wholly engaged with this new adversary which banged +against his nose, obscured his vision and clung to him in such +inexplicable fashion. He tried to back away from it, but in vain. Then +he plunged forward and sought to grind it into the snow, with the result +that he only fixed it more firmly on his antlers. In vain he struck at +it with his feet. The dangling tail offered nothing on which to get a +purchase. Fear now began to replace rage. Here was an enemy that would +neither fight nor run away. Nor could he in turn run away from it.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Walter had made the most of his opportunity. But a few feet +distant was a young hemlock tree. Floundering through the snow he +reached this and scrambled up. It was a small tree, and his perch was +none too secure, and anything but comfortable for an extended stay. But +it meant safety for the time being, and just then this was everything. +With a sigh of thankfulness he turned his attention to the scene below, +and his sense of humor for the moment overcame everything else. The buck +was plainly being worsted in his battle with the snow-shoe, and was +working himself into a panic. His great eyes were wide with fright as +he backed and plunged and vainly reared in an effort to strike with his +forefeet. With every toss of his head the tail of the shoe rapped him +sharply across his nose, adding injury to insult. It was so funny that +Walter fairly shouted with laughter, and the sound of his voice added to +the terror of the frantic animal.</p> + +<p>With a desperate leap sidewise in an effort to get clear of his +tormentor he landed in the deep snow, his sharp hoofs cutting through +the crust. Then followed a succession of floundering plunges which took +him still further into trouble until at last, panting from fright and +the result of his efforts, he was forced to cease his struggles from +sheer weariness.</p> + +<p>It was then that Upton thought seriously of his own plight. The buck was +not much more helpless than he himself without his shoes. One lay below +him in the snow, somewhat the worse for the trampling of the buck during +his wild plunging. This he could retrieve without trouble or danger. But +the other was still fast on those uncomfortably sharp horns, and he was +of no mind to make a closer acquaintance with them unaided. It was then +that he remembered that in the subsequent excitement he had failed to +give the view hallo when he had started the does and thus warn the +others that game was afoot. A yell now would mean to the others merely +that they were to be on the watch for deer headed their way unless they +were near enough to distinguish words, which he much doubted.</p> + +<p>Then he remembered the whistle which he always carried and the emergency +call for help of the Blue Tortoise Patrol. Both Hal and Sparrer would +recognize and understand that. Somehow it seemed less a compromise of +dignity than yelling for help. He raised the whistle to his lips and +blew the signal, waited five seconds and blew again. A minute later he +heard a reply from a lesser distance than he had expected, followed +almost at once by another which was rendered fainter by distance.</p> + +<p>"Reached both of 'em," he muttered complacently. "Hal isn't so far away +as I was afraid he might be. Guess I better tell them what the trouble +is."</p> + +<p>With the whistle he spelled out in the Morse code "T-r-e-e-d b-y a +b-u-c-k w-a-t-c-h o-u-t."</p> + +<p>Back came the double reply "O. K.," followed by Hal's voice in a long +drawn "Hello-o-o." Shouting occasionally to give the others the +direction Upton climbed down from his perch, recovered the one shoe and +then waited with such patience as he could. Hal was soon within easy +shouting distance and the anxiety in his voice as he inquired if Upton +was all right was very evident. Set at rest on this point he whooped +joyously and Upton grinned ruefully.</p> + +<p>"This will be nuts for Hal. He'll never let me hear the end of it. I'm +glad he didn't see me up the tree," he thought. Aloud he warned Hal not +to come too near, but to wait until the others came up. While he felt +that the buck was so bedded in the snow as to be practically harmless he +wanted no chances taken.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Pat and Sparrer came up, panting with the exertion +of their long run, and the circumstances were briefly explained. Pat +took in the situation at a glance and his eyes danced with enjoyment, +and all three began to chaff Walter unmercifully. But there was little +time for this just then. The coming up of the others had further +alarmed the buck, who had recovered wind and strength to some degree, +and was now renewing his efforts to escape.</p> + +<p>Pat ordered Hal to circle around and head off the animal, while he +himself came up from behind and endeavored to free the shoe. Sparrer was +to stand by in case of need and render any assistance he could. Upton +was to stay where he was. Indeed there was nothing else for him to do, +as once in the deep snow he would be more helpless than the deer. The +latter was still floundering forward and there were stains of red on the +crust where it had cut the slender legs.</p> + +<p>As Hal appeared in front of him, whooping excitedly, the buck ceased his +struggling and stood shoulder deep in the snow, his sides heaving and +his steaming nostrils quivering as he labored for breath.</p> + +<p>"Poor thing! He hasn't got another kick in him," Hal exclaimed, drawing +so near that he could reach out and touch the slender muzzle.</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure of that, me bye. Betther shtand back a bit," warned +Pat coming up from the animal's rear and leaning forward to get hold of +the shoe.</p> + +<p>Hardly were the words out of his mouth when the buck flung his head up +and back. The tail of the shoe flew up, striking Hal a sharp blow on the +side of his head. Instinctively he jumped back, forgetting that he was +on snow-shoes. The result was immediate and decisive. With a wild yell +he pitched backward and disappeared in the snow. At the same instant Pat +grabbed the buck's horns, one with each hand, and straddling his back +called for Sparrer to free the shoe. This Sparrer succeeded in doing +after a few minutes' struggle and then turned his attention to Hal, +whose muffled cries of "Help! Take him away!" bore evidence to the fact +that he was under the impression that the buck had knocked him down and +was trying to trample him. In fact it was hard work to convince him that +this was not the case until with Sparrer's help he regained his feet and +got the snow out of his eyes sufficiently to see Pat struggling with the +deer.</p> + +<p>As soon as Hal and Sparrer were at a safe distance Pat let go and joined +the others, breathing heavily from his exertions. The deer, freed of +the hateful thing which had clung to his head and been the cause of all +his troubles, turned and with awkward jumps plunged back through the way +he had broken in leaving the yard. Pat warned Walter to keep out of +sight so as not to turn the animal into new difficulties, and presently +they saw him reach the trodden paths of the yard and with a shake of his +beautifully crowned head bound lightly away.</p> + +<p>Then while they took stock of damages Upton told his story. "An innocent +babe in the woods," murmured Pat when Walter told how he had removed his +shoes and taken to the deer paths. "If that had been a bull moose now +instead of a buck 'tis loike yer frinds wud be weeping instead av +laughing at ye this very minut."</p> + +<p>"That's true, Pat," replied Walter promptly. "It was a foolish thing to +do, and I know it now. As it is you've got the laugh on me—and Hal," he +added slyly. "How about it, Hal?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's on me too, all right," returned that young gentleman, rubbing +the lump on his head. "I sure thought that brute was right on top of +me."</p> + +<p>Pat meanwhile had brought out some stout twine and was making temporary +repairs on the damaged shoes. Beyond some damage to the webbing where +the horns had pierced it the one which had been the cause of the buck's +discomfiture was as good as ever, but the frame of the other had been +badly split by the sharp hoofs of the plunging animal. Bringing the +broken parts together Pat wound them with the twine, and when he had +finished pronounced the shoe fit for the trip back to the cabin, where +he would undertake a more permanent job.</p> + +<p>"We won't visit those traps now," said he in spite of Walter's protest +that he could go back while the others went on, and led the way +homeward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>POACHERS</h3> + + +<p>The behavior of the deer in the yard had puzzled Upton not a little. He +could evolve no theory to account for it. Why at this season of the year +should those two does have appeared so terror stricken at his approach, +and why should the buck have been in such an ugly mood? From all +accounts he had read, and from what Pat had said, he had had good +grounds for expecting the animals to be fairly tame. He put the matter +up to Pat as they tramped homeward, but his reply was evasive and +unsatisfactory. In fact, the big fellow was not inclined to talk. He +appeared to have something on his mind, and strode along with a black +scowl darkening his usually good-humored face. Once Walter thought he +detected a slight shake of his head at Sparrer as the latter started to +say something. He was sure of it when the latter abruptly changed the +subject.</p> + +<p>Pat set a stiff pace. He seemed in a hurry to get back to the cabin. As +he opened the cabin door and looked in a flash of what looked to Upton +very much like relief crossed his face as he saw that it was empty, it +being too early for Alec to have returned. This puzzled Walter more than +ever, but he held his tongue and forbore to ask questions. He felt sure +that in his own good time Pat would unburden himself. The latter at once +went to work on the broken shoe, replacing the twine with a rawhide +thong made pliable by soaking in water. This would contract in drying +and the broken frame would be stronger than ever.</p> + +<p>He had just finished the job when Alec came in with two marten. "Any +signs of our friends, the enemy?" asked Pat whimsically.</p> + +<p>Alec shook his head. "No one has been near the traps," he replied. "I +dinna think they will dare come so near the cabin."</p> + +<p>"You've got another guess coming, Alec," retorted Pat. "The murthering +thaves killed two deer within a mile of here yesterday."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Walter and Hal in unison, while Alec suspended his +skinning knife in mid air and shot a keen glance at Pat.</p> + +<p>"It's a fact," Pat went on. "Sparrer will tell you so."</p> + +<p>Sparrer nodded in confirmation of Pat's surprising statement.</p> + +<p>"But we didn't hear any guns," protested Hal.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Pat, "for the very good reason that no guns were fired. +They were not hunting; they were butchering." Then he graphically +described for Alec's benefit Upton's experience with the buck that +morning, and the story lost nothing in the telling. "Walt," he +continued, "knows enough about deer to realize that the deer he saw did +not behave as he expected they would, and he's been puzzling over it +ever since. I'll tell you the reason. They've been hunted and harried in +that yard till their nerves are on the jump so that they will run from +their own shadows, all but the buck, and I guess now after his scrap +with the snow-shoe he will be as bad as the does. As it was he was +simply fighting mad, knowing their helplessness outside the yard. +Ordinarily he would have simply trotted off quietly with the does. But +they were hunted yesterday to a point where the old fellow was +desperate, and the proof of it is what Sparrer and I found."</p> + +<p>"What was it?" demanded Walter eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We found where a fawn and a doe had been driven into the deep snow and +butchered with a knife," replied Pat. "The story was plain enough for +any one who can read signs. It was no trick at all for those bloody +poachers on snow-shoes to run them down and drive them into the snow. +After that no gun was needed. Besides, a gun is too noisy for thieves +and lawbreakers. Walt didn't tell you what he saw yesterday. Fire away, +Walt, and tell 'em."</p> + +<p>Upton told briefly what he had seen on the peak by the pass and his +reasons for telling only Pat. Alec's face hardened as he listened and a +steely glint crept into his eyes. When Walter had finished Pat +continued.</p> + +<p>"You fellows wondered why I was so keen on getting back to the cabin. It +was because I don't believe it is safe to leave it unguarded. As long as +the snow was soft those thieves kept away from the Hollow, but with +this crust to leave no tracks they've come down here, and they've been +watching us. They know how many of us are here and are watching our +movements. They'd raid the cabin in a minute if they saw the chance. But +as long as anybody is here they'll keep out of sight. Hereafter we'll +leave a guard when we go out. To-morrow Alec and I will start before +daybreak to look for those fellows and leave you youngsters to amuse +yourselves. I have an idea that their camp isn't so far away as Alec +thought it was. Now we'll have dinner, and this afternoon Alec and I +will look over a couple of the short lines, one of you can keep guard +here and the other two can go with us or do anything else you please."</p> + +<p>Upton insisted that he should keep guard, Hal decided to go with Alec, +and Sparrer with a little hesitancy confessed that he would like to hunt +rabbits. The experience of Christmas morning had whetted his taste for +hunting and following a trap line seemed tame sport in comparison. He +was eager to try his luck alone, and when Walter offered the loan of his +rifle his happiness was complete. When the others had departed he +shouldered the rifle and at Upton's suggestion started to follow the +course of the brook up to the beaver ponds so as to see the houses and +dams and then go on to the swamp at the head of the ponds where Spud Ely +had found the rabbit tracks which had ultimately led to his finding of +Alec Smith the fall before.</p> + +<p>It did not take him long to reach the first or big dam. It was difficult +for this boy of the city to believe that this could be the work of +animals and not men, and had he not seen some of the beaver cuttings in +the Bronx Park at home he would have been inclined to think that Upton +had been stuffing him when he told him about the dam. There was little +opportunity to examine the construction, because it was covered with +snow and was in effect a long solid wall of glistening white. Beyond +stretched the smooth even surface of the big pond, with nothing to break +the dead level of it but three white mounds over toward the north shore. +These he knew must be the houses of which Upton had told him, and he at +once decided to go over and investigate them.</p> + +<p>As he approached them he discovered several small mounds around two of +the houses, but thought nothing of this until he noticed that the snow +around them had been recently disturbed, and that the mounds themselves +were not crusted. Instantly every sense which his Scout training had +developed was aroused. Here was something peculiar, and to be +investigated. Could this be the work of the beavers? He would find out. +Rapidly he dug into one of the mounds and presently disclosed evergreen +boughs over which the snow had been heaped. Could this be some work of +the strange little animals of which he had never heard? He lifted one of +the boughs and looked at the butt. It had been <i>broken</i> off and not cut +by teeth. Moreover, it was freshly broken. He examined another with the +same result. Underneath was a larger one, and this had been cut with an +axe.</p> + +<p>Sparrer straightened and looked keenly in all directions. A sudden +suspicion was rapidly crystallizing into conviction in his mind. This +was the work of man. What did it mean? So far as he could see there was +not another living thing in all that great white waste. The vast +silence was oppressive. Involuntarily he shivered. For the first time +the loneliness of complete solitude gripped him, the more so that +hitherto in all his life he had never known what it was to be absolutely +alone. From babyhood he had been surrounded night and day by human +beings, many of them evil, but human nevertheless. Even since he had +entered the woods he had not been out of speaking distance of one or +more of his companions until now. An overwhelming sense of littleness +and insignificance swept over him. There was something sinister and +threatening in the towering hills. He had the feeling that unseen eyes +were watching him and it made his flesh creep. He knew it was, must be, +only a feeling, yet he could not rid himself of it. It is a feeling +which every one who is alone for the first time in the wilderness +experiences.</p> + +<p>Then he shook himself. "Youse is sure losing yer goat, Sparrer," he +muttered. "Buck up!"</p> + +<p>With this he resumed his investigations. When the last of the boughs had +been removed he found a hole in the ice about a foot and a half wide and +a trifle longer. Along one end and both sides small dead sticks had been +driven into the mud and close to the edges of the hole. These were about +four inches apart and formed a little pen with one end open. Close to +one side and projecting beyond the pen through the open end was a long +freshly cut green poplar stick fastened about two inches above the +bottom. The water was shallow and presently he made out a steel trap +dimly outlined well inside the pen quite close to the poplar stick, the +chain fastened to one of the pen stakes.</p> + +<p>It was all perfectly clear now to even such a novice as Sparrer. It was +a set for beaver. He knew enough about the animals to know that their +favorite food is poplar bark. The green poplar stick was bait. It seemed +queer to think of a stick of wood as bait, but this is what it was, and +nothing else. He saw that it was securely fastened at the butt end in a +corner of the pen and was staked down near the opening so that there +could be no cross movement. It could not be pulled out. The only way for +a hungry beaver to get it would be to enter the pen and cut it off and +in doing this he could hardly fail of stepping in the trap. Then he +would drown miserably under the ice. The part left sticking out beyond +the pen was by way of a teaser. It would be the first part touched by +the animal and would undoubtedly be cut off close to the pen. Having had +a taste of the fresh green bark and no harm having come from it the +animal would unsuspectingly enter the pen to secure the remainder, +whereas with the bait wholly within the pen in the first place the +animal would be suspicious and wary of entering. It was all very simple, +clever and diabolical.</p> + +<p>Sparrer's first impulse was to spring the trap, but on second thought he +decided to leave it alone. It might well be that his discovery were +better unknown. His life in New York streets had taught him that it is +possible to know too much; that some things are better forgotten as soon +as learned. He recalled what had been said about the illegality of +trapping beaver. If Pat and Alec were doing a little quiet poaching it +was none of his business. They would not thank him for interfering. Of +course the trap must be theirs. There was no one else trapping in the +Hollow. The poachers there had been so much talk about were working +miles beyond the Hollow, on the long line. He remembered now that +neither Pat nor Alec had once suggested a trip up this way. Good reason. +They wanted to avoid any embarrassing questions about those queer little +mounds, for he knew now that each one covered a trap-pan. The boughs and +the snow were to keep the holes from freezing over. He counted the +mounds. There were three at one house and four at the other.</p> + +<p>"Youse better cover this up and make yer get-away while the going's +good," he muttered as he replaced the boughs and packed the snow over +them until the mound was as nearly as he had found it as it was possible +to make it. Then he made a hasty examination of the houses. The snow was +melted on the tops of the two around which the traps were set, sure sign +that they were inhabited. This was caused by the warm air from the +interior escaping through the air holes which are always left in the top +of a beaver house. The third was solidly crusted over, a reasonably sure +indication that it was abandoned.</p> + +<p>Having satisfied his curiosity Sparrer started back to the dam and +followed it to the woods on the farther shore. He had intended to go +straight across the pond to the second dam, but his discovery of the +traps had aroused his sense of caution and he decided that it would be +better to keep to the woods. On the broad white expanse of the pond he +would be altogether too conspicuous should it happen that curious eyes +were watching. As he skirted the shore of the pond through the brush his +thoughts were so busy with his discovery that for the time being he +quite forgot to keep an eye out for rabbit signs. The illegality of this +attempt to catch beaver in a closed season did not impress him at first. +He had had nothing to do with game and game laws. They were entirely +outside his range of experience. In fact, he failed utterly to grasp the +purpose back of the laws and like a great many others he regarded them +as a restriction of individual liberty, and a violation as of no very +great moment. They were to him very much as the "keep off the grass" +signs in the city park.</p> + +<p>So it was no shock to the boy to think that his new idol, Pat, should +be breaking a law for which he could see no reason. But what did give +him a shock was the method employed. This outraged his strong sense of +fair play. "It's hitting 'em below de belt. Dey ain't got a chance in de +world," he kept saying over and over to himself. "Dey finds de food +right by dere houses under de ice where dey ain't looking for no foul +blow, and dey helps demselves and gits a knockout widout a show." He +could overlook the breaking of the law because it held no meaning for +him, but it was hard to reconcile this flagrant outrage on fairness with +what he knew of Pat.</p> + +<p>"Maybe Alec's doing it on de side and Pat don't know nothin' about it," +he thought, and with this comforting reflection he felt better. As he +tramped on his thoughts grew clearer. He recalled Alec's strong +assertion that he was for protecting beaver. If Alec had been sincere +this eliminated him, and Pat had not been away from the cabin unattended +since they arrived. Moreover the traps had been set since the last snow, +and that fact effectually disposed of both Pat and Alec. As he realized +this Sparrer gave vent to a low whistle. "It's some other mugs, as sure +as shootin'!" he exclaimed. "Bet it's de same guys dat killed de deer, +and Pat an' Alec don't know nothin' about it." He paused, undecided +whether to go back or keep on, but a moment's reflection decided him. +Pat and Alec were out on the trap lines, and would not be back until +dark. He would keep on and have his hunt. The news would keep until he +got back.</p> + +<p>But this new-born certainty that there were others in the Hollow gave +him an uncomfortable feeling and he decided that he would keep as much +away from the open as possible. For this reason as he approached the +second dam he was content to look at it from the screen of brush. It was +similar to the first, but smaller, and there were no houses in the pond +above. The third dam was but a short distance above and this was the +smallest of the three. Beyond this lay the swamp where he hoped to find +the rabbits. That his nerves were jumpy he realized by the way he +started at every unexpected sound. The grinding of one tree against +another, even an unusually loud clack of his own snow-shoes, made his +heart jump. Once he could have sworn that he heard a stick snap behind +him, and for a full two minutes he stood listening. But he heard nothing +further and nothing moved within his range of vision. Charging it up to +an overwrought imagination and chiding himself for a silly chump he +moved on.</p> + +<p>Presently he discovered fresh rabbit sign, and this drove everything +else out of his head. Slowly he moved forward, his rifle cocked and +ready. Profiting by his experience with Pat the day before he scanned +every little irregularity in the surface of the snow with suspicious +eyes. Presently he discovered a little mound ahead of him and a bit to +one side of the path he was following. It seemed to Sparrer that it was +if anything a trifle whiter than the surrounding snow. Study it as he +would, to his untrained eyes it bore no resemblance to an animal. But +presently he noticed two dark spots, and it flashed over him that they +were eyes, intently watching him. Slowly he started to raise his rifle, +but at the first movement the white mound dissolved into a long legged +animal which bounded behind a stump and was gone before he could get his +gun to his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Disappointed, but resolved that the next one should not get the jump on +him Sparrer kept on. Sign was plentiful everywhere, and his hopes ran +high. So fearful was he of another rabbit's repeating the surprise of +the first one that as he stole forward he kept his gun at his shoulder, +until at last he was forced to lower it from sheer weariness. But in +spite of his care and watchfulness he saw no more game and at last sat +down on an old log to rest. He was tired and if the truth be known +somewhat discouraged. He was too new at the hunting game to realize that +his was no more than the usual experience of the hunter and that his +chances of success, if no better, were no worse than in the beginning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE SILVER FOX</h3> + + +<p>The log on which Sparrer was seated was near the edge of the swamp and +commanded a view of the small upper pond, while he himself was more or +less screened from observation from that direction by a fringe of young +birch and alders. He had sat there perhaps ten minutes, and was just +beginning to realize that he would have to move on in order to keep warm +when his eyes, idly scanning the farther shore, detected something +moving among the trees beyond the farther end of the little dam.</p> + +<p>Instantly he was all attention, his eyes glued to the spot. He forgot +that he was beginning to feel chilled. A warm glow of excitement rushed +over him. There was an animal of some kind over there, but what he could +not tell at that distance. But one thing was certain, it was no rabbit, +for it was dark in color, and it was too big. He could catch but +tantalizing glimpses of it in the young growth along the edge of the +pond, and presently it disappeared altogether behind a tangle of fallen +brush. Unconsciously he held his breath as he waited for it to reappear. +Slowly the minutes slipped away. He began to think that his eyes must +have been playing him tricks. He was once more becoming conscious of the +cold and had almost decided to cross over and investigate the brush pile +into which he thought the animal had vanished when a black form leaped +lightly out on the farther end of the dam and paused with one fore foot +uplifted and head thrown up to test the wind.</p> + +<p>Sparrer needed but one look at the great plume of a tail to know that it +was a fox, but such a fox as he had never dreamed existed. It was bigger +than any fox he had ever seen, the great size being apparent even at +that distance. And instead of the red coat of the foxes with which the +boy was familiar at the Bronx Zoo this fellow was robed in the blackness +of night, and this was intensified by contrast with the pure white of +his surroundings.</p> + +<p>"It's him, de silver fox!" gasped Sparrer under his breath, and with the +realization that here before his very eyes was the king of the North +American fur bearers, whose skin was worth a fabulous sum, according to +what he had heard, he began to shake as with the ague. What if he could +get him? A cold sweat broke out at the mere thought. There on the dam +was what to him was nothing less than a fortune, and here was he shaking +like an aspen leaf in the wind. The distance was too great for a shot at +present, but perhaps the fox would come nearer, and then a true eye and +steady nerves for just a matter of a few seconds and the prize might be +his.</p> + +<p>With a quick intake of breath he tried to get a grip on himself. He +thought of the battles he had fought with bullies older and bigger than +himself, and had won because he had kept his head in the heat of contest +and had coolly taken advantage of every opening. But that was different. +Then he was in action and it was easier to keep cool. Then, too, if he +missed one blow there was a chance for another. It was this sitting +still with the knowledge that there would be but one chance, and that +this must be taken at just the right moment or be lost forever that +upset him so. Then curiously enough the motto of the Boy Scouts flashed +into his head—"Be prepared." It was like a tonic to his shaking nerves. +Was not a Scout supposed to be prepared for all emergencies, and what +was this but a form of emergency?</p> + +<p>He stopped shaking. He lifted his rifle ever so little and found that it +remained steady and motionless in his hands. "It ain't no fox. It's just +a rabbit and youse can't miss it," he whispered over and over to +himself, and experienced an odd sense of confidence. He was himself once +more, the Sparrer of the streets, able to take care of himself and keep +his head in any emergency; the Sparrer of the Blue Tortoise Patrol, +noting the number of the fleeing machine at the time of the accident.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the fox was leisurely crossing the dam, stopping now and then +to sniff at the snow or to test the wind. Fortunately what little there +was of the latter was blowing toward the hidden watcher, a fact which +Sparrer did not appreciate at the time. Had the wind been the other way +the fox would have caught the hated man smell and vanished like a +shadow. As it was his every move denoted complete lack of suspicion so +far as a fox ever does lack this characteristic trait.</p> + +<p>Sparrer was at complete loss as to what he should do. The temptation to +crawl forward so as to get within easy range of the end of the dam was +almost irresistible, but he realized that the first move on his part +would be likely to attract the keen eyes of his quarry, and arouse his +suspicions. Had the fringe of brush through which he was watching been +leaved out it might have been possible to successfully make this move, +but as it was his dark body against the white background could hardly +fail of detection despite the screen of brush. He knew enough of animals +to know that so long as he was motionless he would appear to be no more +than a part of the log on which he sat, and wisely concluded to sit +tight and await developments.</p> + +<p>If the fox continued clear across the dam there was one point at which +he would afford a clear shot through a little opening in the brush. It +would be at long range, but the 22 was high powered, and if he could +judge the distance aright and hold true there was a chance that he +might kill. So far as he could see this appeared to be his only chance, +and he prepared to take advantage of it. Inch by inch he wormed himself +around on the log so as to face this opening. Then estimating the +distance as best he could, a difficult matter across the snow, he set +his sights accordingly, cocked the rifle and held it in readiness. All +the time he kept whispering to himself, "Nothin' but a rabbit. Nothin' +to git excited about. Youse has got a dead cinch. Youse can't miss." +Somehow this trying to think of the fox as a rabbit helped wonderfully. +Anybody could hit a rabbit.</p> + +<p>The fox was trotting now with his nose to the snow. Sparrer was +conscious of a hope so great that it was almost a prayer that the animal +would stop when he reached the critical spot. It would be a hard enough +shot at a motionless mark, but to hit a mark moving as swiftly as the +fox was now going was more than he dared even dream of doing. The trot +broke into a lope. Sparrer raised the rifle and sighted through the +opening. It seemed to him that that swiftly moving form crossed the +opening in one leap, a blur of black across his sights. Slowly he +lowered his rifle. His chance was gone.</p> + +<p>In the reaction that followed he realized how high his hopes had been. +It seemed as if Fortune had but played with him, had put the prize +almost within his grasp and then as he reached for it had snatched it +away to tease and mock him. He could have cried with vexation and +disappointment had he been of the weeping kind. As it was he swallowed a +lump in his throat and leaned forward to peer through the brush for one +last glimpse of the royal animal.</p> + +<p>At the end of the dam the fox stopped. Sparrer could just make him out +through the tangled screen of brush. For a moment he stood motionless. +It seemed to the boy like adding insult to injury. Then with a long +graceful leap he landed on the snow of the swamp. A sudden hope caused +Sparrer to instinctively tighten his grip on the rifle and catch his +breath. Perhaps the fox would come his way! If he should, well, he would +at least find a true Scout—he would be prepared.</p> + +<p>But the fox did not turn in his direction. Instead he kept straight on +into the swamp as if he intended to cross it to the high land which made +up to the hills beyond. Sparrer caught occasional glimpses of him +through the trees. He crossed the trail by which Sparrer had come in, +sniffed at it, looked up in Sparrer's direction suspiciously, it seemed +to him, sniffed again and then trotted on as if the matter were of no +present interest. The dry snow had not held the scent sufficiently to +cause alarm.</p> + +<p>Instead of continuing in a direct course for the hills the fox now began +to quarter the ground very much as a bird dog does in quest of quail. In +short runs from side to side he advanced deeper into the swamp, +investigating every bush and clump of trees in his course, pausing now +and then with head raised and ears cocked forward to listen, then +running on again. Gradually it dawned on Sparrer that Reynard had +crossed the dam with a definite purpose. He had come over to the swamp +with the same object in view that had brought Sparrer there—to hunt +rabbits.</p> + +<p>The sharp contrast between the snow and the black coat of the fox made +it possible for Sparrer to follow the animal's movements at a distance +which under ordinary conditions would have been impossible. He had +turned and was working up wind, continually stopping to carefully test +the light air in the hope of scenting a hare. His course was now +directly away from Sparrer toward the lower end of the swamp. The boy +could get only an occasional glimpse of him and presently lost him +altogether. Once more bitter disappointment rankled in his heart. What +should he do now? Should he remain where he was, or should he move on? +How he wished that he knew more about hunting and the ways of animals, +black foxes in particular. What would Pat do were he in his place? Would +he give up? Somehow he couldn't picture Pat as giving up without further +effort to capture so great a prize.</p> + +<p>"He'd do somethin', but what?" Sparrer scowled in labored thought. The +fox was somewhere between him and the cabin. Should he turn back on the +chance that he would jump the animal somewhere on the way and get a +running shot? "No chance," he decided, remembering the clack of his +shoes in walking. "He'd hear me a mile." He slipped his shoes off and +rose to his feet. The crust bore him, for he was a light weight. Then he +took a comprehensive survey of his surroundings. There was one other +chance. The fox might return. He would soon reach the lower edge of the +swamp and failing to make a kill might decide to try his luck down wind +in the main body of the swamp.</p> + +<p>The more Sparrer thought of this the more likely it seemed. Perhaps +unconsciously he was allowing hope to father the idea. Anyway it raised +his spirits wonderfully. In such an event he must be ready. Once more he +looked the ground over carefully. His present position was on the outer +edge of the swamp. He quickly appreciated that if he were farther in his +chances would be doubled in case the fox returned. If he remained where +he was the fox might pass so far toward the other side that he would not +even see him, to say nothing of getting a shot, whereas if he could find +a place farther in which would command a fairly open view in all +directions the chances of the animal passing unseen would be greatly +reduced. Slightly back of his present position and a good rifle shot in +to the swamp he noted a small mound crowned by a clump of young birches. +He decided to take his stand there and await developments. Silently but +vigorously he swung his arms to restore circulation, then picking up his +rifle and shoes he made his way quickly toward the new stand, taking the +utmost care not to snap a twig or make the least noise.</p> + +<p>As he entered the clump of birches a white form leaped out from the +lower side, ran ten or twelve yards and sat up, looking back with eyes +in which fear and curiosity were strangely blended. It was a hare, or +so-called snow-shoe rabbit, and a big one. Slowly and carefully Sparrer +put down his shoes and then straightened up and raised his rifle. +Silently he brought the sights to bear on the motionless white form. His +finger was already on the trigger when he remembered the fox. A shot now +would effectually put an end to any possibility of getting the prince of +fur bearers that day, and what was a rabbit compared with the latter?</p> + +<p>Oddly enough the old adage "A bird in the hand is worth two in the +bush" popped into his head, but this time the one in the bush was of so +much greater value that he promptly decided to let the one in hand go. +At that distance he couldn't miss, for he had readjusted the sights and +he had but to press the trigger to put an end to bunny. A little sigh +escaped him as he lowered the rifle. The lowering of that rifle was the +hardest thing he had done for a long time. It required considerable +power of self-restraint. The fox might not come back, and if he did +might not offer a shot, or he might miss him. Then the chances were that +he would have to return to the cabin empty handed.</p> + +<p>With the lowering of the rifle the rabbit dropped to a crouch, thumped +the snow smartly, and then slowly hopped away to a point twenty yards +distant in the direction in which the fox had gone, and there crouched +under a bush, an inconspicuous lump of white. Sparrer noted with +satisfaction that she was still within good range, and made up his mind +that if there were no signs of the fox within fifteen or twenty minutes +and the rabbit still remained where she was he would shoot.</p> + +<p>Now be it known that the thump of a rabbit can be heard a long distance. +It was so unexpected and so loud that it fairly startled Sparrer, who +was wholly unfamiliar with this method of rabbit signaling. The ground +is an excellent transmitter of sound and the heavy snow crust was hardly +less effective. Other ears than Sparrer's heard, and for them that +signal was pregnant with meaning and possibilities. Not two minutes +later Sparrer caught sight of a black spot moving swiftly in his +direction. It was the fox.</p> + +<p>As he drew nearer he moved more slowly and with characteristic cunning +and caution. Every few steps he paused to listen and to look sharply +under every tree and bush. He no longer tested the air as when Sparrer +had last seen him, for now he was working down wind and must trust to +eyes and ears rather than to his nose. But he was no less thorough in +the way in which he covered the ground. Back and forth across Sparrer's +field of vision he wove, investigating every likely hiding-place, +approaching each with infinite care, tense, alert, the picture of +eagerness, prepared to spring at the first move of his quarry.</p> + +<p>As he approached Sparrer could read in every move and attitude of the +black hunter expectancy and confidence. That he knew to a reasonable +certainty the approximate location from which that signal thump had +sounded was clearly evident. That he also knew that the rabbit might +have, and very likely had, moved since thumping was also clear and he +was taking no chance of over-running his game. If he kept on as he was +coming he would be within shooting distance within a few minutes. Inch +by inch Sparrer raised the rifle and then, hardly daring to breathe, +tense, as motionless as the trees among which he stood, he waited.</p> + +<p>The fox was now within thirty yards, and still coming. It was plain that +he was unsuspicious of danger and intent wholly on the hunt. At this +point he turned obliquely to the left to investigate an old log. Sparrer +was tempted to shoot, but a clump of alders was in the way and he well +knew that even a small twig would be almost sure to deflect the bullet. +He would wait. Finding nothing at the log the fox turned and quartered +to the right, which brought him into the open between the rabbit and +the hunter and but a few yards from the former. The angle at which he +was approaching was such as to offer the smallest mark possible and make +the shot uncertain for such a novice as Sparrer. By a great effort the +latter overcame the almost overwhelming temptation to shoot and waited, +hoping that the animal would turn broadside.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he whirled like a flash. The boy's first thought was that he +had been discovered, but the next move of the fox explained his action. +Crouching so that he appeared to move on his belly he began to creep +toward the rabbit, which still sat motionless. The fox had caught the +scent of the latter at the instant he turned and he had but to follow +his nose straight to his victim. Meanwhile he presented no better mark +than before, as he was now moving straight away, and Sparrer held his +fire. By this time he was so interested in the tragedy that was being +enacted before him that he almost forgot his own immediate purpose.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch the black hunter crept forward, hugging the snow. Then +Sparrer saw him gather his muscular hindlegs under him. There was a +swift leap and at the same instant the rabbit left her form in a long +jump. Before she could make another the fox was upon her. There was a +shrill scream, a crunching of teeth and it was over. For an instant the +fox stood with one foot on the still white form, a black statue of +triumph. Then he picked the rabbit up by the middle and the limp form +hung transversely in his jaws, the long legs hanging on one side and the +drooping head with ridiculously long ears on the other. It was clear +that Reynard did not intend to enjoy his feast on the spot.</p> + +<p>In executing this last move he had turned broadside. It was now or never +for Sparrer. With infinite care he lined his sights just back of the +shoulder and pulled the trigger. Simultaneously with the sharp crack of +the rifle the fox made a convulsive spring and then crumpled in a black +heap on the snow. Shaking so that he could hardly manipulate the lever +Sparrer ejected the empty shell and threw another cartridge into place. +Then with the rifle at his shoulder, covering the pathetic black heap as +best he could, he slowly advanced. Somewhere he had read or heard that +it was an old fox trick to simulate death, and he was taking no chances.</p> + +<p>But his precautions were needless. The bullet had severed the spinal +column. The silver fox of Smugglers' Hollow had stalked his last rabbit +and made his last kill. In the revulsion of feeling from the reaction +following the long nervous strain Sparrer hardly knew whether to laugh +or cry. As he stretched the black form out on the snow and ran his hands +through the wonderful soft black fur and admired the great tail with its +tip of snowy white he had for the moment almost a feeling of regret that +he had been the means of destroying so beautiful a creature. Then the +true significance of his achievement, luck he called it, swept over him +and his eyes shone as he pictured his reception at the cabin.</p> + +<p>In the midst of his triumphant thoughts a guttural voice broke in: +"White boy heap good shot."</p> + +<p>Sparrer whirled to find himself staring into a dark coppery countenance +with beady eyes, low brow and high cheek bones. It was an Indian.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>SPARRER'S TEMPTATION</h3> + + +<p>"White boy heap good shot," repeated the Indian with what was intended +to be a friendly grin.</p> + +<p>He was standing some twenty paces away, and where he had come from +Sparrer hadn't the least idea. If he had sprung out of the snow at his +feet the boy would have been no more startled and surprised. He was +short, thick-set, and was dressed in a nondescript pair of trousers much +the worse for wear, a faded mackinaw spotted with grease and dirt and +was, of course, on snow-shoes. The swarthy evil face was crowned with a +cap of unplucked muskrat fur. Save for a light axe carried in one hand +and a knife in his belt he apparently was unarmed, a fact which Sparrer +noted at once with a feeling of relief.</p> + +<p>"Black fox no good. Kill rabbits and birds. Good to kill fox. What white +boy do with him?" continued his unwelcome visitor.</p> + +<p>"Take his skin," replied Sparrer for want of anything better to say.</p> + +<p>"Skin no good. Red fox skin good. Black fox no good—bad fur. No can +sell. White boy take rabbit and give Indian fox." This astounding +proposal was accompanied with what was intended for an ingratiating +smile, but which served only to make the face still more ugly.</p> + +<p>"He's wised me fer a tenderfoot, an' thinks Oi'm easy," thought Sparrer. +Aloud he said, "What do youse want of it, if it's no good and youse +can't sell it?"</p> + +<p>Once more the dark face broke into a grin. "No sell. Make cap to wear." +He touched his head to make clearer his meaning. "Indian like black +cap," he added guilelessly.</p> + +<p>Sparrer laughed aloud at the childish simplicity of the idea. Then he +shook his head. "Nothin' doing," he replied. "Oi want the fox meself."</p> + +<p>A look of cunning swept across the dark visage. "Indian buy fox. Give +two dollar," was the next bland proposal.</p> + +<p>Again Sparrer grinned and shook his head. He was beginning to enjoy the +situation. This was a method of barter he was accustomed to, the method +of the lower East Side. He began to feel at home.</p> + +<p>"Five dollar!" The Indian pulled off a mitten and held up the hand with +the fingers spread.</p> + +<p>Once more Sparrer shook his head. "Youse can't buy it," said he +decidedly as if to end the parley. "An' youse can't put nothin' across +on me," he added. "It's worth a lot of dough an' Oi'm wise to it. Youse +better run along." He shifted his rifle to a handier position by way of +a hint.</p> + +<p>The Indian, who had gradually advanced, stopped. His face changed +completely. There was no longer any attempt to hide the greed in the +beady eyes. He was no fool, and he saw the uselessness of trying to +dissemble further. He meant to have that skin by fair means or foul, by +fair means if possible, for he was keen enough to realize that thus he +would avoid possible unpleasant consequences in the future. This +youngster knew more than he had supposed he did, but he might not be +proof against the temptation of ready money. Pulling off his other +mitten he held up both hands, closed his fingers, opened them again, +closed them and then opened those of one hand.</p> + +<p>"Twenty-five dollar!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>That was a larger sum than Sparrer had ever possessed at one time in all +his life and to have that in hand at once was a temptation. There was no +denying the fact. The skin might be worth all that he had heard and then +again it might not. He was too wise in the ways of the world to be +ignorant of the fact that fabulous tales are built around comparatively +modest facts. Undoubtedly the skin was valuable. The fact that the +Indian was so eager to get it was proof of this. But as for its being +worth any such sum as two thousand, or even one thousand, that seemed +absurd. He glanced down at the black form at his feet and his +imagination couldn't conceive of any one paying even a hundred dollars +for such a little bit of fur. Why, even when stretched it would be but a +fraction of the size of the great bearskin back at the cabin and that +was worth only fifteen dollars, and for his part he would much rather +have the latter. He looked up to find the black beady eyes of the +Indian fixed upon him as if they read his very thoughts. The man had +been quick to perceive his hesitation and now began to speak again.</p> + +<p>"White boy staying at trappers' camp. Fox no belong to white boy. Him +belong to trappers. Trappers sell and get money. White boy get nothing. +White boy sell to Indian. No tell trappers. Indian go away and no tell. +White boy have all the money—twenty-five dollar." Once more he held up +his hands to indicate the amount.</p> + +<p>Sparrer gulped. The plan was simplicity itself. Twenty-five dollars +meant a great deal to him, and no one would ever know. A vision of the +toil-worn face of his mother when he should place twenty-five dollars in +her hands flashed before him. And wasn't the fox his? Hadn't it been +free and wild, belonging to nobody, and hadn't he waited and watched and +with steady hands and a true eye made a clean kill? He knew nothing of +the ethics of a trapper's camp. What the Indian had said might be true, +and he would get no share in the prize he had won. It wasn't fair. It +was an aspect of the matter of which he had not thought. Indeed, in the +excitement of the hunt he had had no opportunity to think of anything +but getting the shot. What he should do with the fox if he got it had +not entered his head. And after the kill the appearance of the Indian +had put everything else out of his head.</p> + +<p>In swift review there passed through his mind all that he had heard +about the silver fox of Smugglers' Hollow. He thought of the traps which +Alec had set especially for the wily king and how he and Pat had openly +planned for his capture. This was their trapping territory by right of +preëmption. He, Sparrer, was their guest, and but for Pat he would never +have had this wonderful outing. It was even a borrowed rifle with which +he had made the fatal shot. It was luck, mere luck, the luck of a +novice, that had given him the opportunity. But was that any reason why +he should not profit by it? If he had not killed it the animal would +still be running at large and Pat and Alec might never have gotten it. +It was his, his, <i>his</i> and no one else had any claim on it. Why should +he not do as he pleased with it?</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Indian had been watching with an intense fixed stare that +noted every change of expression in the boy's face. A less close +observer than he would have realized that the boy was tempted. He was +cunning enough to know that now was the time to play his trump card and +catch the lad before he had fully regained possession of himself and +spurned the temptation. With a single swift step forward he exclaimed, +"Fifty dollar!"</p> + +<p>There was a note of finality in his voice which Sparrer recognized. It +was his last bid. He would go no higher. There would be no more +bartering. If twenty-five dollars had seemed big the doubling of the +amount meant little less than a fortune in the boy's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Youse hasn't got fifty dollars," he said weakly. "Youse is bluffin'."</p> + +<p>In truth he had every reason for thinking so from the Indian's +appearance. One does not expect to find so large a sum on a man +presenting so rough an appearance as this fellow, particularly in the +woods. Imagine Sparrer's surprise therefore when the Indian felt inside +his shirt and brought out a worn buckskin bag which apparently had been +suspended by a thong around his neck and from it drew forth a wad of +greasy bills. Squatting on his heels he unfolded these and began to +count them out before him on the snow. They were in small denominations +and as he slowly spread them out, counting aloud as he did so, the +effect was most impressive. He meant that it should be. He counted on +the influence that the sight of so much currency would have.</p> + +<p>It was a cunning move. Had he shown the money in a pile, or had the +bills been in large denominations the effect would not have been nearly +so impressive. As it was the snow around him was literally carpeted with +bills. In spite of himself Sparrer gave vent to a little gasp. The +Indian heard. Stuffing the two bills which remained after he had counted +out fifty back in the little bag he rose to his feet and with a dramatic +sweep of one hand above the green carpet exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"All white boy's for fox! White boy count—fifty dollar! White boy buy +much things. Have good time." He smiled meaningly. "Indian take fox and +leave much money. White boy hide um—so." He thrust a hand into his +shirt. "Nobody know. Indian go way—far." He swept a hand toward the +mountains. Then he pointed at the bills at his feet. "Much money. Very +much money. White boy count."</p> + +<p>Sparrer looked down in a fascinated stare and unconsciously he did +count. He had but to say the word and all those bills would be his, his +to hide away in his bosom and gloat over in secret until he should reach +home. And then? A vision of the things they would buy passed before +him—things his boyish heart had coveted; things which his mother and +brothers and sisters needed; things which would for a time make life +brighter and better. And it would not be stealing. The fox was his. He +had shot it and he had a right to do what he pleased with it "It would +not be stealing," he repeated to himself almost fiercely.</p> + +<p>But would it be honorable? Could he go back to his companions and tell +them freely and openly what he had done? No. He must keep his deed a +secret, locked in his heart, to be boasted of only among his companions +of the street gang. Once he would have had no qualms whatever. His +conscience would not have been troubled in the least. But that was when +he was Sparrer Muldoon, street gamin and champion scrapper of the gang; +with no higher ethics than the right of might. Now he was Edward Muldoon +Boy Scout, sworn "to keep physically strong, mentally awake, and morally +straight;" to obey the Scout law of which the first commandment is to be +trustworthy and the second to be loyal.</p> + +<p>Would he be either mentally awake or morally strong if he yielded to +this temptation? Could he regard himself in the future us trustworthy or +as loyal to his friends? Two selves were battling in one boy.</p> + +<p>"It ain't nothin' wrong," insisted Sparrer Muldoon.</p> + +<p>"A Scout's honor is to be trusted," whispered Edward Muldoon.</p> + +<p>"You bet it is!" Unconsciously the boy spoke aloud. The battle was won. +His face cleared. In that moment he understood many things. He knew now +exactly what he would do. He would take the fox to the cabin and turn +it over to Pat and Alec. He knew that that was what he had intended to +do all along before the Indian had appeared. He knew, too, who this +low-browed, ugly-faced redskin was. He was one of the thieves who had +been stealing fur and who had butchered the deer the day before. It came +over him all in a flash that it was he who had set those traps at the +beaver houses, that he himself had been seen there and followed. +Doubtless the Indian had been in hiding close by all the time and the +killing of the fox had brought him forth because he could not let so +rich a prize slip through his fingers. Yes, everything was clear to +Sparrer now. In his first surprise, his own problem following hard on +the heels of it, he had no chance to think or even to wonder how the man +had happened to appear there at that moment. Now he understood and his +face flushed with anger.</p> + +<p>The money was no longer a temptation. He scowled down at it and he +wondered if it had been come by honestly. He could not know that the man +was an outlaw and had been forced to leave a lumber camp between suns +with no chance to spend his accumulated wages. So he regarded the money +with growing suspicion and his anger grew at the thought of how near he +had come to selling his honor, perhaps for tainted money at that.</p> + +<p>"Here, youse, take yer money an' git!" he growled. He motioned with the +barrel of his rifle by way of emphasis. "An' youse better take up dem +traps," he added significantly.</p> + +<p>The Indian's expression changed as he squatted once more and picked up +the bills. He was too shrewd a sign reader not to know when it was +useless to follow a trail further. The fox couldn't be bought, therefore +it must be obtained in some other way, by craft or violence. If he could +get near enough to the boy to disarm him the rest would be easy. If +not—well, there was another way. He would avoid it if possible, for the +boy's friends were too near. They would be on his trail inside of +twenty-four hours. It would mean a long, hurried flight across the +border with two of the best woodsmen in the whole section behind him, +and every warden and lumber camp on both sides of the line watching for +him. It would mean a battle if ever they came up with him, a battle to +the death. But a thousand, perhaps two thousand dollars! One would dare +much for such a sum. He had friends across the border. Through them the +skin could be disposed of while he remained in hiding. Once across the +line with the booty he had no fear, that is if he could obtain it +without committing the blood crime. He would strike north and then +market the pelt in the spring. It would be difficult to prove that it +was not of his own killing. There were no witnesses. It would be only +the word of this boy against him even should he be traced. Given a +reasonable start he had little fear of this.</p> + +<p>He looked over at the black fox and the lust of greed glittered in his +eyes. The animal was of unusual size, and the fur was extra prime. +Assuredly it would bring a great sum. After all, it was but a boy with +whom he had to deal and by the looks of him a novice in the woods. He +stuffed the money bag back in his shirt and rose, his axe in hand. Then +without warning he leaped forward, axe upraised, his face contorted with +rage like that of a demon.</p> + +<p>"Stop!"</p> + +<p>There was something menacing and sinister in the sound of the word, but +more menacing and sinister was the muzzle of the little rifle into which +he was staring. It brought him up short in the middle of a stride. He +had seen the boy shoot and now the rifle was held as steadily as when it +had been pointed at the fox. There was something in the sound of the +boy's voice that warned him that he would not hesitate to shoot again, +and at that distance he could not miss. The Indian froze into a statue.</p> + +<p>"Turn around and git!" commanded Sparrer. He was not afraid. He knew +that the rifle gave him the whip hand. A boy of his age from higher +walks in life might have been intimidated. Not so Sparrer. Young in +years, he was old in experience. He had seen too many drunken brawls, +too many "bad men" in his street life, and knew too much of human nature +to feel fear with that gun at his shoulder. Instead a white hot +consuming rage welled up within him as when he had rushed to the defense +of some weakling against the attack of a cowardly bully. He saw red.</p> + +<p>"Youse git!" he repeated and there was a threat in the very way in which +he said it.</p> + +<p>For a brief second the Indian hesitated. Then with an ugly snarl like +that of a trapped beast he slowly turned. Baffled rage distorted his +face until it was more like that of some savage animal than of a human +being. It was humiliating to be balked by a slip of a boy. It was worse +to have a fortune almost within his reach and be forced to leave it. +There was murder, black murder, in his heart as he slowly shuffled +forward a few steps.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he turned like a flash and with a peculiar swing threw the axe. +Sparrer knew nothing of the art of axe throwing at which many woodsmen +are expert and are deadly in their quickness and precision. He was +wholly unprepared for the move and it caught him off guard. He caught a +glimpse of glinting steel and instinctively ducked as he had learned to +do in fighting. At the same time he threw up his rifle. The axe struck +the barrel of the latter just enough to be slightly deflected from its +course and the end of the handle instead of the keen blade struck the +boy a crashing blow on the side of the head. Without a sound he dropped +in his tracks.</p> + +<p>A slow grin overspread the face of his assailant as he strode over and +looked down at the white still face of his victim. After all it was +better so. He had not killed him and there was less to fear from the +long arm of the law. Contemptuously he touched the still form with the +toe of a shoe. Then gloatingly he picked up the fox, hesitated and +picked up the rabbit. Without another glance at the huddled form on the +snow he turned and vanished among the trees.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE CONFERENCE</h3> + + +<p>Sparrer's eyelids fluttered, then slowly lifted. Dully and +uncomprehendingly he stared up at a fretwork of bare brown branches +against a background of blue. Where was he? What had happened? Then a +throb of pain in his head cleared his senses and memory returned all too +vividly. His brows contracted in a black scowl, and slowly and painfully +he rolled over and got to his feet, staring about for his assailant. But +of the outlaw there was no sign save the broken crust where the axe had +plunged through. Nor was there any trace of the black fox save a little +spot of crimson and two or three black hairs where the animal had lain.</p> + +<p>How long he had been unconscious he had no means of knowing, but it +could not have been long, or he would have been frost-bitten. As it was +he was merely chilled and numb from the cold. His head ached badly, and +passing a mittened hand over it he found a big lump where the axe had +hit him. Moreover, he felt sick to his stomach, dizzy and weak. But for +his physical ailments he had no thought. Wrath, black, boiling rage, +surged over him. He had been robbed! He had been treacherously +outwitted! For the moment it was the latter fact rather than the former +that was the cause of his hot resentment. He, Sparrer Muldoon, who had +lived by his wits ever since he could remember, had been caught napping!</p> + +<p>"An' me wid de drop on him!" he exclaimed bitterly. "He put me down fer +de count, but it was a foul, an' Oi wasn't lookin' fer no foul. Serves +me right." He smiled bitterly. "Oi ought t'known better than t' give him +an openin'. Serves me right fer listenin' t' his spiel. If ever Oi get +de drop on him again he'll wish he'd never set eyes on Sparrer Muldoon."</p> + +<p>This was idle boasting, and Sparrer knew it. The chances that he would +ever again set eyes on the wily redskin were exceedingly slim. Still, it +was possible that Pat and Alec might be able to pick up his trail, and +the sooner they were put wise to the affair the better. He would get +back to camp as soon as possible. He picked up his rifle, and even as he +did so a new thought flashed across his mind. Why tell of his experience +at all? Why mention the black fox? He could explain the bump on his head +by saying that he had slipped and fallen, striking his head against a +log. Pat and Alec need never know that he had lost the rare pelt for +them for all time, nor that he had been such a tenderfoot as to be +outwitted by an Indian on whom he already had the drop. Why say a word +about it? To tell would be likely to win for himself nothing but +contempt—contempt for his weakness in parleying with the outlaw, and +for his stupidity in being outwitted.</p> + +<p>But there was a hope, a faint one, to be sure, but still a hope, that by +some special favor of Providence Pat and Alec might be able to trace his +assailant and recover the skin. Not to tell would be to surrender +without a fight, and this was directly contrary to the boy's nature. A +double motive urged him to leave no stone unturned that might lead to +the capture of the Indian—the desire to recover the rich prize and the +spirit of revenge. He could tell of the robbery without in any way +committing himself in the matter of the temptation which had led to the +parley with the outlaw. This is what he would do. He didn't want his +companions to think worse of him than was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>So with his mind made up to this course he headed for camp. +"Click-clack, coward! Click-clack, coward!" His very shoes mocked him. +He tried to shut out the sound, but he could not. Had Edward Muldoon, +Boy Scout, won over Sparrer Muldoon, street gamin, only to lose in the +end? Where the trail led close to the end of the big beaver dam he +stopped abruptly and a last brief battle was fought between Scout and +gamin. When it was over he pushed on with an eagerness he had not felt +before, for the Scout had triumphed, and this time he knew that the +victory was final. He would tell the <i>whole</i> story from beginning to end +and spare himself nothing. "Youse ain't no quitter!" he muttered to +himself fiercely. "Youse is goin' ter tell de truth, de whole truth and +nothing but de truth."</p> + +<p>His progress was slow and his snow-shoes seemed strangely heavy. The +fierce conflict within, not less than the effects of the blow he had +suffered, had left him physically weak. He felt light-headed. His +nervous system had received a shock from which he was now feeling the +effects. He was possessed of a desire to sit down and rest every few +minutes. But he set his jaws grimly and plodded on. Upton was outside +the cabin splitting wood as he approached. He looked up as the +click-clack of snow-shoes caught his attention and seeing that it was +Sparrer called cheerily, "What luck?"</p> + +<p>A shadow of his old-time impudent grin flashed across Sparrer's face as +he replied, "What luck wud ye be expecting with a tenderfoot loike me?"</p> + +<p>"The greatest luck in the world. It's always that way in stories," +retorted Upton. Then he noticed the pale face of the younger lad, and +dropping his axe he sprang forward, "Say, boy, what's happened?" he +demanded anxiously. "You're white as a sheet. Are you hurt or have you +had a fright? Spit it out!"</p> + +<p>"A little of both, Oi guess," confessed Sparrer, sitting down wearily on +a handy log. "Are de others back yet?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet, but they're coming now," replied Upton as a faint yell reached +them. "That's Hal, and by the sound of his voice they've had luck of +some kind. But what happened to you?"</p> + +<p>"It's a long story, and Oi'll tell it when de others get here," replied +Sparrer. "Oi think Oi'll go in and get a d-d-rink of somethin' h-hot." +His teeth chattered. It was the result of nervous reaction quite as much +as cold. Upton, with real concern in his face, sprang forward and put an +arm around the shaking youngster and led him into the cabin, then +hastened to make him a cup of hot soup. With this in his stomach Sparrer +rapidly recovered and by the time Pat, Alec and Hal arrived, the latter +whooping joyously, he was quite himself. They brought with them three +marten and a fisher.</p> + +<p>When these had been duly admired Upton demanded that Sparrer tell his +story, and this he did, sparing himself nothing. At the first mention of +the black fox there was an eager leaning forward on the part of all his +listeners, and when he told of the successful shot Hal whooped with joy.</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Oi don't know," replied Sparrer, and could not restrain a rather +pathetic grin at the blank look of astonishment that swept over the four +eager faces. Then he hurried on, blurting out a full confession of his +temptation and winding up with the incident of the axe throwing and his +final recovery of consciousness.</p> + +<p>"De skunk didn't even leave me de rabbit," he concluded.</p> + +<p>The faces of Pat and Alec had changed rapidly from interest and +astonishment to seriousness, anger and determination. Both knew that +murder and nothing less had been back of the throwing of that axe, and +that it was merely the accident of good fortune that Sparrer was with +them now instead of lying a corpse out there in the beaver swamp. Pat +reached forward and pulled Sparrer's cap from his head, disclosing an +ugly lump where the blow had fallen. Till that moment no one had noticed +that the boy had kept his cap on.</p> + +<p>"You may thank the good God that it was the handle and not the blade +that struck you, son. 'Twas He alone that saved you this time," +exclaimed the big fellow, a note of reverence in his voice. "'Tis an +ugly bump," he added, passing his fingers lightly over the swelling. +"'Tis a wonder it didn't break your skull, as it was. The cap saved you, +I guess. Why didn't you tell us you had that nasty lump, you young +spalpeen? It ought to have been treated long ago."</p> + +<p>"It ain't nothing," replied Sparrer sheepishly, for he hated to have a +fuss made over him.</p> + +<p>Upton was already heating water and preparing a bandage. As soon as the +water was hot he added a little tincture of arnica, and despite +Sparrer's protests a hot bandage was soon applied, and he was forced to +admit that it brought almost immediate relief. This attention having +been given the victim Pat called a conference.</p> + +<p>"It's plain enough," said he, "that this is the work of one of the +black-hearted crooks who have been stealing our furs, for 'tis my belief +that there is probably more than one and likely not over two." Alec +nodded concurrence with this belief. "That they'll stop at nothing +Sparrer's experience proves. I've known murder to be committed for less +than the price of a prime black fox pelt. Now that they've got it 'tis +like that they will pull camp at once rather than take the chance of +being discovered. On the other hand they may think that their camp is so +well hidden that they can just lie low. If, as I suspect, they have been +run out of one of the Canadian lumber camps, this may be what they will +do. They know that Sparrer here is a tenderfoot and that there is only +his word against theirs. Besides, they can hide the pelt and deny all +knowledge of it. Sparrer hasn't a shred of proof but the lump on his +head, and it would take more than that to convince a court of law in +these parts that he had killed a genuine black fox.</p> + +<p>"It's my opinion that their camp is a whole lot nearer than Alec has +supposed. There are plenty of draws back in these hills where a camp +could be hidden and discovered only by chance, unless some one was +making special search for it. The fact that that bloody-minded Injun was +hanging around the beaver pond so late in the day is evidence enough +for me that his camp isn't many miles away. I'll bet it's within five +miles of us this blessed minute. They probably located our trap lines, +then built their camp in a place we were not likely to visit and then by +working back up through the hills kept their trail hidden, and crossed +on the ice to work our long lines, as Alec suspects. They left our short +lines alone, partly because they could not get at them without leaving a +trail in the soft snow and partly so as not to arouse suspicion.</p> + +<p>"With the crust they could go where they pleased, and the Injun took the +chance to do a little poaching on the beaver pond, knowing that we would +leave it alone. He probably saw Sparrer when he uncovered that trap and +followed him through the woods either with the idea of finding out if +the youngster suspected anything and then frightening him into holding +his tongue or else just to keep track of his movements. He saw the +killing of the fox and decided that the fortune in that pelt was worth +any risk.</p> + +<p>"What he told Sparrer about the skin belonging to Alec and me isn't +true. This is a free country, and the free creatures belong to whoever +can get them. If the critter had been in one of our traps it would have +been a different matter. Then it would have been our property. But the +critter belonged to nobody until it was killed, and when Sparrer knocked +it over every hair on that black hide belonged to him and to no one +else. The cunning redskin made up that yarn to tempt Sparrer, and there +wasn't a particle of truth in it. Now the question is, what are we going +to do to get back Sparrer's property? If it was just an ordinary red fox +or even a marten the case would be different, though even then I'd be +for getting it back, and running those thieving poachers out of the +country. As it is, we owe it to Sparrer to try to get that skin. What's +your idea, Alec?"</p> + +<p>Alec leaned forward and poked the fire. "Ye ken that the moon's full the +night," said he slowly. "I am thinking that you and me might take a bit +of a look around. If we could find the camp it would be time enough to +decide what to do next. I dinna think that with that prize they will be +staying in these pairts long, and what is done has got to be done +quickly. I have no suspicioned that the camp was handy till now. I am no +saying that I think so now," he hastened to add with characteristic +Scotch caution, "but I will admit that it is possible. Ye ken there is +no nook or hollow of these hills that I dinna ken every foot of. I hid +out here once myself. We can leave the laddies to get a wee bit of sleep +while we have a look in the most likely places."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't!" protested Hal. "If there's any game like that afoot you +can count us in, can't they, fellows?"</p> + +<p>Upton and Sparrer voiced eager assent, but Pat shook his head. "Nothing +doing," he declared. "Alec and I are responsible for the safety of you +fellows and you'll stay right here and keep this little old cabin from +running away. Besides," he added, noting the disappointment in the three +faces, "this is no play-scouting; it is men's work and only for those +who know the country. Two are all that are needed and more would double +the chances of giving alarm. If Alec and I can locate the camp we may +need your help to-morrow in rounding up the thieves. So you will be good +little boys and stay right here until you're needed. I was thinking of +the moon before Alec spoke. When it is up 'twill be almost as light as +day. 'Twill do no harm for us to have a look around. Alec says true that +he knows every foot of these hills and hollows. I know them pretty well +myself, and if those birds of ill omen, bad cess to the likes of them, +do not fly too soon we'll come pretty close to locating 'em inside the +next twenty-four hours. There's no use in starting before the moon is +well up. Meanwhile we'll have supper. I have no mind to travel on an +empty stomach, and I've the appetite of a lumber-horse this very minute. +Any of that bear-steak left, Alec?"</p> + +<p>Alec promptly produced the desired meat and it was soon sizzling over +the fire. While they ate they discussed what should be done in case the +camp of the outlaws was discovered.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose they will fight?" asked Hal eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Look at Sparrer there and ask sensible questions," returned Pat +sarcastically. "Is a man who would attempt cold-blooded murder likely +to come at a whistle like a good doggie? We've got to take them by +surprise, or somebody is likely to get hurt. That is why I want you boys +to keep out of it. This isn't your business; it's Alec's and mine."</p> + +<p>"How about me? Youse said a while ago that that skin is mine," piped up +Sparrer.</p> + +<p>"So it is, me bantam, but your own skin is worth more to you than all +the silver foxes that ever lived, and if you cannot keep it whole +yourself it's up to us to keep it whole for you," retorted Pat. "It +isn't just the matter of that fox skin," he continued. "I'm guessing +that Alec and I have a good sized stake in the skins cached in that camp +right now. We had a little unpleasantness with those sneaking robbers of +honest men to settle as soon as you left and this has simply forced it a +little sooner. It's our job, and you fellows are to stay out. That's +final."</p> + +<p>They knew by the tone of his voice that no amount of begging or argument +would avail them in the least. They knew, too, that Pat was right in his +stand. They were his guests and as such entailed upon him a certain +responsibility for their safety and welfare.</p> + +<p>"But, Pat, can't we be in at the finish?" pleaded Hal. "Gee! Think of a +real scrap going on under our very noses and we not seeing it!"</p> + +<p>"Depends on what the finish is," replied Pat. "I'll promise you this +much, that if there is anything to see, or if you can help without the +risk of stopping a bullet or a knife, you shall have a chance. At +present it looks like a dangerous game, but we'll know more when we've +found that camp. The greatest help you can give us now is to stay right +here. We'll be back before daylight and by that time we will know +enough, I hope, to plan some action. Alec, it'll be a couple of hours +yet before we can start. Suppose we turn in for a bit of rest. It's +little enough we're likely to get for the next twenty-four hours. We'll +leave the lads to put the camp in order."</p> + +<p>This the boys were only too glad to do while the two trappers stretched +out in their bunks and rested. Two hours later Pat arose and peeped out. +The moon flooded the hollow with light and he grunted his satisfaction. +A few minutes later he and Alec slipped out, and almost at once were +lost in the heavy shadows of the evergreens. Each carried his rifle, and +the two faces were set and grim. There was something sinister in this +silent departure, and as they vanished into the vast brooding wilderness +the three boys instinctively drew nearer together. Hal shrugged his +shoulders and laughed, but somehow his laugh sounded oddly forced.</p> + +<p>"Somebody kick me and tell me if I'm awake," said he, throwing another +log on the fire. "You read about such things and think it's a bully +story, but somehow the story seems more real than the reality. Of course +nothing's going to happen to Pat and Alec, yet just the same they are +out with rifles hunting sure enough bad men, and if there's any shooting +somebody's likely to be hurt. If it wasn't for Sparrer's bandaged head +there I'd think I was dreaming. How's the old nut feel anyway, Sparrer?"</p> + +<p>"Better, but sore enough t' let me know dis ain't no dream," returned +the younger lad. "Say!" he exploded abruptly. "What will de fellers say +when we get back an' tell 'em we been fightin' outlaws an' that Oi gets +a knockout from a sure-enough Injun? Bet dey'll wish dey was in my +shoes."</p> + +<p>Upton laughed. He was still boy enough to appreciate Sparrer's feelings. +"As long as you had to get it I'm glad it was a real redskin who put it +across," said he. "As for fighting, it doesn't look to me as if we were +going to see any of it. Pat isn't going to take any chances on one of us +getting hurt. It makes me sick every time I think of the close call +Sparrer had. If Pat and Alec find the camp of those brutes they won't do +anything rash. They'll try to trap 'em some way. They're right about us, +but just the same I wish we could be in it somehow. I'd like to see the +finish."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we shall yet," Hal spoke hopefully. "Shall we turn in?"</p> + +<p>"What's the use?" returned Upton. "I couldn't sleep a wink until Pat and +Alec get back. We ought to keep the fire going and have something hot +ready for them when they get in."</p> + +<p>"Suits me," declared Hal. "I couldn't sleep either."</p> + +<p>Sparrer was of the same opinion, so they sat before the fire and +speculated on what was happening out there in the forest. Sparrer was +plied with questions about his adventure and told the story over so +graphically that the thrill of it sent little shivers down the backs of +his listeners. At times they sat in silence wondering if they might hear +distant rifle shots. And so the night wore on, the most exciting night +in their experience, and yet a night in which so far as they were +concerned nothing happened.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE CAMP OF THE POACHERS</h3> + + +<p>Upton had just glanced at his watch and noted that the hour was 3 A. M. +Hal and Sparrer were both asleep, the long vigil having proved too much +for them despite their assertions early in the evening that they +couldn't sleep a wink. A slight sound outside the door caught Walter's +attention. A second later the door swung open and Pat and Alec entered. +It was clear that they had expected to find all the boys asleep, and +were endeavoring to make as little noise as possible.</p> + +<p>Walter flashed a keen look at the two faces and read there the success +of the trip. "Hey, you sleepy-heads, they've found the camp!" he +shouted, thumping Hal on the back.</p> + +<p>"Wha-wha-what?" stammered Hal, rubbing his eyes and staring about him +wildly, while Sparrer blinked stupidly. Then fully recovering his senses +Hal sprang to his feet. "Did you really find the camp?" he asked +eagerly.</p> + +<p>Pat nodded. "Hurrah!" cried the impetuous boy. "Say, who hit me? I was +right in the middle of a dream. I had three outlaws lined up against a +cabin wall and covered with a rifle when I felt that thump, and for a +minute I thought it was another one of 'em who had stolen up behind me +and got me foul, I'm certainly glad it was only a dream."</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed. Upton meanwhile had hung a kettle of soup over the +fire and was setting a couple of places at the table for the two +trappers, knowing that they must be hungry after their long tramp. "Now +tell us about it," he commanded when they had had a chance to dispose of +the soup and a big slab of corn bread.</p> + +<p>"There isn't much to tell," began Pat. "We found their camp and watched +it for a while and then came back."</p> + +<p>"So simple," murmured Hal. "'We found their camp.' I suppose you shut +your eyes and let a good fairy take you by the hands and lead you +straight to it! It's a wonder you haven't been over to make a friendly +call before, seeing it is so handy and easily found."</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking the sarcasm in Hal's voice, and Pat laughed +aloud. "'Twas no fairy led us to ut, me bye, but just common woods sense +and me partner's knowledge av the counthry." Then dropping his brogue he +continued: "You know enough about camping to know that one of the first +and most important things to look out for in locating a camp is a good +water supply. Alec knows every good spring for twenty miles around. +Having made up our minds that the camp was within five miles Alec just +ran over in his mind the likely springs within that distance and the lay +of the land. The fact that those bloody-minded thieves have been working +our long trap lines was a pretty good indication that their camp lay +somewhere handy to these. That narrowed it down to two springs, the +first of which is at the head of a little draw which makes in to the +north about four miles west of here just before our line swings north. +The second is in a draw which makes in to the south of a pond about a +mile farther on and somewhat off our trap line. We made straight for +the first one and found nothing there. Then we cut across to the second +and as soon as we were in the draw we knew that we were on the right +track."</p> + +<p>"How?" interrupted Hal eagerly.</p> + +<p>"The smell of wood-smoke," replied Pat. "We worked around to the spring, +mighty careful to keep under cover and make no noise, expecting to find +the camp right there, but there wasn't a thing to be seen. Then we +followed our noses up wind over a little rise and there in the middle of +a clump of spruce was the cabin, pretty near buried in snow. We watched +it for a while and then as there was nothing doing we came back, and +that's the whole of the story."</p> + +<p>"What's the next move?" Upton asked the question with an eagerness he +could not conceal.</p> + +<p>"A little daylight surprise party," replied Pat with a grin.</p> + +<p>"Are we in on it?" demanded the three boys in chorus.</p> + +<p>"That depends," replied Pat. "Alec and I have been talking it over, and +if you'll agree to obey orders and keep under cover maybe we'll take +you along. Witnesses may come in handy. But you've got to agree to do +just as you're told."</p> + +<p>"We will!" chorused the three joyously.</p> + +<p>"Our plan is to surround the cabin before daylight. The fact that those +fellows haven't pulled out already indicates that they are planning to +lie low. But they'll be up and out early to spy on us. We've got to be +in hiding before they are up, and that means that we must start in half +an hour. You fellows are to remain in hiding and leave Alec and me to +handle those chaps, and you're not to show yourselves unless we signal +you to."</p> + +<p>"How many of them are there?" asked Upton.</p> + +<p>"Two, we think," replied Pat. "The cabin isn't big enough for more. Now +get busy and stow away a good meal, because there is no knowing when +you'll get another."</p> + +<p>A hasty meal of bacon and cold corn bread, with hot chocolate, was +speedily disposed of, and they were ready to start. At Pat's suggestion +the boys had put on extra clothing to protect them should they be +compelled to remain inactive for some time. With the exception of +Sparrer each carried a rifle. In single file, Alec in the lead and Pat +in the rear, they threaded their way through the forest. Never will the +three city boys forget the uncanny strangeness of that tramp through the +moonlit wilderness. The silence of the great frozen waste, oppressive +even in the light of day, was doubly so now. Their errand and the +thought of what might happen at the end of their journey combined to +stimulate already overexcited imaginations to a point where nothing +seemed real. They felt as if moving in a dream. It was as if by +enchantment they had been translated from their commonplace selves into +the heroes of one of their favorite books of adventure. They had the +feeling that at any moment they might return to normal conditions and +find it all a figment of the imagination.</p> + +<p>Down the Hollow past the trail by which they had entered it Alec led the +way, and out at the western end. Then for a couple of miles he bore +slightly north along the old trapper's trail that Upton remembered the +sheriff had taken in his search for Alec the previous fall. From this +point they bore south, and presently came to the edge of a small pond +glistening white and spotless in the moonlight. At that hour it was +seemingly safe to cross, but Alec was taking no chances and kept to the +cover around the edge.</p> + +<p>At the entrance to the draw of which Pat had told them they paused for a +whispered conference. The boys were cautioned to watch every step and to +guard against the slightest sound. Pat was to place them in hiding to +the rear of the camp where they would be out of all possible danger +should there be any shooting and he once more impressed upon them the +fact that they were Scouts under orders and under no circumstances were +they to move unless signaled. Alec would hide near the spring, while Pat +would secrete himself where he could cover the cabin-door.</p> + +<p>Making a detour Pat led the boys to a point slightly up the hill and +back of the clump of hemlocks in which he said the cabin was hidden. +Upton and Sparrer he placed together in a thicket directly to the rear +of the camp, and Hal he stationed a hundred yards to the right. Then +once more charging them to make no sound he left them and vanished as +completely as if the ground had opened and swallowed him.</p> + +<p>The moon still rode high, but already the gray of approaching dawn +appeared in the east and dulled its silver radiance. They had arrived +none too soon. Upton strained his eyes to make out the cabin, but in the +uncertain shadows it was impossible. He found himself actually wondering +if Pat and Alec were not mistaken. He found it hard to believe that +there could be any other human beings within miles of them. It was +bitter cold, and despite the extra clothing the boys felt the chill of +it. It seemed to creep into the very marrow of their bones and the +excitement which had exhilarated them at the start subsided in direct +ratio to their increasing discomfort.</p> + +<p>The gray in the east crept higher and the moon waxed pale. The shadows +grew less dense and objects more distinct. Little by little something +took shape down there among the firs. At first it was little more than a +mound of white, but presently Upton made out that what he had at first +taken to be a little blacker shadow than the rest was nothing less than +the smoke-blackened top of a short chimney into which he could look from +his position on the hill above. This gave him a clue to the cabin's +situation. Evidently it backed up against the hill and at the rear was +almost drifted over with snow. In fact the snow was banked to the eaves +on both sides, the front only having been cleared. This was screened +from view by a thicket of young firs in such a way that one might pass +in front within thirty yards and not see the cabin unless looking +especially for it. It reminded Walter of nothing so much as the +cunningly hidden home of a fox.</p> + +<p>The gray in the east had given way to a touch of rose color when Sparrer +sniffed softly and silently pointed to the chimney. A thin column of +smoke was beginning to rise. It was evident that the inmates were astir. +The situation was rapidly approaching a climax. Muffled sounds from +within the cabin reached the boys. With hearts thumping painfully the +watchers waited. Presently there was the creak of a door. From their +position Upton and Sparrer could not see what Hal from his location +farther to the right had a clear view of, a dark, roughly clad man who +stooped to pass out of the low doorway. But a moment later they saw him +as he entered the thicket, a pail in one hand. He was going to the +spring for water.</p> + +<p>He passed from sight over the little rise that separated the slight +hollow where the cabin was located from the deeper hollow where the +spring was. As he reached the bottom he came into view again. They saw +him stop abruptly in his tracks as if frozen, then drop his pail and +half turn as if to run, only to stop again and throw his arms above his +head. Then Alec appeared, his rifle covering the man before him. There +was evidently a parley of some kind, but the distance was too great for +the sound of their voices to carry. Undoubtedly Alec had warned the +other not to raise his voice. With bated breath the boys watched the +strange pantomime below. It was plain that Alec was giving orders to +which the other objected, for he violently shook his head. The former, +who had partly lowered his rifle, raised it again menacingly, whereat +his captive appeared to capitulate. Lowering one arm he fumbled at his +belt and presently drew forth a wicked looking knife which with evident +reluctance he tossed at Alec's feet. The latter then permitted his +victim to lower the other arm and evidently issued an order, for the man +turned and with Alec behind him disappeared in the woods.</p> + +<p>"He's taking him around to where Pat is," whispered Upton. "That wasn't +the fellow that got you, was it?"</p> + +<p>Sparrer shook his head. His eyes were blazing with excitement. "Dat +wasn't no Injun," he whispered. "Dat feller was easy. Wonder if de other +gink will be as easy."</p> + +<p>Once more they settled down to patient waiting. The smell of frying +bacon mingled with that of wood-smoke and tantalized their nostrils. It +seemed an age before the door creaked again. Hal only of the three boys +could see the dark face that peered out in the direction of the spring. +It was the darker for an ugly scowl which contracted the low brows. For +a long minute the man stared in the direction of the spring and Hal +could see his lips moving as if he muttered to himself. Then he +vanished inside and the door closed. It was not long, however, before it +opened again and once more the scowling face appeared, staring toward +the spring. It was clear that his companion's continued absence was +beginning to puzzle him. Taking a step forward he imitated to perfection +the hoarse croak of a raven. So true to life was it that Hal +instinctively looked up expecting to see the black bird of ill omen. +Then it flashed over him that this was a signal call to the man who had +gone for the water.</p> + +<p>Twice it was repeated. The third call was answered from beyond the +thicket in front of the cabin. Hal guessed rightly that it was Pat +endeavoring to entice the Indian, for the man at the cabin was Sparrer's +assailant, to come out. He hoped that by replying he would lead the +Indian to think that the answer was from the latter's partner and that +the redman would assume that something important had been discovered to +keep his partner so long and would seek to join him to find out what it +was. If once the Indian could be led away from the cabin his capture +would be easy.</p> + +<p>But Pat's hopes in this respect were doomed to be dashed. The instant +the Indian heard the answering croak from in front of the cabin instead +of from the direction of the spring suspicion flashed into his face. For +a few seconds he stood motionless, his beady eyes boring into the +thicket before him. But Pat was well hidden and Alec and his prisoner +were out of the line of vision. Pat essayed another croak, but it served +only to still further arouse the Indian's suspicions that all was not +right.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>FOR A FEW SECONDS HE STOOD MOTIONLESS</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>Taking a step forward he darted his keen gaze in all directions, at the +same time listening intently. Then abruptly he turned to reënter the +cabin.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Hands up, or I'll shoot!" Pat was taking the one chance open to +him. If he allowed the man to get back inside the cabin there was no +telling when he would show himself again. It was clear that he suspected +something. It was better to take the chance that he would obey orders, +knowing that some one had the drop on him, rather than be obliged to lay +siege to the cabin.</p> + +<p>The Indian froze in his tracks, both hands up. "Now walk straight back +five steps and stop," commanded Pat.</p> + +<p>The Indian took one step back. Then in a flash he dove head first +through the partly open door, throwing himself flat. The wily fellow +counted on the suddenness of the move and the abrupt change of angle of +fire to escape. Pat's rifle cracked, followed instantly by the bang of +the door. He had missed his man. He afterward confessed that he had made +no real effort to score a hit. The idea of taking a fellow being's life +was repugnant to him even though the fellow was a would-be murderer. He +had shot because the situation had required it. It was necessary that +the fellow should know that he had to deal with those who could shoot +and were not afraid to.</p> + +<p>Half the battle was won. One man was captured and the other driven to +cover. Knowing that the latter would make no attempt to get away for the +present and that in any event Hal was posted where he could give the +alarm should an attempt be made Pat and Alec turned their attention to +their captive. His hands were securely bound behind him with a piece of +rope which Pat had had the foresight to bring, and he was then +subjected to a grueling examination, but sullenly refused to commit +himself on any point. He was a French Canadian of the lower type and +Alec recognized him as Big Pierre, a notorious character in the lumber +camps of the region.</p> + +<p>There was an ugly glint in his black eyes that boded ill for his captors +should he once gain the upper hand of them. He refused to admit that he +had been robbing the trap lines or that he had even been watching the +camp in Smugglers' Hollow. Only once, and that when Alex charged him +with having a hand in the theft of the black fox, did his face betray +anything but sullen rage. For just a fleeting instant a mingled look of +surprise, interest, cupidity and anger swept across his face. Pat caught +it and signed for Alec to cease his questioning. Then he drew Alec to +one side out of ear-shot of their captive.</p> + +<p>"As sure as you're standing here he doesn't know a thing about that +fox," he whispered. "He's been double-crossed by the Injun. Perhaps we +can use him to get the redskin out of his hole. It's worth trying, +anyway."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>SMOKING OUT THE INDIAN</h3> + + +<p>Pat and Alec returned to their captive. Alec acted as spokesman, +speaking the patois of the Canuck or French Canadian fluently, while the +Frenchman spoke English but little, and that very brokenly. Alec +repeated his previously made charges of theft from the traps, and also +of illegal poaching in the deer yard, to all of which Pierre shrugged +his shoulders indifferently. Then speaking slowly, that every word might +sink in, Alec charged him with being an accomplice to attempted murder +and the theft of the black fox.</p> + +<p>This roused the Frenchman to vehement denial. He swore by the name of +his patron saint that he knew nothing of the black fox and had had no +part in the theft. He declared that he didn't even know that a black fox +had been seen in the Hollow, and as for the assault on Sparrer, he was +as innocent as a new-born babe. Then Alec told him the story of the +killing of the fox and the murderous attack by the Indian, concluding by +stating his belief that the latter had hidden the skin and intended to +desert his companion at the first opportunity and thus avoid having to +share his ill-gotten gains.</p> + +<p>Pierre's face grew black with ill suppressed rage, not, as his captors +well knew, at the dastardly crime, but at the evident intention of his +partner to "double-cross" him. Alec artfully pointed out the serious +situation in which he, Pierre, was; if turned over to the officers of +the law he would undoubtedly have to face the charge of being accessory +to the Indian's crime. He wound up with the suggestion that if Pierre +would endeavor to help them recover the skin they would in return be +content to allow him to get out of the country. If he refused they would +hold him and turn him over to the authorities.</p> + +<p>It did not take Pierre long to make up his mind. He saw clearly that he +had nothing to gain by refusing, and everything to lose. Moreover the +spirit of revenge was strong within him. After a few minutes of +hesitation he sullenly agreed to do whatever was required of him.</p> + +<p>"Tell him," said Pat, "that he is to go out there and demand of that +skulking redskin that he come out and surrender. Tell him to make it +clear that the camp is surrounded and the jig is up; that we're going to +get him anyway, dead or alive, and we don't much care which. Tell him +that he is not to go nearer than ten yards to the cabin, that we've got +him covered, and if he makes any break it will be his last one."</p> + +<p>Alec translated this and Pierre nodded. Then he walked forward through +the thicket into the open, at Alec's command coming to a halt some +thirty feet from the cabin door, where he hailed the Indian in the +latter's own tongue. There was a muffled reply and after some delay the +cabin door was opened a crack and a rifle barrel thrust through. Then +followed a heated parley in the Indian tongue, of which Alec understood +enough to gather the substance.</p> + +<p>"He's laying it on thick," he chuckled. "Says that the sheriff and +deputies are here and have got the camp surrounded, and that unless he +comes out they'll shoot him on sight. The Injun has passed him the lie. +He's mockin' Pierre for being caught by a couple of make-believe +trappers—ye ken that's you and me, Pat—and a lot of infants. He says +he hasn't got the black fox and disna know anything about it. Pierre is +giving him a beautiful tongue-lashing and calling him everything bad +this side of purgatory. 'Tis a shame ye dinna understand a little of the +lingo, Pat. Ha! The red says he'll shoot on sight and is warning Pierre +to get back before he takes a pot shot at him, and by the saints I +believe he means it!"</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact at this point they saw the rifle barrel raised. +Pierre abruptly turned and without once looking back rejoined the two +men in the thicket. He was in a towering rage and spat out French +invectives at a rate to defy description. He reported the result of his +mission, stating his opinion that the Indian could hold out +indefinitely, as there was a plentiful supply of grub in the cabin and +enough fire-wood to keep him from freezing for longer than his +besiegers would care to stay.</p> + +<p>"Will he shoot, do you think, if we rush the cabin?" asked Pat +meditatively.</p> + +<p>As if in reply the rifle at the cabin door spat fire and a bullet +whistled through the thicket so close to Pat that instinctively he +ducked. He had carelessly exposed himself to the view of the outlaw. +Almost instantly Alec's rifle replied and a splinter flew from the +door-frame.</p> + +<p>"That will teach him that 'tis no make-believe shooter out here!" he +growled.</p> + +<p>The door still remained open a crack, evidently to allow the inmate to +observe what was going on in front, the only vulnerable point of attack, +there being no windows in the cabin. Pat worked around to a point where +he could put a bullet through this crack by way of warning and his shot +was followed by the closing of the door.</p> + +<p>"Ut remoinds me," said he with a comical grimace as he slipped into the +brogue, "av the first skunk I iver caught. 'Twas in a box trap, and +having got the little baste in the trap I didn't know how in the +mischief to get him out."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the three boys had obediently remained at their posts. They +had witnessed the parley and the shooting, but just what it all meant +and what the results were they could only guess. They were a-shake with +excitement, and fairly ached with curiosity. Shortly after the last shot +Pat joined them and briefly explained what had happened, and the present +situation.</p> + +<p>"There's only one thing we can do now," said he, "and that is to smoke +the old fox out. This is where you fellows, or one of you, anyway, will +have a chance to take a hand. The snow is banked clear to the roof here +at the back and it will be no trick at all for one of you to steal down +there to the chimney. He's got a fire there now, but the minute he +suspects what is up he'll put that out. We've got to give him something +he can't put out. I've got on an old sweater that's about worn out. A +couple of you can slip around down where we passed those cedars and +strip off enough bark and that hanging moss to stuff it out so that you +can make a ball of it, and stuff it down the chimney with a pole so that +it will stick half-way. On top of that you can drop some rolls of +lighted birch bark and have ready the thickest fir boughs you can find +to clap on top of the chimney. Walt, you better tend to putting the +stuff down the chimney, and mind you work fast. And don't lean over it. +When he finds what is up he's likely to try a pot shot up the chimney in +the hope of blowing the stuff out. If you have good heavy boughs on top +he can't do it. Alec and I will watch the front to get him when he comes +out. Have plenty of bark and get it going well before you toss the rolls +in. As long as you don't get over the chimney and keep off the roof +there will be no danger. The roof is of bark, and he may take a chance +shot up through it, so work from the drift on this end."</p> + +<p>Hal and Sparrer went after the moss, while Upton made a trip over to a +clump of birches and stripped off the bark. Then with his belt axe he +cut a number of fir boughs. By the time the others returned he had the +bark and boughs ready and had prepared a stick with which to push down +the moss-filled sweater. If he should push this too far it would drop +down into the fireplace. On the other hand he wanted to get it far +enough down so that the flames from the bark would not immediately fire +the fir boughs on top. Breaking through the snow-crust he mixed snow +with the moss and also rolled the sweater in snow. The boys had brought +more moss than was needed for stuffing the sweater and this Upton also +mixed with snow and placed in a loose mass at the foot of the chimney.</p> + +<p>When all was ready he had Hal and Sparrer each light a couple of the +birch rolls ready to hand to him. As soon as these were going he stuffed +the sweater down the chimney, pushing it down with the stick as far as +he dared. Then seizing the burning bark rolls he tossed them down on +top, crammed the loose moss in, and clapped the fir boughs over all. On +top of the latter he tossed some snow. Meanwhile Pat had created a +diversion in front of the cabin by shouting threats of what they would +do to the redskin if he didn't come out and surrender.</p> + +<p>Upton had worked quickly and was through before the outlaw fully sensed +what was up. At first he evidently thought that they had merely covered +the top of the chimney to smoke him out with his own fire, and a +hissing sound which came up to them through the chimney proclaimed the +quenching of this with water. Then discovering that the smoke was +increasing instead of decreasing he did exactly what Pat had +foreseen—attempted to blow the chimney clear by firing his rifle up it. +However he only succeeded in setting fire to the sweater from underneath +and this, because of its nature, merely smouldered. It was now merely a +question of whether the sweater and moss would burn and drop before the +smoke in the cabin became too dense for a human being to live in it.</p> + +<p>Birch bark, as every Boy Scout knows, is one of the most inflammable of +materials. It burns like fat, and also like fat it throws off a thick +smoke. This was working up now in little puffs through the fir boughs, +but the great bulk of it must be pouring into the cabin, for Upton had +taken care in stuffing the sweater down not to wholly block the passage. +Now and then a little tongue of flame licked up through the fir boughs +and was promptly extinguished with a handful of snow. The snow-damp moss +shoved down on top of the bark was adding to the smoke, and from the +sounds in the cabin it was clear that the occupant was in difficulties.</p> + +<p>Presently Sparrer called attention to smoke pouring up at the front end +of the cabin. The door had been set ajar to let out the smoke. Almost +immediately there was a shot from the thicket where Pat was hiding, +followed by a second shot, and then the bang of the door as it was once +more shut. But it did not remain closed long. No human being could long +survive in such an atmosphere as now prevailed in the little cabin. This +time the door was flung wide open and in the midst of the cloud of smoke +that poured out the Indian staggered forth, gasping and choking.</p> + +<p>Pat at once stepped from hiding, covering the outlaw with his rifle. But +for this there was no real need. Until he should get some pure air into +his lungs he was quite helpless. He threw himself down in the snow and +gasped weakly. A sorrier looking spectacle could hardly be imagined. His +eyes were inflamed, blood-red. His face and clothing were smeared with +soot and ashes. One cheek was bleeding from a wound, made, as it +afterward appeared, by a splinter torn off from the door-frame by one of +Pat's bullets. Alec wasted no time in securing the prisoner's hands +behind him and then deftly searched him for hidden weapons, finding +nothing but a knife. That reminded him of the knife Pierre had tossed at +his feet when he was captured at the spring, and he sent Sparrer to get +it.</p> + +<p>As soon as the capture was made the three boys had rushed forward, +forgetting that they were under orders to remain at their posts until +signaled. Somewhat sternly but with a twinkle in his eyes that belied +the severity of his voice Pat now reminded them of this and ordered +Upton back to clear the boughs from the top of the chimney. By this time +the sweater had burned through and the whole mass had dropped into the +fireplace, where it continued to burn, the smoke rolling out of the open +door in a dense cloud. With the removal of the boughs from the top of +the chimney a draft was reëstablished and the smoke sought its natural +outlet. It was some time, however, before the interior of the cabin +could be examined with any comfort, and Pat took advantage of this to +quiz the Indian.</p> + +<p>So far as results were obtained he might as well have talked to a wooden +post. The redskin stolidly refused to answer questions. When confronted +with Sparrer he denied ever having seen him before, much to that young +man's disgust. He steadfastly denied all knowledge of the black fox and +refused to admit that he ever had been in Smugglers' Hollow.</p> + +<p>At last Pat gave up in disgust. The cabin had sufficiently cleared of +smoke by this time to permit of a search being made. Leaving Alec to +stand guard over the prisoners Pat and the three boys entered and began +their investigations. Two rifles stood inside the door, and these Pat +emptied of cartridges and stood them outside against the end of the +cabin. Then without ceremony he pulled the bedding from the two low +bunks and tossed it out on the snow. This was followed by everything +else the cabin contained until it was stripped bare. Under the two bunks +they found part of the object of their search, many cased furs. There +were marten, mink, fisher, a couple of otter, three red fox, two lynx +and a number of muskrat, a pile that altogether represented a tidy sum +from a trapper's point of view. But the black fox was not among them.</p> + +<p>Pat glowered at the prisoners savagely as he noted that some of the +skins had been carelessly handled and therefore would not bring what +they would had they been properly treated. Then he resumed his search of +the cabin. The only thing further in the way of skins were two tightly +rolled deer-hides freshly taken from the animals, one being that of a +fawn.</p> + +<p>"Do you mind what I told you had happened at the deer yard?" growled Pat +as he tossed the skins out of the door.</p> + +<p>Convinced at last that the skin of the black fox was not in the camp +they regretfully gave up the search there and emerged from the cabin. +Alec read the disappointment and chagrin in their faces. So, too, did +Big Pierre, who had been awaiting the result of their search with +ill-concealed impatience. He had scarcely looked at his partner since +the latter had been captured. Now he turned and spoke rapidly in French +to Alec.</p> + +<p>"He says," explained the latter, "that if the Injun really has got the +skin he has hidden it outside somewhere, and that if we'll agree to let +him go he'll help us hunt for it. He says that it is probably in a +hollow tree somewhere near, but swears that he doesn't know where. He +thinks that the Injun meant to wait until he, Pierre, was away from camp +and then get it and light out."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder if he's right, at that," exclaimed Hal. "What do you +think of the proposition, Pat?"</p> + +<p>"He may be right enough about the Injun, but I wouldn't trust him the +length av me nose," Pat growled. "Let me talk a bit more to the Injun."</p> + +<p>He strode up in front of the captive and shook a brawny fist beneath his +nose. "We've got you, and we're going to turn you over to the sheriff +unless you come across mighty quick with that skin," he thundered. Then +dropping into simple speech that the Indian could not misunderstand he +continued, "You kill deer out of season; skins prove it." He pointed to +the bundle of fresh hides. "You steal much fur; Big Pierre say so if we +let him go." Alec translated and Pierre nodded. The Indian glanced at +his late partner and saw the nod. A vindictive look swept across his +face and left it as expressionless as before.</p> + +<p>"You try to kill white boy. He go to court and swear. Injun go to prison +for long time, years and years. Black fox only thing can save Injun."</p> + +<p>The Indian appeared to consider the triple indictment, but no hint of +what was passing in his mind appeared in his face. It was as stolid and +expressionless as ever. At length he spoke.</p> + +<p>"You give Injun gun and all his things and let go if he tell something?" +he inquired.</p> + +<p>"We'll see about it," Pat growled.</p> + +<p>"No promise, Injun no tell," was the prompt response.</p> + +<p>It was Pat's turn to consider. Finally he made up his mind. "Listen, +Alec," said he. "You tell Pierre that we'll give them their guns, but no +cartridges; that we'll let them take their personal belongings and as +much grub as they can carry and let them go on condition that they will +admit having stolen those skins from our traps, that they will agree to +get out of these parts and never come back, and that the Indian shows us +where the fox is. Otherwise we'll take them to camp and hold them +prisoners while one of us goes out for the sheriff. Tell him to tell the +Injun."</p> + +<p>Alec turned to Pierre and spoke rapidly. The latter interjected a +question now and then and when Alec had finished made a brief reply. "He +says," Alec explained, "that he agrees, though he thinks we ought to let +them have some cartridges. He admits the stealing of the furs, but still +protests that he wasn't in on the fox affair and wants to know if we'll +let him go in case the Injun refuses to come across."</p> + +<p>"Tell him yes," replied Pat.</p> + +<p>This Alec did, and Pierre at once turned to the Indian and addressed him +in his own tongue. Alec picked up enough to know that Pierre was putting +the case in its strongest light and dwelling on the length of time in +prison likely to follow conviction. When he finished the Indian turned +to Pat.</p> + +<p>"You come," he said simply, and turned toward the woods.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>SPARRER SAVES THE SKIN</h3> + + +<p>Without hesitancy Pat followed the Indian. It was a queer sight, the +Indian leading with his hands bound behind him, and Pat with his rifle +across the hollow of one arm stalking grimly behind him. They were soon +lost to view and the others settled down to wait and speculate. It was +almost three-quarters of an hour later that they reappeared, and it was +seen at once that Pat carried a black object swinging from one hand. As +by one impulse the three boys rushed forward to meet them. In their +haste they quite forgot that they were on snow-shoes, with the result +that Sparrer took an inglorious header, in the course of which he upset +Walter and the latter, landing on the tail of one of Hal's shoes, sent +him sprawling. Alec roared and even Big Pierre permitted himself to +grin.</p> + +<p>By the time all three had regained their feet Pat and the Indian had +come up.</p> + +<p>"Here you are, son! See if you can take better care of him this time," +said Pat as he flung the fox at Sparrer's feet.</p> + +<p>With a cry of joy Sparrer seized the fox and held him up for the +admiring gaze of his comrades. The animal had not been skinned, for +which Pat and Alec were sincerely thankful. This important matter and +the stretching of the skin they preferred to attend to themselves, +especially after seeing the careless way in which some of the furs found +in the cabin had been handled.</p> + +<p>"Where did you find him?" asked Hal as he ran his fingers through the +luxuriant fur.</p> + +<p>"In a hollow tree, just as Pierre guessed," replied Pat. "The Injun +wouldn't answer any questions, but it is clear enough that he didn't +have time to skin the beast last night, and hid it there on his way to +camp, intending to get it the first chance he had when Pierre wasn't +around. He took good care of it, and it is in perfect condition. That +was some shot of yours, son."</p> + +<p>Sparrer flushed with pleasure. "'Twa'n't nothin'," he mumbled. "Anybody +could have done it."</p> + +<p>By this time they had rejoined Alec and Pierre. The latter's eyes +glittered as he ran them appraisingly over the beautiful black form of +the fox, then darted a malevolent glance in the direction of his +partner.</p> + +<p>"What will that skin bring, Alec?" asked Pat.</p> + +<p>The trapper was studying the fox with the critical stare of the expert. +"I dinna ken, Pat," he replied slowly. "'Tis a big beastie, and by all +odds the finest fur I ever put my eyes on. It will bring $1,500 anyway, +and maybe $2,000. I never thought to lay my hands on the likes of it." +He turned and looked at Sparrer with an expression almost of awe. "Tell +me, laddie, what is the charm ye carry?" said he.</p> + +<p>Sparrer laughed. "Oi didn't even have a rabbit's foot," he confessed. +"Sure, an' it was just the luck av the Oirish."</p> + +<p>"Right, me son! Hurray for the Irish!" cried Pat. Then with an abrupt +change he once more became the leader. "Alec, go through the clothes of +our misguided friends and see that they have no cartridges in their +pockets." This Alec did, despite the protests of Big Pierre. When he was +sure that he had secured all of these, thus rendering the guns useless, +he set both prisoners free, at Pat's order, and they were commanded to +pack up their stuff and get ready to hit the trail. This they did +sullenly enough, for they felt that they were under guard, as indeed +they were. Their packs were soon ready, for besides their blankets, a +few cooking utensils and grub, they had little enough. The latter +included part of the ill-gotten deer meat.</p> + +<p>When they were about ready to start Big Pierre made one last plea for +cartridges, at least for himself. But Pat was obdurate and told them +that they were lucky to be allowed to take their guns. When all was +ready for the trail their knives were returned to them, and the +Frenchman's axe was given him. The Indian's axe Pat retained.</p> + +<p>"Ye may loike ut as a bit av a souvenir av the lump on yer head," he +murmured in an aside to Sparrer, though his real reason was that he +feared what might happen should the two outlaws be equally armed when it +came to the quarrel which he felt sure was brewing between them.</p> + +<p>They were given a final warning to get wholly out of the country and +never show their faces there again on pain of having the charges of +poaching and theft brought against them. The big Frenchman was +manifestly glad enough to get off so lightly, but there was an ugly +gleam in the black eyes of his companion. Sparrer had laid the fox on +the snow and drawn a few steps away from it the better to watch +proceedings. As the outlaws started to hit the trail to the north, the +redskin in the lead, the latter suddenly sprang toward the fox, at the +same instant snatching his knife from his belt.</p> + +<p>Sudden as was his move Sparrer was too quick for him. He thrust forward +a foot that tripped the Indian and sent him sprawling, Sparrer also +being upset. Before the Indian could regain his feet Big Pierre was on +him, sending his big fist crashing full into the swarthy face. Then +wrenching the knife from his grasp Pierre flung it far into the brush +and once more raised his fist. By this time Pat and Alec had joined the +mêlée and were dragging the infuriated Frenchman from his victim. All +the time Pierre poured out a stream of invective which only the Indian +and Alec could understand. The latter explained later that he was +charging his companion with trying to put them both in prison after they +had been fortunate enough to win their freedom, believing, and rightly, +that if the Indian had succeeded in slashing the skin as he had intended +they would have been held and turned over to the proper authorities.</p> + +<p>"Dat puts me even wid him!" shrilled Sparrer triumphantly as he mounted +guard over the fox, and the Indian with a bruised and battered face +regained his feet and once more hit the trail, Big Pierre at his heels +heaping abuse upon him. As they disappeared in the brush Pat dropped the +butt of his rifle to the snow.</p> + +<p>"That's the end of that precious pair, so far as we are concerned," said +he with a sigh of relief. "Pierre is wise enough to know that this isn't +a healthy country for them, and they won't bother us any more. He's got +the Indian where the hair is short now, for the latter hasn't even a +knife, and I guess it's just as well. Now we'll finish our job here and +get back to camp. You fellows rustle up some birch bark and dry wood and +heap it up inside the cabin."</p> + +<p>"What for?" demanded Hal, looking blank.</p> + +<p>"To fumigate after the prisence av a skunk," retorted Pat whimsically.</p> + +<p>By means of the belt axes of the boys, supplemented by the Indian's axe +in the hands of Alec, a pile of inflammable stuff was soon collected and +heaped up inside the cabin. Then Pat touched a match to the pile and +soon the whole interior was a roaring furnace. The bark roof quickly +burned through and fell with a great hissing of the snow which it +carried down with it, sending the sparks and embers skyward in a golden +cloud. Satisfied that the destruction of the camp would be sufficient to +render it uninhabitable Pat ordered all hands to make ready for the +return to their own camp and they were soon on the trail. The fire was +left to burn itself out, as no harm could come from it, owing to the +snow-covered surroundings.</p> + +<p>Hal still puzzled over the burning of the cabin. "I should think you +would have wanted to keep it, Pat," he ventured at length. "It might +have come in handy some time."</p> + +<p>"'Twas too handy altogether, as it was," retorted Pat. "When you've dug +a fox out fill up his den." And with this cryptic reply Hal was forced +to be content.</p> + +<p>Sparrer, having no rifle, insisted on carrying the fox, an honor granted +him with one accord. Very different was their entrance into Smugglers' +Hollow from their departure in the small hours of that same day, and +there was much jesting and hilarity, for their buoyant spirits had +rebounded wonderfully now that the load of anxiety and dread had been +lifted. Pat and Alec each carried a bundle of furs sufficient in +themselves to raise their spirits to a high plane, for these, added to +those they already had, assured the financial success of their +partnership.</p> + +<p>As they came in sight of their cabin Upton called attention to a thin +vapor of smoke rising from the chimney.</p> + +<p>"Somebody there, as sure as I'm alive and kicking," exclaimed Pat. "Now +I wonder who is paying us a visit this time."</p> + +<p>As if in answer the door opened and a big burly form stepped forth.</p> + +<p>"Jim! Oh, you Jim!" yelled Upton delightedly.</p> + +<p>The big guide and lumber boss, for it was he, turned in their direction, +his weather-tanned face lighting with real pleasure. Then as they drew +nearer a comical look of wonder and perplexity crossed it. He stepped +back to the door and apparently spoke to some one inside, for a second +later another strapping big man stepped out.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed Pat. "That's Bill Marshman, the game warden and +deputy sheriff, who was looking for Alec last fall, and scared away the +bear the day we left Plympton to take care of camp. It's lucky for those +two chaps back there," nodding in the direction from which they had +come, "that Bill didn't get here a day sooner. They wouldn't have got +off so easy."</p> + +<p>By this time the party had approached within easy talking distance of +the men at the cabin, who were staring at them in dumb amazement. Pat +chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jim! Hello, Bill!" he called. "Mighty glad to see you. Sorry +you didn't get here sooner so as to join our little expedition."</p> + +<p>"Say," drawled the warden, "is this a war party returning from a raid?"</p> + +<p>"You've guessed it," declared Pat, dropping his load and shaking hands +warmly with the two men. "In the absence av the constitooted authority" +(he poked his fist into the ribs of the warden by way of emphasizing the +point) "we have been upholding the majesty av the law and the rights av +free-born American citizens, and yez have just missed putting the +bracelets on as ugly a pair av villains as iver stole the furs av honest +men."</p> + +<p>A light broke over the sheriffs face. "Big Pierre and his Injun +partner!" he exclaimed. "I was tipped off that they were somewhere about +here, and that's what brought me in. Where are they now?"</p> + +<p>"Hitting the trail for parts unknown," replied Pat. "We'll tell you +about it later. Meanwhile here are some friends of mine you ought to +know and keep an eye on, Bill. They'll bear watching."</p> + +<p>He then introduced the three boys. Sparrer still clung to his prize, +and as he came forward to shake hands Jim and the warden sensed for the +first time what it was he was carrying.</p> + +<p>"By gum!" exclaimed Jim. "I believe that's the very fellow I was telling +you about, Bill. Saw him the last time I was over here. Did you trap +him, Pat, or is he part of the spoils of war?"</p> + +<p>"Wrong both ways, Jim," replied Pat. "He was the cause of this little +expedition. Come on in and while we are rustling up some grub we'll tell +you the yarn."</p> + +<p>Jim and the warden listened with growing interest and appreciation while +Pat unfolded the story. When it ended the warden gravely arose and +walked over to Sparrer. "Shake hands over again, son," said he, to the +boy's great confusion. "If I had had to sit still and watch a fortune +trot around the way you did I sure would have been so plumb shaky that +I'd have missed the shot when the time came. What are you going to do +with him now that you've got him?"</p> + +<p>Thus did the warden bring to a head a question that had been troubling +the boy ever since the fox was recovered. "He ain't mine," he gulped. +"Oi lost him, and wouldn't never seen him again if it hadn't been fer +dem." He nodded in the direction of Pat and Alec. "He's theirs, an' dey +ain't no use talkin' about it." Sparrer set his lips firmly.</p> + +<p>In an instant Pat and Alec were on their feet, protesting that such talk +was foolishness, and that the prize belonged to Sparrer and no one else. +But the boy shook his head stubbornly.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me," drawled the warden when he could make himself heard, +"that this here is a case for a disinterested party to decide. Now if +you was to ask me I should say that an even split, fifty-fifty, is the +fair thing. This here young tenderfoot comes up here with horseshoes or +rabbit's-feet or some other luck charms hung all over him and without no +help from any one bags a fortune which he finds running around loose. +Right up to that point it's hisn and nobody else ain't got no claim on +it. Then he loses it and ain't got no more chance of gettin' it back +himself than a bull moose has of growing a long tail. Up steps Pat and +Alec and friendly like does for him what he can't do for himself, an' +gets the prize back. Now it seems to me that half ought to go to this +here young feller fer gettin' it in the first place, and half to the +other two fer gettin' it back after it was lost. What do you say, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"The only fair thing," declared Jim judicially. "There's enough in it to +give 'em all a comf'table bit."</p> + +<p>A warm discussion followed in which Hal and Upton sided with the warden +and Jim and it ended only when Sparrer at last agreed to a three-way +split. From this stand no amount of argument could move him. He would +take a third share if Pat and Alec would each take a third. Otherwise he +wouldn't take any. And so it was finally agreed.</p> + +<p>The skinning and stretching of the hide was left to Alec, who was a past +master in the art. While he was thus engaged the warden mysteriously +beckoned Pat to one side.</p> + +<p>"Pat, whose are these?" he asked gravely, drawing a bunch of traps from +under a bunk.</p> + +<p>Pat reached for them and examined them curiously. "Mine. That is, mine +and Alec's; those are our marks," he replied, pointing to certain file +marks on them. "Where did you get them?" he added wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Where I got this fellow," replied the warden, reaching under the bunk +and drawing out the body of a beaver. "I know you better than to think +you had a hand in this, Pat," he continued, "but"—he hesitated and then +continued hurriedly, "I thought perhaps your partner has been doin' a +little poachin' unbeknown to you. You know he didn't have the best name +ever was when he first came into these parts."</p> + +<p>A great light broke over Pat's face. "Alec don't know anything more +about this than I do," he declared. "There isn't a straighter man in the +woods than Alec is now, and you just want to make up your mind to that +right now, Bill. That's the work of that thievin' Injun. You mind what I +told you about Sparrer's findin' those traps at the beaver-pond? Well, +it's as plain as the nose on your face. That Injun lifted some of our +traps and set them there. He knew that if you came snoopin' round and +found 'em the marks on 'em would point to us. Those skunks didn't have +any traps, anyway. Thinkin' about that fox I'd clean forgotten about the +beaver. Poor little chap." Pat stroked the body of the beaver.</p> + +<p>Alec was now called in, and his look of blank astonishment when he saw +the traps and the dead animal was all that was needed to convince the +warden that Pat was right in his surmise.</p> + +<p>That evening Jim explained his visit by stating that he had all along +planned to get over to the Hollow before the boys left. When the warden +dropped into his camp early that morning and stated his intention of +going on to the Hollow Jim decided that he would accompany him.</p> + +<p>"How are you boys going back?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The same way we came in, I suppose," replied Upton.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with putting in a day with me and seeing how a +logging camp is run? Then I'll send you out to the railroad on a lumber +wagon," suggested the big lumber boss.</p> + +<p>The idea appealed to the boys, and it was finally agreed that they would +accompany him to his camp the next day. It would give them a new +experience for which they were eager, and at the same time eliminate the +long hike back to Lower Chain. So, not without sincere regret, it must +be admitted, they got their duffle together preparatory to an early +start the next morning for the fifteen mile hike to Jim's headquarters. +They turned in early, for now that the excitement was over they felt the +reaction from the long strain they had been under, and the loss of sleep +the night before. Jim and the warden bunked on the floor and the cabin +in Smugglers' Hollow was soon wrapped in silence save for the gentle +breathing of the sleepers. So ended a red letter day for at least three +of the occupants.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE BLACK FOX IS SOLD</h3> + + +<p>The day in the lumber camp was all too short for all of the boys, but +especially for Sparrer, to whom the cutting of the great trees and the +hauling of the logs and piling of them on the rollways on the banks of +the river ready for breaking out on the high water of the spring was of +absorbing interest. Hal and Upton were familiar with logging operations, +having visited logging camps many times during their summers in the +woods. The only novelty to them lay in the changed setting of the scenes +produced by the snow.</p> + +<p>Sparrer was of just the type to win immediate favor with the rough, +big-hearted lumber-jacks, and they made him feel at home at once. They +vied with one another in showing him things of interest, and his +comments, colored with the slang of the city streets, afforded them no +end of amusement. So it was with regret on all sides that at break of +the following day the boys put their duffle on the big sled used for +hauling in supplies and followed it themselves. Pat went with them to +see them off at the train.</p> + +<p>With the last glimpse of the lumber camp as the sled entered the forest +a silence broken only by the tinkle of the bell on one of the horses, +the muffled sound of their feet and the slithering slide of the broad +runners over the snow, fell on the little group. None felt in the mood +for talking save the driver, and he soon subsided, failing to elicit +more than monosyllabic responses. Pat was busy with thoughts of what his +share from the sale of the black fox skin would mean to him in the +furtherance of his ambitions for an education. But on his three guests +the unfathomable mystery of the wilderness had once more fallen and +wrapped them in its spell. It was the deeper for the knowledge that they +were so soon to break it with no certainty of when they might again +surrender their spirits to it. They were going back to another world.</p> + +<p>Oddly enough it was Sparrer who finally voiced the feeling of which both +Upton and Hal were conscious, yet found no words to express.</p> + +<p>"It makes a feller feel little," said he, "like he ain't nothin' at all, +and yet dat inside av him is somethin' bigger'n this." He swung one hand +around in an all inclusive sweep. "An' it makes him feel clean inside, +just like it is outside, an' like he'd got to do big things an' little +mean things hadn't got no place. An'—an'"—Sparrer was groping for +words to make his meaning clear—"it gives a feller a funny feelin' dat +he ain't much and yet dat some way he's bigger'n de mount'ns, an' if dey +is a million years old like people say, he's goin' ter last a lot +longer. Bein' out here makes me feel just like Oi do when Oi go into de +church an' de sun comes trew dem colored winders and de organ plays an' +lifts a feller right up 'til he feels like he had wings an' could fly if +he only knew how ter use 'em."</p> + +<p>Sparrer stopped abruptly and gazed with unseeing eyes off through the +forest aisles. Pat looked over at the youngster with the light of +understanding in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Right, son," said he. "I know the feeling. This is the great cathedral +that God has built for Himself and the littleness we feel is because of +His own presence, and the sense of being greater than all this, the +mountains, the lakes and the rivers, is, I reckon, because He makes us +feel that if He made all these things to last through millions of years +He isn't going to let His greatest work, man, perish in the little bit +of time that makes a man's lifetime."</p> + +<p>The bell on the horse tinkled, the runners slithered over the snow and +no further word was spoken until the driver cried, "Yonder's the +clearin'. I reckon you fellers hev got just about time enough to look +the town over before the train comes."</p> + +<p>An hour later farewells were said, and the three boys stood on the rear +platform of the Pullman waving to Pat as the train pulled out. For some +time after the straight form of the brawny young trapper and the dingy +depot of the little village had faded from view the boys stood watching +the panorama of frozen wilderness. Then, reluctantly it must be +confessed, they turned to the warmth and luxury of the car.</p> + +<p>"Say, hasn't it been great?" exclaimed Hal as he dropped into his seat.</p> + +<p>"Great doesn't express it at all," declared Upton. "It beats even the +hunt for Lost Trail."</p> + +<p>As for Sparrer, he said nothing at all, but glued his face to the window +that he might drink in as long as he could the beauty of this land of +enchantment, where the test of a man was his ability to contend +successfully with the forces of nature and to live within the law when +beyond the watchful eyes of the law; this land where a man was gauged by +his moral strength no less than by his physical strength. These two +weeks in the heart of the wilderness had wrought a change in the lad's +whole attitude toward life. His inherent love of battle for battle's +sake had been given a new turn. His old ambitions to be a soldier or a +prize-fighter were forgotten in a new ambition—to be a woodsman; to pit +his strength and courage and skill against the elemental forces of +Nature instead of against his fellows. In short, Sparrer had resolved +that some day he would shake the dust of the city from his feet forever. +He would become a guide and lumber boss like Big Jim. And so he watched +the flying landscape and dreamed dreams, and they were wholesome.</p> + +<p>It had been agreed that Pat and Alec should attend to the marketing of +the fox skin, Sparrer's share to be forwarded to him when the sale was +made. The day after they reached New York the operator at Upper Chain +received a message over which he puzzled long. It was addressed to Pat +Malone, and was as follows:</p> + +<p>"Wire best price you can get for skin, but do not sell until you hear +from me. Hal."</p> + +<p>It was two weeks before Pat's reply was received. Hal was back at +school, but Mr. Harrison opened the message and smiled as he read it. It +was brief and to the point:</p> + +<p>"Two thousand dollars. What's up? Pat."</p> + +<p>Mr. Harrison rang for his private secretary. "Take this message and get +it off at once," he said crisply. "Pat Malone, Upper Chain: Will give +twenty-four hundred dollars for skin. Ship at once by express. My check +by next mail."</p> + +<p>Then he dictated a letter to Hal telling him of the success of their +conspiracy, for the two had hatched the plan together. Hal's description +of the events in Smugglers' Hollow had so delighted Mr. Harrison that he +had at once exclaimed: "We've got to have that skin, my boy. As a piece +of fur it is worth as much to me as it is to any one else. For +sentimental reasons it is worth more to me than it is to any one else. I +don't believe in mixing sentiment with business, my boy, but there are +exceptions to all rules. This is one. Besides, I owe that young Irishman +up there in the woods more than money can repay for what he has done in +helping to make you what you are to-day. You have him wire the best +price he can get, and I'll go it one better. And by the way, you might +suggest to that youngster who shot the beast that when he gets his share +of the money I'll be glad to invest it for him where it will earn more +than it will in a bank."</p> + +<p>And this is how it happened that Pat, Alec and Sparrer with eight +hundred dollars apiece experienced for the first time that sense of +independence, and power which comes with the possession of wealth, for +not even Mr. Harrison with his millions felt richer than they. To Alec +it meant the realization of a cherished dream which included the +ownership of a certain tiny farm. To Pat it meant the education he had +set his heart upon. While to Sparrer it meant a better home, a lifting +of some of the load from his mother's shoulders, and a further +stimulating of an already awakened ambition to gain for himself a share +in the higher and better things of life.</p> + +<p>Of course when the story was told to the Blue Tortoise Patrol Sparrer +was more popular than ever. He was little short of a hero in the eyes of +his companions, the more so because Upton was at pains to point out that +the boy's good fortune was really due to his adherence to the Scout +principles which he had embraced, and to the moral victory which he had +gained through loyalty to the Scout oath in the face of the hardest kind +of temptation—the temptation when there is none to see either victory +or defeat.</p> + +<p>A few weeks later the damage suit growing out of the automobile accident +in Bronx Park was tried and the Blue Tortoises were called as witnesses. +Once more Sparrer distinguished himself, unhesitatingly picking out from +a group of men the one whose face he had seen for just a fleeting moment +in the big car racing away from the scene of the accident. So positive +was his identification that the defense, which was based on the claim +that the car had been taken without the owner's knowledge, crumbled then +and there, for the man who Sparrer identified was none other than the +owner himself.</p> + +<p>As for Upton, he returned to his studies with renewed vim and +determination which in due time brought its reward—the scholarship on +which he had set his heart.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"On my honor I will do my best—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout law;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To help other people at all times;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Well might the men of to-day as well as the men of to-morrow subscribe +to this oath of the Boy Scouts of America, whether their lot in life be +cast in the turmoil of the great city or the loneliness of a trapper's +camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Stories_in_this_Series_are" id="The_Stories_in_this_Series_are"></a>The Stories in this Series are:</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE BOY SCOUTS OF WOODCRAFT CAMP<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE BOY SCOUTS ON SWIFT RIVER<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE BOY SCOUTS ON LOST TRAIL<br /></span> +<span class="i0">THE BOY SCOUTS IN A TRAPPER'S CAMP<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Scouts in A Trapper's Camp, by +Thornton W. 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