diff options
Diffstat (limited to '36838-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 36838-h/36838-h.htm | 6133 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36838-h/images/adtitle1.png | bin | 0 -> 5461 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36838-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 78662 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36838-h/images/emblem.png | bin | 0 -> 1840 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36838-h/images/endpaper.png | bin | 0 -> 36328 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36838-h/images/frontis.png | bin | 0 -> 22481 bytes |
6 files changed, 6133 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/36838-h/36838-h.htm b/36838-h/36838-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..14d4141 --- /dev/null +++ b/36838-h/36838-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6133 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Camp Fires of the Wolf Patrol, by Alan Douglas</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + .adtitle1 {font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold; margin-top: .75em;} + .adtitle2 {font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + + .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;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .hang2 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 12em;} +.cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; + margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; + line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Camp Fires of the Wolf Patrol, by Alan +Douglas, Illustrated by E. C. Caswell</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Camp Fires of the Wolf Patrol</p> +<p>Author: Alan Douglas</p> +<p>Release Date: July 24, 2011 [eBook #36838]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by<br /> + Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, Emmy,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 331px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="331" height="500" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='center'><i>Primrose Edition</i></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/adtitle1.png" width="500" height="113" alt="THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><b><span class='big'>A SERIES OF BOYS' BOOKS</span></b><br /> + +By<br /> +CAPTAIN ALAN DOUGLAS<br /> + +<span class='small'>Scout Master</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>I. The <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Campfires'">Camp Fires</ins> of the Wolf Patrol</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities +to use their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. +Elmer <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Chenoweth'">Chenowith</ins>, a lad from the north-west woods, astonishes +everyone with his familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome +story every boy should read.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>This tale presents many stirring situations in which some of the +boys are called upon to exercise all their ingenuity and unselfishness. +A story filled with healthful excitement.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>III. Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to +the credit of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, +one after the other.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>IV. Fast Nine; or, a Challenge From Fairfield</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The +description of the final game with the team of a rival town, and the +outcome thereof, form a stirring narrative. One of the best baseball +stories of recent years.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>V. Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest +undertaking. Their march takes them far from home, and the good-natured +rivalry of the different patrols furnishes many interesting +and amusing situations.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>VI. Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of +apparent failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and +surprise their most ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain +Douglas has written.</div> + +<div class='center'> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Cover Illustrations in Four Colors</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class='big'><b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b></span><br /> +<b>147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CAMP FIRES OF THE<br /> +WOLF PATROL</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'>COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE<br /> +PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF<br /> +<br /> +<span class='big'>THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP</span><br /> +<span class='big'>OF BOY SCOUTS</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, Scout Master</span><br /> +<br /> +—————<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>THE WOLF PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Elmer Chenowith</span>, Patrol Leader, and also +Assistant Scout Master</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Wolf Patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mark Cummings</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ted (Theodore) Burgoyne</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Toby (Tobias) Ellsworth Jones</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">"Lil Artha" (Arthur) Stansbury</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Chatz (Charles) Maxfield</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Phil (Philip) Dale</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">George Robbins</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE BEAVER PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Matty (Matthew) Eggleston</span>, Patrol Leader</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Beaver patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Red" (Oscar) Huggins</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ty (Tyrus) Collins</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Jasper Merriweather</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Tom Cropsey</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Larry (Lawrence) Billings</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Hen (Henry) Condit</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Landy (Philander) Smith</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE EAGLE PATROL<br /> + + +<span class="smcap">Jack Armitage</span>, Patrol Leader<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nat (Nathan) Scott</span><br /> +<br /> + +<span class='small'>(OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS<br /> +REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER)</span></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 331px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.png" width="331" height="410" alt="It proved to be interesting work." title="" /> +<span class="caption">It proved to be interesting work.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/adtitle1.png" width="500" height="113" alt="Border" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'>NUMBER ONE</div> + +<h1>CAMP FIRES OF THE<br /> +WOLF PATROL</h1> + +<div class='center'>BY +<span class='author'><span class="smcap">Captain</span> ALAN DOUGLAS</span> +<span class='small'>SCOUT MASTER</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="100" height="103" alt="Emblem" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='copyright'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1912, by</span><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Camp on the Sweetwater</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sudden Peril</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ginger Plays with Fire</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Never-To-Be-Forgotten Supper</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What Was It?</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Boy Scouts' Water-Boiling Test</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lost Sky Traveler</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Blazed Trail</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What the Lone Cabin Contained</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wigwagging from the Mountain Peak</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Hairy Thief that Walked on Two Legs</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Laying a Ghost</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Taken by Surprise</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Things that Make Boys Manly</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How the Trap Worked</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Last Flickering Camp Fire Dies Out</span></td><td align='right'> <a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><h2>CAMP FIRES OF<br />THE WOLF PATROL</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class='u'>THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS</span><br /> + +CAMP FIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>IN CAMP ON THE SWEETWATER.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A troop</span> of khaki-clad boys had been marching, rather +wearily perhaps, along a road that, judging from all indications, +was not very much used by the natives.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was waning, so that a summer's night +would soon begin to close in around them. Dense woods +lay in all directions, the foliage of which had afforded very +pleasant shelter from the fierce rays of the August sun. +"Halt!" came the loud order.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! we're going into our first camp, fellows!"</p> + +<p>"Is that so, Mr. Garrabrant?"</p> + +<p>"Pull off your lids, boys, and give a salute!"</p> + +<p>"What a dandy old place for a camp. How d'ye suppose +he came to pick this out, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"That's as easy to tell as falling off a log, Toby. We +have to use water to cook with; and just notice this fine +stream running past us," returned the boy addressed, who +seemed to be the second in command of the detachment of +scouts. "Besides," he added, "you forget that we aimed +to reach the Sweetwater River by evening, so that we could +start up the current in our boats to-morrow morning. And +this, I reckon, is the stream that we're looking for."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah again, fellows! The day's hike is done. Now +for a bully rest!"</p> + +<p>"Stand at attention, all! Call the roll, secretary, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +see if there are any stragglers!" the scout master commanded, +as the small troop ranged up before him.</p> + +<p>This young man was Mr. Roderic Garrabrant, who had +only too gladly assumed the rôle he occupied, being greatly +interested in the boy problem; and possessing a few fads +and fancies he wished to work out by actual experience. +His knowledge of woodcraft was not so very extensive; but +the moral effect of his presence was expected to exert +considerable benefit in connection with the dozen or more +members of the Hickory Ridge troop of Boy Scouts.</p> + +<p>The small town of Hickory Ridge lay about seven miles +due south of the place where they had struck the winding +Sweetwater; and the party had tramped this distance since +noon. While it might not seem very far to those who +are accustomed to long walks, there were a number among +the scouts who had undoubtedly exceeded their record on +this same afternoon.</p> + +<p>An exceedingly tall and ungainly lad, with long legs +that seemed to just delight getting in the way at times, +threatening to twist him in a knot, drew out a little pocket +volume, and in a sing-song tone started to call off numerous +names.</p> + +<p>Each boy answered promptly when he heard his own +name mentioned; and as they will very likely figure largely +in our story, it might be just as well to take note of the +manner in which Arthur Stansbury called them off:</p> + +<p>"Members of the Wolf Patrol: Elmer Chenowith, Mark +Cummings, Ted Burgoyne, Toby Ellsworth Jones, Arthur +Stansbury, and Chatz Maxfield.</p> + +<p>"Members of the Beaver Patrol: Matty Eggleston, Oscar +Huggins, Tyrus Collins, Jasper Merriweather, Tom +Cropsey, Lawrence Billings.</p> + +<p>"Unattached, but to form Numbers One and Two of the +new Eagle Patrol: Jack Armitage and Nathan Scott."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We seem to be just two shy," observed Mr. Garrabrant, +with a twinkle in his eye, as he turned toward Elmer +Chenowith, who had recently received his certificate +as assistant scout master from the National Council, and +was really qualified to take the place of the leader whenever +the latter chanced to be absent.</p> + +<p>Elmer raised his hand promptly in salute, as he made +reply:</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; Nat Scott and Jasper Merriweather. They +pegged out a mile or so back; and after examining their +feet, and finding that they were really sore from walking, +I gave them permission to ride on the commissary wagon, +sir."</p> + +<p>Now, of course Mr. Garrabrant knew all this perfectly +well. He had actually watched the pair of tenderfeet +only too gladly clamber aboard the wagon that bore the +tents, food, extra clothing, and cooking outfit for the +camp. But thus far did military tactics rule the Boy +Scouts, that he was supposed to know nothing about such +incidents until they had been reported to him in the proper +manner, as provided for in the system.</p> + +<p>"Suppose then you notify them, Mr. Bugler," said the +scout master, turning to Mark Cummings, who, besides +being the especial chum of Elmer, was really a fine musician, +and naturally had been unanimously chosen as bugler +for the new troop of scouts recently organized in Hickory +Ridge.</p> + +<p>When the clear, penetrating notes of the bugle sounded +through the neighboring woods, there came a faint but +enthusiastic cheer from some point along the back trail. In +addition, the waiting scouts could catch the plain creaking +of a wagon, accompanied by encouraging words, spoken +undeniably by a "gentleman of color."</p> + +<p>"Git up dar, youse ol' sleepy-haid, Andy Jackson! Wot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +youse t'ink we's gwine tuh do up hyah in dis neck ob de +woods, hey? Git a mobe on yuh, Jawdge Washington! +Jes' quit dat peekin' outen de tail end ob yuh eye at me! +We ain't playin' dat ere game ob politics now; dis am +real, honest, sure-nuff work. Altogedder now, bofe ob +youse; or de waggin dun stick in de mud of dis crick!"</p> + +<p>Then followed a few whacks, as the energetic driver applied +the goad, some startled snorts, in turn succeeded by +another relay of faint cheers from the two footsore scouts +aboard the wagon.</p> + +<p>And presently the lumbering vehicle, with its sweating +steeds, halted alongside the site selected by the scout master +as the spot for the first camp of the scouts' outing. An +opening was readily found where Ginger, the ebony driver, +might urge his reluctant team to leave the hard road, and +enter among the trees.</p> + +<p>Immediately a scene of great bustle, and more or less +confusion ensued; for it must be remembered that while +the Hickory Ridge scouts may have drilled in the work +of starting a camp, that was only theory, and the present +was their first actual practice on record.</p> + +<p>The contents of the wagon were overhauled, and several +tents started to go up on spots particularly selected by the +leaders of the patrols, who had this duty in their sole +charge.</p> + +<p>Here Elmer had a great advantage over all his fellows, +since he had spent much of his life up in the Canadian +Northwest, where his father had held a position as manager +to extensive lands that were being farmed on a colossal scale, +until a year or so previous, when, being left a snug little +fortune, Mr. Chenowith had decided to return to his native +state, to settle down for the balance of his days.</p> + +<p>Of course the boy had picked up a considerable amount +of useful knowledge during his stay in that country of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +vast distances, which was likely to prove of use to him in +his experiences as a scout.</p> + +<p>They had elected him as president of the troop, and he +had readily been given the position of scout leader in the +Wolf Patrol because of this wide range of knowledge pertaining +to the secrets of outdoor life. It had also been +mainly instrumental in securing for him the coveted certificate +from Headquarters, recognizing him as a capable +assistant to Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>Elmer could toss a rope, follow a trail, throw a "diamond +hitch" in loading a pack horse, travel on snowshoes, recognize +most wild animals just from their tracks, make a +camp properly, and do so many other like tricks that made +him the envy of his mates, and especially Matty Eggleston, +who was the leader of the Beaver Patrol, and had much +to learn concerning his duties.</p> + +<p>It was a cheerful scene, as the tents were raised, and +fires began to crackle, one for each patrol, according to +custom. Even the two limping scouts forgot their recent +lameness, and began to sniff the air hungrily when Ginger +started to get supper for the crowd.</p> + +<p>Ginger had qualified as an expert first-class cook, but +the truth might as well be stated right in the beginning +that the boys quickly tired of the greasy messes the son +of Ethiopia flung together, and soon followed the example +of the Wolf Patrol, doing their own cooking, an arrangement +that pleased the good-natured but indolent Ginger +perfectly. He was always on hand, however, when the time +for eating came around, being possessed of an enormous +appetite that alarmed Mr. Garrabrant more than a little.</p> + +<p>Night had closed in long before supper was ready, for +things somehow worked at sixes and sevens on the occasion +of the getting of the first meal, since many essential articles +had to be hunted for, entailing a loss of time. But all this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +would be remedied as soon as they were in their permanent +camp, for both Mr. Garrabrant and Elmer were keen on +system and order.</p> + +<p>The boys were almost famished after that seven-mile hike, +and could hardly wait for the signal to "fall to." But +there was an abundance for all, and none of them was much +inclined to be what Arthur Stansbury called "finicky" +that night.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant, however, while eating, looked suspiciously +toward Ginger, and shook his head in the direction of +Elmer, as if to say that if this mess were a fair specimen +of the cook's best efforts along the culinary line, the +sooner they started in to depend on themselves the better +for their digestion.</p> + +<p>After the meal had been finished the boys left Ginger +to clean up while they lay around, enjoying the sparkling +blaze, something that most of them were not very familiar +with. For the time being all formality was thrown aside, +and they laughed and chatted, just as normal boys are +prone to do when out upon a holiday jaunt.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant showed the two laggards how they had +been unwise not immediately to dislodge sundry small pebbles +that had found a way to get in their shoes, with the +consequence that presently stone bruises had formed that +became painful. He made them easy with some lotion he +carried for just such a purpose.</p> + +<p>In this and dozens of other ways the efficient scout +master expected to teach the boys of the troop how to take +care of themselves when away from home. But the lads +who had to be told <i>the same thing twice</i> might expect to +forfeit some privilege since they were expected to think +for themselves, after being shown.</p> + +<p>There was also a second colored man along, who expected +to take the team back on the morrow, since the scouts would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +have no further need of it, once they embarked in the +boats that were to meet them here. In these they expected +to ascend the Sweetwater to a small lake called Jupiter; +and from thence by way of Paradise Creek find a passage +to Lake Solitude beyond, where they meant to camp and +learn the numerous "stunts" a good scout should know.</p> + +<p>Some of the lads had fair voices, and school songs were +sung around the fire, Mark doing the accompanying with +soft notes on his bugle. He had mastered this instrument, +and his mates never wearied of hearing him play.</p> + +<p>Ted Burgoyne was afflicted with a slight lisp that gave +him no end of trouble; though he always insisted that he +spoke as correctly as any of his companions. Ted had a +strong leaning toward the profession of a surgeon, and indeed +was forever loudly wishing for a subject upon whom +to operate. The boys had considerable fun over this weakness, +but all the same they must have felt more or less +confidence in his ability to do the right thing; for whenever +any slight accident occurred it might be noticed that +every one in camp called upon "Dr. Ted" to take hold; +and he nearly always proved himself equal to the occasion.</p> + +<p>Charlie Maxfield, or Chatz as he was universally called, +was somewhat of a queer chap. He believed in ghosts, and +was always reading stories of hobgoblins and haunted +houses. Of course, with such a propensity, Chatz could +be depended on to try and frighten his chums from time to +time. He was forever "seeing things" in the dark.</p> + +<p>The rest of the boys had plenty of fun with Chatz, which +he took in good part; but although, as a rule, his alarms +proved to be false ones nothing seemed to disturb his deep-rooted +convictions. They even said he carried a rabbit's +foot, for good luck, the animal having been killed by Chatz +himself in a graveyard, and in the full of the moon.</p> + +<p>Needless to say Chatz Maxfield was a Southern-born lad,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +as his accent alone proved. He was a fine fellow, taken +as a whole, outside of this silly belief in ghosts, which he +possibly imbibed from the small darkies with whom he +played on his father's Georgia plantation, years back.</p> + +<p>"I don't see any boats around here, fellows!" remarked +Ty Collins, when there came a little lull in the conversation, +after Mr. Garrabrant had been explaining some puzzling +matter that one of the boys had put up to him.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's a fact!" exclaimed "Lil Artha," as the +long-legged secretary, Arthur Stansbury was called by his +mates—he was a devoted amateur photographer, and even +then had been busying himself with some part of his equipment +as he sat by the fire.</p> + +<p>Arthur was keenly desirous of learning all the various +kinks that a first class scout must know. He was somewhat +of a joker in his way, and at times a little addicted to the +use of current slang; but a warm-hearted, impulsive lad +all the same.</p> + +<p>"They are to be on hand in the morning, boys," remarked +Mr. Garrabrant. "And of course we shall not +think of leaving here until they come. Make your minds +easy on that score, Nat and Jasper. Your heels will have +a chance to get well, never fear."</p> + +<p>"Where's Chatz?" asked one of the other boys, suddenly.</p> + +<p>"He asked permission to walk back a bit over our trail," +observed Elmer. "Said he missed a buckle from his coat, +which he was carrying over his arm when he tripped. I +let him take a lantern with him to see if he could find it."</p> + +<p>"Lil Artha" began to laugh, and several of the other +boys joined in.</p> + +<p>"Oh! my! what if he happens to run across one of those +ghosts he's always talking about?" suggested Toby Ellsworth +Jones, whose grandfather had been a veteran, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +soldier under the colonel who died at Alexandria, Va., in +the Civil War; whence the name of Ellsworth—Toby was +just wild on the subject of aeronautics; and while thus far +everything he attempted had proven as flat a failure as +the famous flying machine of Darius Green, still he lived +in hopes of accomplishing something that would make the +name of Jones renowned.</p> + +<p>Several of the boys struggled to their feet at this, finding +themselves stiff in the legs after their long walk.</p> + +<p>"Look! there's a light coming just flying along the road +right now!" cried Larry Billings.</p> + +<p>"And that must be Chatz on the full run, though he +wouldn't yell out for anything!" exclaimed Mark.</p> + +<p>"Something must be chasing him, fellows!" declared +Toby, in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's a wildcat!" suggested Jasper Merriweather, +who was a bit timid.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes, and he can speak for himself. What +ails you, Charlie; what happened to start you running?" +asked the scout master, as the boy came hurrying up, breathing +hard, and showing signs of positive alarm.</p> + +<p>"Reckon I saw something, suh, that was mighty mysterious!" +replied Chatz; at which the entire group of scouts +looked at each other, and held their breath in awe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE SUDDEN PERIL.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I see</span> you found your buckle, Chatz," remarked Elmer, +noticing what the other was holding in the hand that was +not occupied in grasping the lighted lantern.</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, I picked that up where I tripped, and nearly +fell flat," replied the other, quickly. "Just as I got up +off my knees I happened to look alongside the road, where +the trees grow so thick, and I give you my word, fellows, +I saw a moving white figure that had the most terrible yellow +eyes ever! I know you all laugh at me whenever I +say I believe in ghosts; but if that wasn't one I miss my +guess, yes suh."</p> + +<p>"I'll dare you to go back with me till we find out," said +Elmer, quickly.</p> + +<p>Chatz hesitated; but for all his silly notions in this one +line the boy was far from being a coward.</p> + +<p>"All right, if you say so, I'm willing," he declared. +"I'd just like to know what that was, anyhow, if not a +specter. Come on, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"Take me along, won't you?" asked Lil Artha, gaining +his feet, as he thrust his kodak away.</p> + +<p>"Me, too!" called out several others; while a few hung +back, not caring to take chances of a meeting with a real +ghost.</p> + +<p>"You can go along, Arthur, likewise Ted and Toby. The +rest had better stay here with me to guard the camp, in case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +there happens to be a raid of ghosts," remarked the scout +master, in a tone that put an end to all protestations.</p> + +<p>So the little party trotted off, followed by wishful glances +from the balance of those who would have liked to be with +them.</p> + +<p>Down the road they went, Chatz keeping in close contact +with Elmer, and maintaining a discreet silence. Presently +they arrived at the spot where he had found the missing +buckle.</p> + +<p>"Here's where I stooped down to hunt, boys," he remarked, +in a low voice; "and when I looked over yonder, +I saw IT standing just back of that fringe of brush, waving +its long arms at me, and staring to beat the band. Do you +see anything there, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"Not a thing, Chatz," replied Artha, cheerfully. "To +the foolish house for you!"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" said Toby, holding up his hand, suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Did you see anything move?" demanded the Southern +lad, eagerly, as though he wanted to prove that his alarm +had been well founded.</p> + +<p>"I thought I did," replied Toby, quivering with eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Listen, fellows," observed Elmer, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>From somewhere back in the woods there came a weird +sound, mournful enough to strike a chill to the heart of +anyone not familiar with its nature.</p> + +<p>"Oh! whatever can that be?" cried Toby. "Sounded +just like some poor feller calling for help."</p> + +<p>"Elmer, you know; tell uth, pleath!" entreated Ted, +with his usual lisp, which even the alarm that was seizing +hold of him now could not dissipate.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare, I'm surprised to think that none of you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +fellows ever heard an owl hoot before!" laughed the scout +leader of the Wolf Patrol.</p> + +<p>"An owl—that only a poor little dickey of an owl!" +cried Toby.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it sounds just like the white owl we used to have +up in Canada," continued Elmer, seriously. "And ten to +one now, it was what Chatz here saw in that brush alongside +the road. Of course it had staring yellow eyes; and in +the dim light he must have fancied he saw an arm waving +at him. That was only a shadow, Chatz. So come along, +let's get back to the fire."</p> + +<p>"Well, anyway, it looked mighty spooky," declared the +Southern boy, stubbornly.</p> + +<p>And he persisted in this attitude, even when some of his +companions, who might not have been one half so brave +as Chatz, if ever put to the test, began to "josh" him +because of his recent alarm.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant, accompanied by Elmer, went the rounds +to ascertain just how the boys had erected their tents. He +found little cause for complaint, since the young assistant +scout master had drilled the members of the troop in this +science, and they had it down quite pat, at least so far as +theory went.</p> + +<p>While the Boy-Scout movement of to-day has little to +do with military tactics, still discipline is taught; and +numerous things that soldiers employ in their daily life are +practiced. One of these is setting a guard at night, and +teaching the boys the necessity of keeping watchful when +in the woods.</p> + +<p>Each patrol had to set a guard or sentry, and lay out +a plan whereby the various members would take turns in +standing duty during some period of the night.</p> + +<p>The two unattached scouts were temporarily added to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +six composing the Wolf Patrol, so that they might come +under the charge of Elmer, and profit from his instruction.</p> + +<p>By ten o'clock the camp had relapsed into a condition of +silence. "Taps" had been sounded on the bugle, which +meant that every light must be extinguished except the two +fires; and each scout not on duty seek his blanket.</p> + +<p>Of course there was more or less whispering from time +to time; and apparently it was a hard thing for some of +the boys to settle down to sleep. But both Mr. Garrabrant +and Elmer knew boy nature full well, and for this one +night were disposed to overlook little infractions of the +rules. But later on they would expect to hold the entire +troop rigidly to discipline, when the time for skylarking +had gone by.</p> + +<p>Elmer had left word with the boy from the Wolf Patrol +who first went on duty to awaken him if anything out of +the way occurred. And in turn he was to transmit the +order to the fellow who succeeded him.</p> + +<p>When a hand gripped his arm as he lay under his blanket +Elmer was immediately awakened; nor did he evince the +slightest alarm.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked, softly, not wishing to arouse +the others in the tent, who were sound asleep, if their heavy +breathing stood for anything.</p> + +<p>"Something moving on the river, and I thought you +ought to know," replied the one who had crept excitedly +under the canvas.</p> + +<p>"All right, Toby, I'm coming after you. Back out!" +replied Elmer, as he wriggled from under his comfortable +blanket, and pulled on his trousers; for the air of an +August night often feels decidedly chilly, especially after +one has been snuggled beneath covers.</p> + +<p>He found the fires had died down, though the boys made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +sure that they did not wholly go out, since they had no +great love for the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Listen! There it goes again," remarked Toby, once +more clutching the sleeve of the scout leader in a nervous +hand.</p> + +<p>Elmer chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a funny thing," he said, as though amused. +"First Chatz takes a poor old owl with its yellow eyes for a +ghost, and now you imagine the dip of oars to be something +as mysterious and thrilling. Why, don't you make out two +sets plashing at different times. Those are the boats we +expect. Perhaps the men from Rockaway down the river +were delayed; or else they preferred to do their rowing +after the sun set. But that's all it means, Toby."</p> + +<p>"Aw! well, I thought it my duty to let you know," observed +the other.</p> + +<p>"And you did quite right, Toby. But I'd better try and +get Mr. Garrabrant out here without awakening the lot, if +it can be done," and saying this Elmer started toward the +second tent, where the scout master had some four boys +under his especial charge.</p> + +<p>It proved to be just as Elmer had guessed. The two men +who rowed the boats had preferred to do their work after +the heat of day had gone by. They would not even pass +the balance of the night in camp, being anxious to get back +to Rockaway, the town some five miles down the river.</p> + +<p>So this little excitement died away, and once more silence +brooded over the camp on the Sweetwater. The night +passed without any further alarm; and with the coming +of morning the clear notes of the bugle sounding the reveille +aroused the last sleepers, and caused them to crawl +forth, rubbing their eyes and yawning.</p> + +<p>Mark's grandfather had been a famous artist, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +boy bade fair to some day follow in his illustrious footsteps. +He was forever drawing exceedingly apt pictures, with +pencil, a bit of chalk, a scrap of charcoal or anything that +came handy; and as a rule these were humorous caricatures +of his chums in many amusing attitudes. So he now busied +himself catching the sleepy scouts in various striking postures, +to the great delight of those who gathered around.</p> + +<p>Between Mark's readiness with the crayon and the eagerness +of Lil Artha to use his camera, it seemed likely that +little worth remembering would escape being handed down +to illustrate the events of this, their first outing.</p> + +<p>"Me for a bully good swim!" exclaimed the long-legged +boy, as he started for the nearby river.</p> + +<p>Others were quick to follow his example, for few healthy +boys there are to whom the opportunity for splashing in +the water on a summer morn does not appeal.</p> + +<p>"Keep on your guard, fellows!" called Mr. Garrabrant, +who was busily employed doing something near one of the +tents. "The current is swift, and unless I miss my guess +the river is quite deep here. Elmer, you go along and watch +out that no one comes to harm," and he turned once again +to his task, confident that his assistant was capable of executing +his wishes properly.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes passed away, and Mr. Garrabrant, having +managed successfully to complete the little job he had set +himself to execute, was thinking it time the boys who were +bathing should be recalled, when he heard sudden cries +that pierced him like an arrow.</p> + +<p>"Hey! look at Jasper, would you, how funny he acts!"</p> + +<p>"Elmer! Elmer! come here! Jasper's got a cramp! +He's gone down!"</p> + +<p>Hurriedly did the alarmed scout master leap to his feet +and start wildly in the direction of these loud outcries. No<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +doubt in that second of time he saw the faces of the Merriweather +boy's parents, filled with the agony that comes to +those who have lost a son by drowning; and the mental +picture sent Mr. Garrabrant flying over the ground.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>GINGER PLAYS WITH FIRE.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">At</span> the time the loud cries had come, Elmer was just leaving +the water himself, having had enough of a morning +bath. He saw several of the boys running toward a point +down stream, where Ty Collins and Nat Scott were when +they shouted, and without wasting a second Elmer had sped +that way.</p> + +<p>So fast did he run that he easily outstripped the rest, and +reached the spot where Ty and Nat stood on the bank, beckoning +wildly to him, while they stared out upon the eddying +water.</p> + +<p>One look Elmer gave. It enabled him to glimpse something +white emerging from the foamy water, and a pair of +arms beat wildly in the air. Then he sprang in, and hand +over hand made for the spot.</p> + +<p>Luckily he had arrived just below, so that the chances +of his reaching the drowning lad were better than would +have otherwise been the case if he had the swift current +against him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps in all his life Elmer Chenowith never struck out +with such intense eagerness, for he had seen that something +serious must have happened to Jasper, since he was under +the surface of the water most of the time and undoubtedly +gulping in great quantities of it.</p> + +<p>Keeping his eyes fastened on the struggling figure as best +he could, Elmer made his way furiously through the surging +Sweetwater. Just at this place, on account of a decided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +drop in the bed of the river, there was a swift current and +considerable foam around the rocks that partly blocked the +rapids.</p> + +<p>"He's got him!" shrilled Tom Cropsey.</p> + +<p>"But look out, Elmer; don't let him get a grip on you! +Size up the way Jasper is fighting to get hold of him! Oh! +he nearly did it, then! What ought we to do, fellows? If +he grabs Elmer they'll just both drown!"</p> + +<p>It was Red Huggins who thus gave vent to his feelings. +He generally became so excited in an emergency that he +could not collect his wits enough to be of any great use. +And it was fortunate that all of those present were not +built upon the same model as impulsive Red.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant had snatched up a rope as he ran. Perhaps, +with rare wisdom the long-headed scout master had +even placed it there, looking to a possible sudden need for +such a thing.</p> + +<p>He had no occasion to ask where the thrilling event was +taking place. Every boy was staring in that one quarter, +and before he even saw the two figures in the swirl of the +yeasty river Mr. Garrabrant realized the condition of +affairs.</p> + +<p>He found that Elmer had managed to seize the drowning +boy from behind, always the very best method of doing +in such a case. Had he been unable to accomplish this, and +the frenzied Jasper seized upon him, doubtless Elmer would +have broken away, even though he might have had to strike +the other quite sharply in the face and partly stun him +to do so. Better that, than that both should go down together.</p> + +<p>So Elmer was endeavoring to push the other in toward +shore. Sometimes the water would go over them both with +a rush, for they happened to be in one of the roughest parts +of the river.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant sized up the situation at a single glance. +Then he ran down the shore a dozen paces, and started to +wade into the river.</p> + +<p>"Here, take hold of this end of the rope, boys!" he +cried, as he came upon several of the scouts who were standing +knee deep in the water, seemingly half paralyzed by +the terrible nature of the scene before them.</p> + +<p>Mark Cummings had just arrived on the scene. He had +been dressing in the tent at the time the alarm sounded. +Regardless of the fact that he had on his clothes, he sprang +into the water alongside the scout master.</p> + +<p>Together they buffeted the waves, and made for the approaching +pair. Elmer saw them coming and redoubled his +efforts to keep the drowning boy afloat, and at the same +time avoid being clasped in his desperate embrace.</p> + +<p>Then friendly hands were laid upon them, and with three +to take charge, Jasper was borne to the land. He had collapsed +before the shore was reached, and the balance of +the boys gathered around, staring in great fear at his pallid +face.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant knew the theory of restoring a person +who has come very near being drowned; but it chanced +that Elmer had more than once had active participation in +that sort of work. So he lost no time in stretching poor +Jasper, face down, on the ground, placing his knees on his +back, and having his arms worked regularly by some of +the boys, while he pressed downward, again and again with +considerable force, so as to induce artificial breathing.</p> + +<p>As Jasper was not far gone he quickly responded to this +rough but effective treatment. He belched out a small +Niagara of water, groaned, trembled, and finally tried to +beg them to have a little mercy on him, saying that he was +now all right, upon which the boys of course ceased their +efforts intended to bring him to.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>Breakfast was slow in coming along that morning. +Ginger had been tremendously unnerved by the exciting +spectacle of the rescue of the drowning lad, and he continuously +made all sorts of foolish blunders while trying +to cook, so that in the end Mr. Garrabrant chased him away +and set Elmer and Ty Collins at the job, both of whom he +knew were very good cooks.</p> + +<p>Afterwards the tents had to come down, and the entire +outfit be stored away in the two boats which were intended +to carry them the balance of the way.</p> + +<p>Ginger sent the horse and wagon back in charge of the +other colored man, and announced himself prepared to accompany +the troop into the heart of the wilderness. He +was so good-natured, and they could make use of him to do +much of the drudgery of the camp; so Mr. Garrabrant decided +to let Ginger go along, even though he was not to be +trusted to get their meals any longer.</p> + +<p>The boats were stoutly built, and of a good size. Both +were capable of being rowed by two pairs of oars: and, indeed, +this was rendered quite necessary by the swiftness of +the Sweetwater in parts.</p> + +<p>Once they reached the first little lake and the worst part +of the struggle would be over; after that the going must +prove much easier.</p> + +<p>At first the scouts considered the rowing a picnic. That +lasted less than ten minutes. Then, as the strain of the current +started to tell upon them, grunts began to be heard, and +these were followed by heavy sighs and glum faces.</p> + +<p>Blisters began to appear on palms that were quite unused +to labor of this severe kind. True, Mr. Garrabrant in one +boat, and Elmer in the other, tried to show the greenhorns +how they could save themselves much of this pain by proper +handling of the oars; but like everything else, experience +after all was bound to be the best guide.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>A number of the lads, however, were more or less familiar +with rowing, even though there was no body of water +close to the town on the railroad known as Hickory Ridge. +Of course Elmer himself took an oar, and kept up his part +of the drudgery from start to finish; and his chum Mark +also did his share with credit.</p> + +<p>There were places where the river widened, and the current +was less savage. Here those who tugged at the oars +managed to rest up a bit for the next hard pull.</p> + +<p>So the morning passed with frequent rests, for Mr. Garrabrant +knew better than utterly to weary his command in +the beginning. They were, after all, out for sport; and it +would have been an unwise move on his part to have sickened +the tenderfeet scouts before they had had a fair chance +to get hardened to it.</p> + +<p>Just before noon the boy in the bow of the leading boat +gave a yell.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the scout master.</p> + +<p>"I just had a squint at a body of water, sir; and I think +it must have been a lake," replied Jack Armitage, who was +in the boat with the Wolf Patrol, Ginger working one of +the oars in the other craft.</p> + +<p>"That must be the first lake, Jupiter they call it," Mr. +Garrabrant went on.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that means a rest, and lunch, fellows!" cried +Lil Artha, who had been resting after his turn at rowing.</p> + +<p>"Don't crow too soon," barked Toby, mysteriously. +"The worst is yet to come. Remember that these two lakes +are joined by Paradise Creek. I've heard that stream is +worse than the river here to pull against."</p> + +<p>"That's where you're mistaken, Toby," remarked Elmer. +"I talked with a lumberman, and also a sportsman +who comes up here every fall to shoot wild ducks on the +lake they call Solitude. Both of them assured me that once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +we got to this point our troubles would be over. So cheer +up, my hearties, the pulling will be a picnic after this."</p> + +<p>Then they passed out from the head of the romantic +Sweetwater. The lake was a pretty little sheet of water, +with shores that, as a rule, were wooded; though in several +places it looked as though farms ran down to the water's +edge.</p> + +<p>The boys soon clamored to get ashore and stretch their +weary legs; nor was Mr. Garrabrant in the least averse to +such a change himself. It is always inducive to cramp to +sit in a boat several hours.</p> + +<p>Lunch was eaten under a patch of friendly trees that +grew on the bank. Then the troop was allowed half an +hour to lounge around, ere once more embarking for the +afternoon row.</p> + +<p>Just where they had landed it was very wild. Rocks +jutted up out of the sides of the hills, and the trees grew +in every crevice where earth had gathered.</p> + +<p>Toby was lying on his back, looking longingly up at the +bald top of a neighboring elevation that might almost be +called a mountain.</p> + +<p>"Say," he said to Red, who happened to be sprawled +out near him, "did you ever in all your days see such a +splendid place as that for a starter? Just think what a jolly +good thing it would be to stand there on the edge of that +cliff and just give one big spring off, flapping your wings +as you jumped. Wow! I can see myself sailing through +space, and coming down as gently as a thistle ball. But +how could a fellow ever get up there in the first place?—that's +what's bothering me."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Toby, you don't really mean to say that +if you had those silly old wings along with you, anything'd +ever tempt you to take such chances as to jump off that +high place? Why, it'd be your finish sure, if you ever did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +You'd come down with an awful jar. And ten to one we'd +have to gather your poor remains up with a shovel. I'm +glad Mr. Garrabrant refused to let you fetch along all that +stuff you had laid out to bring."</p> + +<p>"He near broke my heart when he said that, Red," +sighed Toby. "But we're going to be up here some time, +you know, and perhaps I might get a chance to rig up some +sort of flying machine. I'll never be happy till I'm sailing +through the clouds, and that's a fact."</p> + +<p>"Your heart, could stand it better than your blessed +neck," retorted Red. "And that's what would have happened +to you, sure, if he'd let you try to play your game +of being aviator to the troop."</p> + +<p>"Sit still, fellows!" sang out the photographer just +then; "I've got you in just a dandy picture, the entire +bunch! There, done with a click, and thank you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant sat up and looked at his watch.</p> + +<p>"About time we were moving, boys," he remarked, at +which there were numerous uplifted eyebrows, and not a +few groans, as the unfortunate tenderfeet looked at the red +spots in the palms of their hands, unused to hard work.</p> + +<p>Of course, as there was little to pack, it would be a matter +of only a few minutes ere they could be on the move +again, and speeding up Jupiter Lake toward the link that +connected with the other sheet of water.</p> + +<p>"All here?" asked Mr. Garrabrant, as a precautionary +measure; since some of the scouts had shown a weakness for +wandering whenever half a chance arose.</p> + +<p>Elmer had just been in the act of counting heads.</p> + +<p>"We seem to be one shy, sir," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"It's Ginger," declared one of the scouts. "I noticed +him walking off some little time ago, sir. He told me somebody +said there was gold up in these mountains, and the +poor old silly was lookin' for signs of it, I guess."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give him a call on the bugle, Mark!" said Elmer, looking +annoyed; for it would be too bad if, after all their plans, +Ginger should take it into his head to delay them now by +getting lost.</p> + +<p>So the bugler let out a blast that could easily be heard a +mile away. Then they one and all listened to discover if +any answer came floating back.</p> + +<p>"I heahs yuh, suh," came the voice of Ginger from the +neighboring woods. "I'se jes' be'n havin' heaps o' fun +wid dis leetle snake hyah. Glory be, but he am de maddest +critter yuh eber see, a shaking ob his tail; an' de locust +asingin' in de tree."</p> + +<p>"Keep away from him, Ginger!" shouted Elmer, jumping +up; "keep away from him, I tell you! My stars! that +must be a rattlesnake he's been playing with!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN SUPPER.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">And</span> a rattlesnake it proved to be, sure enough!</p> + +<p>When Elmer, followed helter-skelter by every one of +the others, drew near the spot where Ginger stood, with a +short stick in his hand, and now looking very much frightened +after hearing what a narrow escape he had had, they +discovered the angry poisonous reptile coiled, and buzzing +away at a great rate.</p> + +<p>Locusts had been singing near by during the drowsy noon +hour, and that accounted not only for the common mistake +of the black man, but why none of the others had paid any +attention to the sound. Several remembered having heard +it, when their memory was jogged later.</p> + +<p>Elmer quickly found a longer pole with which he assailed +the coiled terror of the rocky hills, and with a lucky +stroke he finally broke its back. All the boys crowded +around to look at the ugly thing, shuddering as they noted +its vicious fangs.</p> + +<p>"Better look out, fellowth," warned Dr. Ted. "I've +heard they often hunt in coupleth, tho' there may be +another of the vermin near by!"</p> + +<p>But a hasty search failed to reveal a mate to the dead +reptile. Mr. Garrabrant seized upon the occasion to read +a lecture to the scouts, telling them to live up to their motto, +"Be prepared," and always keep an eye out when in the +woods.</p> + +<p>"That's one danger we must never forget up here," he +said; "and I've got a little phial I want every scout to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +carry along with him constantly. To-night I'm going to +explain just how to act in case any one of you finds himself +struck by a snake, which, however, I sincerely hope will +never happen, because they're nasty things at best, and +there's always a chance that the remedy may not work in +time to save the patient."</p> + +<p>Ginger begged for the rattle, to serve as a reminder of +his narrow escape, and so Elmer cut it off for him.</p> + +<p>"If I had time I'd like to skin the beast," the latter remarked, +"for he's beautifully marked, and would make a +nice tie, or a pocketbook. But in order to make a good job +I'd require an hour or more, and we don't want to carry +the thing along with us until night."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say 'he' when you mention the rattler, +Elmer?" asked Mr. Garrabrant, who was not above seeking +new information from one who had been fortunate +enough to experience the actual realities of wild life.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see that the skin has black diamond-shaped +marks on it. If it had been a female these would have been +more along a brownish order. At any rate, that's what +I've been told out where I met with these things frequently," +Elmer stated.</p> + +<p>"And I've no doubt but what you're quite right, Elmer," +remarked the scout master. "I've noticed the same +thing in connection with quite a number of birds, the female +being coated a modest brown, whereas the male was +a lustrous black. But we must be moving. I'm glad, Ginger, +that it isn't necessary to practice on you for snakebite."</p> + +<p>"Yas," muttered the black man, "an' de wustest t'ing +'bout de hull bizness am de fack dat dey ain't eben a +single drap ob snake pizen in de hull bilin crowd. So +'deed, I is right glad myself now dat de leetle critter didn't +git tuh me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And there goeth the only chance I've had this many a +day to get a little anatomical practice," Ted was grumbling; +though of course the boys understood that although +his manner of talk might seem so blood-thirsty, the amateur +surgeon was only joking.</p> + +<p>But Ginger, after that, often watched Ted suspiciously +and refused to be left alone in camp with him.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes of stout rowing brought them to the mouth +of Paradise Creek, where the waters from the other lake +emptied into Jupiter. Joyfully they started to navigate +these unknown regions. Elmer's boat was in the lead, +though for that matter not a single one in the party had +ever before been as far up the chains of waterways as +this.</p> + +<p>When even the scout master realized that those who handled +the oars were becoming exhausted, he called a halt +and changed around, bringing fresh recruits forward. He +himself did yeoman service pulling, and Ginger also made +his muscles add considerable value to the progress of the +second boat.</p> + +<p>"Dis am suah de t'ing tuh make de appatite," Ginger +kept saying, as he tugged away, with the perspiration rolling +down his black good-natured face. "Specks I done +want dubble rations dis berry night, Cap'n. De laborer +am worthy ob his hire, de good book say. An' dis am sartin +suah hard wuk."</p> + +<p>As the afternoon slowly passed they realized that they +must be getting closer and closer to the second sheet of +water. Nobody was sorry. And when the sun hung over +the elevated horizon anxious looks began to be cast ahead.</p> + +<p>Finally, almost without warning, the leading boat ran +out of the creek, passing around an abrupt bend, and a +shout of delight announced that the lake had been reached +at last.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was indeed well named. Solitude seemed to hang +over the whole picture, and if it could impress them in +this way while the sun was still shining, what gloom must +follow after the shades of night had fallen.</p> + +<p>"Look around on this shore for a good site for a permanent +camp, Elmer," remarked the scout master, pointing +to the left. "I choose that because we will get some +shelter from the wind, in case of a sudden storm. Across +the broad lake it would be apt to hit us doubly hard. Am +I correct, Elmer?" Mr. Garrabrant went on.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the boy, quickly, "I should have +done just as you did, and I think I can see a good spot +for our camp; anyhow it looks that way from here. Give +way again, fellows, and I'll head the boat for our haven."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, and the two boats had been run ashore. +Then an eager troop of aching lads tumbled out, to stretch +themselves, and express delight over having finally reached +their goal. Quite a number of them had really never before +been away from home over night, so that it required +more or less assumption of gayety on their part to conceal +their real feelings. But by degrees these would grow accustomed +to the separation, and in the end it was bound +to make them more manly fellows.</p> + +<p>Once again were the tents pitched. This time more care +was taken, for they anticipated a long stay, and ere breaking +camp for the return trip it was not unlikely that they +would be visited by one or more storms. So the stakes were +driven well in, and each tent had a little gulley dug around +the upper side, so as to turn water to the right and left in +case of a flood in the shape of a down-pour.</p> + +<p>Other of the scouts started making fire-places from +the numerous stones. They had had practice along these +lines before now, closer at home, and the watchful eyes +of the scout leaders took note of everything that was being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +done. When they saw that matters were not going just as +cleverly as they could, a few words, perhaps a helping +hand, straightened out the difficulty.</p> + +<p>By the time the sun passed beyond an outlying spur of +the mountain things began to take on a pretty decent look. +Several of the boys who were fond of fishing had been +set to work digging bait, and going in the boats to likely +spots pointed out by the experienced Elmer. Their excited +cries presently announced that there was some prospect of +the bill-of-fare that night having the magic name of +"trout" among the tasty food exhibit.</p> + +<p>"And my word for it we'll need all we can get," laughed +Mr. Garrabrant aside to his assistant, as he nodded his head +to where Ginger was working lustily, and smacking his lips +as he kept one eye on the busy fisherman, "because Ginger +tells me he's awful fond of trout! It's going to keep me +hustling to supply all the appetites in this Camp Content +of ours; for they're developing most alarmingly."</p> + +<p>But really Mr. Garrabrant was joking. He had foreseen +just such a condition as this, knowing boys as well as +he did, and made sure to add good measure to the quantity +of food first planned for.</p> + +<p>The fishermen presently brought in what catch they had +made. Every one was both surprised and delighted to see +the splendid size of the trout that had taken the bait.</p> + +<p>"Why, this sure is a great snap!" exclaimed Lil Artha, +who had been looking all around for various views which +he anticipated capturing on succeeding days. "We can +have the toothsome trout whenever the spirit moves, and +the fishermen get busy."</p> + +<p>"And they pull like a house afire, too," declared Matty +Eggleston, who had been one of the anglers. "I've caught +black bass lots of times, but this is my first trout experience. +Yum, yum, say, don't they just smell fine, though?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +Look at Ginger walking up and down over by the shore +of the lake! He's that near starved he just can't stay +around any longer and sniff that delicious odor! Boys, +ain't it near time to call us to the fray? Oh, I'm that +hollow I'm afraid I'll break in two!"</p> + +<p>"Supper's ready, Mr. Garrabrant!" announced Ty Collins, +who had been given a free hand as chief cook on +this evening, while Elmer paid attention to various other +things.</p> + +<p>"Call the boys in then, and we'll see if it tastes as good +as it smells. Sound the assembly, Mark," called the scout +master, himself not at all averse to the pleasant duty of +satisfying the inner man's clamorings.</p> + +<p>So the bugler sent out the sweet call, and even Ginger +seemed to know what it meant, for he came hurrying along +to serve the dinner, a broad grin stamped on his ebony face, +and his mouth stretched almost from ear to ear.</p> + +<p>"This is what I call solid comfort," observed Mark, as +he tasted the crisp trout, and decided that it was finer than +any fish he had ever eaten in all his life.</p> + +<p>A chorus of approving grunts and nods followed his +assertion, for as a rule the scouts were too busily occupied +just then to say much. Ginger had not been compelled to +wait until they were through, under the existing conditions +that would have been next door to a crime, because the +poor old chap was really frantic for something to stop +the awful craving he had. So, after helping the entire +bunch he was allowed to dip in and sit in a retired spot, +where the tremendous champing noise he made while "feeding" +might not annoy the rest.</p> + +<p>Afterward, when everyone admitted that "enough was +as good as a feast," they lay around taking things easy. +Ginger gathered up the cooking utensils, and the numerous +pannikins and tin cups used by the troop. It was to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +his duty to wash these things after each meal, and thus +the boys were enabled to avoid one very troublesome part +of camp life. And hence they were glad to have Ginger +along.</p> + +<p>As before, arrangements were made looking to a constant +detail to serve as sentries. There was no danger anticipated, +of course, but since the scouts wished to learn everything +that was connected with life in the open, they must +carry out the game in all its parts. And guarding the +camp against a possible foe was one of these things.</p> + +<p>Two were to be on duty at the same time, the entire night +being suitably divided up into watches, as on board a ship. +From ten o'clock up to five meant seven hour shifts, with +two boys on duty at a time.</p> + +<p>Elmer and Mr. Garrabrant were exempt from this +drudgery if they so pleased, but the chances were, both +of them would obtain less sleep, that night at least, than +any of the others. Even Ginger was given his "spell," +though it was doubted whether he could keep awake an +hour, for he was a very sleepy individual after he had finished +his task with the tin pans.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow we start in with some of our tests," remarked +the scout master, as the time drew near for the bugler to +sound taps. "That's one thing I want to drill you boys +in, while we're up here. We'll pit the two details against +each other, and see which can set up a tent in the shortest +order, and in the best manner. Then we'll start on the +first-aid-to-the-injured racket, and take a step further than +we've ever gone before. After that I'm going to get our +assistant scout master to show us a lot of mighty interesting +things about following a trail, and what the different tracks +of such animals as may be found up here look like. And +another day some of us will hike to the top of that mountain, +while another detachment tries to climb the second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +rise, after which they can wigwag to each other, in Signal +Corps language, and hold a long talk, to be verified later +on in camp from the records kept. That is the program, +boys. Now, go to your blankets and sleep over it."</p> + +<p>They were as a rule a pretty tired lot that lay down. +The two sentries had to continue moving about to keep +from going to sleep on post, which might be considered a +serious offense, and lose them no end of good marks.</p> + +<p>Twice did Elmer creep out of his tent, and make the +rounds in order to ascertain whether all were going well. +The last time was along about two in the morning, and +the first thing he heard was a whip-poor-will calling shrilly +to its mate not far away.</p> + +<p>When he came upon Chatz, who had the outer post, he +was surprised to find him exhibiting all the well-known +signs by which he was wont to indicate that he had been +"seeing things" again. And knowing him so well, Elmer +hardly needed to ask what was the matter. Evidently the +ghosts that haunted Chatz must have been paying the superstitious +Southern boy another visit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>WHAT WAS IT?</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What</span> was it this time, Number Six?" asked the scout +leader, as Chatz turned quickly toward him, showing considerable +alarm.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's gone now. It just seemed to slide away while +I was looking. But I could hear it moving all the same; +and I tell you, honest Injun, that it was a dreadful <i>squashy</i> +sort of sound," and Chatz shrugged his shoulders with +what seemed to be a shudder, as he said this.</p> + +<p>Elmer hardly knew what to do or to say. Chatz was +not above playing a joke, given the opportunity, but this +was really a subject on which he felt very deeply, so that +it was hard to believe he would be likely to hold it up to +scorn.</p> + +<p>He seemed to be wide-awake, too, so that there was little +chance of its being a dream. Sensible on all other subjects, +the superstitious Southern lad had a decided weakness +for spooks, and he could imagine uncanny objects +prowling around where no one else found the slightest indication +of such a thing.</p> + +<p>"Where was this?" Elmer asked, cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Over there, in that open spot," replied Chatz, cheerfully +and without the least sign of hesitation. "You can +just make out the deeper shadow of the trees back further. +I was looking that way and thinking of something connected +with my home when all of a sudden IT loomed up, staring +at me in a frightfully ghastly way, and moving its white<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +body slowly up and down, just like it was warning me of +some coming danger."</p> + +<p>"Sure it wasn't that owl again, are you?" questioned +Elmer, dubiously.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't have been any such thing, because," triumphantly +went on Chatz, "you see, there ain't a single +chance for it to roost on anything! That place is bare! +I crossed it several times going for wood yesterday afternoon +before dark set in. And then besides—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, what else was there?" Elmer asked, encouragingly, +for he began to realize that there was at least no +fake about the other's upset condition.</p> + +<p>"Why, it made the queerest noise you ever heard—just +a squashy sound that I'll never be able to forget. Ugh! +it was a nasty experience," and he rubbed his eyes with +his knuckles, after the manner of one just awakened.</p> + +<p>Somehow this gave Elmer an idea.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Number Six, are you sure now that you +weren't asleep, and just dreaming that something bobbed +up in front of you?" he demanded, sternly; for in his +capacity as assistant scout master he was given certain +privileges which the rest of the boys readily recognized.</p> + +<p>"I don't think there's any reason to believe that sort +of thing," returned the other, steadily. "Fact is, I was +never more wide-awake in my life."</p> + +<p>"And the thing just stood there, and waved at you, +did it?" Elmer continued.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I know what you think about it, but when I see +a thing I can't deny it, can I? There was something close +to me a few minutes ago, something that must have been +a spook. If I hadn't had the good sense to stick my hand +in my pocket, and grab hold of that blessed old rabbit +foot, I honestly believe it would have jumped me! Now +laugh again if you want to," defiantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Elmer was himself a bit puzzled. Of course he could +not think of allowing himself to dream that what Chatz +had seen could be anything unusual. The surrounding +conditions invested the most commonplace occurrence with +a mysterious atmosphere—that was all, and had it been +anyone but Chatz they might have found an easy explanation +for the puzzle.</p> + +<p>"Well," the scout leader said, finally, "we'll all have +to borrow that lucky charm then, when we go on duty, if +it's going to scare the spooks away. But your time is up, +Number Six, so you can proceed to awaken the scout who +follows you."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad, and I'm sorry," remarked Chatz. "To tell +the truth, I'd like to find out if that pesky thing <i>could</i> +crop up again. You see, there's no need of being scared +about it, so long as you've got something that keeps you +from getting hurt."</p> + +<p>Evidently the belief of the Southern lad in that magical +rabbit's foot was firmly founded, and it would be exceedingly +difficult to uproot it. Sneers and scorn would never +accomplish that result; in fact such action was apt to only +make him cling the more stubbornly to his fetish worship. +Elmer believed in going about such things in another manner +entirely. Chatz must be shown the error of his ways; +and to do that most convincingly the real nature of the +object which he believed to be a ghostly visitant from the +other world, would have to be proven.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Number Six," he said, as the other was +about to head toward the tent where part of the Wolf +Patrol slept, so he could find and arouse his appointed successor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Chatz; for, while Elmer was a chum +of his, there were times when he must recognize him only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +as a superior officer in the organization to which both belonged, +and show him due respect.</p> + +<p>"Remember, not a single word to the scout who is to +succeed you," Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"Not a word will I breathe, sir, I promise you," replied +Chatz, and Elmer knew that nothing would tempt him to +betray his trust, for his sense of honor was very high, as +it is with all Southern boys.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we might get a pointer on this matter if the +strange thing you saw appeared to another," remarked +Elmer, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't I just wish it would," remarked Chatz, +eagerly. "Then perhaps the rest of the fellows wouldn't +think me cracked in my upper story. And Lil Artha +wouldn't be so unfeeling as to say I had rats in my belfry, +He's the one who comes on after me. Don't I just wish it +would give him a <i>good</i> scare, though!"</p> + +<p>"Well, go and wake him up, then. I'll let the other sentry +know that it's time for a change," and Elmer walked +away.</p> + +<p>A sudden idea had flashed up in his mind. Could it be +possible that there was anything in this wild yarn of +Chatz's? Would the second sentry be able to throw any +light on the mystery?</p> + +<p>He found him squatting on the ground, near a tree, and +saw that it was Jasper Merriweather, the timid boy of +the troop. At first Elmer had half a suspicion that the +other was asleep, for his head was bowed in his hands. At +the sound of his step, however, Jasper suddenly looked up +with a violent start, and Elmer saw that he was more or +less frightened, for he was shivering, even though he had +a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's you, sir, is it?" he exclaimed, and there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +a positive vein of relief in the tones of his quivering voice +that Elmer could not but notice.</p> + +<p>"Why, who else did you think it could be, Beaver, Number +Four?" asked the assistant scout master, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't know," came the rather hesitating reply. +"You see I guess Chatz Maxfield has got me all worked +up with his silly notions, because I'm seeing things, just +like he does, right along. I'm ashamed of myself, that's +what."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean just now you saw something?" asked +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Jasper, rising to his feet as he spoke, +with returning confidence, "I thought I did, for a fact; +and I just hid my head to shut it out, but of course it was +only what Mr. Garrabrant calls an optical illusion. There +just couldn't be anything there."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," the other went on, encouragingly. +"H'm, what was it, by the way, you <i>thought</i> you saw, +Number Four?"</p> + +<p>"That's the silly part of it, sir," Jasper answered. "It +wasn't anything that I could recognize at all, which proves +that I was only imagining things. Plague take Chatz and +his ghosts! I never was very brave at my best, but thinking +of him has just about queered me. I'm glad you came +to talk to me, and show me how foolish it is to let such notions +take root."</p> + +<p>"But, by the way, where was it you thought you saw +this wonderful thing which you say bore no shape that you +could describe?" Elmer insisted.</p> + +<p>"Oh! let me see, I was sitting just this way, and looking +straight out yonder. It was in that open place, sir. +I guess the fire must have flashed up suddenly, and dazzled +me a bit."</p> + +<p>But Elmer noticed that the second sentry pointed in exactly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +the same quarter where Chatz insisted he had set eyes +on the ghost! This would seem to indicate that there must +be something in the story.</p> + +<p>"Was it a flaming red ghost, Number Four?" he inquired +further.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course not, sir," chuckled the other. "If it +had been I'd have thought it was only Ty Collins in that +red sweater he sometimes wears. Oh! no, what I <i>thought</i> +I saw was a white object. It seemed to be there when I +hid my face in my blanket, but when I looked a minute +later it was gone."</p> + +<p>"Did you hear any sound?" Elmer demanded.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes; but after all it may have been one of the +fellows snoring," Jasper replied. "But at the time I +thought it the queerest sort of noise ever. Might 'a' been +a big bulldog jumping into the water. I've heard something +like it when I pulled my foot out of a soft oozy piece +of mud."</p> + +<p>"All right, Number Four. Your time is up, so go and +gently arouse your successor. And please don't even whisper +a word about this until I give you permission."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I won't," Jasper quickly mumbled. +"Think I'm itching to have the laugh on me? No, siree, +I'm as dumb as an oyster," and with that he staggered off +toward one of the tents to awaken Nathan Scott.</p> + +<p>Elmer returned to his blanket, but he had something on +his mind that kept him from enjoying any sound sleep +for the remainder of that particular night.</p> + +<p>Those two boys had certainly seen <i>something</i>, and while, +of course, Elmer was too sensible a fellow to allow himself +to give the idea of a ghostly visitor the slightest credence, +he found himself puzzled to account for it all.</p> + +<p>Because of his lying awake so long he slept later than +usual in the morning. True, he sprang up when the notes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +of the bugle sounded the reveille, but most of the others +had been abroad before him.</p> + +<p>They took a dip in the lake, though the water was so +very cold that none of the scouts cared to remain in more +than five minutes. Besides, the almost tragic occurrence of +the previous day haunted some of them, and made them a +bit timid about venturing into the water, though by degrees +this fear would naturally wear off.</p> + +<p>While preparations for breakfast were being undertaken +by those appointed for this purpose, Elmer strolled out +of the camp. He wished to carefully examine the open +patch of ground at the point where the two sentries had +been so positive the uncanny white object had appeared to +them.</p> + +<p>Disappointment awaited him there, however. Numerous +footprints told how those of the scouts whose duty it was +to secure a fresh supply of firewood that morning had +passed back and forth directly across this open place. If +there had been any suggestive tracks they were surely +trampled out of sight by the army of boyish feet that had +gone over many times.</p> + +<p>Elmer shook his head. He felt that he had been hoodwinked +in one sense, but no matter, even this setback must +not induce him to give up the task he had set for himself. +He owed it to Chatz and his infirmity to discover a reasonable +explanation of that ghost theory. And while the +solution might be delayed by this unfortunate trampling +of the ground, he meant to persist.</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing, I guess?" remarked a voice close by, +and turning his head the scout leader saw Chatz himself +standing there, observing him with a quizzical expression on +his dark face.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you mean an explanation of the little affair +of last night, Chatz, I admit that so far I'm up against it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +good and hard. You see, I hoped to find some marks here +that would give me a clue, but it's all off. The boys ran +after wood and back again so many times, that if there +was a trail it's been squashed."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't think that mattered any," remarked the +other, with conviction in his tones. "You can't very well +discover what there isn't, can you? And I've always believed +that spooks never leave a sign behind them when +they come and go. Why, a spook is only a vapor, you know, +Elmer. They can slip through a keyhole if necessary. And +as to a trail, why, you might as well expect to see that cloud +up yonder leave a track behind it."</p> + +<p>There could at least be no doubt about Chatz being in dead +earnest in his queer belief, and as Elmer turned away he +was more than ever determined to find the true solution +of that strange happening, if only to drive another nail +in the coffin of the Southern boy's superstition.</p> + +<p>As neither of the sentries felt at liberty to mention the +occurrence until the assistant scout master gave permission, +the balance of the scouts ate their breakfast, and joked +each other, in blissful ignorance of the fact that the camp +had again been visited by a hobgoblin, and that this time +not only the superstitious Chatz but another had actually +seen the misty intruder!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE BOY SCOUTS' WATER BOILING TEST.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Garrabrant</span> was full of business on this fine morning.</p> + +<p>He set about a host of things immediately after breakfast, +saying that they ought to take advantage of the opportunity +to get in a good morning's work.</p> + +<p>Several boys were sent out on the lake to try to duplicate +the good luck attending the fishermen of the preceding +afternoon. Mark Cummings was encouraged to get numerous +views of the camp, and whatever was going on—such +as would afford the Hickory Ridge scouts the most +pleasure in later days, when this series of camp fires was +but a hallowed memory.</p> + +<p>With the balance of the troop the scout master proceeded +to try out various interesting tests, to discover just how +the boys stood in the matter of efficiency. As Elmer was +such an old and experienced hand in most of these matters, +he was of course debarred from entering the competitions. +It would be taking too great an advantage over the tenderfeet +scouts, who had everything to learn as yet.</p> + +<p>First of all the scout master decided to put ten boys +at the boiling-water test. This is one of the most interesting, +as well as amusing competitions, the scouts indulge +in, and one that never fails to evoke much laughter among +those who look on.</p> + +<p>Each boy was given a tin pail that held two quarts of +water, and which could be carried by a bale. Besides this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +he was handed just three matches, and put upon his honor +that he did not have another of the kind upon his person.</p> + +<p>A spot was selected that was possibly fully eighty yards +away from the edge of the lake, and this Mr. Garrabrant +did purposely, so that if one of the competing scouts was +so unlucky as to upset his pail of water during the test, he +would be greatly handicapped by having to run so far in +order to replenish the same.</p> + +<p>Lined up, they were to be given the word, when a rush +would be made for the lake, the buckets filled at least up +to a line midway that indicated a full quart. Then they +had to hasten back to the place assigned, being careful not +to spill a drop of the fluid on penalty of losing marks for +having less than the quart needed.</p> + +<p>Wood had to be quickly gathered, and some sort of fire-place +constructed where a blaze must be started without the +aid of paper. Then the kettles were to be seated on the +stones, and the first one that had water actually boiling, +as witnessed by the scout master, would be the victor, and +the second called "runner-up."</p> + +<p>"Ready, all!" called Mr. Garrabrant, and ten eager +pair of eyes watched him closely; "go!"</p> + +<p>Immediately there was a race for the lake. One clumsy +scout fell down and had to scramble to his feet to take his +place at the tail end of the procession. Of course the +long-legged Lil Artha easily outran all his mates. He had +scooped up his water and was on the way back before the +next best arrived.</p> + +<p>The wise ones made sure to dip up more than they really +needed, so as to make allowances for any that might be +spilled on the return flight. The surplus could be easily +tipped out before they set the kettle on the fire.</p> + +<p>When the whole lot had finally reached the open spot +where the competition was to be carried out, the picture<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +was a lively one. Mark was on hand to take a few snapshots, +and catch all the humor of the scene.</p> + +<p>Now Lil Artha had his fire going, being far in advance +of the others. As they hustled to get things moving it was +only natural that each fellow cast jealous glances toward +those who were getting along faster. In one instance that +caused the withdrawal of a competitor, for while paying +more attention to what Matty Eggleston was doing than +his own business, Larry Billings upset his kettle. After +that he gave up with a grunt, for it was the height of +folly for him to think of running to the lake for a fresh +supply.</p> + +<p>Two others used all their three matches and failed to get +a fire started, so they also withdrew.</p> + +<p>When Arthur Stansbury placed his kettle on his hastily +constructed fire-place, long before the rest, it looked as +though he had a "walkover."</p> + +<p>All at once there arose a shout of boyish glee. In starting +to get to his feet, the long-legged one had, as frequently +happened, caught his ankles in a hitch, and throwing out +one hand to balance he upset the kettle, which came near +putting out his fire.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant expected to see him leaping toward the +far-off lake in the hope of being yet in the running. To his +surprise, Lil Artha snatched up his pail and <i>ran away from +the edge of the water!</i> Several were so astonished at this +that they suspended operations for a second or two to stare +after him.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I see what he's after, the sly fellow," laughed Elmer. +"He remembers the little stream that runs down the +side of the hill right there, and reaches the lake. It isn't +half as far away as the edge of the big water. Yes, there +he comes, with a grin on his face, and a full pail. Good +boy, Number Five!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once back at his fire, now burning briskly, the tall boy +hastened to spill some of the contents of his kettle, and then +set the latter firmly on the stones. Nor did he stop there. +He had lost some ground, and several had by this time +succeeded in catching up with him. So down Arthur lay, +full on his stomach, where he could blow his fire, and +get it to burning more savagely, after which he fed it +with the best small pieces of splintered wood he had been +able to pick up.</p> + +<p>When a certain number of minutes had elapsed he beckoned +to Mr. Garrabrant, who, anticipating the summons, +had been hovering nearby. Together with Elmer, the +scout master hurried up.</p> + +<p>"The water is boiling all right," he announced, "and +Number Five wins. But keep going, the balance of you, +until we learn who comes in second and third."</p> + +<p>Matty Eggleston proved an easy second, while Ted Burgoyne +edged in just ahead of Mark, because, as he claimed, +his "blowing apparatus worked better."</p> + +<p>"But I think we ought to protest that win of Lil Artha," +declared Chatz Maxfield, although he had been one +of the last in the bunch.</p> + +<p>"On what grounds?" asked Mr. Garrabrant, smiling, +as though he had expected to hear something of the sort, +though hardly from one who had no chance of winning.</p> + +<p>"When his kettle upset he didn't go all the way to the +lake to fill it again, as he ought to have done," said Red +Huggins, who had also the ill fortune to overturn his tin +vessel when the water had begun to steam, and who naturally +felt a little "sore" as he termed it, because it was +too late for him to enter again.</p> + +<p>"Listen while I read the terms of the competition again," +said Mr. Garrabrant. "I wrote them down so as to be +prepared for any event; that's one of our cardinal principles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +you know, boys. Here it especially states that 'any +competitor who upsets his kettle at any time during the +test may have the privilege of filling the same again from +the nearest water.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I didn't think of it that way, sir!" exclaimed +Red.</p> + +<p>"That's just it," smiled the gentleman. "You failed +to grasp all there was in that rule, while Arthur analyzed +it. He undoubtedly laid his plans beforehand, in which +he proved himself a true scout, preparing for eventualities, +even though he may not have expected to meet with such +an accident. He remembered that little stream, and even +the fact that there was a small basin scooped out where +a pail could be quickly dipped in and filled. All the more +credit to Arthur for his forethought. He doubly deserves +the honor he has won, and I congratulate him on his victory. +It will be an object lesson to the rest of you. In +time of peace prepare for war. And now we will turn +our attention to another test. Perhaps some of the rest +may excel in that. I want everyone to do his very best, +and earn marks that will help to take you out of the tenderfoot +class and make second-class scouts."</p> + +<p>It was now the turn of Elmer to interest his camp-mates. +He had been looking around before this, and laid his +plans, so that he was able to lead the entire bunch to a +neighboring gully, where in the soft mud alongside a +stream he had discovered several distinctly separate sets +of animal tracks.</p> + +<p>Here he pointed out to them the marked difference between +the trail of a muskrat from that of a mink, and even +went so far as to tell a number of things which the latter +cautious animal had probably done in his passage down +the ravine in search of food.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant listened carefully himself, and nodded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +approvingly from time to time, to show how much he liked +Elmer's way of reasoning.</p> + +<p>"You can see, boys," he remarked finally, when the lesson +was over for that occasion, "what a vast amount of +mighty interesting information can be drawn from so simple +a sign as the spoor of a little slender-bodied mink. +Elmer has made a study of the animal, and knows his ways +to a dot. I think he described all that the mink did +on his way along here, just as it actually occurred. And +the deeper one dips into such woods' lore, the more fascinating +it is found. All around you are dozens of things that +strike the educated eye as deeply interesting and worthy +of study, but which would never be seen by the tenderfoot. +And it is this power of observation that we wish our boy +scouts to employ constantly. Once the fever takes hold, +a new life opens up for the lover of Nature."</p> + +<p>After that they busied themselves around the camp doing +various things until lunch time. About the middle of the +afternoon three relays, of two boys each, were sent out +in as many different directions. They were not to take +paper or pencil along, but simply to try to impress various +interesting things they happened to meet with, upon +their memories, and after they had returned to camp they +would be given a chance to note these down on paper. The +one of each pair who could excel in his description as to +the number and interest of the things seen, would receive +merit marks. And later on the three victors might be +pitted against each other again.</p> + +<p>While the six boys were absent, for they had a couple +of hours in which to accomplish their end, those left in +camp found plenty to do. Mark spent some time in developing +the films he had exposed thus far, having a daylight +developing bath along with him. In this way he +could find a possible chance to duplicate any pictures that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +for some unknown cause, failed to do justice to the subject. +If he waited until they returned home to get to work, +the chances would have gone forever.</p> + +<p>Everybody seemed happy but Ted Burgoyne, and he went +about with an expression of gloom on his face that of +course may have been assumed.</p> + +<p>"Didn't think you took it to heart so, Ted," remarked +Elmer, as he confronted the other, while the rest of the +stay-at-homes were busily debating some question near the +camp fire.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed the scowling one, disconsolately; "it +ain't about losing my chance in that blooming old competition, +by falling all over mythelf in the thtart! Oh! no, +that doethn't bother me one little bit, becauth you thee, I +just knew I had no chance against thuch a hustler as Lil +Artha."</p> + +<p>"Then your breakfast must have disagreed with you," +persisted Elmer, "though it's the first time I ever knew +you had a weak stomach, Ted."</p> + +<p>"You're away off again, partner," grumbled Ted. +"Fact ith, to tell the honest truth now, like every good +scout ought to do, you're all too plagued healthy a bunch +to thuit me, that'th what."</p> + +<p>"What's that—healthy?" remarked Elmer, and then +a faint grin began to creep over his face, as he caught +on to the meaning of the words. "Oh! I see now; your +heart's just set on doing good to others, ain't it? You +dream of binding up cuts, and putting soothing liniment +on bruises. And so far, not one of the boys has had the +kindness to fall down the rocks, cut himself with the ax, or +even get such a silly thing as a headache. It's a shame, +that's what it is, Ted!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you can poke fun all you want," grumbled the +would-be surgeon, with an obstinate shake of his head,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +"but after a fellowth gone to all the trouble to lay in a +thtock of medicine, and studied up on cuts and bruises +and all thuch things till he just feels bristling all over with +valuable knowledge, it'th mean of the fellowth to take thuch +good care of their precious fingers and toes. What d'ye +suppose I'm going to do for a thubject, if this awful +drought keepth on? Why, I don't believe fourteen wild +boys ever kept together tho long before, without lots of +things happening that would be just pie for a fellow of +my build. Now—"</p> + +<p>But the lamentations of poor Dr. Ted were interrupted +at this point, so Elmer never really knew just how far the +matter went, or if after all it were a joke.</p> + +<p>Toby Jones had sprang to his feet, showing the utmost +excitement, and dancing around as though he had suddenly +sat upon a wasp's nest.</p> + +<p>"What ails the fellow?" remarked Elmer; "he seems +to be pointing up at the top of the mountain, as if he +saw something there. Well, I declare, if that doesn't just +beat the Dutch now; and to think that it was Toby, the +boy who is wild over aviation, who first discovered it"; +and meanwhile Toby had found his voice to shriek: "A +balloon! look at the balloon, would you, fellows? And she's +coming right down here into my hungry arms! Oh! glory! +such great luck!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE LOST SKY TRAVELER.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Half</span> a dozen boys started to cry out at once, as they +stared at the great bulky object that was apparently settling +down, after passing around a spur of the mountain +above.</p> + +<p>"She's coming right at us, fellows!" shouted one.</p> + +<p>"Ain't that a pilot hanging to the old basket?" demanded +a second.</p> + +<p>"Nixy it ain't, Jasper. Go get your glasses, so you can +see better. That basket is plumb empty, and that's a fact. +The bally old balloon's deserted, boys!" Lil Artha declared, +and as he was known to have particularly trustworthy +vision, the balance of the group accepted his word +as the right thing.</p> + +<p>Apparently the balloon had been steadily losing gas of +late, for the enormous bag had a collapsed look. It seemed +to have gotten into some circular current of air, once +beyond the mountain, for it kept moving around in spirals, +all the time dropping slowly but positively. So that unless +a new breeze caught it, the chance seemed to be that +it would actually alight on the shore of the lake, close to +the camp.</p> + +<p>"Get ready to man the boats if it falls in the lake, +boys!" called Mr. Garrabrant, who recognized the fact +that such a balloon must be worth considerable to his little +troop in the way of salvage, and was determined to do what +he could to save it from sinking out of sight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>But in the end it managed to drop on the pebbly beach. +The very first to touch the collapsed gas bag was the exuberant +Toby Jones, wild with delight over this remarkable +happening that had come to him.</p> + +<p>"I claim it by right of discovery, and the first to lay +a hand on the balloon!" he shouted, as he fondly ran his +fingers along the strong material of which the air vessel +was constructed.</p> + +<p>"Where on earth could it have come from?" more than +one of the boys asked, as they surveyed the immense girth +of silken cloth with wondering eyes.</p> + +<p>"There's a circus over at Warrendale," announced Ted. +"Perhaps she broke away from there in a wind storm, or +else bucked the aviators out. Whew! think of tumbling +down hundreds of feet! Guess I couldn't 'a' been of much +use around there, if that's what happened to the air navigators; +the more the pity," and Ted actually looked discontented, +as though another golden opportunity had +slipped past him.</p> + +<p>"Sounds like a good guess, Ted," remarked Elmer; +"but there happen to be several things to knock it silly."</p> + +<p>"As what?" demanded the boy with the long legs, who +always wanted to be shown.</p> + +<p>"For instance, you know where Warrendale lies, off to +the east from here," the scout leader explained, in the +most accommodating way possible, "while this thing must +have come from the west! You saw it sail over the mountain +up there, and we've been having constant west winds +for several days now. Isn't that so, Mr. Garrabrant?"</p> + +<p>"Every word of it, Elmer," replied the gentleman, who +was never happier than when listening to this wide-awake +scout substantiating his claim.</p> + +<p>"And besides, here's a name sewed to the balloon—<i>Republic!</i> +Seems to me, sir, I've seen that name before. Unless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +I'm away off it was one of the big gas bags entered +for that long-distance endurance race, which was to come +off away out in St. Louis, or somewhere along the Mississippi +River."</p> + +<p>"Oh! my, just to think of it, fellows!" gasped Toby, +his face fairly aglow with overwhelming delight, while he +continued to fondle the material of which the collapsible +balloon was constructed, as though he might be almost +worshiping the same.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's hundreds and hundreds of miles away!" +declared another incredulous one.</p> + +<p>"Don't seem possible, does it, that a balloon could sail +that far?" a third had the temerity to remark, when Toby +turned upon him instantly, saying:</p> + +<p>"Say, you don't read the papers, do you? If you did +you'd know that in a drifting race a balloon went all the +way without touching ground from St. Louis up into New +England, while another passed over into Canada away up +above Quebec, and won the race. Others fell near Baltimore, +and such places. There can't be any doubt about it, +boys, this wanderer has drifted all the way from the old +Mississippi. But whatever could have become of her +crew?"</p> + +<p>The thought saddened them for the time being, but it +was difficult for Toby to subdue the excitement under which +he was laboring.</p> + +<p>"Oh! if I only knew how to manufacture gas so as to +fill her up again, mebbe I wouldn't like to take a spin, +and surprise the Hickory Ridge people, though! Think +how my dad's eyes would bulge out, fellows, when I landed +right in his dooryard, and asked how ma was? Ted, you +know lots of things—can't you tell me how to make hot +air?"</p> + +<p>Ted did not answer, only grinned and looked toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +Lil Artha so very suggestively that the rest burst out into +a howl, for the long-legged boy was known to be something +of an orator, who could speak for half an hour if warmed +up to his subject.</p> + +<p>"None for sale!" remarked that individual, promptly, +whereat Toby pretended to be grievously disappointed, for +he gave the tall boy a look of scorn, saying:</p> + +<p>"There he goes again, fellows; declining to make a +martyr of himself for the sake of science. Why, I even +heard Dr. Ted offering to sew on his finger again so neat +that no one could tell where it had been separated, and +would you believe it, Lil Artha was mean enough to abjectly +decline? But I'm going to think over it, and if I can +only fill this big bag with gas I'll leave camp on a little +foraging expedition, to bring back more grub. For Ginger +is eating us out of house and home, ain't he, Mr. +Garrabrant?"</p> + +<p>So they laughed and joked as they continued to gather +around the balloon that had seemingly dropped from the +skies. Elmer alone was thoughtful. He could not but +wonder what the story connected with the <i>Republic</i> might +be. Had the brave pilot and his assistant been thrown out +in some storm which they were endeavoring to ride out? +If that proved true, then the history of the fallen balloon +must be a tragic one.</p> + +<p>Under the direction of the scout master they dragged the +tremendous bag, now emptied of its gaseous contents, and +piled it up close to the camp. When the time came for +the return trip possibly they might find some means for +transporting the balloon to the home town, and when the +fact of its discovery was published in the great New York +dailies, the name of Hickory Ridge would become famous.</p> + +<p>This new event afforded plenty of topics for conversation. +As usual the boys argued the matter pro and con. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +even took sides, and debated with considerable heat the +various phases of the happening.</p> + +<p>Some of them got out paper and pencil to figure just +how many hours it might take a balloon to come all the +way from St. Louis for instance, granting that a westerly +breeze prevailed. All sorts of ideas prevailed as to the +number of miles an hour the wind had blown, ranging from +five to fifty.</p> + +<p>In the end, after all theories had been ventilated, the +boys were no nearer a solution of the mystery than before, +only it seemed now to be the consensus of opinion that the +<i>Republic</i> must have been entered in some race, and possibly +away out on the bank of the mighty river that divides +our republic almost in half.</p> + +<p>"About time some of our strollers turned up, I should +think," remarked Mr. Garrabrant, as he and Elmer sat +in front of the tents, listening to the jabbering of the +disputants, though all the argument was carried on in good +temper.</p> + +<p>"Speak of an angel, and you hear its wings," laughed +the scout leader, as a shrill halloo came from the woods +close by.</p> + +<p>Two of the boys who had gone forth to observe such +things as they came across, presently appeared in camp. +They looked tired and hungry, and began to sniff the appetizing +odors that were beginning to permeate the camp, +for several messes of beans were cooking, and Ginger was +employed in preparing a heap of big onions for a grand +fry that would just about fill the bill, most of the boys +thought.</p> + +<p>But while the incidents accompanying their long walk +and climb were still fresh in their memories they were made +to sit down alone, and write a list of those things they could +recall, and which had impressed them most of all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>Presently two more weary pilgrims came in sight, limping +along, and only too glad to get back safe and sound. +Ted kept an eager watch and tally as they made their appearance. +His face was seen to drop several degrees when, +in answer to the solicitous inquiries of the scout master, +they reported no accidents, and all sound.</p> + +<p>"There goeth another golden opportunity!" Ted exclaimed, +shaking his head in real or assumed disgust. "I +never thaw thuch ungrateful fellers in all my life. Why, +it begins to look like <i>nobody</i> would even get a finger +thcratched. I expect after all I'll just have to get Tom +Cropthey to let me pull that tooth of hith that aches +like thixty. I hate to come down to it, but thomething's +got to be done to thave the country!"</p> + +<p>"It don't hurt now, I tell you," remonstrated Tom. +"You needn't go to coaxin' me any more, because I tell +you right off that I ain't meanin' to have it out when +it acts decent like. Wait till she gets me goin' again, anyhow. +And that's straight off the reel, take it or leave it."</p> + +<p>The second couple were likewise settled off, each fellow +by himself, and the balance of the troop ordered not to +disturb the train of their thoughts until both had jotted +down the smallest item that they had noticed. In the end +the papers would be read aloud, and many interesting +things be disclosed, showing what a fund of knowledge +there lies all around one at any time, if only he chooses to +take notice of the same.</p> + +<p>"That leaves only Red and Larry to be heard from," +remarked Mr. Garrabrant, who believed he had great reason +to congratulate himself, as well as his boys, on the fact +that thus far so little had happened to cause trouble, no +matter how much the ambitious, and only too willing, doctor-surgeon +might bewail his hard luck.</p> + +<p>"They ought to be coming soon, sir, because it won't be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +long before dusk now. And I don't think either of those +boys would care to be lost up here after nightfall," Elmer +observed, listening as though he fancied he had caught some +suggestive sound up the steep slope, that might betray the +coming of the last pair.</p> + +<p>"I wonder did any of the others happen to see them?" +said the scout master. "Here comes the first couple, having +finished their task. This way, boys, please; I want +to ask if either of you in the course of your wanderings +happened to run across Oscar Huggins and Larry Billings? +They are the only missing scouts, and as the hour is growing +late, I would like to get a point as to where they may +be."</p> + +<p>Neither of the returned ones, however, could give him +the least information, nor was he able to succeed any better +when he asked the other couple. Apparently the absent +pair must have taken a course entirely different from any +of their comrades.</p> + +<p>The twilight now began to gather under the shelter of +the high mountain, and Mr. Garrabrant looked a bit worried. +If the boys had been unfortunate enough as to lose +themselves, he knew that they had taken plenty of matches +along, and moreover they had been instructed in various +devices whereby they might communicate with their comrades, +by waving a burning torch, for instance, from some +high elevation, certain movements standing for letters in +the Morse code, as used by the Signal Corps of the army.</p> + +<p>"I think I hear voices up yonder, sir," remarked Elmer, +coming up behind the scout master, who was watching the +finishing preparations for supper that were going on at the +several fires.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I thought so myself, and what you say, Elmer, +makes me more positive," Mr. Garrabrant observed, a smile +taking the place of the grave look on his handsome face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +"Yes, there they come yonder, looking as tired as the others. +And it may be that I deceive myself, but it strikes me both +lads seem to be greatly excited over something or other. +I sincerely hope nothing has happened to injure them. I +notice no limp in their gait, and each seems to have the +full use of both arms. What can have happened to them +now?"</p> + +<p>"At any rate we'll soon know, sir, for here they are," +said Elmer, encouragingly, as Red and Larry limped up to +the camp, and with sundry grunts sank upon a log as if to +signify how utterly exhausted they might be.</p> + +<p>"But tired or not, sir, we're just ready to go out again +with you, after we've had some supper," declared Red, +to the utter wonderment of the clustering scouts.</p> + +<p>"Then I was right in my surmise, and you <i>have</i> run +across something out of the common, boys?" remarked Mr. +Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Red promptly replied, "we certainly have; +and many times we felt mad to think we came away to get +help instead of staying there, and trying ourselves to investigate, +so as to find out what the groans meant we heard +coming from that lonely hut!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A BLAZED TRAIL.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a chorus of exclamations from the gathered +scouts, when they heard Red express himself in this startling +way. Eyes grew round with wonder, and more than one +lad almost held his breath, as he waited to catch further +particulars of the strange happening that had befallen their +two chums during their tramp.</p> + +<p>"Where was this at, Oscar?" asked the scout master, +quickly, alive to the importance of ascertaining all there +was to be made known.</p> + +<p>"I think it must have been all of a mile and a half from +here, sir," returned Red, who seldom heard his real name +mentioned save in school or at home.</p> + +<p>"And the way is mighty rough, too, sir," Larry put in, +rubbing his chin as if it might pain him somewhat, which +action caused Ted to grin, and nod his head.</p> + +<p>"Thee you later, Larry," he muttered. "I bet you +now, I don't let thith chance get away from me. That +boy'th badly hurt, and just won't acknowledge it, but +wait till Dr. Ted geth hold of him, that'th what."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can lead us back there, in case we +make up our minds to go to-night after supper?" Mr. Garrabrant +continued.</p> + +<p>"Easy, sir," came the answer, in confident tones. "You +see, we made it a point to mark the trail as we came along, +by cutting the trunks of trees, and breaking branches so +as to catch the eye. Elmer was telling us lately how he did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +once when lost in the timber in Canada, the 'bush' he +called it, and we remembered."</p> + +<p>"That's just fine, Oscar," commented the scout master, +as though pleased at so great a show of forethought in two +of his charges. "It shows what this business is already +doing for all of you—teaching you to use your heads at +any and all times. That was well done, and I imagine we'll +have little or no difficulty in tracing your progress back, +even if you are too tired to accompany us, for we will have +Elmer along."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but I'm bound to go, if I have to drag my game +leg behind me," asserted Red. "You see, both of us feel +sore over coming away without trying longer to find out +what it was groaning so in that cabin, and we want to make +good."</p> + +<p>"Does it hurt you <i>very</i> much, Red?" asked the solicitous +Ted, coming up with a face that seemed marked with +feeling.</p> + +<p>"Sure it does, Ted," replied the other, promptly, "and +I'm going to ask you to rub some liniment on right away. +Reckon I just sprained it a little, slipping down the side +of the mountain."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Red!" ejaculated the pleased amateur +surgeon, as he clasped the other by the arm. "Come right +along with me, and I'll fix you up in a jiffy. Only too +glad to be of thervice. And Red, you're the only gentleman—" +he suddenly paused, gave one smiling look around +at the frowning faces of his mates, and then completed his +sentence: "who hath applied to me for treatment. I'll +never forget this kindneth, never!"</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" remarked the scout master. "We must +know a little more about this matter before you drag your +patient away; though of course we expect him to survive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +the treatment. Tell us about the lone cabin, Oscar. How +did you happen on it?"</p> + +<p>"We had turned," Red started to say, "and were heading +toward home, when all of a sudden I thought I heard +a plain human groan. Larry said he had caught some sort +of sound, too. So we began to advance in that direction, +going slow-like, because you see we didn't know what sort +of trickery we might be up against. Then we caught sight +of a cabin that was half hidden among the trees and +bushes."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" Larry broke in with, "it just gave us both +the creeps, sir, to see how awful lonely the old place looked, +run down and neglected like. If Chatz had been along, he'd +sure have believed his pet ghost lived there."</p> + +<p>"But surely two sensible chaps like you and Oscar +wouldn't think of such a thing as that?" remarked Mr. +Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, sir," replied Red, after shooting a swift look +toward his comrade in misery. "But you see, the groans +kept on acomin' out of that window, and we could hear +voices too. We didn't hardly now what to do, go on and +knock at the door, or hurry back here to report. Larry, +he gave me a cold chill, I admit sir, when he just accidentally +said that it might be a ease of smallpox in that hut— +you know there were some cases this last spring to the north +of the Ridge."</p> + +<p>"And after talking it over, you decided that the wisest +thing to be done was to make your way to camp, and throw +the responsibility on my shoulders?" said the scout master. +"Well, perhaps it was far better you did this than take +chances. I have no doubt but what you might have adopted +a different course if you had not had help near by."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that's just what I said to Larry—that you'd +know best what ought to be done; but that if we were all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +alone in the region, we'd just have to go up to the door and +knock."</p> + +<p>"And so you set out to reach camp as fast as you +could?" continued Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"That's what we did sir, and in such a hurry that several +times we slipped and barked our shins, while I got a +jar when I tumbled."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'll fix that all right, in three thhakes of a lam'th +tail, if you'll only come over to my tent," said Ted, tugging +at the arm of each returned wanderer.</p> + +<p>And unable to resist his urgent plea, they allowed him +to lead them away. Later on when they once more appeared, +as supper was announced by the assembly call, the +pair of wounded scouts admitted that Dr. Ted had indeed +done wonders, inasmuch that their pains had miraculously +vanished, and they felt able to undertake the rough journey +again—after they had broken their fast.</p> + +<p>There was much speculation during the meal as to whom +Mr. Garrabrant would select to accompany him on his trip. +Of course Elmer was a foregone conclusion, as his natural +ability along the line of following a blazed trail might come +in pat.</p> + +<p>But the scout master settled all doubts by announcing +toward the close of the meal that he wished Red, Elmer, +Arthur, Dr. Ted (in case his services were needed), Jack +Armitage and Ty Collins to accompany him.</p> + +<p>No one murmured, for they knew it would do no good. +Larry started to ask why he had been left out; but Mr. +Garrabrant had noted his pallor, and understood that he +did not possess the sturdy physique his comrade of the +tramp boasted, and on that account had better remain in +camp.</p> + +<p>Another thing some of the observing lads noticed, and +this was the fact that as a rule those selected, outside of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +Dr. Ted, were the strongest in the troop. Perhaps, then, +Mr. Garrabrant might anticipate trouble of some sort, and +wished to have a healthy band of scouts at his back, especially +since none of them carried arms of any kind—though +the scout master really did have a revolver secreted +in his bag, which, unseen by any of the boys, he now made +sure to hide on his person.</p> + +<p>There could be no telling what they might find themselves +up against. Rumor had it that certain hard characters +at one time made their headquarters somewhere up in +the woods around the lakes, and who could say that the +lone cabin might not prove to be a nest of yeggmen or +hoboes?</p> + +<p>"How does your thprain feel; think you can thtand it?" +asked Ted of Red, as they got up from around the fire and +prepared to sally forth on their mission of mercy.</p> + +<p>"If you hadn't reminded me of it just then, I'd sure +never have thought I had a game leg," remarked the other. +"You're all to the good when it comes to doctoring a fellow, +Ted; if only you wouldn't talk so much about sawing +off legs and all such awful things."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be along in ease you feel it again, and I'll +make thure to carry a tin of that magic liniment," remarked +the ambitious surgeon, as he reentered the tent, to +make up a little package of things he thought might come +in handy in case they found some one sick in the hut.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, acting on the suggestion of Elmer, the other +boys selected such stout canes and cudgels as lay around +camp.</p> + +<p>"Be prepared!" grinned Lil Artha, as he swung a particularly +dangerous looking club around his head until it +fairly whistled through the air. "That's the motto of the +Boy Scouts, and I reckon it applies in a case of this kind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +just as much as when stopping a runaway horse. I'm prepared +to give a good account of myself, that's dead certain."</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant had fetched out a couple of lanterns, +making sure that the oil receptacles were well filled, so that +they would last through the journey, going and returning.</p> + +<p>"Now we're off, boys," he remarked, with a pleasant +smile. "The rest of you stay here and look close after the +camp. I've appointed Mark Cummings to serve in my place +while I'm gone, and shall expect every scout to pay him +just as much respect as though I were present. Lead off, +Oscar, we're with you."</p> + +<p>Red took up his place at the head of the little bunch. He +carried one of the lanterns with which he cast sufficient +light ahead to see where he was going.</p> + +<p>"First to take you to the seven sentry chestnuts," he +said. "We named 'em that, of course, when we came on +'em. The blazed trail commences right there, sir. We +didn't think it worth while to do any more slicing of bark +after that, because we knew we could easy enough find our +way back to that place."</p> + +<p>And he did lead the party to the seven chestnuts, with +only one or two periods of hesitation, during which he had +to puzzle things out.</p> + +<p>"There's the first blaze on that oak yonder," he remarked, +pointing as he spoke. "We tried to make the +marks close enough so as to show by lantern light, because +we both had an idea you'd want to come on before morning, +sir."</p> + +<p>Elmer was at the side of the leader by this time, prepared +to lend his experience in case the other ran up against a +snag. He took especial note of the general direction in +which the numerous blazes seemed to run. And when <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'presenty'">presently</ins> +Red confessed that he was "stumped" if he could +see where the next mark ought to be, Elmer had them hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +up while he walked forward in the quarter where, on general +principles, he imagined the blaze should be. And in +another minute his soft "cooee" told his comrades that +he had, sure enough, found the missing mark.</p> + +<p>Many times did Red have to fall back on Elmer to help +him out. His blazes had apparently been further apart than +he had realized at the time he made them. But the boy who +had lived in Canada, and experienced all sorts of frontier +life, knew just how to go about making the needed discovery; +and in every instance success rewarded his efforts.</p> + +<p>"We're getting close to the place now," Red finally announced, +as he limped along, refusing to allow Ted the +privilege of rubbing his strained leg again, because he did +not want to waste the time.</p> + +<p>"Then you recognize some of the landmarks?" suggested +Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I do that," came the confident reply. "In +another five minutes I think we'll be able to see something +of that queer cabin that is half hidden in the dense undergrowth."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps less than five minutes," remarked Elmer, +quietly. "Look yonder, sir, and you'll just catch a +glimpse of what seems to be a tiny speck of light. I think +that must spring from the window of the hut Red +speaks of."</p> + +<p>"You are right again, Elmer, as always," replied the +scout master, drawing in a long breath. "Now, forward, +slowly, boys. Let no one stumble, if it can possibly be +avoided; for we do not know what we may be up against. +But if there is anyone suffering in that cabin, it is our duty +to investigate, no matter what the danger. Elmer, lead the +way with me, please."</p> + +<p>Cautiously they crept forward, foot by foot. Doubtless +many a heart beat faster than ordinary, because there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +a certain air of mystery hovering over the whole affair, and +they could imagine a dozen separate strange sights that +might meet their vision once they peeped into the little +window of that isolated cabin.</p> + +<p>But no one would ever confess that such a thing as fear +tugged at the strings of his heart. Already the discipline +they had been under since joining the scout movement was +bearing fruit; timidity was put aside with a stern hand, and +keeping in a bunch they advanced until presently those in +the lead were able to rise up from hands and knees, glueing +their eager eyes upon the little opening through which came +the light that had guided them to the spot.</p> + +<p>And right then and there they heard a groan, so full of +suffering and misery that it went straight to the heart of +every boy who had been drafted by the scout master to accompany +him on this strange night errand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>WHAT THE LONE CABIN CONTAINED.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Elmer Chenowith looked through that opening, +what he saw was so entirely different from what he had +anticipated discovering that he could hardly believe his +eyes at first.</p> + +<p>With all the fancy of a boy, who gives free rein to his +imagination, doubtless he had fully expected to discover +several gruff-looking hoboes gathered there, perhaps engaged +in torturing one of their kind, or some wretched party +who had fallen into their power.</p> + +<p>Nothing of the sort. The very first object Elmer saw was +a small boy, dressed in ragged clothes, and who was trying +to blow a dying fire into life again.</p> + +<p>This did not look very alarming; and so Elmer cast his +eyes further afield, with the result that presently another +moving object riveted his attention. Why, surely that must +be a girl, for her long hair seemed to indicate as much! +What was she bending over? Was that a rude cot?</p> + +<p>Then the strange truth burst upon Elmer like a cannon +shot. The groans—they must indicate that a sick person +lay there, and these two small children (for the boy could +not be over six, while the girl might be eight) were trying +to carry out the combined duties of nurse, doctor and cook!</p> + +<p>"Oh!"</p> + +<p>It was Red himself who gave utterance to this low exclamation. +He was peering in at the opening over the +shoulder of Mr. Garrabrant, and what he saw was so vastly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +different from his expectations that he received a severe +"jolt," as he himself afterwards expressed it.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the sound, low as it was, reached the ears of the +little girl guardian of the sick bed. They saw her give a +jump, and immediately a pair of startled blue eyes were +staring in the direction of the opening.</p> + +<p>"Come!" said Mr. Garrabrant to his boys, "there is no +need of any more secrecy. I think we are needed here, and +badly, too."</p> + +<p>He led the way around the corner of the lone lodge, with +the scouts tagging at his heels, only too willing to follow. +Reaching the door of the cabin they were about to enter, +when Mr. Garrabrant uttered an exclamation of alarm.</p> + +<p>"Get on to the girl, would you?" gasped Lil Artha; and +there was no need of his attempting to explain, since his +chums could see for themselves.</p> + +<p>Small though she was, the girl had snatched up a long-barreled +gun, and was now actually menacing the intruders. +Her white face had a desperate look upon it, as though at +some time in the past the child had been warned that there +were bad men to be met with in those woods. As for the +little chap, he had hold of the hatchet with which at the +time he must have been cutting kindling wood; for he +clutched it in his puny hand, and looked like a dwarfed +wildcat at bay.</p> + +<p>Elmer, as long as he lived, would never forget that +picture. And as for the other boys, not one of them could +so much as utter a single word.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, my child!" cried Mr. Garrabrant, raising his +hands to show that they did not hold any sort of weapon; +"we are friends, and would be only too glad to be of help +to you. One of us is something of a doctor, if it happens +that anyone is sick here. Please let us come in."</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was the kindly look of the handsome young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +scout master—then again his voice may have influenced the +frightened girl; or the fact that those in the open doorway +were mostly boys might have had considerable to do with it. +Then again that magical word "doctor" must have thrilled +her through and through.</p> + +<p>The gun fell to the floor, and the relieved girl burst into +a flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"It's dad!" she cried, moving a hand toward the rude +cot behind her; and as the eyes of the boys flitted thither +again, they saw a bearded and very sick looking man trying +to raise himself up on his elbow.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant immediately went toward him, uttering +reassuring words, that no doubt did much to relieve the +alarm of the occupant of the rude bed. Wisely had the +long-headed scout master caused one of the boys to carry +some food along, not knowing what necessity might arise. +He saw that hunger was holding sway in this lone cabin +as well as sickness. And while Red started the fire to going, +Ty Collins proceeded to unwrap the package of meat and +bread, as well as the coffee and tea he had "toted" all the +way from camp.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant with a few questions learned the simple +story. The man was a charcoal burner in the summer season, +while he pursued the arduous labor of a lumberman +in the winter. A few months before his wife had suddenly +died, leaving him with these two small but very independent +children.</p> + +<p>Abe Morris, his name was, while the boy carried that of +Felix; and whenever the cabin dweller spoke of the girl +it was always as "Little Lou." He had hated to leave the +retired home where he had spent so many pleasant years, +and near which his wife was buried. And so he had managed +to get along, with the girl cooking his meals and playing +the part of housekeeper wonderfully well; while even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +Felix could do his stunt of gathering firewood and looking +after a few simple traps in which he caught muskrats.</p> + +<p>When the boys heard that this small edition of a lad had +been able to actually outwit the shrewd animals of the +marsh, they looked at each other in dismay, as though wondering +whether he might not have a better right to the title +of scout that any among them.</p> + +<p>Things had gone fairly well with the widower until a +week back, when an accident had brought him almost to +death's door. Managing to drag himself home, he had +swooned from loss of blood. Since that time he had suffered +tortures, more of the mind than of the body, since he +dreaded the thought of what would become of his children +should death claim him.</p> + +<p>They had done wonderfully well. When Dr. Ted got +busy, he praised the simple but clever work of that eight-year-old +girl, in binding up such a severe wound. Perhaps +Little Lou may have learned how to do this from the mother +who was gone, or it might be it came just natural to her. +When children live away from the world, and are forced +to depend upon themselves for everything, it is amazing how +they can do things that would puzzle those twice their age, +when pampered in comfortable homes. Necessity forces +them to reach out and attempt things, just as she teaches +the child to use its limbs, and utter sounds.</p> + +<p>Once they realized that these were kind friends who had +come so opportunely to their rescue, Felix and Little Lou +found their voices, and proved that they could talk, as Lil +Artha put it, "a blue streak."</p> + +<p>And when they sat down to a supper such as they had +not tasted for many a day, both of the children of the charcoal +burner were comparatively happy. As for the man +himself, he wrung the hands of Mr. Garrabrant and each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +of the Boy Scouts as they took their leave, calling down +blessings on their heads for what they had done.</p> + +<p>"We're going to see you through, Abe," the scout master +had said positively. "We intend being up here ten +days or so, and during that time I fully expect our Dr. Ted +will be able to have you hobbling around again. Then +you've got to come down to Hickory Ridge when we send +a vehicle of some sort up here for you. This is no place for +a man to think of bringing up two such fine youngsters as +you possess. They must have a chance to go to school, and +I promise you all the work you want, so that you can live +in or near town. It may have been different so long as +your good wife was with you, but now it would be next +door to a crime to think of staying here, even for the balance +of the summer. You will come, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Sure I will, Mr. Garrabrant!" exclaimed the rough +man; who, however, used better language than might have +been expected. "And it's the luckiest day of my whole life +when those two lads discovered my shack here. Heaven only +knows what would have become of us only for that."</p> + +<p>They left the queer home in the wilderness with Felix and +Little Lou waving their hands vigorously after them, standing +in the doorway, and plainly seen against the firelight +behind.</p> + +<p>And there was not one among those boys but who felt a +warm sensation in the region of his heart, such as always +comes when a kind deed has been performed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant had been greatly affected by the incident; +nor did he hesitate to express himself warmly on the journey +back to the camp, which by the way Elmer managed +to accomplish without even one error of judgment, much to +the admiration of his chums, who watched his actions +eagerly, desirous of picking up points calculated to enhance +their reputation as scouts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Boys, you may have made other tramps, going skating, +hunting, playing baseball, and the like; but take my word +for it, you never acquitted yourselves better than on this +night. I'm proud of every one of you, and I thank you in +the name of poor Abe Morris. And if there happens to be +anyone here who has been wearing his badge upside down +through the day, because he failed to find a chance to do +anybody a good turn, I hereby give him full permission to +set it right."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that touches me, sir!" exclaimed Jack Armitage. +"I've been wondering all along just how in the wide +world I was going to find a chance to do my little kind deed +stunt. There ain't any old ladies to help across the street +up here; and dooryards to clear up of trash are as scarce as +hens' teeth. But you've eased my mind a heap, Mr. Garrabrant. +Perhaps you'll let me do some of the running over +to Abe's cabin each day, to carry him supplies. That sturdy +little chap just took my eye, and when I get back home I'm +going to get father to give Abe a job in his flooring mill."</p> + +<p>"That's nice of you, Jack," replied the pleased scout +master. "And it does your heart credit. Between us all, +it will be very strange if we can't fix up that little family, +and bring some happiness to their bleak home. Think of +those two brave kiddies keeping house for their father amid +such desolate surroundings. No wonder they made me think +of a pair of wildcats ready to defend their den as we bustled +in. They seldom see a living soul but their father, now that +the mother has been laid away. But we must be nearly back +at camp, I should judge, Elmer? At any rate, I admit that +I'm beginning to feel leg weary, not being used to this work +of tramping over the side of a rough mountain."</p> + +<p>"But just think of Red, here, thir," broke in Dr. Ted, +who had a helping arm around the lame member of the expedition. +"He thure detherves a medal for what he's done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +Tramping all thith distance with that thore ankle ith—well, +I wath going to thay heroic, but I guess he wouldn't +like that. Anyhow, I think pretty much all the credit ought +to go to Red."</p> + +<p>"Now, just you hold your horses there!" declared the +party in question, trying to repress a groan, as he had a +rude twinge of pain shoot up his left leg. "I owe all this +to myself, and more, because I made the mistake of running +off without finding out what that groan meant. I've wanted +to kick myself ever since. It ain't often I play the part of +a sneak, and it makes me sore. So whenever my leg hurts +I just grin and say to myself: 'Serves you right, you coward, +for running away, instead of investigating, like a true +scout should have done!'"</p> + +<p>"You are too severe on yourself, Oscar," remarked Mr. +Garrabrant, soothingly; for he knew the impulsive and +warm-hearted nature of the boy who was taking himself so +much to task. "When your companion suggested that perhaps +there was a case of smallpox in that hut, it was your +duty to come to me and report, rather than take the awful +responsibility on your young shoulders. And I mean to see +to it that you get many good marks for what you have done +this night—not you alone, but every boy who accompanied +me on this errand of mercy."</p> + +<p>"There's the camp fire, sir!" exclaimed Elmer, at this +moment.</p> + +<p>"I bet you Redth glad to see it, poor old chap!" remarked +Dr. Ted.</p> + +<p>"Shucks! I reckon I could have stood it a little while +longer!" declared the limping one; but when he presently +reached the home camp, and sank down on a blanket, the +pain he had been silently enduring all the return trip was +too much for him, and Red actually fainted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of course he was quickly brought to, and Dr. Ted looked +to the injured limb.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to lie around pretty much all the balance +of the time we're run up in thith neck of the woodth, old fellow," +was his announcement; which dictum made Red do +what the pain had failed to accomplish, groan dismally.</p> + +<p>Of course those who had been left behind were fairly +clamorous to know what had happened. So sitting there by +the crackling fire, with all those bright and eager faces surrounding +him, the scout master, assisted at times by Elmer, +Ted or Lil Artha, described their long jaunt over the grim +mountainside, the finding of the lone cabin, just as Red and +Larry had said, and what wonderful discovery they had +made upon peering in through the open window.</p> + +<p>And every boy felt that a golden opportunity had come +to their organization that night to live up to the high ideals +the Boy Scout movement stands for.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>WIGWAGGING FROM THE MOUNTAIN PEAK.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Another</span> fine day for a few more tests, and such things, +fellows!" sang out Chatz Maxfield, on the following morning, +after they had finished breakfast.</p> + +<p>The night had actually passed without any sign of alarm. +Although Chatz had fully anticipated a return of his stalking +ghost, while he stood out his turn as a sentry, he had met +with disappointment, for nothing happened. Still, he did +not wholly give up hope of meeting up with the "misty +white object" again. The jeers of his mates had begun to +take effect, and Chatz really wanted to have the thing settled, +one way or the other, as soon as possible. Either there +were such things as ghosts, or there were not. And he +wished to be convinced, declaring that he was open to conviction, +if only they could prove to the contrary.</p> + +<p>"Yes," remarked Mark Cummings, who was near by, +with others of the scouts; "and I guess Mr. Garrabrant has +laid out a bully and strenuous old day for the lot of us, +barring Red and Ginger, who are to keep camp. He speaks +of sending one bunch to the top of Mount Pisgah, as this +peak is called, while another tries to climb Mount Horab +yonder. They ought to get up there about noon, and for +two hours wigwag to each other, sending and receiving messages +that are to be kept in books provided for the purpose. +Then, at night, when we all meet again around the camp +fire, we'll have heaps of fun, seeing just how stupid we've +been in our Signal Corps work."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you forget, Mark," said Red, who was lounging +on a log close by, "that you promised to let me try a few +prints from those negatives you developed and fixed. I'm +a pretty good hand at that work, so they tell me at home, +and I'd like to see how we all look up here in camp."</p> + +<p>"All right, Red," replied Mark, cheerfully. "You shall +do the job, and welcome. I've seen some of your work, and +it's sure the best ever. I'll fix up a place in the tent here, +where you can hobble if you want to, after you've done your +printing and want to fix the pictures."</p> + +<p>"But you want to go easy on that leg, remember," +warned Dr. Ted, shaking a finger at his patient, just as he +had seen the old family doctor do many a time.</p> + +<p>"You and Jack are bound over the side of the mountain +to visit the Abe Morris family, I heard?" remarked Chatz, +speaking to Ted.</p> + +<p>"Yeth, it is a professional visit on my part," replied the +other, pretending to look very dignified. "But Mr. Garrabrant +hath promithed that everyone of you shall have a +turn to accompany me day by day, tho ath to make the acquaintance +of those two brave kiddies, as he calls them, +Felix and Little Lou."</p> + +<p>"I'm right glad to hear that, suh," remarked Chatz; +"from what you all tell me, I'm quite anxious to meet +up with that boy and girl. And if Jack falls through with +his plan of getting Abe employment in his father's mill, I +think I know just where he would fit into a good position."</p> + +<p>The two companies left camp about eight o'clock. Dr. +Ted and Jack Armitage waved them good-by, for they too +were getting ready to start on their errand to the lone cabin +in the woods.</p> + +<p>Elmer headed one group of scouts, while Mr. Garrabrant +had charge of the other. They carried plenty of lunch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +along, though it was expected that they would surely be +back before evening had set in.</p> + +<p>The scout master was not at all positive about his thorough +knowledge of woodcraft; for as yet it was almost +wholly theoretical rather than practical with him.</p> + +<p>"I am not above getting lost, in spite of my book knowledge," +he had laughed, as he selected what boys were to +accompany him; "and that is why I take Matty Eggleston, +Mark Cummings, and Arthur Stansbury among my followers; +because next to Elmer, they are known to possess practical +ideas concerning this traveling in unknown timber. So +good-by, lads; we'll look to have a good talk with you across +the valley."</p> + +<p>So day after day he expected to put the scouts "through +their paces," as Lil Artha called it. To-day it was to be +the great hike to the tops of the mountains, and the wigwagging +contest between the two factions. To-morrow he +meant to have Elmer give further lessons along the line of +following a trail, showing just how an experienced woodsman +can tell from many sources how long ago the party had +passed; the number of which it consisted; whether they were +men, women or children; white or Indians; and even describing +some of the marked peculiarities of the members +comprising it.</p> + +<p>Then later on they would have swimming contests; first +aid to the injured lessons; resuscitating a person who has +come near being drowned; cooking rivalry; athletics; and +many other things connected with the open life.</p> + +<p>It proved a long and arduous tramp for Elmer and his +companions. He had had the privilege of choosing which +mountain he would attempt to scale, and just like an ambitious +boy, had selected the one he felt sure would be the +more difficult.</p> + +<p>Those who followed his lead had many times to beg of him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +to halt and take a little breathing spell, for the way was +very rough and much climbing of rocks had to be done in +order to mount upward.</p> + +<p>"Wow! are we ever going to get up there?" grunted +Toby, who had just hated to come on this expedition at all, +when he would much rather have liked hanging around +camp, and examining the deflated balloon; no doubt dreaming +dreams of the time when he hoped to have the chance +to soar away among the clouds in one of those gas bags.</p> + +<p>"Seems like that mountain top is just nigh as far away +from us as ever," complained Larry Billings, who was +puffing at a great rate, as he seemed to be rather short +winded, and had to be taken to task several times for his +faulty manner of walking.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, you're greatly mistaken there," laughed Elmer. +"Distances are deceptive in the mountains, to anyone not +used to measuring them with the eye. Just wait a little, +and all at once you're going to realize that we're getting up +handsomely. Look across the valley, and see how high we +are right now! That proves it, Larry."</p> + +<p>"Hey! what's that moving, away up on that other hill, +Elmer?" cried Jasper Merriweather, the novice and real +tenderfoot of the crowd; who, under the careful supervision +of the scout leader of the Wolf Patrol, was actually +doing himself proud, and gaining new confidence in his +abilities with each passing hour.</p> + +<p>Elmer followed the line of his outstretched finger.</p> + +<p>"You deserve considerable praise, Jasper, for making +that discovery," he declared, presently. "I can see what +you mean now; though when I looked across before I didn't +happen to notice. Yes, that's our other squad, climbing up +just like we are, and not making any better job of it either, +I think."</p> + +<p>"Ho! they ain't near as far up, for a fact," said Nat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +Scott, with pardonable pride, since he had developed into +a pretty good climber.</p> + +<p>"Well, that mountain is not so tall as ours; but then it +may be even rougher, for all we know," observed Elmer. +"I picked out this one because it was so high, and I always +want to tackle the hardest job, if I've got any choice. It +makes you feel all the better if you win out. But come on, +fellows, let's pitch in. Given one more good hour's work, +and I think we ought to be pretty near the crown."</p> + +<p>"I hope so!" sighed poor Larry, who was puffing still, +and rubbing his leg where he had hurt it a little on the +previous day; though it was nothing so bad as Red's injury, +aggravated as it had been by his stubborn determination to +return to the lone hut and accompany the relief party.</p> + +<p>Once more they struggled upward. Sometimes they +found the going so very difficult that they were obliged to +give each other a helping hand.</p> + +<p>Of course the view grew finer the higher they went.</p> + +<p>"Say, Elmer," remarked Toby, as they halted later on +to get their breath; "d'ye suppose now we'll be able to +glimpse dear old Hickory Ridge when we get up to the top +of this mole hill?"</p> + +<p>"Sure we will," replied the leader, cheerily. "And +that alone ought to pay us for all our trouble. We've only +been away a couple of days or so, but I reckon it seems an +age to a lot of us, since we saw the home folks."</p> + +<p>There was an ominous silence after that remark. Doubtless +every scout was allowing his thoughts to roam tenderly +back to that beloved home which he knew sheltered those +who were so dear to his heart. And possibly, unseen by +his fellows, a tear may even have rolled unbidden down +more than one cheek. For they were but boys, after all, and +same of them had never even been so far away from the +home nest before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer proved to be a true prophet, for ere the full hour +was up even the doubting Larry was obliged to confess that +they had gained a point not far from the summit.</p> + +<p>This seemed to inspire the laggards to renewed efforts, so +that presently, with loud cries of delight and admiration, +the whole bunch struggled to the apex and had the view of +their lives around them.</p> + +<p>"Ain't this just too grand for anything?" gasped +Larry, as he squatted down on a stone and tried to pick +out the distant village on the ridge where home lay.</p> + +<p>The others were doing the same; and all manner of exclamations +followed, as this one or that discovered familiar +landmarks, by means of which their untrained eyes could +find the one particular spot about which their thoughts +clustered just then.</p> + +<p>It was not far from noon, and when Elmer declared that +they had well earned the right to eat the hearty luncheon +carried along, he was greeted with cries of joy: for it was +a jolly hungry batch of scouts that gathered on that mountain +top.</p> + +<p>While they ate they discovered that their mates had also +managed to reach their goal. But no communication was +attempted until they had thoroughly rested.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Garrabrant started operations himself, after +which he probably handed the flags over to the scout who +was to make the first test of his knowledge along the line +of wigwagging a message, and receiving a reply.</p> + +<p>It proved to be interesting work, and all the boys with +Elmer declared that it held a peculiar fascination and +charm about it. Of course, in war times, such business must +carry along with it more or less danger. They could easily +picture how an operator must take great risks first of all +to mount to some exposed position, where his flag could +readily be seen, and then keep up a constant signaling with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +another flagman far away, while the enemy would doubtless +be making every effort to break up the serious communications +that might spell disaster for their cause.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, it won't take us near so long to go down the +mountain as it did to climb up here," remarked Larry, with +satisfaction in his voice.</p> + +<p>"All the same," remarked Elmer, "every fellow has +got to be mighty careful just how he goes. No rushing +things, you understand. It's easier to take a tumble going +down than coming up. And we want no more cripples on +this trip."</p> + +<p>About three o'clock they started to descend from the peak. +Every boy had to just tear himself away, after one last look +at the distant ridge that lay bathed in the warm sunshine. +And no one had a word to say for quite a time.</p> + +<p>The descent was made in safety, though several times one +of the boys would slip on a piece of loose shale; and once +Larry might have had a severe fall only that Elmer, happening +to be close beside him at the time, shot out a hand +and clutched him as he was plunging headlong, after catching +his heel in a root.</p> + +<p>They all breathed a sigh of relief when the bottom of the +mountain was reached. After that the going was much +easier, and they soon drew near the camp.</p> + +<p>"Wonder if the other fellows made as quick a getdown +as we did?" remarked Toby, who was hobbling along, footsore, +and with his muscles paining from the many severe +strains they had been compelled to endure during the day; +but only too glad to realize that he would soon arrive where +he could once more be in touch with that wonderful sky +traveler that had so fortunately dropped into their hands.</p> + +<p>"I think it will be pretty near a tie," laughed Elmer; +"for just a bit ago I had a glimpse of them, where the +timber opened up, and I judged that they were as close to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +home and supper as we are. Put your best leg forward, +boys, and don't let on that any of you are near tuckered +out. Where's your pride, Larry? Brace up, and look as if +you felt as fresh as a daisy!"</p> + +<p>Larry tried to obey; but it was hard to smile when he +felt as though he had been "drawn through a straw," as +he declared.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" cried Elmer, five minutes later, throwing up +his hand for silence.</p> + +<p>"It's Ginger, and he's yelling to beat the band!" exclaimed +Toby.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wonder what's happened!" gasped Jasper.</p> + +<p>"Run for all you're worth, fellows!" said Elmer, starting +off himself at full speed.</p> + +<p>Quickly they broke cover, and neared the camp, to see +the other party close by, also on the run. Ginger was +dancing up and down, still whooping things up, while Red +stood just outside of a tent looking startled and puzzled.</p> + +<p>"What's that Ginger's yelling?" called Toby, and it +thrilled them as they heard.</p> + +<p>"'Twar de debble dat time nigh got me! He's gwine tuh +grab us all away in de chariot ob fire! I'se a gone coon, +I is! Runnin' ain't no use;" and Ginger threw himself +on his knees with clasped hands and rolling eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE HAIRY THIEF THAT WALKED ON TWO LEGS.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">No</span> wonder the returned scouts stared, hardly daring to +believe their eyes and ears. Some of them of course +thought Ginger might have gone out of his head. Only +on the preceding night had Elmer been telling them what +queer antics animals out on the plains go through with, +when they have been eating the loco weed.</p> + +<p>There were a few who seemed to have a hazy suspicion +that possibly Red might be concerned in this strange fright +on the part of poor Ginger. True, the boy with the lame leg +had apparently just dragged himself out of the tent, and +the look on his face under that fiery shock of hair would +indicate astonishment as genuine as their own; but then, +how were they to know but what this had been assumed?</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant, however, made direct for the moaning +and wabbling negro, who had fallen on his knees, and with +clasped hands was bowing back and forth in an agony of +fear.</p> + +<p>"Here, what's the matter with you, Ginger?" he demanded, +catching hold of the other, and while Ginger gave +a little screech at first, upon turning his rolling eyes upward +he appeared to recognize the genial face of the young +scout master.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mistah Grabant, am dat youse?" he cried, seizing +hold of the other's arm. "I'se mighty glad tuh see +yuh, suh, 'deed an' I is. Am it gone foh suah?"</p> + +<p>"What gone?" demanded Mr. Garrabrant, sternly. +"See here, Ginger, have you kept a black bottle hidden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +away all this time while we have been in camp?" For he +had a sudden inspiration that possibly Ginger might be +addicted to the failing that besets so many of his color.</p> + +<p>"'Deed an' 'deed an' I ain't touched a single drap, +suh," declared the demoralized one; "'clar tuh goodness +if I has. It war dar, jes' ober yander, whar de box ob +crackers am alyin' right now. An' he scolded me, suh, +foh interferin' wid de liberties he am takin' wid dem provisions, +dat he did! Ugh! tuh t'ink dat I'd lib tuh set +eyes on de Ole Nick!"</p> + +<p>"But what makes you think it was Satan? Perhaps it +was only some wandering hobo who thought he saw a good +chance to steal something to eat?" and the scout master +sought to hold Ginger's roving eyes fastened upon his own +orbs, so as to rivet his attention, and secure a coherent +answer to his question.</p> + +<p>"Sho! dat was no human animal, suh!" exclaimed Ginger, +earnestly. "He done hab a cover ob red hair, an' +de wickedest grin on his face yuh ebber see. Reckon I +knows de debble w'en I sees him."</p> + +<p>"Well, from what you say, Ginger, this queer visitor +seems to have had a very human weakness for crackers," +remarked Mr. Garrabrant, smiling. "Was he carrying that +package of biscuit when you saw him first?"</p> + +<p>"Yas, suh, dat an' two more ob dem same. He drap it +'case he couldn't hold de lot, an' walk away too. Yuh see, +suh, I war cleaning some fish dat de boys dey fotched in +las' ebenin', an' which we nebber use foh breakfast dis +mornin'. Den I tink I hyah some queer noise in de camp, +an' I starts up dis a ways. 'Twar den dat de hairy ole +critter steps outen de store tent, and jabbers at me. I +was skeered nigh 'bout stiff, suh, 'clar tuh goodness I was."</p> + +<p>"Still, you shouted, for we heard you, Ginger!" said +Mr. Garrabrant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Reckons I did do sumpin' dat way, boss," admitted +the negro, a faint grin striving to make its appearance on +his ebony face. "Dat was jes' when de Ole Harry, he was +asteppin' into de bushes, acarryin' two ob de boxes ob +crackers in his arms."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say he walked erect, on two legs?" +asked the scout master.</p> + +<p>"Shore he did, suh, right along, ahuggin' de grub wid +one arm, an' shakin' his fist at me wid de udder."</p> + +<p>"Now you talk as though it <i>must</i> have been a man—perhaps +a wild man who may have been living in these woods +for years?" suggested Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>But Ginger shook his head in an obstinate fashion, saying:</p> + +<p>"I knows right well dat he wa'n't dat, suh; I'se dead +suah 'bout it!"</p> + +<p>"But why do you say that; what proof have you it was +not some sort of man, Ginger?"</p> + +<p>"<i>'Case he done hab a tail, suh!</i>" cried the other, triumphantly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant smiled, and gave Elmer, who was close +at his elbow all the while, a knowing wink.</p> + +<p>"Well," he remarked, "that tail business would seem to +settle one thing, Ginger. Unless this turns out to be the +long-sought Missing Link, our visitor could hardly have +been a human being. He was evidently an animal of <i>some</i> +sort. Get that idea of the Old Nick out of your head. +Listen to me, Ginger, and try to remember; did he say +anything to you?"</p> + +<p>"Yas, sah, he did, lots!" answered the black man, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you tell us what it was, then?" suggested the +scout master, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Dar's wha' yuh got me, Mistah Grabant," replied the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +other, reluctantly. "Yuh see, suh, I nebber did git much +schoolin' down in Virginny, whah I was bawn an' brought +up. Nebber did go to college an' larn de dead langwidges."</p> + +<p>"Oh! then this creature talked to you in Greek, or possibly +Hebrew, did he? In other words, he chattered in an +unknown tongue! Well, how about you, Oscar; did you +happen to catch a glimpse of Ginger's uninvited guest?" +and Mr. Garrabrant turned suddenly on Red, as though +wishing to make positive that this were not a clever trick he +might have been playing on the terrified black man.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," came the ready response. "I was busy inside +when I heard Ginger give that war whoop! I thought +he might have burned himself at the fire, and I hurt my +game pin like fun when I tried to run out. All I saw was +the coon down on his marrowbones asinging that same +tune about the 'debble.' That's all I know, sir, give you +my word for it."</p> + +<p>"All right, I believe you, Oscar," continued the scout +master, plainly disturbed by this new mystery that had +descended upon the camp, yet pretending to make light of +it because he did not wish to alarm the boys under his +charge. "And now, Ginger, can you point out to me just +the spot where your strange friend vanished?"</p> + +<p>"'Deed an' 'deed he ain't no friend ob mine, suh, gibes +yuh my word foh dat," replied the other, solemnly. +"Right ober yandah, suh, whah dem bushes hangs low. An' +I declars tuh Moses, suh, I don't know right now whedder +de ugly ole sinner he jes' step intuh de bushes, or go up in +a cloud ob fire like de prophet ob old."</p> + +<p>Several of the more impulsive scouts started to hurry +in that direction.</p> + +<p>"Stop, boys!" called the scout master instantly. "Come +back here, please. Once before you succeeded in trampling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +all sign out, so that Elmer was unable to pick up any +clue. Now, I want just Elmer and Mark to go over there, +to investigate. After that has been done they will report +to me. And now, let's settle down in camp, for I know +you are all tired. Supper is the next thing on the program."</p> + +<p>Elmer, accompanied by his nearest chum, immediately +walked carefully over in the direction of the spot which +Ginger had indicated. They bent low, and seemed to be +deeply interested in certain tracks they had found.</p> + +<p>Of course the boys shot many curious glances that way, +but they knew better than to disobey the positive orders +given by their chief. Discipline is one of the first things +taught among the Boy Scouts.</p> + +<p>About this time Dr. Ted and Jack Armitage got back +from a day at the cabin. They had much to tell about what +they had occupied themselves in doing all the time, preparing +things so that in a few days the family could be +moved, for Mr. Garrabrant had fully decided to take the +sick man and his "kiddies" down in one of the boats to +Rockaway, where they could be looked after until the expedition +returned.</p> + +<p>It was getting dusk before Elmer and his chum joined +the others. They did not give out any information, and to +the inquiries of their curious mates returned only vague +smiles and nods.</p> + +<p>Supper was eaten with more or less clatter of tongues. +There were so many interesting subjects claiming their +attention that the boys hardly knew which to discuss first.</p> + +<p>When, however, the meal was about done, Mr. Garrabrant +asked Elmer to step aside with him for a short time.</p> + +<p>"Here, let us sit down on this convenient log, Elmer," +remarked the scout master. "And please tell me what you +found."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We had no difficulty in discovering the tracks, sir," replied +the boy, whose experience on a Canadian prairie +farm and ranch made him a valuable addition to the ranks +of the Boy Scouts at such a time.</p> + +<p>"Was it a man or an animal?" asked the gentleman, as +though eager to have that mooted point settled immediately.</p> + +<p>"Oh! an animal, sir, there can be no doubt of that," replied +Elmer, smiling. "But those tracks puzzle me the +worst kind. I know what the trail of a panther looks like, +also that of a fox, a wolf, a bear, a deer, a coyote, a wildcat—but +this was entirely different from any of these. It +resembled the footprint of a human being—a child—more +than anything I ever saw."</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant smiled, and nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"I've got an idea," he said, "but go on, and tell me +what else you learned. Then I'll put you wise to what I +suspect."</p> + +<p>"Well," the boy continued, "the queer thing about it +is that Ginger was quite right when he said the thing +walked on two legs. I could only find the marks of that +many. Now, I've seen a bear do that stunt, and educated +dogs, but no other animal outside of a circus."</p> + +<p>"How about a monkey?" asked the scout master, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mr. Garrabrant, how could such an animal get up +here? Monkeys live in tropical countries only. But I +can see that you've got an idea. Please let me hear it."</p> + +<p>"Listen then, Elmer," the other went on, seriously. +"Now, I happen to know that just a month ago a certain +gentleman named Colonel Hitchens, living on a country +place he calls Caldwell, just a mile outside the town of +Rockaway, lost a pet monkey that had been taught to do +a lot of funny antics. The gentleman was an old traveler,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +and had brought the animal himself from some foreign +land. I remember his telling me how he caught him, by +filling some cocoanut shells with strong drink, and getting +the animal stupid."</p> + +<p>"Oh! that must be it, then!" exclaimed Elmer, laughing, +while the look of bewilderment left his face. "No +wonder the tracks were a riddle to me. I've never as yet +had the pleasure of hunting monkeys, or Barbary apes, +or gorillas. Yes, sir, the more I think of it, the more I +believe that you've hit the truth. It must have been a +monkey, hungry for some of the things he had been used +to when held a prisoner at Colonel Hitchens'."</p> + +<p>"I saw the beast perform once," Mr. Garrabrant went +on, "and he was really a marvel. He was a big chap, too, +hairy and ugly. When he chattered and scowled he certainly +was enough to give one a shiver. No wonder then +that he frightened poor Ginger almost into convulsions. +No wonder our factotum believed he had seen the Old Nick. +But what had he better do about it, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I wanted to speak with you about, +sir," the boy remarked, with considerable eagerness. +"Now the chances are that, having once made a raid on +our store tent, this monkey will come again another time, +perhaps even to-night."</p> + +<p>"That sounds reasonable," replied the scout master, nodding +his head. "By the way, I just happened to remember +the monkey's name. It fitted him pretty well, too, as +you'll admit when you see him. Diablo it was."</p> + +<p>"Just think of it, sir, just the name Ginger gave him, +too. But Mark and I have decided to set a trap to catch +him. We'll fix it so that if the monkey tries to enter the +store tent again he'll set off a trigger, and some queer results +will follow. For one thing he'll find himself caught +up in the loop of a rope, and held, kicking, off the ground<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +until we can come to corral him. Then, if it happens to be +in the night, the falling of the trigger will set a flashlight +going, and Mark's camera, placed for the occasion, will +take a picture of the trespasser."</p> + +<p>"That sounds fine, Elmer," laughed the scout master. +"Now, I leave the matter in your hands entirely. Do what +you think best, and I wish you success."</p> + +<p>"How about telling the boys, sir?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant thought it over a moment.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'd better take the whole bunch into your +confidence," he said, presently. "They are deeply interested, +you know, and if kept in ignorance possibly some +one might stumble across your plans, and upset every calculation."</p> + +<p>And so, when Elmer returned to the fire, he had the entire +bunch listening, their eyes round with wonder, as they +learned what had been discovered, and also of the bright +plans their chums had arranged looking to the capture of +Diablo.</p> + +<p>Only Ginger was evidently disturbed. He scratched his +head as he listened, as if he could hardly believe what he +saw had been of this earth, and the idea of Elmer being +so rash as to want to try and make a prisoner of the Evil +One gave the ignorant negro a cold shiver. Doubtless he +would make sure to find a snug place to sleep that night, +where nothing could get at him. His mind was still filled +with foolish notions concerning that "chariot of fire" in +which he might be carried out of this world into the Great +Unknown.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>LAYING A GHOST.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, Elmer," remarked Mr. Garrabrant, the next +morning, as he came out of his tent and met the young +scout leader face to face, "I must have slept unusually +sound last night, for the alarm failed to awaken me!"</p> + +<p>"There was no alarm, sir," smiled Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Meaning that we did not have the pleasure of a second +visit from Diablo, the educated monkey, is that it?" +asked the scout master, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," the boy went on, "Diablo must have secured +enough rations in his first raid to last him for twenty-four +hours. But Mark and myself do not think of giving +our job up yet awhile. We expect to catch a likeness of +our hairy visitor, even if the trap fails to work, and hold +him a prisoner. I suppose Colonel Hitchens would be +very glad to have the beast back, if it turns out that this +is Diablo?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it, and as he is a wealthy man, no doubt +he would willingly pay a round sum to those who would +return his pet," Mr. Garrabrant declared.</p> + +<p>"Oh! we were not thinking of that, sir, I give you my +word," declared Elmer; "but possibly, if we did happen +to succeed, the gentleman might be willing to do something +for poor Abe in return for our restoring his pet."</p> + +<p>The scout master looked keenly at Elmer, and then thrust +out his hand impulsively.</p> + +<p>"That was well said, my boy," he remarked, with a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +quiver in his voice. "I am proud to know that you feel +that way toward the unfortunate. And I give you my +word, if you are so fortunate as to capture Diablo, I'll +convince Colonel Hitchens that it is his <i>duty</i> to do a lot +for Abe and his little flock. That boy is made of the right +stuff, I'm sure, and ought to have the advantages of an +education. I'm going to see that he has his chance."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, just to think of a kid not over six years old +being able to set a muskrat trap, and actually take skins. +Why, I know a lot about the little varmints, and I give +you my word, sir, they're pretty sharp. It takes a bright +boy to outwit an old seasoned muskrat. He showed me +quite a lot of skins he had cured, of course under his father's +directions."</p> + +<p>"And then that girl, Little Lou—think of her doing all +the cooking for the family ever since her mother was taken +away?" continued the gentleman. "She's a darling, if +I ever saw one. I grew quite fond of her, and mean to +see more of them all. But I ought to be laying out the +program for to-day's work."</p> + +<p>"What are we to try to-day, sir?" asked Elmer, who, +as second in command, had privileges in talking with the +scout master that none of the other lads dared assume.</p> + +<p>"Well, as it promises to be a warm day, we might try +the swimming test for one thing," replied Mr. Garrabrant, +thoughtfully. "At the same time there is that feat of +landing a big fish with a rod and a small line, the said fish +being of course an active boy, who does his best to break +away. While we're at it, we may as well go through our +usual formula whereby anyone who has been nearly +drowned may be resuscitated again. And last, but not +least, we can have Dr. Ted give us his talk on first aid to +the injured. He will get back in good time if he leaves +after lunch for the Morris cabin."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think Chatz is waiting to speak to you, sir," remarked +Elmer, who had been noticing the Southern lad hovering +near for some little time, looking queerly in their direction.</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" remarked Mr. Garrabrant. "Now I hope +he hasn't been seeing more of his hobgoblins. That is about +the only weakness Charles seems to have. Otherwise I find +him a very sensible lad. If only he could be cured of his +belief in the supernatural it would be a good thing."</p> + +<p>"Well," laughed Elmer, "some of us would be only +too glad of the chance to cure him. Shall I go away, and +let him have an interview, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No, remain, and hear what Charles has to say. It may +be I shall need your services. This time the tracks of +the ghost may not have been trampled out of sight, and +you can give a guess at its character. I never in all my +life knew of so many queer happenings inside of so short +a time."</p> + +<p>The scout master beckoned toward Chatz, and obeying the +mandate the Southern boy came quickly forward.</p> + +<p>"You wish to speak with me, Charles, I imagine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the other, with a frown on his brow.</p> + +<p>"Has something happened again to disturb you?" inquired +Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Last night, I presume, since you would have spoken +before, had it happened yesterday?" the scout master continued, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"Last night it was, sir. I saw IT again!" remarked +Chatz, appearing to swallow something that was in his +throat.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you mean that mysterious white object which appeared +to you on the other occasion, and seemed to assume +all the characteristics of a supernatural visitor? In other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +words, Charles, your pet ghost?" remarked Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>The boy flushed, but held his ground.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he said, slowly, "I understand what a +contempt you have for any such idea, sir; and indeed, I +only wish it could be shown to me that this is only some +natural object, and not of the other world. I'd be too +glad to know it. I hate to think I'm given to such ideas, +but they seem to be a part of my nature, and I can't help +it, try as I may."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps we may be able to assist you, Charles," +returned the genial scout master, laying a hand on the lad's +shoulder in a way that quite won his confidence. "Now +tell me what you saw, when and where, also what it looked +like."</p> + +<p>"I think it was in about the same quarter as before, +sir. My watch happened to come late in the night this +time, in fact just before dawn broke. I heard again that +blood-curdling sound, a plain 'woof'! and raising my +head I could just make it out in the darkness. It was white, +as before, and it moved! Then all of a sudden it seemed +to vanish most mysteriously."</p> + +<p>"Well, did the other sentry see anything, Charles?" +asked Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"We had arranged it all between us, sir, Ty Collins and +myself. And he will tell you, sir, that he saw just what I +did," replied Chatz, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"That sounds as though you might have seen <i>something</i>, +then," smiled Mr. Garrabrant. "And Elmer, you were so +successful in picking out those other tracks, suppose you +try again."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go now, sir?" asked the other, readily.</p> + +<p>"I would like you to. If you find a trail, you might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +follow it up a bit. Perhaps Charles would like to accompany +you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I would, if you didn't object," replied the +Southern lad, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Very well," nodded the scout master. "Report to me +when you are through, Elmer."</p> + +<p>So the two boys went away together. Some of the others, +seeing them bending down as though examining the ground, +made a move as if to join them, but Mr. Garrabrant was +watching, and called them back.</p> + +<p>He saw Elmer, followed by the wondering Chatz, walk +slowly away, his head bent low, as though he were following +some sort of trail.</p> + +<p>And the scout master laughed softly to himself as he +muttered:</p> + +<p>"I fancy Charles is about to have a little surprise, now +that Elmer has found a trail to follow. Because, as a true +believer in ghosts, he must realize that anything that leaves +traces behind can hardly claim supernatural qualities."</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes afterwards, shortly before breakfast was +ready, the two boys came back again. Chatz was smiling +in a queer way, but Elmer looked like a sphinx.</p> + +<p>The latter, obeying a beckoning finger, hurried over to +join Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"Unless my eyes deceive me, Elmer," remarked the gentleman, +with a quizzical expression on his handsome face, +"you've been up to your old tricks again, and finding +out things. How is it, do you plead guilty to the charge?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll just have to, sir," replied the boy, also +smiling now.</p> + +<p>"Then you found a trail, did you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Elmer went on, "a positive one; though the +ground was that hard a greenhorn could never have seen +it. And while Chatz kept at my side I don't think he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +dreamed what I was doing as we went along. Then, about +a hundred yards away I heard that same queer 'woof' +he spoke of."</p> + +<p>"It didn't give you a shock, I warrant, Elmer?" remarked +the scout master.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, sir, I've had too much to do with cattle +not to recognize the snort of a startled cow! And that +was what we saw just ahead of us. She had been lying +down, chewing her cud, and our coming had caused her to +get on her feet."</p> + +<p>"Did she happen to have a white face, Elmer?" laughed +Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"Just what she did, sir," the boy replied. "Chatz +looked at me, and turned pale, then red; after which he +laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. I think we +put quite a spoke in his spook wheel, sir. He won't be so +ready to believe in supernatural visitors after this."</p> + +<p>"It was well done, Elmer, and I thank you for it. Now, +let's to breakfast, for we have a strenuous day before us," +and the scout master led the way to the place where a +bounteous meal had been spread for the entire troop of +scouts.</p> + +<p>During the morning the swimming tests were started, +and Mr. Garrabrant, who was a splendid swimmer himself, +took charge of matters. Some excellent work was done, +and the timid ones taught how to strike out, to float, and to +tread water, as well as various races inaugurated that were +full of fun.</p> + +<p>After that came the wonderful fishing contest, where the +boys did what they could to land one of their mates who +played the part of a hooked fish, fighting to get away, just +as a monster scaly prize like a tarpon might have done.</p> + +<p>Of course Elmer was the leader in this game, for he had +had much more experience as a sportsman than any of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +rest, but there were several who proved themselves good +seconds in the trial, and who would make the winner look +to his laurels in the near future.</p> + +<p>That brought them to noon, and matters were allowed to +simmer while they got busy cooking a lunch to satisfy the +tremendous appetites that the vigorous labor of the morning +had developed.</p> + +<p>Ted and Lil Artha expected to take a tramp over to the +lone cabin during the afternoon. They could not start, +however, until the concluding work of the day had been +attended to. As this was to be "first aid to the injured" +the presence of the only budding doctor in camp would be +required, in order to explain many important things connected +with this valuable adjunct to scout lore.</p> + +<p>It was possibly nearly three o'clock before the two lads +got started. But that did not matter much, for by this +time Ted had become very familiar with the way of the +blazed trail, and could follow it "with his eyes blindfolded," +as he boastingly remarked, though Elmer knew +this was hardly so.</p> + +<p>Some of the scouts were out on the lake, trying to coax +a mess of fish to come closer to the fire and get warmed up. +The taste of browned trout haunted them, and even Mr. +Garrabrant admitted that the way Elmer cooked the fish, +they were finer than any he had ever eaten. It was to +have the salt pork in a hot frying pan, until it had been +well tried out, then having rolled each fish in cracker +crumbs, or corn meal if the former were not handy, they +were placed over the fire in the pan to brown.</p> + +<p>Another time Elmer broiled the fish, and the boys were +uncertain as to which method they liked most. When they +ate the trout cooked one way that excelled, and next day +when the other method was tried they believed it could not +be equalled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Evening was not far away when a shout attracted the +attention of all those in camp. Even the few who happened +to be inside the tents came hurrying out to see what it +meant.</p> + +<p>"That must have been Lil Artha," declared Elmer immediately. +"Nobody else has so loud a whoop. Yes, there +they come, he and Ted, hurrying down the side of the +mountain. They seem to be in something of a hurry, too."</p> + +<p>"And look at Ted waving his hand, will you?" exclaimed +Toby, beginning to get excited himself. "He +wouldn't act that way, fellers, except that there's something +gone wrong. Gee! I hope now the old man ain't +been taken sudden, and handed in his checks! That would +be tough on the kids, now!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant heard what Toby said, but made no remark. +He was waiting for the coming of the two scouts +who had gone across the mountain on their errand of mercy.</p> + +<p>The long-legged Lil Artha could have easily outrun his +comrade had he chosen, but he made no effort to do so. +Still, as they drew closer, it could be easily seen that both +boys showed unmistakable evidences of some tremendous +excitement. And, naturally, their fellow scouts almost trembled +with eagerness to learn what could have happened to +affect them in this way.</p> + +<p>Three minutes later and they drew up in front of the +group, panting, flushed—their eyes sparkling with suppressed +news.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>TAKEN BY SURPRISE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What's</span> the matter with you boys?" demanded the +scout master, as Ted and Lil Artha drew up in front of +him.</p> + +<p>"They've come in on Abe, sir, and are threatening to +do all sorts of awful things to him, the great beasts!" exclaimed +the tall runner, between pants.</p> + +<p>"Speak plainer, please," Mr. Garrabrant said, sternly, +so as to subdue some of the rampant excitement that threatened +to impede a clear flow of words. "Who came in on +Abe—was it animals you meant, or men?"</p> + +<p>"Men, thir, and two of the toughest you ever thaw," Ted +managed to declare. "They were eating up all the stuff +we've been at such pains to carry over, and threatened the +thick man with all thorts of trouble because he thaid he +didn't have thuch a thing as a drop of whisky in hith +place."</p> + +<p>"Two hoboes, most likely," muttered the scout master, +as his firm teeth came together with a snap that meant business.</p> + +<p>"That's what I thaid, thir, but Lil Artha, he theemed to +think he recognized the bullies as a couple of jail birds," +Ted went on.</p> + +<p>"You see, sir," Arthur spoke up as he saw Mr. Garrabrant +look questioningly at him, "I remembered seeing the +pictures of those two rascals that broke into some house +near Rockaway last Spring. They had it posted up in police<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +headquarters at Hickory Ridge when I went in to pay +for our dog license. And I don't soon forget faces, sir, or +names either, for that matter. Unless I miss my guess these +two ugly scamps were Jim Rowdy and Bill Harris, wanted +bad in Rockville, with a reward offered for their capture."</p> + +<p>"You may be right, Theodore," observed the scout +master, seriously. "They were never caught, I remember. +The strange thing about it was, that the house they +entered and robbed was that of my friend, Colonel +Hitchens."</p> + +<p>"The same gentleman who owned the lost monkey?" +cried one of the scouts.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. But this is a serious matter for us, boys," +the scout master went on. "Our new friends are in danger, +for there can be no telling to what extremes such +unprincipled scoundrels might go, once they started. Perhaps +they may have an old grudge against Abe, for the +boys say they were threatening him. And it gives me a +cold chill to think of these two innocent children being in +their power."</p> + +<p>"Will you go over, thir, and try to do thomething?" +asked Ted, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Surely," came the instant reply. "I would be unworthy +to call myself a man if I failed in my duty there. +But tell us more, please, how did you first learn of the presence +of these ruffians there, and did you give away the fact +that you had discovered them?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, thir, they didn't thee us a bit!" exclaimed +Ted.</p> + +<p>"We happened to hear loud voices, you see, sir, when +we were close to the joint," said Arthur, bent on having +his share in the recital.</p> + +<p>"Tho we crept up, as thly as any Indian could have +done," added Ted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And peeked in at the window, just like we did that +night we went over in a bunch," the tall lad remarked.</p> + +<p>"Then we thaw what it meant," Ted continued, catching +his breath again. "Those two big bullies had been eating, +and made poor Little Lou cook nigh everything we left +there yesterday. Why, they were as hungry as hogs, I +guess."</p> + +<p>"And they kept on shaking their fists at poor Abe, who +was lying on his cot, too weak to do anything," Lil Artha +took up the narrative. "He seemed to be atryin' to get +them to let up on him, but he looked nearly done for."</p> + +<p>"Then we just crawled away again," Ted concluded, +"and run pretty near all the way back, because we knew +you would want uth to report. Lil Artha wanted to tackle +'em by ourselves, but it was thilly to think we could do +anything against a pair of desperate jailbirds like that."</p> + +<p>"Under the circumstances I commend your discretion, +Theodore," said the scout master, "though the readiness +of Arthur to take chances in a good cause does him credit +too. But let's hurry and eat supper. I can be arranging +my plans meanwhile, and selecting those I would want to +accompany me over the mountain."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will take me, sir!" exclaimed Matty Eggleston.</p> + +<p>"And me, too, sir!" exclaimed half a dozen others, in +a breath.</p> + +<p>Even the two returned scouts were anxious not to be left +behind.</p> + +<p>"I'm not tired a little bit, Mr. Garrabrant!" Lil Artha +hastened to declare, and Dr. Ted said ditto to that.</p> + +<p>"Give me time, boys, to consider," the gentleman had +said, waving them away.</p> + +<p>Supper was quickly announced, and they made record +time in getting away with a fine meal. No one even thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +to remark upon the fact that it tasted better than any +meal ever eaten under a roof, which had come to be a +standing saying with the scouts by this time.</p> + +<p>Many an anxious look was cast toward Mr. Garrabrant. +They saw that his eyes had been roving around the circle, +as though he might be mentally choosing those who were +to be favored with a place at his side during this new +errand of mercy across the mountain that frowned down +upon the camp. And every scout was eager to be among +the lucky ones, even the usually timid Jasper Merriweather.</p> + +<p>"I have decided upon the following to accompany me: +Ginger will go, because he is a man, and will be apt to +inspire more or less respect in the hearts of the two rascals. +Then there are Elmer, Matty, Larry Billings, Arthur +Stansbury, Charlie Maxfield, and Theodore. I am +taking him because we may happen to have need of his +professional services," and when Mr. Garrabrant said this +as though he really meant it, who could blame Ted for +unconsciously pushing out his chest a bit with pride?</p> + +<p>There could be no demur to this ultimatum. So those +who were fated to remain did what they could to get their +more fortunate chums ready for the excursion. The stoutest +cudgels possible were hunted up, and handed over, +with recommendations as to their convincing qualities if +once applied to a stubborn head.</p> + +<p>"However," said the scout master, as they were ready +to leave, "I am in hopes that we can take the rascals by +surprise, so that there will not be any real necessity for +violence. The rest of you stick by the camp while we are +gone. You can wait up for us, if you want."</p> + +<p>"Sure we will, sir!" declared one. "We couldn't any +more sleep than water can run up hill."</p> + +<p>"And don't any of you meddle with the little trap we've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +got set by the store tent, remember, please," Elmer flung +over his shoulder as he was marching away.</p> + +<p>Then they were off.</p> + +<p>Counting Mr. Garrabrant and Ginger, they were eight +in all, surely a strong enough bunch to overcome two men, +if only they might take the ruffians by surprise. Ginger +was far from being a coward when it came to things he +could understand. This fact was known to Mr. Garrabrant, +which was the reason he took the colored man and brother +along. Besides, his heft might have considerable influence +in causing the two men to submit.</p> + +<p>As before, they carried a couple of lanterns. The light +from these came in very handy to save the boys from many +an ugly tumble, where roots lay across their path or rocks +cropped up in the way.</p> + +<p>They conversed in whispers only. And as they finally +drew near the lone cabin, even this style of talk was stopped +by order of Mr. Garrabrant, so that they now crept along +in absolute silence.</p> + +<p>He had told the boys of his plans, so that each member +of the little party knew just what was expected of him.</p> + +<p>Presently they caught sight of a dim light ahead. Then +came the sound of loud and gruff voices. This convinced +them that the two rascals had not left the cabin.</p> + +<p>Creeping closer, they could finally see through the little +opening. And thus the scout master was enabled to complete +the plan he had arranged.</p> + +<p>When he gave the word, Ginger and the boys were to +jump in by way of the open door. Meantime he expected +to thrust his arm through the window and cover the pair +of desperate rascals with the revolver he had brought along. +Mr. Garrabrant gave evidence of being in deadly earnest, +for he knew that was a serious matter that confronted them, +and one not to be handled with gloves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>When he heard Elmer give the cry of the whip-poor-will +three times he knew they were all in their places. Accordingly, +he suddenly thrust his arm through the small window +that had no glass, and covered one of the men with +his weapon.</p> + +<p>"Stand still, both of you! The hut is surrounded, and +if you try to escape or offer resistance it will be the worse +for you! Seize them, men!"</p> + +<p>As Mr. Garrabrant called this out, and the two astonished +scoundrels sat there, utterly unable to collect their senses, +such was the complete surprise, through the doorway tumbled +a crowd that hurled itself upon them. Before they +could grasp the fact that with one exception these were +only half-grown boys, wearing the khaki uniforms of the +scouts, and not regular soldiers, the men had their hands +tied behind them.</p> + +<p>As they realized how completely they had been caught +napping both of them started on a string of hard words, and +looked daggers at their young captors.</p> + +<p>"Stop that, now!" Mr. Garrabrant exclaimed, as he +made his appearance in the hut, "or I shall be under the +painful necessity of putting gags between your teeth. Not +another word from either of you, remember!"</p> + +<p>Perhaps they recognized the tone of authority, or it may +have been that they had no desire to force him to put his +threat into execution. At any rate, they took it out in deep +mumblings after that.</p> + +<p>The scout master saw to it himself that their lashings +were secure. Some of the boys had carried along a new +supply of food for Abe and his family, understanding the +inroads that had been made in their limited stock.</p> + +<p>The sick man was full of gratitude for this second rescue +on the part of his new-found friends. He told them +how these two scoundrels had come to his cabin and taken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +possession—that he knew who they were, but that some +years back they had been honest charcoal burners the same +as himself.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Garrabrant, "they graduated from +that honest class some time ago, and have made names for +themselves as yeggmen and thieves. They are badly wanted +right now in Rockaway, where some months back they +robbed a residence, and nearly killed a butler who caught +them in the act, and recognized them too. Boys, when you +feel rested, we will be on our way back to camp with our +prisoners. To-morrow I shall take them down the river +in a boat, and deliver them over to the authorities."</p> + +<p>All of which intelligence made the gloom gather deeper +on the hard countenances of Jim Rowdy and Bill Harris.</p> + +<p>It took twice as long for them to make the march back +to camp as when they went toward the lone cabin. In the +first place, some of the boys were almost exhausted, particularly +Ted and Lil Artha, who were covering the ground +for the second time since noon. Then again, the two men, +having their arms bound behind their backs, stumbled so +often that they had to be helped.</p> + +<p>But along about eleven they came in sight of the cheery +camp fire, and how very welcome it did look too. The +boys greeted it with a shout, that was answered by those +who had been left behind.</p> + +<p>When it was seen that they were bringing prisoners back +with them, Red and those who had remained at home with +the lame scout became thrilled with eagerness to hear the +full particulars. Of course the others were just as ready +to relate all that had occurred, and for some time the +clatter of tongues would have made one believe he must be +somewhere in the neighborhood of the Tower of Babel.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant realized that they were dealing with a +pair of hard citizens, and he was resolved to leave nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +undone looking to their remaining prisoners. So he personally +looked to their bonds before lying down, in order +to make sure they could not break loose.</p> + +<p>A double guard was to be stationed on this night, because +of the unusual conditions existing. It would be too +bad, after all their trouble, should any accident occur +whereby these men regained their freedom.</p> + +<p>So when the camp quieted down finally, there were just +four boys stationed at certain points, and with orders to +keep the fire burning brilliantly all the time. The balance +"slept on their arms," as Lil Artha called it—that is, they +kept those handy cudgels close beside them, where they +could be readily found in case a sudden need arose for their +services. Because Mr. Garrabrant could not be entirely +positive that the two prisoners did not have friends of +a like character somewhere up here in the wilderness, who +might attempt their rescue.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE THINGS THAT MAKE BOYS MANLY.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Garrabrant</span> laid his plans during the night, and +when morning came he announced them to his boys.</p> + +<p>"I shall take these two men down to Rockaway to-day," +he said, "and deliver them over to the authorities. Ginger +will accompany me, and between us we can pull the boat +up the current again, starting possibly in the morning. +If we arrive there in good time, I may get a car and drive +over to Hickory Ridge, for there are several things I +ought to see about, that slipped my mind before."</p> + +<p>"And if you happen to see anybody who asks about us, +sir, just tell them we're getting along dandy," declared +Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"So say we all of us," sang out several others of the +scouts.</p> + +<p>"Tell my folks they were poor prophets," remarked Jasper +Merriweather.</p> + +<p>"In what way, my boy?" inquired the scout master; +though, truth to tell, he could give a pretty good guess.</p> + +<p>"Oh! ma, she said she'd give me one night to stay away; +and pa, he told her that two would see my finish. But here +we're going on our first week, and I'm feeling just fine. +Not a bit homesick, tell 'em, Mr. Garrabrant, please. And +bound to stay the whole ten days, or bust."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Jasper, old top!" laughed Lil Artha, +patting the real tenderfoot encouragingly on the back.</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Garrabrant," put in Ty Collins, who was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +pretty good "feeder" as some of the other boys often remarked, +"don't you think you might pick up a little more +grub while you have the chance. You see, we didn't +count on so many mouths to feed while we were up here, +and the way that stuff is disappearing is sure a caution. +I know, because I do a lot of the cooking, you see, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Tyrus, I had that on my mind," laughed the +jovial scout master. "And we'll try and find room in the +boat for a nice ham, some bacon, and a few more things +that boys like. I guess I'm a good provider, taken on the +whole. You see, we didn't count on feeding Abe Morris +and his family, or these two gentlemen here, besides the +frolicsome monkey that has taken a fancy for our eatables. +If I happen to run across Colonel Hitchens I shall let +him know we've got an eye out for his runaway pet."</p> + +<p>The two men were allowed to eat breakfast, one at a +time, and Mr. Garrabrant and Ginger stood over them +while the operation of feeding was in progress. Much as +both of the desperadoes might have liked to attempt flight, +they lacked the nerve to start trouble when those two stalwart +men were within reach. And so, although they +scowled and muttered, they made no resistance when they +were tied up again.</p> + +<p>Mr. Garrabrant had found quite a nice little assortment +of deadly weapons upon the pair, which he had confiscated. +These he meant to take along with him, not feeling safe +in leaving such things in camp, where several of the boys +were quite unaccustomed to handling firearms, and some +accident might ensue, for which he would be responsible.</p> + +<p>Although no one suspected it until they heard the click +of his shutter, Mark had managed to snap off the entire +outfit as they stood there, assisting Mr. Garrabrant load +his prisoners into the boat.</p> + +<p>And it might be taken for granted that the official photographer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +of the camp had seized upon an opportunity +when the two prisoners' faces were in full view, so that no +one could afterwards reasonably doubt their claim to having +captured the desperate men so long wanted by the Rockaway +authorities.</p> + +<p>Of course the camp was left in full charge of the assistant +scout master, Elmer Chenowith, with a parting injunction +from Mr. Garrabrant that the boys were to render +his representative just as much respect as though it were +himself.</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt about that being done, since +Elmer was a universal favorite among his fellows, and had +hardly an enemy in all Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>"I reckon, suh, we can manage to get along all right +while you are away," Chatz Maxfield had called out reassuringly, +after the boat had left the landing, with Ginger +working industriously at the oars, the two prisoners +huddled amidships, and the scout master seated astern, +where he could keep his eye pretty much all the time on +the slippery customers.</p> + +<p>"If I wasn't positive about that, Charles, I'd never be +leaving you," was what Mr. Garrabrant replied, as he +waved his hand to them.</p> + +<p>Presently the fast-moving boat swept around a bend, and +was lost to view. Several of the boys sighed a little, and +looked a bit downcast. Despite their assumption of freedom +from homesickness they could not help feeling that +their leader would perhaps be in "dear old Hickory +Ridge" that afternoon, and might even pass by their beloved +homes, which it seemed they had not seen for an +age.</p> + +<p>Of course Elmer, who had roved more or less, was not in +this class. He knew better than to make fun of them, however. +Between himself and Mark they had many a quiet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +laugh over the way the fellows made out to be so free from +care.</p> + +<p>"I bet you it seems like a coon's age to some of them +since they said good-by to mother and father," Mark managed +to remark, as they stood there watching the rest gaze +down river after the vanished link that was to bind them +with civilization.</p> + +<p>"Sure it does," Elmer had agreed. "Do you know +that little story about the kid who ran away from home, +and what an eternity it seemed to him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't seem to remember," replied the other. "What +happened, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he spent the day of his life, you know. He had +made up his mind in the beginning that he would never +come back. Then at noon he determined that a whole month +would give his folks a good scare. The afternoon hung on +terribly. Minutes seemed hours, and at last he just +couldn't stand it any longer. He had spent his last penny, +but it was getting night, and he had never been without a +home in the dark before."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can understand that, because once I did it too," +laughed Mark; "but don't mind me, Elmer, go right along +with the story. What happened to him?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. That's where the fun came in," replied the +other. "You see his folks understood that kid, and they +just made up their minds to punish him by not paying +the slightest attention to him. So he came sneaking into +the sitting room where dad was reading the paper, and +mom was knitting. Neither of them even looked at him. +He thought that mighty queer, when he had expected to +be hugged and kissed and cried over like one who had been +lost a year.</p> + +<p>"After a long time, when he had coughed, and moved +about without either of them paying the slightest attention<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +to him, the boy was struck with an idea. He would +say something that <i>must</i> make them realize the near calamity +that had happened. So he bent down to stroke the back +of the old tabby that was purring by the fire, and he +says, says he:</p> + +<p>"'Oh! I see you still have the same old cat you used +to have when I was home!'"</p> + +<p>Mark burst into a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>"I get the point, Elmer, all right, and I guess it applies +to a few of our fellows, but on the whole they've acted +just fine. A better bunch of good-hearted boys it would +be hard to find anywhere. And I tell you this outing's +going to do every mother's son of them a heap of good. +What they learn in this camp will pay a dozen times over +for the trouble it's taken. I hope Mr. Garrabrant gets +safely down to Rockaway with his boatload of human +freight. Perhaps there won't be a sensation in Hickory +Ridge when the news gets out that the Boy Scouts captured +those bad men, and sent them to the police of Rockaway +with their compliments. I guess that's going some +for a new organization of tenderfeet scouts, eh?"</p> + +<p>"I should say yes," replied the young scout leader, emphatically. +"And after all, we've only got one more mystery +to solve to have the slate clear."</p> + +<p>"You mean about that monkey business, I suppose?" +suggested Mark.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and possibly we may be lucky enough to have +that settled before Mr. Garrabrant comes back again," +Elmer remarked, confidently.</p> + +<p>"You think then we are due for another visit from +Diablo, say to-night?"</p> + +<p>"It stands to reason," said Elmer, "that he will have +eaten up all those crackers long before then, and knowing +where we keep our supplies, you can count on him paying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +another call. So many around the camp in the daytime +will keep him shy. You remember there were only Ginger +and Red at home all day, when he was here before."</p> + +<p>"All right," remarked his chum. "We'll try and have +a warm reception ready for our friend Diablo. He's apt +to be the most surprised monkey ever, once he hits that +trigger; what with the loop snatching him up in the air, +the flashlight going off with a great dazzling glow, and +the yells of the boys as they get on to the racket. I just +hope it turns out a good picture. It'll sure be the star +of the whole collection. What?"</p> + +<p>Elmer took charge, and proceeded to start the ball rolling. +They were not intending to have any strenuous work +while the scout master was away, but some of them coaxed +Elmer to give a few exhibitions of throwing a rope, and +doing some other little tricks that he had learned while up +on that Canada cattle farm.</p> + +<p>He also went deeper into the track business, and the +boys were so anxious to learn all they could about this fascinating +study, that they all spent hours trying to find new +footprints so that they could drag Elmer thither, and get +him to tell the sort of little animal that had made them, +what his habits were, and all about him.</p> + +<p>Then after lunch some words brought up the subject of +picture writing. Elmer had more or less to say about that, +for he had been among the Indians, and copied any amount +of their queer methods of communicating.</p> + +<p>"It's just as simple as falling off a log, fellows," he said. +"If a little kid were trying to make you understand that +three men had gone down river in a boat, if he had any +sense at all he'd draw a canoe with three figures in it holding +paddles. A rock sticking up would have something that +looked like foam on one side. That would tell you the water +was running so, and that the canoe was going <i>down</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +the river. If they were being pursued, in the boat behind +a figure would be firing a gun. Then they escape, for they +go ashore and make a fire. All got away, for there are +still three of them. And that's the easy way it goes. It just +can't be too simple. A child might read it. And that's +Indian picture writing. Now, suppose some of you try it. +If anybody can read it right off the reel, then you've made +a success of the job. But remember, this isn't any rebus +or puzzle."</p> + +<p>So for some time the boys employed themselves in practicing +this simple art, under the directions of the young +scout master. They found it lots of fun, and of course +there was more or less shouting over some of the wonderful +pictures drawn, which the artists themselves could +hardly designate, after their work became cold.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ted and Mark had gone off with some more food, to +find out how Abe and his family were, after the exciting +experience of the preceding day, and to tell them that their +unwelcome visitors were by that time safely locked up in +the Rockaway strong box.</p> + +<p>Mark wished to get a few pictures of the two "kids" +in their native woods. They would not look the same after +they reached civilization, where kindly women would only +too willingly take them in hand, and fit them out with new +clothes.</p> + +<p>Toby fairly haunted the spot where the balloon lay in +a heap, just as they had piled it up. Doubtless the boy was +indulging himself with castles in the air connected with +the time to come, in the dim future, when he too might +have a chance to fly through the clouds in one of these big +gas bags, or with a modern aeroplane, which would of +course be much better.</p> + +<p>And so the day wore on.</p> + +<p>As evening approached some of the boys mentally pictured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +Mr. Garrabrant talking with the good people of +Hickory Ridge, and in each case it was a father or mother +who so proudly heard what wonderful progress the boy +was making in learning to take care of himself when left +to his own resources.</p> + +<p>Things went on as usual. They had plenty of trout for +supper, of which dainty the scouts seemed never to tire. +Then a huge mess of rice had been boiled, which, served +with sugar and condensed milk, proved a good dessert. But +before that was reached they had a stew made of tinned +beef, Boston baked beans and some corn, while Ty Collins +showed his skill as a flapjack maker by turning out several +heaps of pretty fair pancakes.</p> + +<p>Perhaps some of the scouts ate more heavily of these last +than they should, for it was noted that at various times +during the night a boy here or there would get to talking +in his sleep, and show signs of restlessness that could only +come from indigestion. Nevertheless, when the time came +for retiring, Elmer gave the signal for taps to be sounded +on the bugle, as Lil Artha declared, "everything was +lovely, and the goose hung high!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HOW THE TRAP WORKED.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Before</span> they turned in after the rest, Elmer and his +closest chum, Mark, spent a little time doing something mysterious +over in the vicinity of the tent in which the extra +stores were kept.</p> + +<p>The boys understood that it had more or less connection +with the expected visit of the liberty-loving monkey, Diablo, +but like good scouts they minded their own business.</p> + +<p>Everyone had been warned to keep away from that same +tent under penalty of being given the surprise of their lives, +and of a most unpleasant nature at that. Of course, no one +knew exactly what the scout leader had arranged; but all +the same they felt positive it would meet the peculiar emergency. +And each boy made up his mind that during his +term as sentry nothing could induce him to saunter near that +marked territory.</p> + +<p>A tall and vigorous young hickory sapling had by accident +started on its way toward some day becoming the king +of the woods right there in front of the tent opening. And +Elmer, quick to grasp the opportunities which fortune threw +at his feet, had made use of this same healthy and sound +young tree. From time of old he knew the value of hickory +when one wanted a particularly springy bow.</p> + +<p>He and Mark were panting a little when they finished a +certain little job which doubtless had a bearing on the game. +And strange to say, the upright hickory sapling no longer +pointed toward the beckoning sky; but stood there with +bowed head in meek subjection to the will of man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Think the trigger will run smooth enough?" queried +Mark, as they stood back to gaze at the evidence of their +handiwork.</p> + +<p>"I've greased it!" chuckled Elmer. "That's what they +do out West when a big bear trap is used, and there's danger +of the thing holding too well. Do you want to step inside +this loop, and give it a try, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"Please excuse me this time, old fellow," laughed the +other. "I'm very well satisfied to stand on the earth as +I am just now, and don't hanker about getting any nearer +the clouds. I leave all that ambition to others, and particularly +animals used to climbing trees. How about the rest of +the tent, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Pegged down so solid that a mouse would have trouble +crawling under," came the immediate and confident response.</p> + +<p>"That means if our friend Diablo is as hungry as we +believe, and is determined to make another of his raids on +our grub, he's just <i>got</i> to take advantage of the open door, +eh, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what he does," replied the scout leader. +"And we're going to get him one way or the other, going +or coming. If he happens to miss getting caught as he trips +into the tent, he won't be so lucky when he comes out. You +see, at that time he's apt to have his arms full of the things +we left around loose. He's greedy, like all monkeys, and +will try to carry as much he can. Then he can't see quite +so well where to step. Flip! bang! and there you are! Lil +Artha hit it closer than he thought when he said everything +was lovely and the goose hung high! We expect <i>our</i> goose +to do just that same thing."</p> + +<p>"Huh! I guess this is what they call putting your foot +in it, eh, Elmer?" chuckled Mark.</p> + +<p>"We hope it will be, that's right. But as everything has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +been done to a turn, don't you think we'd better hunt out +our blankets? Perhaps Diablo may be watching us right +now, crazy to get started on his raid. And then again, it +may be he's far away from here to-night, and we'll find +we've had all our trouble for our pains."</p> + +<p>"But you don't think that last, honest now, Elmer?" +queried Mark.</p> + +<p>"If I did I wouldn't have gone to all the trouble I did," +returned the other. "Take one last look over your camera, +and the flashlight powder cartridge. All O. K. is it? Then +let's leave here, and trust to luck for the rest."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I'll get much sleep, for expecting to hear +a racket!" Mark declared, as they walked conspicuously +away from the vicinity of the store tent, so that the keen-eyed +monkey would see them, if, as they suspected, Diablo +were hiding somewhere close by, waiting for his chance to +make another descent on the camp where all those delicious +dainties were kept, to which he had grown accustomed during +the period of his captivity—and liberty without these +could not be proving all it was cracked up to be.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wouldn't let a little thing like this keep me +awake," said Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see it's different with me," declared his +chum. "I've had almost no experience in such exciting +things, while you have been through rafts of it. But honest +now, I'm hoping that our little game pans out a success. +I've laid that big bag where we can grab it up on the run, +and I saw you fixing the ropes handy. Let Mr. Diablo just +give that loop a tiny jerk when he gets his hind foot in it, +and oh! my, won't he be the worst rattled jabberer ever!"</p> + +<p>Now, secretly Elmer himself was in quite a little flutter +of excitement; but he knew how to hold himself in check +better than did Mark. He calmly arranged his blanket as +usual, and then settled himself down as though such a thing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +as being aroused in the middle of the night were unthought +of.</p> + +<p>And having practiced the control of his powers he did go +to sleep very shortly; absolutely refusing to allow his mind +to become active by dwelling on any subject that might agitate +him.</p> + +<p>Silence came upon the camp.</p> + +<p>The fire sparkled and crackled as from time to time one +of the sentries stepped over to toss fresh fuel upon it. But +acting under orders, they refrained religiously from ever +passing near the store tent.</p> + +<p>If one of them chanced to be particularly vigilant, he must +have discovered a shadowy figure that came slipping down +from the branches of a tree that grew not a dozen feet away +from the apparently abandoned tent.</p> + +<p>It made not the least noise, which would seem to indicate +that it must possess feet shod with velvet; but crouching +low, after a suspicious look around, started toward the depot +of supplies.</p> + +<p>Passing around this tent, sniffing at various places, and +apparently seeking a means of entrance, the dusky figure +finally came to the front, where that small opening stood so +very invitingly in view.</p> + +<p>Elmer, sleeping soundly, was suddenly awakened by a terrific +screech, angry and vehement; immediately succeeded by +the shrillest scolding and chattering he had ever heard.</p> + +<p>Throwing aside his blanket, he started to crawl out of the +tent. Mark was at his heels, laughing for all he was worth, +and chortling:</p> + +<p>"It worked, Elmer, the trap went off! We've got him, I +guess, all right! Great guns; just listen to the racket he's +making, will you? Oh! hurry! hurry! before all the blood +runs to his head!"</p> + +<p>It was only his great impatience that made him imagine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +Elmer dallied; for to tell the truth, the scout leader emerged +from that tent in double-quick time.</p> + +<p>Both of them "scooted" for the spot where all that row +was sounding; no other word would so fully describe the +manner of their progress as well as Lil Artha's favorite expression.</p> + +<p>They were not alone in this forward rush. From every +tent came creeping figures, as the scouts crawled forth. And +by degrees the screeching of the monkey was actually +drowned in the greater clamor of boyish shouts.</p> + +<p>It seemed almost as though Pandemonium must have +broken loose in that camp of the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts, +for a dozen pair of sturdy young lungs can make considerable +noise once they break loose.</p> + +<p>It was a ridiculous spectacle that greeted them as they +reached the store tent. The bent-over hickory sapling had +sprung obediently erect as soon as the shooting of the trigger +had released it from the crotch in which its apex had been +gripped. And swaying back and forth, attempting all manner +of high gymnastics, was a grotesque figure that stretched +out its arms, and made frantic efforts to reach the body of +the sapling, so as to climb up.</p> + +<p>"Get the bag, Elmer!" cried Mark, the second that he +arrived.</p> + +<p>But already had the scout leader snatched that article up +and prepared to clap it around the struggling monkey, taking +care to avoid being caught by those waving hands.</p> + +<p>"Quick! the rope!" he gasped, after he had made a forward +movement, enclosing the gyrating body in the stout +sack.</p> + +<p>Mark knew what he was doing, and in a brief time, during +which the rest of the boys stood around watching in +wonder, the struggling monkey was secured.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here, Toby, hold this rope end for a minute!" called +Mark.</p> + +<p>The other was only too willing to obey, for it gave him +a chance to say he had had a hand in the great capture of +the hairy thief. Ten seconds later there was a sudden brilliant +flash that caused some of the scouts to cry out, in the +belief that a storm had crept upon them, with the lightning +giving advance warning of its coming.</p> + +<p>"It's Mark, and he took a snap flashlight picture of the +crowd standing around in pajamas!" cried Lil Artha. +"Oh! my, what a sight that will be to chase away the blues. +If only my red stripes show, I'll be the happy one."</p> + +<p>"How about the first flash—did it go off when the monk +pulled the trigger, Mark?" demanded Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Sure it did," broke in Tom Cropsey, who had been one +of the sentries on duty at the time; "and gave me a nasty +scare. I never dreamed you had fixed things up that way, +Elmer; and at first I thought something had exploded. But +what can we do with the critter, now that we've got him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! that's all fixed," laughed Mark. "Elmer made a +stout collar which can be fastened around his neck so he +just can't get it off. To that a rope is fastened, and Mr. +Diablo will amuse the camp with his stunts the rest of the +time we stay up here on old Lake Solitude. Ready to work +it, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, give me a hand here, please," replied the scout +leader, who had been cautiously taking the enmeshed body +of the still struggling monkey down from the straightened +hickory sapling.</p> + +<p>"Why, here's luck!" exclaimed Elmer, presently. "As +sure as you live he's got a collar on right now, with a ring +for a rope. There's a trailing foot of stuff fastened to it, +showing just how he got away. All I have to do is to tie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +our stout line to that ring so even the clever fingers of +a monkey can't unfasten it."</p> + +<p>When this was done, and the other end of the rope made +fast to the sapling that had assisted in Diablo's downfall, +by degrees the rope encircling the beast was removed, and +then the bag. The prisoner was inclined to be a little +savage at first, because his taste of freedom had made him +somewhat wild, and besides, these were all strangers to +him.</p> + +<p>But he was very hungry, and upon being offered food +seized it eagerly. After that they would have very little +trouble with Diablo, though he proved to be a treacherous +rascal, and pinched more than a few of the boys who ventured +to be too familiar with him.</p> + +<p>The scouts were ordered back to their blankets, and once +again did the camp relapse into silence, save for the grunting +of the satisfied Diablo, as he continued to feast upon the +sweet cakes with which he had been supplied.</p> + +<p>In this manner, then, was the last source of trouble laid +low. Ghosts and thieves they had encountered, but in the +end success had rewarded their efforts, and it began to look +as though the balance of their stay in camp might be more +in the nature of a picnic than the first few days and nights +had proven.</p> + +<p>When morning came the boys were early astir, and +crowded around to stare at the prisoner. But with his +stomach comfortably filled Diablo was lazy and good natured. +He refused to be bothered, and curled up on the +ground like a dog, made out to sleep, though a careful +examination might have disclosed the fact that one eye was +partly open, and as soon as a boy entered the store tent he +was on his feet, begging.</p> + +<p>But Ginger would be the one who must feel the most satisfaction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +over the capture, for it would ease his mind concerning +the necessity for cutting his stay on the earth short, +and accompanying the Evil One in a "chariot of fire."</p> + +<p>So that day passed very slowly as they awaited the coming +of the scout master and his "ebony galley slave" who +was to row the boat up-stream.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE LAST FLICKERING CAMP FIRE DIES OUT.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">There's</span> the outpost making signals, Elmer," said +Mark, about three o'clock in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Two of the scouts, who were pretty well up in wigwag +work, had been dispatched to a knob part way up the mountain, +from which a fine view of the lower lake could be +obtained, as well as the zigzag course of the connecting +Paradise Creek.</p> + +<p>"Looks like they must have sighted our scout master, +then," declared Elmer, as he left what he was engaged in +doing to hasten over to where the balance of the signal +flags lay.</p> + +<p>Snatching one up he began to wave it in certain eccentric +movements which Red Huggins, who held the book, knew +to be a query as to what the outposts or videttes had discovered.</p> + +<p>"There! he's starting to answer. Everybody watch +sharp, and write down what you make it!" exclaimed the +scout leader.</p> + +<p>Pencils and paper had been made ready, though most of +the scouts carried small note books in which they entered +such things as they wished to preserve.</p> + +<p>For some little time they watched each deliberate motion +of the distant waving flag, no one saying a word. +When finally the sign was given that the message had +reached its end, every scout started to scribble at hot speed.</p> + +<p>Then Elmer walked along the line, examining the various +records.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pretty well done," he said after he had completed his +examination, "but of course it was the easiest of tests, for +we all felt sure the report would be that they were in sight. +They are crossing Jupiter Lake right now. That means +they will be with us inside of an hour and a half, for Ginger +is rowing stoutly, Matty says, and Mr. Eggleston seems to +be getting ready to take the second pair of oars himself for +the pull up Paradise Creek, which you may remember is +no cinch, fellows."</p> + +<p>"That's right," declared Larry Billings, rubbing his +arm, the muscles of which had been more or less sore ever +since that strain.</p> + +<p>"It's going to be a long hour and a half," said Jasper +Merriweather.</p> + +<p>"Oh! rats, just go and play with the monkey, to kill +time," laughed Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"I'm just wild to see what Ginger does when we take +him to meet his 'debble,'" observed Toby, who had of +course been hovering over that magical balloon pretty much +all the morning; indeed, so long as that was around they +could hardly get the ambitious amateur aviator to do anything +worth while.</p> + +<p>"Somebody coming back yonder; I saw 'em flit past that +open place," remarked Nat Scott, pointing upward.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's Ted and Chatz, returning from the lone +cabin. They promised to be back early, because they didn't +want to miss the fun when Ginger came," declared the scout +leader.</p> + +<p>Within the next half hour not only did Ted and his companion +arrive, but the two videttes and signal men reached +camp. Having discharged the duty to which they had been +assigned, Matty Eggleston and Jack Armitage had lost no +time in heading once more down the mountain.</p> + +<p>Now an hour had gone, and the half was passing slowly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +All eyes were turned down the lake to the spot where the +creek began, anticipating seeing the boat shoot into view.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! there they come!" shouted one who had +climbed a tree, the better to get the first glimpse of the +returning couple.</p> + +<p>As the boat slipped out on the silvery surface of the +lonely lake, so well named Solitude, the cheers that arose +must have been particularly pleasing to the young man +who was devoting so much of his time to the task of trying +to make the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts the best troops +in the county.</p> + +<p>But it was Ginger who deliberately dropped his oars, +to rise to his feet, and with his black hand over his heart, +make several salaams. He came near taking a header over +the side of the boat in his eagerness to return the compliments +which he really believed the boys were meaning for +him, at which of course there was an uproarious laugh all +around.</p> + +<p>Then came the landing. Ty Collins made sure that the +boat contained a lot of packages, and his eyes shone with +pleasure as he saw that one of them bore the unmistakable +outlines of a whole ham.</p> + +<p>"This way, Mr. Garrabrant, we've got a surprise for +you!" laughed Elmer.</p> + +<p>"You come along, too, Ginger," called Lil Artha, "and +make the acquaintance of an old friend of yours. He's +been fretting like everything because you were so long getting +here. Diablo, here's Ginger coming to shake hands +with you!"</p> + +<p>Of course they had heaps of fun watching the look on the +face of Ginger, as he found himself confronting the hairy +thief whom he had seen under such strange conditions, and +believed to be a visitor from a warm country where pitchforks +are said to be in fashion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>But it required considerable urging for Ginger to actually +take the extended hand of the big monkey. Eventually, +however, they became quite good friends. Ginger was forever +supplying the captive with tidbits, and on his part +Diablo seemed to recognize in the dark-skinned man a boon +companion.</p> + +<p>Of course, after they had their little frolic, and the story +of Diablo's capture had been fully told, the boys were +eager to know whether Mr. Garrabrant had succeeded in +turning the two bad men over to the Rockaway authorities, +also if he had happened to run across any of their folks +while in Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>"Make your minds easy, boys," he had replied, laughingly. +"Jim and Bill are safely lodged behind the bars in +Rockaway jail. I saw Colonel Hitchens, and he paid me +the reward that was offered for their capture, which goes +to the troop. Later on you boys shall take a vote as to +what to do with the money, though I imagine I can give +a pretty good guess where it'll go from what I heard you +say before about Abe and his kiddies."</p> + +<p>"Did you happen to mention the fact that we believed +we had his runaway monkey up here as a neighbor, sir?" +asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"I certainly did, and he at once declared that if you +could only manage to get hold of that rogue, Diablo, it +would be another hundred dollars reward," answered the +scout master.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Lil Artha, boisterously, "but the +honor goes to Elmer and Mark. They not only did the +entire trick, but managed to get a flashlight picture of the +monkey going up in the air, with one of his hind legs +gripped in the loop of a rope. It's the greatest thing I +ever heard about! Wait till you see the picture, sir."</p> + +<p>"But how about Hickory Ridge, sir; I suppose it's still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +on the map?" asked Elmer, who knew only too well that +every fellow was just dying to hear whether the scout +master had happened to run across any of their home folks, +and what they had said in sending word.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Mr. Garrabrant, with a smile and a +nod around; "I've got a pleasant surprise for you all. +Having some time on my hands after I had carried out +my little business affairs, I just thought it would be nice +if I took my car and ran around to the home of every scout +who is in camp here on old Solitude!"</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, sir!"</p> + +<p>"That was mighty fine of you, Mr. Garrabrant, and did +you see my folks, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for our scout master, fellows; ain't he +all to the good, though?"</p> + +<p>Now, Mr. Garrabrant knew boys and was not in the least +offended by such crude ways of expressing their appreciation. +He knew it sprang straight from the heart, and was +prouder to have won so lasting a place in their regard than +he would have been to take a city.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw the folks of every lad, and bear messages +that will please you, I am sure," he observed. "Here they +are, just as they were sent by mothers and fathers. And +you may be sure they were delighted to learn how well +things were going. They want you to stay your time out, +and come back, ruddy and brown, better fitted to take up +your school duties when vacation ends."</p> + +<p>After the packet of little hastily scribbled messages had +been distributed, care having been taken by the thoughtful +scout master that not a single one might feel neglected, +there was a strange silence in camp. Undoubtedly several +of the boys were rather perilously near the breaking point, +as they began to once more experience the grip of that +terrible malady—homesickness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Mr. Garrabrant knew, and he it was who began to +play with the captive monkey, causing more or less sport, +that presently had all the boys laughing uproariously. And +so the threatened eruption was avoided. When supper time +came they had managed to recover their former steadiness +of purpose to stick it out to the end.</p> + +<p>But there was not a single member of the troop who did +not treasure that little slip of paper, bearing only a few +cheering loving words in a familiar hand, during the rest +of the stay in camp.</p> + +<p>As to what else befell the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts, and +particularly those members of the Wolf Patrol in whom +we have had especial interest, time and space will not allow +my attempting to narrate here. Later on the opportunity +will doubtless arise, so that we shall once more make their +acquaintance, and accompany them on other fields of outdoor +life, where they continue to imbibe the secrets of Nature +that are calculated to make them better fitted to take +care of themselves, and be of service to their fellows.</p> + +<p>No serious calamity came to pass as the days slipped +along. They continued to take toll of the obliging trout +that dwelt in Lake Solitude, long acquainted with the hooks +and devices of civilized man. And Mr. Garrabrant seldom +allowed even a single day to pass without endeavoring to +foster in his boys the manly spirit all American lads should +possess.</p> + +<p>The day before they expected to break camp a party +went over to the cabin of Abe Morris and brought him +back with them, he being so far recovered, thanks to the +treatment of the proud amateur physician, Dr. Ted, that +he could limp, with the aid of crutches, and the stout as +well as willing arms of the boys to lean upon.</p> + +<p>Of course the manly boy, Felix, and the useful maiden,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +Little Lou, came along, for the hut was being abandoned +forever.</p> + +<p>They had places in the boats when the camp was left behind. +The wagon as well as a carriage awaited them at +exactly the same place where had burned the first camp +fire of the expedition, this latter being for the use of Abe +and his "kiddies," and the clumsier vehicle for the camp +luggage.</p> + +<p>As for the scouts themselves they scorned such a means of +travel. Browned and healthy, they felt able to walk +twice the seven miles that lay between the Sweetwater and +Hickory Ridge. And besides, were they not headed for +<i>home</i>, with all that that implied in their enthusiastic boyish +hearts?</p> + +<p>We could not, even if we would lift the veil, betray +the emotion some of the valiant scouts exhibited when +clasped again in the loving arms of a mother or a father. +But everybody declared that the change in the boys was +wonderful, and that they really seemed to have taken a +great step forward in the journey toward manliness. Jasper +Merriweather in particular hardly seemed like the same +weak, timid boy. He had drawn in a big breath of "outdoors," +and glimpsed the goal toward which he was now +determined to set his course.</p> + +<p>And in Hickory Ridge that night, there was a consensus +of opinion to the effect that the Boy Scout movement was +by long odds the best thing that had ever happened to +quicken the better element lying dormant in every growing +lad.</p> + +<p>Abe Morris was easily placed in a paying position, and +the boys never lost their interest in the boy Felix and +Little Lou. Just as they had declared, the rewards coming +to them for having effected the capture of the two bad men, +as well as the runaway monkey valued so highly by Colonel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +Hitchens, were paid over to Abe, and went toward starting +the little Morris family in a cottage of their own within +the limits of the town of Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>Doubtless the thoughts of those lads would many times +go out to the camp fires which had marked their first outing +after organizing. And as they looked over the numerous +fine pictures Mark had secured, they would live again +the days when they experienced the strenuous life under +canvas.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE END.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>The Alger Books by Horatio Alger, Jr.</div> + +<div class='center'>"THE TWO-IN-ONE EDITION"</div> + + +<p>A new edition, 5 × 7¼ inches, bulk one inch, 330 +pages, from new plates, with new illustrations, two +titles or stories to each volume, sewed, cloth bindings, +with picture covers in colors, in several designs.</p> + +<p>The two titles or stories contained in one volume +gives more reading matter and better value for the +price than has been offered heretofore in cloth-bound +Alger books.</p> + +<p>The following volumes, each containing the two +stories as listed, are ready to deliver:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Alger books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 1—"Strong and Steady" and "Strive and Succeed"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 2—"Bound to Rise" and "Risen from the Ranks"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 3—"Jack's Ward" and "Shifting for Himself"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 4—"Paul the Peddler" and "Phil the Fiddler"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 5—"Slow and Sure" and "Julius the Street Boy"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 6—"Facing the World" and "Harry Vane"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 7—"The Young Outlaw" and "Sam's Chance"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 8—"Wait and Hope" and "Tony the Tramp"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 9—"Herbert Carter's Legacy" and "Do and Dare"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 10—"Luke Walton" and "A Cousin's Conspiracy"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 11—"Try and Trust" and "Brave and Bold"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 12—"Andy Gordon" and "Bob Burton"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 13—"The Young Adventurer" and "The Young Salesman"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 14—"Making His Way" and "Sink or Swim"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 15—"Mark Mason's Triumph" and "Joe's Luck"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 16—"The Telegraph Boy" and "The Cash Boy"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 17—"Struggling Upward" and "Hector's Inheritance"</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vol. 18—"Only an Irish Boy" and "Tom the Bootblack"</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +LIST PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A VOLUME<br /> +</div> + +<p>More Alger books are sold and they are more popular +than any other Boys' books. Their high moral +character, clean, manly tone and the wholesome lessons +they teach without being goody-goody, make Alger +books as acceptable to the parents as to the boys. The +tendency of Alger stories is to the formation of an +honorable, manly character. They convey lessons of +pluck, perseverance and self-reliance.</p> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.</span></b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>Won In The Ninth</div> + +<div class='center'><i>A STORY ABOUT BASEBALL</i><br /> + +By "CHRISTY" MATHEWSON<br /> + +(<span class='small'>FAMOUS PITCHER Of THE NEW YORK NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM</span>)<br /> + +<span class='small'>(Copyrighted, 1910, by the R. J. Bodmer Co.)</span></div> + + +<p>The characters are college boys in everything but their ability to play +baseball. Each represents one of the leading players who are now +playing in the American and National Leagues with names slightly +changed, but the reader will soon discover that he is reading the early +exploits of one of his baseball favorites.</p> + +<p>The whole range of interesting features about a ball team and the +game itself is covered in successive chapters. One of them contains +the secrets of what is known as "inside baseball" and "signal work" +with illustrations showing how to do it.</p> + +<p>Through the twenty chapters are interwoven many of the stories of +actual plays, famous catches, thrilling episodes of games, tricks pulled +off and some that did not work, which have come within the author's +experience.</p> + +<p>A good story of college life runs through the book. The hero gets +into trouble and his friends get him out in the usual strenuous style +of college life stories.</p> + +<p>It is a live book about baseball, with live characters, and written by the +one man who knows more about the men who are playing it to-day and +the methods by which games are won than anyone else in the sport.</p> + +<p>"EDITOR'S NOTE—The Daily News makes no apology for placing +in this position of honor on the first page the opening chapters of a +serial story dealing with baseball events and baseball heroes.</p> + +<p>"The Daily News believes in clean athletic sports, believes in encouraging +them and in keeping them clean. Baseball is the national game. It +is not only the most popular sport in the United States, but it is national +in the sense that it expresses the ingenuity, the energy and the agility of +the typical American. Viewed in this light, baseball possesses a dignity +of its own and an entertaining and informing piece of literary work about +it cannot be trivial. What is elevating, what is interesting, and what is +dignified cannot but make a strong appeal to the appreciation of every +reader."—<i><b>The Chicago News, March 21, 1910.</b></i></p> + +<p>"The best baseball story ever written."—<i><b>The Evening World, +New York, N. Y., March 14, 1910.</b></i></p> + +<p>"I have read WON IN THE NINTH with much interest and it +has been very entertaining."—<i><b>Charles W. Murphy, President +Chicago National League Baseball Club, Chicago, April 8, 1910.</b></i></p> + +<p>"WON IN THE NINTH is a great book, and one that every lover +of the game should read."—<i><b>Charles A. Comiskey, President +Chicago White Sox American League Baseball Club, Chicago, +April 7, 1910.</b></i></p> + +<div class='center'><i><b>Size full 12mo, 302 pages. Illustrated by Felix Mahoney. Cloth +binding. Gilt back. Price, 50cts. Net. Full discounts to the trade.</b></i> + + +<br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVENUE,<br />NEW YORK, N.Y.</span></b><br /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>OUR YOUNG FOLKS<br /> +ILLUSTRATED BOOKS</div> + +<div class='center'>(CLOTH-BOUND, SEWED BOOKS)<br /> +—————<br /> +RETAIL PRICE, FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY<br /> +—————</div> + + +<p>This series contains those books for young folks that are +without question conceded to be the most popular of this +class. Each title has a distinctive cover design in colors, +and in addition to being equal to the New York Book +Company's other cloth-bound books each volume contains +twenty to sixty illustrations.</p> + + +<div class='center'><i>The following books are ready to deliver:</i></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Book List"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Pilgrim's Progress</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Robinson Crusoe</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Alice In Wonderland</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Through the Looking Glass</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Black Beauty</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Rip Van Winkle</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Mother Goose</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Wood's Natural History</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Lives of the Presidents</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Arabian Nights</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Andersen's Fairy Tales</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Story of the Bible</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +<span class="smcap">Ask for the New York Book Company's<br /> +Young Folks Illustrated Books</span><br /> +<br /> +—————<br /> +<br /> + +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'><span class="smcap">Publishers, 147 Fourth Avenue</span></span><br /> +NEW YORK, N. Y.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>THE OLIVER OPTIC<br /> +BOOKS</div> + +<div class='center'>—————<br /> +RETAIL PRICE, FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY<br /> +—————</div> + + +<p>Every boy and girl knows the Oliver Optic Books, and +The New York Book Company's Edition is the lowest priced +cloth-bound edition. It is better in many ways than some +of the higher priced editions. The covers are stamped in +colors, in different and attractive designs. Frontispiece; +decorated lining papers and title page; size, five by seven +and a quarter inches.</p> + + +<div class='center'><i>The following books are ready to deliver:</i></div> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Oliver Optic Books"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>The Boat Club</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>All Aboard</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Little by Little</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Now or Never</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Poor and Proud</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Try Again</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Fighting Joe</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Haste and Waste</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Hope and Have</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>In School and Out</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Rich and Humble</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Work and Win</b></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +<span class="smcap">Ask for the New York Book Company's<br /> +Oliver Optic Books</span><br /><br /> +—————<br /> + + +<br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'><span class="smcap">Publishers, 147 Fourth Avenue</span></span><br /> +NEW YORK, N.Y.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'><span class="smcap">Novels Worth Reading</span></div> + +<div class='center'>RETAIL PRICE, TEN CENTS A COPY</div> + + +<p>Magazine size, paper-covered novels. Covers printed in +attractive colors. List of titles contains the very best sellers +of popular fiction. Printed from new plates; type clear, +clean and readable.</p> + + +<div class='center'><i>The following books are ready to deliver:</i></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="List books worth reading"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Treasure Island</b> </td><td align='center'><b>By</b> </td><td align='left'><b>Robert Louis Stevenson</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>King Solomon's Mines</b> </td><td align='left'><b>"</b></td><td align='left'><b>H. Rider Haggard</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Meadow Brook</b></td><td align='center'><b>"</b></td><td align='left'><b>Mary J. Holmes</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Old Mam'selle's Secret</b></td><td align='center'><b>"</b></td><td align='left'><b>E. Marlitt</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>By Woman's Wit</b></td><td align='center'><b>"</b></td><td align='left'><b>Mrs. Alexander</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Tempest and Sunshine</b></td><td align='center'><b>"</b></td><td align='left'><b>Mary J. Holmes</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='3'><i>Other titles in preparation</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br />—————<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='adtitle2'><span class="smcap">Children's Color Books</span></div> + +<div class='center'>RETAIL PRICE, FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY</div> + +<p>Books for children that are not only picture books but +play books. Beautifully printed in four colors. Books that +children can cut out, paint or puzzle over. More entertaining +than the most expensive toys.</p> + + +<div class='center'><i>The following books are ready to deliver:</i></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Children's Color books"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>The Painting Book—Post Cards</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><b>The Scissors Book—Our Army</b></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;"><b>The Scissors Book—Dolls of All Nations</b></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6.5em;"><b>The Puzzle Book—Children's Pets</b></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'> +<i>Others in preparation</i><br /> + +—————<br /><br /> + + +<span class="smcap">Ask for the New York Book Company's<br /> +Novels Worth Reading and Children's Color Books<br /> +Sold by Dealers Everywhere</span><br /> +<br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'><span class="smcap">Publishers, 147 Fourth Avenue</span></span><br /> +NEW YORK, N.Y.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>Our Girls Books by Famous Writers</div> + +<div class='center'>"THE TWO-IN-ONE EDITION"</div> + + +<p>A new series, containing the best stories of the most +popular writers. Size 5 × 7¼ inches; bulk one inch; +380 pages and a frontispiece in colors; printed from +new plates, sewed, cloth bindings, gilt back, with decorated +inlaid covers in colors.</p> + +<p>Each of the following volumes, which are now ready +to deliver, contains the two complete books, of which +the titles are given in the list, as they were written by +the authors, without condensation or abridgment.</p> + +<p>The following volumes, each containing the two stories +as listed, are ready to deliver:</p> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 1—"Wild Kitty" and "A Girl from America," both by +Mrs. L. T. Meade</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 2—"Daddy's Girl" and "A World of Girls," both by Mrs. +L. T. Meade</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 3—"Sue, a Little Heroine" and "Polly, a New-Fashioned +Girl," both by Mrs. L. T. Meade</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 4—"The School Queens" and "A Sweet Girl Graduate," +both by Mrs. L. T. Meade</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 5—"Faith Gartney's Girlhood," by Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney, +and "The Princess of the Revels," by Mrs. +L. T. Meade</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 6—"Grimm's Tales," by The Brothers Grimm, and +"Fairy Tales and Legends," by Charles Perrault</div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +LIST PRICE THIRTY CENTS A VOLUME<br /> +</div> + +<p>The lowest price for any single title or story in the +above list in any other cloth-bound edition is double our +price. The two titles or stories contained in each volume +gives more reading matter and better value for the +price than has been offered heretofore in cloth-bound +books for girls.</p> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.</span></b><br /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>The Famous Fiction by Great Novelists</div> + +<div class='center'>"THE TWO-IN-ONE EDITION"</div> + +<p>A new series of novels, containing the great books of +the greatest novelists, with either two novels in one +volume, or, in the case of some of the very long novels, +two volumes combined in one volume.</p> + +<p>Size 5 × 7¼ inches, bulk one inch, 380 pages, from +new plates, sewed, cloth bindings, with decorated +covers in colors and other attractive features.</p> + +<p>The following volumes, each containing the two stories +as listed, are ready to deliver:</p> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 1—"Aikenside" and "Dora Deane," both by Mary J. +Holmes</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 2—"Lena Rivers," by Mary J. Holmes, and "Ten +Nights in a Bar Room," by T. S. Arthur</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 3—"Beulah" and "Inez," both by Augusta J. Evans</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 4—"The Baronet's Bride" and "Who Wins," both by +May Agnes Fleming</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 5—"Staunch as a Woman" and "Led by Love," both +by Charles Garvice</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 6—"Cast up by the Tide," by Dora Delmar, and "Golden +Gates," by Bertha M. Clay</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 7—"Faith Gartney's Girlhood," by Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney, +and "Daddy's Girl," by Mrs. L. T. Meade</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 8—"Soldiers Three" and "The Light That Failed," +both by Rudyard Kipling</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 9—"The Rifle Rangers," by Mayne Reid, and "Two +Years Before the Mast," by R. H. Dana</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 10—"Great Expectations," Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Charles +Dickens</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 11—"Ishmael," Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Mrs. Southworth</div> + +<div class='hang2'>Vol. 12—"Self-Raised," Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, by Mrs. Southworth.</div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +LIST PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A VOLUME<br /> +</div> + +<p>The two titles or stories contained in one volume +gives more reading matter and better value for the +price than has been offered heretofore in cloth-bound +fiction books.</p> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.</span></b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'><i><b>Primrose Edition</b></i></div> + +<div class='adtitle2'><i><span class="u">ECONOMICAL</span> <span class="u">COOKING</span></i></div> + +<div class='center'><i>Planned for Two or More Persons</i><br /> + +<br />By<br /> +MISS WINIFRED S. GIBBS<br /> + +<span class='small'>Dietitian and Teacher of Cooking for the New York</span><br /> +<span class='small'>Association for Improving the Conditions of the Poor</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>MANY Cook Books have been published, from time +to time, to meet various requirements, or to elucidate +certain theories, but very few have been written to +meet the needs of the large proportion of our population +who are acutely affected by the constantly increasing +cost of food products. Notwithstanding that by its +valuable suggestions this book helps to reduce the expense +of supplying the table, the recipes are so planned that +the economies effected thereby are not offset by any +lessening in the attractiveness, variety or palatability of +the dishes.</div> + +<p>Of equal importance are the sections of this work +which deal with food values, the treatment of infants and +invalids and the proper service of various dishes.</p> + +<p>The recipes are planned for two persons, but may +readily be adapted for a large number. The book is +replete with illustrations and tables of food compositions—the +latter taken from the latest Government statistics.</p> + +<div class='center'> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Illustrated</i> <i>25c. per volume</i> +</span></div> +<div class='center'><br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>PUBLISHERS, 147 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y.</span></b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/endpaper.png" width="340" height="500" alt="Endpaper" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the cursor over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRES OF THE WOLF PATROL***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 36838-h.txt or 36838-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/8/3/36838">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/3/36838</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/36838-h/images/adtitle1.png b/36838-h/images/adtitle1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dda1cd --- /dev/null +++ b/36838-h/images/adtitle1.png diff --git a/36838-h/images/cover.jpg b/36838-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..976f0bf --- /dev/null +++ b/36838-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/36838-h/images/emblem.png b/36838-h/images/emblem.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6b9d66 --- /dev/null +++ b/36838-h/images/emblem.png diff --git a/36838-h/images/endpaper.png b/36838-h/images/endpaper.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a01c5ed --- /dev/null +++ b/36838-h/images/endpaper.png diff --git a/36838-h/images/frontis.png b/36838-h/images/frontis.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2adcad --- /dev/null +++ b/36838-h/images/frontis.png |
