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diff --git a/37167-h/37167-h.htm b/37167-h/37167-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..300ab85 --- /dev/null +++ b/37167-h/37167-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7176 @@ +<!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" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Woodcraft; Or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good, by Captain 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%;} + .huge {font-size: 300%;} + + .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;} + + .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;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Woodcraft, by Alan Douglas + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Woodcraft + or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good + +Author: Alan Douglas + +Illustrator: E. C. Caswell + +Release Date: August 23, 2011 [EBook #37167] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WOODCRAFT *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, +Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 386px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="386" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'><span class='big'><b><span class="smcap">The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts</span></b></span></div> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS</div> + +<div class="center">Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout stories by CAPTAIN ALAN +DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature lore, native animals +and a fund of other information pertaining to out-of-door life, +that will appeal to the boy's love of the open.</div> + + +<div class="unindent"><b>I. The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol</b></div> + +<p>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 northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his familiarity with camp +life. A clean, wholesome story every boy should read.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</b></div> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>III. Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot</b></div> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /><b>IV. Fast Nine; or, a Challenge From Fairfield</b></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='unindent'><br /><b>V. Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop</b></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='unindent'><br /><b>VI. Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</b></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'>—————<br /> + + +<b>Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge<br /> +Boy Scout Series</b><br /> +</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Nature Lore list"> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Animals of the United States—Tracking—in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'>—————————————<br /> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Cover Illustrations in Four Colors</i> <i>40c. Per Volume</i></span><br /> + + + + +<span class='big'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</span><br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>WOODCRAFT<br /> + +<span class='small'>OR</span><br /> + +<span class="smcap">How a Patrol Leader Made Good</span></h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'><br />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 /> +THE WOLF PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Elmer Chenowith</span>, Patrol Leader, and also +Assistant Scout Master<br /></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 /><br />THE BEAVER PATROL</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Beaver Patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Matty (Matthew) Eggleston</span>, Patrol Leader</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">"Red" (Oscar) Huggins</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Ty (Tyrus) Collins</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Jasper Merriweather</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Tom Cropsey</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Larry (Lawrence) Billings</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Hen (Henry) Condit</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 7em;"><span class="smcap">Landy (Philander) Smith</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE EAGLE PATROL<br /> + + +<span class="smcap">Jack Armitage</span>, Patrol Leader<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nat (Nathan) Scott</span><br /> +<br /> + +<br /> +(OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS<br /> +REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER)<br /> +</div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.png" width="450" height="561" alt="They had gone possibly another mile when Elmer came to a halt." title="" /> +<span class='caption'>They had gone possibly another mile when Elmer came to a halt.</span> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/adtitle1.png" width="500" height="113" alt="THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1>WOODCRAFT<br /> +<span class='small'>OR</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">How a Patrol Leader Made Good</span></h1> + +<div class='center'>BY<br /> +<span class='author'><span class="smcap">Captain ALAN DOUGLAS</span></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, 1913, 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="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">Two Scouts in a Storm</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">A Lesson in Woodcraft</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">More Rumblings of Coming Trouble</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">First Aid to the Injured</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Meeting in the Old Wagon Shop</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Little Red Button</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Job for the Boy Scouts to Do</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Following a Trail</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Reasoning that Looked like Magic</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Giving Matt Tubbs a Chance</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">At McGraw's Lumber Yard</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">A Rebellion Nipped in the Bud</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">Red Plans the Part of the Crafty Fox</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">Taken by Surprise</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">Elmer Thinks It Pays</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">Lending a Helping Hand</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'><span class='u'>THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS</span></div> + +<h2>WOODCRAFT;<br /> + +<span class='small'>OR,</span><br /> + +HOW A PATROL LEADER MADE GOOD.</h2> + + + + +<h2><br /><br />CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>TWO SCOUTS IN A STORM.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Crashes</span> of thunder, sounding like the roll of heavy artillery +in battle, echoed through the forest some miles +above the town of Hickory Ridge on an August day.</p> + +<p>Overhead, black, sullen clouds had covered the heavens, +and at any moment now the ominous stillness of the +woods might give way to the rushing sound of the wild +wind, together with a downpour of rain.</p> + +<p>Two half-grown lads, dressed in the usual khaki costume +recognized as the official uniform of the Boy Scouts of +America, were standing there in the midst of the heavy +growth, casting uneasy looks around them.</p> + +<p>It is one thing to watch the coming of a furious storm +from the windows of one's home, and quite another to be +caught napping, miles away from shelter. And the smaller +of the comrades had a frightened look on his face.</p> + +<p>"My goodness! hear that, will you, Larry?" exclaimed +this rather timid fellow, as he instinctively caught hold +of his more sturdy comrade's sleeve, when a particularly +fierce flash of lightning was succeeded by a terrific crash. +"Ain't you going to find a hollow tree somewhere, and +climb in? Why, we'll get soaked to the skin if we don't +look out, I tell you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I reckon you're about right there, Jasper," replied the +other, Larry Billings by name; and he made a wry face +while speaking. "But then, you see, there are some things +worse than getting wet, and being struck by lightning happens +to be one of the same. Excuse me, if you please; I'll +take my medicine the best I can, but you remember, Jasper, +among a lot of other things we learned when we joined +the scouts, we were warned never under any circumstances +to get under a tree during a thunderstorm."</p> + +<p>"But that meant out in the open, where there might +be only one tree," remonstrated Jasper, whose last name +happened to be Merriweather. "Here in the woods it's +a heap different, I should think. Among so many big +trees you don't think now for a minute that freak lightning's +going to pick out the very one we're in, to knock it +to flinders, do you, Larry?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, and what's more I ain't going to try +to find out," went on the stockier built lad, with resolution +in his manner. "You and me came away up here +just to see how much we had learned about woodcraft, +and it wouldn't look right if we shied at one of the rules +the first chance. Besides," he went on, with a broad grin, +for Larry was a good-natured fellow ordinarily, "if the +experiment proved to be a dead failure, we wouldn't be +given a chance to try it over again, you see. Lightning +don't often knock at the same door twice."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! you make me shiver, Larry!" exclaimed the +smaller lad. "But what in the wide world can we just do +to keep dry?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! that's the least thing that bothers me," replied +the other. "Being wet ain't anything much-a-much. I've +tumbled in mill races, and been yanked out of ponds ever +since I was knee high to a duck. But the worst is yet to +come, Jasper."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now you're just trying to scare me, Larry, and you +ought to be ashamed to do it. You know I used to be +the most timid fellow ever, and that it was only after +I joined the scouts, and went on that trip up the Sweetwater +to Lake Solitude that I began to outgrow that failing. +Now it's beginning to get a grip on me again. But +tell me, whatever do you mean by saying the worst is +something more than getting our new uniforms soaked +through?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, Jasper, we're lost, that's what!" remarked +Larry, although the fact did not seem to frighten +him very much, for he was chuckling while speaking as +though it looked like a big joke to him.</p> + +<p>But with poor Jasper the case was entirely different.</p> + +<p>"Well, that beats the Dutch!" he cried with genuine +disgust. "The two of us felt so dead sure we knew it all, +that nothing would do for us but to come away up here +five miles or so from home, just to show everybody that +we could take care of ourselves. And now you deliberately +tell me we've gone and got lost, like the poor little babes +in the woods, and with a terrible storm going to pounce +down on us right away."</p> + +<p>"Oh! brace up, Jasper!" exclaimed Larry, seeing the +lower lip of his comrade quivering, and his face showing +signs of becoming pallid. "This may be the making of +us as scouts, you see. No fellow's worth beans until he's +proved that he can take the rough jolts as well as the +smooth things of life. Just put your teeth together, and +say you're going to grin and bear it, no matter what +comes."</p> + +<p>"Ain't I trying to, Larry," pleaded the smaller chap, +"but it seems like my teeth keep on rattling all the while. +I'm shivering, and yet it can't be with the cold. I wish I +had some of Elmer Chenowith's nerve just now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shucks! I reckon now that you can have your share +of nerve, Jasper," declared Larry, impatiently, "if only +you make up your mind to <i>take</i> it. Didn't Mr. Garrabrant, +our fine scout-master, tell us only the other night that was +so? Just shut your teeth hard, and say over and over +again that you ain't goin' to let anything feaze you. You'll +be surprised at the feeling it gives you."</p> + +<p>"I wonder now, did Elmer really mean to keep tabs on +what we were doing?" remarked Jasper, after another +tremendous peal of thunder had seemed to almost split the +heavens open. "You know, we thought he looked at us +kind of funny when he asked us what we meant to do this +morning, hiking out of Hickory Ridge, with our sticks in +our hands and some grub in our haversacks."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't think Elmer would bother following all +this way," replied Larry, though at the same time he might +have been seen to cast an anxious, eager glance around, as +though indulging in a faint hope himself that something +of the sort had happened.</p> + +<p>"Well, he's the best fellow ever, you know, Larry," the +smaller boy went on, "and he's sure taken a heap of interest +in my trying to make a man of myself. He even +took the trouble to come and see me twice, and go over a +lot of things with me that he said a true scout ought to +know."</p> + +<p>"Sure Elmer is worth his weight in gold," Larry +affirmed. "And now's the time to show him his faith in +you wasn't wasted, Jasper. Buck up, and just make up +your mind neither of us happens to be made of salt, so a +little juice ain't going to hurt us. As for that lightning, +well, perhaps we might find some hole to climb in, because +it wouldn't hunt us out underground."</p> + +<p>"Oh! if we only could!" gasped Jasper, as another flash +came that fairly dazzled both boys; to be succeeded by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +sudden report that sounded as though something had exploded +near by.</p> + +<p>"Listen! what's that?" demanded the smaller boy, +again clutching his comrade by the sleeve.</p> + +<p>"Reckon she's hiking along right fast now," answered +Larry, grimly. "Come, let's walk over this way. Who +knows but we might run on some sort of shelter. And +when we're up against such a snag, I tell you flat that +beggars ain't goin' to be choosers if the chance comes our +way."</p> + +<p>"That must be rain we hear away off there," suggested +Jasper, shuddering.</p> + +<p>"Rain and wind together; and sounds to me like it might +turn out to be something of a howler. Hope the trees don't +go dropping around us. We might have some trouble +dodging 'em if they came too fast."</p> + +<p>Jasper shot a quick look at his companion's face, as +if to see whether Larry could mean what he said. Then +he bit his lower lip until it actually bled. But for the +time being not another expression of dismay did he utter. +Fear of ridicule had conquered over the genuine article.</p> + +<p>They hurried forward, both of them eagerly looking for +some hollow log, or overturned tree, that might give some +promise of shelter against the deluge that would soon be +upon them.</p> + +<p>"You keep tabs on the right, and I'll cover the left!" +remarked Larry, but he had to raise his voice to almost a +shout now, because of the increasing roaring sound that was +sweeping down upon their rear.</p> + +<p>"It's getting night in the woods!" cried Jasper, as the +gloom increased.</p> + +<p>"Rats!" scoffed his comrade, derisively. "You know +it ain't more'n two o'clock. After it's all over the bully +old sun will be shining again, all right."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! do you really think so, Larry?" asked the other, +grasping at the slightest gleam of hope, just as a drowning +person might at a floating straw.</p> + +<p>"Well, it'll be shining, all right," asserted Larry, positively, +"and I reckon we'll be on deck to see it, too. Hi! +what's this here, Jasper?"</p> + +<p>"Have you struck a place for us to crawl in, Larry? +Oh! I hope so, I'm sure! Why, it's a hollow log, and with +a hole plenty big enough to let a fellow creep inside!"</p> + +<p>"That's right," called the other, cheerfully. "And +now suppose you get down on your knees, and push in, feet +first. Then if you should get stuck, you could crawl out +again, see?"</p> + +<p>"But looky here, Larry," cried Jasper suddenly and +suspiciously. "It's such an awfully short log, I don't +believe both of us can ever get in it."</p> + +<p>"No more we can, Jasper, and all the more reason for +you to crawl in right away now," and Larry began to urge +his comrade to flatten himself out on the ground, with +both feet in touch with the hollow log.</p> + +<p>"But how about you, Larry?" expostulated Jasper.</p> + +<p>"Shucks! didn't I tell you I wasn't made of sugar or +salt? Rain won't ever hurt Larry Billings. Get a move +on you now, and squeeze in. That wet old rain is mighty +near here now. I thought I felt a drop right then. Crawl, +you slow tortoise! Here, let me give you a shove along."</p> + +<p>Jasper turned a white face upward.</p> + +<p>"You ain't going to run away, and leave me here, are +you, Larry?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"What! me?" shouted the other, indignantly. "What +d'ye take me for, Jasper? A true scout would never act +that way to a chum. Not much. I'm just goin' to snuggle +down alongside the log here, and wait till the storm blows +itself out. Get a good grip on yourself now, and nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +ain't goin' to hurt you. Give you my word on it, Jasper," +and he again started to energetically push the smaller lad +into the gaping hole that had offered such an asylum in +time of need.</p> + +<p>"And the lightning won't strike this log, either, will +it?" the boy who was accepting the wooden jacket asked.</p> + +<p>"Never in the world. That's what Mr. Garrabrant told +us—hunt out a hollow log if you can, but never a tree that's +standing upright. Nor a barn either, for that matter. +In you go, Jasper; why, man alive, you're going to be as +snug as a bug in a rug, don't you know."</p> + +<p>"But Larry, won't you please knock on the side every +little while," asked the timid one, eagerly. "It'll be so +comforting to me to just know you're still there, even if +I can't see you."</p> + +<p>"Course I will, and right hearty, too," jollied Larry, +who realized now that the boy was pretty badly rattled by +the terrific roar of the storm, as well as by the strange +gloom that had fallen on the great woods, and in thus +trying to comfort his weaker companion Larry quite forgot +any natural fear he might have himself otherwise experienced.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm fixed all right now," came in half muffled +tones from inside the log, and then suddenly Jasper gave +a shrill cry. "Oh! there's something biting at my feet! +Larry, pull me out, quick! There's a bear or a wildcat +in here, and it'll chew my feet up! Hurry, hurry! get +me out!"</p> + +<p>So there seemed nothing for it but that Larry should +catch hold, and help the panic-stricken one out of the +hollow log again. When this had been done, they just stood +there in the gathering gloom and looked at each other.</p> + +<p>"Reckon you'll just have to take your ducking the same +as me, then," grumbled Larry, with the resigned air of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +a martyr who had done his best for a friend, and could not +be blamed for whatever happened.</p> + +<p>"Then I will, Larry," said Jasper, trying to be brave, +though still shuddering. "Let's both run over there, and +see if we can find shelter behind the roots of that fallen +tree! Oh! wait, wait, I surely saw something moving +there! Yes, look Larry, there it is again! Why, it's a +man—no, a boy! that's what it is!"</p> + +<p>"Sure it is," laughed Larry, with the greatest relief +possible in his voice; "and no other than Elmer Chenowith, +our scout leader. He <i>did</i> follow us all the way up +here, and it's a mighty good thing for us that happened. +It's all right now, Jasper. He'll know what to do!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A LESSON IN WOODCRAFT.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hello!</span> hello! come this way, quick, both of you!" +shouted the sturdy-looking young fellow who had appeared +so opportunely on the scene, and whose coming seemed to +inspire both Larry and Jasper with renewed confidence.</p> + +<p>He beckoned as he gave utterance to these words, and +catching hold of his companion's arm Larry hastened to +obey.</p> + +<p>There was indeed need of hurrying. Already the drops +had begun to come pattering down, like shot rattling +through the thick leaves overhead. And that furious combination +of howling wind and descending rain was almost +upon them.</p> + +<p>Stumbling along, the two boys reached the spot where +stood Elmer Chenowith, who was the assistant scout-master +to the Hickory Ridge Boy Scout troop.</p> + +<p>"Here, get back of this upturned mass of roots!" cried +the other, as he pushed both the scouts ahead of him.</p> + +<p>The tree in falling, years back, had lifted a great mass +of earth with its roots. This formed a bulwark at least +seven feet in height. And as luck would have it, the +hole in the ground was just on the other side from the direction +where that wind howled now. This proved that the +previous storm, by which the king of the forest had been +bowled over, must have come from exactly opposite that +quarter from whence the present gale was springing.</p> + +<p>Neither Larry nor Jasper thought anything about such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +a thing just then, their one anxiety being to gain such +shelter as the barricade promised to afford. But Elmer +was always on the watch for curious facts in connection +with the woodcraft he studied at every opportunity, and +this matter was of considerable importance in his eyes.</p> + +<p>So the three lads cowered there, trying to make themselves +as small as possible.</p> + +<p>"We're bound to get soaked, all right," called Elmer, +as the rain commenced to come down heavier and heavier; +"but then, that doesn't cut any figure in the case. So +long as we keep from being carried away by the hurricane +wind, or have a tree squash down on top of us, we hadn't +ought to complain."</p> + +<p>"That's what," answered Larry; "and I tell you we're +both as glad as can be to run across you up here, Elmer. +This storm came on us just when we had to admit we'd +lost our grip of all the boasted woodcraft we knew, and +were at sea."</p> + +<p>"Don't try to talk any more just now, fellows!" called +Elmer. "The old storm's making too much racket. Wait +till the worst goes by."</p> + +<p>Jasper was still shaking some. True, this shelter promised +to be comforting, but he found reason to fear, from +words Elmer had let fall, that the worst was yet to come, +and that the storm would increase. Otherwise, why should +the scout leader, who was so well versed in everything pertaining +to outdoors, speak of it as a hurricane wind?</p> + +<p>So poor Jasper held on to some projection of the fallen +tree, and drew his breath in little gasps. The uplifted mass +of roots protected them in some measure from the rain, +and altogether from the driving wind, but by degrees little +rivers of water commenced to descend from the trees overhead, +and these soon completed the job of soaking the trio +of scouts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>The minutes passed, and nothing very serious happened. +True, once or twice Jasper believed he heard a crash as +some weak tree yielded to the strain, and went over. But +this did not come to pass very near them, so they did not +incur any particular danger.</p> + +<p>"Seems to be letting up a bit!" finally remarked Larry, +raising his voice in order to be heard, for the racket was +still tremendous.</p> + +<p>"Oh! do you really think so?" cried Jasper, excitedly.</p> + +<p>"There's no doubt of it," declared Elmer, with a +reassuring nod, for he understood the nervous nature of the +smaller boy, and in times past had made it his particular +business to build up Jasper's courage and determination, +always wabbly.</p> + +<p>The crashes of thunder as a rule sounded further away, +though now and then one would break that seemed to outdo +all the rest, as though the storm might be trying to linger +in the vicinity of the upturned tree.</p> + +<p>Then the rain slackened.</p> + +<p>"Not that it matters much," said Elmer, laughing; "because +we're all like drowned rats right now. But wait till +it stops; then we'll build a jolly big fire, and dry off."</p> + +<p>"But how about matches—Larry forgot to bring any, +and I lost mine?" sighed Jasper, dolefully.</p> + +<p>"Oh! that's all right," the scout leader went on. "I've +got some safe and sound in my pocket right now."</p> + +<p>"But if you're soaked through to the skin, won't the +matches be done for?" asked the smaller lad, who was +beginning to feel better already, now that the storm had +broken, and a rift appeared in the dark clouds overhead.</p> + +<p>"I could stay in the water ten minutes, and still have +matches to burn," laughed Elmer, "because, you see, I +make it a point to carry them in a water-proof safe that +has been tested, and found all right. Besides, I know how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +to make a fire without a solitary match, and have done it +again and again."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, to be sure, I saw you do it once!" cried +Larry.</p> + +<p>"You mean by use of a little bow, and a stick that +turns around in a notch of some wood, don't you, Elmer?" +asked Jasper, interested.</p> + +<p>"Just that," replied the scout leader. "I might try it +now, to show you fellows how it's done; only it generally +takes a lot of time, you know; and the sooner we have a +warm blaze after this rain stops, the better. So we'll stick +to the matches this round."</p> + +<p>He was thinking of Jasper, who had never been very +stout or strong, and whom he could feel trembling whenever +he chanced to touch the boy. Excitement, and the +wetting, might cause trouble, unless he found means for +warming the boy up ere long.</p> + +<p>By degrees the wind died away completely, while the +rain hardly amounted to much—in fact, what water fell +was now the drippings from the trees overhead.</p> + +<p>"Come, let's get a move on us," said Elmer, as he started +to climb out of the depression behind the upturned roots +of the fallen oak.</p> + +<p>"Wow! I'm standing in water half way to my knees!" +laughed Larry, to whom the affair was something like a +picnic—now that they had run across one who knew how +to find a way out of the labyrinth, dry their clothes, and +generally create an atmosphere of cheer.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I take a look in at this tree," observed Elmer, +hurrying around to where the broken pieces of the trunk +lay.</p> + +<p>"Whatever is he doing now?" asked Jasper, as he saw +the scout leader clawing at the heart of the fallen forest +monarch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I rather think he's getting some dry wood out +of that log," replied the other. "I've seen him make a +fire in a rain before, and that was the way he got hold of +some tinder for a start. Yes, there he picks up a lot, and +is coming this way with it. We'll soon have a bully blaze +started, and once she gets going why there's oceans of wood +lying around loose here that will burn."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess there are oceans of it; anyhow there's been +enough water turned loose on it to swamp things. Elmer, +is there anything we can do to help?" asked Jasper, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Sure there is, both of you," replied the other, readily. +"Get busy breaking up some of those dead limbs there. +We'll need a lot soon, and besides, it's going to help warm +you up. Jump around, and slap your arms across your +chest, Jasper, just like you would do on a winter's day, +if cold. Here goes for a start," and as he spoke Elmer +applied a match to the little pile of loose dry tinder he had +heaped up.</p> + +<p>A flash, and up sprang the flame, for the boy had made +his preparations carefully so as not to waste a single match. +One of the first tests a tenderfoot scout is put to, is to make +a fire in the woods without paper, and possessing only three +matches. The careless new beginner learns how to husband +his resources, after he has been shown how priceless +even so common a thing as a match may become, under +certain conditions.</p> + +<p>When the fire had taken a good hold, other fuel was +added, dry so long as it could be obtained, and then some +of the wet stuff, which readily dried off and burned fiercely.</p> + +<p>"If I had only had a camp hatchet along," said Elmer, +as he made Jasper disrobe, so as to get his clothes hanging +near the blaze, "I could have done this affair up in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +better style; but I reckon none of us have any reason to +growl at the way things are going, eh, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I should say not," laughed Larry, who had followed +the example of the others, and was hanging his +garments on convenient roots of the fallen tree, where the +heat would reach them by degrees. "We're lucky all the +way through, and that's a fact. It was mighty good of +you to track us away up here, Elmer. Whatever made you +do it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I happened to have nothing to do, and while +neither of you had the politeness to ask me to go along, +why, I thought I'd like to know just how you made out. +So I kept out of sight, and yet near enough to hear what +you said lots of times. And on the whole you did pretty +well, fellows. You can't expect to learn everything about +woodcraft at once, you know; and the time I was up in the +Canada bush gave me a long start over the rest of the +bunch."</p> + +<p>He did not want to confess that he had been a little +worried lest the two ambitious scouts get lost in those great +woods lying northwest of Hickory Ridge; but such was +really the case. And as subsequent events proved, his fears +had after all not been groundless.</p> + +<p>While their clothes were steaming and drying the boys +jumped around, and managed between thus exercising +themselves, and keeping fairly near the blaze, to ward off +any chilliness; for after the storm the air had become remarkably +cool.</p> + +<p>"There's the blooming old sun peeking out!" declared +Larry, presently.</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake don't scare it off," said Jasper, +who was now busily engaged getting inside his clothes. +"Oh! say, look here, somebody's changed with me."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Elmer; although he gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +Larry a wink as he spoke, as if he knew very well what +ailed the other.</p> + +<p>"Why, I've got the wrong trousers, that's what! They +look like they'd been made for my younger brother," complained +Jasper; then seeing Larry smiling he continued: +"Now, what are you grinning at, Larry? Trying to play +a joke on me, are you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, since both of us are a heap bigger than you, +whose clothes d'ye think you've got hold of anyway, eh?" +demanded Larry. "Fact is, they've shrunk, that's all. +Had 'em too near the fire, after being wet. They'll stretch +again in time, Jasper. Mine are in the same fix, you see."</p> + +<p>Amid considerable merriment then, the three scouts +finished dressing.</p> + +<p>"I'll never forget this, never," declared Jasper, after +he had completed this operation in the best way possible.</p> + +<p>"And just think what a fix we'd still be in if Elmer +here hadn't taken a notion to look us up!" observed Larry. +"It's a fine thing to have a scout leader, who feels a +personal interest in his men. Because, honest Injun, I +don't yet know in just which way home lies. That's about +west over there, because the sun is heading yonder; but +where's Hickory Ridge?"</p> + +<p>"Give it up," said Jasper, shaking his head as though +the problem were too much for him. "I'm like you, +Larry; I know the cardinal points of the compass only +because the sun happens to be shining now. When it was +dark I couldn't have told north from south."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must get over that failing," declared Elmer, +positively. "Now, just take a good look at all these +forest trees; you notice that nearly every one has a certain +amount of green moss, as we call it, on one side, and +also that it decorates the same side of every tree!"</p> + +<p>"Sure enough it is, Elmer; and if a fellow only knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +<i>which</i> side, he could always find out how he stood," cried +Jasper.</p> + +<p>"In nine cases out of ten that moss is on the north side +of the tree. If it varies at all, it will be found on the +northwest bark. Remember that, fellows, and you need +never want for a compass when in the woods," suggested +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, now," remarked Larry, chuckling, "what a +couple of silly geese we were after all, Jasper, to think of +coming away up here in the woods, and never carry even +a compass."</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," replied the one addressed, with a sickly +grin; "but the trouble with us, Larry, was our being so +dead sure we knew all about it. After this I'm going to +buy a neat little trick of a compass, and carry it along +with me. Honest, now, I never knew it was so easy to get +twisted around. Some day I'll turn up missing on my way +to school."</p> + +<p>"Here's a compass, all right; I seldom go without one," +remarked Elmer; "though it's mighty seldom a fellow, +who is wide awake, would ever need such a thing where +the trees grow. Now, out on those tremendous prairies +where hundreds of miles of open country surround you +on every side, and one section looks exactly like another, +it's a different question."</p> + +<p>"I've heard it said that a fellow can use his watch, if +he's got one, for a compass; how about that, Elmer?" asked +Larry.</p> + +<p>"It's a fact," replied the scout leader, "though I don't +ever remember of being put to that test. Still, I can explain +just how it's done, though we haven't time right now to +take the matter up. I reckon we'd better be heading toward +home."</p> + +<p>"That suits me to a dot," declared Jasper, cheerfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was feeling quite chipper after the recent terrifying +experience. In a great measure it had done the boy good. +His confidence had been strengthened, and in many ways +Jasper saw how necessary it was in times of emergency to +retain both determination and assurance.</p> + +<p>They were soon walking briskly through the woods, with +Elmer promising that in a short time he would surely +take his comrades to the road over which they could make +their way to Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>"I've got a little news for both of you," said the scout +leader of the Wolf Patrol, as they journeyed on, chattering +like so many jackdaws.</p> + +<p>"I hope it ain't bad news then?" remarked Jasper.</p> + +<p>"That remains to be proven," Elmer continued, gravely. +"It may turn out good or bad, as happens to enter the +active mind of one Matt Tubbs."</p> + +<p>"Oh! the bully of Fairfield—the fellow who did more +to break up the baseball games with our rival town than all +other causes bunched together. Now, what under the sun +has Fighting Matt gone and done, Elmer?" demanded +Larry, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied the scout leader, calmly, "what do you +expect, but get in line, and organize a new and rival troop +of Boy Scouts!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>MORE RUMBLINGS OF COMING TROUBLE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Whew!</span> you don't say!" exclaimed Larry, frowning.</p> + +<p>"Takes my breath away, that's what!" gasped Jasper.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me that both of you look on the event in the +light of what my chum, Mark Cummings, would term a +<i>catastrophe!</i>" chuckled Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, I know that Matt pretty well," grumbled Larry. +"To tell the truth, him and me have had more'n a few +battles inside the last five years. And I owe more'n one +black eye to his way of carrying his fists. If Matt Tubbs +has gone and organized a gang of scouts it spells trouble +with a big, big T for our fellows. Huh!"</p> + +<p>"See here, why do you call the new troop a 'gang'? Is +that respectful, and the way to treat fellow scouts?" +laughed Elmer.</p> + +<p>"You know just as well as I do, Elmer," went on the +indignant Larry, "that with such a bully as Matt Tubbs +at the head of it, no collection of scouts could ever get +a charter from Headquarters. Why, the tough crowd he +trains with couldn't begin to subscribe to the twelve cardinal +laws of the organization."</p> + +<p>"Well, it makes me smile," said Jasper, though in reality +he looked disgusted. "Think of Matt Tubbs, the bully who +uses more hard words than any fellow I ever ran across, +promising these things: To be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, +friendly, courteous, kind, obedient to authority, cheerful, +thrifty, brave, clean, and last of all but hardest for Matt, +reverent! Oh! my, the world will come to an end before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +Tough Matt can hold up his hand in a scout salute, and +solemnly say that he believes in that list."</p> + +<p>"It does seem next to impossible," remarked Elmer; +"and yet sometimes miracles happen even in these days, +fellows. Who knows but what we Hickory Ridge scouts +may be given the chance, and the privilege as well, to open +the eyes of Matt Tubbs?"</p> + +<p>"That would sure be a miracle!" scoffed Larry, who believed +that he ought to know the subject of their talk better +than Elmer, since the latter had not been living in the +neighborhood more than a year or so, having come with his +father from Canada, where Mr. Chenowith had had charge +of a great ranch and farm.</p> + +<p>"All right, we'll wait and see," Elmer went on, evenly. +"Anyhow, I've had the news straight that they have two +patrols enlisted, of eight fellows each. That is doing better +than the Hickory Ridge scouts; because up to now our +patrols are not completed, there being but six in each."</p> + +<p>"Say, that's always been a puzzle to me, why Jack +Armitage and Nat Scott were left out to start a new patrol +to be called the Eagle," remarked Jasper.</p> + +<p>"I thought you knew about it," replied Elmer. "But +you must have been absent at the time it was talked over. +You see, it's hardest to find fellows qualified to be scout +leaders, and assistant leaders. Plenty of raw recruits can +be enlisted on the other hand. Myself and Mark happened +to be selected for the first patrol, and Matty Eggleston, +with Red Huggins, came along and qualified for the second. +That gave us just six members for each patrol, you see."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm following you, Elmer; please go on," said +Jasper, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"It just happened that the next two boys to enlist were +Jack and Nat, both of whom knew considerable about woodcraft, +and were ambitious to learn more. When Mr. Garrabrant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +and myself talked it over—for I was a duly appointed +assistant scout-master by that time, you know—we +concluded that it would be wise to start a third patrol, +with those two fellows at the head, and after that fill up +our three patrols to the limit of eight each."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Elmer; I get on to it now," Jasper remarked.</p> + +<p>"And I understand that several good fellows have applied +for membership in our troop?" observed Larry.</p> + +<p>"Yes, their names will be proposed at the next meeting, +which by the way comes this very night. Hope neither +of you will be so leg tired that you stay away. Before +Fall comes around the church improvements will be finished, +and then we'll have a meeting room worth while. +Just now that old wheelwright's shop at the crossroads +must serve our purpose."</p> + +<p>"Oh! there, that's too bad!" suddenly ejaculated Jasper, +coming to a halt.</p> + +<p>"What ails him now?" Larry remarked, surveying his +companion queerly.</p> + +<p>"I went and forgot something; how silly of me," Jasper +went on.</p> + +<p>"Oh! we'll agree with you, all right," grinned Larry; +"but suppose you tell us what it was? If you left anything +back there where we hung our clothes on a hickory +limb, until it looked like a regular Irish washday, why, +the chances are you're out that much, because I for one +decline to cover all that ground again."</p> + +<p>"And I wanted to know so much!" grumbled Jasper, +as he raised one of his feet and rubbed his shoe regretfully.</p> + +<p>Elmer watched his actions and smiled. Evidently he +had guessed what was on the other's mind.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I might tell you what it was, Jasper," he said, +quietly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wish you would, Elmer," cried the other. "Did you +peek in, and see him? And was it a great big black bear, +or a savage bobcat?"</p> + +<p>"Neither, I think," came the answer. "You would be +pretty safe to call it a 'coon, and let it go at that."</p> + +<p>"What, only a pesky little raccoon, and to pitch in for +me like that?" cried the other. "Why, I thought he was +going to chew me all to pieces, and I was sure it must be +a wildcat at least."</p> + +<p>"That may have been because you were excited," the +scout leader pursued; "and I've no doubt but what the +rascal clawed at you, and used his sharp teeth pretty +freely, because he was badly frightened and concerned. +Even a rat will fight when at bay. And he thought you +were coming in to get him."</p> + +<p>"But how do you know it was a raccoon?" demanded +Jasper.</p> + +<p>"I saw his tracks near the log, in a spot where the rain +hadn't washed them out," Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Jasper laughed, "I forgot that you showed us +how different the tracks of wildcats, raccoons, mink, possums, +and muskrats were. I saw it at the time, but just +now they're all alike 'coons to me. But Elmer, I'm going +to study up on that subject. It seems to grip me more'n +anything else about the scout business, except p'raps that +Injun picture writing. I liked that; and me to be an artist. +I can draw, if I can't excel in other things."</p> + +<p>"But when you get to drawing remember that every +picture has got to tell a story, so plain and simple that a +child can read it. That's the beauty of Indian picture +writing. But look, fellows, what's ahead!"</p> + +<p>Elmer pointed as he spoke, and the other scouts gave a +hearty cheer.</p> + +<p>"The road!" cried Larry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now things look promising," Jasper observed; "and +the walking will be easier. But speaking of shoes, I suppose +those scratches on mine will prove my little yarn about +the hollow log, when I tell it to the bunch. If they try +to make out I'm stretching things, you fellows have just +got to back me up."</p> + +<p>"So long as you stick to facts we will," remarked Larry; +"but take care you don't go to calling it a bobcat, or a +tiger. I'll throw up my hands at that."</p> + +<p>"A scout is truthful, even if it doesn't say anything +about that in the twelve articles we subscribe to," remarked +Jasper, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Elmer broke in, "and now that Jasper knows it +was only a 'coon that had its den in that hollow log, he +will never try to say it was a wildcat; though if he wants +he can declare he <i>thought</i> at the time he was being attacked +by a panther."</p> + +<p>"I somehow can't help thinking of that Matt Tubbs," +Larry observed, after they had been tramping along the +road for half an hour or more, and had covered nearly two +miles of the five separating them from Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Elmer admitted, "I suppose there'll be more +or less talk about him to-night at the meeting. Now, if +his crowd only went into this thing the right way, what +great times we could have competing with the Fairfield +troop! But as it is, as they find themselves debarred from +becoming affiliated with the regular Boy Scout organization, +I'm afraid Matt and his cronies will try to take it out on +us, by giving us all the trouble they can."</p> + +<p>"Why, I wouldn't put anything past that mean chap," +declared Jasper.</p> + +<p>"It does seem as though Matt didn't have any redeeming +qualities about him," remarked Elmer, thoughtfully; "and +yet, fellows, do you remember that just one year ago when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +a house burned over at Fairfield, who was it dashed recklessly +into the building, when even the regular fire laddies +held back, and pulled an old woman out alive? Seems to +me that was Matt Tubbs, queer though it sounds."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Elmer," admitted Larry. "We all +wondered about it at the time, and were beginning to think +Matt might be turning over a new leaf, but the next time +we met him he was just the same nasty scrapper as ever."</p> + +<p>"And you know," went on Jasper, "it turned out that +the old woman was his grandmother, and not a stranger."</p> + +<p>"All the better," said Elmer, stoutly. "It proves that +Matt must have had some human feeling in that tough heart +of his, to risk his life for an old and infirm woman. But +listen, fellows, I thought I heard somebody shouting!"</p> + +<p>The three scouts stood still, and strained their ears.</p> + +<p>"Oh! help! help! won't somebody come to help us?" +came a wailing cry, in what seemed to be a woman's voice.</p> + +<p>"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Jasper, "somebody's +in a peck of trouble right around that bend in the road +there!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I remember there was a house along here +somewhere," Larry cried, as the three of them started on a +sprint along the road.</p> + +<p>When presently they turned the bend they came upon a +scene that gave them a severe shock. And even Jasper forgot +all his recent thrilling experiences in the warm impulse +of his boyish heart to prove of some assistance to those +who seemed in such dire need of aid.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FIRST AID TO THE INJURED.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Apparently</span> the storm that had so lately passed over +this section had played particular havoc with the farm +buildings. Perhaps, with the queer, jumping movements +known to cyclones, it had dipped down in this one quarter +much more severely than anywhere else near by.</p> + +<p>At any rate, it had succeeded in partly demolishing a +barn, scattered several tons of fine hay—that year's crop—and +upset things generally.</p> + +<p>The first thing the scouts noticed after that one glance +around at the damage done by the gale, was that a little +group of persons seemed to be hovering over a certain spot.</p> + +<p>"Somebody hurt by the storm!" Elmer called over his +shoulder, for, being a good runner, he had easily taken +the lead—Jasper was not so very strong, while Larry happened +to be built much too stockily for a sprinter.</p> + +<p>Then the boys received another shock. One of those +bending over had straightened up, and proved to be a stout-looking +boy, with a bold, resolute face.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Jasper may have been reminded of the old +saying he had heard quoted in his home many times: +"Speak of an angel, and you'll feel his wings;" only no +one who knew Matt Tubbs would ever dream of comparing +that quarrelsome youth with a celestial visitor; in fact, +their thoughts would be more apt to go out in the other +direction.</p> + +<p>Two women were wringing their hands, and crying. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +man lay upon the ground, and his groans told that he was +suffering considerable bodily pain.</p> + +<p>"Don't I wish Ted Burgoyne was along!" exclaimed +Elmer involuntarily, as he hurried toward the group.</p> + +<p>The boy mentioned belonged to the Wolf Patrol. He +seemed to possess a natural fancy for surgery, and had +long ago been dubbed Dr. Ted by his mates. And in numerous +instances had he proved that their confidence in +him was not misplaced.</p> + +<p>That was why Elmer now felt keen regret because of +a lost opportunity for the young Boy Scout medicine man +to show his skill at setting broken bones, or binding up +other injuries almost as well as any experienced physician +could have done.</p> + +<p>Elmer himself had made it a point to know something +about such things. He had in the past lived a wild life +out in the great Canada wilderness, where men, and boys, +too, find it necessary to depend upon themselves in great +emergencies.</p> + +<p>Although he feared he might be somewhat clumsy, and +certainly lacked the natural talent Ted Burgoyne had +always shown, the scout leader was only too willing to do +whatever lay in his power to alleviate suffering.</p> + +<p>In another moment he was leaning over the stricken +man, whom he now recognized as a middle-aged farmer, +Simon Kent by name. The women, wife and daughter +of the farmer, had looked up eagerly as Matt seemed to +speak of the coming of others on the scene. Then their +faces grew blank again with despair. For what could a +trio of mere boys do, when a doctor was needed so badly?</p> + +<p>"Oh! Matt, find the horse if you can, and hurry to +town for Dr. Cooper! He couldn't have run very far +away!" the older woman was saying, doubtless referring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +to the horse, and not the well-known Hickory Ridge physician.</p> + +<p>"Please wait just a minute or so, and let me take a look +at Mr. Kent," said Elmer, modestly. "I happen to know +a little about these things, you see, ma'am; and I've set +more than one broken limb."</p> + +<p>The women stopped wailing for a time, and watched the +confident boy as he carefully examined the groaning +farmer.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" asked Larry of Matt Tubbs, +who apparently must be some relative of the Kents, as +the woman seemed to know him very well.</p> + +<p>"Storm blew the roof off'n the barn, and he got caught. +Any feller with peepers in his head ought tuh see that," +replied young Tubbs, between whom and Larry there had +always been bad blood.</p> + +<p>Elmer looked up and smiled in the faces of the two +frightened women. He knew they needed encouragement, +and that he could not do them a greater benefit than to +allay their fears.</p> + +<p>"He has a broken arm," he said, reassuringly, "and I +think a couple of his ribs are fractured, Mrs. Kent; but +besides that there are only a few bruises, and they do not +amount to much. Nothing very serious, understand. Mr. +Kent isn't going to die. But I guess he'd better have the +doctor here as soon as Matt can ride to town. I'll do what +I can in the meantime, ma'am."</p> + +<p>Matt Tubbs had been watching what he did with apparently +the greatest curiosity. He was utterly ignorant himself +about everything that pertained to first aid to the +injured, and perhaps never before had felt so utterly insignificant +as when he saw Elmer Chenowith go about the +duties of a doctor with such calm assurance.</p> + +<p>Jasper had run off in obedience to a request from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +scout leader, and now returned with some cold water. +When Elmer had dashed a little of this in the face of the +farmer, the injured man came to his senses. His groans +ceased, though they could see from the expression on his +rugged face that he was suffering severely.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Mr. Kent," Elmer hastened to say in +that convincing way of his, as the farmer looked at him +inquiringly. "You've got a broken arm, and perhaps a +couple of your ribs are out of the running for a while, +but you'll pull through all to the good. I'm going to do +what I can while Matt rides off for Dr. Cooper."</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's you, Elmer, is it?" said the man, faintly. +"But how d'ye know I ain't got my death in that wreck +of my barn? I feel like I'd been through a threshing +machine; on'y my left arm is numb."</p> + +<p>"I've had some experience with these things, Mr. Kent, +up in Canada. Besides, sir, we belong to the Boy Scouts +movement, and one of the things taught there is what we +call 'first aid to the injured.' I could set your arm all +right, but since the doctor can get here soon, I'd better +leave it for him. He mightn't like my meddling too much +with his practice. Will you ask Matt to please find the +horse, and start for town?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm agoin', all right," said that worthy, arousing +himself; for he had been staring at Elmer all this while, +and listening to what he said about the obligations of the +scouts in time of need, as though he might be hearing +something that astonished him.</p> + +<p>He glanced back several times as he walked away to look +for the horse, that was doubtless in some corner of the lot +beyond the demolished barns.</p> + +<p>"Got something to think over, I reckon," grunted Larry, +who had closed up like a clam when Matt answered his +civil question so roughly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>Shortly afterward they heard a shout. Then Matt +dashed past, riding bareback on the horse, and using the +halter to guide him along the road. He went flying toward +town, and they knew he would send the doctor before a +great while.</p> + +<p>"Here, fellows, Mr. Kent ought to be carried into the +house," said Elmer, turning to his chums. "We've got +to make a litter to lay him on. Come over here with me, +and we'll knock one together in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>"Sure we will!" declared Larry, who had a warm heart, +even though a bit inclined to quarrel at times, being quick-tempered.</p> + +<p>There was plenty of material lying around; the storm +had seen to that when it tore things loose on the Kent +farm. And presently the scouts came back with some +boards forming a very fair litter. Elmer had covered it +with several horse blankets he discovered in the partly +demolished barn.</p> + +<p>But the farmer was getting back his strength again. He +shook his head at sight of the litter, and a slight smile +appeared on his face, much to the joy of his sadly frightened +wife and daughter.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I ain't so bad off as to need that, Elmer," he +remarked. "Now, if so be ye boys draw around, and take +care not to handle that left arm too rough, p'raps I could +manage to get up. Arter that, with some help, I'll hobble +to the house. Don't ye look so peaked, wife; I'm better'n +ten dead men yet."</p> + +<p>They helped him to rise, and then, leaning on Elmer, +with the others following close behind, eager to assist, they +made their way slowly to the farm building.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what would we have done only for the coming of +you boys?" exclaimed Mrs. Kent, after they had managed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +to get the wounded farmer seated fairly comfortably in a +big sleepy hollow chair.</p> + +<p>Elmer was making a sling in which the broken arm could +be held, to ease the pain and the strain until Dr. Cooper's +arrival.</p> + +<p>"Does this scouting teach you boys how to do that sort +of thing?" asked the grown daughter, who had been watching +these actions of the boys curiously.</p> + +<p>"It is one of the things we have to learn before we can +hope to become first-class scouts," the boy replied. "You +see, no one can ever tell when a scout may be called on +to help bring back a person to life who has been nearly +drowned, or to keep another from bleeding to death after +being cut with an ax in camp; then besides, sometimes boys +have to be rescued when they get a cramp while in swimming. +And when a fellow knows how to go about these +things, he may be able to help save a human life. We think +it worth while."</p> + +<p>"I should say it was!" exclaimed Miss Kent, enthusiastically. +"After this I'm going to take more interest in +boys than I have. I always thought they were as much alike +as peas in a pod; and perhaps I oughtn't to say it, because +he's in our family, but you see, I somehow judged all boys +by my Cousin Matt."</p> + +<p>Elmer smiled.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, nodding, "I hope that when you come +to look into this a little closer, Miss Julia, you'll understand +that it stands for big things. My father says it's +the greatest movement for the uplifting of American boys +that ever happened, barring none. And I'm going to send +you some printed matter that will tell you just what the +Boy Scouts aim to do. When you know that, I just guess +you'll find reason to change your opinion of boys."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even the injured farmer had listened to what was said +with a show of interest.</p> + +<p>"Sho! Elmer," he remarked, "I've heard a heap of +this thing, and didn't take much stock in it. Thought it +meant the boys was goin' to be made into soldiers, and as +I'm a man of peace I couldn't stand for that. On'y yesterday +the dominie was tellin' me it ain't got a blessed +thing to do with military tactics. And arter the able way +you handled yourself to-day, blessed if I ain't agoin' to +read the stuff you send Julie. If I had a boy I'd like him +to jine the scouts. And that's as far as I've got. But if +it makes the lads clean, manly, and ekal to emergencies, +like you seem to be, it's a boss thing."</p> + +<p>And Elmer felt his heart glow with satisfaction, for his +whole interest was by now bound up in the success of the +Hickory Ridge troop of scouts; and anything that went +to make them new friends appealed to him strongly.</p> + +<p>When half an hour had gone the sound of an automobile +horn was heard out on the road.</p> + +<p>"There comes Dr. Cooper!" called Jasper, who had been +on the lookout.</p> + +<p>When the physician came bustling in he looked questioningly +at the three boys. Possibly Matt may have told +him the scouts were meddling with things, and his professional +instincts were shocked. But when he saw what +Elmer had done, and made an examination himself, he declared +that the extent of Mr. Kent's injuries were just as +the boy had stated.</p> + +<p>"And I want to say, Elmer," he added, as the boys +were about to hurry away, "I believe in the first-aid-to-the-injured +principle which you boys try to live up to. If more +people only kept their senses about them in cases of accident, +it would make easier work for the doctors, and save +lots of lives. Good luck to you, boys!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And we shall never be able to tell you how thankful +we all are for your coming, Elmer. The first time I meet +your mother, I'm going to let her know what a fine son +she has," declared Miss Julia, as she and her relieved +mother shook hands with the three scouts at the door.</p> + +<p>"I had two comrades, please remember, Miss Julia," +said Elmer, significantly; and taking the hint she repeated +the words while bidding Jasper and Larry good-by.</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Elmer, as he and his chums once more +tramped along the road, "I notice that you two fellows +have your badges turned upside down still, to remind you +that so far to-day you've found no opportunity to do anybody +a good turn. As your scout master, I want to say that +you can't get them changed any too soon; for you've just +been of the greatest help to the Kent family!"</p> + +<p>And both Larry and Jasper, making the usual scout +salute, with the thumb holding back the little finger of the +right hand, proceeded to unfasten their badges, and replace +them right side up.</p> + +<p>They had earned the privilege to wear them so for the +balance of that eventful day!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE MEETING IN THE OLD WAGON SHOP.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">About</span> time to begin business, don't you think, +Mark?" asked Elmer Chenowith.</p> + +<p>"Just about on the minute; and I've been counting noses, +Mr. Scout-master; there are eighteen fellows present—not +a single gap in the line," answered his chum.</p> + +<p>"That's fine. We'll get our four new members through +to-night, and have two complete patrols, with a third well +started. Suppose you sound the assembly, Mark, and we'll +close the doors. While the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy +Scouts doesn't pretend to be a secret society, there's no +reason why we should have every Tom, Dick, and Harry +gaping in at us, and listening to all we say."</p> + +<p>Elmer and his closest chum, Mark Cummings, were +standing inside the old abandoned wagon-maker's shop that +for long years had been a landmark at the crossroads just +outside the town of Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>Half a dozen and more lighted lanterns hanging from +beams or the low rafters dissipated the darkness of the cobwebby +interior; for the once busy shop had been deserted +some years now.</p> + +<p>A bustling, laughing, chattering crowd of half-grown +boys occupied the place; and all but four of them were clad +in the customary olive drab khaki uniform of the scouts, +met with in every part of this wide country, between the +Pacific and the Atlantic, and from the Great Lakes of the +north to the Mexican Gulf on the south.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mark carried a bugle at his side, and was quite a genius +as a musician. Indeed, there were few musical instruments +he could not play; and when in camp the boys looked to +him to enliven the evenings around their fire with bugle, +banjo, or mandolin.</p> + +<p>Another member of the troop was the official drummer; +but as yet he had not secured an instrument on which to +sound the long roll. But they lived in hopes of soon supplying +this need, as there was good money in the treasury.</p> + +<p>When the sweet, clear notes of the bugle sounded the +assembly call, the chattering ceased. Obedience is one of +the first principles inculcated in the breast of a scout; and +Elmer, as the president of the association, had always insisted +upon the meeting being conducted with a fair +amount of decorum.</p> + +<p>First came the roll call, when it was found that every +member was present, showing that the meeting was deemed +an especially important one.</p> + +<p>True, several of the boys looked a bit tired, notably Jasper, +who had hardly been able to get out of his chair after +supper, and was obliged to exert more than the ordinary +amount of will power before he could reach the place of +meeting.</p> + +<p>A little routine program was first of all gone through +with, such as marked each meeting of the troop—a song +that was patriotic in its character sung, with considerable +vim, for there were some really good voices present; after +which the commendable trait of patriotism was further carried +along by a salute to the flag which stood at one end +of the dingy old wheelwright's shop, where all eyes could +fall upon its starry blue field and warm red stripes.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to state," said Elmer, in opening the meeting, +"that our capable scout-master was unable to be with +us to-night, as a sudden business call took him to New York<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +last night. So we'll have to conduct the exercises without +him. And as the most important part of our meeting is the +initiation of four new members who have lately expressed a +desire to unite with the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy Scouts, +it would be in order for a motion that we proceed immediately +to complete that function."</p> + +<p>"I move, Mr. President, we go about that business," +suggested "Lil Artha" Stansbury, who had curled his +long legs under him, and managed to sit down on a low +stool he had found somewhere; the balance of the boys +being disposed of in all sorts of ways, some on worn +wooden "horses," others on blocks of wood, makeshift +benches, and even on the bare ground.</p> + +<p>"Thecond the motion!" cried Ted Burgoyne, who often +lisped, though he could never be convinced of the fact, and +would everlastingly and vehemently deny it when accused.</p> + +<p>Of course it was quickly carried; and the usual ceremonies +having been gone through with, the four applicants +were declared fairly elected members of the organization. +Phil Dale became Number Five and George Robbins +Number Six of the Wolf Patrol; while Henry Condit and +"Landy" Smith filled the vacant numbers of the Beaver +Patrol.</p> + +<p>"This makes our two patrols complete," remarked +Elmer. "It also increases our membership to eighteen. +We need several more fellows of the right sort, and if +any of you happen to know of any candidates, bring their +names before the committee between now and the next +regular meeting. But they must be boys of good moral +character, who promise to make scouts worthy of the +name."</p> + +<p>"Hear! hear!" called out "Red" Huggins, grinning, +as though he took this as a personal compliment.</p> + +<p>"We can now proceed with the regular business before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +us. The new members will consult with Comrade Merriweather +about their suits. But of course they understand +that every cent must have been earned before they can +wear the new clothes. That is one of the things we stand +for—a scout must be independent, and able to do things +for himself. It tends to make him manly and reliant."</p> + +<p>"Mr. President," said the secretary, who was no other +than the tall "Lil Artha," "I would like to inform the +members of Hickory Ridge Troop that I have with me a collection +of finished pictures, taken on our recent camping +trip at Lake Solitude. Some of them are rather interesting, +and will serve to revive pleasant, or unpleasant, memories. +They can be seen after the meeting closes. Please excuse +me for not rising, Mr. President. Fact is, I don't believe +I could without help, for it seems as if my lower extremities +had become locked."</p> + +<p>There were numerous snickers at this, for it was a failing +of the good-natured "Lil Artha" to get his long legs +twisted in a knot; though, when he once started running, +he could cover the ground at an amazing pace.</p> + +<p>"I understand," remarked Matty Eggleston, the leader +of the Beaver Patrol, getting up so suddenly from the +swaying bench upon which he had been seated that it tilted +the remaining three scouts backward, and deposited them +on the ground, to the amusement of the assemblage—"I +understand," he went on, not disturbed by the tragic occurrence, +as the boys scrambled up, and began to brush +themselves off, "that several of our number met with an +interesting experience to-day while off on a hike. The +rest of us would like very much to hear an account of what +happened."</p> + +<p>"Yes! yes! tell us the story, Mr. President! We all +want to know!" came from a dozen of the lads, in one +breath.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer smiled encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"If some one puts that in the form of a motion, and +it is carried, perhaps between Comrades Larry, Jasper, +and myself we might be able to spin the little yarn," he +remarked.</p> + +<p>Needless to say the motion was carried unanimously.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President," said Larry, who was Number Six of +the Beavers, "I suggest that you give your version of the +little adventure. If necessary, Jasper and myself can dip +in, and add some touches to it from time to time."</p> + +<p>Nothing loath, for he had an object in letting the new +recruits see what splendid chances there were for <i>doing +things</i> in the scout organization, both for themselves and +others, the acting scout-master started to tell how Larry +and Jasper had conceived a laudable ambition to test their +knowledge of woodcraft, and started out with the idea of +putting it to the trial.</p> + +<p>He pointed out their mistakes, and showed where they +could have avoided them. He commended their pluck, and +as he described the storm in the big timber more than +a few of the listening boys fairly quivered with excitement. +In imagination they could almost hear the terrific +thunder, and see the giant trees swaying in the howling +wind.</p> + +<p>After Elmer had brought out a number of points that +would serve as a valuable lesson to the tenderfoot scouts, +and which he wanted to sink into their minds, he presently +carried the story to the final stage by telling about +their arrival at the farmhouse, where they found the family +in great distress, and in need of help.</p> + +<p>He made a particular point of telling how helpless Matt +Tubbs had seemed, simply because he had never been instructed +in the principles of "first aid to the injured"; +and went on to show how very important it was for every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +true scout to know what to do in an emergency where +human life was in peril.</p> + +<p>When, finally, Elmer finished, there was a hearty cheer +from the assembled lads. A number of questions were +asked, which either the acting scout-master or one of his +mates answered.</p> + +<p>"But perhaps another time, comrades, Matt Tubbs may +not feel so helpless as he did to-day," Elmer went on to +say. "The fever has reached Fairfield, and we hear they +are trying to organize a troop of scouts there, with Matt +at the head. Let us hope, fellows, that when the Fairfield +Troop becomes a fact, there may be a chance for the Hickory +Ridge boys to renew their old-time rivalry with the +neighboring town. For the rowdy spirit will have to give +way to order and decency before Matt Tubbs and his +cronies ever find themselves accepted as Boy Scouts."</p> + +<p>"They never will do it!" cried Ty Collins, who had been +the chief cook of the troop while in camp, and was known +as one of the best athletes in Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>"That's what I was saying to Elmer," echoed Larry +Billings.</p> + +<p>"Oh! well, you never can tell," laughed the leader. "I +sometimes think none of us know just what Matt Tubbs +might do, if once he took a notion to turn over a new leaf."</p> + +<p>"Oh! he's just a regular bully, and that's all there is +about it!" cried Nat Scott.</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't say that again, Nat," remarked +Elmer. "I know on the face of things people around Hickory +Ridge think that, because Matt always started trouble +when the two towns used to be rivals on the gridiron and +the diamond. But over in Fairfield, fellows, they're not +quite so sure about it. Perhaps all of you don't know that +when a house burned down, and the firemen were afraid to +rush in to save an old and infirm woman who was known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +to be inside, Matt Tubbs took his life in his hands <i>and got +her out!</i> It was his own grandmother, but that makes no +difference. I say that the fellow who would do that can't +be all wrong; that he must have a spark, and a pretty big +one, too, of decency in his make-up. Those are just the +kind of fellows this scout movement can help. And I believe +that if once they <i>change about and face the other way</i>, +they're bound to make the best of scouts. Let's give Matt +Tubbs a fair and square chance to make good!"</p> + +<p>Considerable talk followed. Some of the boys were farsighted +enough to grasp what Elmer believed so firmly. +Others shook their heads in doubt. They fancied they knew +Matt Tubbs like a book. He was no coward, they admitted +such a fact, but as for him ever being able to subscribe to +the twelve cardinal principles of a scout, why it was absurd; +impossible!</p> + +<p>"Water will run up-hill before that miracle ever happens!" +declared Toby Jones, the boy who was forever +dreaming about doing wonderful stunts with a flying machine +which he expected some day to invent.</p> + +<p>"I have no particular use foh the gentleman, suh!" +remarked Chatz Maxfield, whose manners and ways of expressing +himself easily betrayed his Southern birth.</p> + +<p>So the meeting progressed, and was finally brought to +a conclusion. Then there was considerable merriment as +the scouts clustered about "Lil Artha," the official photographer, +as he passed around some scores of splendidly +executed prints. Quite a number of these were gems of +art, and represented natural scenery around the mountain +lake where the camp had been located. Others elicited +roars of laughter, for Arthur had snapped off some pictures +that perpetuated scenes of a comical nature.</p> + +<p>The boys were enjoying the treat heartily, laughing, +bandying remarks, poking fun at the victims who were now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +held up to public view, and mingling with perfect freedom, +as the meeting had been adjourned, when something certainly +not down on the bills came to pass.</p> + +<p>It was as unexpected as a bolt of lightning from a clear +sky. The photographer of the troop was gathering his +pictures together, and those members who had kindly furnished +the lanterns so that their temporary meeting-place +might be illuminated in a seemly manner, were starting to +secure their property, when, without any warning, there +sounded a tremendous crash.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" cried half a dozen of the scouts, as they +looked at one another in dismay.</p> + +<p>"I know!" shouted Jack Armitage, whose father owned +the old smithy; "we've been spied on by some sneak; and +he fell down off that rotten loft yonder. There he goes, +fellows! After the spy!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE LITTLE RED BUTTON.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A scene</span> of commotion immediately followed these startling +words of Jack Armitage. There was a rush for the +exit, and in the confusion, just as might have been expected, +the scouts became wedged in the doorway, so that there was +a brief delay in gaining the open air.</p> + +<p>Shouts outside presently told that some of the wiser ones +had avoided this combined rush, and sought the open air +by the same means taken by the unknown. They had just +glimpsed some dim figure amid the cloud of dust that followed +the breaking down of the frail floor of the little +platform at the rear of the shop. It had vanished through +some hole; possibly a board or two had been previously +loosened with the idea of a hasty flight in case of discovery, +to avoid unpleasant consequences.</p> + +<p>Elmer and his chum, Mark Cummings, had not taken +part in either the crush at the door, or the swift passage +through the rear opening.</p> + +<p>"Well, what d'ye think of that?" demanded Mark, turning +to his chum, as the last of the jam at the door was +broken, allowing the struggling scouts a chance to get +through.</p> + +<p>Elmer was laughing.</p> + +<p>"Some of those fellows will feel a little sore after that +football rush," he remarked; "you noticed that the wise +ones chased after 'Lil Artha.' He was quick to see that +there would be a crush at the door, and he went after the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +fellow, who lit out by the way of the back part of the shop. +Here, let's take a look and see."</p> + +<p>Picking up a lantern, he led the way to where they discovered +a hole in the board wall of the place. Two of the +shrunken boards had been lately wrenched loose; a very +easy task indeed, for the old place was pretty near the +point of ruin.</p> + +<p>"Looks like he might have fixed it for use in case he +wanted to <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'vamose'">vamoose</ins> in a big hurry," said Mark, after they +had examined the boards.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he did," Elmer remarked. "Did you get a +look at the chap, Mark? It just happened that some one +stood between me and this part of the shop, and I couldn't +see much more'n a lot of dust."</p> + +<p>"Same here," laughed the other. "My! what a lot of +dust he did stir up. I feel like I'm going to sneeze right +now," which he proceeded to do with great vigor, to the +amusement of his friend.</p> + +<p>"Listen to the racket the boys are making out there," +he observed, as shouts came floating in to them.</p> + +<p>"Sounds like they were chasing after something," Mark +went on, after listening. "Wonder if they can grab the +fellow."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'd better call them back with your bugle. +No use breaking up in such a disorderly way. And if he's +given them the slip up to now, they won't be able to find +him in the dark. Step outside and sound the recall, Mark."</p> + +<p>So the bugler hastened to obey orders, and the clear, penetrating +notes of the signal floated near and far in the night +air.</p> + +<p>"Anybody could hear that a mile away, I guess," remarked +the one who had sent forth the recall. "I suppose +every scout will know what it means and come back?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that would be queer if they didn't," declared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Elmer. "Here comes a bunch right now, talking and arguing +over the mysterious happening. All sorts of ideas will +be given, and we ought to try and find out the truth."</p> + +<p>"What do you think?" asked Mark, pointedly. "Was +it a hobo who had been sleeping here in the old shop? +I've heard Jack say his father threatened to burn the shanty +down because complaints came in about it being a lodging +place for tramps."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Elmer, who looked serious, "I've heard +the same thing. But between you and me, Mark, I've got +my suspicions that it couldn't have been just a common +hobo."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think that?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"Oh! several things. I don't see why a tramp would +go to all the bother to climb up on that old shelf or loft, +when he could just as well stay right here on the ground, +and make a fire in the regular place, so as to cook his supper. +Then no tramp would have lain there all that time +without making a sound. Besides, you remember we made +up our minds that the boards had been loosened in the +back of the shop, so they could be knocked off with a single +kick. That would point to strategy—making ready for a +sudden get-away."</p> + +<p>"Elmer, you're right, I do believe, as you nearly always +are," said Mark, as if what his comrade said had sunk with +conviction into his mind. "But here come the boys. Let's +find out what they think about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued the acting scout-master, "perhaps +they've sighted the fellow, and can tell us who he was."</p> + +<p>But this proved not to be the case. Those who had followed +"Lil Artha" through the opening in the rear of the +shop declared that the fugitive must have had the wings +of the wind, for though they had chased after him, he managed +to give them the slip. Possibly the long-legged Arthur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +might have been more successful, had he been given daylight +to enable him to see where he was going; but at the time the +bugle sounded the retreat they had not been able to cut +down the other's lead.</p> + +<p>Nor could they tell what he looked like.</p> + +<p>"Some stray Wandering Willie, sure as you're born," +declared Toby Jones, who was panting at a great rate after +his chase.</p> + +<p>"And if we'd only been able to come up with him, +wouldn't he have got it?" remarked Red Huggins, ferociously.</p> + +<p>"Alas! I was cheated out of a thlick job, that's what, +fellowth," lamented Dr. Ted, whose sole ambition it was +to run across "opportunities" to experiment with his +knowledge of medicine, or attempt simple surgical operations.</p> + +<p>"See here, you're only guessing when you say it was a +hobo; what proof is there of such a thing?" demanded +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Hey, what's that?" exclaimed "Lil Artha," staring +at the acting scout-master.</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I was saying to Chatz as we were +prancing along back here," Larry Billings remarked, nodding +his head as if he agreed with Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Some think it was a tramp, and the rest say it was a +spy. Now, how are we going to prove it?" asked Tom +Cropsey.</p> + +<p>"Let Elmer tell what he thinks, fellows," Mark observed. +"He convinced me right off the reel, and perhaps +he can the rest of the bunch."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Elmer, it's up to you to make good. Tell us what +you know. We're wanting to learn all the tricks of a scout +who keeps his eyes always open, and sees the little things +that count. Please tell us!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>So, beset from every side, Elmer had to bow to the popular +will. After he had explained how several strong points +seemed to dispose of the theory of a tramp having been +hidden in the loft of the deserted wheelwright's shop, he +saw that he had carried pretty much all his audience with +him. The scouts hung on his every word, for they understood +that Elmer had passed through considerable experience +while out on that big Canada ranch and farm with +his father, and knew how to read signs as well as any Indian +ever could have done.</p> + +<p>"I've just been up there and discovered how the rotten +timbers gave way under the fellow," spoke up Nat Scott, +who was known to be of a very investigating turn, and +would let nothing continue to puzzle him long, if he could +help it.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we saw you drop down through the same hole he +made," laughed Ty Collins.</p> + +<p>"You're covered with dust, too, Nat," remarked Tom +Cropsey.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," grinned the investigator.</p> + +<p>Elmer had his eye on him. He judged that Nat must +have made some sort of discovery, for he looked pleased. +He also noted the fact that the other kept one hand behind +him as he stood there.</p> + +<p>"You found something, didn't you, Nat?" he asked, +quietly.</p> + +<p>"Well, sure thing," remarked the other; though he +looked somewhat surprised at Elmer being able to discover +this fact so readily.</p> + +<p>"Which you're hiding behind you right now, I opine," +continued the scout-master.</p> + +<p>"That's what he is, Elmer!" declared several of the +other scouts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you find it on the ground among those broken +pieces of flooring?" asked Elmer, pointedly.</p> + +<p>Nat nodded his head rigorously, but he made no effort to +bring his right hand out from behind his back.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps now," continued the other slowly, but with a +positive ring to his voice, "it might happen to be a hat or +a cap you picked up?"</p> + +<p>"That's right, it's a cap," broke in Jasper Merriweather, +who had slipped behind Nat, and glimpsed at what he +was trying to keep hidden.</p> + +<p>"Wait, I'm going to turn my back on you, Nat, while +you hold it up so all the rest can see. Now, out with it. +Take a good look, fellows. Jasper said it was a cap. Does +it belong to anybody here?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we've all got our regular scout hats, except the +four new members, and every one of them has a cap on his +head right now!" declared Jack Armitage.</p> + +<p>"Just so," Elmer continued. "That settles one thing; +this cap you picked up must belong to the fellow who ran +away, after listening to all we did at our meeting! Take +a good look at that cap, Nat. Is it a sort of mixed gray in +color and pretty well worn?"</p> + +<p>"Say, that's what it just is now, Elmer," replied the +other in surprise.</p> + +<p>"And has it got a red button fastened in front just over +the peak?"</p> + +<p>"Hey, listen to him tell, will you, fellows. Here's the +red button all right."</p> + +<p>"Then the mystery is solved," laughed Elmer; "for +that cap belongs to a certain boy we happen to know right +well; and his name is Matt Tubbs!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A JOB FOR THE BOY SCOUTS TO DO.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What</span> makes you so sure about that, Elmer?" asked +Ty Collins, after the scouts had expressed their wonder +that the leader should be able to speak so positively when +as yet he had not even looked at the tell-tale cap.</p> + +<p>"Listen, fellows," began Elmer; "all of you older scouts +know that one of the things impressed upon a new beginner +is the power of observation. Members of the organization +are given tests at memorizing things they see in a store +window, after looking in for just three minutes, and then +writing out a list afterward. In that way they find it +second nature to note everything they see, so that if asked +about it afterward they are able to give a pretty good +description even of little details. I'm saying this more for +the benefit of the new members than anything else, you +understand?"</p> + +<p>"Sure we do, Elmer; go right along, please," remarked +Ty.</p> + +<p>"All right," continued the leader, impressively; "but +it seems that every one of the scouts doesn't happen to apply +those principles of observation and memory as much +as he might. Now, to make my point plain, there were two +of you with me to-day when we came on the Kent house, +where we found things upset by the storm. And I suppose +both of those scouts had just as many chances to look Matt +Tubbs over as I did; yet it seems that neither Larry nor +Jasper noticed that he wore a pair of worn tan shoes, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +on brown trousers that had been patched in the seat; sported +a new flannel shirt made of some rather flashy material +that carried a good deal of red in it; wore a sporty tie of +the same color; and had a gray cap on his head, with a little +red button just over the peak!"</p> + +<p>Exclamations of surprise broke out all around the speaker.</p> + +<p>"Say, do you mean to tell us you noticed all those details, +and right while we were all excited over the injuries of the +farmer?" gasped Larry.</p> + +<p>"I always said there was only one Elmer Chenowith," +murmured Jasper, throwing up both hands, as though convinced.</p> + +<p>"Why, there was nothing queer about that," laughed +the acting scout-master. "As I told you just now, it grows +to be second nature, after you've practiced the thing for a +while. But did I prove my point, fellows?"</p> + +<p>"You certainly did!" declared Jack Armitage.</p> + +<p>"And do any of you still have any doubt about who it +was hiding away on that rotten old shelf up there, and listening +to all we did?" continued Elmer.</p> + +<p>"I don't think you'd find any scout here willing to say +a contrary word, after the way you clinched things," remarked +Matty Eggleston.</p> + +<p>"And you believe that was our old enemy, Matt +Tubbs?" Elmer went on.</p> + +<p>"No other fellow could have made so quick a get-away," +remarked Red Huggins, as he shook his fiery head in a +convincing way. "Mebbe I haven't seen him spin down +from first base many a time, and get there at second long +ahead of the ball. He can run some, that Matt Tubbs can. +Even Lil Artha will admit that."</p> + +<p>"But whatever made him hide here?" queried Chatz +Maxfield.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, that's as plain as the nose on your face, Chatz," +broke out Larry.</p> + +<p>"I'd thank you, suh, to make no personal allusions to +my features," the hot-tempered Southern lad broke in.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I didn't mean anything by that," laughed Larry. +"But what else would tempt Matt Tubbs to hide in here, +except that he was aching to watch our meeting, and find +out how we did things. He reckoned we wouldn't be so +obliging as to ask him to be present, and as he's starting +a troop over in Fairfield, he wants to know how to run +things, so he can have the track greased."</p> + +<p>"Well, he heard some straight-out talk, then, that ought +to do him a heap of good," remarked Matty.</p> + +<p>"Aw! nothing would ever do that chump good; he's a +bad egg all over. Like as not he was just itching to do +something to give us a big scare. Say, perhaps he smashed +that loft down on purpose to frighten us!"</p> + +<p>It was Tom Cropsey who offered this rather startling +suggestion; but the balance of the scouts were disposed to +make light of his idea.</p> + +<p>"I don't think," jeered Red. "Matt Tubbs is tricky +and bold, but no one ever called him a fool, and that's what +he would be if he broke that loft down on purpose, and took +that tumble. Why, he might have broken his neck!"</p> + +<p>"Never!" exclaimed Toby. "When a feller is born +to be hung he could drop from the top of the highest tree, +and never feaze his neck."</p> + +<p>"Toby knows, fellows," sang out Red. "Believe him, +he's a living example of the truth of that old saying. You +remember, some of you, how he fell off the roof of the +church that night, a year ago, when we were trying to get +in the belfry to ring the bell? Some fellows would have +had half a dozen of their slats caved in, even if they saved +their neck. What happened to Toby? Why, he dropped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +into that big bunch of cedars and only had a few scratches +to show for it. Yes, stake your faith on Toby; he knows +what he's talking about."</p> + +<p>Of course shouts told that the boys appreciated getting +this one on Toby, who contented himself with shaking his +fist at Red, and grinning.</p> + +<p>"But perhaps we don't all believe the same way," Elmer +remarked, after the clamor had died away, and all eyes +were turned again on him.</p> + +<p>"Tell us what you think, Elmer?" asked several.</p> + +<p>"Let us take it for granted then," said the scout-master, +"that the spy was Matt, and that he deliberately hid in +the old shop for the purpose of watching what we did; how +do we know that he had any real mean object in view? At +the best it has been only guess work, founded on his bad +reputation."</p> + +<p>"That counts for a heap, I've found, to my cost," declared +Red, who for years had been unusually fond of +practical jokes and pranks, and several times floundered +in hot water because of this failing.</p> + +<p>"Well, all I can say is this," Elmer continued; "if +Matt Tubbs, or any other of the Fairfield boys, took the +trouble to walk all the way over from his home this evening, +four miles and more, just to get a chance to hide here, and +see what we did, he must be head over ears in earnest in +what he's got afoot. And, fellows, we happen to know that +means the new troop Fairfield is trying to organize."</p> + +<p>Some nodded, as if he had carried them with him; a few +shook their heads, meaning to imply that their distrust of +the bully of Fairfield was so deep-seated that they would +have to be given stronger evidence than this if they were +expected to come around to Elmer's way of thinking.</p> + +<p>"Well," the leader went on, "we may never know the +facts, but this I say, that if Matt Tubbs is trying to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +a start along the right lines, we ought to do anything in our +power to help him. And if the chance opens, I promise +you I'm going to do that same thing, and not throw sticks +in his way."</p> + +<p>"Hear! hear! that's the kind of talk that tells, Elmer!" +cried Mark.</p> + +<p>Elmer had managed to secure possession of the cap that +had been found. He showed no manifestation of giving it +back again, and from the way he presently thrust the thing +in one of the pockets of his khaki coat, it was evident that +he had use for it.</p> + +<p>None of the boys who noted this act thought it strange. +Elmer frequently did things that might not seem clear to +them on the surface, but they knew him well enough by this +time to feel confident that there was a motive worth while +back of the act, and which in good time would be made +plain.</p> + +<p>The meeting soon broke up, the scouts heading toward the +town of Hickory Ridge, in regular formation of twos, with +Elmer and his closest chum, Mark, heading the line.</p> + +<p>By degrees their number lessened as a boy would drop +out here, and another there, when the nearest point to their +several homes was reached.</p> + +<p>"We had a fine meeting, eh, Mark?" said Elmer, as +the two stood for a few minutes on a corner ere separating.</p> + +<p>"A dandy meeting," was the reply, given enthusiastically, +and with boyish vim.</p> + +<p>"The addition of the four new recruits," Elmer went on, +"fills out our two patrols to their limit, and now we can +begin to drum up new names for the Eagle. By Fall we +ought to have six more good fellows come around, and finish +that patrol."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Garrabrant will be pleased when he comes back and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +learns what we've done," Mark chuckled, as if he himself +were greatly overjoyed.</p> + +<p>"That's so, because he's got the good of the troop at +heart," said the leader of the Wolf Patrol, earnestly. +"We're lucky to have such a wide-awake scout-master as +Mr. Garrabrant. A whole lot depends on what kind of a +man is in charge of the troop. They say, you know, Mark, +'as the twig's inclined the tree is bent'; and in most cases +you can judge the kind of troop by the caliber of the scout-master. +If he's weak there can be no order kept up. If +he's too severe the boys will rebel. I reckon it takes a +mighty smart man to handle twenty or thirty lively boys, +and get out the best they have in them."</p> + +<p>"I've often thought of that, Elmer. I like to study +people, you remember. And I think all of our boys like +Mr. Garrabrant the best kind. Going to bed now? Well, +good night. See you to-morrow, if we get together, a dozen +of us, for that little hike."</p> + +<p>And separating, the two chums headed for their several +homes.</p> + +<p>On the following day Elmer, upon arriving at a place of +meeting in the morning, somewhere in the neighborhood of +nine o'clock, found a group of his fellow scouts anxiously +awaiting his coming. Most of them had come direct from +home, and each carried the staff that was supposed to be of +more or less help to the owner while on the road. This was +just six feet in length, stout, and in some instances made of +bamboo, and in others of clear ash; marked off in feet +and inches so that it could be used also for measuring distances, +being two meters in length, and with a grip for the +hand midway between the ends.</p> + +<p>"Just ten here," remarked Elmer, after he had counted +the khaki-clad boys. "All who volunteered for the hike<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +but one, and he, Red Huggins, usually as prompt a fellow as +there is in the troop, but behind time for once."</p> + +<p>"Going to wait for him?" demanded one of the others, +impatient to be off.</p> + +<p>"We'll give him the usual ten minutes allowance," replied +Elmer. "If he doesn't show up then, I suppose we'll +have to go without him."</p> + +<p>He had noted one thing, and this was that neither of his +comrades of the preceding day had shown up. But then +Elmer had not expected they would. Practice had made +him almost immune to fatigue, after a ten mile walk, but +the same could not be said of Larry, and especially in the +case of little Jasper Merriweather.</p> + +<p>On the whole, considering what excitement the boys had +endured on the previous day, Elmer thought they had done +very well. They must be feeling more or less stiff this +morning, and would need a lay-off. Besides, they had not +promised to get around to start on this walk.</p> + +<p>Impatient Chatz took out a nickel watch, and began to +keep tabs on the passing of those ten minutes. The rest +chattered like magpies, and seemed to be pleased at the +idea of having a few hours with Elmer abroad. For the +young leader knew so many of the secrets of the great +out-doors, and was so ready to impart information to his +chums, that it was really a treat to be with him.</p> + +<p>"Five minutes gone, and no sign of him yet, suh!" announced +the timekeeper, after a short interval, during +which all eyes were turned down the road, to the corner +around which it was expected the absent member would +come, should he show up at all.</p> + +<p>"Oh! well, there are enough of us without Red; +though he's always good company on a hike," remarked +Lil Artha, who had really given up an anticipated trip +in an automobile over fifty miles of territory, just to accompany<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +Elmer in his hike, so great a fascination did the +new life have for the tall boy.</p> + +<p>"I thought I thaw him right then, fellows!" exclaimed +Dr. Ted, pointing to a place where there was a gap in the +trees and fences.</p> + +<p>Elmer nodded encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Ted," he said. "I was wondering +whether anybody would notice that the road could be seen +through that little opening, and anyone coming discovered +some time before he reached the corner. That was Red, +I do believe; for I had a glimpse of him as he passed."</p> + +<p>Ted Burgoyne looked satisfied. In fact, the boys had +reached a point by now when words of praise from the +assistant scout-master meant a whole lot to them, for it +always signified that something worth while had been done.</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said about it, but there was a heap +of thinking done; and no doubt every fellow present was +making up his mind to be more vigilant, so that he might +be the next to deserve favorable notice from the leader.</p> + +<p>"You were right, Ted, for there he comes now," remarked +Toby, as a figure came around the corner.</p> + +<p>It was Red Huggins, sure enough; and he seemed to be +hurrying.</p> + +<p>"Knows he's late, and expects to be hauled over the +coals," chuckled Ty Collins.</p> + +<p>Elmer said nothing. But he was watching the coming +of the late scout with an expression of rising curiosity on +his face. Truth to tell, he noted something that none of +the others had. Red Huggins looked more than "peeved" +because he was arriving late at the meeting-place, when a +scout is supposed to be always punctual to the minute. He +was worried, worked up over something or other!</p> + +<p>"Hurry up here, old molasses in Winter!" called Lil +Artha. "Why, we were just going to leave you in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +lurch. What sort of an excuse can you give for holding +eleven comrades nearly ten minutes each? That means +more'n an hour wasted. It's a crying shame, that's what!"</p> + +<p>Red had by now reached them. He was panting a little, +as though he might have run some distance, in order to +make up for lost time.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't altogether my fault, fellows," he started to +explain.</p> + +<p>"Oh! come now, no excuses are going to pass here!" +broke in Toby.</p> + +<p>"Give him a chance to say what he wants to, boys," remarked +Elmer; and the late comer darted him a look of +thanks.</p> + +<p>"I was just going to start out," Red began, "when +father came home. He had been out trying a new horse +he bought; and at first I thought he might have had a +runaway, he looked that excited. But one of our neighbors +came hurrying in, saying he had just heard the news +over the telephone, and asking father what it meant."</p> + +<p>"News! What's that? Something happened since we +left home?" and the scouts began to look at each other, +while several grew a little white.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Red went on, rapidly; "it happened that my +father was one of those who brought the news to town. I +got so stuck on what they were saying that I clean forgot +everything else; and that made me late. Then father saw +me in my scout uniform, and he said he wondered if Elmer +Chenowith, who was so smart about following a trail, could +lend a hand—that it seemed a job for the scouts, if ever +there was one!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! speak out, and tell us what's happened!" cried +Toby, catching hold of Red by his sleeve and shaking him +a little.</p> + +<p>"Well, you know Mrs. Gruber, the woman who lives in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +that little house half a mile or so up the Jericho Road—she's +got just one child, a little girl, with the sunniest smile +and the prettiest golden hair you ever saw. Well, seems +like she separated from her husband, Dolph Gruber, because +of his bad habits. Father says Dolph came home last night, +made no end of a row, struck his wife, and went away with +little Ruth, saying her mother would never see her again. +And that's what he meant, fellows, when he said it was a +job for the scouts. Elmer, do you dare tackle it, and +try to get back that little girl again for her nearly +crazy mother?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FOLLOWING A TRAIL.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A dead</span> silence followed these startling words of Red +Huggins.</p> + +<p>The party of scouts looked at one another, as though +their very breath might have been taken away by the +stunning news brought by the late comer.</p> + +<p>Elmer was the first one to recover his wits; perhaps +because his nature proved to be a bit stronger than any +of the others; and then again it may have been through +the fact that he had had much more experience in grappling +with just such situations as the present.</p> + +<p>"That father of yours was quite right, Red," he said. +"The chances are this is a job just suited to the scouts. +For what is the use of learning all those things about +tracking through the woods, if you can't make use of them +when an occasion comes along."</p> + +<p>"Do we go, Elmer?" demanded Lil Artha, eagerly, his +face lighting up.</p> + +<p>"Say yes, Elmer!" cried the impulsive Red. "Oh! +father declares that poor woman is nearly out of her mind +with fear of what her bad husband may do with the little +girl. You know it isn't his child at all, really; he is her +second husband. Her name used to be Tubbs."</p> + +<p>"What? I didn't know that before!" exclaimed Elmer, +staring at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"But that won't make any difference, will it, because +she happens to be some relation to Matt?" asked Toby.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +"I know the girl, Ruth; and as Red says, she's a little +fairy, an angel. Let's go, fellows!"</p> + +<p>"Of course we'll go, and try to do the best we can to +get back the child," Elmer remarked, as he shut his teeth +hard. "I've heard a good deal about this Dolph Gruber; +and every one says he's a hard nut. But there are a dozen +of us, fellows, and I reckon we ought to be a match for one +coward. I call him that because none but a miserable +drunkard and a coward would act as he has done, striking +his wife, and carrying off her child, with such a horrible +threat."</p> + +<p>"Then let's be off right away," said Red, in his impatient +way.</p> + +<p>"Fall in, and we'll go on the double-quick, up the Jericho +Road," called Elmer.</p> + +<p>Mark was along, bugle and all, even though this hike +which they had planned was not looked upon as a troop +affair, and no one was under any compulsion to enter for +the long walk.</p> + +<p>Circumstances entirely unexpected had suddenly caused +an entire change in their program; but accustomed to +meeting emergencies as they arose, Elmer was just as ready +to take up the new scheme.</p> + +<p>No doubt he was more or less thrilled with pleasure to +think that Mr. Huggins, who was quite an important man +in the affairs of Hickory Ridge, should consider him able +to grapple with this situation.</p> + +<p>Others might start to scouring the surrounding country, +in hopes of cutting the scoundrel off, and effecting his +arrest. But if Dolph Gruber were as keen-witted as he +was given credit for being, he would likely avoid beaten +paths, and keep to the timber, thus preventing these searchers +from getting in touch with him.</p> + +<p>Of course Elmer could hardly believe the man was bad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +enough to think of really injuring little Ruth. He probably +meant to punish his wife for refusing to longer hand +over to him some of the money she received from relatives, +by carrying her child away, and keeping the little girl +concealed, until the mother promised to come to terms, and +pay a ransom.</p> + +<p>But at the same time his act was that of a fiend; and +Elmer's boyish heart was filled with indignation as he in +imagination could see the poor mother weeping because +her little one was gone, leaving her to fear all sorts of terrible +things.</p> + +<p>Yes, this was surely a case for the scouts. If ever their +knowledge of woodcraft promised to be of value it must be +now. Dolph could not go very far without leaving some +sort of a trail behind him. And as he was apt to shun the +roads and beaten paths through the woods, they could the +easier follow him. Half a mile is a very short distance +when boys are in a hurry.</p> + +<p>"There's the house right now!" called out one sharp-eyed +scout, suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and there's a crowd of people around, too!" declared +another. "Must have got the news around mighty +quick. Say, there comes a wagon racing along from over +Fairfield way; and I just bet you it's got Matt and his dad +in it, too."</p> + +<p>"Just what it has, fellows," declared Ty. "Looks like +we were just bound to run across that Matt everywhere +we went, don't it? And here comes a car from Hickory +Ridge, with a lot of people in it. Looky there, some of +'em are the officers. Yep, here they come right after us. +Make way, fellows, if you don't want to get run over!"</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, and they brought up at the cottage +which had so suddenly become such a center of interest. +The phone had been used from Hickory Ridge to inform<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +Mr. Tubbs, who was a big contractor in Fairfield. Others +had come from various neighboring homes, for it is amazing +how such news flies on the wings of the wind.</p> + +<p>The boys moved around among the people for a short +time. Elmer made his way inside the cottage, to where +he could hear the bereaved mother crying, and between sobs +trying the best she could to tell just how it had happened.</p> + +<p>"If we only knew which way Dolph went, we might +manage to head him off," declared the police head, after +a while.</p> + +<p>"Oh! if you only could, how happy I would be!" Mrs. +Gruber cried, stopping her crying to wring her hands entreatingly. +"He is a bad man when he drinks; and he was +in a terrible temper because I said I couldn't get him +any more money—that my folks wouldn't allow me to turn +over another cent to him. Please start right away; and if +you bring back my Ruth unharmed I will pray for you +every night of my whole life!"</p> + +<p>"But how are we to know which way he went?" questioned +the officer. "You say he struck you, ma'am, and +that you fell down almost insensible. But can you not +give us some sort of clue as to which direction he took?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I can," came the eager reply. "Please come +outside with me. You see, I seemed to recover after a +little, and being almost crazy to know what he had done +with my darling Ruth, I managed to crawl out of the door +here, though I was so dizzy I could hardly keep from falling. +Then I saw him carrying my child in his arms, and +just disappearing in the woods over there, close to where +you see that dark hemlock, under which," with another +choking sob, "she used to play so often."</p> + +<p>"Sure of that, are you, ma'am?" asked the man in uniform, +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I assure you it is the exact truth, sir. Under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +that hemlock I saw them disappear," the distracted mother +cried.</p> + +<p>"I understand what he had in his mind," broke in a +man. "That's a short cut to the other road that leads over +to Cramertown. Dolph used to live there once. So of +course he's heading that way."</p> + +<p>To be sure it seemed most reasonable, and not one of +the men appeared to doubt the accuracy of the guess in the +least. But Elmer was not so sure. He knew that when a +man becomes by some act of his own a fugitive from the +law, he changes his ways. Cramertown, then, would be +one of the last places to which Dolph Gruber would think +of fleeing, because he was well known there.</p> + +<p>"Then, seems like the best thing we could do, gents," +declared the officer, with a show of cunning in his manner, +"would be to jump aboard the car again, and make around +the road for Cramertown. If he ain't there yet, perhaps +he'll be along before a great while; and we can lay a +trap for Dolph. Jump aboard, those that are going. Cramertown +it is, boys. And we'll bring back the little gal, +sure as you're born."</p> + +<p>The car was speedily filled with eager hunters, and went +spinning down the road headed for the forks some two +miles away, where they could change their course, and +reach the object of their ambition.</p> + +<p>Some of the scouts had looked as though they wanted to +accompany the party in the car, but Elmer made no movement +in that quarter, and so of course the others would +not think of taking matters in their own hands. Besides, +they were anxious to see what their leader meant to do.</p> + +<p>Waiting until the car and its load had vanished in a +cloud of dust, Elmer made a swift movement with his arm +to his followers. Then the entire dozen hurried off, heading +exactly toward the hemlock which Mrs. Gruber had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +twice stated was the point where she had had the last +glimpse of the kidnaper.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll see whether scout tactics are worth anything," +observed Lil Artha, to Landy Smith and Phil Dale, +the two new members who had come along to begin their +experiences as scouts; although neither of them was in the +regulation uniform as yet, because the tailor, Jasper's +father, had not been able to commence their suits of khaki.</p> + +<p>Of course these two boys were watching everything that +occurred, with eyes round with wonder. They were of the +observing kind, and would doubtless quickly grasp the fact +that a scout must keep eyes and ears on the alert, if he +hoped to accomplish anything.</p> + +<p>"Well, here's the hemlock, all right," observed Toby, +"and now, fellows, stand back till Elmer has a chance to +look over the ground. So many feet might tramp out +the trail Dolph must have left."</p> + +<p>They watched Elmer as he bent over. He moved this +way and that, as his eyes scanned the ground in the most +likely places. Twice he seemed to turn over some twigs, +or fallen foliage that had turned brown.</p> + +<p>"He sees it!" exclaimed Lil Artha; and Matt echoed +the words, for he, too, had noticed that Elmer was now +actually moving on.</p> + +<p>"Want us to tag along after you, Elmer?" called Mark, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>By a movement of his arm the leader announced that +he did.</p> + +<p>"Go slow now, fellows," warned Mark. "Don't anybody +overrun him, and cut across the trail. Leave it to +Elmer just now. If he wants us to help him he'll sing out +all in good time."</p> + +<p>"That goes, Mark," echoed Red; and in this way then +the dozen scouts began to move along through the woods,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +losing sight of the road, and the cottage where the mourning +mother continued to weep and pray.</p> + +<p>Presently they saw that Elmer had changed his course. +He was no longer heading directly into the west as at +first, but had sheered more into the northwest.</p> + +<p>"Begins to look like Elmer was right, and the police +head wrong," remarked Matty.</p> + +<p>"In what way?" asked Landy Smith, filled with curiosity +as to what it meant.</p> + +<p>"Why," Matt went on, "you remember that the man +said he believed Dolph was heading for the road that would +take him to Cramertown. Now, Elmer, he believed just +the opposite, and that pretty soon Dolph would turn off to +go deeper into the timber. And that's just what he seems +to be doing, the slick skunk."</p> + +<p>"Say, this thing keeps growing more exciting, the further +you dip into it," declared Landy. "Already I'm +dead sure I'm going to get heaps of fun out of the scout +business. And after a while, perhaps we'll even run this +fellow Dolph down."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," asserted Toby, confidently. "Just stake +your faith on Elmer to do the little job. Yes, sir, we expect +that to happen, sooner or later."</p> + +<p>"And when you do, there's going to be some sort of a +mix-up," continued Landy.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't be surprised," replied Toby, glancing at +the new member queerly, for he saw Landy was excited.</p> + +<p>"Hark to me, Toby," said the other, almost in a whisper; +"if that thing does come around, perhaps you'll all +be glad I brought this little machine along," and he exhibited +a revolver to the astonished gaze of the other.</p> + +<p>"Hold on here," said Toby. "You ought to know that +it's against the rules of the scouts, and our troop in particular, +to carry a pistol. Nobody but the scout-master has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +that privilege. And to save you from trouble you'd better +tell Elmer right off."</p> + +<p>Others of the boys had seen what Landy held, and of +course their exclamations reached the ears of the leader, +who turned back.</p> + +<p>"Against the rules, Landy," he said, smiling; "but +since you're a new member, I won't throw it away. Here, +let me empty out all the cartridges. You haven't any more +with you, I suppose? Well, an empty revolver can't do +any great harm. But be sure not to bring it again."</p> + +<p>"But it might have come in handy right now, in case +Dolph Gruber turned out to be ugly," protested Landy, +regretfully replacing the shiny thing in his pocket, with a +shame-faced air.</p> + +<p>"Oh! well," said Elmer, as he started off again on the +trail, "if twelve husky scouts can't manage one man, they'd +better call themselves squaws, and put on skirts; that's +all. Come on, fellows!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>REASONING THAT LOOKED LIKE MAGIC.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> two new scouts, Landy Smith and Phil Dale, watched +every action of Elmer with wonder and the deepest interest.</p> + +<p>"I never knew before there was so much in this business," +the former kept declaring to Matty, who chanced +to keep near him. "Why, he doesn't seem to have any +great trouble finding where Dolph went along, and yet +for the life of me I can't see a blessed sign of a footprint."</p> + +<p>"Well," laughed Matty, "for that matter neither can +some of the rest of us, but we're keen to learn; and I know +I'm picking up new points all the time. You see Elmer +lived away out in the Canadian Great West, where he +mixed up with cowboys, hunters and all such chaps. That's +where he learned lots of things that just fit in the scouting +line like pie."</p> + +<p>"What's he going to do now?" demanded Landy, seeing +their leader coming to a sudden halt, and waving for the +others to approach.</p> + +<p>"He wants to show us something," replied Matty. +"You see, Elmer is anxious that every member of the +troop, whether he belongs to the Wolf Patrol, the Beaver, +or the new Eagle that is being formed, shall be as well +posted in woodcraft as he is himself. So even while we're +following up this trail, bent on business, he finds interesting +things now and then to explain to us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the entire group of scouts gathered around where the +leader bent over the ground, Elmer pointed downward, +saying:</p> + +<p>"Here's something, fellows, that I thought you ought +to take note of. It may be of considerable benefit to you +at some time or other, when perhaps you're passing through +a test of trail following. I suppose every one of you can +see this plain track of Dolph's shoe here?"</p> + +<p>"Sure!" replied a number of the boys, readily enough; +for evidently Elmer had picked out a particularly prominent +impression when starting in to paint his little lesson.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to hazard the declaration that this track +was made about seven this morning; that at the time Dolph +was carrying the little girl in his arms, and probably holding +his hand over her mouth in order to prevent her crying +out loud so as to attract attention."</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare, that's a whole heap to say, Elmer," +remarked Toby; although the expression on his face was +rather that of eagerness to hear more, than doubt concerning +the ability of Elmer to make good his assertion.</p> + +<p>As for the two new scouts, they were beyond saying anything, +but could only gasp and exchange looks.</p> + +<p>"Now, you are wondering how I know those three +things," Elmer went on. "And perhaps some of you are +thinking that I asked Mrs. Gruber what time it was when +Dolph came home, and acted like a brute. But I didn't; +and only know, like the rest of you, that it was some time +this morning. But I happened to remember that there +was a queer little shower early this morning. It stopped +as suddenly as it began. All the way up to here I could +see signs of water in the tracks, but you notice there are +none in these footprints now. That shower quit at five +minutes to seven in Hickory Ridge. Making allowance for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +the difference in distance, I reckon Dolph was right here +when it let up, say at even seven."</p> + +<p>"Gee! that's going some!" muttered Landy, who was +listening with rapt attention.</p> + +<p>"Now, about his carrying the girl—that's easy. The +soil is so soft right here, that it would show even the small +print of her shoes. I saw them just back yonder, where +we passed the big oak tree, but there's never a sign here. +It stands to reason Dolph wouldn't turn the child loose; +and so he must have picked her up."</p> + +<p>"Because she was getting worn out, do you think, Elmer?" +asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"Well, that may have been the cause; and yet, perhaps, +he had another reason, which brings me to the third statement +I made. He was holding his hand over her mouth! +I'm only making a bold stab at that, fellows, and if you +pay attention I'll try to explain on what I base my views."</p> + +<p>"Sure we will, Elmer; you've got us all tuned up to +top notch," remarked Red.</p> + +<p>"And as for me," said Landy, helplessly, "I'm in a +fog, drifting about, and not knowing where I'll land. For +the life of me I can't see how you figure out such wonderful +things, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"Listen, then," went on the acting scout master, "up +to near here the trail led along in a direct track. I could +see that Dolph was following some line he had no doubt +marked out for himself. Then suddenly he had darted +aside. That was where he grabbed up the child, if the +tracks stood for anything. Do you see where he began to +move along so as to keep this fringe of bushes in front? +All right. Mark, you walk over to that big clump, and tell +me if there isn't plain marks there showing where Dolph +knelt down. You can't mistake the impression of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +knees, and where the toes of his shoes dug into the soil +two feet below."</p> + +<p>Mark thereupon hastened to obey, while the balance of +the scouts awaited his report with mingled feelings of +anxiety and hope.</p> + +<p>They saw him bend over as though keenly observing.</p> + +<p>Then Mark straightened up. His face was smiling, as +he called out triumphantly:</p> + +<p>"By all that's wonderful they're here, just as you said +they would be, Elmer. I know a man knelt down as well +as if I saw him. And wait, here's the tracks of little shoes +again, just beside him."</p> + +<p>"I supposed you would find <i>her</i> trail there," resumed +Elmer, quietly, "because it stood to reason that as Dolph +crouched down behind the bushes he would drop her on +the ground; all the while, remember, possibly holding his +hand over Ruth's little mouth to keep her from betraying +him."</p> + +<p>"If that don't beat the Dutch!" ejaculated Landy. +"Do you mean to tell me you read all that just from the +signs? After this I'll believe anything. Why, a fellow'd +think you'd been right on the spot, and actually watched +Dolph."</p> + +<p>"But see here, Elmer," spoke up Red Huggins, perhaps +thinking to get the leader in a hole, or else honestly seeking +further enlightenment; "what ever made Dolph act in that +silly way? Do you think he was going out of his head, +and believin' the police were hot on his trail?"</p> + +<p>Elmer smiled.</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking of that, Red," he remarked, "and +come to this conclusion. He must have heard voices, or +else caught the sound of wheels over in that direction, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +you see that he dropped down behind the bushes on the +east side, showing the danger must have been to the west!"</p> + +<p>All of the boys turned and stared in that quarter.</p> + +<p>"Matty," said Elmer, "while the rest of us stay right +here, suppose you start off directly west of this. Don't go +out of sight; and unless my theory is all wrong you won't +have to. Because I'll be mighty much surprised if you +don't run across a road pretty quick!"</p> + +<p>Of course Matty Eggleston made the utmost haste to +comply with the directions of his chief. As leader of the +Beaver Patrol he was decidedly interested in everything +that pertained to woodcraft, and the way in which Elmer +was showing the wonders of the forest trailer's art captivated +him.</p> + +<p>The rest of the scouts stood there, all eyes following the +form of their companion as he made his way between the +trees, avoiding such bushes as impeded his forward movements.</p> + +<p>Would he find that the supposition of the trail follower +was correct? Was there a road so close to them, hidden by +the thick undergrowth?</p> + +<p>Suddenly Matty whirled around. He made a gesture that +told of delight almost beyond his ability to express. And +then they heard his shout.</p> + +<p>"Here's your old road, Elmer, I declare if it ain't, just +as you said!"</p> + +<p>"Bully for Elmer!" exclaimed the impulsive Red.</p> + +<p>"Say, you've been up in this region before, haven't you, +Elmer?" asked Phil Dale, who seemed to be the "Doubting +Thomas" of the little flock; for these were things so +remarkable he must believe the scout-master knew beforehand, +or else was playing a practical joke on his comrades.</p> + +<p>"Never in all my life," replied Elmer, and Phil believed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +him; then elevating his voice the leader called out: "Go +on, and get to the road, Matty. I want you to take a look, +and tell me if you can see the marks of rubber tires there +in the mud or dust."</p> + +<p>A minute later and the other shouted back:</p> + +<p>"Just as sure as you live, fellows, I've found the marks +where a car rushed past. Must have gone at a pretty sharp +clip, too, because it sent the mud flying from this little +depression here."</p> + +<p>"Let's get over there with Matty," remarked Elmer. +"We can come back here afterward and take up the trail +again."</p> + +<p>Two minutes later and the scouts stood on the road. It +was only a country road, and not a general thoroughfare. +Few vehicles passed during the day, and apparently it must +be a sort of connecting link between turnpikes that ran +parallel.</p> + +<p>"The car was going in the same direction we are +headed," announced Elmer, after looking at the marks.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be blessed if I can see how you found that +out," declared Phil, as he shook his head and looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Oh! nothing could be more simple," declared Elmer. +"In a case of this kind all a scout has to do is to keep his +wits about him, and look sharp. Now, just as Matty guessed +that this car was hitting up a pretty good pace when it +went past, because it threw the soft mud to some little +distance when it dashed through this puddle, so I examine +some of the splashes on the leaves here by the roadside. +And as you see, fellows, they are, without a single exception, +all on this one side of leaves and the trunks of +these close-by trees. Do you get on now, Phil?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare, you <i>are</i> a wonder, Elmer Chenowith!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +exclaimed the other, as his face lighted up. "I used to +think it was only guesswork, this reading tracks; but now +I can see that it's all figured out just like you'd get an +algebra problem in school. Given one thing, and the other +must follow dead sure. Of course that car was going north! +It couldn't be anything else, because these mud splashes +are every one on the south side of the leaves and trees."</p> + +<p>"Well, this has been an eye-opener to me, fellows!" declared +Landy, earnestly. "And I give you fair notice right +now that I'm going to know a heap more about this fine +business before I've been long in the Beaver Patrol."</p> + +<p>"I say, Elmer, do you mean to tell us this car which +Dolph heard coming, and hid to escape being seen—that +it was the one we saw start out for Cramertown?" asked +Red.</p> + +<p>"No, it couldn't have been, for a good many reasons. +That car didn't leave the cottage of Mrs. Gruber till just +before we did, and that was plumb nine. You remember, +I think I proved by the rain token, that Dolph was here +at seven. So it must have been another car entirely—perhaps +some people going to Rockaway or Hickory Ridge, +and in a hurry. But Dolph, hearing them coming, and +being afraid by reason of his guilt, hid behind the bushes, +and, I imagine, must have clapped a hand over little Ruth's +mouth. If the men in the machine heard a child's cry +they might want to jump out and investigate, and Dolph +wasn't going to take any chances."</p> + +<p>"All this is mighty interesting, Elmer," said Mark; +"and we think you've proved every point you made. +What comes next on the program?"</p> + +<p>"Back to the trail, and keep right along. Sooner or +later I expect we're going to run this scoundrel to earth +and make a prisoner of him. But he's got several hours'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +start of us yet," Elmer replied, leaving the road that had +told them so much, and aiming once more for the clump of +bushes where the impression of Dolph's two knees could +be so plainly seen.</p> + +<p>"But unless he's a regular trotter he ain't going to keep +on the go long," remarked Lil Artha, confidently.</p> + +<p>"Not much," declared Ted Burgoyne. "You thee, +he's got that little girl along, and it thtands to reason +Ruth ith about played out right here. Tho, fellows, the +chances are Dolph he'll have to just pick her up and carry +her. And with thuch a load why he'll thoon get tired and +camp. That's where we'll have the hunch on him."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Elmer went on, "I quite agree with Ted there, +and expect that before another hour at least we'll run on +our game."</p> + +<p>Once more, then, he led the way, with an interested and +enthusiastic bunch of scouts trailing close at his heels.</p> + +<p>Frequently there would arise little problems that had +to be solved. Now it was an apparent absence of marks, +showing that the ground had grown more rocky, and no +footprint appeared. Then again, Dolph followed a worn +trail, so that it was necessary to make sure he stuck to +this.</p> + +<p>Elmer was equal to each and every demand upon his +knowledge. When none of the other boys could discover +a sign of tracks, he pointed out to where a stone had been +overturned since the little shower had passed; or it might +be calling their attention to a broken twig, a bruised leaf +that had been trodden on, or in various other ways proved +his point, as was made clear when a little later they would +again run upon the footprints left by Dolph.</p> + +<p>They had now come quite some distance, and a few of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +the fellows were showing signs of wishing to rest up for +a brief interval. Elmer himself could stand any amount +of fatigue without giving way, but there were untrained +muscles among the scouts; and after all it was not so vital +that they rush things.</p> + +<p>"Here, let's rest for ten minutes or so, fellows," he +remarked, as they came to a little bluff about fifteen or +twenty feet in height, at the foot of which the trail seemed +to run.</p> + +<p>The boys threw themselves down on the ground, some +of them glad of the chance to recuperate without having +to show the white feather. It was very thoughtful of the +leader, to be sure, displaying this regard for their natural +pride.</p> + +<p>"He sure can't be a great ways from here, Elmer?" +remarked Matty. "Seems to me the trail has been growing +fresher lately."</p> + +<p>"That's right, it has," replied the other, nodding his +head. "One place I found where Dolph had rested, I +don't know how long, but perhaps half an hour; for the +child walked again after they started, as if refreshed by +the stop."</p> + +<p>"Then we're apt to run on them any old time now?" +suggested Toby, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Just what we are," Elmer answered, as he kept his +face turned upward toward the top of the little bluff +overhead.</p> + +<p>"What you looking at, Elmer?" demanded Red Huggins, +half starting up.</p> + +<p>"Just cast your eyes up where that clump of grass +grows, fellows," the leader said, pointing his finger; "I +thought I saw something moving there, and——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>What he meant to say remained unspoken, for just then +a slice of the edge of the bluff suddenly gave way, and +amid a mass of earth a human figure came rolling down the +sharp incline!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>GIVING MATT TUBBS A CHANCE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Whoop!</span> it's that Dolph, fellows!" cried Red, jumping +to his feet, and showing signs of being prepared to fight +if necessary; though scouts are supposed to resort to such +methods only in cases of absolute necessity, and then generally +in defense of some one weaker than themselves.</p> + +<p>"Look at him turning somersaults, would you?" +shouted Landy.</p> + +<p>"Oh! my stars, what a header! He'll break his neck, +sure!" exclaimed Toby.</p> + +<p>The tumbling figure, with arms and legs flying every +which way, landed in a heap close beside the bunch of +startled scouts, every one of whom was now erect, and observing +the dusty intruder with staring eyes.</p> + +<p>"Wow! look at him, fellows! We've sure seen that gent +before!" said Red, as the unfortunate spy sat up, and +dug his knuckles into his eyes as if to clear them of the +dust.</p> + +<p>His nose was bleeding more or less, and he showed other +signs of rough treatment; but apparently he had not been +seriously hurt by his fall.</p> + +<p>"It's Matt Tubbs!" remarked Elmer, with a smile, as +though after all he was not so very much astonished at the +phenomenon.</p> + +<p>"Say, however did that chump get here?" demanded +Toby.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's me, all right," remarked the object of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +attention, with rather a sickly grin, as he started to get out +a handkerchief to apply to his bleeding nose; "anyhow, +it's what's left of me after that nasty tumble."</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt bad, Matt?" demanded Dr. Ted, scenting +an opportunity to practice his arts of healing; "because +if you feel that you've broken a leg, or your collar bone, +call on me for help. Won't charge you a cent either. +Glad to cut off a limb or do any little favor. Don't be +bashful, now; just thspeak up."</p> + +<p>"Oh! rats, I ain't hurt so bad as that! I reckon I kin +get up all right," and as he spoke Matt proceeded to prove +the truth of his assertion by scrambling to his feet, though +he winced a little as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Where'd you ever come from?" demanded Matty. +"We felt sure you'd gone off in that car with your father +and the police, headed for Cramertown. Say, are they +near here; and did they turn back?"</p> + +<p>"Naw," grunted Matt. "I jumped out after I got to +thinkin' about it. Seemed to me after what I saw Elmer +Chenowith do yesterday up at the place of my aunt, that +he'd be more apt to find that pesky Dolph Gruber than a +pack of noisy cops. So I just follered the bunch, that's +all."</p> + +<p>And strange to say, Elmer felt more pride over hearing +one who had been an enemy speak these words of praise +than he would have been had his chums gone into ecstasies +over his work as a trailer. He believed he knew what was +going on in that mind of Matt. And he was not at all +sorry for it, either. It might mean great things in the +near future for both the Fairfield boys, and those of the +Hickory Ridge troop.</p> + +<p>"D'ye mean to tell us, Matt, you've been dodging after +us right along, and none of us saw you?" demanded Red.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Fairfield bully grinned; and as his broad face was +by this time pretty well smeared with traces of blood, he +presented a queer appearance while so doing.</p> + +<p>"All the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'samee'">same</ins>, that's just what I done, Red," he declared. +"Sometimes I was that clost I heard every word +you fellers said. Then agin I dropped back, when the +cover got thinner. An' right here let me say I was huggin' +the ground all the time Elmer, he says such great things +about the trail, an' the ottermobile on that road. Never +knowed there could be so much diskivered by just peekin' +at footprints. Gosh! 'twas great, that's what."</p> + +<p>"Well, where are you going?" asked Toby, between +whom and the Fairfield bully there was a long standing +grudge.</p> + +<p>"Same as you fellers, I reckon," grinned Matt.</p> + +<p>"He means he wants to stick along with us, boys," remarked +Red.</p> + +<p>"Just like his impudence!" snarled Chatz, unable to +bring himself to believe there was an atom of good in this +hulking Fairfield leader, who had many a time started a +fight when the boys of the rival towns tried to compete +on the diamond, the gridiron, or at hockey on the ice of +the Sweetwater River.</p> + +<p>Matt heard these remarks, which were none too complimentary. +He seemed to have made up his mind not to +pay any attention to them, much as they must have set his +fighting blood to coursing hotly through his veins.</p> + +<p>His eyes were fastened on Elmer alone, as though he recognized +the fact of his leadership, and that what he said +was apt to go.</p> + +<p>Elmer made up his mind immediately. He considered +that this was too good an opportunity to be lost. Matt, the +rough and ready fighter of the neighboring town, was at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +the crossroads. A very little thing would turn him one +way or the other. He might be said to be groping in the +dark. And what scout worthy of the name would forget +his vows, and turn a cold shoulder upon a seeker after +light?</p> + +<p>So he turned toward Matt a face that was filled with +encouragement; and even before the leader of the Wolf +Patrol had spoken a single word Matt realized that his +case was as good as won.</p> + +<p>"Would you mind telling us, Matt," said Elmer, pleasantly, +"just why you want to go along with us now?"</p> + +<p>"Sure not," came the ready answer. "I said, didn't +I, that when I saw what blundering fools them jay cops +were, I believed there was a heap more chance of Elmer +trackin' Dolph Gruber? Well, that's one reason why I +want to go along; 'cause I reckon you're just goin' to get +that critter, while the police are waitin' for him to show +up in Cramertown, where he never meant to go at all."</p> + +<p>"But, Matt, there is another reason?" persisted Elmer.</p> + +<p>"There be," replied the bully, with one of his grins.</p> + +<p>"Tell us what it is," asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"Well, you fellers know we're startin' a troop over in +Fairfield, don't you?" Matt replied. "I've heard a lot +'bout what this here Elmer Chenowith knowed concernin' +woodcraft an' such things. When I seen him take holt of +my uncle yest'day, and fix him up just like a reg'lar doctor +might, when I didn't know the fust blamed thing to +do, says I to myself, says I, 'It's time you was findin' out +all 'bout what this here scout business means; 'cause thar's +a heap more connected with it than fightin'.' An' I want +to be along to see what else Elmer kin show us, when the +trail she grows dim. There seems to be somethin' in here," +and he clapped a hand on his breast, "that just <i>wants</i> to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +larn 'bout these things. Never felt just this way afore, +give you my word I ain't. Kin I go, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>The scout leader gave a quick glance at his chums. Several +nodded, hardly knowing themselves why they did it, +save that somehow they had been affected by what the +bully of Fairfield had just said.</p> + +<p>"I don't think a single scout will raise any objection to +your keeping along with us, Matt," Elmer said, seriously. +"Only for the time being you must promise to be bound +by the same rules that the rest are."</p> + +<p>"Promise anything, Elmer, so's you let me go 'long," +declared the other. "Now what d'ye want of me?"</p> + +<p>"Only that you agree to obey orders," Elmer said.</p> + +<p>"Whose orders?" demanded Matt, quickly.</p> + +<p>"I happen to represent our scout-master, Mr. Garrabrant," +answered the leader of the Wolf Patrol; "and in +his absence the members of the troop look to me to command."</p> + +<p>Matt grinned some more, and nodded cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Sure I'll do whatever <i>you</i> say while I'm along, Elmer," +he declared. "And when we ketch up with that coward +Dolph, I hope you set me on him. I'm just boiling over +for a fight; and he'll get his medicine or else my name is +Mud."</p> + +<p>"That's just it, Matt," remarked Elmer. "We hope +not to have to fight at all, if we can manage to get the +child away from her stepfather. But one thing I will +promise you, Matt—if there should be any need of strong-arm +action, I'll call on you to do your share. You'll be +on the firing line."</p> + +<p>"All right, Elmer; and now forget I'm along, and just +go on like you would if I hadn't come tumbling down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +that pesky slope like a bag of oats. Wow! my elbows must +be skinned to beat the band."</p> + +<p>And Elmer knew full well that after that his every movement +would be watched by Matt with the utmost eagerness. +A new world was opening up to this rough boy of Fairfield; +through the open door he was beginning to catch enticing +glimpses of things he had never dreamed existed on this +earth. And Elmer could not find it in his heart to close +that door that was ajar.</p> + +<p>So they started again.</p> + +<p>Whenever there came a brief halt, as the trailer found a +temporary hitch in his work, Matt Tubbs invariably pressed +to the front, and had eyes and ears only for the one whom +he had begun to take as his pattern. And knowing his +utter ignorance along the line of reading signs, Elmer took +especial pains to explain just why he did this thing or that.</p> + +<p>It was an object lesson that was apt to prove invaluable +to every fellow who clustered around "the boy who knew." +Besides the information they thus picked up, the fascination +of the thing appealed strongly to their inquiring +minds; and as a consequence, every fellow would make it a +point to study the gentle arts of woodcraft more and more, +as opportunities for doing so arose.</p> + +<p>They had gone possibly another mile when Elmer came +to a halt, and raised his hand in a way that told his companions +he wanted them to stop.</p> + +<p>"No noise, please, now, fellows," he said, in a low tone; +and the manner of his saying this struck most of the scouts +as highly significant.</p> + +<p>"Thay, are we near him now?" asked Ted, in a hoarse +whisper—he had been keeping close to Matt all the while, +from time to time suggesting something in the way of relief +from the aches and pains the Fairfield boy was suffering,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +even to the extent of promising to bind up his skinned +elbows at the first chance.</p> + +<p>"I believe we are," replied the leader, in the same cautious +voice; "in fact, he may right now be within a hundred +yards of where we are standing!"</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'>AT MCGRAW's LUMBER CAMP.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">No</span> one said anything immediately.</p> + +<p>Although every scout had been showing more or less +signs of impatience, and was wishing that they would soon +come upon the fugitive who had kidnaped the sweet child +of Mrs. Gruber, now that the critical moment seemed near +at hand they found themselves attacked with a queer little +case of shivers.</p> + +<p>Had Elmer's opinion been asked as to what this meant, +he might have compared it to the "buck fever" that usually +assails a greenhorn on the occasion of his getting his +first chance to shoot a deer. It was sheer nervousness, that +was all.</p> + +<p>All eyes were turned upon the leader as though they +looked to him to say just what was next on their program.</p> + +<p>"I want you to settle down here and wait for me," he +remarked, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Does that mean you're going to creep forward and try +and glimpse the camp of the enemy?" asked Mark, regretfully; +for he would have liked to share this duty with his +chum, if possible.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the other. "From signs I've been noticing +along the way lately, I've got a hunch that we're close +to that old logging camp I've heard tell of ever since I came +to Hickory Ridge. You know it's been deserted now for +some ten years because all the big timber was cut that +could be moved to the river. Most of this around here is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +second growth, though a few big trees were left as being +crooked or something else."</p> + +<p>"You must mean McGraw's Camp!" remarked Mark.</p> + +<p>"That was what they used to call it in the old days; and +in those times these woods saw some lively goings-on, I +understand," Elmer continued.</p> + +<p>"I should just say they did," remarked Red. "I've +heard my father tell of the awful fights that used to happen +every winter up here."</p> + +<p>"Say, I was up at McGraw's Camp once about three +years ago," broke in Toby. "My folks were out driving +and we got lost, bringin' up in the camp. Why, we even +had to spend a whole night there, gettin' out the next day. +Whee! wasn't ma scared, though? She thought we was all +going to be devoured by panthers and bears. Dad, he had +to sit up all night in the shanty, keep a fire goin' and guard +the door. Every little while she'd pop up and look 'round, +like she'd been dreamin' a whole army of wildcats and +other varmints had come down the chimbly flue."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps your knowledge of the camp may come in +handy for us, if we have to use strategy to capture Dolph," +suggested Elmer; and immediately Toby swelled out his +chest as though he felt that he must henceforth assume +great importance in the carrying out of the plan of campaign.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't anybody move while I'm gone, remember," +said Elmer, in a general way, but with his eye fixed particularly +upon Matt Tubbs.</p> + +<p>"Nixy for me, Elmer," remarked that worthy, in a low, +husky tone. "I'm goin' to lay right here and wait till +you come back; that's me."</p> + +<p>"And perhaps it might be ath well, Matt, if you allowed +me to thee those elbows of yours while we're waiting," said +Dr. Ted, officiously edging closer to his prospective patient.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +"It happens, you thee, that I've got thome excellent thalve +along with me. Brought it, not knowing what might happen +on a hike. It'll be a good thing, and take thome of +the pain out; besides, it's just great to thstart wounds to +healing."</p> + +<p>"Get busy then, Doc," grinned Matt, peeling off his torn +coat, and rolling up both his sleeves.</p> + +<p>The act disclosed the badly lacerated elbows; indeed so +painful did they appear that some of the scouts could not +keep from uttering exclamations of dismay; but Matt was +made of stern stuff, and at least affected to look at his +wounds with indifference.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ted started to work and made considerable of an +impression on the rough bully of Fairfield, while he was +softly rubbing the ointment on, and then insisting on wrapping +a piece of linen, which he pulled out from one of his +pockets, around each elbow to keep the wound clean, he said, +though Matt declared he wanted his arms free for immediate +service.</p> + +<p>"There, don't that feel much better?" demanded Ted, +when he had completed his job; and Matt drew the sleeves +of his torn shirt down again.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Ted; and I'm 'bliged to you. Ain't +nawthin' that bothers a feller <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'more's'">more'n</ins> a skinned elbow, I +reckon; and I've had lots of 'em."</p> + +<p>"I've heard of one thing that beats a skinned elbow," +declared Red.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know," remarked Matt, looking up from +under his heavy brows inquiringly at the speaker.</p> + +<p>"Why, two skinned elbows, I guess!" chuckled Red, at +which the other only grinned as if able to take a joke.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Elmer had made his way cautiously along in +the direction of where he believed, from certain signs, he +would come upon the deserted old lumber camp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Although he had not mentioned the fact to his comrades, +Elmer was positive that he had smelled wood smoke in the +air; and as the gentle breeze happened to be blowing directly +in their faces, he knew from this that there must be some +kind of fire near by.</p> + +<p>This had been the principal thing that caused him to +bring the expedition to a halt, while he skirmished ahead, +to see what lay there.</p> + +<p>Inside of five minutes after quitting the company of his +fellow scouts, Elmer had his first glimpse of the old collection +of shanties known by the name of McGraw's Camp.</p> + +<p>After that he became even more cautious in advancing +closer. Not that he fancied Dolph Gruber would be apt to +be very much on the alert; for he did not look upon the +man as versed to any extent in the ways of the woods, but +just on general principles.</p> + +<p>He was within sixty feet of the largest building, which +had doubtless served as a lodging place for the dozen rough +loggers employed here long ago, during several winters, +when all at once Elmer froze in his tracks.</p> + +<p>A man had come out of the building and proceeded toward +a fire that was smouldering close by. Fortunately +he did not happen to notice the boy, though Elmer saw him +sweep his eyes around in a careless way.</p> + +<p>Although the boy had no acquaintance with Dolph +Gruber, he had heard the man described so often that he +knew immediately this could not be the same party. Gruber +was tall and rather thin, whereas this fellow was both +short and fat.</p> + +<p>"A hobo, or a yeggman," was what flashed though the +mind of the lad, as he dropped flat behind some friendly +bushes where he could conceal himself, and at the same +time observe all that went on.</p> + +<p>The fellow had all the ear-marks of a genuine tramp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +Moreover, he looked ugly, as if he might prove a hard customer, +should he be assailed by the scouts.</p> + +<p>"Getting breakfast," thought Elmer, as he noted how +the man started the fire up again; and then after it was +blazing cheerily began to put on a frying pan which must +contain some sort of meat.</p> + +<p>"Hello! another of the same breed!" the boy whispered +to himself a short time later, as a second fellow shambled +from the long log cabin, and carrying in his hand some sort +of tomato can which might contain coffee.</p> + +<p>"They keep late hours, all right," chuckled Elmer, noting +these preparations for a meal; "or else they're getting +this stuff ready for Dolph. That sounds more likely; and +it looks as if he knew these fellows were here when he +headed this way."</p> + +<p>The presence of these two "Weary Willies" on the scene +promised to complicate things more than a little. Three +husky looking men instead of only one meant that the +scouts would have to be pretty smart if they hoped to outwit +the trio.</p> + +<p>Still, Elmer had little fear of the result. He knew that +with a baker's dozen of good fellows at his back, he ought +to be able to come out ahead. But then, if his partly +formed plans came out decently there would be no need +of a rumpus, for the rescue of little Ruth might be effected +through strategy, just as he had told the warlike Matt +Tubbs.</p> + +<p>Now and then he would glance toward the big cabin. +Doubtless Dolph and the girl were inside that; and he +wished he could find a way to creep up, so as to peep in +through one of the openings. If he were absolutely sure +that the two tramps would remain where they were, and +not come prowling around to the rear, Elmer might have +taken the chances of such a move.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>But there was really no need. Whatever it was the men +were cooking over the fire, it seemed to take but a short +time; for the fat tramp presently waddled off to the door +of the cabin, thrust his head inside, and bawled out something.</p> + +<p>And presently a man came out. He was leading a little +girl with golden hair, undoubtedly Ruth Tubbs. Elmer +saw immediately that she had been sobbing, for she put +her small hands to her face as if to rub away the tears. +And he gritted his teeth when he saw the man shake her +savagely, heard him growl some sort of a threat as to what +he would do if she didn't stop crying.</p> + +<p>He made her sit down near the fire on a log. Then he +gave her something to eat on a piece of birch bark, which +one of the tramps had stripped, fresh and clean, from a +near-by tree.</p> + +<p>At first the girl did not seem to want to eat, but upon +being threatened again by the brute, she made a pretense +of doing so, though it could be plainly seen that grief for +her mother was taking away any appetite she might have +had.</p> + +<p>Elmer had seen enough from that side of the camp. If +he could only withdraw now, he wanted to move around so +as to come upon the place from the opposite side, and after +that he could shape his plans of action.</p> + +<p>But was it safe to try and creep away while those three +fellows were so close to him? Should some movement on +his part attract the attention of either one of the ugly looking +tramps, who often looked that way, an investigation +would be next in order. And while Elmer did not much +doubt but that he could easily give them the slip, as he was +a good runner, his presence there, acting in such a suspicious +manner, would alarm the trio of tough characters, so +that they would be put on their guard and flee, or else<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +shut themselves up in the log cabin and laugh at all the +puny efforts of the scouts to get at them.</p> + +<p>So he was very cautious as he began to slowly push back. +Inch at a time he moved, save when very sure of his cover. +All the while he kept a vigilant watch over the parties in +the open spot.</p> + +<p>Once Elmer's heart seemed to be almost in his mouth. +This was when the fatter one of the two suddenly craned +his neck in an attitude of scrutiny, as though he fancied he +had seen something moving off there in the underbrush.</p> + +<p>Of course, if he made the first move as though bent on +an investigation, Elmer meant to spring boldly to his feet +and run for it, possibly in a direction away from the spot +where he had left his comrades.</p> + +<p>But the man did not even get up from his seat. Judging +from his looks, Elmer decided that he must be a lazy +sort of fellow. And then again, why should the tramp entertain +the least suspicion that any human being could be +loitering around the old McGraw Camp, so far removed +from the railroad, and even the dirt roads leading to main +thoroughfares?</p> + +<p>When things seemed all quiet again, Elmer continued his +wriggling movements, and presently arrived at a point +where he could make better progress, as the cover was +heavier.</p> + +<p>At length he made a detour, approached the cabin again, +and scanned its immediate surroundings. Satisfied with +what he had learned, he proceeded to find the impatient +scouts, from whom he had been absent now almost an hour.</p> + +<p>They were in a state of mind approaching insurrection. +Of course all manner of dreadful things were suggested +under their breath, as the boys huddled together. Every +slight sound made them start and look hurriedly around. +When a gray squirrel dropped a nut it seemed as though a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +gun had gone off; and later on when he himself frisked +around a neighboring tree butt in search of a further supply, +Landy Smith could hardly keep from crying out, his +nerves being all on edge with the strain.</p> + +<p>Chatz had looked at his watch for the twentieth time, +and murmurs were beginning to rise all along the line, +when suddenly keen-eyed Mark exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I saw something move right then, fellows; there it is +again. It's Elmer, all right; and he looks as though he +might have discovered something of importance!"</p> + +<p>"Bully! bully!" chuckled Ty Collins; "now we'll get +into action, I guess!"</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'>A REBELLION NIPPED IN THE BUD.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Did</span> you find 'em, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"What's the use asking such silly questions, when you +can see right now from the grin on his face that he did."</p> + +<p>"Huh! don't you be so sure, Red Huggins; perhaps +he's laughing at the way the sun reflects on your hair!"</p> + +<p>"Tell us what you saw, Elmer; we've passed an awful +hour," said Mark, sighing.</p> + +<p>"Worst ever; thought it was five times as long!" complained +Toby.</p> + +<p>They listened attentively as the returned scout related +his adventures while taking a survey of the old logging +camp at close quarters.</p> + +<p>"Three of 'em—three husky tramps all in a bunch! +Say, that's going some, now, fellows!" remarked Ty.</p> + +<p>"Ain't gettin' cold feet, I hope, so soon?" scoffed Red.</p> + +<p>"When I do, you'll never know it, 'cause why—you'll be +about fifty miles away, scootin' for all you're worth toward +home, sweet home," declared Ty, aggressively.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you see!" remarked Phil Dale, wagging his head +significantly.</p> + +<p>"Now he's thinking of that popgun of his, Elmer, and +thinks you'll be sorry because you emptied all the cartridges +out," said Tom Cropsey.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm not bothering my head a bit over that," declared +the leader. "Fact is, I'd be afraid to have that +gun around if it was loaded. We're not going to need such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +things to capture these fellows. Perhaps there may be +plenty of other ways to scare them into giving up."</p> + +<p>"But say, if it comes to a show-down, Elmer, you don't +mind if I just <i>point</i> my cannon at 'em, do you, and threaten +to blow the whole blooming lot into the next county if they +don't up with their little hands?" Phil asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit," replied the other. "Make as much use of +an <i>empty</i> pistol as you want, but be sure the time is ripe. +Only as a last resort pull it on the men. And now, draw +in a little closer and we'll talk this thing over. Thirteen +heads ought to be some better than one."</p> + +<p>Every one had a chance to make suggestions. Elmer invited +them to exchange views on the subject. He could +pick up a clever idea once in a while by this means, for +all boys do not think alike, and where he might overlook +something, one of the others would be sure to strike it.</p> + +<p>"First of all, remember that we are not up here to capture +these tramps, though, of course, it may come to that +before we're through with the thing. To get possession +of little Ruth, that's our main idea," Elmer said more +than once.</p> + +<p>"But even if we do, won't they follow after us, and try +to get the girl back again?" asked Red, who, it could +be plainly seen, was just spoiling for action.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they will if they know where to look for us!" +replied the leader.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I begin to see; you expect to blind the trail; or +send 'em off on a false scent! Ain't you the cute one, +though, Elmer? I take off my hat to you every time," +chimed in "Lil Artha," who had been strangely quiet during +most of this discussion, though he was doing a heap of +thinking.</p> + +<p>Matt Tubbs had listened to what Elmer had said. His +face had grown dark with one of his passionate uprisings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"See here," he broke out with at this point, "why +don't we just walk right into McGraw Camp, and up to that +coward, Dolph Gruber? What's the use knuckling down +in this way, I'd like to know? Thirteen of us ought to be +enough to turn them three old maids down right smart. +Let's just rush the place, and give 'em the lesson all kidnapers +ought to get! Who's with me?"</p> + +<p>He looked straight at Red, first of all, as if aware of his +hasty temper. Indeed, that impulsive individual did make +a little move as though tempted to step over to the side of +Matt. Fighting had always come easy to Red in the old +days before he joined the scouts, and it was mighty hard +work conquering the spirit that had such a strong grip on +his nature.</p> + +<p>Then some magnet caused him to twist to one side, and +send an appealing look toward Elmer, who shook his head +in the negative. Upon which Red fell back again with a +grunt. He had declined the plain invitation to rebel, which +the stranger in the camp had thrown at his feet.</p> + +<p>No one else stirred. They even frowned, as though astonished +at the audacity of this one who had tried to raise +the standard of rebellion among the scouts.</p> + +<p>"Huh! afraid to risk it, hey?" sneered Matt. "Don't +like the idea, of running up against a hard fist, is that it, +fellows? Say, is that the sort of milksops this here scout +business makes of boys? If it is, I reckon I ain't got much +use for it in mine."</p> + +<p>"Hold on!"</p> + +<p>It was Elmer who spoke just those two words, and the +bully of Fairfield turned to look in the face of the Wolf +Patrol leader. He stopped sneering, and even dropped his +eyes before the accusing ones of Elmer Chenowith.</p> + +<p>"You forget yourself, Matt," said Elmer, quietly. "I +always thought you were a fellow of your word; that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +prided yourself on doing what you said you would. But +I see I'm mistaken. You promised me that if we allowed +you to come along you would obey orders. We scouts have +subscribed to the rules of an organization that makes +obedience to superior officers a thing of prime importance. +These fellows believe in me, trust in me. They know I will +not fail them purposely. And yet you have tried to get +them to rebel, and do something I've positively forbidden."</p> + +<p>Matt looked very uneasy.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I was away off, Elmer; excuse me," he muttered; +and that was more of an apology than any other boy +had even heard Matt Tubbs utter.</p> + +<p>"All right; but you must learn to look at things in another +light," Elmer went on, severely. "Now, you know +that there are boys here who have been accustomed to rough-house +tactics almost as much as you yourself. A little +while ago it wouldn't have needed a second invitation to +coax Red, and Toby, and several others to trot along at +your heels, and pitch into those tramps like hot cakes. But +they have turned over a new leaf. Not that they can't +fight, and fight hard, if necessary; but they are no longer +looking for trouble."</p> + +<p>Matt scratched his head, and tried to appear as though +he understood; but it was slow to penetrate his brain; all +his life he had written only on one side of the slate; in fact, +until lately he did not know there was another side.</p> + +<p>"Obedience is a true scout's glory," Elmer continued, +with a purpose in view. "That man is best fitted to command +who has learned to obey. So you see, although +tempted to join you, not a single one of the boys did so. +I do not think you will ever look at things the same way +again, or try to create a rebellion in camp where you have +been received only on probation."</p> + +<p>"That's right; I knows it, Elmer. I was dead wrong.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +And I'm goin' to do just whatever you say," declared +Matt, looking grimly around, as though challenging any +boy to dare throw up to him the fact that in doing this he +must be showing signs of weakness.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll forget all about the incident. Now, let's +get back to where we were, and see if we can hit on some +plan to get little Ruth away." Elmer went on as pleasantly +as though nothing had occurred to ruffle his temper.</p> + +<p>"I was wondering," said Chatz, "if given a little time, +they mightn't do all the capturing themselves, suh."</p> + +<p>"How is that, Chatz?" demanded Toby; "I know my +skull is thick, but somehow I just don't seem to grab that +idea on the jump."</p> + +<p>"Yes, explain what you've got in mind, please," remarked +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, I remembered that when you were telling all +you had seen, suh, that you said the fat tramp and the tall +thin one were taking a swig every few minutes out of a +couple of big whisky flasks they carried in their pockets, +and which you guessed Dolph must have fetched along +for them."</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, now I begin to see," remarked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Supposing now, suh, they are allowed to drain those +same flasks, do you believe they would be knocked out; +and if we entered the camp it would be to find both of them +fast asleep, and dead to the world?"</p> + +<p>"That's an idea worth considering," Elmer declared. +"But we shouldn't depend entirely upon it."</p> + +<p>"If there was only some way of getting those two men +away from the camp it would make it easy sailing for us," +suggested Mark.</p> + +<p>"They act as though they expected to stay around here +for some time," Elmer answered. "In fact, from a few +words I happened to hear them let fall, I wouldn't be surprised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +if they had done something or other that made them +afraid that the police might be having an eye out for two +fellows of their description. And that's the main reason +they are sticking so close to this lonesome lumber camp."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you outline your scheme, Elmer," Red said, +humbly; "we'll fall in line, and endorse it, no matter +what it is."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's getting on toward the middle of the day right +now, and since some of us had our breakfasts right early, +suppose we take a snack before tackling this job," Matty +suggested.</p> + +<p>When the question of eating comes up among a party of +hungry boys it is certain to take precedence, just as a +motion to adjourn is said to be always in order.</p> + +<p>"That gets me where I live," declared Red, nodding his +head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"All in favor hold up your right hands," said the acting +scout-master; and immediately eleven hands shot into +the air.</p> + +<p>Every one present had voted in favor of the motion save +the leader and Matt Tubbs. And even the latter looked +happier than before, when, taking a good sized roll from +his haversack, Elmer divided it in half and offered one portion +to the uninvited guest.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, after all, it was the part of wisdom for the +scouts to partake of lunch before entering upon any more +strenuous work. Boys never feel quite so venturesome on +an empty as a full stomach. At least, after the long hike, +they needed refreshments, every one thought.</p> + +<p>"Look at Ted, will you; he's the disappointed one," +whispered Mark in the ear of the scout master.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Ted did continue to frown as if he had met with +a severe loss; and yet as a rule he had never been known +as a fighter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you see what it is," answered Elmer, amused. +"He was just beginning to believe there would be a rumpus +and lots of bruises to be taken care of. Ted is getting +more and more earnest in his liking for the profession +of a surgeon."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted Toby, who chanced to be standing +close enough to hear what passed between the two chums; +"he's getting more and more cracked, that's what. Unless +he curls that disposition of his, I'm afraid he'll get bounced +from the scouts before long."</p> + +<p>"Why, what's his desire to be a doctor and a surgeon +got to do with it?" asked Mark, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm getting afraid of that fellow, for a fact. +He just keeps thinking of those old operations he's been +reading about, all the blessed time. Plague take it, fellows, +I'm suspecting that unless Ted finds a subject to work on +when the fit takes him, he'll <i>make</i> one! Anyhow, I'm going +to be mighty careful how I let myself go out alone with +him after dark."</p> + +<p>Elmer and Mark looked at Toby to see if he might not be +joking, but if so, he certainly managed to keep a straight +face through it all.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I guess there isn't any danger of that," said the +patrol leader, soothingly; "and all of us have to admit that +Ted certainly knows his business very well. He can dress +a wound splendidly, and I'd be willing to trust him to set +my arm if ever I was unlucky enough to get it broken. +Don't worry about Ted, Toby; he's all to the good, and I +suspect that pretty much all of that ferocious spirit is put +on for effect. He can be as gentle as a woman when he's +dressing a wound, for I've watched him."</p> + +<p>As all the scouts were now through "feeding," as some +of them called the process of eating their "snacks" carried +along for the purpose, the plan of campaign proposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +by Elmer was gone over carefully, so that every fellow +might be sure he understood the part he was expected to +play in the round-up.</p> + +<p>"All ready, suh!" announced Chatz Maxfield, finally.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll begin to advance, and this time we will do +without the bugle, Mark. Remember your patrol calls, +and keep your ears open for my signal. The whistle might +arouse suspicions here, so I'll give the harsh cry of the bluejay +three times. Then act! Now, be off, all of you; and +Matt, you come with me!"</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'>RED PLAYS THE PART OF THE CRAFTY FOX.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the acting scout-master thus asked the recognized +bully of Fairfield to accompany him, he had several good +reasons for the step, strange as it might seem to Mark and +the others, who fancied that possibly Matt should be posted +at some distance where he was likely to do no harm.</p> + +<p>But Elmer preferred to have him under his own eye. +Moreover, the scheme upon which he was embarked was +tinged with more or less danger; and Matt was a husky +chap, capable of giving a good account of himself.</p> + +<p>But then Matt Tubbs was not the only one who accompanied +the leader. Elmer had chosen to take with him +Ted, Lil Artha, Toby, Mark, Landy and Tom Cropsey. +This left five others, and they were also divided into two +detachments, one consisting of Matty, Phil, Chatz, Ty; +while Red Huggins made up the other all by himself.</p> + +<p>As to the plan of campaign, it might be well to explain +what Elmer had fashioned in his mind, as justifying their +efforts.</p> + +<p>He had noticed, when spying around the further end of +the long log cabin, an odd tunnel underneath the walls. +This, no doubt, had been made by some woodchuck or other +animal, desirous of finding a snug winter home.</p> + +<p>Elmer fully believed that the passage was amply large +enough to allow a boy to crawl through. And as it was +apparently situated at that end of the building least likely +to be used by the tramps, he expected that he and his mates +would be able to creep in without being discovered.</p> + +<p>Supposing his expectations were fulfilled; then the second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +detachment was to hide as near the door of the cabin as +they could. Finally, Red, at some little distance, was to +play his part in the game.</p> + +<p>Red had always been known as a most adroit "fox" in +the games the lads of Hickory Ridge played. Once he +started out to elude those hounds set upon his track, none +had ever been successful in overtaking him. His methods +of dodging and doubling on his track were famous throughout +all the region, and in selecting him for the part of fox +Elmer knew just what to expect.</p> + +<p>Red was to "toll" the tramps out of the cabin and lose +them somewhere in the depths of the woods. Meanwhile, +with perhaps a clear field before them, Elmer and his scouts +could easily accomplish the balance of the affair.</p> + +<p>Of course there was always the question as to whether +it would work.</p> + +<p>Following the lead of the scout master, the little squad of +boys slipped around so as to come upon the long cabin +from the rear. Everything seemed peaceful. No one was +in sight, the men having apparently stepped inside again +after Dolph and little Ruth had been fed.</p> + +<p>This was as it should be, and Elmer had indeed figured +on it when laying his plans. In single file they approached +as near as was deemed safe; then, at a signal from the +leader, the scouts dropped flat behind some bushes. From +this point on, their progress must be much slower, since they +would have to do considerable crawling.</p> + +<p>Before making a move, however, Elmer gave the signal +that was to start the other detachments. This, as agreed +on, consisted of the harsh cry of the bluejay, and which in +the still air of the woods could be easily heard for a long +distance.</p> + +<p>After that things were to happen in regulation order. +Elmer had calculated just how long it might take his band<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +to obtain entrance to the cabin; also for the other detachment +to find a hiding place near by. Red was scheduled to +commence operations just half an hour after he heard the +bluejay cry three times. And to make sure, he carried +the nickel watch of Chatz with him.</p> + +<p>"Come on, fellows, and be careful, every one," was the +low whisper which Elmer allowed to float back over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>Having been over the ground once before, and with his +customary sagacity memorized every little point that could +be used to advantage, Elmer was not in the least dismayed +at certain obstacles that from time to time had to be surmounted.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes after the signal had been given he led his +line of creeping scouts up to the further end of the long, +low cabin. And so far as they knew no hostile eye had +taken note of their coming.</p> + +<p>The tunnel was close at hand. Its smooth walls told +of the many times the animal responsible for its presence +had crept in and out. And Elmer noted with considerable +satisfaction that his former conception of its capacity had +not been amiss. Yes, even the stoutest of the scouts could +pass through, with a little assistance.</p> + +<p>Even here the shrewdness of the young scout-master +showed itself. He had arranged his schedule so that this +individual, who chanced to be Landy, always known as a +fat youth, though fond of all outdoor sports, should come +last. This, it may be noted in passing, was done so that in +case he did stick in the tunnel he might not block the passage +of others whose presence was vital to the success of +the plan.</p> + +<p>Elmer never forgot anything he heard or read, and it +happened that not so very long before he had been interested +in an account of the escape from Libby Prison of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +large number of Union prisoners during the dark days of +the Civil War, and vividly remembered how there might +have been many more follow the same route only that an +ambitious fat man closed the passage, since he could neither +go on nor return.</p> + +<p>Of course it was the intention of the scout-master himself +to lead the way. He could not think of delegating that +important function to any one else. And Lil Artha was to +follow at his heels, to be succeeded by others, Matt Tubbs +coming just before Landy, on account of his size.</p> + +<p>Lying on his back, Elmer started in head first. This he +did because the tunnel performed a quick curve upward, +after once passing under the lower log; and as most boys +are not as supple as gymnasts and contortionists, and cannot +bend backward the same as forward, he knew this was +the only way of passing through.</p> + +<p>Using his heels to help propel his body forward, and being +gently assisted by little pushes from his mates, Elmer +readily went through the ceremony of imitating the woodchuck +that had used the hole during the past winter.</p> + +<p>As he raised his head above the level of the earthen floor +he took a quick observation. The boys outside gave an inclination +of continuing the pushing movement, so that it +became necessary for him to kick in a way they would +understand meant a temporary halt.</p> + +<p>It was not very light inside the long cabin, because there +were only a few openings that had served as windows, and +even some of these had become clogged with stray rubbish +in the years that elapsed since the logging camp knew life +and bustle.</p> + +<p>After a brief interval, however, Elmer was able to see +fairly well. Just as he had anticipated, those who now +occupied the place were down near the door at the other +end.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>First of all he made out that the three men and one little +girl comprised the entire list of occupants. This pleased +him, because as yet he had not been positive on this point; +and if it proved that there were half a dozen tough characters +assembled under the roof of the log bunk-cabin, +the work which the scouts had laid out for themselves must +have been considerably extended.</p> + +<p>Ruth was by herself. She had eaten at the command +of her stepfather, but not with any heart in the matter, +and now she was huddled in a little bunch, possibly crying +under her breath, for she did not dare do anything more +to anger the man she feared.</p> + +<p>The three men were sprawled out in some of the old +bunks. A bundle of dried grass made a fair mattress for +fellows unused to anything better, and they seemed quite +satisfied with their surroundings.</p> + +<p>Elmer knew that he must not linger too long. Behind +him were seven impatient fellows, all anxious to do that +great crawling stunt. So he once more got in motion and +wriggled himself into the cabin.</p> + +<p>Luckily the tall, thin tramp whom Elmer mentally called +Skinny, even as Fatty covered the stout, happy-go-lucky +chap, had a voice like a fog-horn; and a laugh that was as +raspy as a file; so that when he got going there was little +chance of any slight sound from the end of the long cabin +being noticed.</p> + +<p>And as the squirrels ran haphazard all over the roof of +the building, any such sound would of necessity be attributed +to them, for such a thing as a hostile force penetrating +this far into the timber would never strike any of +the men as possible.</p> + +<p>A touch on the arm presently warned Elmer that the first +of his followers had wormed his way through that crooked +passage. Trust the angular Lil Artha for being able to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +navigate a zigzag tunnel with greatest ease. No doubt he +slipped in and out with almost the handiness with which +one might crack a whip.</p> + +<p>Then came Toby, Mark and Tom. After that there was +a slight hitch, as though perhaps Matt Tubbs might be having +a little difficulty; but they could hear faint scratching +sounds from the tunnel that proved he was coming along. +As for Landy, it did not matter materially whether he arrived +or not, so long as he did nothing to alarm the enemy.</p> + +<p>Everything was apparently working just as Elmer, like +a wise general, had figured on. The three men still continued +to talk and argue, being worked up over some sort +of proposition that Dolph seemed to be putting before the +others.</p> + +<p>Several words that came to the ears of Elmer from time +to time convinced him that Dolph Gruber was fully as bad +a man as he had suspected, for there could be no doubt but +that he was now actually planning to lead his reckless companions +on a raid of some sort, looking to robbery as a +reward of their enterprise.</p> + +<p>It must be getting on toward the time appointed when +Red was expected to take up his part of the game.</p> + +<p>Landy had not yet arrived, but he was heroically endeavoring +to join his comrades. Indeed, during a temporary +lull in the conversation of the trio of men at the other end +of the cabin, Elmer could hear a gasping sound from the +tunnel that alarmed him not a little, lest it attract the +attention of the plotters, and lead to a search calculated to +upset all their well-laid plans.</p> + +<p>So he immediately pushed down into the mouth of the +tunnel, and groping around until he came in contact with +the clawing hands of the stout boy, began to gently but +firmly drag him through.</p> + +<p>It was a tight fit, but luckily Landy made it, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +only for the assistance Elmer gave him he must have stuck +there ingloriously until the end of the affair, and thus been +unable to assume his proper share in the rescue of little +Ruth.</p> + +<p>All were now on hand, Landy panting in a way that +made Lil Artha dig his elbow into his ribs as a warning +that he was making altogether too much noise.</p> + +<p>"Why don't Red start his bazoo?" whispered that long-legged +worthy in Elmer's ear, as he lay flattened out on +the ground in the gloomy far-end part of the loggers' bunk-house.</p> + +<p>"Never fear, you can count on Red to do his part," was +what the scout master managed to convey in the same sort of +careful whisper; and fearful lest Arthur, who was known +to be rather talkative, get fairly started, when it was most +unwise to indulge in any conversation with those enemies +so close by, Elmer gave a gentle "'sh!" to signify that +silence just then was golden.</p> + +<p>The impatient ones were counting the seconds, and wondering +how they could ever hold out much longer. Elmer +kept watching the three men, knowing that through their +actions at least he could readily tell when the expected +break had come.</p> + +<p>Ruth still had her face hidden in her dress, and was +doubtless filled with grief because of this cruel enforced +separation from her own mother.</p> + +<p>And as he thus waited, his heart beating faster than its +wont, Elmer caught a faint cry. It came from some distance +off, and seemed to be filled with the utmost distress.</p> + +<p>"Help! oh! help!"</p> + +<p>The time limit having expired, that was Red getting in +his work as the crafty fox attempting to coax the hounds +on a false scent.</p> + +<p>The three men had started up. They were looking at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +each other, as though hardly knowing what to make of it. +To hear a call for assistance in this lonely vicinity was certainly +enough to bewilder, yes, and perhaps to alarm anyone; +especially men whose past had been so very shady +that they suspected everything which they could not fully +understand.</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'>TAKEN BY SURPRISE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hey!</span> what's that?"</p> + +<p>The tall, thin tramp had jumped up from the bunk as +he cried out in this fashion. His fat companion was also +hastily scrambling out of his comfortable lodgings. Both +of them looked alarmed, but Elmer noted with more or less +satisfaction that the very one who might have been expected +to be anxious showed the least sign of consternation. Indeed, +a crafty look had come over Dolph's face, as though +something pleasant might have struck him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you?" demanded Dolph, who, +while he deserted his bunk, did so in a leisurely manner, +as if to show his indifference.</p> + +<p>"Didn't yuh hear that yell?" exclaimed the lean hobo.</p> + +<p>"Sure I did; think I ain't got ears?" replied Dolph, +sneeringly. "But what ails the two of ye? Look like ye +wanted to skip out, and make tracks."</p> + +<p>"But who'd be comin' away up here, 'cept they wanted +tuh git us? Sense that leetle job over in Janesville a month +back, me an' Pete don't feel jest as safe as we'd like!" +went on the thin tramp.</p> + +<p>"Aw! go chase yourself, Simsy," scoffed Dolph. "Listen +again, would ye? D'ye mark what the cove's ayellin'? +He sez he wants help as plain as can be. D'ye think if +they was any cop around they'd be tellin' us about it? +Wouldn't they rather creep up on us sly like, and nail us +before we could run? Rats! jest use yer brains and figger +it out!"</p> + +<p>"But what is it, then?" demanded the fellow called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +Simsy; "if so be yuh know, tell us, Dolph? I ain't no +coward, but I ain't no fool neither. An' if it comes tuh +hangin' around, an' lettin' these jay cops git a strangle +hold on me jest tuh show my grit, I tell yuh I ain't in it."</p> + +<p>"Say, don't ye know the old loggin' road leads up here +from the main line? I heard afore now o' fellers in cars +mistakin' the way, or thinkin' they could cut off a heap +of distance by startin' in on the side. All right, then; a +fool is born every second, they say; an' one of 'em has +just gone and got into trouble tryin' to foller that old +loggin' road."</p> + +<p>The tall tramp looked at his fat companion; and then +both turned their eyes on Dolph as he finished speaking. +Apparently his logic struck them as sound, for the expression +of fear had already begun to vanish from their +unwashed faces.</p> + +<p>"D'ye really an' truly reckon that's what it be, +Dolph?" asked the hobo who had answered to the name of +Pete.</p> + +<p>"'Cause we don't wanter take any chances, yuh see," +added the tall one, shaking his little head to add emphasis +to his remark.</p> + +<p>"'Course it is," affirmed Dolph, with a laugh of scorn +that did more to convince his mates than all his talking. +"I tell ye that's some fool feller in a car. He's run into +a tree, or some fool play like that, an' p'raps got hurted +bad. Looky here, you two, how d'ye know this ain't jest +the luckiest thing for us three coves that ever came down +the pike?"</p> + +<p>"What way?" growled Simsy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, speak up an' tell us, Dolph," echoed the other. +"Allers sed as how yuh had the brains o' the bunch. Me +an' Pete likes the red licker too much. Right now we ain't +all we orter be. How's it goin' tuh be lucky for us three?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why," continued Dolph, with vehemence, "don't ye +see, if so be this happens to be a rich guy what has got +hurted, we can tote him in here, an' keep him along till +he coughs up a nice little pile to his life savers. And if +ye know a good thing when ye run across it, why both o' +ye ought to put out to find him, and bring him back as +quick as ye can."</p> + +<p>At that Pete and Simsy again exchanged looks. The +love of gain was rapidly overcoming their first fears; just +as the artful Dolph had known it would.</p> + +<p>"How 'bout you, ole feller; don't you jine us in this +game?" asked the thin tramp, a little suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Sure I do," returned Dolph, with ready assurance; +"but there ain't no need of the whole three of us goin' out +to carry one feller here. 'Sides, you remember I got a +mighty sore heel after my long walk."</p> + +<p>"But—yuh ain't agoin' tuh clear out an' leave us?" +questioned the tall hobo.</p> + +<p>"Well, what sort of crazy questions are ye askin'? I'll +stay right here, an' wait for ye to fetch the feller back. +Then leave it to me to work him for the stuff. I'm some +good at that sort o' thing, I reckon," and Dolph grinned +in their faces.</p> + +<p>"So yuh are, Dolph, so yuh are," replied Simsy. +"What say, Pete, do we start out to do the great rescuin' +act, and bring the poor bubble wagon fool here to get +bleeded?"</p> + +<p>"Ho! I'm willin' if yuh say so, Simsy," replied the fat +tramp, promptly, the prospect of gain acting as a lure in +his eyes that outweighed all other considerations.</p> + +<p>Elmer had listened to all this with the utmost eagerness. +One minute he fancied that the lovely little trap he had +baited so cleverly was about to work; and then again he +found himself beset with fears that it had been all for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +naught; and that if the alarmed tramps made up their +minds to flee, Dolph would decide to accompany them, +which in turn meant that little Ruth must be spirited away, +and another long chase follow.</p> + +<p>But, after all, it seemed now that things were moving +along nicely. Dolph could be thanked for greasing the +ways, though of course the fellow never dreamed how he +was riding to a fall in doing so.</p> + +<p>"Come along then, Pete; we'll take a look in at thet +squaller, an' see how bad he's hurted."</p> + +<p>The tall tramp made for the near-by door of the log +cabin while speaking, and his fat mate trotted at his heels, +for all the world like a little dog—but an ugly bulldog at +that, for he had the face of a ruffian, did Pete.</p> + +<p>Thus they passed out, stopping at the door to listen once +more, while Dolph urged them to lose no further time.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Red had been duly busy. Every minute the +sound of his voice, filled with wild entreaty, came on the +breeze.</p> + +<p>"Help! oh! won't somebody come and help me! This +way! Oh! what a terrible fix I'm in! Help! help!" he +would shout in the most dismal tone imaginable.</p> + +<p>Of course Red was so situated that he could see the door +of the cabin from a distance. Thus he would know when +anyone sallied forth to try and rescue the one supposed +to be in a peck of trouble. And once that occurred, the +crafty "fox" was due to exercise his wonderful ingenuity +by slipping away, and later on lifting up his wail for assistance +in a new quarter.</p> + +<p>Thus he would coax the two tramps hither and thither, +arousing their hopes only to dash them to the ground by +a new appeal from another section. In the end, of course, +such fellows would begin to believe they were being hoodwinked—that +there must be something uncanny about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +mysterious calls, and they would be seized with a small +panic that must wind up the hunting game.</p> + +<p>But meanwhile ten, perhaps fifteen, minutes might have +elapsed; and surely that space of time would be enough +for Elmer and his fellow scouts to accomplish the end they +had in view.</p> + +<p>The young scout leader always did his work with more +or less system. He had decided that they ought to let at +least three minutes elapse after the departure of the men, +before attempting any move. This would take them far +enough away from the bunk-house so that any ordinary +outcry from within would hardly reach their ears. Having +no other way of determining upon the passage of time, +Elmer began to count under his breath as soon as the bulky +figure of Pete had vanished from the open door of the +building.</p> + +<p>Three minutes does not seem a long time under ordinary +conditions; indeed, in many instances it just slips past like +magic. And yet try counting the seconds contained within +that short space of time—one hundred and eighty of them, +all told—why, it seems enormous. But steadily Elmer was +putting them over, determined not to change his plans, +and give way to his natural impatience, since he had in +the beginning figured on that three-minute leeway.</p> + +<p>He could feel the uneasy movements of his impatient +chums. Lil Artha even went so far as to nudge him in +the ribs, as though he had begun to suspect that their +cautious leader might have gone to sleep. But Elmer gave +back an answering dig that convinced the other of his being +on the alert.</p> + +<p>When he had finally reached the end of the probation, +Elmer himself began to make a forward movement. All +the while he counted those passing seconds he had been +closely watching the figure of Dolph, so as to be ready<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +for action. That was the motto of the scouts, "Be prepared," +and he certainly believed in living up to it.</p> + +<p>Dolph had come back into the cabin. He appeared to be +listening from time to time, as though a little anxious himself +concerning the nature of that strange call for assistance; +for all he had pretended to treat it so lightly when +his allies were present.</p> + +<p>Dolph had dropped down upon a block of wood, and was +examining something which he had taken from his pocket. +Elmer was not able to get a good look at this article, but, +knowing the desperate character of the man who sat there, +and how he had now burned his bridges behind him when +he kidnaped the child of the woman he had married and +tortured, the boy could easily guess its nature.</p> + +<p>It was what Lil Artha would call a "gun," otherwise +a revolver of the bulldog type, dangerous enough in the +hands of a reckless scoundrel who feared arrest.</p> + +<p>Elmer was conscious of a new little thrill, but he mentally +scorned the thought of this being any indication of +fear. Indeed, to thoroughly disprove such a silly thing +he even increased the pace with which he was creeping +across the earthen floor of the cabin.</p> + +<p>Dolph still sat there, his head bent low over the tool he +was fondling, as he listened for any change in the cries +from outside. If he would only kindly continue to hold +that attitude for another full minute, Elmer believed he +might be in a position to make an aggressive move.</p> + +<p>Just then the scout leader became aware of something +that gave him a momentary spasm of acute alarm. Ruth +no longer had her face buried in her dress. Something +had caused her to stop her silent weeping, and look up. +Perhaps she, too, had been attracted by those wails for +help which the Boy Scout fox was using as a means for +"tolling" the two dangerous tramps away from the cabin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>But in raising her head Ruth had been made aware of +some strange movement back of the bent-over figure of her +stepfather. She was now staring with round-eyed wonder +at the string of crawling figures that extended from the +rear wall of the cabin.</p> + +<p>Elmer raised his hand, and held up a warning finger. +He hoped by this means to convince the girl that they +were friends, and nothing was to be feared. But he also +hoped that Matt Tubbs, whom he knew to be close at his +side, might be doing something of the same kind; and that +little Ruth would recognize her cousin.</p> + +<p>Whether the child could have given utterance to some +low bubbling cry of fear or joy, which reached the ears +of the man, or he just happened to look up, and noticed +how she was staring past him, no one ever knew.</p> + +<p>Elmer became suddenly aware that Dolph had whirled +around on his stool, and was looking in sheer amazement +at the peculiar spectacle of eight figures worming their +way across the earthen floor of the bunk-house and headed +straight for the spot where he himself was seated.</p> + +<p>He certainly could not mistake the danger that accompanied +the presence of all these strangers. And, given +just three seconds in which to collect his wits, the desperate +fugitive and kidnaper would of course do something looking +toward one thing or the other—flight or resistance.</p> + +<p>Elmer did not mean to allow of either. He had been +nerving himself for just this crisis, and his muscles were +ready primed for a quick leap.</p> + +<p>But, prepared as he was for the action that meant so +much toward the carrying out of his plans, there was +one ahead of Elmer. This was Matt Tubbs, who, crouching +there like a tiger beside the leader of the Wolf Patrol, +had reached the limit of his endurance and submission to +orders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even as Elmer started to throw himself forward, meaning +to clasp his arms about the man before he could rise, +or do any damage with his weapon, a figure shot past him. +Then he saw Matt Tubbs hurl himself bodily upon Dolph +Gruber. At the same time the pistol fell to the ground, +struck on a stone, and was discharged!</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'>ELMER THINKS IT PAYS.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Such</span> a scene of wild confusion as followed.</p> + +<p>Six other eager lads besides Elmer and Matt Tubbs +strove to get a chance to have "a finger in the pie," as Lil +Artha called it. They even pushed among themselves, in +their eagerness to land somewhere upon the squirming +figure of the struggling victim.</p> + +<p>Nor was this all. Four other fellows had been hiding +without, screened by some friendly bushes from the sight +of Pete and Simsy when they issued forth in search of +the unfortunate who was so beseechingly calling for help. +These chaps, hearing the beginning of the racket within +the bunk-house, looked upon it as a signal for their advance.</p> + +<p>Through the open door they came in a confused bunch, +ready to lend any assistance in their power. But just at +that moment it looked as if there were already quite enough +hands clustering around the astonished and disgusted Dolph +Gruber to attend to his case. And as Lil Artha said, "Too +many cooks sometimes spoil the broth."</p> + +<p>Dolph possibly as yet did not understand what it all +meant. He had had a glimpse of khaki uniforms, and may +have suspected that the authorities had summoned a company +of the militia from some neighboring city to search +for the kidnaper and the missing child.</p> + +<p>He struggled desperately; but when some six or eight +pretty husky boys hurl their united weight on one person +that individual has a slim chance of throwing off the burden.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +And so Dolph had to take it out in wriggling and +grunting.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha had made preparations looking to this condition +of affairs. Indeed, had he been a duly elected sheriff +of the county he could hardly have been more in readiness +to secure a prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Hold him steady, fellows, while I tie his hands behind +his back!" he exclaimed; "there, turn him over a little +more; and Matt, twist that left arm further back. That's +the ticket, boys. Watch me fix him up in a jiffy, will +you?"</p> + +<p>He started to wrap some stout twine around and around +the wrists of the prisoner. By this time Dolph seemed to +become aware of the fact that these mysterious fellows, who +had crept in through some back entrance, and pounced +upon him with such scant ceremony, were a pack of half-grown +boys. He started to roar threats at them, filled with +rage at the thought of such an indignity as being so rudely +handled by mere lads. But despite his worst efforts he +could not break loose from the grip they had upon his +person.</p> + +<p>"Whoop! that's the way to do it, fellows!" Lil Artha +continued to declare, as he completed his job. "Talk to +me about your football tackle, this takes the cake, sure! +Now for another little splice around his legs. Sit on him, +some of you! No matter if he does object; what right has +a kidnaper got we're bound to respect? Let him bawl +till he gets hoarse. We've got him, and we're going to hold +him till he's shut up in the cooler at Hickory Ridge!"</p> + +<p>Elmer meanwhile had not forgotten that Dolph had +comrades. Doubtless his angry shouts must have reached +the ears of the two tramps, who could not have gotten entirely +beyond range of a loud voice.</p> + +<p>"Here, you fellows," he called to the four boys who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +had come darting through the entrance of the cabin, "shut +that door, and find some way to barricade it! We may +have the other men attacking us yet; and you remember +how we arranged our plans in case that happens. Quick, +let's get ready for a siege!"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that's the ticket!" cried Chatz Maxfield. +"Lend a hand here, fellows, and we'll do the thing up +in style. Yes, suh, we-all have armed ourselves with the +nicest clubs you evah saw, and hope to find a chance to use +them, dusting the garments of those two hoboes."</p> + +<p>Every one of the quartette, besides Elmer himself, became +as busy as the proverbial bee. The door was swung +shut, even though it required more or less muscular persuasion +to bring about this result, because of long disuse. +Then every description of weighty article upon which they +could lay hands was hastily piled up against the said door, +until almost in a minute it was barricaded so sturdily +that a battering ram would be needed in order to smash +it in.</p> + +<p>"Don't stop there!" cried Elmer. "The hole at the +end of the place must be filled up and guarded. Then a +couple of fellows must stand at each of these open windows, +ready to give those tramps a warm reception if they try +to force their company on us."</p> + +<p>"Let some of the rest of us have a chance to help!" +called Lil Artha, as he scrambled to his feet. "Oh! don't +bother about Dolph; he's laced up as tight as any old yellow +pigskin ball could be at the beginning of a game on +the gridiron. This way, Toby, Mark, and Landy—bring +some of those blocks along. Everybody get busy, and prepare +to resist boarders. Reckon these are a different kind +of boarders than the ones that used to eat their grub here +winters. Whoop! we can do it, and not half try!"</p> + +<p>Elmer believed that he had by this time managed to get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +things in as decent shape as lay within his power. Supposing +the shouts had reached the ears of those two +tramps—would they dare turn back and make for the +cabin at their best speed?</p> + +<p>He thought not. What he had seen and heard concerning +both Pete and the tall hobo caused him to suspect that +their first thought would be in connection with their own +safety. They had shown this before when desirous of running, +and only giving heed to Dolph's suggestion that there +might be some pecuniary profit for them in trying to find +the unfortunate who called for assistance.</p> + +<p>And now, after being "tolled" from place to place by +that strange voice, until their suspicions were once more +aroused, should they hear the dreadful clamor accompanying +the capture of their companion, the possibility of their +taking chances in making a bolt back to the bunk-house +were small indeed.</p> + +<p>Elmer was more inclined to believe that both tramps +must be in full flight at that very moment.</p> + +<p>But he had looked ahead for even the worst that could +happen. Red Huggins had his orders. Should the two +men return to the camp, and attempt to break in, bent on +doing the boys serious hurt, his was to be the duty of +seeking help—of managing to reach some town, and bringing +the officers to the old logging camp.</p> + +<p>"The tunnel is filled up, Elmer; even a rat couldn't +crawl through that hole right now!" reported Mark, presently.</p> + +<p>Elmer was looking out through one of the small openings. +If he felt any anxiety concerning the possible coming +of the two tramps his face failed to show it as he +turned upon his best chum, saying:</p> + +<p>"Are all the windows guarded, and do the boys understand +what they are to do if anybody tries to get in?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I should smile," laughed Mark, a little hysterically, +for he was filled with the excitement of the occasion. +"Just let one of those rascals try to poke his nose +in here, and he's going to meet up with the surprise of his +life. Look at Lil Artha taking a fresh grip on that long +wagon-tongue of his; I bet you he's just trying to imagine +himself at bat, with two out, two men on bases, and a +couple of runs needed to tie the score. Yes, siree, he +means to send the ball out of the lot for a homer, and +don't you forget it. Oh! don't I pity Pete if ever he +comes tapping at that window with Lil Artha standing +guard."</p> + +<p>"I don't see or hear anything of the men, which looks +good," remarked Elmer, as he once more turned to glance +outside, to where the trees and the scrub adjoining the deserted +lumber camp could be observed.</p> + +<p>"But say, Elmer, didn't you tell Red something about +letting us know what the men were doing? Wasn't he to +send a signal of some sort?" Mark went on.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so," replied the young scout leader of the +Wolf Patrol; "but then, perhaps he hasn't been able to +make sure yet. You see, he had to keep skipping around +pretty lively in order to give them the slip. But all the +same, I reckon it's about time we heard something from +Red."</p> + +<p>"Hark!"</p> + +<p>Even as Mark uttered this one word, there came floating +to their ears from some little distance away a strange +sound. One who was unacquainted with the woods might +have believed that it was an odd mixture between a dog +howling and a baby squalling.</p> + +<p>Elmer chuckled as if amused.</p> + +<p>"Red hasn't got it down quite pat yet," he remarked, +"but then, he wants practice. I've heard coyotes and big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +gray wolves howl lots of times, but that's a new one on +me. Still, Red means well, and what he signals tells us +the two men have lit out for all they're worth."</p> + +<p>"Bully!" cried Lil Artha, who heard what Elmer had +said. "We hold the fort, and the enemy has skipped out! +Now, I opine that I'm some disappointed, because I did +hope to try that nice club; but it's all right. I'm a peaceful +chap, when I can have my own way. And we've got +what we came for, fellows. Here, let's give a big three +cheers for the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts."</p> + +<p>They were given with a vim and a volume of sound that +must have been heard fully a mile away. Doubtless it +quickened the pace of the fleeing tramps, who might +suspect that they were being hunted by a whole regiment +of citizens, stirred to indignation by the stealing of little +Ruth.</p> + +<p>This made Elmer suddenly remember the girl. She had +been watching the actions of the scouts, at first with wonder +and awe, but by degrees even smiling. Perhaps the +fact that they had made a prisoner of her tormentor, Dolph +Gruber, may have had more or less influence along this +line. Then again, she had of course seen Matt Tubbs by +now, and knew the newcomers must be friends.</p> + +<p>Elmer stepped over to the child. The smile on his face +was enough to convince little Ruth that, with the coming +of these boys in their drab-colored suits, her troubles were +ended; and if she were possessed of any lurking doubts +they must have taken flight with the first words he spoke.</p> + +<p>"We've come to take you back to your mother, Ruth, and +I hope you won't be afraid of us. Here's your Cousin +Matt along, too; you know him, don't you? It's all right +now, Ruth; nobody can hurt you while the Boy Scouts +are here," was the way Elmer spoke; and when he held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +out his hand the child readily put her own little quivering +one within it, showing her utter confidence.</p> + +<p>Then Matt Tubbs came up, his face wreathed in smiles. +Matt was tickled to realize that he had been along when +the rescue of the kidnaped child had been effected. More +than this, Matt had seen a lot of things that would give +him occasion for much serious thought later on—things +that must have a bearing on his whole future. He had +been given a practical object lesson concerning the other +side of life, the decent side, which, up to now, had been +pretty much of a sealed book to this pronounced bully of +Fairfield.</p> + +<p>Elmer, looking at the gentle way Matt was fondling the +little girl, nodded his head and seemed well pleased.</p> + +<p>"I guess I didn't make any mistake when I said there +was some good in that big hulk of a fellow," was what he +said aside to Mark, who was also watching Matt.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied the other, "I kind of had my doubts +when you said all that, but the way things look now, I'm +beginning to believe there may be a heap of truth in your +theory. But then, everybody can't see as far as you can, +Elmer. That's the truth of it. Most of us just skim along +the surface, but seems like you dig down deep. I hope it +turns out that way. If Matt Tubbs changed his nature, +and began to do the right thing, it'd be the best job ever +for the boys of Fairfield, because you know he's the big +boss over there. And say, wouldn't it make our chance for +a warm session of baseball a little later on look pretty +good?"</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," declared Lil Artha, who had joined +them in time to catch what was being said. "That Matt +Tubbs sure is a crack-a-jack when it comes to playing ball, +and the nine he had last year was as stiff a proposition as +the Hickory Ridge fellows ever tackled. Yes, siree, I certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +hope he'll be on the square after this; because it'd mean +a lot for us."</p> + +<p>Matt himself must have heard what they were saying, +for at this juncture he turned and grinned as he remarked:</p> + +<p>"Just you wait and see what comes out o' this, Lil +Artha. I've got a hunch it's time the Fairfield fellers +get busy and ketch up with your crowd. And mark my +words, once we get started, you've got to do your level best +to climb up out of our reach, for we c'n go some, we Fairfield +fellers. I got a few idees since hitchin' up with this +crowd. There's goin' to be some changes right away, and +Hickory Ridge has got to look out, if she don't want to +be beat at her own game. Yes, sir, this ain't goin' to be +the only troop of scouts around here. There's another town +on the map—and they call her Fairfield!"</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'>LENDING A HELPING HAND.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">There</span> comes Red, now," said Mark, about ten minutes +later, and presently the party mentioned came hurrying +up to the door of the log cabin, on which he beat a +loud tattoo.</p> + +<p>"Open up here, fellows!" he called. "Danger's +passed. Both those tramps are just legging it out of this +section to beat the band. Reckon they're more'n a mile +off right now. My! but they're scared. Won't stop runnin' +for the next hour. It was as good as a circus to see +'em talkin', when they just couldn't find me out. Must +'a' begun to think it was one of Chatz's ghosts right out of +the graveyard."</p> + +<p>"Now, just you drop that subject, Red," remarked the +Southern lad, aggressively. "It's nobody's business what +I believe in, suh, and I'd thank you to keep your opinions +to yourself. I reckon now that everyone has his failings, +and if mine happen to be a belief in spirits that's my affair, +suh. That's all foh you, Red."</p> + +<p>"What're we going to do next, Elmer?" demanded +Toby.</p> + +<p>"Head for home," replied the leader, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Matt Tubbs, "Ruth's ma will be countin' +the minutes till we get there, I reckon. If she's tuckered +out, the little gal I mean, fellers, just let me carry her."</p> + +<p>"Oh! we all can take a turn at that," remarked Lil +Artha. "She's only a featherweight, and there ain't one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +of us but what would want to have a hand in toting her +back. Let's be starting, boys!"</p> + +<p>"Say, what d'ye mean to do with me?" called Dolph, +who, lying there on the hard earthen floor of the bunk-house, +had been listening to all the talk, and wondering +what he had better do to further his own interests.</p> + +<p>Elmer, followed by several of the scouts, sauntered over +to him.</p> + +<p>"I was just trying to make up my mind," he said, +"whether we had better take you along with us and hand +you over to the police, or leave you here, and send them +after you."</p> + +<p>"What's the use doin' either?" remarked the man, +eagerly. "Turn me loose and see me skip out of this +section like a scared rabbit."</p> + +<p>But Elmer was not in the least inclined to take that +view of the matter. Dolph had a hard face. He had +proven himself a cruel rascal. Elmer remembered the way +he had shaken little Ruth, and all sense of pity for the +man's condition was banished from his heart.</p> + +<p>"That would suit you, I suppose, from the ground up," +he remarked; "but it would be a bad job for other people. +Besides, I promised the police that if we were lucky enough +to get our hands on you we'd hold you. Here, that'll do +now, Dolph Gruber; if you keep up that kind of talk we'll +muzzle you. I've seen men gagged before now, and know +how it's done. And I give you my word it doesn't feel the +finest thing in the world, either. Not another word or you +get it!"</p> + +<p>The prisoner had formed an opinion of the young scout +master. He believed that it would be silly in the extreme +to anger him, and so, grumbling, and gritting his teeth, he +allowed them to do what they wished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>His ankles having been unfastened, Dolph was told to +get up, one of the scouts assisting him at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Here, Lil Artha," said the commander, "pick out +three other fellows who have clubs as good as that one you +carry. Form around the prisoner, and act as his escort. +If he tries to escape you know what to do without my +telling."</p> + +<p>"Say, just let him give us the least excuse for treating +him to a dose, that's all. I saw him cuff that little girl, +and it showed what a big brute he is. Don't I just hope +he'll try to break away!"</p> + +<p>Dolph gave the speaker, no other than Ty Collins, a dark +scowl, but he did not dare express what was passing in his +mind.</p> + +<p>So they left the logging camp. Lil Artha, who was +recognized as the official photographer of the troop, managed +to snap off several views that at future times would +recall the picture of that memorable occasion, and doubtless +give them the greatest of pleasure.</p> + +<p>And Mark, who was really the grandson of a famous +artist, and himself a genius with a brush and crayons, +would, when the humor seized him, dash off some faithful +sketches showing the passage of the eight boys through that +woodchuck tunnel, and the surprise of Dolph at discovering +them trailing across the floor of the shanty.</p> + +<p>At first little Ruth walked bravely along, holding the +hand of her cousin. But presently she disclosed signs of +being weary, and Matt hastened to pick her up in his stout +arms.</p> + +<p>When half a mile had been passed over he showed that +the burden was telling on him, for the way was rough. +Thereupon one of the others insisted on having a chance +to do the carrying.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>By this time Ruth had become firmly convinced that all +these boys were her best of friends, and she did not hesitate +to clasp her chubby arms around the neck of Ty Collins, +Matty Eggleston, Red Huggins, and even Lil Artha, as in +succession they took charge of her.</p> + +<p>The march was along the old dirt road that in the end +must bring them to one where the walking would be better. +Elmer conducted the campaign. He knew just how the land +lay, for he had made it a part of his business to draw a +map of the entire country around Hickory Ridge, from +such sources as he could get hold of; and hence there was +not the slightest danger of their getting lost in the timber.</p> + +<p>He also sent out several of the boys to act in the capacity +of skirmishers. They were to keep a bright lookout for +any signs of the enemy, meaning the two tramps, and +should they discover them, certain signals—the scream of +the eagle, or the odd little bark of the beaver perhaps—would +convey the intelligence to the main company, placing +them on their guard.</p> + +<p>But there was no such alarm. Evidently, just as the +sagacious and observing Red had declared, Pete and his tall +ally had hastened to get away with all speed, and for aught +the boys knew might be running yet.</p> + +<p>So in good time the expedition finally came to where the +old logging road joined another, that seemed to lead toward +the home town.</p> + +<p>"How much further do we have to go now?" asked +Toby, seeing Elmer examining his home-made map.</p> + +<p>"A good five miles before us, but all over decent roads," +smiled the leader.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, that ain't so much for scouts as seasoned as +we are," remarked Toby, who had been limping for a little +while, though he declared it was simply on account of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +having struck his toe against a root, and not because he +was tired a single bit. "But if I had them wings of mine +here now, p'raps I could take a little flap or two that'd +help along. Reckon they're goin' to work, fellers. Anyhow, +my parachute, she's just a hummer. I'm goin' to +try her out right soon; might climb up on top the church +steeple and jump, if they'll let me."</p> + +<p>"Say, boys," remarked Red, just then, "it sure was +a great shame the people that owned the old balloon we +picked up when we were camping up on Lake Solitary +claimed the gas bag, and insisted on paying us twenty-five +dollars for saving their property. I'd like to wager that +by now our inventive comrade here, Toby Ellsworth Jones, +would have coaxed his ma to pay for having it filled with +gas, and gone sailing off to the land of the moon, or somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I had that all laid out," grinned Toby, "and I +wasn't goin' to beg a single cent from my ma, either. +Could 'a' caught all the hot air I needed by just grabbin' +what was goin' to waste in this bunch when they got to disputin'. +But I ain't cast down a bit, fellers. Plenty more +chances for a really bright genius to make his mark in the +world of science. If I live, the name of Jones will go +thundering down the ages. Since the days of John Paul +in Revolutionary times, not a single Jones has done anything +worth mentionin'. But the time's near at hand when +you'll hear somethin' drop!"</p> + +<p>"Huh! that'll be you, then, Toby," chuckled Red, "if +you try to jump off a church steeple with your old wings +on. And I reckon there'll be something of a splash, too! +Better go slow, that's what."</p> + +<p>Talking in this vein, and joking with one another, the +scouts managed to put the long miles behind them. Nearly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +every fellow had had a chance to carry little Ruth more +or less, and seemed only too proud of the opportunity.</p> + +<p>"I c'n see the church spire!" shouted Phil Dale, finally.</p> + +<p>"He's right, boys," remarked Elmer, who had seen the +same thing, off and on, for the last five minutes, though +waiting to discover whether any of the others would pick +it up. "We're going to be home soon now. Here comes +a car after us, and as sure as anything, it's got the Hickory +Ridge police force in it! Line up along the road, boys, +and watch how they stare."</p> + +<p>When those in the car saw little Ruth among the scouts, +and also noted that they had the kidnaper, Dolph, in custody, +they gave the boys a hearty cheer. Some of them +wanted to take the child in the car, but Elmer declined to +allow it.</p> + +<p>"We've done all the work, and we ought to be on hand +when the girl is given over to her mother," he said. +"That's all the reward we want for our day's labor, and +say, we've had just a dandy time, haven't we, fellows?"</p> + +<p>A roar answered him, every scout taking off his hat, and +waving it as he gave vent to three lusty cheers. Seeing +the justice of this claim, those in the car declared they +would fall in behind. It was known that Mrs. Gruber had +remained in her little cottage home, so toward that quarter +the procession started.</p> + +<p>And when they saw the great joy that filled that poor +mother's heart as she clasped her darling girl in her arms, +every scout felt amply repaid for what fatigue he had endured +that day. It was well worth the labor. And besides, +had they not learned many things in the way of woodcraft +that were apt to be useful, and make them better +scouts?</p> + +<p>Elmer was a proud boy when the mother of little Ruth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +took his hand and squeezed it between both of her own, +while she poured out thanks for what he had done. He +quickly assured her that every one of those with him deserved +just as much praise, and then laughed to see how +confused some of the fellows looked when the happy and +grateful mother went the rounds, actually kissing every fellow, +just as if they might be her own boys!</p> + +<p>Matt Tubbs came over to him just as the scouts were +drawing together, with the idea of returning to town, having +had all the hike they desired for that one particular +day.</p> + +<p>"Oh! by the way, Matt," said Elmer with a twinkle in +his eye, "the first time you're in Hickory Ridge, just +stop off at my house, won't you? I think I've got a cap +of yours, a gray one, with a little red button in the front."</p> + +<p>Matt turned slightly red himself, and then laughed.</p> + +<p>"Say, I acknowledge the corn, Elmer," he remarked. +"I was in that old shop, all right, listenin' to what you fellers +said. Just wanted to know how you ran things so's +I could foller suit. Picked up a heap, too, you bet. But +the blamed old loft was so rotten she just went through, +and let me down with a whoop. Some of your scouts nigh +got a grip on me when I run away. But they ain't goin' +to ketch Matt Tubbs asleep any more'n they will a weasel. +No harm done, Elmer, was there?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit, Matt," replied the young scout master, +heartily. "Glad you heard all you did, and if we can help +you organize a troop over in Fairfield, just you call on the +Hickory Ridge scouts. Hear that, Matt?"</p> + +<p>The bully of Fairfield looked steadily at the leader of the +Wolf Patrol; then he laughed a little as he replied:</p> + +<p>"Mebbe I will, Elmer, for you've sure got me guessing +some; mebbe I will!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>That Matt Tubbs was as good as his word about getting +up a troop of scouts in Fairfield, and what interesting +events were bound to occur in the natural rivalry between +the two organizations, will be recorded in the future volumes +of this series, the next one of which will be called +"The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts Pathfinder."</p> + + +<div class='center'>THE END.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<h2>ADDENDA</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>———————<br />BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<h2>BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE<br /> +HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES.</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Animals of the United States</td><td align='left' rowspan='2'><span class='huge'>}</span></td><td align='left' rowspan='2'> in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tracking</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Woodcraft, or How a Patrol Leader Made Good.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Pathfinder, or the Missing Tenderfoot.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Fast Nine, or a Challenge from Fairfield.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Great Hike, or the Pride of the Khaki Troop.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Endurance Test, or How Clear Grit Won the Day.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>THE TREES OF THE UNITED STATES.</h2> + + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">The Witch Hazel Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Witch Hazel is a little tree or shrub of striking +growth that, when all its neighbors are getting ready for +their long winter nap, bursts out in full bloom with +clusters of stringy yellow flowers, at the same time bearing +the ripened seed pods of last year's blossoms. The +seeds have a peculiar way of popping from the pods. +Take some home with you in the late fall and see what +happens. As soon as the pods feel the warmth of the +room they burst and shoot out the seeds. It is said that +the Indians used the bark of the witch hazel in treating +inflammation, and it is still popularly believed to contain +healing virtue.</p> + +<p>The Sweetgum or Liquidambar is a tree that grows +widely over the United States. Its leaves are star-shaped +and not unlike the leaves of the maple. The coloring of +the Liquidambar in the fall is very beautiful. Its fruit +is a peculiar little spiny ball. The gum was used by the +Indians to sweeten their smoking mixtures. In some sections +it is called the Alligator Tree because of the peculiarity +of the bark.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Dogwood Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Flowering Dogwood is the most beautiful sight of +our May woodlands. The wood of this tree is very hard. +Nobody seems to know how it received its common name.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +It is covered with clusters of red berries in the fall and +at that time its leaves turn a bright red.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Olive Family.</span></div> + +<p>To this family belong the Ash trees, so called on account +of the appearance of the under-surface of their leaves. +There is a superstition that the ash tree is peculiarly +likely to be struck by lightning. Its wood is largely used +because of its lightness and elasticity; such articles as the +handles of tools, oars, and carriage shafts are made of ash +wood. White ash sometimes grows very tall; the black +ash favors rivers and swamp-land and is not of such a +sturdy growth as the white. The fruit of both form in +clusters.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Bignonia Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Catalpa in June or July is covered with white +blossoms mottled with yellow and purple. It is often +called "The Bean Tree" because its fruit is like a long +bean in form. These beans hang on a tree nearly all +winter.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Oak Family.</span></div> + +<p>This is one of the handsomest of our tree families. +The common white oak grows to a height of eighty to one +hundred feet, the trunk often reaching a diameter of four +feet. The leaves of the chestnut oak and those of the +yellow oak resemble the leaves of the chestnut tree. The +acorns of the red oak are very large, but the kernels are +so bitter that the squirrels leave them untouched upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +the ground. The leaves of the scarlet oak are very finely +cut and assume brilliant colors in the late fall. There are +many other varieties of oaks: straggling little scrub oaks, +laurel oaks with laurel-like leaves, and the willow oaks of +the Southwestern states.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 297px;"> +<img src="images/i-02.png" width="297" height="400" alt="WHITE OAK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WHITE OAK.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Beech Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Indians believed that the beech tree was lightning-proof, +and many farmers seem to favor this belief. The +Chestnut, which belongs in this group, does not flower +until the middle of the summer. Unfortunately for the +latter tree, a disease is spreading through certain districts +that, if not checked, bids fair to exterminate these +trees. Already in certain parts of the country where chestnuts +formerly abounded hardly a living specimen is to be +found, or if alive, is in a dying condition.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/i-03.png" width="375" height="354" alt="ELM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ELM.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Elm Family.</span></div> + +<p>This is a family of beautiful trees, widely distributed. +The white elm is one of the first trees to respond to +spring's first warm days. Its tiny flower buds burst their +scales and shed them to the ground. It is without question +one of the most beautifully shaped trees, and many +reach vast proportions. The Slippery Elm is similar in +appearance to the white elm. The bark of the latter tree +is soaked in water and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'drank'">drunk</ins> for throat affections. The +leaves of the elms turn yellow in the fall. Their wood is +largely used for carriage shafts or wherever wood that +does not readily split is needed. It is durable under water, +and is, therefore, used for docks and piles.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Linden Family.</span></div> + +<p>These are known in this country as basswood or white-wood; +in Europe they are called Lime Trees. Their leaves +are heart-shaped and the lower surface is downy. The +bees are attracted to these trees when they are in bloom. +They can easily be recognized in winter by their red buds. +The first leaves of spring are a bright green which contrast +beautifully with these buds. The wood is used for +cabinet work, woodenware and paper pulp. It does not +easily warp.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Magnolia Family.</span></div> + +<p>This is a group of trees whose flowers are usually large +and white, green, or pink in color. Some of this family +are cultivated as ornamental trees on lawns. The Swamp +Magnolia, or Sweet Bay, grows in swampy and damp places. +Although specially a southern tree, it is found as far north +as Massachusetts. It blooms in June, having a cream-color<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +fragrant flower, and these blossoms are sold by florists and +street pedlars.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 288px;"> +<img src="images/i-04.png" width="288" height="400" alt="LEAVES AND KEYS OF A MAPLE TREE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LEAVES AND KEYS OF A MAPLE TREE.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tulip Tree or Yellow Poplar is a large tree of this family +that blooms especially abundantly upon the southern +shores of Lake Erie. It has greenish-yellow, tulip-shaped +flowers. The Indians made their dugout canoes from these +trees.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Maple Family.</span></div> + +<p>There are more than one hundred species of this family. +Maples are especially abundant in North America. The +Sugar Maple grows in eastern North America. From its +sap is manufactured maple sugar. The method of making +this sugar was learned by the American colonists from +the Indians. In the early spring, when this sap begins to +flow, and while it is flowing, the trees are tapped, the sap +gathered and boiled down. Certain varieties of maple-wood +have beautifully spotted grain known as Bird's-eye +Maple. This grain, it is claimed, is produced by wounds +made by woodpeckers. This wood is prized for the manufacture +of furniture. The Red Maple is found growing +along the edges of streams. It is covered in the spring +with tufts of crimson flowers and its foliage is a brilliant +red in the autumn. The leaves of the Silver Maple show +no reds in the fall, but are a uniform yellow. The Canadians +have adopted the maple leaf as their national +emblem.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Horse Chestnut Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Horse Chestnut is a native of Asia. In May or +June it is covered with upright spikes of white blossoms. +The Buck-eye is the native Horse Chestnut. The leaves +of the Buck-eye are five-fingered, while those of the tree +commonly called the Horse Chestnut are seven-fingered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +Ohio is called the "Buck-eye" state and is named after +this tree.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Mulberry Family.</span></div> + +<p>The leaves of the mulberry are broad, the flowers small. +The leaves of the white mulberry are the food of silkworms. +The Indian women used the fiber of the mulberry +to make garments, baskets, and matting; the Japanese +and Chinese manufactured paper from its bark. The +red mulberry is quite common and grows in over two-thirds +of the United States. The fruit is similar in +appearance to the blackberry; the white mulberry is less +widely distributed. The osage orange, or bow-wood, which +is a member of this family, grows in Arkansas, Texas, and +Indian Territory. Its fruit resembles the orange in shape +and size; its leaves are shiny and it is close and spiny in +growth.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Plane Tree Family.</span></div> + +<p>The common Plane is another tree from the Orient; the +flowers are green, the fruit are yellow balls which hang +on the tree over winter. It grows in rich, moist lands; +the wood, which is ruddy in color, is used extensively in +the manufacture of cigar boxes. It is also called the +sycamore or buttonwood, and is easily distinguished by +its bark, which it sheds as it does the leaves; the bark +drops off in large irregular pieces, giving the tree a mottled +appearance.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Walnut Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Black Walnut is abundant in the Mississippi Valley +states, especially the Middle states. The White Walnut is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +the Butternut; the covering of the nut is sticky and +gummy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 283px;"> +<img src="images/i-05.png" width="283" height="400" alt="SHELL-BARK HICKORY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SHELL-BARK HICKORY.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Hickory, which belongs to this family, is an American +tree; none of the hickories are found abroad. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +Bitternut, or Swamp Hickory, has a kernel which is very +bitter. The bark of the Shell-bark Hickory separates and +gives the trunk of the tree a very shaggy, unkempt appearance. +The Pignut is a Hickory, but is worthless as +food. The wood of the walnut was formerly much used +for the manufacture of furniture.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Birch Family.</span></div> + +<p>This is an interesting family of graceful trees. The +white birch, which is the least common, is short-lived. It +grows from the St. Lawrence southward to Delaware. The +leaves have a peculiar trembling characteristic. The Paper +Birch is also called the white birch or canoe birch. It +is fond of moist places. Its bark is white outside and +composed of thin layers easily separated; these layers vary +in color from a cream to a bright orange-yellow. The +Indians used the bark of this tree for their canoes and to +write their messages on. The red birches are great lovers +of water, particularly delighting to hang their boughs +over running streams. The alders and ironwoods belong +here.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Willow Family.</span></div> + +<p>This is a large tree family; the black willow may be +found growing upon the banks of streams and lakes. In +the early spring days we gather pussy willows. They +are really the flower buds. Put them in water and watch +the catkins, as the flowers are called, develop. The Weeping +Willow is a native of Asia; it grew near ancient +Babylon. You will remember that the Bible tells us that +the people of Israel hung their harps upon the willow +tree by the waters of Babylon. They are trees of rapid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +growth, as are also the aspens and cottonwoods. The last-named +trees derive their name from the peculiarity of the +seed, which is surrounded by cotton-like fiber. The leaves +of the aspen tremble even on calm days and have given +rise to the saying, "trembling like an aspen leaf." An +old tradition says that the leaves of this tree are never at +rest because aspen wood was used in making the cross.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Sumach Family.</span></div> + +<p>One of this family is poisonous and is known as poison +sumach. It grows throughout the Northern states and can +be distinguished from the harmless sumach by its white +fruit, the color of the fruit of other sumachs being red, +and the fact that it likes wet ground, while its harmless +cousins like dry places. To some persons the action of +the sumach poison is virulent, causing painful itching +eruptions similar to those caused by poison ivy.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Pea Family.</span></div> + +<p>The Locust is a tall tree, native to this country, flowering +profusely in May and June, being at that time nearly +covered with long, hanging clusters of fragrant white blossoms. +A small tree, called the Red Bud, or Judas Tree, +belongs to this family. It is often used as ornamental +trees in parks and on lawns. In Arkansas it grows in +native abundance. The flowers, which are a deep rose +color, appear in April or May, about the time that the +young leaves are putting in an appearance. They are +borne all over the tree, even on the trunk itself. The +Honey Locust has large, finer foliage than the common +locust and it is armored and protected by a multitude of +sharp thorns. The locust wood is much used in ship-building<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +and fence posts because it resists decay in contact +with moisture. It is very strong, hard, and takes a +high polish. These trees are now preyed upon by boring +insects and are not as popular as they were formerly.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Rose Family.</span></div> + +<p>What boy of the New England or the Middle states does +not know the Choke Cherry or Wild Cherry and its fruit +that he gathers and eats, although it puckers his mouth? +Did you know that these, as well as our cultivated cherries, +apples, pears, quinces, and plums, all belong to the same +flower family that gives us our roses? The Mountain Ash +also belongs to this family. Red Ash Berries help to +brighten up the autumn and winter; in fact, these trees +are so attractive when in fruit that they are being largely +used for decorative purposes. In Europe they are called +the Rowan Trees, and many peculiar tales and superstitions +have gathered around them.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class='smcap'>The Pine Family.</span></div> + +<p>The pines of the United States include many species, +most of which are valuable for their timber. The White +Pine, which attains a great height and favors sandy soil, +heads the list. Its bark is smoother than any other pine +and its cones are long and slender. Its wood is soft, compact, +and valuable. The wood of the Yellow Pine is hard +and heavy, darker in tone, and much favored for flooring. +It does not grow to such a height as the white pine; it is +found throughout the Southern states. The Red Pine, or +Norway Pine, favors Canada more than our country. The +Pitch Pine grows in sandy and rocky soil or in the cold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +swampy lands. The Jersey, or Scrub Pine, grows on +sandy soil.</p> + +<p>The Spruces have brighter leaves than the pines and the +leaves are not grouped like the pine leaves. The leaves +are borne on drooping branches; the cones are pendent; +the white spruce grows higher than any other spruce. The +cones of the red spruce are large; the resin of both the +red and black spruces are used as chewing gum.</p> + +<p>The Hemlock is one of the most graceful of cone-bearing +trees. The hemlocks grow rapidly and become very rugged +and picturesque. Hemlock wood warps when exposed; its +bark is used in tanning. The leaves of the balsam are a +bright green color above and a silver green color below. +They are dried and made into pillows because of their +fragrance. Arborvitæ, or White Hemlock, is cultivated +as an ornamental tree. It is much used for hedges.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE WILD FLOWERS OF THE UNITED STATES.</h2> + + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">The Spring Flowers</span>—<i>White.</i></div> + + +<p>Go into the woods some day early in April and you will +find, pushing up through the last summer's litter, a curled-up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +leaf. Open this leaf and nestling within will be a +white flower bud. Even when in bloom the leaf surrounds +the flower stem as though to protect it. As you pick the +flower a red juice oozes out of the stem and stains your +hands. This is the blood root and the Indians used its +juice to stain their faces. Just beyond it, bending and +nodding in the wind, is the dainty little anemone; there is +sometimes a hint of pink or lavender in its white flowers.</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 355px;"> +<img src="images/i-06.png" width="355" height="400" alt="BLOODROOT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">BLOODROOT.</span> +</div> + + +<p>Among the rocks you will find, swinging, the little +Dutchman's Breeches, with their peculiar little flowers that +look like pairs of trousers hung on a line. Growing with +it will be the saxifrage, whose name means that it breaks +rocks. This name was probably given to it because it is +usually found growing in the clefts of rocks. As spring +advances, the woods are dotted with bright little star flowers +and the unpleasantly odorous May apple and the white +Trillium with its three long petals. The feathery baneberry +is in flower when the columbine blooms and when +the green-and-brown Jacks-in-the-Pulpit are preaching in +the woods. The Jack-in-the-Pulpit in shape is not unlike +a calla lily.</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i-07.png" width="300" height="425" alt="TRILLIUM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TRILLIUM.</span> +</div> + +<p>Other white flowers of spring are the shad bush that +blooms "when the shad run." Its red berries ripen in +June.</p> + +<p>Pyxie or Flowering Moss—sandy woods.</p> + +<p>Crinkle Root—May woods.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Spring Flowers</span>—<i>Yellow.</i></div> + + +<p>If you will go down into the swampy meadowland you +will find the bright, sturdy marsh marigolds, and in the +wet woods adjoining the spice bushes glowing with their +fussy little yellow blossoms, and alongside the brook the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +dog-toothed violet or yellow adder's tongue, rearing their +mottled leaves and nodding their yellow blossoms. These +are not violets at all, by the way, but lilies. In the May +woods are the red and yellow flowers of the Wood Betony +and the bell-shaped flowers of Solomon's Seal. Pull up +the Solomon's Seal root and see the marks on it that look +like the impression of a seal. That is how it received its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +name, although why "Solomon's Seal" we are unable to +answer. Bellwort is a little yellowish lily common in the +May woods.</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/i-08.png" width="364" height="380" alt="YELLOW ADDER'S TONGUE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">YELLOW ADDER'S TONGUE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Other yellow spring flowers:</p> + +<p>Coltsfoot—Stream banks in May.</p> + +<p>Celandine Poppy—Woods and hills.</p> + +<p>Corydalis—Dry stony woodland.</p> + +<p>Moosewood—Wet woods.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Spring Flowers</span>—<i>Pink.</i></div> + +<p>In company with the blood root and dog-toothed violets +and the dainty anemones are the pretty little pink-veined +Spring Beauties, with their slender leaves and graceful +stems. Lucky are you if you chance to live where the +trailing arbutus grows, with its deliciously perfumed waxy +flowers under last summer's dead leaves. The New Englanders +call it the May Flower. The attractive blossoms +of the Rhodora brighten the woods with their splendor. +This is a wild Rhododendron and belongs to the same +family as the wild honeysuckle that blossoms in the moist +places in May.</p> + +<p>Other pink spring flowers:</p> + +<p>Showy Orchis—May woods.</p> + +<p>Wild Pink—Rocky edges of woods.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Spring Flowers</span>—<i>Red.</i></div> + +<p>Heading this list comes the Columbine, and if you will +gather this flower you must be prepared to climb, for it +is fond of nooks and crannies difficult to reach. Starting +up from three broad leaves the little flower of the Wake +Robin thrusts itself upon our attention; it is not shy or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +retiring like the arbutus or the timid little blushing +Spring Beauty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/i-09.png" width="310" height="450" alt="COLUMBINE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">COLUMBINE.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">The Spring Flowers</span>—<i>Blue and Purple.</i></div> + +<p>First of the blues comes the fuzzy-stemmed and fuzzy-budded +hepatica, which is known also by the ugly name +of "liverwort." Sometimes the flowers fade to a white, +sometimes to a pinkish lavender. The one symbol of +springtime is the violet. When the violet comes we know +that winter has gone for good. The wild geranium or +cranebill grows and blossoms sturdily when the anemones +and Spring Beauties are getting scarce.</p> + +<p>Other blue and purple spring flowers:</p> + +<p>Bluets or Quaker Ladies—Meadows and roadsides.</p> + +<p>Larkspur—Not found east of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>Cancer Root—Wet woods.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Early Summer Flowers</span>—<i>White.</i></div> + +<p>Early in June you will see in the woods and fields a +shrub that looks like a young maple tree blooming abundantly +with clusters of white flowers. It is the Dockmackie, +or the Maple-leaved Viburnum. If you live on +the hills of the Hudson or Pennsylvania you will have the +opportunity yearly of seeing the Mountain Laurel in +flower, a shrub that is cultivated and highly esteemed in +England. The stamens of the flowers are caught in little +pockets, and as the insect alights on these they are loosened +and fly upward, shaking the pollen on to the body +of the insect.</p> + +<p>Blooming in the same location may be found the Wild +Rhododendron, which belongs to the same family as the +Mountain Laurel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another member of this family is the Swamp Honeysuckle +or the Clammy Azalea; both of these are shrubs. +The latter is usually found among the swampy coast lands.</p> + +<p>Still another member of this heath family, to which the +Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron belong, is the Little +Shin Leaf, with its Lily-of-the-Valley-like flowers. Growing +alongside of it you are very likely to find the Pipsissewa, +with its beautiful perfume and ever-green leaves. +June is the month when the meadows are whitened by the +daisies.</p> + +<p>Other early summer white flowers:</p> + +<p>Wood Sorrel—June woods.</p> + +<p>Sweet Cicely—Sweet-tasting root.</p> + +<p>Marsh Andromeda—Swampy places.</p> + +<p>Staggerbush—Low dry places.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Early Summer Flowers</span>—<i>Yellow.</i></div> + +<p>In May or June hunt for the Yellow Lady Slipper or +Whip-poor-Will's Shoe, a pretty little yellow Orchid. Mr. +Baldwin, writing of orchids of New England, says: "Its +preference is for maples, beeches, and particularly butternuts, +and for sloping or hilly ground, and I always look +with glad suspicion at a knoll covered with ferns, cohoshes, +and trilliums, expecting to see a clump of this plant among +them. Its sentinel-like habit of choosing 'sightly places' +leads it to venture well up on mountain-sides."</p> + +<p>The straggly flower heads of the Hawk Weed, or Rattlesnake +Weed, that looks like little Dandelions, will be found +in the dry pine woods at this time of the year. Its leaves +are veined with purple and thought to resemble the markings +of the rattlesnake. This has given it its name.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>We need no introduction to the common dandelion that +carpets our lawns with a cloth of gold, much to the disgust +of the gardener, who roots them out as weeds.</p> + +<p>Another flower of the waste places is a pretty little toad +flax, or butter-and-eggs. It is probably called "butter-and-eggs" +because of the two shades of yellow. Its juice, +mixed with milk, makes a good fly poison.</p> + +<p>In the same localities may be found the St. John's Wort, +with its numerous little flowers, and both the moth mullein +and common mullein. The old Romans used to dip the +dry stalk of the common mullein in fat and use it as a +torch. The moth mullein is tenderer than the common +mullein. The flowers are tipped with red and purple.</p> + +<p>Other early summer yellow flowers:</p> + +<p>Cinquefoil—Fields and roadsides.</p> + +<p>Bush Honeysuckle—Hillsides.</p> + +<p>Four-leaved Loosestrife—Roadsides.</p> + +<p>Yellow Loosestrife—Wet places.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Early Summer Flowers</span>—<i>Pink.</i></div> + +<p>The Pink Lady Slipper, like the Yellow, is another +orchid. Baldwin, to whom we have referred before, tells +us where he usually found them; he says: "The finest +specimens I ever saw sprang out of a cushion of crisp +reindeer moss high up among the rocks of the exposed +hillside, and again I have found it growing vigorously in +hills upon swamps, but nearly colorless from excessive +moisture." He further says that "A lady who has found +it in the Adirondacks says she found it to have a great +fondness for decaying wood and often saw a whole row +perched like birds along a crumbling log."</p> + +<p>A smaller laurel with dark pink flowers blooms in June.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +It is called "Lamb-killer," because of the belief that it +is poisonous to sheep.</p> + +<p>Corydalis—Rocky woods.</p> + +<p>Adder's Mouth—Swamps.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Early Summer Flowers</span>—<i>Red.</i></div> + +<p>Thoreau writes: "The Painted Cup is in its prime. It +reddens the meadow, painted cup meadow. It is a splendid +show of brilliant scarlet, the color of the cardinal +flower and surpasses it in mass and profusion. I do not +like the name; it does not remind me of a cup, rather of +a flame when it first appears. It might be called 'flame +flower' or 'scarlet tip.' Here is a large meadow full of +it, and very few in the town have ever seen it. It is +startling to see a leaf thus brilliantly painted, as if its tip +were dipped into some scarlet mixture, surpassing most +flowers in intensity of color."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Early Summer Flowers</span>—<i>Blue and Purple.</i></div> + +<p>The Blue-eye Grass, which belongs to the same family +as the Blue Flag, carpets the moist meadows at this season +of the year. The Blue Flag and Fleur-de-lis is the +flower of France; the name "Fleur-de-lis," the flower of +Louis, King Louis VII having chosen it as his particular +badge. Look for it in damp meadow grounds in June.</p> + +<p>Early in June the wild lupine blooms, painting the hillside +blue.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Summer</span>—<i>White.</i></div> + +<p>If you go into the woods where the evergreens grow in +July you will find the Little Wintergreen in bloom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +Later in the year you will find the little red Wintergreen +berries. Along the roadside you will find the daisy-like +flowers of the Chamomile or May Weed. From the leaves +of this plant our grandmothers used to make Chamomile +tea.</p> + +<p>A shrub that you will find in bloom in the July woods +is the New Jersey Tea, with its clusters of feathery flowers. +At the time of the American Revolution our forefathers +used its leaves to make a substitute for the imported +tea on which Great Britain imposed a tax.</p> + +<p>Another flower of the summer woods and hillsides is the +Cohosh, with a stem from three to eight feet high. Its +odor is supposed to be distasteful to insects. The Elders +are a mass of white blossoms at this time of the year, and +later crowned with purplish berries from which elderberry +wine is made.</p> + +<p>A common plant of the July roadsides is the Pokeweed. +Its flowers are less conspicuous than its fruit. It has +long clusters of dark berries. Country boys make "ink" +from the juice of these berries.</p> + +<p>The Boneset is another wayside flower. Our grandmothers +made boneset tea from its leaves when we were +in danger of colds or malaria. Its flowers are dull white; +it belongs to the same family as the Golden-rod.</p> + +<p>Other summer white flowers:</p> + +<p>Thimbleweed—Woods and meadows.</p> + +<p>White Avens—Edges of woods.</p> + +<p>Wild Cucumber—Along river banks.</p> + +<p>Yarrow—Roadsides.</p> + +<p>No article on wild flowers of the United States would +be complete without mention of "Queen Anne's Lace," +while some call it "Bird's Nest," from the habit of the +curling up of the old flowers into a nest-like shape.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Summer</span>—<i>Yellow.</i></div> + +<p>One of the most conspicuous yellow flowers is the +Meadow Lily, or the Wild Yellow Lily.</p> + +<p>The St. John's Wort is a common flower of this season +of the year. It seems to flourish in the waste places, while +both the moth mullein and the common mullein are close +companions.</p> + +<p>When the white daisies are beginning to wane, the yellow +daisies or Black-eyed Susans begin to bloom. The Jewel +Weed is also called by some "Touch-me-Not," on account +of the few seed pods, which burst when touched, showing +the seeds.</p> + +<p>At twilight and in the early morning the Evening Primrose +opens its dull yellow blossoms. During the middle +of the day the flowers are closed.</p> + +<p>Other summer yellow flowers:</p> + +<p>Yellow Clover—Fields and roadsides.</p> + +<p>Bladderwort—Ponds and streams.</p> + +<p>Partridge Pea—Sandy Soil.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Summer</span>—<i>Pink.</i></div> + +<p>Probably the foremost among these is the Common Milkweed, +with its dull pink clustered flowers that later turn +into a pod filled with silky fibers, which the children love +to break open and set afloat in the wind. It is called +"Milkweed" on account of the white sticky fluid which it +exhumes from the broken stems.</p> + +<p>Along the roadside and meadows purplish-pink flowers +of the Fireweed are in bloom.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 290px;"> +<img src="images/i-10.png" width="290" height="500" alt="MEADOW LILY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MEADOW LILY.</span> +</div> + +<p>One of the most beautiful of the pink midsummer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +flowers is the Mallow that makes lively our swamps with +its large pale pink flowers.</p> + +<p>Other summer pink flowers:</p> + +<p>Steeplebush—Low places.</p> + +<p>Purple Loosestrife—Marshes.</p> + +<p>Meadow Beauty—Sandy soil.</p> + +<p>Tick Trefoil—Midsummer woods.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Summer</span>—<i>Red.</i></div> + +<p>Two lilies of midsummer are the Wild Lily and the +Turk's Cap Lily; the Turk's Cap Lily, with its drooping +flowers, and the Wild Lily, with its upright flowers, that +grow in our meadows, the Wild Lily in the shady woods.</p> + +<p>Here and there in the midsummer fields is a patch of +the bright flame-color orange-red Butterfly Weed. This +belongs to the Milkweed family. They present to the eye +some of the most vivid patches of color of the summer +fields.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Summer</span>—<i>Blue and Purple.</i></div> + +<p>Growing in the waste places from June until September +are the closed heads of the "Self Heal," with its +bluish-purple flowers and the spikes of the dainty little +vervain.</p> + +<p>Blooming in midsummer is the aromatic little Pennyroyal, +one of the mint family.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Late Summer and Autumn</span>—<i>Yellow.</i></div> + +<p>Without doubt the one flower that holds the foremost +rank of the late summer and autumn flowers is the +Golden-rod.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Wild Sunflower and the Bur Marigold, or "Stick-tight," +belong to the same family as the Golden-rod, the +Composite Family.</p> + +<p>Witch-hazel Shrubs are now coming into bloom, blooming +when everything else is getting ready for the winter +nap.</p> + +<p>Other late summer yellow flowers:</p> + +<p>False Foxgloves—Dry woodland.</p> + +<p>Yellow Thistle—Sandy coast soil.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Late Summer and Autumn</span>—<i>White.</i></div> + +<p>The Rattlesnake Plantain has peculiar leaves veined with +white. The Indians believed that application of the leaves +of this plant would cure a snake bite.</p> + +<p>One of the shrubs that blooms at this season of the +year is the Sweet Pepperbush, which is becoming popular +as a cultivated shrub in our gardens and lawns. It seems +to bloom best in those localities where there is considerable +moisture in the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>The dry fields are now thickly covered with the white +asters.</p> + +<p>Other late summer white flowers:</p> + +<p>Ladies' Tresses—Wet places in autumn.</p> + +<p>Pearly Everlasting—Woods and fields.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Late Summer and Autumn</span>—<i>Pink.</i></div> + +<p>A common roadside flower is the Pink Knotweed, with +its branching stems and groups of bright pink flowers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/i-11.png" width="348" height="425" alt="PINK KNOTWEED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">PINK KNOTWEED.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Bouncing Bet is now growing sturdily, with its +pinkish-white flowers, and close to the Butterfly Weed +blooms the "Joe Pye Weed," with its dusky purplish-pink +clusters, while the Golden-rod and Asters are in flower.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>Other late summer pink flowers:</p> + +<p>Purple Gerardia—Low dry ground.</p> + +<p>False Dragon Head—Wet fields.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Late Summer and Autumn</span>—<i>Red.</i></div> + +<p>In the late summer, along the edges of ponds and +streams and in the midst of swamps, gleam the bright, +ragged flowers of the Cardinal flower, the brightest red +flower of early autumn.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Late Summer and Autumn</span>—<i>Blue and Purple.</i></div> + +<p>The Blue Chicory or Succory brightens up our roadsides +in late summer when the fields are full of blue and +purple Asters. There are over one hundred different +species of wild Asters, all belonging to the Composite Family, +the same family that the Golden-rod, Daisies, and Sunflowers +are members of. The Composite Family, in fact, +is in majority at this season of the year.</p> + +<p>Both the closed and fringed Gentian come to us in late +September, with their beautiful blue flowers—blue of a +beautiful shade.</p> + +<p>Other late summer flowers—blue and purple:</p> + +<p>Blazing Star—Marsh land.</p> + +<p>Iron Weed—Roadsides and fields.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX</h2> + +<div> +<br /> +Adder's Mouth, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Alder, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Alligator Tree, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +Anemones, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Apples, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Arborvitæ, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Arbutus, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Ash, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mountain Black, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Aspen, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Asters, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Avens, White, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Azaleas, Clammy, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Balsam, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Baneberry, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Basswood, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Bay, Sweet, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Beech, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Betony, Wood, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Bellwort, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Bignonia Family, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Birch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Paper, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Bird's Nest, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Bitternut, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Black-eyed Susans, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Black Ash, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Black Spruce, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Black Walnut, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Black Willow, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Bladderwort, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Blazing Star, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Bloodroot, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +Blue-eyed Grass, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Blue Flag, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Bluets, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Boneset, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Bouncing Bet, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<br /> +Bow-wood, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Buck-eye, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Bur Marigold, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Bush Honeysuckle, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Butter-and-Eggs, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Butterfly Weed, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<br /> +Butternut, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Buttonwood, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Cancer Root, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Cardinal Flower, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Catalpa, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Celandine Poppy, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Chamomile, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Cherry, Choke, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wild, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Chestnut, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Horse, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Chestnut Oak, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>Chicory, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Chokecherry, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Cinquefoil, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Clammy Azaleas, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Closed Gentian, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Clover, Yellow, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Cohosh, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Coltsfoot, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Columbine, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Corydalis, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Cottonwood, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Cranebill, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Crinkle Root, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Daisies, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Dandelion, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Dockmackie, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Dog-Tooth Violets, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Dogwood, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +Dutchman's Breeches, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Elderberries, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Elm, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Slippery, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Evening Primrose, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +False Dragon Head, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +False Foxgloves, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Fireweed, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Flag, Blue, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Fleur-de-lis, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Flowering Moss, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Four-Leaved Loosestrife, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Foxgloves, False, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Fringed Gentian, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Gentian, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Closed, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fringed, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Geranium, Wild, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Gerardia, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Golden-rod, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Hawkweed'">Hawk Weed</ins>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Hemlock, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Hepatica, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Hickory, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shell-bark, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Swamp, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Honey Locust, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Honeysuckle, Bush, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Swamp, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wild, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Horse Chestnuts, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Iron Weed, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Ironwood, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jack-in-the-Pulpit, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Jewel Weed, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Joe-Pye Weed, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<br /> +Judas Tree, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Knotweed, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ladies' Tresses, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Lady's Slipper, Pink, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Lamb-killer, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Larkspur, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Laurel Oaks, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Laurel, Mountain, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Lily, Meadow, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Lily, Turk's Cap, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Lily, Wild, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wild Yellow, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Lime Tree, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>Linden, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Liquidambar, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +Liverwort, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Locust, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Honey, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Loosestrife, Four-Leaved, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Purple, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Lupine, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wild, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Magnolia, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Swamp, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Mallow, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Maple, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Silver, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sugar, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Maple-Leaved Viburnum, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Marigold, Bur, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Marigolds, Marsh, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Marsh Andromeda, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Marsh Marigolds, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +May Apple, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +May Flower, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +May Weed, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Meadow Beauty, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Meadow Lily, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a><br /> +<br /> +Milkweed, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Moosewood, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Moth Mullein, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Mountain Ash, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Mountain Laurel, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Mulberry, Red, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Mullein, Common, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Moth, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +New Jersey Tea, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Norway Pine, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Oak, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chestnut, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Laurel, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scarlet, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scrub, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Willow, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Olive, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Orchis, Showy, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Osage Orange, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Painted Cup, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Paper Birch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Partridge Pea, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Pea Family, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Pearly Everlasting, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Pears, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Pennyroyal, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Pignut, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Pine, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Norway, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pitch, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Scrub, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Pink Knotweed, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wild, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Pink Lady's Slipper, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Pipsissewa, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Pitch Pine, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Plane Tree Family, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Plantain, Rattlesnake, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Plums, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Poison Sumach, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Pokeweed, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>Poplar, Yellow, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Poplar Tree, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Poppy, Celandine, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Primrose, Evening, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Purple Loosestrife, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Pussy Willow, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Pyxie, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Quaker Ladies, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Queen Anne's Lace, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Rattlesnake Plantain, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Rattlesnake Weed, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Birch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Bud, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Maple, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Mulberry, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Oak, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Pine, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Spruce, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Rhododendron, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Wild, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Rhodora, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Rose Family, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Rowan Trees, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +St John's Wort, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Saxifrage, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Scarlet Oak, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Scrub Oak, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Scrub Pine, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Self Heal, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Shad Bush, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Shell-bark Hickory, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Shin Leaf, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Showy Orchis, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Silver Maple, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Slippery Elm, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Solomon's Seal, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Sorrel, Wood, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Spice Bush, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Spring Beauty, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Spruce, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Staggerbush, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Star Flowers, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Steeplebush, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Stick-tight, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Succory, <a href="#Page_181">181</a><br /> +<br /> +Sugar Maple, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Sumach, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Poison, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sunflower, Wild, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Swamp Hickory, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Honeysuckle, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Magnolia, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sweet Bay, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Sweet Cicely, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Sweetgum, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +Sweet Pepperbush, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Sycamore, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Thimble Weed, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Thistle, Yellow, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Tick Trefoil, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Toad Flax, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Touch-me-Not, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Trees of the United States, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +Trilliums, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<br /> +Tulip Tree, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Turk's Cap Lily, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Viburnum, Maple-Leaved, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Violet, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dog-tooth, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Wake Robin, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Walnut, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Weeping Willow, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Whip-poor-<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'will's'">Will's</ins> Shoe, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +White Ash, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +White Avens, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +White Birch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +White Elm, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +White Hemlock, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +White Mulberry, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +White Oak, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +White Pine, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +White Spruce, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +White Walnut, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +White-wood, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Cherry, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Cucumber, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Flowers of the United States, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Geranium, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Honeysuckle, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Lily, <a href="#Page_178">178</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Lupine, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Pink, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Rhododendron, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Sunflower, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Wild Yellow Lily, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Willow, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pussy, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Weeping, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Willow Oak, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Witch-hazel Family, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Wintergreen, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Wood Betony, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Wood Sorrel, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Yarrow, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Adder's Tongue, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Clover, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Daisies, <a href="#Page_176">176</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Lady's Slipper, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Loosestrife, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Oak, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Pine, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Poplar, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Yellow Thistle, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox'><h2><span class='small'>THE</span><br /> +Campfire and Trail Series</h2></div> + + + +<p> <br /><br /></p> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Book list"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. In Camp on the Big Sunflower.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. The Rivals of the Trail.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. Caught in a Forest Fire.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'> +By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE<br /><br /> +<br /> + +A series of wholesome stories for boys told +in an interesting way and appealing to their +love of the open.<br /><br /> + +————————————<br /> +<i>Each, 12mo. Cloth. 40 cents per volume</i><br /> +————————————<br /> + +<br /> +<span class='big'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</span><br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> +<p>Text uses both scout master and scout-master.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Woodcraft, by Alan Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WOODCRAFT *** + +***** This file should be named 37167-h.htm or 37167-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/1/6/37167/ + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, +Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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