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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heroes of the School, by Allen Chapman
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Heroes of the School
+       or, The Darewell Chums Through Thick and Thin
+
+Author: Allen Chapman
+
+Release Date: September 2, 2011 [EBook #37291]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ THE HEROES
+ OF THE SCHOOL
+
+ Or
+
+ The Darewell Chums
+ Through Thick and Thin
+
+ BY
+ ALLEN CHAPMAN
+
+ AUTHOR OF "BART STIRLING'S ROAD TO SUCCESS," "WORKING
+ HARD TO WIN," "BOUND TO SUCCEED," "THE YOUNG
+ STOREKEEPER," "NAT BORDEN'S FIND," ETC.
+
+ [Illustration:
+
+ _The_
+ GOLDSMITH
+ _Publishing Co._
+
+ CLEVELAND   OHIO
+
+ MADE IN U.S.A.]
+
+
+
+
+ Copyright, 1908, by
+ Cupples & Leon Company
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+ CHAPTER                                 PAGE
+       I. Expelling a Pupil                 1
+      II. The Wrong Slide                   9
+     III. A Queer Character                15
+      IV. A Hut in the Woods               22
+       V. The Challenge                    30
+      VI. A Great Game of Ball             38
+     VII. Alice has a Chance               47
+    VIII. The Strange Boatman              52
+      IX. A Plot Against Bart              59
+       X. A Cow in School                  67
+      XI. Honoring the Seniors             73
+     XII. Frank's Queer Letter             82
+    XIII. Sandy on Guard                   89
+     XIV. Peculiar Operations              96
+      XV. Ned Stops a Panic               104
+     XVI. A River Trip                    111
+    XVII. The Tramp's Headquarters        116
+   XVIII. A Night Scare                   123
+     XIX. The Farmer and the Bull         130
+      XX. Followed by Sandy               137
+     XXI. At the Fair                     143
+    XXII. Up in a Balloon                 149
+   XXIII. Above the Clouds                157
+    XXIV. Into the River                  164
+     XXV. Captured                        175
+    XXVI. Planning to Escape              183
+   XXVII. The Escape                      192
+  XXVIII. The Pursuit                     199
+    XXIX. An Unexpected Meeting           208
+     XXX. Striking Oil--Conclusion        215
+
+
+
+
+THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+EXPELLING A PUPIL
+
+
+"What are you looking so glum about this morning, Stumpy?" asked Ned
+Wilding as he greeted his chum, Fenn Masterson, otherwise known as
+"Stumpy" because of his short, stout figure. "Haven't you got your
+lessons, or are you going to be expelled?"
+
+"I'm not to be expelled but some one else is, Ned."
+
+"What's that? Some one going to be expelled?" asked Bart Keene, coming
+up in time to hear what Fenn said.
+
+"John Newton is," replied Stumpy.
+
+"What's that got to do with you?" asked Bart, for, as had Ned, he
+noticed that Fenn looked worried.
+
+"It might have something to do with me if John--"
+
+Just then the bell of the Darewell High School began to ring, and, as it
+was the final summons to classes the three boys and several other pupils
+hurried into the building. On the way up the stairs Ned Wilding was
+joined by a tall youth with dark hair and eyes.
+
+"What's this I hear about John Newton?" asked the tall lad.
+
+"Hello, Frank! Why Stumpy says John's got to leave the school, but it's
+the first I heard about it."
+
+"Are they going to expel him this morning?"
+
+"Seems so. We'll soon know."
+
+A little later several hundred boys and girls were gathered in the
+auditorium of the school for the usual morning exercises. When they were
+over the principal, Professor McCloud, came to the edge of the platform.
+
+"I have a very unpleasant duty to perform," he began.
+
+Most of the boys and girls knew what was coming. The principal never
+prefaced his remarks that way unless he had to expel a pupil. Ned and
+Bart looked over toward where Fenn sat. They wanted to see if there was
+any reason for Stumpy's seeming apprehension.
+
+"John Newton!" called Professor McCloud, and a tall youth, with eyes
+that squinted slightly, left his seat and shambled forward.
+
+"It's coming now," whispered Fenn, and Frank Roscoe, who was sitting
+beside him, looked at his chum and wondered.
+
+"Any one would think it was you who had to face the music," declared
+Frank.
+
+By this time John Newton was standing in front of the raised platform on
+which the principal and teachers sat during the morning exercises. He
+did not seem to mind the humility or disgrace of his position. He turned
+half around and looked toward Fenn.
+
+"If he says anything--" began Stumpy, whispering to himself, but he did
+not finish the sentence for Professor McCloud was speaking.
+
+"John Newton," the principal said, "I am deeply grieved that I have to
+do this. It is very painful." It was the same speech the pupils had
+heard before. The principal always used it, with such slight variations
+as might be necessary. "You have been dilatory in your studies. You have
+been insubordinate. You have played mean tricks. You have refused to
+mend your ways."
+
+The principal took a long breath. He always did at this particular point
+in his painful duty. But this time there was a variation from the usual
+scene. John Newton stepped forward and addressed the principal. It was a
+thing unheard of in the Darewell school.
+
+"Professor McCloud," said John, "I want to say that while I'm partly to
+blame in this matter, Fenn Mas--"
+
+"That will do! That will do!" interrupted Mr. McCloud so sharply that
+John started. A number of the pupils turned in their seats to gaze at
+Stumpy, who looked painfully self-conscious.
+
+"There's something in the wind," whispered Ned to Bart.
+
+"I'm not going to take all the blame," persisted John, ignoring the
+principal's command to remain silent. "Fenn Mast--"
+
+"I said that would do," and Mr. McCloud spoke so decisively that John
+remained silent. "I know what you would say," the professor went on.
+"I have looked into that matter thoroughly. No one is to blame but
+yourself, and your effort to shift the punishment to some other boy
+does not do you any good. You should not have attempted to mention any
+pupil's name. I will not refer to it again, except to say that no one
+is involved but yourself. I am fully satisfied on this point."
+
+Frank noticed that Fenn seemed much relieved at the professor's
+announcement, and he wondered what connection there could have been
+between his chum and John Newton.
+
+"You have been given several opportunities to reform," the principal
+went on, "but you have refused to profit by them. You are a dangerous
+element to have in this school. Therefore, we return you to your
+friends," and, with a wave of his glasses toward the door to emphasize
+his remark, the principal indicated that John Newton might go. That
+ended it. John was expelled.
+
+The pupils went to their various classes, and, though there was
+considerable whispering back and forth during the morning session as to
+what caused John's expulsion, and what his reference to Fenn might mean,
+there was no chance to discuss the matter until the noon recess. Then
+questions and answers flew thick and fast.
+
+"Now Fenn, tell us all about it," said Ned Wilding when he and the two
+other boys who had remarked Stumpy's apprehension, were gathered in the
+basement where lunches were usually eaten. "What was John driving at?
+What were you afraid of?"
+
+"Didn't you hear Professor McCloud say it was all ended and he was
+satisfied I had no hand in it?"
+
+"Yes, but that doesn't satisfy us," said Bart. "We want the whole
+story."
+
+"There isn't much to it," Fenn declared. "You must promise not to repeat
+it."
+
+"We'll promise but I guess John will tell it all over town," said Frank.
+
+"You know John and I used to be pretty friendly," Fenn began, getting
+his chums off into a corner. "He lives near me and I used to go fishing
+with him once in a while. But he got down on me because I wouldn't lend
+him my best reel one day, though for a while I didn't know he wasn't
+friendly.
+
+"He's always playing some kind of tricks in school, but most of 'em
+aren't any worse than those we get up. But this last one was the limit."
+
+"What was it?" asked Ned.
+
+"He'd been reading some book on India, and how they catch tigers by
+smearing bird-lime on the leaves near the water-hole. He made some of
+the lime. I helped him. Got some of the stuff from the laboratory. Then
+he put it all over the papers in Mr. McCloud's desk, one night after
+school, and they got so fastened together they couldn't be separated."
+
+"You don't mean to say you helped him do that?" asked Frank.
+
+"Who said I did? I only helped make the bird-lime. He told me we could
+catch rabbits with it. I didn't know what he was up to or I wouldn't
+have done that much. When he learned he was discovered, for he left his
+knife in the desk, he said he was going to make me take part of the
+blame for helping him make the lime. That's what I was afraid of this
+morning, when I heard he was going to be expelled."
+
+"He did try to give you away," interrupted Bart.
+
+"Yes, rather mean, too. But it seems Mr. McCloud had been investigating,
+though I didn't know it. He must have found out that I didn't have any
+hand in putting the stuff in the desk, even if I did help John make it."
+
+"Lucky for you that he did," commented Ned. "Do you think John will try
+to do anything more to make trouble for you?"
+
+"I hope not," Fenn replied.
+
+"He was always up to tricks," commented Frank. "Once he daubed tar on
+the bottoms of his shoes and walked through the classroom, leaving black
+marks all over. He pasted paper caps on the pestle when the chemistry
+class was going to recite and Professor Long thought the powder he was
+mixing went off at the wrong time."
+
+"Yes, and do you remember the time he whistled like a bird in school,"
+put in Ned, "and made the teacher believe a canary was loose somewhere.
+My, but he can whistle!" he went on. "He can do as well as some of the
+fellows on the stage. I'm sorry he got expelled, but I'm glad you're out
+of it, Stumpy."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE WRONG SLIDE
+
+
+The four boys spent some time discussing the affair of the morning, and
+speculating as to what John Newton would do now that he could no longer
+attend school.
+
+"Guess he'll not worry much," remarked Fenn. "He was saying the other
+day he thought he'd go off somewhere and try to get work in the city."
+
+"Work? He's too lazy to work," put in Ned.
+
+"He said he'd like to get a job in a theater," Fenn added.
+
+"Shoving scenery around, or being part of the mob in Julius Cæsar would
+be his limit, I guess," said Bart.
+
+"Speaking of Cæsar reminds me that Fenn fell down in his Latin this
+morning," said Frank.
+
+"Yes, I should have boned away on it last night but I didn't," admitted
+Stumpy.
+
+"I know why," put in Ned.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Saw you out walking with Jennie Smith, and I s'pose you didn't get in
+until late."
+
+"Did she recite poetry to you?" asked Frank, for Jennie was somewhat
+inclined to verse.
+
+"Say you fellows dry up!" exclaimed Fenn. "You don't dare walk with a
+girl. Don't know how to behave in company!"
+
+"It takes Fenn to please the girls," retorted Ned, and he dodged to
+escape a blow Stumpy aimed at him. Then the gong rang for the afternoon
+session and the pupils went back to their classrooms.
+
+While the boys are at their lessons, which is about the only time, save
+when they are asleep, that they are not talking or doing something,
+there will be opportunity of telling who they are.
+
+Ned Wilding's mother had been dead some years. His father was cashier in
+the only bank in Darewell, a thriving manufacturing town not far from
+Lake Erie. The Still river ran through the place and it was a journey of
+about ten miles to the lake on that stream.
+
+Frank Roscoe lived with his uncle Abner Dent, who was a wealthy farmer,
+residing on the outskirts of the town. Frank had been with his relative
+as long as he could remember. He never knew his father or mother, and
+his uncle never mentioned them. The boy had been brought up with the
+idea that both his parents were dead. He was a manly youth, but there
+was a certain strangeness and an air of mystery about him. It was
+puzzling to his comrades, though they liked him none the less for it.
+
+As for Bart Keene, it would be hard to find a finer specimen of American
+boy. He was stout and sturdy, and would rather play ball than eat. His
+father, who was proprietor of a large factory, used to say Bart talked
+sports in his sleep. Bart had a sister Alice, as gentle as he was rough,
+though his roughness was not at all offensive. She had an idea she would
+like to be a trained nurse, and used every opportunity of practicing for
+her chosen profession. Let any one cut his finger, or run a sliver into
+it and Alice would exclaim:
+
+"Oh, do let me bandage it up! I'm so glad it happened--no, I don't mean
+that--I mean it's such good practice for me!" Then she would hustle
+around for salve and strips of cloth and render first-aid-to-the-injured
+after the most approved fashion.
+
+You couldn't help liking Fenn Masterson. "Stumpy" was the jolliest chap
+in seven counties, his friends used to say, and, it seemed with truth.
+He had blue eyes that always seemed to be laughing at you, as though
+his very figure, about as broad as it was long, was the best joke in the
+world.
+
+But Fenn was not proud of his shape. He often deplored it, especially
+when he went walking with a girl, which he did whenever he got the
+chance. Stumpy was fond of the girls, and some of them liked
+him,--especially Jennie Smith already mentioned. She used to confide to
+her chum, Alice Keene, that Fenn reminded her somewhat of Falstaff, whom
+you can read about in Shakespeare, if you wish.
+
+The boys had been chums all through the grammar school and their
+friendship was further cemented when they continued on at the high
+school. They were four of the best-liked boys in the institution, and
+the leaders when it came to sport, fun or doings of any sort. They were
+generally seen together and if anything was undertaken the "Darewell
+Chums," as they were called from the name of the town, were sure to be
+found in the van.
+
+The boys lived in the same neighborhood in the better part of the place,
+all save Frank, whose uncle's house was about a mile outside the town,
+but on the same highway on which his chums resided.
+
+Going home from school that afternoon the four chums saw John Newton
+standing on a street corner. As they passed him John called:
+
+"Hey Stumpy, I want to speak to you a minute."
+
+Fenn dropped behind his chums and spoke to John for some time. Ned, Bart
+and Frank walked on, and then waited for him.
+
+"Is he going to pay you off?" asked Ned, as Fenn joined his companions.
+
+"No, he wanted to tell me he was sorry he tried to throw the blame on
+me."
+
+"Look out for him, Stumpy," advised Bart.
+
+"Oh John is thoughtless, but he doesn't mean anything bad," Fenn said.
+"I guess this was quite a lesson for him."
+
+In school the next afternoon Frank, Bart and Fenn each received a note
+from Ned, the papers being passed along in that mysterious postal
+fashion which prevails in all schools. The missives read:
+
+     "Watch for some fun at the science lecture."
+
+This was a talk given every Friday afternoon by Professor Long, who used
+stereoptican slides. The lecture was usually on some popular topic.
+
+It was quite a large class that assembled in the darkened laboratory at
+the last period of the afternoon. The professor began his talk. It was
+about volcanoes, and he described their formation, the theories
+regarding them, and the causes for their terrific action.
+
+"I will now throw on the screen," the instructor said, "a picture of Mt.
+Vesuvius in full action. It is a wonderful view of a wonderful
+phenomenon."
+
+There was a moment's delay, and he slipped a slide into the lantern. Ned
+nudged his chums.
+
+"Watch!" he whispered.
+
+The next instant there was shown on the screen a picture of a boy
+setting off a giant fire-cracker under the chair of a sleeping man, who
+was depicted in the act of rising high into the air under the propulsion
+of the pyrotechnic. It was an irruption, but one not down on the
+program.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+A QUEER CHARACTER
+
+
+A chorus of laughter broke out among the students. It certainly was
+mirth-provoking to see that picture in place of the fire and clouds of
+smoke from the volcano. The class was in an uproar.
+
+Professor Long waited patiently until the noise had subsided. He even
+allowed the wrong slide to remain on the screen. The boys finally ceased
+laughing. Then the instructor spoke.
+
+"I presume that was done as a joke," he said. "If so I think it was a
+very poor one. I don't mind fun, but I like it in the right place. A
+certain amount is good, even in the schoolroom."
+
+His tone was sarcastic now, and Ned began to feel a little uncomfortable.
+
+"You young gentlemen," and he seemed to hesitate at the word, "you young
+gentlemen are sent here to learn. If you can do so and have fun, all
+right. I am paid by the city to teach you. I am expected to put a
+certain amount of knowledge into your brains. I can't unless you let
+me. I'm not a magician."
+
+"I thought you would be interested in this lecture. It seems you would
+rather have a lot of horse-play and rowdyism instead. If I had known
+that I might have provided a different set of pictures. But not in
+school hours. The school authorities expect me to instruct you in
+physics and chemistry; not in foolishness. Young gentlemen, the lecture
+is over, but you can remain in your seats in the darkness until the
+usual hour for dismissing the class."
+
+This was a different ending to the joke than Ned had anticipated. It was
+he who had put the wrong slide in with the others, having had access to
+the laboratory that morning. There were several murmurs from the boys
+not in on the plot. They did not relish sitting in the darkness for half
+an hour.
+
+Professor Long began putting away the apparatus. He withdrew the
+firecracker slide and turned out the stereopticon. Then Ned did a manly
+thing.
+
+"Professor Long," he called, out of the darkness. "I want to apologize
+to you and the class. I put the wrong picture into the pile. I'm sorry
+and I'll not do it again."
+
+A silence ensued. The boys wondered at Ned's pluck in acknowledging his
+fault. But then he and his chums were that kind of boys.
+
+"I can't excuse your conduct under any circumstances, Wilding," said
+Professor Long, sternly. "Still I will admit I like your manliness in
+admitting your fault. In view of what you have said, and as it is
+evident the other boys had no hand in it, I will go on with the lecture.
+But I must ask you to withdraw, and, as a punishment you will write out
+fifty lines of Cæsar after school."
+
+It was a task that made some of the boys catch their breaths. But Ned
+felt he deserved it, though he said to himself the joke was worth it. He
+left the laboratory, and the lecture went on. He remained after school
+and completed his penance. Professor Long, who had some experiments to
+prepare for the next week's work, had also stayed after school.
+
+"Don't do it again, Wilding," was all he said, and Ned was almost sure
+he saw the teacher smile.
+
+Ned found his chums waiting for him. They were a little diffident about
+referring to the joke, but Ned had no such scruples.
+
+"That was a sort of a boomerang," he remarked. "I spent fifty cents
+getting that slide, and to think how it turned out! Long is pretty
+touchy when it comes to his lectures. I guess I'll not monkey with 'em
+again."
+
+"Well, you missed a lot of fun," said Frank slowly. "He told us a lot of
+interesting stuff about volcanoes."
+
+"Bet none of 'em could match mine," came from Ned, with a laugh. "Mine
+was up-to-date."
+
+"What you going to do to-morrow?" asked Bart of his friends.
+
+"Nothing special," replied Ned.
+
+"Can't we arrange a ball game?" inquired Fenn.
+
+"I tried to but couldn't," said Bart. "Supposing we all go fishing?"
+
+"Fine!" was the general cry.
+
+"All right, meet at the Point, with lines and poles, at nine o'clock
+to-morrow and we'll go to the Riffles."
+
+The Point was a tongue of land extending out into the river about a mile
+above the town. It was a favorite place for swimming as there was a sort
+of sandy beach there. The Riffles were a series of shallow spots about
+two miles above the point, and from there on up was good fishing. The
+river near the Riffles ran through a dense woods which were seldom
+visited.
+
+Promptly on time the boys were at the meeting place. They had with them
+everything needed for a day's fishing, from bait and poles to a lunch
+for themselves, as they did not intend coming back until afternoon.
+
+The boys tramped through the woods toward the fishing holes, which they
+had often visited. They were talking of the events of the previous day
+at school, and Ned was explaining over again how he substituted the
+wrong picture slide.
+
+"Here, where are you boys going?" a voice suddenly hailed them from the
+bushes that lined the path they were traveling.
+
+They looked up, to see an old man, with a white straggling beard, which
+fell almost to his waist, peering at them. He was half hidden by the
+underbrush.
+
+"Where you going?" he repeated.
+
+"Fishing," replied Ned.
+
+"Whereabouts?"
+
+"Up at the Riffles," said Fenn.
+
+"Better not," cautioned the aged person. "It's a dangerous place."
+
+The man stepped forth into full view. The boys saw he was poorly
+dressed. His trousers were quite ragged and his coat was torn in several
+places. He wore no hat.
+
+"What makes you think so?" asked Frank.
+
+"Don't let it be known," the old man went on, "but the King of Paprica
+holds dominion over the Riffles. He has forbidden any one, under pain of
+being fed to the sacred crocodile, from taking the green bull frog from
+the pool."
+
+"He's crazy," whispered Bart.
+
+"But we're after fish, not bull frogs," interposed Frank, who seemed
+inclined to humor the strange man.
+
+"Oh, in that case, don't forget to bait your hooks with soft soap," said
+the old man, as he held up a warning finger. "Now remember, not a word
+to the King of Paprica if you meet him. He knows I'm here on guard, so
+don't tell him," and with that the old man, winking at Frank as though
+there was a good joke between them, vanished amid the bushes.
+
+"Well, of all queer things," said Ned softly.
+
+"He's daffy," spoke Bart. "Escaped from some asylum, I suppose. However
+he looks harmless. Come on, we don't want to get mixed up with him.
+We're out for fish."
+
+"I'd like to find out more about him," came from Frank. "He winked at
+me as though it was some sort of a trick."
+
+"Yes, the kind Ned played yesterday," exclaimed Frank.
+
+"No more from yours truly," uttered the perpetrator of the wrong slide.
+"No more jokes for a while. I'm going fishing. Come on."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A HUT IN THE WOODS
+
+
+The boys tried to learn in which direction the old man had gone, but he
+was not in sight. They listened to hear if he was tramping through the
+bushes, but there was not a sound.
+
+"Looks as though he went through a hole in the earth," spoke Fenn. "But
+never mind. His keepers are probably after him. He seems harmless
+enough."
+
+"Sometimes that's the worst kind," commented Ned. "We had better be on
+the lookout for him. He might come upon us unexpectedly."
+
+But the boys reached the Riffles a little while after this, and, in the
+excitement of hauling out a number of fish, for the sport was good, they
+forgot about the queer old man.
+
+"I wonder who he could have been?" asked Frank, after a silence of half
+an hour following the landing of several chub and perch.
+
+"Who?" asked Ned.
+
+"The King of Paprica."
+
+"Oh, him. I'd forgotten all about it. What makes you keep thinking of
+it?"
+
+"I can't help it," replied Frank, so solemnly that his chums looked at
+him in some surprise.
+
+"I believe there is something about that man which will bear
+investigating. No one ever heard of a crazy person being loose in these
+woods before, and there's no lunatic asylum near by from which he could
+have escaped. I tell you it looks queer."
+
+"Sometimes lunatics travel hundreds of miles," put in Bart. "I read of
+one, once, that escaped, and was found a good while afterward in some
+place in Europe."
+
+"Say, did we come here to talk about odd folks or to fish?" asked Ned
+somewhat sharply. "If we're going to fish let's do it. All this talk
+will scare 'em away."
+
+"That's what I say," added Fenn. "Let's finish up and go home."
+
+"Got a date to take a walk and gather wild flowers with some girl,
+Stumpy?" asked Frank.
+
+"Well, it's as much fun as talking about a crazy man," retorted Fenn.
+
+"Whoop! I've got a big one!" ejaculated Ned, and he pulled a wiggling
+beauty ashore.
+
+It was the best catch so far, and the other boys congratulated Ned on
+his luck. Several other large-sized fish were pulled out after that
+until the boys' baskets were nearly full.
+
+"Haven't we got plenty?" asked Frank. "Let's quit and eat."
+
+"Good enough!" exclaimed Bart. "I've got a vacancy just beneath my
+belt," and he patted the region of his stomach in a suggestive manner.
+
+Frank, who had charge of the lunch basket, into which the boys had put
+what they had brought from home, opened it. As he was handing around the
+sandwiches there was a noise in the bushes behind where the lads were
+seated. They started, thinking it might be the strange man again, but
+they were relieved when they saw it was Jim Nelson, who had the
+reputation of being the laziest boy in town.
+
+"Hello, Jim," called Ned.
+
+"Um," grunted Jim. It seemed too much of an effort to speak. "Bait?" he
+asked, with a motion toward his own fishing tackle which he carried over
+his shoulder.
+
+"Well, if you aren't the limit!" exclaimed Ned. "You started off fishing
+and depended on finding some one to lend you the bait. Too lazy to dig
+it, I suppose?"
+
+"Tired," responded Jim, as if that explained it all. "Throw over," he
+added, which the boys construed into a request that the bait can be
+passed over, since Jim had flopped down in a comfortable attitude on the
+bank.
+
+"The very nerve of you makes you a delight," spoke Bart as he tossed the
+tin can where Jim could get it. The bait fell a little out of the lazy
+lad's reach. Instead of getting up for it he looked around in search of
+a stick with which he could poke it toward himself. There was one near
+his foot.
+
+Jim reached out until he could touch the tree branch with the toe of his
+shoe. Then he manipulated the little club until he could get his fingers
+on it, which took several minutes. Once it was in his hands he managed
+to reach the bait can and drew it toward him. All this while he was
+stretched out on his back.
+
+Still in this position he baited his hook and then, without looking to
+see where it landed, he threw the weighted line in the direction of the
+river. The hook struck just on the edge of the bank on which Jim
+reclined, but he could not see this and thought it had dropped into the
+water. The chums looked on at this exhibition of laziness, though it was
+no new thing to them.
+
+"Think you'll catch anything, Jim?" asked Frank.
+
+"Hope not, have to pull it in, and I'm tired," responded the recumbent
+lad.
+
+"Oh, we'll do it for you," said Bart.
+
+"Um," grunted Jim, that probably being his thanks.
+
+The four comrades were munching their sandwiches, and once in a while
+Jim would turn his head and look at them. He was hungry but too lazy to
+ask for something to eat.
+
+"Watch me," whispered Ned to his companions, and then he prepared to
+tantalize Jim.
+
+Ned took a piece of cake and tied it to a string. The cord he fastened
+to the end of his fishing pole and then, moving silently through the
+bushes, he took a position directly behind Jim, and some distance away.
+
+Slowly Ned raised the pole with its dangling string and bit of cake
+until the latter was poised right over Jim's head. Then he slowly
+lowered the dainty until it was within a few inches of Jim's mouth.
+
+"A new way to feed lazy folks," observed Bart in a low tone.
+
+The cake was held there a few minutes, but Jim seemed unaware of its
+presence. Ned could not understand it. Then Fenn looked over and saw
+that Jim was asleep.
+
+"Can't have the trick spoiled that way," murmured Frank, and tossed a
+little pebble that hit Jim on the face. The lazy boy opened his eyes,
+and saw the choice bit of cake directly over his mouth. It was coming
+right down to him, after the manner in which cocoanuts, bananas and
+oranges are said to drop into the hands of the happy dwellers in
+tropical climes.
+
+"Now for some fun," whispered Fenn.
+
+The cake was almost in Jim's mouth. He opened his jaws. A happy look
+came over his face. He had his lips on the dainty, when, with a quick
+motion, Ned jerked it away.
+
+Jim was so surprised he did not know what to do. The disgusted look on
+his face made the other boys burst into a roar of laughter. Jim raised
+himself on his elbow and looked at the conspirators.
+
+"Um!" he ejaculated. He was too lazy to get mad. Then he went off in
+another doze.
+
+Ned went back to join his companions, all of them still laughing at the
+joke.
+
+"Let's make him believe he's caught something," suggested Fenn. "Tie
+something to his line."
+
+"It's your turn," spoke Ned, and Fenn nodded assent.
+
+He made his way quietly down the bank until he could pull Jim's hook
+from the water which just touched it. He fastened something to it and
+then gave the line a sudden yank. Jim had the pole tied to his wrist to
+prevent a possible big fish from taking it away from him as he slept,
+and Fenn's jerk awakened him.
+
+"Got one," announced Jim, not bothering to sit up straight. Then he
+began to pull in. The line came up with a suddenness that surprised him,
+as Fenn let go, and an old rubber boot, that Stumpy had attached, flew
+over and struck the lazy lad in the face.
+
+"It's a whopper!" he cried until he saw what it was. Then, with a
+disgusted look at the plotters he turned over and went to sleep again.
+
+"What can you do with a fellow like that?" asked Ned appealing to his
+chums.
+
+"Death will never overtake him," replied Frank. "It will pass him on the
+road, thinking Jim has already passed in. He certainly is the last word
+in laziness."
+
+The four comrades decided they had enough fishing for the day, so,
+putting away their tackle and adding some fresh wet grass to the baskets
+of fish in order to keep them cool, they started for home.
+
+"Let's take the short cut," suggested Frank. "Right through the woods."
+
+"Do you know it?" asked Ned. "I nearly got lost once, going that way."
+
+"I guess I can pick it out."
+
+So they began their tramp. But they had not gone more than a mile along
+the half-discernable path before Frank, who was in the lead, uttered an
+exclamation.
+
+"See a snake?" asked Bart.
+
+"No, but here's a hut that I never noticed before," was Frank's answer.
+"I wonder if I am on the wrong path. It looks right but I never saw this
+shack."
+
+The boys gathered around him. On one side of the path, in a little
+clearing, half hidden among the trees, was a small log cabin. It looked
+as though it had always been there, but the boys were sure it must have
+been erected recently.
+
+"There's something painted over the door," said Bart.
+
+The boys looked. There, in brilliant red letters, were the words:
+
+     _KING OF PAPRICA_
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE CHALLENGE
+
+
+"Well what do you think of that?" asked Ned. "Talk about queer
+coincidences, here's one! Now if only the crazy man would appear we--"
+
+"Some one is coming," exclaimed Frank, as a noise was heard near the
+hut.
+
+The next instant a short stout man, with black hair and a blacker
+moustache, came around the corner of the hut. On his head he wore a
+little gilt crown.
+
+"There's the King of Paprica!" whispered Bart, but not so low as to
+prevent the man hearing him.
+
+"At your service," replied the man, with a bow.
+
+For a few seconds the boys did not know whether to laugh or run. It was
+certainly a very strange affair, coupled with what the old man had said
+to them.
+
+"Are you really--" began Fenn, when the man held up a warning hand.
+
+"Please don't speak of it," he said in a mild voice. "I am here for a
+certain purpose. Have you seen an old man in these woods? Rather a
+strange character."
+
+"Something like yourself," said Ned, but in the faintest whisper.
+
+"Yes, we did," replied Frank, who seemed somewhat excited over the sight
+of the man with the gilt crown. "He said you would know he was on guard.
+He also--"
+
+"Yes, I know all about it," was the quick answer. "It's very unfortunate.
+I beg of you not to mention it to any one. I may rely upon you?"
+
+"You may," said Frank so earnestly that his chums wondered whether he
+knew more about the queer happenings than they did. "We will say
+nothing."
+
+"It will all come out right in the end," went on the man with the crown.
+"Which way was he going?"
+
+"He seemed headed in this direction," replied Fenn.
+
+"Then he will arrive in time for the audience," said the King of
+Paprica. "I must bid you farewell now," and with that he went into the
+hut and closed the door after him.
+
+The boys stood for a few seconds gazing at the silent cabin with it's
+odd inscription, and then Bart exclaimed:
+
+"Come on! Let's get out of here. First thing you know we'll be getting
+crazy ourselves. This place isn't safe!"
+
+He hurried on through the woods and the others followed.
+
+"What do you make of it?" asked Ned.
+
+"Why, it's plain enough," spoke Frank. "The old man we met first is
+crazy, and this one is his keeper. He's brought him out here into the
+woods to cure him, and he probably has to humor him by pretending to be
+a king. That's all there is to it. I've often read of such cases."
+
+"Seems to me you're fond of reading about lunatics," said Bart.
+
+"I am. I read all I can on such cases. It is very fascinating."
+
+"Excuse me," broke in Ned. "I'd rather have something cheerful."
+
+"Oh, but you have no idea what strange fancies some of the unfortunates
+have," said Frank earnestly. In his eyes there glowed a strange light,
+and his chums, looking at him, felt he had more than ever that queer air
+of mystery about him.
+
+"Well, we'd better be moving faster than this or we'll be held up again
+by the King of Paprica's guard," spoke Ned. "I think you're wrong about
+it, Frank."
+
+"How do you mean?"
+
+"I think both those chaps are crazy. It's a puzzle to tell which one is
+worse."
+
+"I agree with you," said Bart. "I wouldn't want to meet either one of
+them here alone in the woods after dark."
+
+"Nonsense," exclaimed Frank. "Why, a lunatic is the easiest person in
+the world to get along with. All you have to do is to humor him."
+
+"Let him kill you if he feels so disposed?" suggested Fenn.
+
+"No, but if you should meet one, and he asks you to let him shoot you,
+fall in with his idea."
+
+"Hand him a gun, eh, Frank?" asked Bart.
+
+"No, but, after he sees you are not going to oppose him, incidentally
+suggest that the moon is in the wrong quarter for a successful killing,
+or that the hour has not yet arrived, or that you have nine lives like a
+cat and that he had much better murder some one who has only one life.
+Ten chances to one he'll agree with you and let you alone."
+
+"I guess that one chance would fall to me," observed Fenn, "and I'll
+give the lunatics a wide berth. You can have 'em all, Frank."
+
+"Well, I've read that's the best way to act."
+
+"Oh, you and your reading!" exclaimed Ned. "Let's talk about something
+cheerful."
+
+The boys hurried on through the woods. More than once they got off the
+path and had to spend some minutes finding it again, so they did not get
+home until nearly supper time.
+
+"See you Monday," called Frank to his chums, as he took the road that
+led to his uncle's house.
+
+"There'll be a ball game next week, I guess," came from Bart. "You may
+get a chance to play."
+
+"All right," and Frank was off down the road.
+
+"I'd like to see the inside of that hut," observed Ned as he and the
+other two boys walked on.
+
+"Still harping on that, eh?" asked Fenn. "I want to forget it."
+
+"Think we'd better mention anything about the queer men we saw?" asked
+Bart, as he and Fenn strolled through the shopping district, which was
+always a lively place on Saturday nights.
+
+"Who to?"
+
+"The police, of course."
+
+"I don't see as it's any of their affair. The men are harmless."
+
+"But they're lunatics at large."
+
+"I guess it's as Frank says, one is the other's keeper. We'd better
+mind our own affairs. Besides Frank promised, for us, that we'd keep
+quiet."
+
+"Then I suppose we'd better. But maybe something will happen."
+
+"What, for instance?"
+
+"They might murder some one."
+
+"Say, have you been reading any five-cent libraries lately?"
+
+"No, but--"
+
+"Forget it," counseled Fenn. "Ah, good evening," he added, bowing to a
+pretty girl who passed them. "Excuse me, Bart. I want to speak to
+Jennie," and Fenn left his chum.
+
+"That's the way," growled Bart. "A fellow's no good once he gets girls
+on the brain," and he walked on alone, and quite disgusted with Stumpy.
+
+"Oh, Fenn!" exclaimed Jennie Smith, as the boy joined her. "Isn't it
+just like a play to see all the lights and the people hurrying back and
+forth? 'All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely
+players.' I think that's just grand! Oh I wish I could thrill large
+audiences!" she added, for her secret desire was to become an actress.
+"What is this I see before me! Is it a dagger, the handle--!"
+
+But just then Jennie collided with a fat man in front of her. He
+turned, good-naturedly and remarked:
+
+"No, young lady, I'm not a dagger, though I'd like to get thin enough to
+be taken for one."
+
+Jennie blushed, and Fenn was a little embarrassed. Soon after that Fenn
+bade Jennie goodnight.
+
+Monday morning when the chums reached school there was a buzz of
+excitement among those gathered on the campus waiting for the nine
+o'clock gong to ring.
+
+"Here they come now," called some one. "We'll see what they say."
+
+"What's up?" asked Bart, as he saw the crowd of boys hurrying toward him
+and his chums.
+
+"We've got a challenge!" exclaimed Lem Gordon, pitcher of the school
+nine, of which Bart was catcher.
+
+"Who from?" asked Bart.
+
+"The Lakeville Prep. school. It's for Thursday. Dare we take 'em on?"
+
+"We dare do all that may become our school," paraphrased Frank. "Why
+not?" He did not play on the regular nine.
+
+"They're out of our class," said Lem. "Haven't lost a game this year,
+and they're way ahead of us. Have better grounds and more time to
+practice."
+
+"Well, we don't want to show the white feather," said Fenn. "Maybe we'll
+have a chance."
+
+"We sure will if Lem pitches as he did in the game two weeks ago," spoke
+Bart. "That certainly won the game for us if anything did."
+
+"Your catching had a lot to do with it," put in Lem, "and so did Ned's
+fielding."
+
+"To say nothing of Stumpy's work at short," added Bart. "I say let's
+give 'em a game. They can't any more than wallop us!"
+
+"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd of boys. "Three cheers for Bart!"
+
+"Cut it out!" said Bart. "Think I'm a political candidate? We'll go in
+with the idea of winning!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A GREAT GAME OF BALL
+
+
+Word soon went around that Bart, who was captain of the nine, had
+decided to accept the challenge which had come to Harry Mathews as
+manager of the team. The challenge had only arrived that morning and
+there were few of the high school boys who believed their nine stood any
+chance of winning.
+
+The Lakeville Preparatory School was a private institution located about
+three miles from Darewell. It was attended by youths who were fitted for
+college there, and the pupils were, on the average, older and larger
+than the Darewell High School lads. Their nine had an enviable
+reputation in local sporting circles.
+
+The high school boys were so worked up over the prospect of the game,
+with rivals they had never yet ventured to play, that there was less
+attention to lessons than usual among the members of the nine, and their
+supporters, that morning.
+
+Fenn must have been thinking quite seriously of the pending contest
+for, when answering in the ancient history class the question: "Who was
+Cæsar's greatest rival?" he replied solemnly:
+
+"The Lakeville Prep. School!"
+
+There was a burst of laughter in which even the instructor had to join.
+
+"We'll have to practice for the next three days," said Bart at noon
+recess. "I'll have to get my new glove limbered up, and, Lem, you'll
+have to think up some new curves."
+
+"Yes, I need practice all right," responded the pitcher. "Suppose we
+have a scrub game this afternoon?"
+
+"That suits me," replied Bart.
+
+When school was over a picked nine prepared to give battle to the
+regular one in order to bring out the weak points.
+
+"Don't you think we ought to have a substitute pitcher?" asked Lem, as
+he prepared to go into the box.
+
+"You aren't afraid of breaking down, are you?" asked Bart anxiously.
+
+"No, only you never can tell what is going to happen."
+
+"Here you go, Stumpy!" called Bart as his chum was tossing the ball to
+the right-fielder in the warming-up practice.
+
+Fenn sent the leather spheroid toward the catcher with all the strength
+of his arm. Bart caught it on his heavy glove. As he did so he called in
+a low voice to Lem, and the two held a whispered conversation.
+
+"Do you think he can do it?" Lem asked.
+
+"Yes, if we spring it on him suddenly and don't give him a chance to get
+nervous. That's Stumpy's main fault. But I'm hoping there'll be no need
+for it."
+
+"Well, I'll do my best," responded Lem.
+
+The practice game was started, and several weak points developed in the
+regular high school nine. But Bart was not discouraged. There had been
+little opportunity for games, of late, and the boys were a trifle slow.
+He coached them along, suggesting improvements and offering words of
+advice to some players.
+
+"Good!" cried the captain to Frank, who made a brilliant catch in center
+field. Frank was playing on the scrub nine. "You'll be a regular if you
+keep on."
+
+Frank was not a natural baseball player. His forte was football, but
+once in a while he made brilliant plays on the nine, when he took some
+other player's place.
+
+"A couple of days more like this and we'll be fit to give 'em all they
+want, to beat us," remarked Bart as the boys gathered up the balls, bats
+and gloves preparatory to going home.
+
+"If we only could beat 'em!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"If we hold 'em to a tie I'll be satisfied," retorted Bart. "That's
+something no high school nine has ever done to 'em."
+
+For the next two afternoons there was hard practice. On one occasion
+Bart called on Stumpy to take the pitcher's box, Lem making an excuse
+that he wanted to rest his arm. Stumpy wondered at this, as Sandy Merton
+was the one who usually substituted for Lem. But this time Sandy was
+left on third, his regular position.
+
+Fenn had no idea he could pitch. He knew he could send in a straight
+ball, and he did this in practice. When Lem came back in the box on one
+occasion after Stumpy had been filling it, he asked in a low tone of
+Bart:
+
+"Will he do?"
+
+"I think so, but don't say anything."
+
+The morning of the game the Darewell nine assembled before school, on
+the campus and indulged in some fast practice. The contest was to take
+place on the Preparatory school grounds, and in answer to a general
+petition Professor McCloud agreed to dismiss all classes an hour earlier
+that day to enable the journey to be made.
+
+The nine and the substitutes went over in a big stage but the boys and
+girls who were to be spectators took trolley cars that ran close to the
+grounds.
+
+"They're a husky looking lot," observed Bart as the stage dropped its
+load close to the diamond, and he observed the other nine on the field.
+"They play fast, snappy ball, and we've got our work cut out for us."
+
+The Darewell team soon got into practice, their methods being closely
+watched by their rivals. Captain Benson, of the other club, greeted
+Bart, and the preliminaries were soon arranged.
+
+"Play ball!" called the umpire, and the game was on.
+
+The visitors had won the toss for innings, and in consequence Lem had to
+open the struggle. The first ball he pitched went wild, and the next one
+struck the batter, giving him his base.
+
+"Rotten!" whispered Lem to himself, disgustedly.
+
+"Take it easy," advised Bart, walking out to the pitcher's box. "Keep
+cool."
+
+The advice did Lem good, and he struck out the next two men. Then they
+began to find his curves and he was hit for two single baggers and one
+three. At the end of the inning the game stood three runs in favor of
+the Preparatory school.
+
+It was Bart's first turn at the bat, and he managed to get to first on
+balls. Then Ned lined out a nice two bagger, and Fenn planted one over
+in right field that enabled Bart and Ned to get in. The inning ended
+three to two in favor of the home team.
+
+For the next four innings neither side scored. It was a pitchers' battle
+and Lem was doing fine work. But, on the other hand few of the Darewell
+boys could find the curves of the Preparatory school's pitcher.
+
+The next inning the home team got in three more runs and the visitors
+two, making the score four to six, against the high school boys.
+
+"We've got to do better than this," said Bart, as his team came to the
+bat for the eighth inning which had netted the Preparatory team one run,
+making their total seven.
+
+The high school team seemed to "take a brace," for they made three runs
+by hard work.
+
+"That ties 'em!" cried Bart excitedly, as he came to the bat. "Now to
+beat 'em."
+
+As he spoke there was some sort of a commotion near the bench where the
+Darewell players were sitting. Then came a cry:
+
+"Ouch! My wrist! Let up, Sandy!"
+
+"What's the matter?" asked the captain, running over to where he saw a
+struggle.
+
+"Oh, Sandy Merton tried to play a trick on Lem," explained Ned. "He's
+always up to some foolishness."
+
+"I was only showing a new wrestling hold," said Sandy. "My foot slipped
+and I fell on him."
+
+"Are you hurt, Lem?" asked the captain.
+
+"Wrist sprained, I guess," and he extended his hand which was beginning
+to swell.
+
+"That settles your pitching," remarked Bart. "Pity you aren't left
+handed. Well, it's a good thing we provided for an emergency. Sandy, you
+ought to have better sense," and he spoke sternly.
+
+"Oh, if you're going to act that way about it I'll not play," and Sandy
+started away.
+
+"Suit yourself," said Bart calmly. "Frank, you take third in Sandy's
+place."
+
+"Who'll pitch?" asked Ned.
+
+"I'll decide when the inning's over," replied Bart, as he went back to
+the bat.
+
+Probably the little scene made Bart nervous, for he struck out, an
+unusual thing with him. That put the side out, the inning ending in the
+tie score. There was little apprehension in the ranks of the Preparatory
+team, but there were anxious hearts among the high school supporters.
+The cheering died away.
+
+"Stumpy; you pitch," called Bart.
+
+"Me! Why I can't pitch! I never pitched a regular game."
+
+"I'm captain, and you pitch," said Bart decidedly, and much amazed at
+his selection Stumpy walked into the box.
+
+The suddenness of it was just his salvation. He had no chance to get
+nervous.
+
+"Can he do it?" asked Ned, as he started for his place.
+
+"He's got a fine, natural curve," replied Bart. "I never noticed it
+until the other day. Discovered it by accident. I think he'll make
+good."
+
+And Stumpy did. He hardly knew how he did it, but he had a knack of
+throwing the ball that fooled the best batters on the other team. He
+struck out the first two men, and there arose murmurs of anxiety among
+the rivals.
+
+"Why didn't they put him in first?" asked the captain of the home team
+of some of his men, wondering why so good a pitcher had been left to the
+last.
+
+The third batter managed to plant the leather in a long flight in the
+direction of third base. But Frank was right on the alert. He made a
+splendid jump and caught it, putting the side out minus a run. There was
+a wild burst of cheering from the high school girls and boys.
+
+"Only takes one run to beat 'em!" exclaimed Bart as his team went to the
+bat for the last time. "Somebody get it!"
+
+Somebody did. It was Ned, who came first to the plate. He lined a beauty
+just over the center fielder's head, and got two bases on it. Joe Wright
+brought him in, and such a yell as went up from the high school crowd
+was seldom heard on that diamond.
+
+"That does it!" yelled Bart, capering about. "Stumpy! you're all to the
+good!"
+
+"But Ned won the game," objected Fenn.
+
+"Your pitching held them down just when they would have walked away from
+us. You're all to the good, Stumpy!"
+
+"Three cheers for Stumpy!" called some one, and they came with a vim
+that made Fenn blush.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+ALICE HAS A CHANCE
+
+
+The four chums were certainly regarded as the heroes of the school that
+day, for they had been instrumental in winning a victory that went down
+in the history of the institution as a most brilliant one.
+
+"I didn't know you had it in you, Stumpy," said Ned, as the nine reached
+the high school grounds on the return trip.
+
+"Me either," replied Fenn. "It sort of 'growed,' like Topsy in Uncle
+Tom's Cabin."
+
+"To think of beating the Preps," murmured Bart. "It's the finest thing
+that ever happened."
+
+"How's your wrist, Lem?" asked Frank.
+
+"Hurts like the mischief. Sandy came down on it with all his force."
+
+"Say, I wonder if he meant that?" asked Fenn.
+
+"Meant it? What do you mean?" asked Bart.
+
+"Well it looked queer," went on Fenn. "There we were in a tie game and
+we needed every advantage we could get to hold it. Then Sandy gets up to
+one of his tricks, and he might have known something would happen. It
+always does when he tries his funny work."
+
+"You don't mean to say you think he deliberately hurt me, do you?" asked
+Lem, winding his handkerchief around the swollen wrist.
+
+"Well, I wouldn't want to accuse any one unjustly," Stumpy continued.
+"But I heard he was going around saying things about being done out of
+his place as substitute pitcher, in practice, by me. Maybe he thought
+he'd just hurt Lem a little so's he could have a chance to finish out
+the game."
+
+"I'd hate to believe it of him," remarked the captain, "but he certainly
+did act rather strange. He went off angry, too. Well, it can't be
+helped. Guess we'd better not say anything about it unless he tries to
+do something else. Come on to the drug store, Lem, and we'll get some
+arnica for that wrist."
+
+Most of the boys dispersed at the school campus where the stage had left
+them, but the four chums, with Lem in their midst, walked up the street
+together.
+
+"I wouldn't be afraid to tackle 'em again," observed Ned. "We've got
+their measure now."
+
+"Maybe they'll ask for a return game," said Bart. "Hello," he added,
+"here comes my sister and Jennie Smith. Look out, Stumpy, or Jennie will
+be doing the Juliet act to you."
+
+"Guess not," spoke Fenn, and he started to walk away, but Ned held him.
+
+"Don't desert in the face of the enemy," he said, and Fenn had to stay.
+
+"Oh, is some one hurt?" cried Alice, as she saw the cloth around Lem's
+wrist. "How nice! I mean how fortunate I happened to meet you! Now I
+will have a chance to treat you!"
+
+"Going to treat us to ice cream sodas?" asked her brother unfeelingly.
+
+"Don't be foolish, Bart! What is it Lem; is your wrist broken?"
+
+"Only sprained, I think."
+
+"Let me look at it," demanded Alice, and, regardless of the crowd that
+gathered, when the five boys and two girls formed a group on the
+sidewalk, Alice proceeded to undo the handkerchief and other cloth Lem
+had wound about his wrist.
+
+"Wait a minute," said Alice. "I must look at my book on
+first-aid-to-the-injured to make sure what it is," and she took a little
+volume from a bag she carried on her arm. Rapidly turning the pages she
+read:
+
+"'A sprain is the result of violent twisting, stretching or partial
+tearing of the ligaments about a joint, and there is often a fracture at
+the ends of the bones.' Are you sure there isn't a fracture, Lem? I'd
+love to treat a fracture as I never had a chance at one yet."
+
+"I hope not," murmured the disabled pitcher. "It's bad enough as it is."
+
+He was rather uneasy under the pressure Alice brought to bear on his
+wrist as she turned it this way and that, in an endeavor to see if it
+was broken.
+
+"Do I hurt you?" she asked.
+
+"Well--er--that is--no!" and Lem shut his teeth tightly together.
+
+"Come right over to the drug store," spoke Alice, as she led Lem by the
+injured wrist. He tried not to show the pain she unconsciously caused
+him. "I will get some hot water and hold your hand in it for an hour and
+a half."
+
+"Half an hour's enough," Lem said. "I haven't got time for any more."
+
+"I must go by the book," Alice declared firmly. "A good nurse always
+does that."
+
+Alice walked into the drug store, leading Lem as though she had done
+that sort of thing all her life. The four chums followed.
+
+"Some hot water please, in a deep basin," requested Alice of the clerk,
+and, though the man behind the counter looked in wonder at the strange
+cavalcade, he brought out the basin full of the steaming liquid.
+
+"Put your wrist in," commanded Alice as she rolled up Lem's sleeve.
+
+He thrust his arm in, half way to the elbow.
+
+"Ouch!" he yelled. "It's hot!"
+
+"Of course it is," replied the girl coolly, "it has to be. Now while we
+are waiting the hour and a half let's talk about the game. It will help
+you to forget the pain. Maybe Bart has money for some ice cream soda."
+
+"I'll buy 'em," said Lem, trying to get his uninjured hand into his
+pocket.
+
+"You'll do nothing of the sort," decided Alice. "You're a patient.
+Whoever heard of a patient standing treat?" and she motioned to her
+brother.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE STRANGE BOATMAN
+
+
+Bart went over to the soda fountain and ordered "something for all
+hands" as he expressed it. Meanwhile Alice remained at Lem's side,
+holding his wrist down well under the hot water. Lem's face had lost
+some of its pained look. The heat was reducing the swelling and,
+consequently, the pressure.
+
+"Will you kindly get me some cotton and bandages ready?" asked Alice of
+the clerk, and he produced them at once.
+
+"When you going to graduate as a trained nurse?" asked Bart, as he came
+back, a glass of soda in each hand.
+
+"Little boys shouldn't ask the nurse questions," spoke Alice, with a
+laugh.
+
+"I say, how's Lem going to eat his?" asked Frank. "He's only got one
+hand, and it's hard work dishing up the cream with a long handled spoon
+if you don't hold the glass."
+
+"You boys will have to hold mine and Lem's," said Alice. "We can eat
+with one hand then," and so it was done. Bart held Lem's glass and Fenn
+took charge of Alice's. When they finished the boys who had acted as
+soda-bearers regaled themselves on the beverage.
+
+"Say, Alice, how long before that'll be done? It's been boiling half an
+hour now," remarked Bart.
+
+"More hot water, please," the girl requested of the clerk. "A little
+longer," she added to her brother. "Then I'm going to bandage it and we
+can go."
+
+To give her credit Alice did bandage the sprained wrist quite well. She
+opened her first-aid book on the counter in front of her and followed a
+diagram showing how to fold the cloth. The druggist complimented her on
+her skill.
+
+"This is my first big case," said Alice with a smile. She was very much
+in earnest over it, however lightly the boys treated her ambition. "I
+hope I have some more soon."
+
+"Well, I hope it isn't me," said Lem.
+
+"I'm sorry if I hurt you," said Alice, looking a little offended.
+
+"Oh, I didn't mean that!" Lem hastened to add. "It feels ever so much
+better. I meant I hope I won't get hurt again. The season is young yet
+and we've lots of games ahead of us."
+
+"Guess we'll have to take Alice along to look after the wounded," said
+Frank. "She'll be the mascot."
+
+"Somebody was mascot to-day all right," came from Bart. "We certainly
+were in luck. Stumpy, hereafter you're the regular substitute pitcher.
+Sandy Merton can consider himself released."
+
+It was dusk when the little group left the drug store to go to their
+several homes.
+
+"You must come and report to me to-morrow," said Alice as she bade Lem
+good-bye. "Be careful to keep the bandage on."
+
+"I will," he promised.
+
+His house was in the opposite direction to that which the four chums
+took. The chums walked on slowly together, Alice and Jennie hurrying
+away to do an errand for Mrs. Keene. As the boys turned a corner they
+almost collided with a man who was walking quickly in the opposite
+direction.
+
+"I beg pardon!" he muttered as he passed through the group of lads.
+They were too surprised to respond and when Bart did think to say,
+"certainly," the man was several feet away hurrying up the street. The
+boys gazed after him.
+
+"Don't you know who that is?" asked Ned suddenly.
+
+"No; friend of yours?" inquired Fenn.
+
+"I'm sure it's the man we met in the woods Saturday."
+
+"Who, the crazy man?"
+
+"No, the one at the hut--the King of Paprica--though he may be crazy for
+all I know. I recognized him as he hurried past me."
+
+"Are you sure?" asked Frank.
+
+"Positive."
+
+"He didn't have his crown on," spoke Bart.
+
+"And his clothes were not the same," put in Fenn.
+
+"That doesn't make any difference," insisted Ned. "I am sure it was the
+same man. I'll bet there's some mystery here, and it's up to us to solve
+it," he added.
+
+"I don't see why," said Frank.
+
+"Why haven't we as good a right as any one?"
+
+"I'm certain this man, if he is the one we saw at the hut, is the keeper
+of that poor lunatic we first met in the woods. Now what's the use of
+bothering them. They have troubles enough," replied Frank.
+
+"Well, I want to get a look inside that hut," went on Ned, "and I'm
+going to, some day."
+
+"Your curiosity may get you into trouble," spoke Frank, a little
+seriously.
+
+"It won't be the first time," and Ned laughed.
+
+"Well, whoever he is, he was in a great hurry," said Fenn. "Maybe the
+lunatic is sick and he's going to get some medicine for him."
+
+By this time the man was out of sight, and, after a little further talk
+the boys went on.
+
+Some one must have told Sandy Merton what Bart said about his being
+released from the team, for the next day he approached the nine's
+captain on the school campus.
+
+"I hear you said I couldn't play on the team any more," Sandy said to
+Bart.
+
+"That's what I did. Who told you?"
+
+"That's none of your affair. But I tell you I am going to play."
+
+"You refused to obey an order from the captain," said Bart. "Not that
+I'm better than any of the other players, but they elected me captain
+and I'm going to run the nine or resign. You can't play as long as I'm
+captain."
+
+"We'll see how long you'll be captain then," muttered Sandy, as he
+walked away.
+
+"Think he means anything?" asked Fenn of Bart.
+
+"I don't care whether he does or not. I'm sorry to have to act that
+way, but if the team's going to amount to anything it's got to obey
+orders. If you fellows don't want me for captain, say the word and I'll
+resign."
+
+"Resign nothing!" exclaimed Ned. "I'd like to see you do it. Eh,
+fellows?"
+
+"That's right!" came from the crowd that had heard what Sandy said.
+
+"Let's go for a row on the river after school," suggested Bart to his
+chums during the noon recess, and they agreed. The boys jointly owned a
+well-equipped boat in which they frequently made trips down to the lake.
+It was a four-oared barge, roomy and comfortable, though not speedy.
+
+"Shall we bring our fishing tackle along?" asked Ned.
+
+"You can if you like," replied Bart. "I'm not going to. I'm just going
+to take it easy."
+
+Quite a crowd of boys went to the river after school. Some took their
+swimming suits, while others went to fish or row, as a number of them
+had boats. The four chums soon got their craft out from the house, at a
+public dock, where it was kept.
+
+"Who'll row?" asked Frank.
+
+"Draw lots," suggested Bart, and the choice fell to Ned and Fenn.
+
+"Up or down?" asked Fenn.
+
+"Row up and float down," said Ned. "We don't want to be working all the
+while."
+
+They went up the stream for two or three miles, and Frank, who had
+borrowed Ned's fishing tackle, cast in. But the fish did not seem to be
+biting.
+
+"Put up a little further," suggested Frank. "We're almost to the
+Riffles. I'd like to get a bite as long as I'm at it."
+
+As the boat was sent round a turn of the river the boys caught sight of
+another craft in which a man was seated. His boat appeared to be
+anchored, and as he stood in the bow he reached down into the water with
+a long pole and seemed to be pulling something up.
+
+He did this several times, and on each occasion would carefully examine
+the end of the pole which he had stuck into the river.
+
+"That's an odd proceeding," remarked Bart, as he looked at the lone
+boatman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A PLOT AGAINST BART
+
+
+The man seemed to pay no attention to the approach of the boys' boat. He
+kept on dipping the long pole into the water, shoving it down as far as
+it would go, and then carefully examining the end of it. As the chums
+came nearer they saw he was conducting his investigations by means of a
+large magnifying glass.
+
+"Must be small fish he's after," observed Frank.
+
+"Why it's the luna--" began Fenn, as he looked at the man, whose boat
+was now opposite that of the boys.
+
+"Hush!" exclaimed Frank, and Fenn did not finish the sentence.
+
+The chums saw the man was the strange person they had met in the woods.
+At the same time the fellow looked up and seemed to recognize them.
+
+"Have you seen the King of Paprica?" he asked, as he laid down his pole
+and began to pull up the rope attached to a small anchor.
+
+"Not to-day," replied Bart. "What are you fishing for, if I may ask?"
+
+"You certainly may," was the answer. "I am probing for bullets."
+
+"For bullets?"
+
+"Yes, you see the king observed some one shooting up the river last
+night, and he directed me to probe for the bullets."
+
+"Shooting up the river?" inquired Ned.
+
+"Yes, in a boat, you know. Did you think I meant a gun? How could one
+shoot up in a gun? But don't mention to the king that you saw me. He's
+not expecting to hear from me, and it might annoy him," and the man
+allowed the boat to drift down stream again before he brought it to
+anchor. Then he began sticking the pole down into the mud and resumed
+his operation of examining the end with the magnifying glass.
+
+"Crazy as a loon," remarked Frank, in a low tone. "Row on, fellows."
+
+"I'd like to go ashore and have a look into that hut," remarked Ned.
+
+"Better not," cautioned Frank. "There!" he exclaimed, "I've got one,"
+and he pulled in a fine large fish.
+
+He had several bites after that, and, becoming interested in his
+success, Ned and Fenn rowed further up stream where the fishing was
+better. Frank caught eight fish before the boys decided to go home. They
+looked for the strange man in the boat, as they floated past where he
+had been, but he was not in sight, nor was his craft to be seen.
+
+"Something's up," remarked Ned to Bart, as they met the next Monday on
+the school campus.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Keep your eye on Sandy Merton."
+
+Indeed Sandy did seem to be unusually busy. He went about from one part
+of the grounds to another, talking first with one boy and then with
+another. Most of them were lads with whom the chums were not on very
+familiar terms.
+
+"What do you s'pose he's up to?" asked Bart.
+
+"Can't guess, unless it has something to do with baseball."
+
+"I'm going to find out," spoke Bart.
+
+He approached one of the boys with whom he had seen Sandy conversing.
+
+"What was Sandy asking you, if it's no secret?" inquired the captain of
+the nine.
+
+"Well, it is a sort of secret," replied Fred Jenkins. "You'll hear of it
+soon enough though," and he turned away.
+
+"Looks like a plot," commented Ned with an uneasy laugh.
+
+Several other boys, whom Bart asked regarding Sandy's activities,
+returned evasive answers. None of the intimate friends of the chums had
+been approached. Bart had no time to pursue his inquiries further as the
+bell rang for school to assemble.
+
+At noon, however Sandy's actions were explained. On a bulletin board,
+used to post announcements of athletic and other school events, was this
+notice:
+
+     "There will be a meeting of the Athletic Committee this
+     afternoon to take action on a certain matter."
+
+"That's some of Sandy's work," said Bart. "Well I'm ready for whatever
+happens."
+
+Several boys crowded around the board to read the notice. Sandy was not
+among them.
+
+"Who wrote it?" inquired a number.
+
+"Whoever did was afraid to sign his name," commented Bart. "It's in
+printing, so we couldn't tell whose writing it is. Well, I'll be at the
+meeting."
+
+It was an expectant group that gathered in the court which was used,
+after school, for sessions of the various clubs and teams. Sandy was on
+hand, talking earnestly to a number of the pupils. Finally he walked up
+to the big iron post where the chairman of whatever gathering was
+called, usually stood.
+
+"We're here to elect a new captain of the High School baseball nine,"
+Sandy announced.
+
+"What's that?" asked several, and the four chums looked at one another.
+
+"I'm a member of the Athletic Committee," went on Sandy. "I called this
+meeting."
+
+"It takes a majority of the committee to call a session," interrupted
+Ned.
+
+"Well, a majority did," responded Sandy. "Fred Jenkins, Peter Rand, and
+John Andrews, with myself, constitute a majority. There are only seven
+members. Now we've decided to have an election for a new captain," Sandy
+went on. "There's some objection to the present one," and he looked at
+Bart.
+
+"Who from?" called Fenn.
+
+"Plenty; ain't there fellows?" asked Sandy, turning to a group of his
+friends.
+
+"Yes," came the rather feeble answers.
+
+"I move that Lem Gordon be made captain," called Fred Jenkins, evidently
+in furtherance of the plot Sandy had laid to oust Bart.
+
+"Second it," came from Peter Rand.
+
+"Look here!" exclaimed Bart, and his friends noticed he was pale. "Why
+didn't you come to me like a man, Sandy Merton, and tell me there was
+opposition? I'd have resigned in a minute. But this is a sneaky way of
+doing things and I'll fight it, do you understand? I'll resign if the
+majority says I ought to but not before. Now go ahead and hold your
+election!"
+
+"Hurrah for Bart!" called some one and there was a loud shout.
+
+"Order!" vainly called Sandy.
+
+"We don't want an election!" sang out another boy. "Bart is the best
+captain we ever had! Didn't we lick the Preps?"
+
+"That's right!" yelled a number. "Bart for captain!"
+
+"Let them have the election!" cried Bart. "I'm not afraid. I know what
+it's all about. It's because I didn't let Sandy pitch that game. And
+what's more," he added, "I believe he deliberately put Lem out of
+business so he might have a chance!"
+
+"That's a falsehood!" cried Sandy, making a spring toward Bart.
+
+"Ask Lem," was Bart's reply. "If you want to fight, Sandy Merton, come
+on!"
+
+"Don't talk that way," counseled Ned. "Let's see if we can't settle this
+thing peaceably."
+
+"Go on with the election!" called Bart, who was getting excited. "I'm
+not afraid! I'll resign if you want me to!"
+
+"We don't want you to!" cried a score of voices.
+
+"All those in favor of Lem Gordon for captain say 'aye,'" called Sandy.
+
+"I won't take it!" shouted Lem. "Bart's the captain for me."
+
+"That's right!" yelled a dozen voices.
+
+"All those who want Bart to continue captain say so!" cried Ned.
+
+"Yes!" and the shout made the windows rattle.
+
+"That settles it. Election's over," declared Ned.
+
+"I say it isn't!" yelled Sandy. "The rules provide for ballots."
+
+"This is good enough for us," came from a number of boys, as they
+crowded around Bart to shake hands. "Bart's the captain!"
+
+"That was a mean, sneaking plot!" declared Ned. "Sandy thought he could
+work up enough sentiment against Bart to get a candidate of his own in
+and get back on the team. But he failed."
+
+"You bet he did!" exclaimed Fenn. "Come on, fellows. It's all over."
+
+Most of the boys began leaving the court. Sandy, the picture of
+disappointed rage, stood in a group of his friends.
+
+"Thanks to all who voted for me," called Bart, as he made his way out
+past where Sandy stood.
+
+"I'll get even with you!" growled Sandy. "You think you're the Czar of
+the school!"
+
+"If you--" began Bart hotly, but Ned spoke:
+
+"Don't pay any attention to him. You'll only get into trouble. It's all
+over. It was only a trick of Sandy's. He hasn't ten friends in the whole
+school."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A COW IN SCHOOL
+
+
+The boys thronged from the court and out on the campus. There was a buzz
+of talk about what had taken place and Sandy came in for a severe
+"raking over the coals."
+
+"What did you mean by saying he hurt Lem on purpose?" asked Newton
+Bantry, a member of the nine.
+
+"You ask Sandy and maybe he'll tell you," replied Bart. "I'm sorry I
+said it, and I won't refer to it again. I may have been mistaken."
+
+"I guess Sandy won't give us much chance to ask him anything," said
+Newton.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he's going to leave school. I just heard him telling some of
+his cronies, those who were in the game with him. He says it's almost
+the end of the term, and he's going to work."
+
+"Well it's small loss," put in Ned. "Though he's a good ball player when
+he wants to take the pains. The trouble is he's too fond of playing
+tricks."
+
+There was no further dissension in the nine, and under Bart's leadership
+it won several more games. The "Preps." challenged the boys again, but,
+though the high school boys did their best, they could not win. They
+were beaten by one run, but that was regarded as a great achievement
+against the redoubtable nine of older lads, and almost equivalent to a
+victory.
+
+The weeks passed, and the end of the school term came nearer.
+Examinations were the order of the day, and the chums had little time to
+go off on trips along the river save on Saturdays. They made several
+excursions into the woods, and kept a lookout for the two queer men, but
+did not see them.
+
+One day Ned went off alone in a search for the hut with the strange
+inscription. But he could not find it. Either he could not locate the
+place where he had seen it or the cabin had been moved.
+
+"I'd like to get at the bottom of this," he murmured, as he tramped back
+home. "There's a method in the madness of those men, I'm sure."
+
+But, if there was, Ned little dreamed what it portended.
+
+"To-morrow's the last day of school this term," remarked Fenn, one
+afternoon as he and his chums strolled home. "My, but I'm glad of it!
+Those exams., especially the algebra, nearly floored me. Lucky there's
+no more."
+
+"Never mind," said Bart. "Forget it. We'll have a lot of sport
+to-morrow. We can cut up a bit and the teachers won't mind."
+
+"That's so," spoke Ned. "I've got to do something. I can feel it in my
+bones! Whoop! It must be something worthy of the Darewell Chums!" He
+began to do an impromptu war dance.
+
+"Don't get us into trouble," came from Frank.
+
+"Trouble? Did I ever get you into trouble?"
+
+"Oh, no," replied Bart sarcastically. "There wasn't any trouble when you
+put the live frogs in Miss Mapes's desk and scared her and all the other
+women teachers nearly into fits. There wasn't any trouble when you let a
+lot of mice loose in the girls' department. There wasn't any trouble
+when you brought Jimmy Dodger's pet coon in and yelled that it was a
+skunk. We didn't get blamed for it all, did we? Oh, no, I guess not.
+Say, Ned, if you're going to cut up, send in an advance notice that it's
+your own doings and none of ours."
+
+"All right," responded Ned. "If I get up the scheme myself I'll take all
+the credit."
+
+"You're welcome to it," spoke Frank. "The credit--and what comes after."
+
+"Are you going to do anything?" asked Bart.
+
+"Witness is not prepared to answer," was Ned's reply. "I may and I may
+not."
+
+If Ned's chums could have seen him an hour later, talking to a farmer
+who lived about a mile outside of the town, they would have had grave
+suspicions regarding what he proposed to do to make the last day of
+school memorable.
+
+The morning session of the last day passed off quietly enough. There was
+not much done in the way of lessons. Some students arranged with their
+teachers to do some studying during vacation to make up "conditions,"
+and others were consulting with the instructors about the work for next
+term.
+
+Professor McCloud announced that the closing exercises would be held in
+the afternoon, the boys and girls assembling in the large auditorium on
+the second floor.
+
+"I don't see that you're going to make good about that trick of yours,"
+observed Fenn to Ned at the noon recess.
+
+"Who said I was going to play any trick?"
+
+"Why I thought--"
+
+"The day isn't over yet," said Ned, with a wink.
+
+At one o'clock the boys and girls gathered in the large hall. Ned's
+chums noticed he was not on hand, and they looked wonderingly at each
+other. There was no telling when or where Ned would break out.
+
+A program of vocal and instrumental music was rendered and then came
+several recitations. It was while Jennie Smith was in the midst of a
+dramatic rendering of a poem telling of a maiden waiting and listening
+for the approach of her lover. She reached the lines:
+
+    "I feel his presence near me in the mystic midnight air
+    I hear his footsteps coming, coming up the castle stair--"
+
+At that moment there were, unmistakably, footsteps on the stair, only
+they were the stairs leading up from the court and not into a castle.
+Heavy footsteps they were, not at all lover-like. Up and up they came,
+sounding like several men with heavy boots on. Jennie paused, as she
+stood on the platform, and listened. The steps came nearer.
+
+An instant later the door, which was not closed tightly, was pushed
+open, and into the big auditorium, in front of the pupils ambled a
+gentle-eyed cow, that, giving one astonished look around, uttered a loud
+"Moo!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+HONORING THE SENIORS
+
+
+"Oh!" screamed Jennie, as she made a rush from the platform and fell in
+a faint just as Alice Keene caught her.
+
+"Oh!" cried several women teachers.
+
+Professor McCloud and a number of the men instructors dashed for the
+animal, but it lowered its horns and shook its head in a way that made
+them hesitate.
+
+"Take it away!"
+
+"Let me hide!"
+
+"Save me!"
+
+Various girls were thus crying in different parts of the room.
+
+"Come on, boys! Let's get her out!" cried Bart as he advanced toward the
+cow. As he did so Mr. Kenton, the language teacher, came down from the
+platform and advanced upon the animal. He was very near sighted and a
+trifle deaf.
+
+"What has happened?" he asked of Mr. Long. "Is it some visitor whom the
+pupils are cheering? I would like to meet him. He seems to be a great
+favorite."
+
+"It's a cow," Mr. Long said, beginning to laugh as he appreciated the
+joke. But Mr. Kenton had passed on unheeding and was right in front of
+the animal. He imagined the exercises had been interrupted by the
+entrance of some instructor from a neighboring institution, as they
+frequently attended on the closing day of the high school. Then Mr.
+Kenton, peering through his glasses saw what the intruder was.
+
+"Why, it's a cow!" he exclaimed in such an accent of strange surprise
+that the boys, girls and teachers burst into a roar of laughter. This
+effectually disposed of the fright, and the girls calmed down.
+
+In the meanwhile several boys had surrounded the cow that had advanced
+into the room. Professor McCloud had hurried into his office for a long
+ruler. Several of the men teachers were looking for ropes, while others
+were calling down speaking tubes in frantic tones for the janitor.
+
+Most of the women teachers had fled to a small room to the right of the
+platform, and a number of girls had hidden under the seats. Many of
+them, however, remained standing up to see what would happen.
+
+"Come on, boys," repeated Bart. "We'll lead her out."
+
+At that moment a farmer appeared in the doorway behind the cow. He held
+a rope in one hand and a whip in the other. He seemed much surprised at
+the commotion on every side.
+
+"I was waiting down in the yard for my cow," he said, in a loud voice,
+"and when I heard this here racket I thought maybe the critter had
+broken loose. Has she caused you any trouble? Hadn't ought to as she's a
+very gentle, mild critter. Did the experiment succeed?"
+
+"Experiment? What experiment?" inquired Professor McCloud indignantly.
+"Did you bring this cow here, sir?"
+
+"Well I did, but I didn't lead her upstairs. She followed a line of salt
+some one had sprinkled. She's terrible fond of salt. All critters is."
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded the principal.
+
+"Why I was visited by one of your teachers yesterday--at least he said
+he was a teacher--and he paid me five dollars for the hire of my cow
+for this afternoon. Said the faculty of the high school was going to
+experiment on her. Make her moo into one of them phonograph machines
+and then see if cows had a language of their own. Said it was for the
+benefit of the human race. So I agreed to bring the critter here. I
+left her with the teacher who met me downstairs, and then I went off to
+git a drink of cider. When I come back the cow was gone and I heard a
+terrible racket. Then I see some one had sprinkled a line of salt from
+that court, where I left the critter, right up the stairs. Course I
+knowed then what had happened. Is the experiment over?"
+
+"What teacher came to you?" asked the principal, trying not to smile.
+
+"Why he gave me his card," and the farmer fumbled in his pocket. "Here
+it is. Mr. Bo Vine. Don't he teach here?"
+
+"I'm afraid there has been a mistake," said Mr. McCloud. "We did not
+arrange for any experiment on a cow. I am sorry you had this trouble for
+nothing."
+
+"Oh, I got paid for it," replied the farmer. "Maybe I made a mistake in
+the school."
+
+"Perhaps," said the principal. "Can you induce your bovine quadruped to
+accompany you?"
+
+"My what?" asked the farmer, looking about him in a
+puzzled manner.
+
+"Your cow," translated the principal.
+
+"Oh, you mean this critter. Sure, yes, she'll follow me. Come on, Bess,"
+and he held out a handful of salt, which the cow began to lick up
+greedily. Then the farmer retreated down the stairs, the animal slowly
+following.
+
+"Sorry you couldn't do that experiment," Mr. Craft called out as he
+gave the cow more salt. "I'd liked to have heard that there phonograph
+machine. You see my critter's real tame. She often comes up to the back
+door, and once, when she was a calf she came into the kitchen. So I
+said, when that there young feller, Mr. Bo Vine, asked if the cow could
+walk up a short flight of stairs, that she could. And she done it too,"
+he added proudly. "Well I'll bid you good day," and the farmer, who by
+this time had gotten the animal into the lower court placed a rope
+about the horns and led her away.
+
+"So that's Ned's trick," said Bart softly to his chums. "Wouldn't wonder
+but what he'd be expelled for it."
+
+"If he gets found out," put in Frank.
+
+It was some time before the school quieted down. Jennie, under the
+ministrations of Alice, recovered from her fainting fit, and the
+prospective nurse began looking around for others whom she might
+practice on. But there were no more. The women teachers, and those
+girls who had hidden under desks returned to their seats.
+
+"Young ladies and gentlemen," began Professor McCloud, "this has been an
+unexpected--"
+
+Then he happened to think of Mr. Kenton's mistake, and he had to turn
+aside to cover a laugh.
+
+"I think, under the circumstances, we will omit the rest of the
+program," he added. "I will say nothing further about--about the cow. I
+think I understand how it happened, and, in view of the fact that it is
+the close of the term, we will overlook what otherwise we could not. The
+seniors will now come forward and receive their diplomas and the
+exercises will be at an end."
+
+The senior class advanced to the platform and stood in a semi-circle
+about it. Ned's chums noticed that he had quietly entered the assembly
+hall by a rear door and taken his seat.
+
+"You're a lucky dog," whispered Bart.
+
+"Why?" asked Ned, in seeming surprise.
+
+"Oh, just as if you didn't know! I always believed you were very fond of
+milk."
+
+"Milk?"
+
+"Yes, and cows."
+
+"Cows? Was there a cow here?" and Ned acted as though that was the first
+he had heard of it. "I was in the laboratory getting some chemicals for
+home experiments during vacation," he added with a perfect look of
+innocence on his face.
+
+"Yes, you were," and Bart smiled. "But never mind,--it was a peach of a
+joke. We'll soon be out now."
+
+"Let's serenade the seniors," suggested Ned.
+
+"How?" asked Frank, coming over to where the two chums were. Discipline
+had ended for the day, as the last of the diplomas had been presented
+without formality.
+
+"Follow me. We've got to honor 'em somehow. It's the last we'll see of
+'em."
+
+As the seniors, bearing their precious diplomas, filed out, which was a
+signal for the rest of the pupils to follow, the four chums, led by Ned,
+went down a rear stairway. Ned took them into the now deserted lunch
+room and produced several comical false faces, some paper hats of odd
+design and a number of tin fifes.
+
+"Get some of the other fellows," Ned said to Stumpy. "We must have
+enough for a band."
+
+About ten other lads came, in answer to Fenn's quick summons, and were
+soon arrayed in the masks and caps, while their coats, turned wrong side
+out, added to their fantastic appearances.
+
+"All ready!" called Ned, and then, every one playing a different tune on
+his fife, they marched out on the campus.
+
+The seniors, in accordance with an old custom, had gathered in a circle
+about an ancient elm tree and were singing. The song was "Farewell to
+Thee, Dear Alma Mater," and they were in the midst of the touching
+lines:
+
+    "We shall be here never more;
+    Some go to a foreign shore,"
+
+"Toot! Toot!" sounded shrilly on the fifes and then the band of
+masqueraders, followed by scores of other boys and girls, began
+circling the seniors.
+
+The farewell song was drowned in a burst of weird noises, tootings,
+yells and shouts.
+
+"Farewell to the seniors!" called Ned.
+
+"Farewell!" echoed the crowd.
+
+"Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry
+bush!" sang Bart. "All join hands!"
+
+Then began a mad, merry dance. The seniors looked on helplessly. Some of
+them were laughing, and some of the girls were crying just a little bit,
+at the thought of leaving all their happy comrades.
+
+"Farewell, farewell, farewell!" the other pupils sang, as they ran
+around in a circle, hands joined to hands.
+
+"Now give 'em 'How Can I Bear to Leave Thee,'" suggested Ned, and the
+pupils quieted down and sang the song with feeling.
+
+Then the circle broke up, and the seniors, waving their diplomas, and
+trying to say good-bye to scores at once, broke away from the old oak
+tree and started home--high school pupils no longer. But there were
+plenty left.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+FRANK'S QUEER LETTER
+
+
+"What are we going to do this vacation?" asked Ned of his three chums,
+as they assembled the next Monday morning at the boat dock where they
+had agreed to meet.
+
+"We had such a strenuous time Friday I haven't been able to think of
+anything since," said Frank. "Say that was the best last day yet, thanks
+to you, Ned."
+
+"That cow was the limit," spoke Bart. "How did you happen to think of
+it?"
+
+"Oh, it sort of came to me."
+
+"And the cow 'sort of' came up stairs," cried Fenn. "Say, it was as good
+as a circus."
+
+"How did you do it?" asked Bart.
+
+"It was easy enough once I got the farmer to consent. I met him down in
+the yard and laid the salt trail after he left. The cow did the rest."
+
+"Let's go for a swim," proposed Bart. "It's getting hot, and the water
+ought to be fine. Come on up to the old hole."
+
+The idea pleased the others. They got their suits from the dock house
+where they kept them, and soon were in their boat rowing for the
+swimming hole, just below the Riffles.
+
+"Wonder if we'll see the King of Paprica?" said Bart.
+
+"They needn't worry; we'll not bother 'em."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Frank quickly.
+
+"Well I passed the place where the hut was the other day, and it was
+gone."
+
+"They may have moved it to another place because they didn't want us to
+know where it was," suggested Fenn.
+
+"They needn't worry, we'll not bother 'em," said Bart. "It's too hot to
+tramp through the woods to-day."
+
+The boys rowed leisurely up the stream, keeping close in shore, where
+there was plenty of shade. At one place they could send the craft along
+under an arch of overhanging bushes which made a sort of bower.
+
+They had scarcely entered this spot, which was about half a mile below
+the swimming hole, when there sounded a cracking in the woods that told
+them some one was walking along the shore.
+
+"Wait a bit," suggested Ned. "Let's see if it's any of the fellows."
+
+Bart and Fenn, who were rowing, rested on their oars, and all four boys
+listened. The noise came nearer. Suddenly there peered forth from the
+bushes a man who had every appearance of being a tramp.
+
+His face had not felt a razor for several weeks. His coat was in
+tatters, and his trousers, into which was tucked a ragged blue shirt,
+were all frayed about the bottoms, and flapped like those on a
+scarecrow. His hat was a battered derby and on one foot he wore a boot,
+while the other was encased in a heavy shoe. He looked at the boys for
+several seconds.
+
+"Hello," he said at length, in a pleasant voice that contrasted
+strangely with his disreputable appearance. "Are you boys acquainted
+around here?"
+
+"Pretty well," replied Fenn.
+
+"Well, you haven't seen a short stout man, with a black moustache and
+black hair, anywhere around here, have you?"
+
+"Did he have a gilt crown on?" asked Ned quickly.
+
+"A gilt crown? No. Why should he wear a gilt crown?" and the tramp
+affected surprise.
+
+"Oh, nothing, I was just wondering, that's all," and Ned winked at the
+other boys.
+
+"I guess you can't tell me what I want to know," the tramp resumed. "I'm
+much obliged though. About how far is it to the lake?"
+
+"Twelve miles from here," replied Bart.
+
+"Well, I guess I can make it by night," the man said, and then he drew
+back into the bushes and the boys could hear him tramping through the
+woods.
+
+"What made you ask him about the gilt crown?" inquired Frank.
+
+"Because he partly described the man we saw at the hut that day,"
+replied Ned, "and I thought I might as well complete it. I guess he's
+here to add to the mystery. It's getting deeper. We must certainly solve
+it; or try to, at any rate."
+
+"You'd make a mystery out of a fish jumping for a fly," said Frank. "Let
+up on it."
+
+"Whew! But it's hot!" exclaimed Bart, as the boat was sent on, coming
+from the shady nook into the glare of the sun. "I'm going to stay in all
+morning."
+
+They were soon at the swimming hole, and lost little time in getting
+into the water. Its coolness was a welcome relief from the heat and they
+splashed about in great glee.
+
+The boys were making such a noise, laughing and yelling that they did
+not hear the hail of a youth who came down to the edge of the bank, a
+little later, and shouted at them. Finally, however, he managed to make
+his presence known by a shrill whistle in imitation of a whip-poor-will.
+
+"Why it's John Newton!" exclaimed Fenn, recognizing the boy who had been
+expelled from school.
+
+"I've got a letter for you, Frank," said John.
+
+"A letter for me?"
+
+"Yes. Special delivery."
+
+"Where'd you get it?"
+
+"From the post-office of course. I'm working there now as messenger.
+Heard you boys were here and as I had to come in this direction I
+brought it along."
+
+"Thought you were going to get a job in a theater," remarked Bart.
+
+"I am, some day, but I've got to go to New York for a good opening.
+There's none around here for a real artist," and John began to warble
+like a bob-o-link.
+
+"Wonder who that letter's from?" asked Frank.
+
+"Better wade ashore and find out," suggested Ned, and Frank did so.
+
+His chums watched him take the letter from John and sign the book and
+then they too, began making their way toward shore. Frank dried his
+hands on his shirt, which was on top of his pile of clothes on the bank,
+and opened the envelope.
+
+The letter must have been a short one, for he was only a few seconds in
+reading it. As he did so his chums could see a change come over his
+face.
+
+"Bad news?" asked Bart sympathetically.
+
+"No--yes--that is--I can't tell you," said Frank, speaking quickly.
+"I've got to hurry back home," he added. "I'll go on if you don't mind,
+and not wait for you," and he began to dress quickly.
+
+"Aren't you going back in the boat?" asked Ned.
+
+"No, I think I'll walk through the woods. I'll take the short cut."
+
+"Anything we can do?" asked Bart.
+
+"No--I wish I could tell you--but I can't," Frank replied. "I must send
+an answer at once."
+
+He thrust the letter into his trousers pocket and went on dressing
+himself. He completed his toilet in a hurry and walked off through the
+woods, taking the path the post-office messenger had used. The latter
+had departed as soon as he delivered the missive.
+
+"Well, that's a strange sort of letter Frank got," commented Bart as he
+climbed out on the bank. "Hello!" he added. "He's forgotten the
+envelope," and he picked it up from the ground where Frank had dropped
+it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+SANDY ON GUARD
+
+
+"Hurry after him," suggested Ned.
+
+"He's too far by this time," spoke Bart. "Besides I don't fancy going
+through the woods in my bare feet. I guess it will keep."
+
+"Where's it from?" asked Fenn. There seemed to be nothing wrong in
+looking at the postmark. Besides the chums seldom had secrets from each
+other.
+
+"New York," said Bart, turning the envelope over. "It is from a law
+firm," he added as he looked at the name in the upper left hand corner.
+"Wright & Johnson, 11 Pine street."
+
+"I've got some relatives in New York," remarked Ned. "I am going to see
+'em some day."
+
+"Well, I don't see how that will throw any light on Frank's queer
+actions," remarked Fenn. "Wonder what the trouble is?"
+
+"If he doesn't want to tell us I don't see what right we've got to ask,"
+came from Ned. "Better not say anything more to him about it."
+
+"We'll give him back the envelope," suggested Bart, "and that will give
+him an opening if he wants to tell us anything. If he doesn't--why I
+guess it's his secret."
+
+That was decided to be the best move, and the boys dressed and got into
+the boat. They rowed leisurely back to the dock, speculating, at
+intervals, over Frank's curious behavior.
+
+"Maybe he'll go to New York," suggested Ned.
+
+"He's not likely to go without telling us," came from Bart. "If he does
+he'll see us before he goes."
+
+The lads remained at the dock some little time, cleaning their boat and
+mending a broken oar. As they were walking up the street toward the main
+part of town Ned exclaimed:
+
+"There goes Frank now!"
+
+The others looked and saw their chum just ahead of them, hurrying along.
+
+"Where's he going?" asked Bart.
+
+A moment later they saw Frank enter the law office of Judge Benton.
+
+"He seems to have quite some legal business," observed Fenn. "Maybe some
+one has left him a lot of money."
+
+"Wish some one would leave me a bit," observed Ned with a laugh.
+
+Further consideration of Frank's doings was interrupted for a moment as
+the chums met Lem Gordon.
+
+"Hello Lem, where you going?" asked Ned.
+
+"Got to go to the hardware store for some nails. Lot of jobs to do
+around the house and dad says I might as well keep busy during vacation.
+I planned to go fishing, too, but I guess I can do that this afternoon.
+Say, did you hear about Sandy?"
+
+"No, what's he done now."
+
+"Gone off camping in the woods, somewhere up along the river."
+
+"Any one with him?" asked Bart.
+
+"No, all alone. Hired a tent that Sid Edwards used last year and went
+off by himself."
+
+"I thought he was afraid to stay out alone nights," observed Stumpy.
+
+"There's something strange about it," went on Lem. "Tom Jasper, who
+lives next door, told me he saw a strange man talking to Sandy in the
+back yard one day. The next day Sandy arranged to go camping."
+
+"What sort of a looking man was he?" asked Bart.
+
+"All I remember is that he had a very black moustache."
+
+The three chums looked at one another. The same thought was in the mind
+of each, that the man might be the one who had called himself King of
+Paprica.
+
+"I'd like to go camping myself." Lem went on. "What you fellows going to
+do this vacation?"
+
+"Haven't made up our minds yet," replied Ned. "We'll have some fun,
+though."
+
+"Where's Frank?" inquired Lem. "Seems funny not to see the four of you
+together."
+
+"He'll be along pretty soon," said Bart. "We were up to the swimming
+hole, and he had some business to attend to, so he came back ahead of
+us."
+
+"Well I'm going after those nails," the pitcher went on. "The fence will
+fall down before I get back if I don't hurry. It's been threatening to
+topple for a week," and he went on, whistling a merry tune.
+
+"That's funny about Sandy," remarked Ned, when Lem was out of earshot.
+
+"And about that black-moustached man," went on Bart. "We'll have to look
+into this. Hello, here comes Frank."
+
+Their chum emerged from Judge Benton's place with a letter in his hand
+and hurried to the post-office, nearly across the street from the
+lawyer's office. He remained inside only a few seconds, and evidently
+posted the missive for, when he came out, his hands were empty. Then he
+saw his chums and hurried over toward them.
+
+"Sorry I had to run away," Frank said, with a little bit of awkwardness
+in his air, "but I had to attend to some business in a hurry."
+
+"There's the envelope you dropped," said Bart. "We found it when we came
+out to dress."
+
+"Thanks," replied Frank, and, without looking at it he put it into his
+pocket. "Say," he went on, "what do you say to taking a walk after some
+wild flowers this afternoon?"
+
+"Wild flowers; what for?" inquired Ned.
+
+"Well, not for ourselves, of course," Frank went on. "I happened to meet
+Miss Mapes, the teacher you know, and she asked me if I knew where there
+were any. There's going to be an entertainment in her church and they
+want some to decorate with. I told her I thought I could get her plenty.
+Do you want to go?"
+
+"Sure," replied Bart, and the others nodded assent. Miss Mapes was a
+favorite with all the pupils.
+
+"We'll meet at the dock, right after dinner," proposed Frank, "row up
+the river a way and then strike in through the woods. Right at the foot
+of Bender's Hill ought to be a good place. The woods are thick and shady
+there."
+
+The others agreed to this and separated, to gather again about one
+o'clock.
+
+"Stumpy, you and Bart row," suggested Ned. "You need the exercise to
+keep you from getting fat, and Bart wants to keep in training for
+football next term."
+
+"Well, I like your nerve, Ned Wilding!" exclaimed Fenn.
+
+"Same here!" came from Bart.
+
+"I thought you would," observed Ned coolly, as he went to the stern,
+prepared to steer.
+
+"He and I will row back," suggested Frank.
+
+"That's right,--take the easiest part--come down with the current,"
+growled Stumpy, but he took his place at the oars. Perhaps he thought he
+was getting too stout.
+
+Bart grumbled some, but in a good-natured way, and ended by taking his
+place just ahead of Fenn, while Frank went to the bow, and soon they
+were underway.
+
+They tied their boat in a secluded place about a mile above the Riffles
+and then struck off through the woods. It was two miles to Bender's
+Hill, a small mountain named after the man on whose property it was
+located, and it was the highest point in the vicinity. All about it, as
+well as on the sides and top of the hill, were dense woods, not often
+visited.
+
+After some hard tramping through underbrush and over fallen trees, which
+the boys did not seem to mind (though they would have growled if they
+had been obliged to do it) they came to a little clearing. They were
+about to cross it when there came a sudden hail:
+
+"You fellows can't come here!"
+
+"I'd like to know why?" inquired Bart without seeing who had spoken.
+
+"Because I'm here on guard to see that no one passes," and at that the
+boys glanced up, to see Sandy Merton, with a little target rifle in his
+hands, standing on the other edge of the clearing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+PECULIAR OPERATIONS
+
+
+For a few seconds the boys were too surprised to make any answer. They
+saw that Sandy was standing in front of a tent, partly hidden by the
+woods.
+
+"What are you talking about?" demanded Bart. "Are you playing soldier,
+Sandy?"
+
+"You'll see what I'm playing fast enough," spoke the former member of
+the baseball nine. "I tell you not to come across here."
+
+"Why not?" asked Fenn.
+
+"Because I say so."
+
+"That's no reason."
+
+"I'll make it one. Don't you fellows get fresh with me. You think
+because you can run the high school, and the nine, you can boss me but
+I'll show you that you can't."
+
+"No one wants to boss you," spoke Ned. "You're making a big fool of
+yourself, Sandy."
+
+"I am, eh? Well, that's my affair. I tell you to keep away from here."
+
+"But why?" insisted Bart. "This--well, of course it isn't public
+property, though no one has ever been stopped from coming here after
+flowers."
+
+"Some one's going to be stopped now," and Sandy grinned as he looked at
+his rifle, and then back at his tent.
+
+"We've got as much right here as you have," went on Ned.
+
+"No, you haven't."
+
+"I say we have. Mr. Bender's no relation of yours."
+
+"I didn't say he was."
+
+"But you act so," said Bart, "standing guard on his property."
+
+"I may be standing guard, but I'm not working for Mr. Bender," Sandy
+answered. "I tell you that you can't go past, and you'd better not try
+it. I've got a right for what I say, and you'll find out if you try to
+cross."
+
+"Do you mean to say you'd shoot us?" asked Frank suddenly.
+
+"Well--er--I--You haven't any right here and I order you off!" exclaimed
+Sandy, getting rather tangled up.
+
+"You can't order me off!" exclaimed Frank. "I'm going to cross this
+clearing. If you point that gun at me, Sandy Merton, I'll lick you so
+hard you can't stand up for a week," and he started forward.
+
+"Don't get rash," counseled Bart in a low voice. "No use looking for
+trouble. We'll let the mean little cub alone. I guess there are flowers
+somewhere else."
+
+"But he hasn't any right to make us keep off," complained Frank. "I
+s'pose he's got permission from Bender to camp here and he thinks he
+owns the place. I'll show him he doesn't. I'll whip him!"
+
+Frank again started forward, but Ned took hold of his arm.
+
+"Don't do it," he urged. "Sandy might not mean to, but the gun might go
+off by accident, and it isn't worth the trouble. I guess we--"
+
+Ned's remarks were interrupted by the sight of a man, who suddenly
+appeared from the bushes back of Sandy and stood beside the boy. His
+first move was to grab the gun away from the youth and then he called
+out:
+
+"I'm sorry to have to ask you young gentlemen to withdraw, but this is
+private property and you are trespassing. Will you kindly go?"
+
+"There never was any rule against going through here before," said Bart
+in respectful tones.
+
+"That may be," the man answered, "but it is different now. I am acting
+for Mr. Bender."
+
+"Of course we haven't any right here," observed Frank, "and we'll go if
+you say we must. But it made us mad to have that little sneak Sandy
+order us off."
+
+"I'm not a sneak, and I'll punch your face for saying so!" cried Sandy.
+
+"Come on over, you'll have all the chance you want," fired back Frank.
+
+"That will do," said the man coolly. "Perhaps Sandy was a little hasty,
+but what he said was true. He has been hired to watch this property, but
+I don't believe he needs a gun. I did not tell him to use one."
+
+"I had to protect myself," whined Sandy.
+
+"Ho! Don't worry! You're too mean for us to bother with!" exclaimed Ned.
+"We'll go," he added.
+
+"I wish you would," the man replied, civilly enough. "I have no
+objection to your walking all around within a mile of here, but within
+that space the land is prescribed," and he smiled in no unfriendly
+fashion. "I will bid you good day. Sandy, I guess you can come with me;
+they will go," and the man moved back into the woods whence he had
+come, carrying Sandy's rifle, and followed by that youth, who paused to
+shake his fist at the chums.
+
+"Well, did you ever hear the beat of that?" asked Ned, as he and the
+others turned around and walked back. "So this is where Sandy is
+camping. I wonder what it all means?"
+
+"It means there is something queer going on, and I'm going to see what
+it is," declared Bart. "Come on, I'll show them a trick."
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Ned.
+
+"We'll go up on top of the hill. I know a place where we can look right
+down into this clearing and all around it. It's from a tall tree I
+climbed once when I was after bird's eggs."
+
+"But we can't see so far," objected Frank.
+
+"I've got something that we can take a peep with," replied Bart, and he
+pulled out a small telescope. "I saw that advertised in a magazine and I
+sent for it," he explained. "It came this noon when I was home to
+dinner, and I forgot to show it to you. You can see five miles off quite
+plainly through it."
+
+"That's all to the good!" exclaimed Stumpy.
+
+"What beats me," put in Frank, "is how that man came to hire Sandy, and
+why they're so afraid of being seen, or of having any one on that
+particular land?"
+
+"Maybe we'll find out pretty soon," spoke Bart.
+
+"I thought Lem said it was a man with a black moustache who was talking
+to Sandy that day," said Frank. "This fellow has a light beard."
+
+"Might be another man, or this one might be disguised," spoke Fenn.
+
+"It's getting just like a story in a book," remarked Ned. "All it needs
+is the King of Paprica now to complete it."
+
+"Perhaps they're all in this game," suggested Bart.
+
+"The plot thickens, as they say on the stage," remarked Frank. "Come on,
+we'll have to make better time than this. Wonder if Miss Mapes will get
+her wild flowers?"
+
+"There are plenty on top of the hill," observed Fenn. "It's a hard
+climb, that's all."
+
+"There's some sort of a path around here," Bart said. "It leads to the
+top, and was used by some lumbermen. I used to take it. Seems to
+me--yes, here it is," he added as he burst through a particularly thick
+patch of brush, and came out on a rude wagon trail. "Now it will be
+easier going."
+
+It took about an hour to reach the top of the hill, and they were so
+tired they sat down for a moment to rest. They could get a good view of
+the surrounding country from their vantage point, and, for a while,
+tried the telescope in various directions. As Bart had said, it was a
+good instrument and showed things very clearly.
+
+"Now for a look at our friend Sandy's camp," observed Bart as he went to
+the tree from which he had said he could look down into the clearing. It
+was his privilege to take the first peep, and when he had climbed half
+way up and adjusted the glass he focussed it on the place from which the
+boys had recently been ordered away.
+
+For a few seconds Bart remained motionless, gazing at something below
+him. His companions waited anxiously for some report.
+
+"See anything?" asked Frank.
+
+"No, don't appear to be anyone--hold on though! Yes, there is. I see
+three men."
+
+"What are they doing?"
+
+"They seem to be walking about."
+
+"Is that all?"
+
+"Yes, that's all--No, by Jimminy! It can't be possible! They're playing
+leap-frog!"
+
+"Playing leap-frog!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Yes! Jumping about like boys! Here, you come up and take a look,
+Frank! You've got the best eyesight of any of us."
+
+Bart descended and Frank took his place. He gazed through the telescope
+for several seconds.
+
+"The men are certainly jumping about," he said, "but they're not playing
+leap-frog."
+
+"What are they doing?" asked Bart.
+
+"They're hurrying from one place to another, looking at something
+through big magnifying glasses, just like that man in the boat. That's
+who they are. I can see the King of Paprica!"
+
+"Let me have a look!" cried Ned.
+
+"Is Sandy there?" asked Bart.
+
+"I don't see him. Yes, there he is. He's helping them, from the look of
+things!"
+
+In turn Ned and Fenn were allowed to gaze through the telescope. They
+confirmed what Frank had said, that the men were certainly at some
+peculiar operations.
+
+"There are some more tents back of Sandy's," said Stumpy. "And I can see
+a log hut, too. There's something red over the door!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+NED STOPS A PANIC
+
+
+"Can you read it?" asked Ned.
+
+"It begins with a 'K.' 'King of Paprica,' that's what it is. I can see
+it plainly, now that the sun is out from behind the cloud."
+
+"This is where they moved the hut to," Ned went on. "Well, this thing is
+getting more and more mysterious."
+
+Bart again ascended the tree and took a long observation. He reported
+that the men seemed to be measuring the land with long chains, while one
+was using an instrument such as surveyors carry.
+
+"Maybe they're planning to put a new trolley line through," suggested
+Fenn.
+
+"That's so," agreed Bart. "I didn't think of that."
+
+"Probably don't want folks to know which way it's going, as if they did,
+they might put up the price of land."
+
+"But that doesn't explain the queer actions of the crazy men," objected
+Ned. "I bet there's something more than that in all this."
+
+"Well, I don't see as we can do anything," spoke Frank cautiously. "We
+haven't any right to go on private land. Guess we'll have to let it
+drop."
+
+"Wonder how they came to hire Sandy?" said Bart.
+
+"Probably they knew he was so unpopular he wouldn't say much to the
+other fellows," explained Ned.
+
+"Anyhow we've seen what we wanted to, though we can't make head or tail
+of it," came from Fenn. "Let's go on after the flowers."
+
+"The men are going away now," Bart reported. "They've gone back in the
+woods, and Sandy is there on guard again. He needn't worry, we'll not
+bother him."
+
+The boys remained on top of the hill some little while longer and then,
+finding a place where there were a number of beautiful wild flowers,
+gathered large bunches, wrapping the stems about with leaves, wet in a
+spring, to keep the flowers fresh.
+
+They went through the woods so as to skirt the edge of the clearing but
+not near enough to it to be seen by Sandy, as they did not wish to get
+into a quarrel with the youth.
+
+"Let's make some inquiries when we get back to town," suggested Bart,
+"and see if anyone has heard of a trolley line being extended, or of any
+surveyors at work."
+
+"Whom can we ask?" inquired Ned.
+
+"You ask Judge Benton, Frank," said Bart. "You know him, don't you?"
+
+"Yes," was the answer, and Frank looked at Bart sharply, as if to see
+whether the suggestion was made with any particular motive. In fact Bart
+had mentioned the lawyer's name to see if Frank would volunteer anything
+about his visit to the judge's office that day. But Frank said nothing.
+
+Rowing back was easy work, with the stream's current to help the boat
+along, and, early that afternoon, the boys tied up at the dock.
+
+They took the flowers to the church, in the lecture room of which the
+entertainment was to be held. Miss Mapes met the boys there.
+
+"This is very kind of you," she said, as she took the blossoms. "They
+will make the place look beautifully. I hope you didn't have much
+trouble."
+
+"Not a bit," Frank assured her.
+
+"I'm sure you ought to be rewarded in some way," the teacher went on.
+
+"We didn't do it for pay," said Fenn.
+
+"Of course, I know that," responded Miss Mapes, "but I would like to
+show you how much I appreciate it. Won't you come to the entertainment
+to-night?" and she held out some tickets.
+
+The boys' faces showed how glad they would be to come. There was to be
+music, singing and tableaux, and, while the lads had money enough to buy
+tickets, they were glad as are most persons to get complimentary ones.
+
+"Are you sure you can spare them?" asked Bart.
+
+"Why I am only too glad to give them to you," Miss Mapes said. "I'm
+sure you boys deserve them if any one does. All the members of the
+arrangement committee get free tickets, and I appoint you special
+members of the flower committee," she ended, with a laugh.
+
+The entertainment was much enjoyed. There was good music and a number
+of popular songs were rendered. The affair was to close with a series
+of tableaux in which several young persons were to pose as famous
+characters. Considerable time and work had been put into this feature
+and everyone was anxious to see it.
+
+Lincoln delivering one of his speeches, Washington reading his farewell
+address, and Pocahontas saving the life of Captain John Smith, were
+given with much success. The last one was to be a patriotic group,
+called the "Spirit of '76," which is often shown in pictures, the three
+figures, an old man and two younger ones, playing martial music on drum
+and fife while all about them rolls the smoke of battle.
+
+To give the proper effect it was planned to burn a quantity of red fire
+back of the group to represent the mist of smoke caused by the guns,
+while the explosion of cannon was to be simulated.
+
+As the curtain went up on the group there was a burst of applause when
+the tableaux came into view, for it was a surprise, and not down on the
+program. The red fire was touched off and a great cloud of smoke, made
+lurid by the chemicals, rolled out. Then the curtain stopped, with but
+half the figures in view.
+
+"Higher! Higher!" called some one in the wings of the improvised stage.
+"Higher!"
+
+The voice was loud enough to be heard out in the audience, but was
+intended to be audible only to the person in charge of pulling up the
+curtain.
+
+It was an unfortunate thing that "Higher" sounded so much like "Fire!"
+In fact that is what a number of persons thought the cry was, and,
+taking it with the smoke, which few knew was a part of the picture,
+they believed some accident had happened.
+
+"Higher! Higher!" called the stage manager again, not seeing the alarmed
+look on the faces of the audience. He wanted the curtain to go up, but
+it was caught on something.
+
+Then the panic-wave, which is always ready to sweep over a big gathering
+at the slightest provocation, started. A few women screamed. Some girls
+started to leave their seats and a number of boys made ready to follow.
+
+"It's a fire!" yelled some thoughtless one.
+
+That was enough. In an instant the entire audience had arisen and was
+about to make a maddened rush for the exits, of which there were none
+too many.
+
+The four chums, with their girl friends, were seated in the first row.
+They were near enough to know what the matter was and to see there was
+no danger. Others near them could also see, but the vast majority was in
+ignorance.
+
+"If they rush for the doors a lot will be killed!" cried Bart.
+
+"Sit down! Sit down!" yelled Frank, and Fenn joined with him in trying
+to calm those around him. Several girls near them had fainted.
+
+"There's going to be trouble!" said Ned in a low tone to Fenn. "What can
+we do?"
+
+"Tell the band to play!" cried Fenn.
+
+Ned turned to where the orchestra had been seated, but the players had
+fled. The audience was rushing madly for the doors. They were crushing
+in a terror-stricken mass around the exits. Ned saw his opportunity and
+acted.
+
+Grasping a cornet from the chair where the player had dropped it he
+began to blow. He had learned how to give the army bugle calls while in
+camp one year, and the memory came back to him. An instant later the
+sweet notes of "Taps," or "Lights out," sounded above the terrible noise
+of the frenzied throng. The audience halted in its mad rush.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A RIVER TRIP
+
+
+Standing up on his seat Ned continued to blow the notes. Clear and true
+they rang out. Twice he gave the call, but before he had begun the
+second round the audience had calmed down. Ned had saved the day; the
+panic was practically over.
+
+Here and there a frightened woman, a hysterical girl, or a timid man
+made a movement toward getting out, but the majority had come to a halt
+and turned to look at the young bugler.
+
+By this time those in charge of the entertainment were on the stage
+calling reassuringly to the people. The red fire died out and the smoke
+drifted away.
+
+"Take your seats," said the manager, and nearly every one did so.
+
+"There was an unfortunate mistake," the manager went on. "Luckily no one
+was hurt. I regret very much that it has happened. I think it will be
+best to close the entertainment. It was almost over when the panic
+started."
+
+"I want to add but that for the presence of mind of this young man,"
+and he looked at Ned, who tried to hide down in his seat, "there might
+have been a terrible calamity. By his quickness he prevented the panic
+from continuing. He deserves the thanks of every one here."
+
+"And he'll get 'em, too," called someone. "Three cheers for Ned
+Wilding!"
+
+They were given with a fervor that made the chandeliers rattle.
+
+"Good for you, old chap!" exclaimed Bart, clapping Ned on the back,
+while the other chums began shaking his hands. Ned was blushing like a
+girl, and was soon the center of an admiring throng. He tried to get
+away but they would not let him. Every one wanted to shake hands with
+him.
+
+The audience was now laughing and talking where, but a few minutes
+before, it had been a maddened, unreasoning throng; and shortly began
+dispersing, and soon there remained only a few, including those in
+charge of the entertainment. Miss Mapes was among them.
+
+"I'm sure it was the luckiest thing in the world that you boys came,"
+she said to the chums. "What would have happened if Ned hadn't played
+that cornet?"
+
+"Oh, anyone could have done that," said Ned, who was wishing he could
+get away from the praise.
+
+"Of course they could, if they had thought of it, but you were the only
+one who did."
+
+"I guess some of the other boys would, if I had given them the chance,"
+replied the hero of the occasion. "I happened to be nearest the
+instrument, that's all."
+
+"Well, it's a great deal," responded the teacher. "I'll send you boys
+tickets to every entertainment we have."
+
+"That will be fine," put in Fenn with a laugh.
+
+"I vote we go home," said Bart. "Don't seem to be any more panics to put
+down."
+
+The four chums, and the girls, left, each one trying to outdo the other
+in telling of what they thought and what they saw during the excitement.
+It was as near a tragedy as had ever happened in the town, and the next
+day's paper devoted the whole front page to it, including a vivid
+description of what Ned had done.
+
+"I'm going to leave town," declared Ned the next afternoon, as he met
+his chums.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Frank.
+
+"Why everyone I meet on the street stops me and asks me all about it.
+I'm tired of telling of it and hearing about it."
+
+"You're not used to being a hero," said Bart. "Wait until some society
+sends you a medal and you'll be so proud you won't speak to any of us."
+
+"Speaking of leaving town makes me think it would be a good plan," put
+in Fenn.
+
+"What! Have you been robbing a bank or doing something else, that you
+want to skip out?" asked Bart.
+
+"No, but we haven't had any real sport since school closed, and it's
+about time we did. I was going to propose taking a trip up the river say
+for about twenty miles, and camping out for a week. That would be fun."
+
+"You're right!" exclaimed Ned. "I'll go with you for one."
+
+"Count me in," said Bart, and Frank added that he wasn't going to be
+left behind.
+
+"This is my plan," went on Fenn. "We can take a small shelter tent, some
+blankets and a camp cook stove. The boat is big enough to carry all
+that, besides us, and some things to eat. The weather is fine now, and
+just right for sleeping out of doors. We can row along slowly, stopping
+where ever we want to, and tying up along shore for the night. What do
+you say?"
+
+"Couldn't be better," declared Ned. "When can we start?"
+
+"To-morrow if you want to, as far as I'm concerned," put in Bart.
+
+"It will take a couple of days to get ready," observed Fenn. "Suppose we
+say Thursday?"
+
+This was agreed upon, and the boys separated to make arrangements for
+the trip. They owned, jointly, a small tent that could be used for
+shelter at night, and a small portable stove which they had utilized on
+previous camping trips.
+
+Thursday morning saw the boat loaded until there was hardly room for the
+boys. The craft was heavy but they did not mind that, and there was no
+grumbling when it fell to the lot of Frank and Ned to do the rowing for
+the first stage.
+
+"We'll stop at Riverton on our way up and hire a canoe," said Bart. "A
+fellow there has a dock and keeps good boats. We'll want to do a little
+paddling about and we can't, very well, if we have all our camp stuff in
+this heavy craft. We can tow the canoe behind us, and use it while we're
+in camp."
+
+The others agreed that this would be a good plan, and Bart, having taken
+a final look over the boat to see that everything was in ship-shape,
+gave the order to start.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE TRAMP'S HEADQUARTERS
+
+
+Frank and Ned began pulling with long steady strokes. The boat with its
+load was not easy to propel through the water and they knew they could
+do better by taking it easy than by wasting their strength in useless
+hurry.
+
+Up the stream they went, past Darewell, under the bridge spanning the
+stream just above the dock, and so on beyond the outskirts of the town
+until they were out into the country district surrounding the place. It
+was a pleasant sunshiny day, just warm enough to be comfortable, and
+with a little breeze blowing.
+
+"I wish this could go on forever," spoke Fenn, from where he was resting
+comfortably on the folded tent in the bow of the craft.
+
+"Wait until it comes your turn to row," said Ned.
+
+They reached Riverton, the next town above Darewell about eleven o'clock
+and hired the canoe, a large green one, but very light to paddle.
+
+"Shall we get dinner here?" asked Bart.
+
+"If we're going to camp let's camp from the start," suggested Fenn.
+"What's the fun of going to a restaurant for your meals? Anyone can do
+that, but it isn't everyone who can have theirs in the woods as we can.
+Let's go up a few miles more and get dinner on shore."
+
+The others decided this would be the most fun, and the trip was resumed
+with Bart and Fenn at the oars. They made three miles before twelve
+o'clock and then, finding a shady, level spot near shore, tied the boat,
+and got out the portable stove.
+
+"Now, Stumpy," said Bart, who had been elected camp manager, "you get
+the wood. Ned, you dig some worms and catch fish, and Frank and I will
+get the meal ready."
+
+The little temporary camp was soon a busy place. Fenn had a fire going
+in the stove in short order as he found plenty of dry wood, and Ned,
+going up stream, to a quiet spot, in a little while had caught several
+fish. They were soon cleaned and put on to fry with the bacon. An
+appetizing odor filled the little glade in the woods and the boys began
+to sniff hungrily.
+
+"When will they be done?" asked Frank, as Bart bent over the pan.
+
+"About ten minutes. You can make the coffee if you want to. Ned, you
+open a can of condensed milk and Fenn, you get out the salt and pepper."
+
+"Everything but the salt," announced Fenn a few moments later. "Here's
+the box but there's none in it."
+
+The others looked surprised and disappointed.
+
+"By Jimminites: I forgot to put it in," he added "I bought all the other
+things but I left the salt to the last and it slipped my mind."
+
+"That's pleasant," observed Bart grimly. "How are we going to eat fresh
+fish without salt? Fenn, you're a dandy, you are. Thinking too much of
+the girls, that's what ails you."
+
+"Anybody might forget," said Stumpy in extenuation.
+
+"Well, there's no help for it, I suppose," remarked Ned.
+
+"Might use gunpowder," put in Frank. "I've read of campers doing that."
+
+"Excuse me," came from Bart, making a wry face. "Besides we haven't any,
+so that doesn't count."
+
+"There's some one camping on the other side of the river," said Fenn,
+pointing to where a little column of smoke arose through the trees,
+about opposite to where the boys were located. "Maybe I could borrow
+some salt from there."
+
+"Good idea," said Bart. "Take the canoe and paddle over."
+
+Fenn was soon on his way. The others went on with the preparations for
+dinner pending his return, as the fish were not quite cooked. They
+watched Fenn paddle over, pull his canoe upon shore, and disappear into
+the woods. He was gone a few minutes and when he reappeared a man
+followed him.
+
+"Maybe he wouldn't lend any salt," said Frank.
+
+As the boys watched they saw the man get into the canoe with Fenn, who
+then paddled over.
+
+"Looks as though he wouldn't trust Stumpy to bring the salt over,"
+commented Bart. "Wonder what the man wants?"
+
+In a short time the canoe containing Fenn and the stranger grounded on
+the little beach near where the boys were camped.
+
+"Did you get the salt?" asked Ned.
+
+"Yes, we have the salt," replied the man, and then the three boys
+noticed with surprise he was the same tramp they had met the day they
+went swimming, and who had inquired about the man the boys knew as the
+King of Paprica.
+
+"This is the gentleman who was camping on the other side of the river,"
+put in Fenn. "I asked him for some salt and--"
+
+"Allow me to explain," interrupted the tramp, but in a polite tone. "You
+see it was this way. I am prospecting along the river, and last night my
+boat, with all my camping outfit, was upset. My food got all wet, and
+the only thing that didn't get soaked was the box of salt. It happened
+to be waterproof.
+
+"I was drying out my clothes and other camping things but alas, when I
+came to dry out the food I found it had spoiled. So there I was, with
+nothing but salt to eat. I was just thinking of trying for some fish
+when this young gentleman came along and asked if he could borrow some
+salt. I at once saw my opportunity. 'Here,' I said, 'are persons with
+plenty to eat and no salt. Here I am with plenty of salt but nothing to
+eat. A fair exchange is no robbery.' I at once produced my salt."
+
+"And I at once asked him over to dinner," put in Fenn.
+
+"Why, of course; glad to have you," said Bart. "Frank, put another plate
+on," he added waving his hand to the ground which served as a table.
+"Dinner is served," and he laughed, the tramp joining him.
+
+"Happy to meet you all," the ragged man went on, not considering it
+necessary, it seemed, to mention his name or ask how the boys were
+called. "There is the salt," and he handed over a large box full.
+
+In spite of his ragged clothes and the heavy growth of beard on his
+face, the tramp's hands and face were clean and he appeared to have
+washed his clothes, as, though they were in tatters, they were not
+dirty.
+
+"Do you intend to camp around here long?" asked Frank.
+
+"I can't tell," replied the tramp. "I am waiting for some friends to
+join me."
+
+He did not seem to recognize the boys as the ones he had met in the
+woods recently, or, if he did, he gave no sign of it.
+
+"You said you were prospecting," Ned added. "Not for gold, are you?"
+
+"Hardly," replied the ragged man with a smile. "The truth is I am a
+naturalist. I have heard there is a certain rare kind of butterfly to
+be found along this river and I am looking for it. It is called the
+Oiliander Tinicander. Perhaps you have seen it in your travels."
+
+"Guess we wouldn't know it if we saw it," remarked Ned.
+
+"No, it takes years of study to recognize it. But if you will excuse me
+I think I will sit down."
+
+He crossed his legs comfortably in front of the plate that had been
+placed for him, and in a few minutes the dinner was under way. The salt
+certainly added zest to the fried fish and the boys, as well as the
+tramp, ate with excellent appetites.
+
+"Best meal I've had in a long while," said the ragged man. "I hope I can
+return the favor some time."
+
+"We'll be happy to call on you," said Bart, "but we are going to leave
+this afternoon. We are bound up the river."
+
+"Well, good luck to you. May I trouble you to put me on the other side?"
+and he looked at Fenn who nodded in assent.
+
+"Well that was a queer coincidence," spoke Ned, as Fenn and the tramp
+were in the middle of the river on the return trip. "What in the world
+is he doing around here? Looks as though the secret hadn't developed
+yet."
+
+"We must ask Fenn what sort of headquarters he has over there,"
+suggested Bart. "He'll soon be back. There I meant to ask him to sell
+us some salt! He's taken his back."
+
+"We can get it at the next town," put in Frank. "We'll camp just above
+it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A NIGHT SCARE
+
+
+"What sort of a place has he over there?" asked Bart, as Fenn came back
+in the canoe.
+
+"Not much," was the reply. "I don't believe he's camping out at all. I
+saw some things in a pile on the ground, but they looked more like a lot
+of instruments than anything a man would go camping with. Besides, I
+didn't see any boat."
+
+"What sort of instruments were they?" asked Ned.
+
+"Kind I never saw before. All brass or nickle plated. Then there were
+some boxes. He seemed to be drying them out, so maybe he did have an
+upset of some sort."
+
+"There's his boat now," called Frank, and, as the boys watched, they saw
+the tramp appear from the woods with a canoe on his shoulder.
+
+The boys watched the man carefully place the frail craft in the water.
+Then he went back into the woods again and came to the shore with
+something bright and shining in his hands.
+
+"That's one of the instruments," said Fenn.
+
+"Maybe he catches butterflies with it," suggested Frank.
+
+"That was a jolly he was giving us, about being a naturalist," said
+Bart. "He's up to some game, but I don't see that it concerns us."
+
+"What's next on the program?" asked Ned. "Pack up and move along?"
+
+"Rest awhile; good for the digestion," remarked Bart. "I want to see
+which way the tramp goes."
+
+The boys, lying on shore, in the shade, saw their recent guest paddle
+slowly down stream. They watched him until he disappeared around a bend.
+
+"Well, that's another link in the queer puzzle for us to solve," spoke
+Ned. "By the way, Frank, did you ever make any inquiries of Judge
+Benton about whether there was any prospect of a new trolley line going
+through?"
+
+"Yes, and he said he didn't know of any. I told him about the men, but
+he said they might be surveyors dividing the land up into building lots.
+Mr. Bender is anxious to improve his property, he said."
+
+They broke camp and reached Woodport about five o'clock, got the salt
+and one or two other things they happened to think might come in handy,
+and resumed their journey up the river. Woodport was a small place and
+they soon passed it, coming to a long stretch of water that flowed
+between densely wooded banks on either side.
+
+"Good place to camp," spoke Ned. "No one to bother us. There's no fun
+camping close to a town."
+
+"Not unless you run out of salt or something like that," replied Bart.
+
+"Oh, well, one should get accustomed to doing without salt, or other
+things he can't have," Ned rejoined. "I believe I could get used to
+anything."
+
+"Good way to feel," spoke Fenn. "I wish I could."
+
+"It takes strength of character," Ned added.
+
+"Don't get preachy," put in Frank.
+
+"Say, instead of moralizing, you fellows had better be looking for a
+place to camp," said Fenn, who, with Frank, was rowing. "I'm getting
+tired."
+
+"That looks like a good place over there," came from Bart, indicating a
+spot where the trees did not seem to be so thick. "Little beach, too,
+for the boat to ground on so it won't pound on the rocks if a wind comes
+up."
+
+The craft was put over to it, and a closer inspection showed the place
+to be well fitted for the purpose. The rowboat was tied to an
+overhanging tree and the tent was soon set up. Then a place was made
+for the stove and some supplies set out. A big tree stump served for a
+table and in a little while Fenn had a good fire built.
+
+"What's the menu?" he asked Bart.
+
+"Open a can of chicken and we'll fry it brown," was the answer. "That,
+with bread and butter and coffee, will make a meal."
+
+Supper was soon on the "stump" and four very hungry boys gathered around
+it.
+
+"Where's the milk for the coffee?" asked Ned.
+
+"I forgot it. It's in the boat," replied Fenn. "I'll get it."
+
+He hurried down to where the craft was tied, and a moment later his
+companions heard him utter an exclamation.
+
+"What's the matter, did you fall in?" called Bart.
+
+"No, but the can of condensed milk did, and it's the only one we have."
+
+"Oh, hang it!" exclaimed Ned. "I can't drink coffee without milk. What's
+the matter with you, Stumpy?"
+
+"I couldn't help it. It slipped."
+
+"I'm thirsty for coffee, too," went on Ned.
+
+"Use it without milk," suggested Bart.
+
+"Can't. Never could."
+
+"'One should get accustomed to doing without salt, or other things he
+can't have. I believe I could get used to anything,'" spoke Frank
+solemnly.
+
+"What do you--Oh!" exclaimed Ned. He recalled that those were the very
+words he had spoken a little while before.
+
+"'It takes strength of character,'" quoted Bart, still from the maxim
+Ned had laid down so recently.
+
+"Oh well, of course I didn't mean it just that way," replied Ned,
+laughing at the trap he had fallen into. "I meant--"
+
+"You don't know what you meant," replied Bart. "Come now, drink your
+coffee black, as the swells do when they go out to dinner. You'll get
+used to it."
+
+"Have to, I s'pose," replied Ned, and he tried it, but made a wry face.
+However there was no help for it, and the boys were so hungry they
+didn't mind it much, after the first sip.
+
+Supper over, the dishes and food were put away, and, on Bart's
+suggestion, they cut a quantity of wood to have in readiness for the
+camp fire.
+
+"I don't know's we'll need it," he said. "There aren't any animals but
+foxes, rabbits and coons in these woods. Still a fire looks cheerful,
+and it may be cold toward morning. Besides, it doesn't seem like camping
+unless you have a fire."
+
+As it grew dark the boys looked to the fastenings of the boats for a
+wind might spring up and set them adrift. Then, starting a blaze between
+two big green logs, they got their blankets ready for bed.
+
+They cut some cedar boughs which they laid on the ground to keep off the
+dampness, making several layers until Fenn, who tried it, said it was
+every bit as good as his spring bed at home.
+
+"Going to stand watch?" inquired Ned.
+
+"What's the use?" asked Bart. "No one's going to steal us. Besides I'm
+too sleepy. Let's all go to bed. If any one happens to wake up and sees
+the fire is low, why he can throw a log on that will be all that's
+necessary."
+
+They did not undress, but stretching out on the cedar boughs pulled the
+blankets over them and prepared to sleep. The fire cast a ruddy glow on
+the trees and shone into the tent which was placed near the blaze.
+
+Ned, who was a light sleeper, was suddenly awakened, some time after
+midnight, by hearing a stick break. It sounded just back of him. He
+raised his head and listened. Behind the tent he could hear the cautious
+tread of some person or some animal. He was about to awaken Bart, who
+was sleeping next to him, when he saw a shadow cast by the fire, inside
+the tent, on the rear wall of the canvas. He looked out and was startled
+to see a figure between the tent and the camp fire. It appeared to be
+looking in on the boys. Ned stretched out his hand and touched Bart.
+
+"Some one is in the camp!" he whispered in his companion's ear, as Bart
+stirred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE FARMER AND THE BULL
+
+
+"What's that?" exclaimed Bart, suddenly sitting up.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Ned. "Some one is prowling around!"
+
+But Bart's voice had startled the intruder. Ned saw the figure move
+quickly out of the glare of the flames, and then dart down toward the
+river.
+
+"They're after our boats!" yelled Bart, who at that moment saw the
+figure. "Come on, fellows!"
+
+He ran from the tent followed by his three chums. As he passed the fire
+Bart threw on some light pieces of wood that blazed up quickly.
+
+In the glow the figure of a man could be seen, headed on the run for the
+little beach, where the boats were tied. As he ran his coat appeared to
+flap out behind him, the long tails bobbing about from his motion.
+
+"It's that tramp!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"Hi there!" yelled Bart.
+
+They saw the man make a flying leap into a canoe that was drawn up
+partly on shore. The violence of the motion sent the frail craft well
+out into the stream and it was caught by the current.
+
+By this time the boys had reached the shore. At first they supposed it
+was their canoe which the tramp had stolen, but a second glance showed
+them the green craft still in place beside the rowboat.
+
+"It's his own canoe," remarked Frank as the boys watched it floating
+down stream. There was no sign of the occupant.
+
+"Is he in it or did he set it adrift and start to swim?" inquired Fenn.
+All four were standing on the edge of the water peering out over the
+river in the darkness, the canoe being a deeper blur which alone
+distinguished it from the surrounding blackness.
+
+"He's probably lying down in it, thinking he may get shot at," said
+Bart.
+
+As if to prove his words the sound of paddling was borne to their ears,
+and the canoe seemed to move faster. The tramp had begun to propel the
+craft, but they could not see him.
+
+"Let's get back to bed," suggested Fenn. "I think we'd better keep watch
+after this."
+
+"Not much use," came from Bart. "That tramp isn't likely to come back
+and there's no one else around here. I vote we get what sleep we can."
+
+It was decided this was as wise a thing as could be done and after
+replenishing the fire, so it would burn until morning, the campers
+crawled back into the tent and slept until sunrise, no further alarms
+disturbing them.
+
+"Well, fellows," called Frank when the things had been put away. "What's
+the program for to-day?"
+
+"We'll row up stream until noon," said Bart, "camp and have dinner, and,
+if we like the place, stay all night. If we don't we'll move on to a
+better one."
+
+The boat was soon loaded and, with the canoe towing along behind, the
+trip was resumed. The river wound in and out through a wooded country
+for a few miles and then they came to a long straight stretch where it
+flowed between level fields.
+
+As the boat was urged up stream under the impulse of the oars in the
+hands of Bart and Fenn, Ned, who was resting in the bow, called out:
+
+"Steer her out a bit, Frank. There's a man fishing just ahead of us and
+we don't want to disturb him."
+
+Frank who was at the rudder lines glanced up and saw, about a quarter
+of a mile ahead, a man standing up to his waist in water.
+
+"That's a queer way to fish," he remarked.
+
+"Probably he's hooked a big one and is playing him," remarked Ned.
+
+As they watched the man ran up out of the water and along the bank a few
+feet, and then, turning, he quickly waded out into deep water again.
+
+"That's a queer proceeding," commented Bart, who turned to look at the
+man.
+
+"Rather," admitted Ned. "He must--Why a bull is after him!" he went on.
+
+As he spoke the others saw a big black bull come tearing down the field
+straight toward the river. It stopped when it came to the water's edge,
+opposite to where the man was standing in the stream up to his hips.
+There the beast lowered its head and, with an angry snort, pawed the
+soft mud.
+
+"Row faster!" urged Frank. "Maybe we can help him."
+
+As the boat approached, the boys saw the man make several other attempts
+to leave the river. Each time he tried the bull would chase him back,
+but the animal seemed to be afraid of getting its feet wet, for it
+always stopped at the shore.
+
+Sometimes the bull would withdraw some distance back into the field. At
+such times the man would wade along near shore until quite a ways above
+or below the animal. Then he would make a dash, hoping to fool the
+beast, but every time the bull heard him and came down with a rush.
+
+The boys were now near enough to hear the man addressing the bull in no
+gentle tones. The prisoner in the water did not appear to notice the
+boat.
+
+"Consarn your black hide!" he exclaimed. "Let me git out of this cold
+water, will ye? By Heck! Th' next time I try t' put a ring in your nose
+you'll know it. Come now, Stonewall Jackson, let me out, will ye?"
+
+But the bull seemed to have some grudge against the farmer for it
+lowered its horns and gave an angry bellow.
+
+"If ever I git out of here I'll hobble ye so's ye can't move, ye onery
+black critter!" the farmer went on. "I'll whale ye till ye'll wish ye'd
+behaved yerself, that's what!"
+
+This time the bull had gone back up the field and was browsing the
+grass. The farmer cautiously waded down stream and made a dash for
+shore. The bull heard him and came down so fast that its momentum
+carried it several feet into the river before it could stop. Meanwhile
+the farmer had hurried deeper into the stream, splashing the water all
+over himself in his haste.
+
+"If I had a gun I'd shoot ye!" he yelled, shaking his fist at the bull.
+
+"Can't you swim to the other side?" asked Ned, as the boat came near.
+
+The farmer looked around in surprise. He had been so engrossed by his
+contest with the bull he had not heard the craft approaching.
+
+"I can't swim," he said. "Look at the plight I'm in. No one ever gets to
+this pasture. I come here to-day t' put a ring in this critter's nose.
+He broke away from the ropes I'd tied him with when I almost had it in,
+an' he chased me into th' water. He's kept me here over an hour an' I
+ain't had my breakfast. Every time I try to get out he charges."
+
+"Why don't you go away up or far down the stream where he can't follow?"
+asked Bart.
+
+"I've come down a mile from where I started," the farmer said. "I'm
+plumb tired out an' I know I'll catch cold stayin' in th' water so long.
+If I ever git holt of that 'tarnation critter I'll--"
+
+He didn't finish, for, while he had been talking he had been drawing
+near shore. The bull was watching him, and made another dash that sent
+the farmer scurrying for deep water.
+
+"That's the way he does it," he said to the boys, his voice showing the
+despair he felt.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+FOLLOWED BY SANDY
+
+
+"I have it!" exclaimed Frank. "Get into our boat and we'll land you
+anywhere you want."
+
+"Will ye?" asked the farmer. "That'll be th' thing. I'll fool th' savage
+critter. This is where I git ahead of ye, Stonewall Jackson," he added,
+shaking his fist again at the bull.
+
+"Is that his name?" asked Ned.
+
+"I named him that about an hour ago," the farmer said. "He was wuss than
+a stone wall for me, th' way he kept me from gittin' out of th' river.
+'Fore that his name was jest plain William."
+
+"Named after any one?" inquired Bart as the farmer got into the rowboat.
+
+"Not special. Ye see I took him for a debt a feller owed me, an' I named
+him William 'cause I took him for a bill, see? Bill bein' short for
+William."
+
+"Oh, you needn't explain," said Bart, as he joined in the laugh that
+followed.
+
+"I've got th' best on ye now," the farmer went on, looking at the beast
+as the boys rowed the boat out into deeper water.
+
+The bull seemed to think so, for with a loud bellow it went back to the
+middle of the pasture and began eating.
+
+"He fairly had me," the farmer said. "He could run along shore a good
+deal faster than I could wade in th' water, and th' pasture runs along
+th' river for three miles, without a fence wuth speakin' of. I couldn't
+see no way of escapin'. It's lucky you come along. Are you boatin' for a
+livin'?"
+
+"No, we're taking a sort of vacation," replied Ned.
+
+"Had breakfast?" inquired the farmer.
+
+"Oh yes, early this morning."
+
+"Wish I had. Next time I try t' ring a bull's nose 'fore I git my meal
+I'll be a older man. I was goin' t' ask ye t' have some breakfast with
+me," he went on. "My name's Garfield Johnson. I've got quite a farm."
+
+"Much obliged, Mr. Johnson," said Bart, "but we're just roughing it, and
+we're not dressed for company."
+
+"Green onions! Neither be I!" exclaimed the farmer. "Look at my boots,
+all wet and my pants too. I wonder what Mandy'll say. Mandy's my wife,"
+he added, "an' she's dreadful particular."
+
+The boys beached the boat in about half an hour, and tying it fast
+followed Mr. Johnson to his house, facing on a lane which led out to a
+country road.
+
+"We'll go in th' back way," said Mr. Johnson. "Mandy's particular about
+her floors, an' I'm sorter--." He looked down at his trousers, which
+still dripped water, and laughed.
+
+Mr. Johnson introduced the boys to his wife, telling her what had
+happened. She insisted that the chums remain to breakfast which they
+did, though they had eaten a few hours previously. They declined an
+invitation to stay to dinner. Mr. Johnson made them take a big pail of
+milk, while his wife added a bag of home-made crullers and some cheese,
+which formed a welcome addition to their larder.
+
+"If you row up stream a mile you'll be right opposite the village, or
+you can go by the road," said the farmer as they bade him and his wife
+good-bye.
+
+Fenn and Bart decided they would walk, and let Frank and Ned row the
+boat up and meet them. They wanted to get some condensed milk and
+matches, of which they had run out.
+
+The supplies were purchased and, in a little while the other boys
+arriving took Bart and Fenn aboard. Then the trip up the river was
+resumed. They kept on until late in the afternoon, as their double
+breakfast did away with the necessity for dinner. On the way they passed
+a number of steamers and barges bound for Lake Erie. Some of them were
+loaded with lumber and other commodities, while several were going up
+the river empty, to get freight.
+
+The boys found a fine place to camp that night and liked it so well they
+remained there three days. They had pleasant weather and thoroughly
+enjoyed themselves, paddling about, fishing and going in swimming.
+
+They decided they would go no further up the stream, and, having camped
+out at their last stop for another day they packed up for the return
+trip. The weather, which had been fine, seemed threatening, and they had
+not brought along clothing or blankets which would serve in case of
+rain.
+
+"We'll make it in two stages," said Bart, referring to the home journey.
+"One night's camp will fix it so's we'll not be all tired out when we
+get home."
+
+They started early in the morning, and planned to camp just above
+Woodport. It was nearly dusk when they neared the town.
+
+"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as the boats were gliding along close to shore.
+"Do you fellows hear anything?"
+
+They all listened.
+
+"Sounds like some one paddling a canoe behind us," spoke Bart.
+
+"That's what I think. I've been hearing it for the last ten minutes,"
+Ned went on. "Some one is following us."
+
+"Maybe it's that tramp," suggested Fenn.
+
+"I'm going to find out," Ned remarked. "You and Frank row along slowly,
+Bart, and I'll surprise whoever it is."
+
+It was now quite dark. The noise made by the oars drowned the sound of
+the paddles, if the unknown was still following the chums.
+
+Ned was busy in the stern of the boat. He twisted a torch from papers
+and then soaked the end in kerosene oil from the lantern they had.
+
+"Stop rowing," he whispered to his chums, "but keep the oars in motion
+so they'll make a noise as if we were still going. He'll think we're are
+on the move and keep after us."
+
+Frank and Bart did as Ned suggested. They could not hear the sound of
+the paddle but Ned could. Suddenly there was a little glow of light as
+Ned struck a match. Then there was a burst of flame as the oil-soaked
+paper caught. Ned tossed it away from the boat. It blazed up brightly
+and in the glare, as it floated on the water, the boys saw a canoe just
+behind them.
+
+But the greatest surprise was occasioned by a sight of the paddler. As
+the light gleamed on him the chums saw he was Sandy Merton.
+
+"Sandy!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+Then the light went out, making the darkness blacker than before.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+AT THE FAIR
+
+
+"Quick! Hand me some more paper!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+Bart passed him a wad. Without stopping to put oil on it Ned lighted the
+twisted torch. As the flame grew in brightness he held it above his head
+to cast a glow over the water. But there was no canoe in sight save the
+one trailing behind their own boat.
+
+"He's gone!" exclaimed Fenn.
+
+"Well, we found out who it was," remarked Ned, "and that's something."
+
+"It would be more to find out why he was following us," came from Frank.
+
+"Maybe he's camping around here," suggested Bart.
+
+"If he is, he was quite a way from camp," put in Ned. "I'd been hearing
+soft paddling behind us for the last two miles and I determined to see
+who it was."
+
+"Guess he didn't want to be seen, by the way he disappeared in such a
+hurry," Fenn remarked.
+
+"We'll have to keep watch to-night," said Bart. "We don't want Sandy or
+any of his friends sneaking around."
+
+"That's right," assented Ned.
+
+They lighted the lantern and, by the gleam of it, and by that from a
+fire they kindled on shore, they made their camp. A hasty meal was
+prepared and then the shelter tent was put up. A big pile of brushwood
+was collected for the fire and, dividing the night into four watches, of
+which Bart took the first, they spread out the blankets and the other
+three prepared to sleep.
+
+But the weather, which had favored them all their trip, turned against
+them now. It began to rain about ten o'clock and from then, until
+morning, there was a steady downpour.
+
+However they made the best of it, though the tent did leak, and the fire
+refused to do anything more than smoulder. It was rather a cheerless
+breakfast they had, for the coffee was only lukewarm and the bacon half
+done. But they made jokes about it and soon were on their way down the
+river.
+
+"Guess it was too wet for Sandy," observed Bart, as he tilted his hat so
+the rain would not drip down his neck.
+
+They left the canoe at Riverton and made the best time possible to
+Darewell. Wet through, but happy in spite of it all they reached their
+homes, fully satisfied with their trip.
+
+The next morning as Fenn was taking a short cut across lots to get to
+Frank's house, he heard a noise as though two birds were calling to one
+another in a little clump of bushes. The notes came clear and sweet and
+Fenn paused to catch a sight of the songsters. As he did so something in
+the bushes moved, a robin flew out and John Newton came into view. As he
+did so Fenn realized that John was one of the "birds."
+
+"What were you doing?" asked Fenn, who was once more on friendly, if not
+intimate terms with John.
+
+"Practicing that robin call."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'm learning to imitate all kinds of birds," replied John.
+
+"Thought you were working as special delivery messenger at the
+postoffice?"
+
+"I was but I gave it up. Too much inside. I want to get out where I can
+hear the birds. I can imitate twenty different kinds now."
+
+"What good is it?"
+
+"Maybe I can get a job on the stage some day, and it will come in handy.
+I heard a fellow in a theater orchestra try to imitate a bird once, and
+it wasn't anything as good as I can do."
+
+"If you get on the stage I'll come and see you," said Fenn, little
+thinking that his promise was some day to come true.
+
+"Thanks," replied John, as he walked off across the field, looking for
+more birds to practice with, while Fenn went on to Frank's house.
+
+That afternoon Ned and Fenn went over to Bart's house and found him
+cleaning a small rifle.
+
+"What's up?" asked Fenn.
+
+"Getting ready to go frog hunting," said Bart. "Dad likes their hind
+legs fried in butter and I said I'd get him a mess."
+
+"Where you going?" asked Ned.
+
+"Over to Ducker's pond. There's lots of 'em there."
+
+"Want any company?" inquired Fenn.
+
+"Sure, come along. Get your rifles. There's a boat over there. Tell
+Frank and we'll make a day of it."
+
+"They ought to be out plentiful after the rain," remarked Ned. "I'd like
+to get some for my father. He is fond of 'em."
+
+The boys found frog-hunting great sport. As they walked home in the
+twilight they passed a field in which a crowd of men were gathered
+about numerous wagons. Here and there tents were being raised.
+
+"What's this?" asked Bart.
+
+"Why it's the traveling fair," replied Ned. "Don't you remember, it's
+been advertised for the last two weeks? It must have just gotten in.
+Come on over."
+
+Ned's surmise proved correct. A large traveling show and fair combined
+had reached Darewell, where it was to remain for three days. There had
+been a delay, caused by a break-down of some of the wagons, and, instead
+of arriving in the early morning, they had only now reached the grounds.
+
+A throng had been attracted by the show, and scores of the boys of the
+town were offering their services to help put up the tents. The burly
+men in charge, however, went about their business systematically, and,
+working by the glare of gasolene torches, soon had some of the tents
+raised, though the main one would not be in place until morning.
+
+In one part of the grounds the cooking wagon with its portable ranges
+was in full operation, and hungry men and women performers were making a
+hasty meal.
+
+"Let's take these frogs home and come back after supper," proposed
+Bart. "We can have some fun."
+
+This the lads did. They found a bigger crowd than before at the fair
+grounds, more wagons having arrived with the exhibits.
+
+"Out of the way there!" yelled a hoarse voice as a big vehicle, drawn by
+four horses, approached where the chums were standing. As they moved out
+of its path they saw, painted on the side of the wagon in large letters,
+that showed plainly in the flaring torches, the word:
+
+     BALLOON.
+
+"That's so, there's going to be a balloon ascension every day," said
+Ned. "We'll have to take this in to-morrow."
+
+"That's what we will," replied Bart. "I've never seen a balloon go up."
+
+"You'll have a chance to go up in one if you want to," put in Fenn.
+
+"How?"
+
+"Why this is a captive balloon. It's fast to the ground by a rope. They
+let persons go up in it for a half dollar apiece."
+
+"Then we'll go up," decided Frank. "I've always wanted a ride in one."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+UP IN A BALLOON
+
+
+It was a good thing the fair came during the vacation season, otherwise
+there would have been slim classes in the schools of Darewell, judging
+by the throng of boys and girls at the small city of tents, the next
+day. It seemed that every youngster in the county was on hand long
+before the time set for the opening.
+
+Many came to watch the men put the big tent up, and the four chums were
+among this crowd. There was much to interest them in the way the canvas
+was handled, and to see what appeared a tangled mass of ropes and
+coverings be evolved into a big shelter, gay with flags and bunting.
+
+"I want to watch 'em get the balloon ready," said Ned, after they had
+seen the main tent well under way.
+
+"So do I," chimed in Bart.
+
+The big bag that was destined to sail through the air was being prepared
+off to one side, and men were laying pipes from a gas main to where it
+was to be filled. It was a modern affair, intended to be inflated with
+illuminating vapor instead of hot air as is sometimes the case.
+
+"I wonder how high up it goes?" asked Bart.
+
+"Let's inquire of one of the men," suggested Frank.
+
+There was such a big crowd around the laborers that they found it almost
+impossible to work. They fairly had to shove some of the boys and other
+spectators out of the way.
+
+"Don't believe they'll have much time to answer questions," ventured
+Fenn.
+
+Just then a big man, who seemed to be in charge of matters, called to
+one of the assistants, a short chap.
+
+"Hi, Sam, bring five of those ballast bags over here and get a move on!
+Don't go to sleep! We haven't got all day!"
+
+The little man glanced at a pile of bags of sand near where the boys
+were standing. Each bag had a rope handle with a hook attached to it.
+The little man dropped the coil of rope he had in his arms.
+
+"Bring five of 'em over!" he exclaimed. "Must think I'm Sandow. It's all
+I can do to lift one. They weigh forty pounds a piece," and, still
+grumbling, the little man tackled the bags.
+
+It was evident that two, at the most, were all he could manage. Ned, who
+was watching him saw an opportunity.
+
+"Come on, fellows," he whispered to his chums. "We'll give him a hand
+and maybe he'll tell us something about the balloon."
+
+An instant later the four boys hurried to the pile of ballast.
+
+"We'll help you," said Bart. "Where do you want 'em?"
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed the little man evidently somewhat surprised at the offer
+of help. "Right over there where the boss is. Say, you boys are all
+right!"
+
+The four chums each took hold of a bag. They found them about all they
+wanted to carry.
+
+"How high up does the balloon go?" asked Fenn, determined to take
+advantage of the opportunity.
+
+"Thousand feet," the man replied. "It's held fast by a thin wire cable
+that goes over a drum. You boys going up?"
+
+"I guess so," replied Ned.
+
+"Interested in balloons; eh?"
+
+"Sure thing," replied Bart. "Have you been running 'em long?"
+
+"Fifteen years. Ain't much I don't know about 'em, though I don't go up
+very often. I won't do the parachute business, and they want a man who
+does that now-a-days. I'm getting too old for that."
+
+By this time the ballast had been deposited where the man in charge
+wanted it.
+
+"Hook it into the cordage now," he ordered to the little man, "and you
+take charge around here, Bill. She's filling now and I'm going to
+breakfast."
+
+"All right," responded Bill, the newly-made acquaintance of the chums.
+The boys wanted to ask him more questions, but he saved them the
+trouble.
+
+"Ever see a balloon fill?" he inquired.
+
+"No. How do they do it?" asked Frank.
+
+"First we spread the bag out on the ground," the little man explained.
+"Then we see to the top valve. That's to let the gas out when it's up in
+the air. There's a cord runs from the valve down to the basket. You pull
+it a little bit and two little trap doors, worked by springs open, and
+the vapor escapes from the top. Then we have what's called the 'ripping
+cord.' That's colored red. It hangs down just as the other one does.
+Only if you yank that it tears a strip out of the balloon and lets the
+gas out in a hurry."
+
+"What happens then?" asked Ned.
+
+"You come down in a hurry, that's all. It's only used for emergency.
+Well, after we get the bag laid out the way we want it, and the gas
+pipes connected, we lay the cordage or net over it. Then the balloon
+begins to fill. We hook on the sand bags, all round the edge of the
+netting, so's to keep her steady as she fills. When the gas begins to
+lift the bags a bit we hook 'em on lower down in the netting, and so on,
+until the balloon is full. Then we hitch on the basket, put in the
+proper amount of ballast, and it's all ready to go up."
+
+"You let it go up a thousand feet and then pull it down by the wire
+cable?" asked Bart.
+
+"That's it. It can make a lot of trips during a day with one filling of
+gas. When it begins to collapse we put in more."
+
+"Suppose it should break away?" asked Ned.
+
+"It never has happened with this outfit, though of course it might. I
+had one get away once."
+
+"What happened?"
+
+"Why my assistant and myself were in it. We didn't get scared, as we
+were old hands at the business. We just pulled the valve cord and let
+ourselves down easy. The bad part of it was it was at the seashore and
+we came down in the ocean. We lost the balloon but we saved our lives."
+
+"Did you ever have to pull the ripping cord?" asked Bart.
+
+"Once. You see that's to use when you want to land in a hurry. I was up
+in the balloon once and it began to descend. Gas leaked out and I didn't
+know it. There was a strong wind and I was being blown out across Lake
+Michigan that time. It was a case of coming down quick and hard on dry
+land or being blown out over the lake. I yanked the ripping cord."
+
+"What happened?" asked Fenn, as the little man stopped.
+
+"Broke both legs," he replied. "Laid up two months. That sort of
+discouraged me and I haven't gone up much since. Make enough money as a
+helper and I sleep better nights."
+
+"Is there much danger in a captive balloon?" asked Ned.
+
+"Hardly any. In fact none to speak of," was the answer. "We've got a
+tested wire cable. It winds over a drum and when the drum is turned it
+winds the cable up and the balloon comes down."
+
+"I guess we'll risk it," said Ned. "Eh, fellows."
+
+"You can't leave me behind," said Bart, and the others agreed they
+would take a chance in the balloon.
+
+All this while the big bag had been filling. The man and several others
+who were assisting, kept hooking the ballast lower in the cordage loops
+as the balloon arose in the air. It was over half full now.
+
+The boys took a look at the square basket, or car, that was to be
+attached to the airship, and at the windlass which brought the captive
+balloon back to earth.
+
+"Let's go home and get breakfast and come back," suggested Bart, as the
+boys had arisen early that morning. "We'll take the trip this
+afternoon."
+
+The boys returned to the grounds about nine o'clock. It was after ten
+o'clock before the first ascension was made. Four young men from town
+went up, that being all the car would hold. The manager cautioned them
+about touching the cords and then, while the anxious throng watched and
+waited, the cable began to unwind and the balloon went up.
+
+"That looks easy enough," declared Bart. "Us for the trip next time."
+
+Up and up the balloon went until it looked about the size of an apple.
+It remained up about ten minutes and then the windlass was turned by
+the steam engine, which was part of the outfit, and the airship came
+slowly down.
+
+"How'd you like it?" asked the manager as the young men got out.
+
+"Fine!" they exclaimed as one. "It was great. I could see clear to
+Woodport."
+
+"Now who's going to be the next?" asked the manager in his professional
+voice. "Try a trip in the airship! View the earth spread out like a map
+beneath you, the fields mere patches of green, the river a silver ribbon
+and the forest a mere bit of fuzz like the wool on Mary's little lamb.
+Who's next?"
+
+"We are!" cried Bart, and he and his chums paid their money and took
+their places in the basket.
+
+"Let her go," cried the manager, and the boys, looking over the edge of
+the car, saw the earth dropping away below them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+ABOVE THE CLOUDS
+
+
+"What's the matter?" called Fenn, his voice trembling a little.
+
+"The matter with what?" asked Bart, whose tones were not overly strong
+just then.
+
+"Why we seem to be standing still and the earth is going down."
+
+"That's always the way in a balloon, I've read," spoke Frank. "We can't
+see ourselves move as there's nothing to judge it by. You can't see the
+air, and that's what we're moving through."
+
+"Well, it's a little more scary than I thought it was," came from Ned.
+"Still I guess we can get used to it."
+
+By the time they had been elevated five hundred feet they were accustomed
+to the strange and peculiar sensation. They were no longer frightened,
+and when they had gone up as far as the cable would let them they were
+almost wishing the journey was twice as long. As the manager had said,
+the country was spread out under them like a big relief map. They could
+recognize some buildings in town, and also pick out other hamlets
+surrounding Darewell. Bart even declared he could see the clearing where
+Sandy had stood on guard, and where the men had been observed acting so
+strangely that day, but the others were not able to make it out.
+
+At the end of ten minutes the balloon was hauled down. The boys climbed
+from the basket, trying to answer the scores of questions that were
+asked of them by persons in the crowd. After that many made trips in the
+captive airship.
+
+"It was great," declared Bart.
+
+"I almost wish it had gotten loose," said Ned. "I'd like to take a long
+trip."
+
+"We'll try it again to-morrow," said Bart, "only don't you go wishing it
+would break loose, Ned. It might happen, you know."
+
+"That wire cable couldn't break."
+
+"All right. I don't want it to."
+
+For a long while the boys remained to watch the balloon go up and down
+with the scores who ventured in it. Then, as there were many other
+things to see at the fair, they made a tour of the grounds.
+
+They were on hand the next day, and made another trip in the balloon.
+This time it was a little foggy and they could not see so well.
+
+"Half price to-morrow boys," remarked the manager, as they came down.
+"It's the last day."
+
+"We'll have to take it in," declared Fenn. "Can't miss a bargain like
+that."
+
+So great an attraction did the reduced rate prove that it was afternoon
+of the last day of the fair before the four chums had a chance to go up
+in the balloon again. Once more they got into the big basket. The
+captive airship had been freshly filled with gas and was pulling and
+tugging at the restraining cable as though it wanted to be free.
+
+"Let her go," called the manager, and for the third time the boys saw
+the earth dropping away beneath them. They could not get over that first
+queer sinking feeling in the stomach as the balloon first started
+skyward, but, after it had gone up a few hundred feet they were used to
+it.
+
+The day was a wonderfully clear one, and the boys could see for miles
+in every direction. Off to the northwest Lake Erie sparkled in the
+sunlight, and the Still river looked like a band of silver laid between
+green banks and through dark green forests.
+
+"Isn't it fine!" exclaimed Frank. "I wish we could stay up all night."
+
+"I guess we're going down," remarked Ned, as there came a tug at the
+bottom of the basket where the cable was fastened.
+
+The balloon gave a little jerk and swayed from side to side. The boys
+clutched the edge of the basket and looked over.
+
+"Something has happened!" cried Ned.
+
+They could see the crowd running to and fro and a number of men
+signaling to them with their hands.
+
+"What could have happened?" asked Frank. "Is the balloon on fire?"
+
+"No! It's broken loose!" yelled Fenn. "See! The cable is dangling below
+us!"
+
+Leaning over as far as they dared, the others saw that the wire rope had
+become loosened from the drum and was swaying about in the air. It had
+become unfastened when the machinery began to revolve to haul the
+balloon down.
+
+"We're loose! We're going up!" almost screamed Fenn.
+
+Down below them the earth once more was dropping away at a fearful rate.
+The freshly-filled balloon was shooting skyward faster than ever before,
+since there was no restraining cable to hold it back.
+
+The terror of their position held the boys dumb for a while. They gazed
+at each other with horror in their eyes. Their cheeks were pale, and
+their hearts were beating violently.
+
+Being taken so suddenly into the lighter atmosphere of the upper regions
+almost deprived them of their senses. They could hardly breathe, partly
+because of natural causes and partly because of the terrible fright that
+gripped them.
+
+"You--you--got--your--wish, Ned," spoke Bart with some difficulty,
+looking at his chum.
+
+"I--I--guess--I--did," replied Ned slowly.
+
+Their voices seemed to dispel the strain they were all under. They had
+been fearful of moving since the balloon broke away, thinking they might
+fall from the terrible height. But now Bart sat down in the bottom of
+the basket.
+
+"Well, we might be worse off," spoke Frank.
+
+"How?" asked Fenn.
+
+"We might be falling down instead of up. We're in no danger for a while
+anyhow. There's no wind to speak of. We're going straight up."
+
+"How far I wonder?" asked Ned.
+
+"Well, we can stop when we want to," said Bart.
+
+"How?" inquired Fenn.
+
+"By pulling the valve cord, of course. Don't you know what the man told
+us?"
+
+"Oh, of course. Well then, let's pull it. This is high enough for me."
+
+They all stood up and began looking for the valve and ripping cords. The
+man had told them they were connected with the basket, but on previous
+trips they had not thought to search them out amid the mass of cordage.
+
+"One's brown and the other's red," spoke Bart.
+
+"I don't see any," said Fenn, after a long gaze aloft.
+
+"I either," admitted Bart, and the others had to confess they saw
+nothing of the cords.
+
+"Maybe they forgot to arrange them for this trip," suggested Ned.
+
+"Nice pickle for us if they did," observed Bart. "We'll sail on
+forever."
+
+But, though the boys made light of their plight, it was not a pleasant
+one. The balloon with its fresh supply of gas was good for many miles'
+travel.
+
+"I wonder if we're going up or standing still?" asked Fenn. He looked
+over the edge of the basket. The ground below was a mere blur, of which
+the only difference in color between the woods and the fields could be
+seen.
+
+"We can soon tell," replied Bart.
+
+"How?"
+
+"I'll show you."
+
+He took from his pocket some paper and began tearing it into little
+pieces. When he had a handful he tossed them over the side of the
+basket. They seemed pulled down by some unseen force.
+
+"We're going up," announced Bart in a strange voice. "Those papers
+practically stood still. It was us shooting past them that made it look
+as though they fell."
+
+"How far up are we I wonder?" said Fenn.
+
+A moment later a damp mist appeared to settle down over the balloon. So
+dense was it that they could no longer make out the big bag over their
+heads.
+
+"We're above the clouds," came from Bart in solemn tones.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+INTO THE RIVER
+
+
+For a moment the announcement struck such a chill of terror to the
+hearts of the boys that they did not know what to say. The thought of
+being more than a mile above the earth was fearful to the lads who had
+never been even on a high mountain. Now they were far up in the air,
+with only the frail willow basket, and the lifting power of the gas in
+the silken bag, between them and death.
+
+"Maybe it's a fog from the river. Perhaps we've dropped down," said
+Fenn, anxious to derive some consolation from their perilous position.
+
+"We haven't come down a foot," said Bart. "Might as well admit it."
+
+He tossed some more pieces of the torn paper over the side. This time
+they remained stationary.
+
+"At any rate we've stopped going up," he called out. "We're standing
+still!"
+
+His companions watched the scraps of paper anxiously. Slowly they began
+to settle toward the earth.
+
+"That proves it," said Bart. "We're standing still."
+
+"Lot of good it will do us," came from Ned. "How long will we have to
+stay here?"
+
+"Hard to say," Bart replied. "But you wanted this to happen so you ought
+to be satisfied."
+
+"If I'd known it was like this I'd never wished for it even in fun,"
+spoke Ned. "Don't you s'pose we can get down?"
+
+"Sure; sometime. The gas can't stay in the bag forever. Some is bound to
+leak out and we'll descend. Besides, as it gets colder we'll drop some."
+
+"How?" asked Frank.
+
+"Why the man told me the cold sort of condenses the gas. Makes it so
+there isn't so much of it, and it hasn't the same lifting power. But
+there's one disadvantage to that."
+
+"How?" inquired Fenn.
+
+"Why as soon as it gets warm again, when the sun comes out, it expands
+the gas and we'll rise."
+
+"Keep on going back and forth, eh?" asked Ned.
+
+"That's about it," said Bart.
+
+"I've got a plan," suggested Fenn.
+
+"What, Stumpy?" inquired his chums eagerly.
+
+"I could cut a hole in the bag with my knife and let some of the gas
+out."
+
+"How could you reach the bag? The lowest end of it, the neck, where the
+gas went in, is ten feet over our heads."
+
+"I could climb up the cordage. I read of a fellow doing that once."
+
+"Too risky," decided Bart.
+
+"I'll chance it," declared Stumpy.
+
+"We'll wait a while," Bart decided. "We may come down without doing
+that."
+
+But there did not seem much chance of it. The big balloon was still in
+the midst of the clouds. Which way they were going the boys had no means
+of knowing. They could see nothing but the mass of gray vapor, which,
+now and then, swirled aside long enough to disclose the black bag above
+their heads.
+
+Meanwhile there was great excitement on the fair grounds. The crowd ran
+to and fro vainly seeking some means of bringing the balloon down. Word
+was quickly sent to the boys' parents and relatives, and they came
+hurrying to the place, well nigh distracted. By this time the airship
+was a mere speck in the heavens. A little later it disappeared above the
+clouds.
+
+There were some threats of arresting the manager of the enterprise, but
+wiser counsel prevailed. It was shown that the accident was unavoidable.
+The catch that fastened the wire cable to the drum had become loosened
+by the many ascensions and let the rope slip away.
+
+"There's no danger," the manager declared, but he had hard work to make
+any one believe him. Indeed his own drawn face showed he was alarmed for
+the safety of the boys.
+
+"They're bright lads," he insisted. "One of my helpers was explaining to
+them the other day about the valve cords. They will pull them and the
+balloon will come down. It may sail a few miles from here, but they'll
+be all right."
+
+"Suppose they pull the wrong cord?" asked Mr. Wilding who with Bart's
+and Fenn's parents, and Frank's uncle had gathered about the manager.
+
+"Oh, they wouldn't do that," said the owner of the balloon. "They're too
+smart for that."
+
+"Well, there's no good in worrying," decided Mr. Keene. "Maybe the boys
+can take care of themselves, but they're in a ticklish place."
+
+His words served to comfort the others somewhat, though Mrs. Keene and
+Mrs. Masterson could not stop crying.
+
+Meanwhile there was nothing the boys could do. They could only wait for
+something to happen. And that something was for the gas to leave the bag
+gradually so they could descend.
+
+"It's almost five o'clock," said Bart, looking at his watch. "I guess
+we're good for all night."
+
+"It's going to be cold," said Ned, with a shiver.
+
+Already the mist was beginning to tell on the boys. Their clothes were
+covered with the fine fog which clung to them like frost. They knew it
+would be quite chilly before morning.
+
+"And not a thing to eat," said Bart with a sigh. "The next time I come
+ballooning I'm going to bring a sandwich."
+
+"The next time I come ballooning I'll be a great deal older than I am
+now," came from Frank. "No more for yours truly."
+
+"What I can't understand," said Fenn, "is what become of those cords.
+They must be on the balloon. I saw them the first day."
+
+"Suppose we take another look," suggested Ned. "I don't fancy staying
+here all night."
+
+"If we don't find 'em I'm going to climb up and poke a hole in the bag,"
+declared Stumpy.
+
+The boys took their positions one on each side of the big basket and
+began staring aloft, through the mist, for a sight of the cords. There
+was such a maze of ropes and netting that it was hard to distinguish
+anything. The mist too, bothered them.
+
+There came a little puff of wind which made the big balloon sway so that
+the boys clutched the sides of the willow car. There was a peculiar
+sensation as though the bottom of their stomachs had dropped out.
+
+"We're going down!" cried Bart.
+
+The mist seemed to break away. The bag could be plainly seen. Hurriedly
+Bart tore up some more scraps of paper and tossed them over. They
+remained stationary an instant and then began to settle earthward.
+
+"False alarm," said Bart with despair in his voice.
+
+But they had gone down a few feet, or else the mist had lifted, for
+they were no longer in the cloud. They could see nothing of the earth,
+however.
+
+All at once Fenn who had resumed his upward-gazing gave a cry.
+
+"What is it, Stumpy?" called Bart.
+
+"The cords! The cords! I see them!" the boy exclaimed.
+
+"Where?" and they all came around to his side.
+
+"There, right near where the mouth of the bag is fastened to the
+cordage. Don't you see them?"
+
+"Sure enough! There they are!" exclaimed Bart.
+
+Then the others beheld the brown and red cords that connected, one with
+the valve in the top, and the other with the strip, to be ripped out, in
+case of emergency.
+
+"We can't reach 'em," said Ned. "They're ten feet up."
+
+This was so. The ends of the cords had, in some way, been caught in the
+netting and were held at least ten feet above the edge of the basket. To
+reach them meant a dizzy and dangerous climb.
+
+Stumpy looked first from one side of the basket and then from the other,
+at the cords that meant so much to them. He took off his coat and vest
+and began removing his shoes.
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Bart.
+
+"I'm going to get those cords down where we can reach 'em," said Fenn
+shortly.
+
+"How? You can't!"
+
+"You watch me! Didn't I take the prize at school for high trapeze work?"
+and Stumpy went on unlacing his shoes.
+
+"Are you going to climb up in that cordage?" demanded Ned.
+
+"That's what I am."
+
+"We won't let you!"
+
+"It's the only way!" said Fenn earnestly. "We may be killed if I don't.
+There's no danger boys. I'll climb from the inside. If I fall, I'll only
+fall into the basket! I'm going up!"
+
+Before the others could stop him he had reached up and taken a firm hold
+of the cords just above the edge of the basket. They were very strong,
+and there were so many of them that they would have held a much greater
+weight than that of Fenn.
+
+But it was a ticklish thing to climb up the netting of a balloon, more
+than half a mile above the earth. True, he was right over the basket,
+and if he slipped would land into it. But it was a daring thing to do,
+and his chums held their breaths as they watched him.
+
+Up and up Stumpy went. His stockinged feet gave him a good purchase on
+the netting, and, clinging with his hands in a desperate grip, he
+mounted higher and higher toward where the caught cords dangled. It was
+only about ten feet but to Stumpy and his chums it seemed like a
+thousand.
+
+Now he was but three feet away from the cords. Cautiously he kept on.
+The balloon swayed with the unusual weight on one side and the basket
+tilted.
+
+For a moment Fenn hesitated. He was getting dizzy. Then he gritted his
+teeth and went on. Steadying himself as best he could, in the insecure
+and waving netting, he reached out one hand and managed to grasp the red
+cord. He loosened it and it fell so that it hung within reach of his
+comrades. Then he released the brown one and it, too, fell free.
+
+"Come down!" called Ned, and Stumpy, his dangerous task accomplished,
+began to descend. He was trembling like a leaf when he crouched down in
+the basket again. His chums, each in turn, silently pressed his hand.
+They could not speak for a few moments.
+
+"Now for home!" exclaimed Bart as he grasped the brown cord. "Lie down
+in the bottom of the basket, all of you. No telling what will happen
+when the gas begins to go out."
+
+He pulled the cord slightly. There was a sudden lurch to the balloon and
+again came that strange feeling as if the bottom of their stomachs were
+dropping out.
+
+"We're going down!" cried Frank joyfully.
+
+It was so. The gas escaped through the valve as Bart pulled the cord,
+and the big airship, its journey almost ended, was nearing the earth.
+
+As the valves would only stay open when the cord was taut, springing
+shut when it was slack, Bart kept giving it little jerks, regulating
+them according to the sensation of falling. He did not want the balloon
+to come down too swiftly.
+
+It was now dusk, and, as they looked over the side of the basket they
+could dimly distinguish the earth coming up to meet them.
+
+"Can you see where we are?" asked Ned.
+
+"Too dark," replied Bart.
+
+He opened the valve wider. The balloon shot downward with a sickening
+swiftness.
+
+"Not so fast," called Frank.
+
+He got up to look over the edge. As he did so he uttered a cry.
+
+"We're near the river!" he exclaimed.
+
+Bart let out more gas, hoping to land the balloon before the water was
+reached, but he miscalculated. An instant later the airship, with the
+big bag almost collapsed, came down with a rush and the willow basket
+struck the water with a great splash.
+
+"Jump out and swim for it!" yelled Bart. "The balloon will smother you!"
+
+He dived over the side of the basket. His companions followed him. There
+was a sickening smell of gas in the air.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+CAPTURED
+
+
+Hampered by their shoes and clothing the boys could not make much
+headway in the water. Fenn, who was not a very good swimmer, was the
+last to strike out. Bart caught a glimpse of him, and saw the bag
+settling down over his chum.
+
+He turned and grabbed Fenn by the shoulder, pulling him out of the way
+just as the silken folds settled down on top of the water.
+
+"What's the matter? What has happened?" cried a voice through the
+darkness, and the boys saw lights from a boat flashing in their faces.
+Then they noticed a big barge looming up, and struck out for it.
+
+"Throw us a line!" called Bart.
+
+Aboard the boat men were running to and fro and calling to one another.
+More lights flashed out and several figures appeared at the sides. Then
+ropes splashed into the water.
+
+Bart and Fenn each grabbed one and began to pull themselves aboard. Ned
+and Frank were on the other side of the barge. There also, men had cast
+cables into the river and their splash told the swimming boys there was
+help at hand. They grabbed the lines, and soon all four were standing on
+the deck of the craft.
+
+"Well, where did you all come from?" asked a hearty voice and a big man,
+his face almost concealed by a beard, that covered everything except his
+eyes, strode forward.
+
+"From the balloon," replied Ned.
+
+"So that's what that big thing was that flopped down here, eh?" asked
+the man. "Well, you had quite a time of it. Who are you, anyhow, airship
+men?"
+
+Ned told their names, and related how the balloon had broken away,
+taking them with it.
+
+"I guess it's valuable," he added. "Maybe if you took it aboard you
+could get a reward."
+
+"We've got something else to do besides saving balloons," the bearded
+man replied. "Delayed our trip as it was, pulling you chaps from the
+water, but I don't mind that. Let 'em send for their old gas bag if they
+want it. Guess it won't run away."
+
+"Are you the captain of this boat?" asked Bart, taking off his coat and
+wringing some of the water out of it.
+
+"That's what I am, Captain Needham, of the steam barge _Comet_. At
+present under sealed orders," and he laughed.
+
+"Where are we?" asked Frank.
+
+"On the Still river, just above Dunkirk," replied the captain.
+
+"How far is that from Darewell?" inquired Bart.
+
+"Are you from Darewell?" asked Captain Needham quickly, and he looked
+sharply at the boys who stood in a circle of light cast by several
+lanterns.
+
+"Yes. That's where we live," replied Bart.
+
+"Well, you're about fifty miles from home."
+
+"Which way are you going?" asked Frank, as the barge was anchored then,
+and the boys had not had time to notice in which direction she was
+headed.
+
+"We're going up the river."
+
+"Then I guess we'd better go ashore," remarked Ned. "We don't want to
+get any further away from home. We must send word to our folks that
+we're safe."
+
+"Of course," spoke the captain. "It's going to be a little difficult
+though. There's no telephone in Dunkirk, and you'll have to tramp five
+miles to send a message. You'd better stay aboard until we get to
+Flanders, that's the next town above. We'll be there by morning, and
+you can wire from there."
+
+"I think we'd better go ashore now and take our chances at getting a
+message through to-night," Frank said. "Maybe we can hire a carriage in
+Dunkirk."
+
+"Well now, I hate to interfere with your plans," the captain said, "but
+I'm behindhand now, and I can't stop to put you ashore. You'll have to
+wait until morning."
+
+"One of us could swim ashore and send a message," put in Ned. "We really
+ought to send one."
+
+"Well, go below to the engine room and get dried out first," the captain
+advised. "The river is full of rocks here and it's a bad place to swim.
+The banks are a mass of muck, like quick-sand, dangerous to venture
+into. You get your clothes off and we'll soon have 'em dry. By that time
+we'll be in a better place for swimming. Besides you must be hungry.
+We're under way again."
+
+As he spoke there was a throbbing to the barge that told the boys the
+engine had been started. The anchor was hauled up and the boat again
+started up the river. It was too dark to see more than the dim outline
+of the big gas bag as it rested partly on shore and partly in the water.
+
+"Yes, I guess drying-out wouldn't hurt us," Frank said. "But after that
+we must get word to the folks if we have to walk ten miles."
+
+"That's right," agreed his chums.
+
+"Suit yourselves," the captain said. "Now come on with me and I'll fix
+you up."
+
+He led the way to the engine room, and turned the boys over to one of
+the deck hands. The latter collected from the men some old garments the
+boys could don while their own were drying. Their change consisted of
+nothing but a jumper and a pair of overalls each, but it was warm in the
+engine room and they did not mind. Their soaking clothing and shoes were
+soon in the process of steaming dry on hot pipes.
+
+"'All's well that ends well'" quoted Frank. "We certainly did have a
+strenuous time of it for a while though."
+
+"Wonder where this barge is going to?" said Ned. "It's a bigger one than
+I ever saw on the river before. It's got a lot of machinery aboard,
+too."
+
+"That doesn't interest me so much as the question of when they have
+supper," came from Bart. "I'm getting warm and dry and I begin to feel
+my appetite coming back."
+
+They were close to the big boiler where it was warm enough to almost
+bake bread. As they were huddled there, getting the river chill out of
+them, they heard somebody approaching down the passage that led to the
+engine room.
+
+"Hope it's someone to say supper is ready," spoke Fenn.
+
+"Captain Needham says you are to--" a voice began and then it suddenly
+stopped. The chums looked up and saw, in the glare from a lantern, a
+youth staring at them.
+
+"Sandy Merton!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+At this the other boys pressed forward to get a look at the lad who had
+acted so strangely of late. But Sandy did not give them a chance. He
+turned and fairly ran from the engine room.
+
+"Well of all the odd places we come across that chap this is the
+queerest," spoke Ned. "What in the world can he be doing here?"
+
+"Just what I was going to ask," Bart said. "It looks funny. We must ask
+Captain Needham."
+
+"Ah, boys, getting warmed through?" asked a voice, and Captain Needham
+appeared a little later. "Well, you look pretty comfortable. Guess
+you're ready for supper."
+
+"You're a good guesser, sir," said Fenn with a laugh.
+
+"Right this way then," the captain went on quickly, opening a small door
+which led from the engine room. "I'll have something sent in here.
+There's a table and some chairs. It's warm and you can dress in there
+when your clothes are dry."
+
+The boys went into the apartment he indicated. It was lighted by a small
+hanging lamp. They sat down to the table, presenting a queer sight in
+the overalls and jumpers several sizes too large for them. In a little
+while a man came in with a big tray on which were plates of beef-stew,
+cups of coffee and plenty of bread and butter.
+
+"Sort of a pick-up meal," Captain Needham said, as he looked in on them
+a little later, when they were in the midst of it. "Best we could do in
+a hurry. We don't often have people drop in on us out of a balloon for
+supper," and he laughed.
+
+"Say, captain," began Ned. "Is that boy--"
+
+"I'll be back in a little while," called the captain, as he closed the
+door, leaving the chums alone.
+
+"I was going to ask him about Sandy," added Ned.
+
+"It'll keep," remarked Bart.
+
+The boys finished their meal and felt better.
+
+"I'd like to get into my clothes," remarked Fenn. "I want to see about
+sending a message home. We must be out of the dangerous part of the
+river now."
+
+"Open the door and we'll go back to the engine room and see if they
+aren't dry," suggested Frank.
+
+Bart, who was nearest, turned the knob. The door did not open.
+
+"Stuck, I guess," he said, and gave it a yank. It moved a bit, but only
+enough to show that it was fastened in some way.
+
+"Locked!" exclaimed Ned. "They've locked us in!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+PLANNING TO ESCAPE
+
+
+"Can't be!" came from Bart. "What in the world would they do that for?"
+
+"Don't know," admitted Ned. "But you can see for yourself. The door's
+locked."
+
+"Maybe the catch slipped by mistake when the captain went out,"
+suggested Frank. "Give him a call, or pound on the wall to attract
+attention."
+
+"Let me give the door another try," Bart said. "No use making a false
+alarm. Maybe it's only stuck."
+
+But it was too evident that the portal was locked. The knob turned
+freely, but the bolt was shot and effectually made the boys prisoners.
+
+"Shall I pound on the door?" asked Bart.
+
+"Let's see if there isn't another way out," suggested Ned.
+
+They looked all around the room. It was about ten feet square, and,
+aside from the table, chairs and lamp contained no furniture or
+furnishings.
+
+"There isn't even a window," said Frank.
+
+"What's that up there?" inquired Fenn, pointing to some sort of an
+opening near the ceiling.
+
+Bart climbed up on the table and investigated.
+
+"It's a window," he said, "but it's not more than a foot square, and has
+bars to it. More for ventilation than anything else I guess. It's just
+above the waterline, for I can hear the river and the noise of the
+propeller."
+
+"It must be a mistake," said Frank. "Go ahead, Bart, and make a racket
+like a base drum. We've got to get out of here, dress and get ashore
+somehow."
+
+Thereupon Bart pounded with both fists on the door, while the boys aided
+him by yelling. They kept it up for several minutes but there was no
+response.
+
+"Maybe the machinery makes so much noise they can't hear us," remarked
+Ned. "Let's all pound together. Use the chair and save our fists."
+
+They raised a thundering din by knocking the chairs against the walls of
+the room and the door.
+
+"Surely someone must hear that," said Bart, as he stopped to rest his
+arm. Evidently someone did, for in the silence that followed a voice
+asked:
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"We want to get out," called Bart. "We're locked in."
+
+"Well boys, I'm very sorry," went on the voice, which they recognized as
+that of Captain Needham's "but I can't let you out."
+
+"You can't let us out?" demanded Ned. "What right have you got to keep
+us here, prisoners."
+
+"Oh, I wouldn't think of calling you prisoners," the captain said in a
+gentle tone from the other side of the door.
+
+"What else is it?" Bart asked indignantly.
+
+"Well, you're only detained for a little while, that's all. I can't
+explain now, but it will be all right in a few days. I wish I could tell
+you, but I can't. I'm bound to secrecy. If you will only be patient I'm
+sure it will be all right inside of a week."
+
+"Do you mean to say you're going to keep us here a week?" inquired Fenn.
+
+"Well, I'm afraid I'll have to, you know. You'll be well taken care of.
+Plenty to eat, but I'm sorry I can't give you any better clothes than
+those you have on. You can't run away in them, and you might if you had
+your own."
+
+"You'll be sorry for this!" threatened Bart. "When we do get out you'll
+be arrested. You can't do this sort of thing in this country!"
+
+"But I have done it," the captain replied, and the boys thought they
+heard him laughing. "Now don't get excited. We'll treat you well."
+
+"We don't want to be treated well!" fired back Frank. "We want our
+rights! We demand that you release us at once!"
+
+"I'm sorry, but I can't do it, boys. The best I can do is to send word
+to your folks that you are safe, but unavoidably detained," and this
+time the boys were sure the man was laughing.
+
+"We'll break this door down if you don't let us out!" shouted Ned, and
+he banged a chair against the portal.
+
+"I guess you'll have your own troubles doing that," the captain
+replied. "Go ahead and try. Now I'm going to treat you good. There's
+another room opening off from the one where you are. It has bunks in
+it, a wash basin, running water and a few other conveniences. Just
+imagine you're on a steamer, taking a trip for a few days, and it will
+soon be over."
+
+There was a clicking sound, and a part of the wall, the boys would never
+have taken for a door, slid back and showed a small room adjoining the
+one they were in. It had four bunks and a little washroom, but there
+was no opening from it save the same kind of a ventilator that was in
+the first apartment.
+
+"Breakfast will be served to you here in the morning," the captain
+called and then the boys could hear him going away.
+
+For a little while the chums were too surprised at the sudden turn of
+affairs to be able to make any remarks. Then Bart exclaimed:
+
+"Well, of all the high-handed, piratical proceedings this is the limit.
+It's just like a dime novel, or a five-cent library plot."
+
+"Only not half so funny," spoke Ned. "The folks will be very much
+worried about us."
+
+"Maybe the captain will keep his word and send them a message," ventured
+Bart.
+
+"If he says we're unavoidably detained that will make them almost as
+much worried as if they didn't hear from us," added Frank. "Boys, we've
+got to get out of here."
+
+"How?" asked Bart, with something like despair in his voice.
+
+He might well ask how. Clad in garments which they could hardly venture
+out in, with no shoes, and without so much as a penknife to cut their
+way free, their case seemed hopeless. Their only weapons were the spoons
+which had been furnished with their meal. There were no knives or
+forks.
+
+"We've got to do it," Bart decided.
+
+Silence fell upon them. They could feel the boat vibrate with the speed
+of the engine. They were still being carried up stream.
+
+"What's it all about?" asked Fenn. "That's what gets me! I can't
+understand it!"
+
+"I think I have a sort of clew," said Frank.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"It hinges on the same thing that has been a mystery from the first."
+
+"You mean the King of Paprica?" asked Ned.
+
+"That's it. At first I thought those men were crazy. Now I begin to
+think differently."
+
+"But what is their object, and why do they want to make prisoners of us?
+What have we done?"
+
+"I think we have Sandy Merton to thank for our being locked up," went on
+Frank. "You see the captain arranged this after Sandy saw us and ran
+back to tell Mr. Needham. Sandy has been on our trail. You remember he
+was in the canoe. Then he was on guard there, near where those men had
+their hut. You can depend on it there's a deep mystery here, and, in
+some way, whether we know it or not, we're mixed up in it."
+
+"Do you think these men on the boat are, also?"
+
+"Of course. They're acting for some one, and they don't want us to get
+away to give an alarm. That's as much as I can understand now. If any of
+you can get at the bottom of it say so."
+
+But no one could.
+
+"It's getting cold in here," remarked Bart. "I'm going to crawl in the
+bunk. These overalls are rather thin."
+
+He got into one of the narrow beds and the others followed his example.
+The light from the lamp in the other room illuminated the apartment
+dimly. The boys talked the situation over from all sides coming to no
+conclusion.
+
+"But what are we going to do?" asked Ned.
+
+"Let's wait until morning," suggested Bart. "We'll be rested then, and
+can think better. We'll have a look around the place and maybe we can
+make a break."
+
+"Let's make a break when they open the door to give us breakfast,"
+suggested Ned.
+
+"That might be a good plan," came from Bart. "The morning will do. We
+can't accomplish anything to-night, so there's no use fretting."
+
+In spite of their unpleasant position the boys finally fell asleep and
+slumbered soundly. Bart was the first to awaken and he hardly knew
+where he was. A glance around soon brought to his mind what had
+happened. He hurried into the other room. As he reached it he gave a
+cry that brought his companions in on the run.
+
+"What is it?" asked Ned.
+
+Bart pointed to the table. The dishes had all been removed while they
+slept and the lamp was gone. A dim light came in through the
+ventilators.
+
+"They were here in the night!" cried Bart.
+
+"What's queer about that?" asked Frank.
+
+"This," spoke Bart. "They didn't come in through the door, as the chairs
+are in front of it just as we left them, and the door opens inwardly."
+
+"Well?" asked Fenn.
+
+"They didn't come in through the window, for there isn't any."
+
+"How did they get in then?" asked Fenn.
+
+"There must be some secret way that we don't know about. We must find
+it. That's how we can escape."
+
+"Perhaps it's around the ventilators," suggested Frank.
+
+"We'll take a look," spoke Bart.
+
+They soon found that the one in the bunk room would not admit the body
+of a child, to say nothing to that of a man. The one in the room where
+they had eaten was similar. As Bart, standing on the table, was
+examining it closely, he motioned to his companions to make no noise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+THE ESCAPE
+
+
+"What is it?" asked Ned in a whisper.
+
+"Some men are talking up on deck. I can hear them," Bart answered in a
+low voice.
+
+He listened intently for a moment and came down from the table.
+
+"I don't know who they are," he said. "I didn't recognize Captain
+Needham's voice, but one man was saying: 'It was a great idea, him
+calling himself the King of Paprica. That must have thrown 'em all
+off the scent.'"
+
+"What do you make of it?" asked Frank.
+
+"It only confirms what we guessed at, that the men on this boat are, in
+some way, connected with the mystery."
+
+"See any way of getting out around that ventilator?" asked Fenn.
+
+"No," replied Bart. "We've got to try the floor or walls. Say!" he went
+on in an excited tone. "Why didn't I think of it before. The way that
+door slid back ought to have given me the tip. There must be some secret
+passage in the walls or floor. Let's look for it!"
+
+Excited over the prospect of escape, the boys carefully examined the
+walls. They seemed solid, except where the door slid back to reveal the
+bunk room. This was operated from outside, they decided. There was no
+way of escape open there.
+
+"Look at every inch of the floor!" said Bart, dropping to his knees.
+
+The others followed his example. They crawled about with their eyes
+close to the boards. Suddenly Frank uttered an exclamation.
+
+"Find anything?" called Bart, who was in the bunk room.
+
+For answer Frank pointed to a long, straight crack in the floor, under
+the table. It was about a quarter of an inch wide, and was at right
+angles to the other cracks which appeared wherever the boards joined.
+
+"I'll bet that's a sliding trap-door!" exclaimed Frank. "We must try to
+open it."
+
+At that moment a knock sounded on the door and a voice called out:
+
+"If you boys will promise to behave and not cut up rough I'll bring in
+some breakfast."
+
+"We'll promise," agreed Bart, his voice trembling slightly. "We'll take
+the food," he added in a whisper to his companions, "and then we'll try
+to escape to-night. Don't say anything to whoever comes in."
+
+The person outside proved to be a husky man with a big tray of food.
+Standing behind him in the passage were two other men, so there would
+have been little use in the boys making a dash for liberty. In silence
+the food was placed on the table, and without speaking the man withdrew,
+locking the door after him.
+
+The boys waited until the footsteps died away. They were so excited over
+the prospect of escape they did not think of the food. Eagerly they
+looked for a knife. There were only spoons. Ned uttered an exclamation
+of disappointment, but Bart seized one of them.
+
+"The handle will go into the crack," he said. "Maybe we can shove the
+door back."
+
+He tried, but was unable to budge the slide, if it was one.
+
+"Let's all try," suggested Frank.
+
+There were four large spoons. The chums moved the table so they could
+kneel side by side and inserted the handles into the narrow crack.
+
+"All together!" called Bart.
+
+The piece of flooring suddenly slid back, revealing a flight of steps
+leading downward into the hold of the boat.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Ned. "Now we'll show Captain Needham a trick or two!"
+
+"We must wait until night!" said Bart. "It will be easier then. Besides,
+we'll need a lantern in that dark hole, and they'll bring one with our
+suppers. Now I can eat with a good appetite."
+
+"How can we escape in these clothes?" asked Fenn, looking at his
+overalls and jumper.
+
+"I'm not so afraid as you are of meeting the girls," spoke Bart. "Let's
+eat now. I wish it was night!"
+
+The chums thought they had never known such a long day. At noon their
+dinner was served, the same precaution being observed as with the
+breakfast. With supper the man brought a lantern which he hung up on a
+hook in the ceiling. Then he went out, closing the door and locking it.
+All the while the barge had been steaming ahead.
+
+"Wonder why they used that trap door to take the things away by last
+night?" asked Ned.
+
+"Probably to impress us with the mystery of the thing," answered Bart.
+"Lucky they didn't close it tight or we'd never noticed where it was."
+
+They ate their supper and waited in anxiety until it would be late
+enough to make the attempt to escape. They wanted to delay until all
+but the watchmen would be asleep. At last Bart said he thought it must
+be close to midnight. The lantern was taken down, and, using the spoons,
+they slid back the trap door.
+
+"I'll go first with the lantern," said Bart. "The rest of you follow.
+Don't make a bit of noise. We must make our way to the deck, somehow,
+and, as soon as you do, rush for the side and overboard. We can easily
+swim ashore. No matter what kind it is, it's better than being held here
+prisoners."
+
+"What about our clothes?" asked Fenn.
+
+"If you want to ask for 'em, go ahead," said Bart. "I wouldn't stop for
+a full dress suit now. These togs are good enough for me."
+
+Cautiously Bart began to descend the steps. The lantern showed a black
+hold, filled with boxes and barrels. The others followed, stepping
+gingerly, for they were in their bare feet.
+
+Bart looked about for some means of reaching the deck. Ahead he saw a
+glimmer of light. Placing the lantern where it would show him the way
+back he went closer. He found the light was at the head of a
+companionway which he ascended and noticed it led to the after part of
+the barge. He could feel the cool wind blowing on his face.
+
+"We'll chance it," he said, and he went back to tell his chums.
+
+They made their way up the stairs, pausing to listen. There was no sound
+save the throbbing of the engine and the churn of the screw.
+
+"I see the stars," whispered Ned. "This must lead to the deck."
+
+It did, and two minutes more and they stood at the side of the barge,
+ready to leap overboard. They could see the shore not far away.
+
+"Come on!" said Bart in a low tone.
+
+At that instant a voice called:
+
+"Hi there! Come back! Captain, the boys are escaping!"
+
+The sound of feet running across the deck toward them could be heard.
+Then, in the light of a lantern, a man was seen approaching where the
+chums stood.
+
+"Overboard!" yelled Bart.
+
+There were four splashes in the water, and the four boys were striking
+out for shore.
+
+"Stop the barge!" This was Captain Needham's voice calling. "Lower a
+boat! We mustn't let 'em get away! After 'em men!"
+
+There was a ringing of bells. The water churned under the stern of the
+_Comet_ as the engine was reversed. Then came the sound of a boat being
+lowered. A few seconds later it struck the water.
+
+"We're almost to shore," called Bart cautiously. "Keep on boys!"
+
+Then came the noise of oars in the rowlocks. The barge had come to a
+stop.
+
+"Give way!" called Captain Needham. "Get 'em before they land or we'll
+have trouble. But I guess they can't go very far barefooted."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+THE PURSUIT
+
+
+Ned, being the best swimmer, was first ashore. The others soon joined
+him. They could dimly make out the approaching boat in which were
+several men.
+
+"Which way?" asked Fenn.
+
+"No way at all," replied Bart. "To the trees! If we take a step they'll
+hear us, and besides, we don't know any more than the man in the moon
+which way to go. Hide in a tree until they give up the chase."
+
+The shore was lined with trees. It wasn't much fun climbing up
+barefooted, and with thin clothes on, but the boys managed it, and soon
+were in a big willow, the thick leaves of which afforded a good screen.
+
+They had no sooner perched themselves on limbs, well hidden by the
+foliage, than the sound of the boat's keel grating on the gravelly shore
+was heard. Then came the captain's voice.
+
+"Scatter now and hunt for 'em. They can't have gone far! We were after
+'em too quick! But be careful men, I don't want those boys hurt. Be
+easy, remember!"
+
+"That's queer," thought Ned. "In fact this whole business is queer."
+
+The noise the men made as they crashed through the underbrush came
+plainly to the ears of the boys. They could see the gleam of lanterns
+the searchers carried, as they ran to and fro. But the tree proved a
+happy thought. None of the men imagined the boys were in it, and some of
+the pursuers even stood beneath the willow and voiced their remarks of
+disappointment.
+
+For ten or fifteen minutes the search was kept up in the vicinity of
+where the boat had landed. The men made a circle about the place looking
+for the boys but did not find them. The chums, cramped from clinging to
+the branches, dared not move for fear of rustling the leaves, and
+disclosing their presence. Finally the searchers gathered about the
+boat, close to the tree.
+
+"Guess they gave us the slip," remarked the captain. "Smart lads those.
+Well, men, might as well go back. Get the boat ready." The men moved
+off, Captain Needham remaining beneath the tree a moment longer. The
+boys heard him murmur: "The King of Paprica will not like this. I must
+get word to him at once."
+
+Then he moved away. A little later the sound of the boat being hoisted
+to the barge could be heard.
+
+"Can't we get down now?" whispered Fenn. "I'm all stiff and cold."
+
+"Better wait awhile," advised Bart. "They may have left some one on
+watch."
+
+It was weary waiting but the boys did not complain. It was so still they
+could hear the men in the small boat boarding the barge. Then there came
+the sound of the big craft getting underway. Bart peered out through the
+leaves. He could just make out the steamer.
+
+"They've turned around! They're heading down stream!" he said in an
+excited whisper. "I guess we're safe now. Come on, boys!"
+
+He scrambled down, followed by the others.
+
+From the shore they could see the lights of the barge disappearing
+around a bend in the river.
+
+"Must be something very queer in this, when our escape makes them turn
+around and go back," spoke Bart.
+
+"Looks as if we were surely mixed up in that mystery," came from Frank.
+"Wish we knew how."
+
+"We'll soon know," replied Bart. "This thing will have to end in a
+little while. Now, the question is, what are we going to do?"
+
+"Let's look for a place to stay the rest of the night," counseled Frank.
+
+"All right, only I don't feel much like tramping through the woods and
+fields in the dark and barefooted," objected Fenn. "Why not stay here
+until it's light enough to see where we are going?"
+
+After talking it over they decided this was the best plan. It was too
+risky tramping about in an unknown locality, especially without some
+protection for their feet. Bart walked back away from the river. Then he
+called to his chums:
+
+"Here's a hay field, fellows. It's been cut but hasn't been cocked up
+yet. Come on, we'll make a pile of it and crawl in to get warm."
+
+It was a good suggestion. The half-cured grass made a warm nest for the
+thinly clad boys, and they huddled down together in a big mound of the
+fragrant hay, pulling it over themselves until they were hidden from
+sight, leaving only a little hole to breathe through. It was so warm and
+comfortable that they speedily fell asleep.
+
+The sun was shining when they awakened. Bart sprang up, scattering the
+hay all about, and his companions followed.
+
+"Oh, for a bit of breakfast!" Fenn remarked.
+
+"'So say we all of us,'" chanted Bart.
+
+"There's a chance of it!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Breakfast!" and he pointed to a little village about half a mile away.
+
+"Hurrah! We're in luck!" cried Ned. "Now for a meal and a chance to send
+word home!"
+
+"We can't go looking this way!" exclaimed Fenn. "Look at our clothes!"
+
+"You mean don't look at 'em," corrected Bart. "We'll hang a sign out;
+'We have better ones at home.' That will satisfy any one. As for me I'd
+go there and ask for a bite if I only had my swimming togs on, and these
+are a heap-sight more respectable than those. Here goes!"
+
+He strode forward, pulling wisps of hay from his hair. The others
+followed. From the field they emerged into a country road that led to
+the village. They were almost at the outskirts of the hamlet, where
+several houses were grouped together when a boy came from one out into
+the highway, carrying a pail of milk.
+
+"That looks good!" exclaimed Bart. "Hi, kid," he called, "sell us a
+drink of milk, will you?"
+
+The boy halted. He gazed at the four strange figures approaching;
+figures clad in ragged overalls and jumpers; bare-footed figures, with
+bits of hay clinging to them. Then the boy dropped his pail of milk
+spilling it all over and with a yell of: "Pop! Pop! Here they be!" he
+dashed back into the house.
+
+The next moment three men came from the house. They carried clubs in
+their hands, and one had a gun.
+
+"Here they are!" called one, as the three advanced on the run toward the
+boys.
+
+"Polite way to receive guests," commented Bart.
+
+As he spoke there came hurrying from houses adjoining that where the boy
+lived who gave the alarm, a number of men and youths. All of them had
+clubs or some sort of weapon.
+
+"They seem to be after us!" cried Fenn.
+
+"So they are!" admitted Bart. "I'll bet Captain Needham lied about us
+and put them on our track. He probably sent some message last night."
+
+"We'd better run," counseled Frank, and at that the boys took to their
+heels.
+
+The pursuit was on in earnest. The crowd behind kept increasing as men
+and youths from houses further back on the road joined it.
+
+"Catch 'em! Stop 'em! Head 'em off!" were the cries that reached the
+boys. But they kept on at their best speed. They had the advantage of a
+good start, and were not hampered with heavy clothing and shoes. The
+road was deep in dust and was not hard on their unprotected feet.
+
+"They'll never catch us!" exclaimed Bart. "But what in the world do they
+want with us?"
+
+"Don't talk! Run!" came from Fenn.
+
+It began to look as though the boys would get away. The road stretched
+invitingly before them, and, though the number of their pursuers was
+increasing they had not cut down the lads' lead much. But fortune does
+not always favor the brave. As the chums went around a curve they saw in
+front of them a load of hay, overturned on the highway. It blocked the
+whole width of the road, save for a strip of sward on either side.
+
+"Go around it!" cried Ned.
+
+But when they came up they found the passage on both sides was so thick
+with big Canadian thistles, as to daunt even the bravest barefooted
+person, particularly if he had not been used to going without his shoes.
+They gingerly tried the passage on either side but had to turn back.
+The pursuers gave a shout and came on faster than before.
+
+"Over the hay!" sung out Ned.
+
+He made a running jump to scramble up the small hill of dried grass. The
+others followed. From the other side there suddenly appeared the farmer
+who owned it. He had been trying to fix his wagon. He saw the boys
+attempting to climb over the load, and noted the crowd in pursuit.
+
+"No, you don't!" he yelled, making a grab for Fenn and Bart, who were in
+the rear. He seized them by their loose clothing. As the two boys felt
+themselves being pulled back they instinctively grabbed at Ned and
+Frank. All four fell in a heap on the highway at the bottom of the hay
+pile. An instant later the crowd was upon them and the boys were grabbed
+by half a dozen hands.
+
+"We've got 'em!" exclaimed one gray-bearded man, with a big tin star on
+his coat. "We'll git th' reward. Great luck!"
+
+"What right have you got to chase us?" demanded Bart.
+
+"Best right in the world," replied the constable.
+
+"What have we done?" asked Frank.
+
+"Broke jail, that's what ye done."
+
+"Broke jail! We never were in jail!"
+
+"What? Ain't ye th' two men who escaped from Blissville jail last night?"
+demanded the constable.
+
+"No!" fairly shouted Bart. "Can't you count? There are four of us and
+mere boys, not men. The only place we broke from was the hold of the
+barge where they were keeping us prisoners, after we fell from the
+balloon!"
+
+"Balloon!" exclaimed another man, coming forward from the crowd. "Are
+you th' boys from Darewell th' alarm has been sent out for? Went up in a
+balloon that broke away?"
+
+"That's who we are," replied Fenn.
+
+"By Heck! men, we've got th' wrong ones!" cried the man who had last
+spoken. "These are the balloon boys! It was two men, not four boys, who
+broke jail! We've made a mistake!"
+
+"What made ye run, if ye wasn't guilty?" demanded the constable, rather
+incensed over his disappointment.
+
+"Guess you'd run, Amos," put in the other man, "if ye saw this crowd
+after ye."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+AN UNEXPECTED MEETING
+
+
+It took considerable explanation to set things straight but it was
+finally accomplished. The boys told as much of their story as they
+thought proper, from the time they went up in the balloon until they saw
+the crowd after them.
+
+In turn they were informed that during the night two prisoners had
+escaped from the jail at Blissville, the next town to Pentkirk, which
+was the village they were then in.
+
+"Lucky you mentioned balloon," spoke Mr. Weldon, the farmer who had come
+to the chum's aid.
+
+"Did you hear of it?" asked Ned.
+
+"Well, I guess! Circulars describin' ye have been sent to every
+postoffice around here."
+
+"Then Captain Needham hasn't telephoned word to our folks!" cried Bart.
+"We must do it at once. Is there a wire in town?" he asked.
+
+"Yep, an' ye can use it all ye want to," said Mr. Weldon. "There's a
+hundred dollars reward for news of each of ye, an' maybe ye wouldn't
+mind lettin' some of th' boys earn it by telephonin' t' th' Darewell
+police?"
+
+"Of course not," replied Bart, "so long as our folks are told, at once,
+that's all we care."
+
+"We'd like some breakfast and--and--some decent clothes too," put in
+Fenn.
+
+"We'll see to that," replied Mr. Weldon. "Come along with me."
+
+He took the boys to his house, first sending a messenger to telephone to
+Darewell that the boys were safe and would shortly be home. The chums
+were soon eating a hearty meal, and then were fitted out in garments,
+which, if they did not fit them well, being collected from several
+houses that contained lads about of their age, were a welcome relief
+from the overalls and jumpers.
+
+"I never knew how much depended on shoes before," said Fenn, as he gazed
+at those loaned him.
+
+"I can feel those thistles yet," observed Frank.
+
+"Now I s'pose you boys'll want t' git home," observed Mr. Weldon when
+breakfast was finished. "I'll be glad t' advance ye th' money for your
+tickets."
+
+"We'll be much obliged if you will," spoke Bart. "If you want
+references you can telephone to any one in Darewell."
+
+"Them circulars is reference enough," was the answer, as he waved one
+containing a description of the boys. Their relatives had sent them
+broadcast after the balloon had broken loose and no word had been
+received from the chums by the following morning.
+
+It was not long before the four were on a train, speeding home. They
+were so full of talk over their recent experiences that it was hard to
+say where one began and the other left off.
+
+"One thing we've got to do the minute we get back," said Bart.
+
+"What?" asked Fenn.
+
+"We've got to make a trip to that place where we saw the men acting so
+queerly, where Sandy was on guard, and where that log cabin was, and see
+what it all means. We'll have those men arrested."
+
+"And Captain Needham, too."
+
+"Yes, he's in the plot."
+
+The boys arrived home about noon. That they were welcomed by their
+parents, relatives and friends is putting it mildly. There was a big
+crowd at the depot, as the train got in, and there was a regular
+procession up the main street, with the boys in the center. Such
+shouting, laughing and cheering was seldom heard in Darewell before,
+and the next issue of the town paper was hardly large enough to give
+even a partial account of what happened.
+
+As soon as the boys were released by their friends, which took
+considerable time, there was a consultation at Mr. Wilding's house.
+
+It was attended by the four boys, Frank's uncle, Mr. Keene and Mr.
+Masterson. The lads told their story from the start, beginning with
+their first encounter with the King of Paprica.
+
+"There are just two ways about it," said Mr. Wilding. "Those men are
+either crazy or they are criminals, up to some game. In either case
+they ought to be driven from the community."
+
+The others agreed with him. Then they discussed a plan. It was decided
+that the boys, accompanied by Mr. Wilding, the chief of police and an
+officer, should go to the clearing at the foot of Bender's hill, and
+see if any of the men were still there. If they were they were to be
+arrested, and held until they made a satisfactory explanation.
+
+The little posse started about three o'clock that afternoon, the matter
+being kept quiet. The two police officers were armed. The boys wanted
+to take their rifles, but were not allowed to, as their parents did not
+want them to run any chances.
+
+The chief of police and his officer led the way through the woods and
+across the fields to the location described by the boys. They went
+cautiously, keeping a lookout for any signs of the strangely-acting men.
+
+As they advanced through a little glade, close to where the clearing was
+located, the chief, who was in advance, called out:
+
+"There's some one sitting on the ground just ahead."
+
+Bart pressed forward. He saw a lad leaning against a big stake driven
+into the earth.
+
+"Why it's Jimmie Nelson!" Bart exclaimed.
+
+"The laziest boy in town," murmured the chief.
+
+"I'll go up and speak to him," Bart went on. "You can hang back here
+until I see what he's doing."
+
+"Doing? He never does anything," said Fenn.
+
+"Hello, Jimmie," called Bart, as he started to cross the clearing. "What
+you doing here?"
+
+"Got a job."
+
+"You call that a job; sitting there?"
+
+"Sure, it's a nice easy job. Sandy got it for me. He's working for the
+same firm."
+
+Bart gave a sudden start. The plot, it seemed, was thickening.
+
+"What are your duties?" Bart went on.
+
+"Oh I just sit here to watch that this stake don't move, and if I see
+any one coming I'm to pull this string."
+
+"Have you pulled it?"
+
+"Not yet, ain't seen any one."
+
+"What do you call me?"
+
+"That's so. I almost forgot. Say, pull it, will you; you're nearer to it
+than I am."
+
+The string was about two inches from Jim's hand, and within one inch of
+Bart's foot.
+
+"What happens if I pull it?"
+
+"Don't know. That ain't part of my job," and Jim blinked his eyes
+lazily.
+
+"Then I guess I'll not pull it," replied Bart, putting his foot on the
+cord to prevent Jim from doing it.
+
+"All right, maybe I'll lose my job now, but I don't care. There's too
+much work. Have to stay awake too much."
+
+Bart turned and beckoned to his companions who had remained in the
+woods. They came on in a hurry.
+
+"You're not supposed to come here," Jim objected in a lazy tone. "I
+ought to pull that string. Pull it, Bart, you're closer than I am."
+
+"Forward!" exclaimed the chief. "We'll see where this cord leads!"
+
+He started to trace the white string that stretched along the ground and
+into the woods beyond the clearing. The boys followed, and the party
+broke into a run. Bart carried the end of the cord with him to prevent
+Jim from pulling it, but he need not have taken the trouble as Jim had
+gone to sleep.
+
+Just as the posse was at the further edge of the clearing there emerged
+from the woods four men. One was the white-bearded individual, whose
+strange language and actions had first aroused the boys' suspicions, one
+the tramp, whom the chums had encountered three times; the third was the
+man who had taken Sandy's gun that day, while at the sight of the fourth
+Frank exclaimed: "The King of Paprica!"
+
+The men stopped abruptly on seeing the boys and their companions. There
+was a moment's silence and then a noise sounded off to the left. They
+all turned to behold Captain Needham approaching on the run.
+
+"The boys got away!" he cried, addressing the King of Paprica.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+STRIKING OIL--CONCLUSION
+
+
+"You're right! They did!" exclaimed the chief of police. "They got away
+from you, and they're here now to prefer charges against you and the
+other scoundrels. I place you all under arrest," and he drew his
+revolver, the officer doing likewise.
+
+"There's no necessity for that," said the man who had called himself the
+King of Paprica. "We're not going to make any trouble."
+
+"You'd better not," said the chief significantly.
+
+"I can explain it all now," the man went on.
+
+"About kidnaping these boys?" demanded Mr. Wilding.
+
+"I didn't kidnap 'em," spoke Captain Needham, "they came aboard and were
+glad enough to. I had to hold 'em a while, and sorry enough I was to do
+it."
+
+"You'll be sorrier before we're through with you," remarked the chief.
+
+"Gentlemen, perhaps I had better explain," said the man whom the boys
+had seen wearing the gilt crown.
+
+"We'll give you a chance," said Mr. Wilding.
+
+"In the first place we owe you boys an apology," the man went on.
+"We'll make it a substantial one too, as you will see, but first let me
+introduce myself. My name is Patrick Ricka, and I am interested in oil
+wells."
+
+"Oil wells!" exclaimed Mr. Wilding. "There aren't any around here."
+
+"There wasn't but there will be very soon," Mr. Ricka added. "My
+companions are William Hendershot," and he indicated the man with the
+white beard, "Joseph Gampfer," who was the tramp, "and Andrew Maddox.
+They are associated with me in this enterprise. Captain Needham, I
+believe, you boys know," and he smiled.
+
+"Are you crazy or is it a joke about the King of Paprica?" asked Mr.
+Wilding, not inclined to let up on the men.
+
+"It was an odd title, made up partly from my own name, as you will
+observe, and adopted to meet the exigencies of the occasion. For some
+time I have suspected there was oil in this region," Patrick Ricka
+continued. "I knew if I made any tests openly some one would find out
+what I was after, and I would have no opportunity of securing the land
+without paying a fabulous price for it. So I decided to come here with
+my assistants and work in secret.
+
+"We thought the best plan would be to pretend one or more of us was
+slightly insane and that the other was his keeper. This was done. I had
+the hut (a portable one) built and placed the name above the door to
+further the idea that we were insane. Then we went through some rather
+foolish antics, just to keep persons from prying around here. You boys
+were the more persistent, and saw more of us than any one else. That day
+Mr. Hendershot was poking his pole down in the river he was testing to
+see if there was a strata of oil land under the water. You boys thought
+he was crazy. Again, when you started to cross here and Sandy ordered
+you away, we were making some microscopic tests of the upper surface,
+and did not want to be disturbed. We hired Sandy, not because we liked
+him, but because we heard he was on the 'outs' with you boys, and we
+knew he would not make friends with you and so unintentionally perhaps,
+give our secret away.
+
+"As it happened the plan was successful in a measure. Then Mr. Gampfer
+in the guise of a tramp met you and inquired where the cabin was, for
+he had, up to that time, not been to it. He saw you were rather
+dangerous boys to have loose, as far as our plans were concerned. Even
+moving the cabin did not fool you. We saw you with the telescope that
+day," and Mr. Ricka laughed.
+
+"What did Sandy and Mr. Gampfer follow us for?" demanded Bart.
+
+"Only to see if they could overhear what you were talking about, and
+learn whether you were still determined to solve our secret," replied
+the oil man. "They intended no harm, and, I trust, worked none. If they
+had heard you discussing ways of finding out our secret they would have
+warned me to hasten matters to a close. I hope they did not annoy you."
+
+"It worried us," Bart replied.
+
+"Of course. We are sorry for that. In the meanwhile we went on with our
+experiments. We found indications that oil was plentiful under here and
+made arrangements to buy the property. But we paid a good price for it,
+and each seller will have a share in the profits. We did nothing
+dishonest. Mr. Gampfer gave you a tip, once, but you didn't seem to
+grasp it."
+
+"What was it?" asked Fenn.
+
+"The day you borrowed the salt," replied the man who had posed as a
+tramp. "You see I was engaged in going through the country around here
+with my instruments looking for indications of oil. You asked me what my
+work was and I said hunting the 'Oilander Tincander.' If you will say
+that slowly you'll see what I mean."
+
+"Oil-ander Tin-can-der," murmured Bart. "Oh! I see. Oil-can!"
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"Well," resumed Mr. Ricka, "everything went along well until that
+balloon trip. That brought about the climax. Of course it was all an
+accident, and we had no idea our barge would pick you boys from the
+river. You see we have a barge to bring machinery to us. It had
+delivered some and was to bring more. It was on the way after it when
+the balloon fell. Sandy Merton, whom we kept in our employ, was aboard
+and recognized you boys. He told Captain Needham, who, knowing how
+nearly you had discovered our secret, determined to hold you a while
+until he could let me know. He had no right to, of course, and we will
+pay you any reasonable damages.
+
+"For you see we have struck oil," Mr. Ricka went on. "Our property which
+extends for over a mile all around Bender's hill, is rich in oil. As
+soon as you boys escaped Captain Needham turned about and came back. I
+apprehend that is correct, Captain, for, though he sent a telegram to me
+telling of your--er--of your detention--I have not seen him from shortly
+before the balloon fell, until this moment."
+
+Captain Needham nodded in assent.
+
+"The need of secrecy is at an end," Mr. Ricka continued. "Our rights are
+all secured and we don't care how soon everyone in Darewell knows about
+the oil."
+
+"What was Jimmie Nelson doing out there?" asked Bart.
+
+"He's a friend of Sandy's," replied the oil man. "We hired him to stay
+out there and pull the string, which rings a bell in the cabin, as soon
+as he saw any one. We knew he was lazy, and this was the easiest and
+safest job we could think of for him."
+
+"He's asleep now," said Fenn.
+
+"I suppose so. Well, there's no need for him any longer. I guess we'll
+discharge him. Now as to you boys. I realize we had no right to detain
+you, and you doubtless suffered some hardships. Will a thousand dollars'
+worth of valuable oil stock apiece satisfy you?"
+
+"Is the stock any good?" asked Bart quickly.
+
+"I think Mr. Wilding can answer that," and Mr. Ricka showed the bank
+cashier some certificates.
+
+"That's as good as gold," replied Mr. Wilding.
+
+"Will you boys accept it?" asked the oil man. "It isn't stock in these
+new wells, but in some long established ones."
+
+The boys and Mr. Wilding consulted together for a moment. The boys were
+only too willing to call the matter square on that basis, and the
+cashier gave his consent to the deal, as regarded his own son, after
+demanding that Mr. Ricka also pay the reward, which was done. The other
+chums were sure their relatives would not object.
+
+"Now that is settled, come and see the first well we have sunk,"
+suggested Mr. Ricka. "It is not finished, but we know it is going to be
+a success, for we have tested it."
+
+He led the way to a little clearing beyond the big one. In front of the
+cabin was some curious machinery. There were a number of tanks and
+barrels, which smelled strongly of oil.
+
+"Did you connect the dynamo?" asked Mr. Ricka of Captain Needham.
+
+"Yes, just before I left the barge."
+
+"You see we get our power from a dynamo on the barge," the oil man
+explained. "A wire runs from here to the boat, through the woods. We
+didn't dare risk taking power from town or some one would find out what
+we were up to. The barge not only brought us our supplies but gave us
+electricity for an experimental plant. We'll soon have a larger one."
+
+Then he showed the visitors where a small well had been bored by means
+of new and improved electrical machinery. It gave a good quality of oil,
+and there were indications that the under strata was permeated with the
+valuable fluid.
+
+In fact the new oil company proved a big success, and several land
+owners in the vicinity made small fortunes. Frank's uncle was one of
+the lucky ones, though his share was not as large as was some of his
+neighbors'.
+
+The boys' relatives decided to let the matter drop, in consideration of
+the settlement made by Mr. Ricka. Soon there was a big boom in town,
+caused by the knowledge that oil had been struck. A number of persons
+found employment with the company, Sandy Merton being one of them. Jim
+Nelson might have been hired, but he was too lazy to ask for a job.
+
+"Letter for you, Ned," said his chums one day about a week later, as
+they were all in the postoffice, for Bart had glanced in the Wilding
+box.
+
+"Wonder who it's from?" spoke Ned.
+
+"Best way to find out is to open it," suggested Fenn, and the hesitating
+boy forthwith followed his friend's advice.
+
+It was a short epistle, and Ned had soon finished reading it.
+
+"It's from my uncle and aunt in New York," he said. "They want me to pay
+them a long visit next vacation, and I can bring some friends with me.
+Will you fellows go?"
+
+"To New York? Well, I guess yes!" exclaimed Bart, and the others nodded
+in assent.
+
+"We can have corking times!" Ned went on. "I've never been there. It's
+great, according to what you read about it."
+
+"We couldn't have much more excitement than we did right here the last
+few weeks," remarked Fenn.
+
+But whether the boys did or not can be learned in the second volume of
+this series, which will be entitled: "Ned Wilding's Disappearance."
+
+"I wish it was time to go now," Ned went on as he put the letter in his
+pocket.
+
+"Have to wait, that's all," said Bart. "By the way, what ever became of
+John Newton, who used to work here as a messenger?"
+
+"Didn't you hear?" asked Fenn.
+
+"No. Did he get to be assistant postmaster?"
+
+"Went to New York last week," Fenn added, for John lived near him. "Said
+he was going to be an actor or get some sort of a job on the stage.
+Wouldn't wonder but what he went in some variety show. He could imitate
+birds better than any one I ever heard."
+
+"Maybe we'll see him when we go to New York," suggested Bart.
+
+There, as they discussed the possibilities of their trip, which was
+destined to be much more surprising than any of them supposed, we will
+take leave of them.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+ Transcriber's Notes:
+
+ --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
+
+ --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
+
+ --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
+
+ --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Heroes of the School, by Allen Chapman
+
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