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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37291-8.txt b/37291-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a6cd46c --- /dev/null +++ b/37291-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6331 @@ +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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL *** + +***** This file should be named 37291-8.txt or 37291-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/2/9/37291/ + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 501px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="501" height="600" alt="cover" title="cover" /> +</div> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<div class="tp1"> +<div class="tp2"> +<h1>THE HEROES<br /> +OF THE SCHOOL</h1> + +<p class="noi center">Or</p> + +<p class="noi subtitle">The Darewell Chums<br /> +Through Thick and Thin</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="noi center">BY</p> +<p class="noi author">ALLEN CHAPMAN</p> + +<p class="noi works">AUTHOR OF “BART STIRLING’S ROAD TO SUCCESS,” “WORKING<br /> +HARD TO WIN,” “BOUND TO SUCCEED,” “THE YOUNG<br /> +STOREKEEPER,” “NAT BORDEN’S FIND,” ETC.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 240px;"> +<img src="images/logo.jpg" width="100%" alt="The GOLDSMITH Publishing Co., CLEVELAND, OHIO, MADE IN U.S.A." title="The GOLDSMITH Publishing Co., CLEVELAND, OHIO, MADE IN U.S.A." /> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p class="noi center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1908, by<br /> +Cupples & Leon Company</span> +</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<col style="width:70%;" /> +<col style="width:10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">CHAPTER</td> + <td align="left"></td> + <td align="right">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">I.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Expelling a Pupil</a></td> + <td align="right">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">II.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">The Wrong Slide</a></td> + <td align="right">9</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">III.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">A Queer Character</a></td> + <td align="right">15</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">A Hut in the Woods</a></td> + <td align="right">22</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">V.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Challenge</a></td> + <td align="right">30</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A Great Game of Ball</a></td> + <td align="right">38</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Alice has a Chance</a></td> + <td align="right">47</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">The Strange Boatman</a></td> + <td align="right">52</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A Plot Against Bart</a></td> + <td align="right">59</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">X.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">A Cow in School</a></td> + <td align="right">67</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Honoring the Seniors</a></td> + <td align="right">73</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Frank’s Queer Letter</a></td> + <td align="right">82</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Sandy on Guard</a></td> + <td align="right">89</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Peculiar Operations</a></td> + <td align="right">96</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Ned Stops a Panic</a></td> + <td align="right">104</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">A River Trip</a></td> + <td align="right">111</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">The Tramp’s Headquarters</a></td> + <td align="right">116</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A Night Scare</a></td> + <td align="right">123</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">The Farmer and the Bull</a></td> + <td align="right">130</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Followed by Sandy</a></td> + <td align="right">137</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">At the Fair</a></td> + <td align="right">143</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Up in a Balloon</a></td> + <td align="right">149</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">Above the Clouds</a></td> + <td align="right">157</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">Into the River</a></td> + <td align="right">164</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXV.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Captured</a></td> + <td align="right">175</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXVI.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">Planning to Escape</a></td> + <td align="right">183</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXVII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">The Escape</a></td> + <td align="right">192</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXVIII.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">The Pursuit</a></td> + <td align="right">199</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXIX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">An Unexpected Meeting</a></td> + <td align="right">208</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXX.</td> + <td align="left" class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">Striking Oil—Conclusion</a></td> + <td align="right">215</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>THE HEROES OF THE +SCHOOL</h1> + + + +<p> </p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>EXPELLING A PUPIL</h3> + + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not to be expelled but some one else is, +Ned.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that? Some one going to be expelled?” +asked Bart Keene, coming up in time to +hear what Fenn said.</p> + +<p>“John Newton is,” replied Stumpy.</p> + +<p>“What’s that got to do with you?” asked +Bart, for, as had Ned, he noticed that Fenn looked +worried.</p> + +<p>“It might have something to do with me if +John—”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What’s this I hear about John Newton?” +asked the tall lad.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Frank! Why Stumpy says John’s got +to leave the school, but it’s the first I heard about +it.”</p> + +<p>“Are they going to expel him this morning?”</p> + +<p>“Seems so. We’ll soon know.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I have a very unpleasant duty to perform,” +he began.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“John Newton!” called Professor McCloud,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +and a tall youth, with eyes that squinted slightly, +left his seat and shambled forward.</p> + +<p>“It’s coming now,” whispered Fenn, and Frank +Roscoe, who was sitting beside him, looked at his +chum and wondered.</p> + +<p>“Any one would think it was you who had +to face the music,” declared Frank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“If he says anything—” began Stumpy, whispering +to himself, but he did not finish the sentence +for Professor McCloud was speaking.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +scene. John Newton stepped forward and addressed +the principal. It was a thing unheard +of in the Darewell school.</p> + +<p>“Professor McCloud,” said John, “I want to +say that while I’m partly to blame in this matter, +Fenn Mas—”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“There’s something in the wind,” whispered +Ned to Bart.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to take all the blame,” persisted +John, ignoring the principal’s command to +remain silent. “Fenn Mast—”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Frank noticed that Fenn seemed much relieved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +at the professor’s announcement, and he wondered +what connection there could have been between his +chum and John Newton.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you hear Professor McCloud say it +was all ended and he was satisfied I had no hand +in it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> +<p>“Yes, but that doesn’t satisfy us,” said Bart. +“We want the whole story.”</p> + +<p>“There isn’t much to it,” Fenn declared. +“You must promise not to repeat it.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll promise but I guess John will tell it +all over town,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What was it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean to say you helped him do +that?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“He did try to give you away,” interrupted +Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Lucky for you that he did,” commented Ned. +“Do you think John will try to do anything more +to make trouble for you?”</p> + +<p>“I hope not,” Fenn replied.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE WRONG SLIDE</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Work? He’s too lazy to work,” put in Ned.</p> + +<p>“He said he’d like to get a job in a theater,” +Fenn added.</p> + +<p>“Shoving scenery around, or being part of the +mob in Julius Cæsar would be his limit, I guess,” +said Bart.</p> + +<p>“Speaking of Cæsar reminds me that Fenn fell +down in his Latin this morning,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I should have boned away on it last +night but I didn’t,” admitted Stumpy.</p> + +<p>“I know why,” put in Ned.</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> +<p>“Saw you out walking with Jennie Smith, and +I s’pose you didn’t get in until late.”</p> + +<p>“Did she recite poetry to you?” asked Frank, +for Jennie was somewhat inclined to verse.</p> + +<p>“Say you fellows dry up!” exclaimed Fenn. +“You don’t dare walk with a girl. Don’t know +how to behave in company!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +at you, as though his very figure, about as +broad as it was long, was the best joke in the +world.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> +<p>Going home from school that afternoon the four +chums saw John Newton standing on a street +corner. As they passed him John called:</p> + +<p>“Hey Stumpy, I want to speak to you a +minute.”</p> + +<p>Fenn dropped behind his chums and spoke to +John for some time. Ned, Bart and Frank walked +on, and then waited for him.</p> + +<p>“Is he going to pay you off?” asked Ned, as +Fenn joined his companions.</p> + +<p>“No, he wanted to tell me he was sorry he tried +to throw the blame on me.”</p> + +<p>“Look out for him, Stumpy,” advised Bart.</p> + +<p>“Oh John is thoughtless, but he doesn’t mean +anything bad,” Fenn said. “I guess this was +quite a lesson for him.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p class="noi blockquot">“Watch for some fun at the science lecture.”</p> + +<p>This was a talk given every Friday afternoon +by Professor Long, who used stereoptican slides. +The lecture was usually on some popular topic.</p> + +<p>It was quite a large class that assembled in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>There was a moment’s delay, and he slipped a +slide into the lantern. Ned nudged his chums.</p> + +<p>“Watch!” he whispered.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A QUEER CHARACTER</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>His tone was sarcastic now, and Ned began to +feel a little uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +into your brains. I can’t unless you let +me. I’m not a magician.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Professor Long began putting away the apparatus. +He withdrew the firecracker slide and +turned out the stereopticon. Then Ned did a +manly thing.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do it again, Wilding,” was all he said, +and Ned was almost sure he saw the teacher +smile.</p> + +<p>Ned found his chums waiting for him. They +were a little diffident about referring to the joke, +but Ned had no such scruples.</p> + +<p>“That was a sort of a boomerang,” he remarked. +“I spent fifty cents getting that slide, and to think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +how it turned out! Long is pretty touchy when it +comes to his lectures. I guess I’ll not monkey with +’em again.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you missed a lot of fun,” said Frank +slowly. “He told us a lot of interesting stuff +about volcanoes.”</p> + +<p>“Bet none of ’em could match mine,” came +from Ned, with a laugh. “Mine was up-to-date.”</p> + +<p>“What you going to do to-morrow?” asked +Bart of his friends.</p> + +<p>“Nothing special,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we arrange a ball game?” inquired +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I tried to but couldn’t,” said Bart. “Supposing +we all go fishing?”</p> + +<p>“Fine!” was the general cry.</p> + +<p>“All right, meet at the Point, with lines and +poles, at nine o’clock to-morrow and we’ll go to the +Riffles.”</p> + +<p>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.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +The river near the Riffles ran through a dense +woods which were seldom visited.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Here, where are you boys going?” a voice +suddenly hailed them from the bushes that lined +the path they were traveling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Where you going?” he repeated.</p> + +<p>“Fishing,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Whereabouts?”</p> + +<p>“Up at the Riffles,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Better not,” cautioned the aged person. +“It’s a dangerous place.”</p> + +<p>The man stepped forth into full view. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +boys saw he was poorly dressed. His trousers +were quite ragged and his coat was torn in several +places. He wore no hat.</p> + +<p>“What makes you think so?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“He’s crazy,” whispered Bart.</p> + +<p>“But we’re after fish, not bull frogs,” interposed +Frank, who seemed inclined to humor the +strange man.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Well, of all queer things,” said Ned softly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to find out more about him,” came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +from Frank. “He winked at me as though it +was some sort of a trick.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the kind Ned played yesterday,” exclaimed +Frank.</p> + +<p>“No more from yours truly,” uttered the perpetrator +of the wrong slide. “No more jokes for +a while. I’m going fishing. Come on.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A HUT IN THE WOODS</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Sometimes that’s the worst kind,” commented +Ned. “We had better be on the lookout for him. +He might come upon us unexpectedly.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I wonder who he could have been?” asked +Frank, after a silence of half an hour following +the landing of several chub and perch.</p> + +<p>“Who?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“The King of Paprica.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> +<p>“Oh, him. I’d forgotten all about it. What +makes you keep thinking of it?”</p> + +<p>“I can’t help it,” replied Frank, so solemnly +that his chums looked at him in some surprise.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I say,” added Fenn. “Let’s +finish up and go home.”</p> + +<p>“Got a date to take a walk and gather wild +flowers with some girl, Stumpy?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s as much fun as talking about a crazy +man,” retorted Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Whoop! I’ve got a big one!” ejaculated +Ned, and he pulled a wiggling beauty ashore.</p> + +<p>It was the best catch so far, and the other boys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +congratulated Ned on his luck. Several other +large-sized fish were pulled out after that until the +boys’ baskets were nearly full.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t we got plenty?” asked Frank. +“Let’s quit and eat.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Jim,” called Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> +<p>“Think you’ll catch anything, Jim?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Hope not, have to pull it in, and I’m tired,” +responded the recumbent lad.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’ll do it for you,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>“Um,” grunted Jim, that probably being his +thanks.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Watch me,” whispered Ned to his companions, +and then he prepared to tantalize Jim.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“A new way to feed lazy folks,” observed Bart +in a low tone.</p> + +<p>The cake was held there a few minutes, but Jim +seemed unaware of its presence. Ned could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +understand it. Then Fenn looked over and saw +that Jim was asleep.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Now for some fun,” whispered Fenn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Um!” he ejaculated. He was too lazy to +get mad. Then he went off in another doze.</p> + +<p>Ned went back to join his companions, all of +them still laughing at the joke.</p> + +<p>“Let’s make him believe he’s caught something,” +suggested Fenn. “Tie something to his +line.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> +<p>“It’s your turn,” spoke Ned, and Fenn nodded +assent.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“What can you do with a fellow like that?” +asked Ned appealing to his chums.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +fish in order to keep them cool, they started for +home.</p> + +<p>“Let’s take the short cut,” suggested Frank. +“Right through the woods.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know it?” asked Ned. “I nearly +got lost once, going that way.”</p> + +<p>“I guess I can pick it out.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“See a snake?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“There’s something painted over the door,” +said Bart.</p> + +<p>The boys looked. There, in brilliant red letters, +were the words:</p> + +<p class="noi blockquot"><i>KING OF PAPRICA</i></p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE CHALLENGE</h3> + + +<p>“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—”</p> + +<p>“Some one is coming,” exclaimed Frank, as a +noise was heard near the hut.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“There’s the King of Paprica!” whispered +Bart, but not so low as to prevent the man hearing +him.</p> + +<p>“At your service,” replied the man, with a bow.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Are you really—” began Fenn, when the +man held up a warning hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Something like yourself,” said Ned, but in +the faintest whisper.</p> + +<p>“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—”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It will all come out right in the end,” went +on the man with the crown. “Which way was +he going?”</p> + +<p>“He seemed headed in this direction,” replied +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>The boys stood for a few seconds gazing at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +silent cabin with it’s odd inscription, and then +Bart exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Come on! Let’s get out of here. First thing +you know we’ll be getting crazy ourselves. This +place isn’t safe!”</p> + +<p>He hurried on through the woods and the others +followed.</p> + +<p>“What do you make of it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Seems to me you’re fond of reading about +lunatics,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>“I am. I read all I can on such cases. It is +very fascinating.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me,” broke in Ned. “I’d rather have +something cheerful.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’d better be moving faster than this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +or we’ll be held up again by the King of Paprica’s +guard,” spoke Ned. “I think you’re wrong about +it, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“How do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“I think both those chaps are crazy. It’s a +puzzle to tell which one is worse.”</p> + +<p>“I agree with you,” said Bart. “I wouldn’t +want to meet either one of them here alone in the +woods after dark.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Let him kill you if he feels so disposed?” suggested +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“No, but if you should meet one, and he asks +you to let him shoot you, fall in with his idea.”</p> + +<p>“Hand him a gun, eh, Frank?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<p>“Well, I’ve read that’s the best way to act.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you and your reading!” exclaimed Ned. +“Let’s talk about something cheerful.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“See you Monday,” called Frank to his chums, +as he took the road that led to his uncle’s house.</p> + +<p>“There’ll be a ball game next week, I guess,” +came from Bart. “You may get a chance to +play.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” and Frank was off down the road.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to see the inside of that hut,” observed +Ned as he and the other two boys walked on.</p> + +<p>“Still harping on that, eh?” asked Fenn. “I +want to forget it.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Who to?”</p> + +<p>“The police, of course.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see as it’s any of their affair. The +men are harmless.”</p> + +<p>“But they’re lunatics at large.”</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s as Frank says, one is the other’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +keeper. We’d better mind our own affairs. Besides +Frank promised, for us, that we’d keep +quiet.”</p> + +<p>“Then I suppose we’d better. But maybe +something will happen.”</p> + +<p>“What, for instance?”</p> + +<p>“They might murder some one.”</p> + +<p>“Say, have you been reading any five-cent libraries +lately?”</p> + +<p>“No, but—”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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—!”</p> + +<p>But just then Jennie collided with a fat man in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +front of her. He turned, good-naturedly and remarked:</p> + +<p>“No, young lady, I’m not a dagger, though +I’d like to get thin enough to be taken for one.”</p> + +<p>Jennie blushed, and Fenn was a little embarrassed. +Soon after that Fenn bade Jennie goodnight.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Here they come now,” called some one. +“We’ll see what they say.”</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” asked Bart, as he saw the crowd +of boys hurrying toward him and his chums.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got a challenge!” exclaimed Lem Gordon, +pitcher of the school nine, of which Bart was +catcher.</p> + +<p>“Who from?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“The Lakeville Prep. school. It’s for Thursday. +Dare we take ’em on?”</p> + +<p>“We dare do all that may become our school,” +paraphrased Frank. “Why not?” He did not +play on the regular nine.</p> + +<p>“They’re out of our class,” said Lem. +“Haven’t lost a game this year, and they’re way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +ahead of us. Have better grounds and more time +to practice.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we don’t want to show the white +feather,” said Fenn. “Maybe we’ll have a +chance.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Your catching had a lot to do with it,” put in +Lem, “and so did Ned’s fielding.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” yelled the crowd of boys. “Three +cheers for Bart!”</p> + +<p>“Cut it out!” said Bart. “Think I’m a political +candidate? We’ll go in with the idea of winning!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>A GREAT GAME OF BALL</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Fenn must have been thinking quite seriously of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +the pending contest for, when answering in the ancient +history class the question: “Who was Cæsar’s +greatest rival?” he replied solemnly:</p> + +<p>“The Lakeville Prep. School!”</p> + +<p>There was a burst of laughter in which even the +instructor had to join.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I need practice all right,” responded the +pitcher. “Suppose we have a scrub game this afternoon?”</p> + +<p>“That suits me,” replied Bart.</p> + +<p>When school was over a picked nine prepared +to give battle to the regular one in order to bring +out the weak points.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think we ought to have a substitute +pitcher?” asked Lem, as he prepared to go +into the box.</p> + +<p>“You aren’t afraid of breaking down, are +you?” asked Bart anxiously.</p> + +<p>“No, only you never can tell what is going to +happen.”</p> + +<p>“Here you go, Stumpy!” called Bart as his +chum was tossing the ball to the right-fielder in the +warming-up practice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Do you think he can do it?” Lem asked.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll do my best,” responded Lem.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“If we only could beat ’em!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Will he do?”</p> + +<p>“I think so, but don’t say anything.”</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Play ball!” called the umpire, and the game +was on.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Rotten!” whispered Lem to himself, disgustedly.</p> + +<p>“Take it easy,” advised Bart, walking out to +the pitcher’s box. “Keep cool.”</p> + +<p>The advice did Lem good, and he struck out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>The high school team seemed to “take a brace,” +for they made three runs by hard work.</p> + +<p>“That ties ’em!” cried Bart excitedly, as he +came to the bat. “Now to beat ’em.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> +<p>As he spoke there was some sort of a commotion +near the bench where the Darewell players +were sitting. Then came a cry:</p> + +<p>“Ouch! My wrist! Let up, Sandy!”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked the captain, running +over to where he saw a struggle.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Sandy Merton tried to play a trick on +Lem,” explained Ned. “He’s always up to +some foolishness.”</p> + +<p>“I was only showing a new wrestling hold,” +said Sandy. “My foot slipped and I fell on +him.”</p> + +<p>“Are you hurt, Lem?” asked the captain.</p> + +<p>“Wrist sprained, I guess,” and he extended +his hand which was beginning to swell.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if you’re going to act that way about it +I’ll not play,” and Sandy started away.</p> + +<p>“Suit yourself,” said Bart calmly. “Frank, +you take third in Sandy’s place.”</p> + +<p>“Who’ll pitch?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“I’ll decide when the inning’s over,” replied +Bart, as he went back to the bat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Stumpy; you pitch,” called Bart.</p> + +<p>“Me! Why I can’t pitch! I never pitched +a regular game.”</p> + +<p>“I’m captain, and you pitch,” said Bart decidedly, +and much amazed at his selection Stumpy +walked into the box.</p> + +<p>The suddenness of it was just his salvation. +He had no chance to get nervous.</p> + +<p>“Can he do it?” asked Ned, as he started for +his place.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t they put him in first?” asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +the captain of the home team of some of his +men, wondering why so good a pitcher had been +left to the last.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Only takes one run to beat ’em!” exclaimed +Bart as his team went to the bat for the last +time. “Somebody get it!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That does it!” yelled Bart, capering about. +“Stumpy! you’re all to the good!”</p> + +<p>“But Ned won the game,” objected Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Your pitching held them down just when they +would have walked away from us. You’re all to +the good, Stumpy!”</p> + +<p>“Three cheers for Stumpy!” called some one, +and they came with a vim that made Fenn blush.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>ALICE HAS A CHANCE</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know you had it in you, Stumpy,” +said Ned, as the nine reached the high school +grounds on the return trip.</p> + +<p>“Me either,” replied Fenn. “It sort of +‘growed,’ like Topsy in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”</p> + +<p>“To think of beating the Preps,” murmured +Bart. “It’s the finest thing that ever happened.”</p> + +<p>“How’s your wrist, Lem?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Hurts like the mischief. Sandy came down +on it with all his force.”</p> + +<p>“Say, I wonder if he meant that?” asked +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Meant it? What do you mean?” asked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Well it looked queer,” went on Fenn.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +“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.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean to say you think he deliberately +hurt me, do you?” asked Lem, winding his +handkerchief around the swollen wrist.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t be afraid to tackle ’em again,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +observed Ned. “We’ve got their measure +now.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Guess not,” spoke Fenn, and he started to +walk away, but Ned held him.</p> + +<p>“Don’t desert in the face of the enemy,” he +said, and Fenn had to stay.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Going to treat us to ice cream sodas?” asked +her brother unfeelingly.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be foolish, Bart! What is it Lem; +is your wrist broken?”</p> + +<p>“Only sprained, I think.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +bag she carried on her arm. Rapidly turning the +pages she read:</p> + +<p>“‘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.”</p> + +<p>“I hope not,” murmured the disabled pitcher. +“It’s bad enough as it is.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Do I hurt you?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Well—er—that is—no!” and Lem shut +his teeth tightly together.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Half an hour’s enough,” Lem said. “I +haven’t got time for any more.”</p> + +<p>“I must go by the book,” Alice declared firmly. +“A good nurse always does that.”</p> + +<p>Alice walked into the drug store, leading Lem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +as though she had done that sort of thing all her +life. The four chums followed.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Put your wrist in,” commanded Alice as she +rolled up Lem’s sleeve.</p> + +<p>He thrust his arm in, half way to the elbow.</p> + +<p>“Ouch!” he yelled. “It’s hot!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll buy ’em,” said Lem, trying to get his uninjured +hand into his pocket.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE STRANGE BOATMAN</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Will you kindly get me some cotton and bandages +ready?” asked Alice of the clerk, and he +produced them at once.</p> + +<p>“When you going to graduate as a trained +nurse?” asked Bart, as he came back, a glass of +soda in each hand.</p> + +<p>“Little boys shouldn’t ask the nurse questions,” +spoke Alice, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You boys will have to hold mine and Lem’s,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Say, Alice, how long before that’ll be done? +It’s been boiling half an hour now,” remarked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I hope it isn’t me,” said Lem.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” said Alice, looking +a little offended.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +young yet and we’ve lots of games ahead of us.”</p> + +<p>“Guess we’ll have to take Alice along to look +after the wounded,” said Frank. “She’ll be the +mascot.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>It was dusk when the little group left the drug +store to go to their several homes.</p> + +<p>“You must come and report to me to-morrow,” +said Alice as she bade Lem good-bye. “Be careful +to keep the bandage on.”</p> + +<p>“I will,” he promised.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> +<p>“Don’t you know who that is?” asked Ned suddenly.</p> + +<p>“No; friend of yours?” inquired Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure it’s the man we met in the woods +Saturday.”</p> + +<p>“Who, the crazy man?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Positive.”</p> + +<p>“He didn’t have his crown on,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>“And his clothes were not the same,” put in +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Why haven’t we as good a right as any one?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Well, I want to get a look inside that hut,” +went on Ned, “and I’m going to, some day.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<p>“Your curiosity may get you into trouble,” +spoke Frank, a little seriously.</p> + +<p>“It won’t be the first time,” and Ned laughed.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>By this time the man was out of sight, and, after +a little further talk the boys went on.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I hear you said I couldn’t play on the team +any more,” Sandy said to Bart.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I did. Who told you?”</p> + +<p>“That’s none of your affair. But I tell you I +am going to play.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll see how long you’ll be captain then,” +muttered Sandy, as he walked away.</p> + +<p>“Think he means anything?” asked Fenn of +Bart.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care whether he does or not. I’m<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“Resign nothing!” exclaimed Ned. “I’d like +to see you do it. Eh, fellows?”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” came from the crowd that had +heard what Sandy said.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Shall we bring our fishing tackle along?” +asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“You can if you like,” replied Bart. “I’m not +going to. I’m just going to take it easy.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Who’ll row?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Draw lots,” suggested Bart, and the choice +fell to Ned and Fenn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<p>“Up or down?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Row up and float down,” said Ned. “We +don’t want to be working all the while.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He did this several times, and on each occasion +would carefully examine the end of the pole which +he had stuck into the river.</p> + +<p>“That’s an odd proceeding,” remarked Bart, as +he looked at the lone boatman.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>A PLOT AGAINST BART</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Must be small fish he’s after,” observed +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Why it’s the luna—” began Fenn, as he +looked at the man, whose boat was now opposite +that of the boys.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” exclaimed Frank, and Fenn did not +finish the sentence.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> +<p>“Not to-day,” replied Bart. “What are you +fishing for, if I may ask?”</p> + +<p>“You certainly may,” was the answer. “I am +probing for bullets.”</p> + +<p>“For bullets?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you see the king observed some one +shooting up the river last night, and he directed +me to probe for the bullets.”</p> + +<p>“Shooting up the river?” inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Crazy as a loon,” remarked Frank, in a low +tone. “Row on, fellows.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to go ashore and have a look into that +hut,” remarked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Better not,” cautioned Frank. “There!” he +exclaimed, “I’ve got one,” and he pulled in a fine +large fish.</p> + +<p>He had several bites after that, and, becoming +interested in his success, Ned and Fenn rowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Something’s up,” remarked Ned to Bart, as +they met the next Monday on the school campus.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Keep your eye on Sandy Merton.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What do you s’pose he’s up to?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Can’t guess, unless it has something to do with +baseball.”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to find out,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>He approached one of the boys with whom he +had seen Sandy conversing.</p> + +<p>“What was Sandy asking you, if it’s no secret?” +inquired the captain of the nine.</p> + +<p>“Well, it is a sort of secret,” replied Fred Jenkins. +“You’ll hear of it soon enough though,” +and he turned away.</p> + +<p>“Looks like a plot,” commented Ned with an +uneasy laugh.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p class="noi blockquot">“There will be a meeting of the Athletic +Committee this afternoon to take action +on a certain matter.”</p> + +<p>“That’s some of Sandy’s work,” said Bart. +“Well I’m ready for whatever happens.”</p> + +<p>Several boys crowded around the board to read +the notice. Sandy was not among them.</p> + +<p>“Who wrote it?” inquired a number.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“We’re here to elect a new captain of the High +School baseball nine,” Sandy announced.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked several, and the four +chums looked at one another.</p> + +<p>“I’m a member of the Athletic Committee,” +went on Sandy. “I called this meeting.”</p> + +<p>“It takes a majority of the committee to call a +session,” interrupted Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Who from?” called Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Plenty; ain’t there fellows?” asked Sandy, +turning to a group of his friends.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” came the rather feeble answers.</p> + +<p>“I move that Lem Gordon be made captain,” +called Fred Jenkins, evidently in furtherance of +the plot Sandy had laid to oust Bart.</p> + +<p>“Second it,” came from Peter Rand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah for Bart!” called some one and there +was a loud shout.</p> + +<p>“Order!” vainly called Sandy.</p> + +<p>“We don’t want an election!” sang out another +boy. “Bart is the best captain we ever +had! Didn’t we lick the Preps?”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” yelled a number. “Bart for +captain!”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“That’s a falsehood!” cried Sandy, making a +spring toward Bart.</p> + +<p>“Ask Lem,” was Bart’s reply. “If you want +to fight, Sandy Merton, come on!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> +<p>“Don’t talk that way,” counseled Ned. “Let’s +see if we can’t settle this thing peaceably.”</p> + +<p>“Go on with the election!” called Bart, who +was getting excited. “I’m not afraid! I’ll resign +if you want me to!”</p> + +<p>“We don’t want you to!” cried a score of +voices.</p> + +<p>“All those in favor of Lem Gordon for captain +say ‘aye,’” called Sandy.</p> + +<p>“I won’t take it!” shouted Lem. “Bart’s the +captain for me.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” yelled a dozen voices.</p> + +<p>“All those who want Bart to continue captain +say so!” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>“Yes!” and the shout made the windows rattle.</p> + +<p>“That settles it. Election’s over,” declared +Ned.</p> + +<p>“I say it isn’t!” yelled Sandy. “The rules +provide for ballots.”</p> + +<p>“This is good enough for us,” came from a +number of boys, as they crowded around Bart to +shake hands. “Bart’s the captain!”</p> + +<p>“That was a mean, sneaking plot!” declared +Ned. “Sandy thought he could work up enough +sentiment against Bart to get a candidate of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +own in and get back on the team. But he failed.”</p> + +<p>“You bet he did!” exclaimed Fenn. “Come +on, fellows. It’s all over.”</p> + +<p>Most of the boys began leaving the court. +Sandy, the picture of disappointed rage, stood in +a group of his friends.</p> + +<p>“Thanks to all who voted for me,” called Bart, +as he made his way out past where Sandy stood.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get even with you!” growled Sandy. +“You think you’re the Czar of the school!”</p> + +<p>“If you—” began Bart hotly, but Ned spoke:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>A COW IN SCHOOL</h3> + + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“What did you mean by saying he hurt Lem +on purpose?” asked Newton Bantry, a member +of the nine.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I guess Sandy won’t give us much chance to +ask him anything,” said Newton.</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well it’s small loss,” put in Ned. “Though +he’s a good ball player when he wants to take the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +pains. The trouble is he’s too fond of playing +tricks.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>But, if there was, Ned little dreamed what it +portended.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Don’t get us into trouble,” came from Frank.</p> + +<p>“Trouble? Did I ever get you into trouble?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> +<p>“All right,” responded Ned. “If I get up +the scheme myself I’ll take all the credit.”</p> + +<p>“You’re welcome to it,” spoke Frank. “The +credit—and what comes after.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to do anything?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Witness is not prepared to answer,” was Ned’s +reply. “I may and I may not.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see that you’re going to make good +about that trick of yours,” observed Fenn to Ned +at the noon recess.</p> + +<p>“Who said I was going to play any trick?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<p>“Why I thought—”</p> + +<p>“The day isn’t over yet,” said Ned, with a +wink.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“I feel his presence near me in the mystic midnight air<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I hear his footsteps coming, coming up the castle stair—”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> +<p>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!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>HONORING THE SENIORS</h3> + + +<p>“Oh!” screamed Jennie, as she made a rush +from the platform and fell in a faint just as Alice +Keene caught her.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried several women teachers.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Take it away!”</p> + +<p>“Let me hide!”</p> + +<p>“Save me!”</p> + +<p>Various girls were thus crying in different parts +of the room.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” he asked of Mr. Long. +“Is it some visitor whom the pupils are cheering?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +I would like to meet him. He seems to be a great +favorite.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> +<p>“Come on, boys,” repeated Bart. “We’ll lead +her out.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Experiment? What experiment?” inquired +Professor McCloud indignantly. “Did you bring +this cow here, sir?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” demanded the principal.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +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?”</p> + +<p>“What teacher came to you?” asked the principal, +trying not to smile.</p> + +<p>“Why he gave me his card,” and the farmer +fumbled in his pocket. “Here it is. Mr. Bo +Vine. Don’t he teach here?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I got paid for it,” replied the farmer. +“Maybe I made a mistake in the school.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” said the principal. “Can you induce +your bovine quadruped to accompany you?”</p> + +<p>“My what?” asked the farmer, looking about +him in a puzzled manner.</p> + +<p>“Your cow,” translated the principal.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you mean this critter. Sure, yes, she’ll +follow me. Come on, Bess,” and he held out a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +handful of salt, which the cow began to lick up +greedily. Then the farmer retreated down the +stairs, the animal slowly following.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“So that’s Ned’s trick,” said Bart softly to +his chums. “Wouldn’t wonder but what he’d be +expelled for it.”</p> + +<p>“If he gets found out,” put in Frank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> +<p>“Young ladies and gentlemen,” began Professor +McCloud, “this has been an unexpected—”</p> + +<p>Then he happened to think of Mr. Kenton’s +mistake, and he had to turn aside to cover a laugh.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You’re a lucky dog,” whispered Bart.</p> + +<p>“Why?” asked Ned, in seeming surprise.</p> + +<p>“Oh, just as if you didn’t know! I always believed +you were very fond of milk.”</p> + +<p>“Milk?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and cows.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> +<p>“Yes, you were,” and Bart smiled. “But +never mind,—it was a peach of a joke. We’ll +soon be out now.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s serenade the seniors,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Follow me. We’ve got to honor ’em somehow. +It’s the last we’ll see of ’em.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Get some of the other fellows,” Ned said to +Stumpy. “We must have enough for a band.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“All ready!” called Ned, and then, every one +playing a different tune on his fife, they marched +out on the campus.</p> + +<p>The seniors, in accordance with an old custom,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +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:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“We shall be here never more;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some go to a foreign shore,”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>The farewell song was drowned in a burst of +weird noises, tootings, yells and shouts.</p> + +<p>“Farewell to the seniors!” called Ned.</p> + +<p>“Farewell!” echoed the crowd.</p> + +<p>“Here we go ’round the mulberry bush, the +mulberry bush, the mulberry bush!” sang Bart. +“All join hands!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Farewell, farewell, farewell!” the other pupils +sang, as they ran around in a circle, hands +joined to hands.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<p>“Now give ‘em ’How Can I Bear to Leave +Thee,’” suggested Ned, and the pupils quieted +down and sang the song with feeling.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>FRANK’S QUEER LETTER</h3> + + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That cow was the limit,” spoke Bart. “How +did you happen to think of it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it sort of came to me.”</p> + +<p>“And the cow ‘sort of’ came up stairs,” cried +Fenn. “Say, it was as good as a circus.”</p> + +<p>“How did you do it?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Wonder if we’ll see the King of Paprica?” +said Bart.</p> + +<p>“They needn’t worry; we’ll not bother ’em.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?” asked Frank quickly.</p> + +<p>“Well I passed the place where the hut was the +other day, and it was gone.”</p> + +<p>“They may have moved it to another place because +they didn’t want us to know where it was,” +suggested Fenn.</p> + +<p>“They needn’t worry, we’ll not bother ’em,” +said Bart. “It’s too hot to tramp through the +woods to-day.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Wait a bit,” suggested Ned. “Let’s see if +it’s any of the fellows.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” he said at length, in a pleasant voice +that contrasted strangely with his disreputable appearance. +“Are you boys acquainted around +here?”</p> + +<p>“Pretty well,” replied Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Well, you haven’t seen a short stout man, with +a black moustache and black hair, anywhere around +here, have you?”</p> + +<p>“Did he have a gilt crown on?” asked Ned +quickly.</p> + +<p>“A gilt crown? No. Why should he wear +a gilt crown?” and the tramp affected surprise.</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing, I was just wondering, that’s all,” +and Ned winked at the other boys.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Twelve miles from here,” replied Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“What made you ask him about the gilt +crown?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’d make a mystery out of a fish jumping +for a fly,” said Frank. “Let up on it.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys were making such a noise, laughing +and yelling that they did not hear the hail of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Why it’s John Newton!” exclaimed Fenn, +recognizing the boy who had been expelled from +school.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a letter for you, Frank,” said John.</p> + +<p>“A letter for me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Special delivery.”</p> + +<p>“Where’d you get it?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Thought you were going to get a job in a theater,” +remarked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Wonder who that letter’s from?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Better wade ashore and find out,” suggested +Ned, and Frank did so.</p> + +<p>His chums watched him take the letter from +John and sign the book and then they too, began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Bad news?” asked Bart sympathetically.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you going back in the boat?” asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>“No, I think I’ll walk through the woods. +I’ll take the short cut.”</p> + +<p>“Anything we can do?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“No—I wish I could tell you—but I can’t,” +Frank replied. “I must send an answer at once.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s a strange sort of letter Frank<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>SANDY ON GUARD</h3> + + +<p>“Hurry after him,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve got some relatives in New York,” remarked +Ned. “I am going to see ’em some day.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t see how that will throw any +light on Frank’s queer actions,” remarked Fenn. +“Wonder what the trouble is?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll give him back the envelope,” suggested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Maybe he’ll go to New York,” suggested +Ned.</p> + +<p>“He’s not likely to go without telling us,” came +from Bart. “If he does he’ll see us before he +goes.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“There goes Frank now!”</p> + +<p>The others looked and saw their chum just +ahead of them, hurrying along.</p> + +<p>“Where’s he going?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>A moment later they saw Frank enter the law +office of Judge Benton.</p> + +<p>“He seems to have quite some legal business,” +observed Fenn. “Maybe some one has left +him a lot of money.”</p> + +<p>“Wish some one would leave me a bit,” observed +Ned with a laugh.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<p>Further consideration of Frank’s doings was +interrupted for a moment as the chums met Lem +Gordon.</p> + +<p>“Hello Lem, where you going?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“No, what’s he done now.”</p> + +<p>“Gone off camping in the woods, somewhere up +along the river.”</p> + +<p>“Any one with him?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“No, all alone. Hired a tent that Sid Edwards +used last year and went off by himself.”</p> + +<p>“I thought he was afraid to stay out alone +nights,” observed Stumpy.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of a looking man was he?” asked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“All I remember is that he had a very black +moustache.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to go camping myself.” Lem went +on. “What you fellows going to do this vacation?”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t made up our minds yet,” replied Ned. +“We’ll have some fun, though.”</p> + +<p>“Where’s Frank?” inquired Lem. “Seems +funny not to see the four of you together.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“That’s funny about Sandy,” remarked Ned, +when Lem was out of earshot.</p> + +<p>“And about that black-moustached man,” went +on Bart. “We’ll have to look into this. Hello, +here comes Frank.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“There’s the envelope you dropped,” said Bart. +“We found it when we came out to dress.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Wild flowers; what for?” inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” replied Bart, and the others nodded assent. +Miss Mapes was a favorite with all the +pupils.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +of Bender’s Hill ought to be a good place. The +woods are thick and shady there.”</p> + +<p>The others agreed to this and separated, to +gather again about one o’clock.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I like your nerve, Ned Wilding!” exclaimed +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Same here!” came from Bart.</p> + +<p>“I thought you would,” observed Ned coolly, +as he went to the stern, prepared to steer.</p> + +<p>“He and I will row back,” suggested Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +point in the vicinity. All about it, as well as on +the sides and top of the hill, were dense woods, not +often visited.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“You fellows can’t come here!”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to know why?” inquired Bart without +seeing who had spoken.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>PECULIAR OPERATIONS</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What are you talking about?” demanded +Bart. “Are you playing soldier, Sandy?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Because I say so.”</p> + +<p>“That’s no reason.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“No one wants to boss you,” spoke Ned. +“You’re making a big fool of yourself, Sandy.”</p> + +<p>“I am, eh? Well, that’s my affair. I tell you +to keep away from here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Some one’s going to be stopped now,” and +Sandy grinned as he looked at his rifle, and then +back at his tent.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got as much right here as you have,” +went on Ned.</p> + +<p>“No, you haven’t.”</p> + +<p>“I say we have. Mr. Bender’s no relation of +yours.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say he was.”</p> + +<p>“But you act so,” said Bart, “standing guard +on his property.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say you’d shoot us?” asked +Frank suddenly.</p> + +<p>“Well—er—I—You haven’t any right here +and I order you off!” exclaimed Sandy, getting +rather tangled up.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +hard you can’t stand up for a week,” and he started +forward.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Frank again started forward, but Ned took hold +of his arm.</p> + +<p>“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—”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“There never was any rule against going +through here before,” said Bart in respectful tones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<p>“That may be,” the man answered, “but it is +different now. I am acting for Mr. Bender.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not a sneak, and I’ll punch your face for +saying so!” cried Sandy.</p> + +<p>“Come on over, you’ll have all the chance you +want,” fired back Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I had to protect myself,” whined Sandy.</p> + +<p>“Ho! Don’t worry! You’re too mean for us +to bother with!” exclaimed Ned. “We’ll go,” +he added.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +whence he had come, carrying Sandy’s rifle, and +followed by that youth, who paused to shake his fist +at the chums.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But we can’t see so far,” objected Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all to the good!” exclaimed Stumpy.</p> + +<p>“What beats me,” put in Frank, “is how that +man came to hire Sandy, and why they’re so afraid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +of being seen, or of having any one on that particular +land?”</p> + +<p>“Maybe we’ll find out pretty soon,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Might be another man, or this one might be +disguised,” spoke Fenn.</p> + +<p>“It’s getting just like a story in a book,” remarked +Ned. “All it needs is the King of +Paprica now to complete it.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps they’re all in this game,” suggested +Bart.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“There are plenty on top of the hill,” observed +Fenn. “It’s a hard climb, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>It took about an hour to reach the top of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>For a few seconds Bart remained motionless, +gazing at something below him. His companions +waited anxiously for some report.</p> + +<p>“See anything?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“No, don’t appear to be anyone—hold on +though! Yes, there is. I see three men.”</p> + +<p>“What are they doing?”</p> + +<p>“They seem to be walking about.”</p> + +<p>“Is that all?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s all—No, by Jimminy! It can’t +be possible! They’re playing leap-frog!”</p> + +<p>“Playing leap-frog!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>“Yes! Jumping about like boys! Here, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +come up and take a look, Frank! You’ve got +the best eyesight of any of us.”</p> + +<p>Bart descended and Frank took his place. He +gazed through the telescope for several seconds.</p> + +<p>“The men are certainly jumping about,” he +said, “but they’re not playing leap-frog.”</p> + +<p>“What are they doing?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Let me have a look!” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>“Is Sandy there?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see him. Yes, there he is. He’s +helping them, from the look of things!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>NED STOPS A PANIC</h3> + + +<p>“Can you read it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“This is where they moved the hut to,” Ned +went on. “Well, this thing is getting more and +more mysterious.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Maybe they’re planning to put a new trolley +line through,” suggested Fenn.</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” agreed Bart. “I didn’t think of +that.”</p> + +<p>“Probably don’t want folks to know which way +it’s going, as if they did, they might put up the +price of land.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Wonder how they came to hire Sandy?” said +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Probably they knew he was so unpopular he +wouldn’t say much to the other fellows,” explained +Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Let’s make some inquiries when we get back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +to town,” suggested Bart, “and see if anyone has +heard of a trolley line being extended, or of any +surveyors at work.”</p> + +<p>“Whom can we ask?” inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>“You ask Judge Benton, Frank,” said Bart. +“You know him, don’t you?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit,” Frank assured her.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure you ought to be rewarded in some +way,” the teacher went on.</p> + +<p>“We didn’t do it for pay,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you can spare them?” asked +Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Lincoln delivering one of his speeches, Washington +reading his farewell address, and Pocahontas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Higher! Higher!” called some one in the +wings of the improvised stage. “Higher!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +was a part of the picture, they believed some accident +had happened.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s a fire!” yelled some thoughtless one.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“If they rush for the doors a lot will be +killed!” cried Bart.</p> + +<p>“Sit down! Sit down!” yelled Frank, and +Fenn joined with him in trying to calm those +around him. Several girls near them had fainted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<p>“There’s going to be trouble!” said Ned in +a low tone to Fenn. “What can we do?”</p> + +<p>“Tell the band to play!” cried Fenn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>A RIVER TRIP</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Take your seats,” said the manager, and +nearly every one did so.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I want to add but that for the presence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>“And he’ll get ’em, too,” called someone. +“Three cheers for Ned Wilding!”</p> + +<p>They were given with a fervor that made the +chandeliers rattle.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, anyone could have done that,” said Ned,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +who was wishing he could get away from the +praise.</p> + +<p>“Of course they could, if they had thought of +it, but you were the only one who did.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s a great deal,” responded the teacher. +“I’ll send you boys tickets to every entertainment +we have.”</p> + +<p>“That will be fine,” put in Fenn with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“I vote we go home,” said Bart. “Don’t +seem to be any more panics to put down.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to leave town,” declared Ned the +next afternoon, as he met his chums.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Speaking of leaving town makes me think it +would be a good plan,” put in Fenn.</p> + +<p>“What! Have you been robbing a bank or +doing something else, that you want to skip out?” +asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right!” exclaimed Ned. “I’ll go +with you for one.”</p> + +<p>“Count me in,” said Bart, and Frank added +that he wasn’t going to be left behind.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t be better,” declared Ned. “When +can we start?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<p>“To-morrow if you want to, as far as I’m concerned,” +put in Bart.</p> + +<p>“It will take a couple of days to get ready,” +observed Fenn. “Suppose we say Thursday?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE TRAMP’S HEADQUARTERS</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Wait until it comes your turn to row,” said +Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> +<p>“Shall we get dinner here?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“When will they be done?” asked Frank, as +Bart bent over the pan.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Everything but the salt,” announced Fenn a +few moments later. “Here’s the box but there’s +none in it.”</p> + +<p>The others looked surprised and disappointed.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Anybody might forget,” said Stumpy in extenuation.</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s no help for it, I suppose,” remarked +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Might use gunpowder,” put in Frank. “I’ve +read of campers doing that.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me,” came from Bart, making a wry +face. “Besides we haven’t any, so that doesn’t +count.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +opposite to where the boys were located. “Maybe +I could borrow some salt from there.”</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” said Bart. “Take the canoe +and paddle over.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Maybe he wouldn’t lend any salt,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>As the boys watched they saw the man get into +the canoe with Fenn, who then paddled over.</p> + +<p>“Looks as though he wouldn’t trust Stumpy +to bring the salt over,” commented Bart. “Wonder +what the man wants?”</p> + +<p>In a short time the canoe containing Fenn and +the stranger grounded on the little beach near +where the boys were camped.</p> + +<p>“Did you get the salt?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“This is the gentleman who was camping on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +the other side of the river,” put in Fenn. “I +asked him for some salt and—”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And I at once asked him over to dinner,” put +in Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Do you intend to camp around here long?” +asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“I can’t tell,” replied the tramp. “I am waiting +for some friends to join me.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You said you were prospecting,” Ned added. +“Not for gold, are you?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Guess we wouldn’t know it if we saw it,” remarked +Ned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> +<p>“No, it takes years of study to recognize it. +But if you will excuse me I think I will sit down.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Best meal I’ve had in a long while,” said the +ragged man. “I hope I can return the favor +some time.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be happy to call on you,” said Bart, +“but we are going to leave this afternoon. We +are bound up the river.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We can get it at the next town,” put in +Frank. “We’ll camp just above it.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A NIGHT SCARE</h3> + + +<p>“What sort of a place has he over there?” +asked Bart, as Fenn came back in the canoe.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of instruments were they?” asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> +<p>“That’s one of the instruments,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Maybe he catches butterflies with it,” suggested +Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What’s next on the program?” asked Ned. +“Pack up and move along?”</p> + +<p>“Rest awhile; good for the digestion,” remarked +Bart. “I want to see which way the +tramp goes.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>They broke camp and reached Woodport about +five o’clock, got the salt and one or two other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Good place to camp,” spoke Ned. “No one +to bother us. There’s no fun camping close to +a town.”</p> + +<p>“Not unless you run out of salt or something +like that,” replied Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Good way to feel,” spoke Fenn. “I wish I +could.”</p> + +<p>“It takes strength of character,” Ned added.</p> + +<p>“Don’t get preachy,” put in Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What’s the menu?” he asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Supper was soon on the “stump” and four +very hungry boys gathered around it.</p> + +<p>“Where’s the milk for the coffee?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“I forgot it. It’s in the boat,” replied Fenn. +“I’ll get it.”</p> + +<p>He hurried down to where the craft was tied, +and a moment later his companions heard him +utter an exclamation.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, did you fall in?” called +Bart.</p> + +<p>“No, but the can of condensed milk did, and +it’s the only one we have.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, hang it!” exclaimed Ned. “I can’t +drink coffee without milk. What’s the matter +with you, Stumpy?”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t help it. It slipped.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> +<p>“I’m thirsty for coffee, too,” went on Ned.</p> + +<p>“Use it without milk,” suggested Bart.</p> + +<p>“Can’t. Never could.”</p> + +<p>“‘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.</p> + +<p>“What do you—Oh!” exclaimed Ned. He +recalled that those were the very words he had +spoken a little while before.</p> + +<p>“‘It takes strength of character,’” quoted +Bart, still from the maxim Ned had laid down so +recently.</p> + +<p>“Oh well, of course I didn’t mean it just that +way,” replied Ned, laughing at the trap he had +fallen into. “I meant—”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Going to stand watch?” inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Ned, who was a light sleeper, was suddenly +awakened, some time after midnight, by hearing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“Some one is in the camp!” he whispered in +his companion’s ear, as Bart stirred.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE FARMER AND THE BULL</h3> + + +<p>“What’s that?” exclaimed Bart, suddenly +sitting up.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” cautioned Ned. “Some one is +prowling around!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“They’re after our boats!” yelled Bart, who +at that moment saw the figure. “Come on, fellows!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s that tramp!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>“Hi there!” yelled Bart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s his own canoe,” remarked Frank as the +boys watched it floating down stream. There was +no sign of the occupant.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“He’s probably lying down in it, thinking he +may get shot at,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Let’s get back to bed,” suggested Fenn. “I +think we’d better keep watch after this.”</p> + +<p>“Not much use,” came from Bart. “That +tramp isn’t likely to come back and there’s no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +one else around here. I vote we get what sleep +we can.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, fellows,” called Frank when the things +had been put away. “What’s the program for +to-day?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Steer her out a bit, Frank. There’s a man +fishing just ahead of us and we don’t want to disturb +him.”</p> + +<p>Frank who was at the rudder lines glanced up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +and saw, about a quarter of a mile ahead, a man +standing up to his waist in water.</p> + +<p>“That’s a queer way to fish,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>“Probably he’s hooked a big one and is playing +him,” remarked Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That’s a queer proceeding,” commented Bart, +who turned to look at the man.</p> + +<p>“Rather,” admitted Ned. “He must—Why +a bull is after him!” he went on.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Row faster!” urged Frank. “Maybe we +can help him.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>But the bull seemed to have some grudge +against the farmer for it lowered its horns and +gave an angry bellow.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“If I had a gun I’d shoot ye!” he yelled, shaking +his fist at the bull.</p> + +<p>“Can’t you swim to the other side?” asked +Ned, as the boat came near.</p> + +<p>The farmer looked around in surprise. He +had been so engrossed by his contest with the bull +he had not heard the craft approaching.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you go away up or far down the +stream where he can’t follow?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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—”</p> + +<p>He didn’t finish, for, while he had been talking +he had been drawing near shore. The bull was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +watching him, and made another dash that sent +the farmer scurrying for deep water.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way he does it,” he said to the +boys, his voice showing the despair he felt.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>FOLLOWED BY SANDY</h3> + + +<p>“I have it!” exclaimed Frank. “Get into +our boat and we’ll land you anywhere you want.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Is that his name?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Named after any one?” inquired Bart as the +farmer got into the rowboat.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you needn’t explain,” said Bart, as he +joined in the laugh that followed.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got th’ best on ye now,” the farmer went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +on, looking at the beast as the boys rowed the boat +out into deeper water.</p> + +<p>The bull seemed to think so, for with a loud +bellow it went back to the middle of the pasture +and began eating.</p> + +<p>“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’?”</p> + +<p>“No, we’re taking a sort of vacation,” replied +Ned.</p> + +<p>“Had breakfast?” inquired the farmer.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, early this morning.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Much obliged, Mr. Johnson,” said Bart, “but +we’re just roughing it, and we’re not dressed for +company.”</p> + +<p>“Green onions! Neither be I!” exclaimed the +farmer. “Look at my boots, all wet and my +pants too. I wonder what Mandy’ll say.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +Mandy’s my wife,” he added, “an’ she’s dreadful +particular.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>They started early in the morning, and planned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +to camp just above Woodport. It was nearly +dusk when they neared the town.</p> + +<p>“Hark!” exclaimed Ned, as the boats were +gliding along close to shore. “Do you fellows +hear anything?”</p> + +<p>They all listened.</p> + +<p>“Sounds like some one paddling a canoe behind +us,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I think. I’ve been hearing it for +the last ten minutes,” Ned went on. “Some one +is following us.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s that tramp,” suggested Fenn.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to find out,” Ned remarked. +“You and Frank row along slowly, Bart, and +I’ll surprise whoever it is.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Frank and Bart did as Ned suggested. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Sandy!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>Then the light went out, making the darkness +blacker than before.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>AT THE FAIR</h3> + + +<p>“Quick! Hand me some more paper!” exclaimed +Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“He’s gone!” exclaimed Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Well, we found out who it was,” remarked +Ned, “and that’s something.”</p> + +<p>“It would be more to find out why he was following +us,” came from Frank.</p> + +<p>“Maybe he’s camping around here,” suggested +Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Guess he didn’t want to be seen, by the way he +disappeared in such a hurry,” Fenn remarked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> +<p>“We’ll have to keep watch to-night,” said Bart. +“We don’t want Sandy or any of his friends +sneaking around.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” assented Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Guess it was too wet for Sandy,” observed +Bart, as he tilted his hat so the rain would not drip +down his neck.</p> + +<p>They left the canoe at Riverton and made the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +best time possible to Darewell. Wet through, but +happy in spite of it all they reached their homes, +fully satisfied with their trip.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“What were you doing?” asked Fenn, who +was once more on friendly, if not intimate terms +with John.</p> + +<p>“Practicing that robin call.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“I’m learning to imitate all kinds of birds,” +replied John.</p> + +<p>“Thought you were working as special delivery +messenger at the postoffice?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What good is it?”</p> + +<p>“Maybe I can get a job on the stage some day, +and it will come in handy. I heard a fellow in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +a theater orchestra try to imitate a bird once, and +it wasn’t anything as good as I can do.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Ned and Fenn went over to +Bart’s house and found him cleaning a small rifle.</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Where you going?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Over to Ducker’s pond. There’s lots of +’em there.”</p> + +<p>“Want any company?” inquired Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Sure, come along. Get your rifles. There’s +a boat over there. Tell Frank and we’ll make a +day of it.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +numerous wagons. Here and there tents were +being raised.</p> + +<p>“What’s this?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Let’s take these frogs home and come back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +after supper,” proposed Bart. “We can have +some fun.”</p> + +<p>This the lads did. They found a bigger crowd +than before at the fair grounds, more wagons having +arrived with the exhibits.</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p class="noi blockquot">BALLOON.</p> + +<p>“That’s so, there’s going to be a balloon ascension +every day,” said Ned. “We’ll have to +take this in to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what we will,” replied Bart. “I’ve +never seen a balloon go up.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll have a chance to go up in one if you +want to,” put in Fenn.</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll go up,” decided Frank. “I’ve +always wanted a ride in one.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>UP IN A BALLOON</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I want to watch ’em get the balloon ready,” +said Ned, after they had seen the main tent well +under way.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” chimed in Bart.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“I wonder how high up it goes?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Let’s inquire of one of the men,” suggested +Frank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Don’t believe they’ll have much time to answer +questions,” ventured Fenn.</p> + +<p>Just then a big man, who seemed to be in charge +of matters, called to one of the assistants, a short +chap.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<p>It was evident that two, at the most, were all +he could manage. Ned, who was watching him +saw an opportunity.</p> + +<p>“Come on, fellows,” he whispered to his +chums. “We’ll give him a hand and maybe +he’ll tell us something about the balloon.”</p> + +<p>An instant later the four boys hurried to the +pile of ballast.</p> + +<p>“We’ll help you,” said Bart. “Where do you +want ’em?”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>The four chums each took hold of a bag. They +found them about all they wanted to carry.</p> + +<p>“How high up does the balloon go?” asked +Fenn, determined to take advantage of the opportunity.</p> + +<p>“Thousand feet,” the man replied. “It’s held +fast by a thin wire cable that goes over a drum. +You boys going up?”</p> + +<p>“I guess so,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“Interested in balloons; eh?”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing,” replied Bart. “Have you been +running ’em long?”</p> + +<p>“Fifteen years. Ain’t much I don’t know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>By this time the ballast had been deposited +where the man in charge wanted it.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Ever see a balloon fill?” he inquired.</p> + +<p>“No. How do they do it?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> +<p>“What happens then?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You let it go up a thousand feet and then pull +it down by the wire cable?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose it should break away?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“It never has happened with this outfit, though +of course it might. I had one get away once.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +ocean. We lost the balloon but we saved our +lives.”</p> + +<p>“Did you ever have to pull the ripping cord?” +asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What happened?” asked Fenn, as the little +man stopped.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Is there much danger in a captive balloon?” +asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll risk it,” said Ned. “Eh, fellows.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t leave me behind,” said Bart, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +the others agreed they would take a chance in +the balloon.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That looks easy enough,” declared Bart. +“Us for the trip next time.”</p> + +<p>Up and up the balloon went until it looked +about the size of an apple. It remained up about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +ten minutes and then the windlass was turned by +the steam engine, which was part of the outfit, and +the airship came slowly down.</p> + +<p>“How’d you like it?” asked the manager as +the young men got out.</p> + +<p>“Fine!” they exclaimed as one. “It was +great. I could see clear to Woodport.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“We are!” cried Bart, and he and his chums +paid their money and took their places in the basket.</p> + +<p>“Let her go,” cried the manager, and the boys, +looking over the edge of the car, saw the earth +dropping away below them.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>ABOVE THE CLOUDS</h3> + + +<p>“What’s the matter?” called Fenn, his +voice trembling a little.</p> + +<p>“The matter with what?” asked Bart, whose +tones were not overly strong just then.</p> + +<p>“Why we seem to be standing still and the earth +is going down.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s a little more scary than I thought it +was,” came from Ned. “Still I guess we can +get used to it.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It was great,” declared Bart.</p> + +<p>“I almost wish it had gotten loose,” said Ned. +“I’d like to take a long trip.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That wire cable couldn’t break.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I don’t want it to.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> +<p>“Half price to-morrow boys,” remarked the +manager, as they came down. “It’s the last +day.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to take it in,” declared Fenn. +“Can’t miss a bargain like that.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it fine!” exclaimed Frank. “I wish we +could stay up all night.”</p> + +<p>“I guess we’re going down,” remarked Ned, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +there came a tug at the bottom of the basket where +the cable was fastened.</p> + +<p>The balloon gave a little jerk and swayed from +side to side. The boys clutched the edge of the +basket and looked over.</p> + +<p>“Something has happened!” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>They could see the crowd running to and fro +and a number of men signaling to them with their +hands.</p> + +<p>“What could have happened?” asked Frank. +“Is the balloon on fire?”</p> + +<p>“No! It’s broken loose!” yelled Fenn. +“See! The cable is dangling below us!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’re loose! We’re going up!” almost +screamed Fenn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The terror of their position held the boys dumb<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +for a while. They gazed at each other with +horror in their eyes. Their cheeks were pale, and +their hearts were beating violently.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You—you—got—your—wish, Ned,” +spoke Bart with some difficulty, looking at his +chum.</p> + +<p>“I—I—guess—I—did,” replied Ned +slowly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, we might be worse off,” spoke Frank.</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How far I wonder?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, we can stop when we want to,” said +Bart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> +<p>“How?” inquired Fenn.</p> + +<p>“By pulling the valve cord, of course. Don’t +you know what the man told us?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course. Well then, let’s pull it. This +is high enough for me.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“One’s brown and the other’s red,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see any,” said Fenn, after a long gaze +aloft.</p> + +<p>“I either,” admitted Bart, and the others had +to confess they saw nothing of the cords.</p> + +<p>“Maybe they forgot to arrange them for this +trip,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“Nice pickle for us if they did,” observed Bart. +“We’ll sail on forever.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +which the only difference in color between the +woods and the fields could be seen.</p> + +<p>“We can soon tell,” replied Bart.</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll show you.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How far up are we I wonder?” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’re above the clouds,” came from Bart in +solemn tones.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>INTO THE RIVER</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s a fog from the river. Perhaps +we’ve dropped down,” said Fenn, anxious to derive +some consolation from their perilous position.</p> + +<p>“We haven’t come down a foot,” said Bart. +“Might as well admit it.”</p> + +<p>He tossed some more pieces of the torn paper +over the side. This time they remained stationary.</p> + +<p>“At any rate we’ve stopped going up,” he +called out. “We’re standing still!”</p> + +<p>His companions watched the scraps of paper +anxiously. Slowly they began to settle toward the +earth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<p>“That proves it,” said Bart. “We’re standing +still.”</p> + +<p>“Lot of good it will do us,” came from Ned. +“How long will we have to stay here?”</p> + +<p>“Hard to say,” Bart replied. “But you +wanted this to happen so you ought to be satisfied.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How?” inquired Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Why as soon as it gets warm again, when the +sun comes out, it expands the gas and we’ll rise.”</p> + +<p>“Keep on going back and forth, eh?” asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>“That’s about it,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a plan,” suggested Fenn.</p> + +<p>“What, Stumpy?” inquired his chums eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> +<p>“I could cut a hole in the bag with my knife +and let some of the gas out.”</p> + +<p>“How could you reach the bag? The lowest +end of it, the neck, where the gas went in, is ten +feet over our heads.”</p> + +<p>“I could climb up the cordage. I read of a +fellow doing that once.”</p> + +<p>“Too risky,” decided Bart.</p> + +<p>“I’ll chance it,” declared Stumpy.</p> + +<p>“We’ll wait a while,” Bart decided. “We +may come down without doing that.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There were some threats of arresting the manager<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they wouldn’t do that,” said the owner of +the balloon. “They’re too smart for that.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>His words served to comfort the others somewhat, +though Mrs. Keene and Mrs. Masterson +could not stop crying.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile there was nothing the boys could do.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +They could only wait for something to happen. +And that something was for the gas to leave the +bag gradually so they could descend.</p> + +<p>“It’s almost five o’clock,” said Bart, looking +at his watch. “I guess we’re good for all +night.”</p> + +<p>“It’s going to be cold,” said Ned, with a shiver.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“And not a thing to eat,” said Bart with a +sigh. “The next time I come ballooning I’m going +to bring a sandwich.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose we take another look,” suggested +Ned. “I don’t fancy staying here all night.”</p> + +<p>“If we don’t find ’em I’m going to climb up +and poke a hole in the bag,” declared Stumpy.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +a maze of ropes and netting that it was hard to +distinguish anything. The mist too, bothered +them.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’re going down!” cried Bart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“False alarm,” said Bart with despair in his +voice.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>All at once Fenn who had resumed his upward-gazing +gave a cry.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Stumpy?” called Bart.</p> + +<p>“The cords! The cords! I see them!” the +boy exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Where?” and they all came around to his +side.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> +<p>“There, right near where the mouth of the bag +is fastened to the cordage. Don’t you see +them?”</p> + +<p>“Sure enough! There they are!” exclaimed +Bart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We can’t reach ’em,” said Ned. “They’re +ten feet up.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to get those cords down where we +can reach ’em,” said Fenn shortly.</p> + +<p>“How? You can’t!”</p> + +<p>“You watch me! Didn’t I take the prize at +school for high trapeze work?” and Stumpy went +on unlacing his shoes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> +<p>“Are you going to climb up in that cordage?” +demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I am.”</p> + +<p>“We won’t let you!”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> +<p>“We’re going down!” cried Frank joyfully.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Can you see where we are?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Too dark,” replied Bart.</p> + +<p>He opened the valve wider. The balloon shot +downward with a sickening swiftness.</p> + +<p>“Not so fast,” called Frank.</p> + +<p>He got up to look over the edge. As he did so +he uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>“We’re near the river!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> +<p>“Jump out and swim for it!” yelled Bart. +“The balloon will smother you!”</p> + +<p>He dived over the side of the basket. His companions +followed him. There was a sickening +smell of gas in the air.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>CAPTURED</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Throw us a line!” called Bart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Bart and Fenn each grabbed one and began to +pull themselves aboard. Ned and Frank were on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“From the balloon,” replied Ned.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Ned told their names, and related how the balloon +had broken away, taking them with it.</p> + +<p>“I guess it’s valuable,” he added. “Maybe if +you took it aboard you could get a reward.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Are you the captain of this boat?” asked +Bart, taking off his coat and wringing some of the +water out of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> +<p>“That’s what I am, Captain Needham, of the +steam barge <i>Comet</i>. At present under sealed orders,” +and he laughed.</p> + +<p>“Where are we?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“On the Still river, just above Dunkirk,” replied +the captain.</p> + +<p>“How far is that from Darewell?” inquired +Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Yes. That’s where we live,” replied Bart.</p> + +<p>“Well, you’re about fifty miles from home.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“We’re going up the river.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +we get to Flanders, that’s the next town above. +We’ll be there by morning, and you can wire from +there.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“One of us could swim ashore and send a message,” +put in Ned. “We really ought to send +one.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed his chums.</p> + +<p>“Suit yourselves,” the captain said. “Now +come on with me and I’ll fix you up.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“‘All’s well that ends well’” quoted Frank. +“We certainly did have a strenuous time of it +for a while though.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That doesn’t interest me so much as the question<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +of when they have supper,” came from Bart. +“I’m getting warm and dry and I begin to feel my +appetite coming back.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Hope it’s someone to say supper is ready,” +spoke Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Sandy Merton!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Just what I was going to ask,” Bart said. +“It looks funny. We must ask Captain Needham.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, boys, getting warmed through?” asked +a voice, and Captain Needham appeared a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +later. “Well, you look pretty comfortable. +Guess you’re ready for supper.”</p> + +<p>“You’re a good guesser, sir,” said Fenn with a +laugh.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Say, captain,” began Ned. “Is that boy—”</p> + +<p>“I’ll be back in a little while,” called the captain, +as he closed the door, leaving the chums +alone.</p> + +<p>“I was going to ask him about Sandy,” added +Ned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<p>“It’ll keep,” remarked Bart.</p> + +<p>The boys finished their meal and felt better.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Open the door and we’ll go back to the engine +room and see if they aren’t dry,” suggested Frank.</p> + +<p>Bart, who was nearest, turned the knob. The +door did not open.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Locked!” exclaimed Ned. “They’ve locked +us in!”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>PLANNING TO ESCAPE</h3> + + +<p>“Can’t be!” came from Bart. “What in +the world would they do that for?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know,” admitted Ned. “But you can +see for yourself. The door’s locked.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Let me give the door another try,” Bart said. +“No use making a false alarm. Maybe it’s only +stuck.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Shall I pound on the door?” asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see if there isn’t another way out,” suggested +Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> +<p>“There isn’t even a window,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“What’s that up there?” inquired Fenn, pointing +to some sort of an opening near the ceiling.</p> + +<p>Bart climbed up on the table and investigated.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>They raised a thundering din by knocking the +chairs against the walls of the room and the door.</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<p>“What do you want?”</p> + +<p>“We want to get out,” called Bart. “We’re +locked in.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t let us out?” demanded Ned. +“What right have you got to keep us here, prisoners.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t think of calling you prisoners,” +the captain said in a gentle tone from the +other side of the door.</p> + +<p>“What else is it?” Bart asked indignantly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say you’re going to keep us +here a week?” inquired Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll be sorry for this!” threatened Bart.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +“When we do get out you’ll be arrested. You +can’t do this sort of thing in this country!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We don’t want to be treated well!” fired back +Frank. “We want our rights! We demand +that you release us at once!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“We’ll break this door down if you don’t let us +out!” shouted Ned, and he banged a chair against +the portal.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +washroom, but there was no opening from it save +the same kind of a ventilator that was in the first +apartment.</p> + +<p>“Breakfast will be served to you here in the +morning,” the captain called and then the boys +could hear him going away.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Only not half so funny,” spoke Ned. “The +folks will be very much worried about us.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe the captain will keep his word and +send them a message,” ventured Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Bart, with something like despair +in his voice.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +with their meal. There were no knives or +forks.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to do it,” Bart decided.</p> + +<p>Silence fell upon them. They could feel the +boat vibrate with the speed of the engine. They +were still being carried up stream.</p> + +<p>“What’s it all about?” asked Fenn. “That’s +what gets me! I can’t understand it!”</p> + +<p>“I think I have a sort of clew,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“It hinges on the same thing that has been a +mystery from the first.”</p> + +<p>“You mean the King of Paprica?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“That’s it. At first I thought those men were +crazy. Now I begin to think differently.”</p> + +<p>“But what is their object, and why do they +want to make prisoners of us? What have we +done?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> +<p>“Do you think these men on the boat are, +also?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>But no one could.</p> + +<p>“It’s getting cold in here,” remarked Bart. +“I’m going to crawl in the bunk. These overalls +are rather thin.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“But what are we going to do?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s make a break when they open the door +to give us breakfast,” suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>In spite of their unpleasant position the boys +finally fell asleep and slumbered soundly. Bart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“They were here in the night!” cried Bart.</p> + +<p>“What’s queer about that?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“They didn’t come in through the window, for +there isn’t any.”</p> + +<p>“How did they get in then?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“There must be some secret way that we don’t +know about. We must find it. That’s how we +can escape.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it’s around the ventilators,” suggested +Frank.</p> + +<p>“We’ll take a look,” spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>They soon found that the one in the bunk room<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>THE ESCAPE</h3> + + +<p>“What is it?” asked Ned in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Some men are talking up on deck. I can +hear them,” Bart answered in a low voice.</p> + +<p>He listened intently for a moment and came +down from the table.</p> + +<p>“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.’”</p> + +<p>“What do you make of it?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“It only confirms what we guessed at, that the +men on this boat are, in some way, connected with +the mystery.”</p> + +<p>“See any way of getting out around that ventilator?” +asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Look at every inch of the floor!” said Bart, +dropping to his knees.</p> + +<p>The others followed his example. They +crawled about with their eyes close to the boards. +Suddenly Frank uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p>“Find anything?” called Bart, who was in the +bunk room.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet that’s a sliding trap-door!” exclaimed +Frank. “We must try to open it.”</p> + +<p>At that moment a knock sounded on the door +and a voice called out:</p> + +<p>“If you boys will promise to behave and not cut +up rough I’ll bring in some breakfast.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll promise,” agreed Bart, his voice trembling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The handle will go into the crack,” he said. +“Maybe we can shove the door back.”</p> + +<p>He tried, but was unable to budge the slide, if +it was one.</p> + +<p>“Let’s all try,” suggested Frank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“All together!” called Bart.</p> + +<p>The piece of flooring suddenly slid back, revealing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +a flight of steps leading downward into the +hold of the boat.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Ned. “Now we’ll show +Captain Needham a trick or two!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How can we escape in these clothes?” asked +Fenn, looking at his overalls and jumper.</p> + +<p>“I’m not so afraid as you are of meeting the +girls,” spoke Bart. “Let’s eat now. I wish it +was night!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Wonder why they used that trap door to take +the things away by last night?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>They ate their supper and waited in anxiety until +it would be late enough to make the attempt to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What about our clothes?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> +<p>“We’ll chance it,” he said, and he went back to +tell his chums.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I see the stars,” whispered Ned. “This must +lead to the deck.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” said Bart in a low tone.</p> + +<p>At that instant a voice called:</p> + +<p>“Hi there! Come back! Captain, the boys +are escaping!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Overboard!” yelled Bart.</p> + +<p>There were four splashes in the water, and the +four boys were striking out for shore.</p> + +<p>“Stop the barge!” This was Captain Needham’s +voice calling. “Lower a boat! We +mustn’t let ’em get away! After ’em men!”</p> + +<p>There was a ringing of bells. The water +churned under the stern of the <i>Comet</i> as the engine +was reversed. Then came the sound of a boat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +being lowered. A few seconds later it struck the +water.</p> + +<p>“We’re almost to shore,” called Bart cautiously. +“Keep on boys!”</p> + +<p>Then came the noise of oars in the rowlocks. +The barge had come to a stop.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE PURSUIT</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Which way?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“That’s queer,” thought Ned. “In fact this +whole business is queer.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +murmur: “The King of Paprica will not like +this. I must get word to him at once.”</p> + +<p>Then he moved away. A little later the sound +of the boat being hoisted to the barge could be +heard.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we get down now?” whispered Fenn. +“I’m all stiff and cold.”</p> + +<p>“Better wait awhile,” advised Bart. “They +may have left some one on watch.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“They’ve turned around! They’re heading +down stream!” he said in an excited whisper. “I +guess we’re safe now. Come on, boys!”</p> + +<p>He scrambled down, followed by the others.</p> + +<p>From the shore they could see the lights of the +barge disappearing around a bend in the river.</p> + +<p>“Must be something very queer in this, when +our escape makes them turn around and go back,” +spoke Bart.</p> + +<p>“Looks as if we were surely mixed up in that +mystery,” came from Frank. “Wish we knew +how.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Let’s look for a place to stay the rest of the +night,” counseled Frank.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The sun was shining when they awakened.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +Bart sprang up, scattering the hay all about, and his +companions followed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, for a bit of breakfast!” Fenn remarked.</p> + +<p>“‘So say we all of us,’” chanted Bart.</p> + +<p>“There’s a chance of it!” exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“Breakfast!” and he pointed to a little village +about half a mile away.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! We’re in luck!” cried Ned. +“Now for a meal and a chance to send word +home!”</p> + +<p>“We can’t go looking this way!” exclaimed +Fenn. “Look at our clothes!”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That looks good!” exclaimed Bart. “Hi,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +kid,” he called, “sell us a drink of milk, will +you?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The next moment three men came from the +house. They carried clubs in their hands, and one +had a gun.</p> + +<p>“Here they are!” called one, as the three advanced +on the run toward the boys.</p> + +<p>“Polite way to receive guests,” commented +Bart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“They seem to be after us!” cried Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We’d better run,” counseled Frank, and at +that the boys took to their heels.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> +<p>The pursuit was on in earnest. The crowd behind +kept increasing as men and youths from +houses further back on the road joined it.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“They’ll never catch us!” exclaimed Bart. +“But what in the world do they want with us?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t talk! Run!” came from Fenn.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Go around it!” cried Ned.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +passage on either side but had to turn back. The +pursuers gave a shout and came on faster than +before.</p> + +<p>“Over the hay!” sung out Ned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got ’em!” exclaimed one gray-bearded +man, with a big tin star on his coat. “We’ll git +th’ reward. Great luck!”</p> + +<p>“What right have you got to chase us?” demanded +Bart.</p> + +<p>“Best right in the world,” replied the constable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> +<p>“What have we done?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Broke jail, that’s what ye done.”</p> + +<p>“Broke jail! We never were in jail!”</p> + +<p>“What? Ain’t ye th’ two men who escaped +from Blissville jail last night?” demanded the +constable.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“That’s who we are,” replied Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“What made ye run, if ye wasn’t guilty?” demanded +the constable, rather incensed over his +disappointment.</p> + +<p>“Guess you’d run, Amos,” put in the other +man, “if ye saw this crowd after ye.”</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Lucky you mentioned balloon,” spoke Mr. +Weldon, the farmer who had come to the chum’s +aid.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear of it?” asked Ned.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess! Circulars describin’ ye have +been sent to every postoffice around here.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Yep, an’ ye can use it all ye want to,” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +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?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” replied Bart, “so long as our +folks are told, at once, that’s all we care.”</p> + +<p>“We’d like some breakfast and—and—some +decent clothes too,” put in Fenn.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see to that,” replied Mr. Weldon. +“Come along with me.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I never knew how much depended on shoes +before,” said Fenn, as he gazed at those loaned +him.</p> + +<p>“I can feel those thistles yet,” observed Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be much obliged if you will,” spoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +Bart. “If you want references you can telephone +to any one in Darewell.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“One thing we’ve got to do the minute we +get back,” said Bart.</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And Captain Needham, too.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he’s in the plot.”</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>As soon as the boys were released by their +friends, which took considerable time, there was +a consultation at Mr. Wilding’s house.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +take their rifles, but were not allowed to, as +their parents did not want them to run any +chances.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As they advanced through a little glade, close +to where the clearing was located, the chief, who +was in advance, called out:</p> + +<p>“There’s some one sitting on the ground just +ahead.”</p> + +<p>Bart pressed forward. He saw a lad leaning +against a big stake driven into the earth.</p> + +<p>“Why it’s Jimmie Nelson!” Bart exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“The laziest boy in town,” murmured the +chief.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go up and speak to him,” Bart went on. +“You can hang back here until I see what he’s +doing.”</p> + +<p>“Doing? He never does anything,” said +Fenn.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Jimmie,” called Bart, as he started to +cross the clearing. “What you doing here?”</p> + +<p>“Got a job.”</p> + +<p>“You call that a job; sitting there?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> +<p>“Sure, it’s a nice easy job. Sandy got it for +me. He’s working for the same firm.”</p> + +<p>Bart gave a sudden start. The plot, it seemed, +was thickening.</p> + +<p>“What are your duties?” Bart went on.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Have you pulled it?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet, ain’t seen any one.”</p> + +<p>“What do you call me?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. I almost forgot. Say, pull it, +will you; you’re nearer to it than I am.”</p> + +<p>The string was about two inches from Jim’s +hand, and within one inch of Bart’s foot.</p> + +<p>“What happens if I pull it?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know. That ain’t part of my job,” +and Jim blinked his eyes lazily.</p> + +<p>“Then I guess I’ll not pull it,” replied Bart, +putting his foot on the cord to prevent Jim from +doing it.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Bart turned and beckoned to his companions +who had remained in the woods. They came on +in a hurry.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Forward!” exclaimed the chief. “We’ll see +where this cord leads!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The boys got away!” he cried, addressing the +King of Paprica.</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>STRIKING OIL—CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better not,” said the chief significantly.</p> + +<p>“I can explain it all now,” the man went on.</p> + +<p>“About kidnaping these boys?” demanded +Mr. Wilding.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll be sorrier before we’re through with +you,” remarked the chief.</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen, perhaps I had better explain,” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +the man whom the boys had seen wearing the gilt +crown.</p> + +<p>“We’ll give you a chance,” said Mr. Wilding.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oil wells!” exclaimed Mr. Wilding. +“There aren’t any around here.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Are you crazy or is it a joke about the King +of Paprica?” asked Mr. Wilding, not inclined +to let up on the men.</p> + +<p>“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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“As it happened the plan was successful in a +measure. Then Mr. Gampfer in the guise of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>“What did Sandy and Mr. Gampfer follow +us for?” demanded Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It worried us,” Bart replied.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What was it?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oil-ander Tin-can-der,” murmured Bart. +“Oh! I see. Oil-can!”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“For you see we have struck oil,” Mr. Ricka +went on. “Our property which extends for over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +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.”</p> + +<p>Captain Needham nodded in assent.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What was Jimmie Nelson doing out there?” +asked Bart.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“He’s asleep now,” said Fenn.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> +<p>“Is the stock any good?” asked Bart quickly.</p> + +<p>“I think Mr. Wilding can answer that,” and +Mr. Ricka showed the bank cashier some certificates.</p> + +<p>“That’s as good as gold,” replied Mr. Wilding.</p> + +<p>“Will you boys accept it?” asked the oil man. +“It isn’t stock in these new wells, but in some +long established ones.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Did you connect the dynamo?” asked Mr. +Ricka of Captain Needham.</p> + +<p>“Yes, just before I left the barge.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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’.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Wonder who it’s from?” spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>“Best way to find out is to open it,” suggested +Fenn, and the hesitating boy forthwith followed +his friend’s advice.</p> + +<p>It was a short epistle, and Ned had soon finished +reading it.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“To New York? Well, I guess yes!” exclaimed +Bart, and the others nodded in assent.</p> + +<p>“We can have corking times!” Ned went on. +“I’ve never been there. It’s great, according to +what you read about it.”</p> + +<p>“We couldn’t have much more excitement than +we did right here the last few weeks,” remarked +Fenn.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“I wish it was time to go now,” Ned went on +as he put the letter in his pocket.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you hear?” asked Fenn.</p> + +<p>“No. Did he get to be assistant postmaster?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe we’ll see him when we go to New +York,” suggested Bart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="noi center">THE END</p> + + + +<hr class="cb" /> +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> + +<p>Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Heroes of the School, by Allen Chapman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL *** + +***** This file should be named 37291-h.htm or 37291-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/2/9/37291/ + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: ASCII + +*** 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 Caesar would +be his limit, I guess," said Bart. + +"Speaking of Caesar 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 Caesar 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 +Caesar'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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL *** + +***** This file should be named 37291.txt or 37291.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/2/9/37291/ + +Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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