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diff --git a/37493-h/37493-h.htm b/37493-h/37493-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8b4e44 --- /dev/null +++ b/37493-h/37493-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7295 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fast Nine, by Captain Alan Douglas. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } +.cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; + margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; + line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + .blockquot2 {margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .bbox2 {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .huge {font-size: 300%;} + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + .adtitle1 {font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold; margin-top: .75em;} + .adtitle2 {font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fast Nine, by Alan Douglas + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Fast Nine + or, A Challenge from Fairfield + +Author: Alan Douglas + +Release Date: September 21, 2011 [EBook #37493] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAST NINE *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, +Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 386px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="386" height="600" alt="cover" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts</h2> + + +<div class='center'><b><span class='big'>A SERIES OF BOYS' BOOKS</span></b><br /> + +Which, in addition to the interesting boy scout stem by CAPTAIN ALAN +DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature lore, native animals +and a fund of other information pertaining to out-of-door life, +that will appeal to the boy's love of the open</div> + + + +<div class='adtitle1'>I. The <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Campfires'">Camp Fires</ins> of the Wolf Patrol</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities +to use their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. +Elmer <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Chenoweth'">Chenowith</ins>, a lad from the north-west woods, astonishes +everyone with his familiarity with camp life. A clean, wholesome +story every boy should read.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>This tale presents many stirring situations in which some of the +boys are called upon to exercise all their ingenuity and unselfishness. +A story filled with healthful excitement.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>III. Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to +the credit of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, +one after the other.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>IV. Fast Nine; or, a Challenge From Fairfield</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The +description of the final game with the team of a rival town, and the +outcome thereof, form a stirring narrative. One of the best baseball +stories of recent years.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>V. Great Hike; or, The Pride of The Khaki Troop</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest +undertaking. Their march takes them far from home, and the good-natured +rivalry of the different patrols furnishes many interesting +and amusing situations.</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>VI. Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</div> + +<div class='blockquot'>Few stories "get" us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of +apparent failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and +surprise their most ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain +Douglas has written.</div> + +<div class='center'>———————<br /><b>Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge +Boy Scout Series</b></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="lIST OF BOOKS"> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Animals of the United States—Tracking—in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Cover Illustrations in Four Colors</i> <i>40c. Post Volume</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class='big'><b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b></span><br /> +<b>147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>FAST NINE<br /> + +<span class='small'>OR</span><br /> + +<span class="smcap">A Challenge from Fairfield</span></h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='bbox'> +<div class='center'>COMPLETE ROSTER, WHEN THE<br /> +PATROLS WERE FILLED, OF<br /> +<br /> +<span class='big'>THE HICKORY RIDGE TROOP</span><br /> +<span class='big'>OF BOY SCOUTS</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">MR. RODERIC GARRABRANT, Scout Master</span><br /> +<br /> +—————<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>THE WOLF PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Elmer Chenowith</span>, Patrol Leader, and also +Assistant Scout Master</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Wolf Patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mark Cummings</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ted (Theodore) Burgoyne</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Toby (Tobias) Ellsworth Jones</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">"Lil Artha" (Arthur) Stansbury</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Chatz (Charles) Maxfield</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Phil (Philip) Dale</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">George Robbins</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE BEAVER PATROL<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Matty (Matthew) Eggleston</span>, Patrol Leader</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Beaver patrol"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Red" (Oscar) Huggins</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ty (Tyrus) Collins</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Jasper Merriweather</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Tom Cropsey</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">Larry (Lawrence) Billings</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 5em;"><span class="smcap">Hen (Henry) Condit</span></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Landy (Philander) Smith</span></span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE EAGLE PATROL<br /> + + +<span class="smcap">Jack Armitage</span>, Patrol Leader<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nat (Nathan) Scott</span><br /> +<br /> + +<span class='small'>(OTHERS TO BE ENLISTED UNTIL THIS PATROL HAS<br /> +REACHED ITS LEGITIMATE NUMBER)</span></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.png" width="376" height="500" alt="It was now up to Matt Tubbs." title="" /> +<span class="caption">It was now up to Matt Tubbs.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/title_1.png" width="600" height="148" alt="THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1>FAST NINE<br /> + +<span class='small'>OR</span><br /> + +<span class="smcap">A Challenge from Fairfield</span></h1> + +<div class='center'>BY +<span class='author'><span class="smcap">Captain</span> ALAN DOUGLAS</span> +<span class='small'>SCOUT MASTER</span><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="100" height="103" alt="Emblem" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Emblem</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='copyright'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1928, by</span><br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On the Way Home from the Fishing Hole</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Startling Accusation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">When the Challenge Came</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Practice Game with the Scrub Team</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Between Earth and Sky</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Question of a Scout's Duty</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">More Work on the Diamond</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Punctured Tire</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Faithful to His Friend</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Giving Him Another Chance</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ready for the Battle of the Bats</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Stealing the Signals</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ready for the Great Game</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How the Fight Went On</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lil Artha Plants His Garden in Deep Center</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.—</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Mystery Solved</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class='u'><i>THE HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUTS</i></span><br /> +<br /> +FAST NINE;<br /> +<span class='small'>OR,</span><br /> +A CHALLENGE FROM FAIRFIELD.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE FISHING HOLE.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A party</span> of five boys, ranging in age around fifteen or +sixteen, trudged rather wearily along the bank of a small +stream known as the Sunflower River. Some miles beyond +this point it merged its clear waters with those of the +broader Sweetwater, which river has figured before now +in these stories of the Hickory Ridge boys.</p> + +<p>As they carried several strings of pretty good-looking +fish, the chances were the straggling group must have +been over at the larger stream trying their luck. And as +black bass have a failing for beginning to bite just when +fellows ought to be starting for home this would account +for evening finding them still some distance from Hickory +Ridge and a jolly supper.</p> + +<p>"Another long mile, and then we'll be there, fellows," +sighed the stoutest one of the bunch, who was panting every +little while, because of the warm pace set by his more agile +chums.</p> + +<p>"Hey, just listen to Landy puff, will you, boys!" +laughed Chatz Maxfield, whose accent betrayed his Southern +birth.</p> + +<p>"He keeps getting fatter every day, I do believe," joked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +Mark Cummings, a clean-cut young chap with a clear eye +and resolute bearing.</p> + +<p>"Now, that ain't exactly fair, Mark," complained the +object of this mirth, in a reproachful tone, "and you know +it. Don't I take exercise every day just to reduce my +flesh? Why, I'm making a regular martyr of myself, my +mom says, ever since I joined the Boy Scouts, so that I +can keep my own with the rest of you. She says if I keep +it up I'll soon be skin and bones, that's what!"</p> + +<p>A shout arose from the entire bunch at this. The idea +of that fat boy ever reaching a point where such a term +could be applied to him was simply ridiculous.</p> + +<p>"What time is it, Chatz; since you seem to be the only +one in the lot who had the good sense and also the decency +to fetch a watch along?"</p> + +<p>The Southern boy readily pulled out a little nickel timepiece, +and consulted it, but the dusk was coming fast, so +that he had to bend low in order to make sure of the right +figures.</p> + +<p>"Half past seven, fellows," he announced.</p> + +<p>"Wow, won't my folks just be worried about me, +though!" exclaimed a very tall boy, whose build would +indicate that he was something of a sprinter; and whose +name being Arthur Stansbury, his mates, after the usual +perversity of boys in general, had promptly nicknamed him +"Lil Artha."</p> + +<p>"I don't think they'll be alarmed, because they know a +bad penny is sure to turn up," laughed Mark, immediately +dodging a friendly blow from the lengthy arm +of his comrade.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, I've lost my cap," declared the one who had +dodged, but the others made no move toward stopping; +supper was a mile away, and they felt hungry enough to +eat a houseful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>Three minutes later Mark came running after them, still +bareheaded.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed the lad who had asked Chatz for +the time, and who seemed to bear the earmarks of a leader +among them, as Elmer Chenowith really was, being at the +head of the Wolf Patrol, and accredited as an assistant +scout master in the Hickory Ridge Boy Scout Troop—"How +about this, Mark; where's your cap?"</p> + +<p>"Couldn't find it, that's all," laughed the other, good +naturedly; "perhaps it went into the river. Anyhow, it's +getting that dark I couldn't see the thing, and as you fellows +were in such a raging hurry I just gave it up."</p> + +<p>"Oh, say, that's too bad," declared Chatz; "I'll turn +back with you, Mark, if you give the word."</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks! it isn't worth it, Chatz, though I'm just +as much obliged to you as if we went. It's an old cap, +anyhow, and even if it went sailing down the Sunflower +it wouldn't matter much. I've got another besides my +campaign hat. And if it doesn't rain in the morning I +may take a run over here on my wheel. Move along, fellows; +I can just imagine I smell that bully good supper +that's being kept for me at our house."</p> + +<p>"Yum, yum, that strikes me," exclaimed Landy, whose +one weakness was a love for eating, despite his declaration +to the effect that he was daily cutting down his rations in +order to reduce his girth. "And I happen to know they're +having fried eggplant to-night. If there's one thing I +just like above every other dish it's fried eggplant, and +plenty of it. Aw!" and he sighed to think that a whole +mile still lay between himself and that beloved delicacy.</p> + +<p>"All I can say is, that it's mighty lucky we don't have +a meeting to-night, that's what," remarked Chatz; "because +we'd never be able to get there after this long hike.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +But, honest, fellows, I think it paid. I never had more fun +pulling out black bass than to-day. And whew, how they +do fight up here! Why, down in the warmer waters of my +state, South Carolina, we have the big-mouth bass, which +the natives call green trout, and he comes in as logy as an +old piece of tree stump, after about one little tussle."</p> + +<p>"But I reckon there are heaps of game fighters up in +that old pond at Munsey's mill," remarked Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"There may be, if those fish pirates left any," declared +Mark. "You know the game and fish warden found and +destroyed a lot of nets, even if he didn't get the Italian +poachers. But that's too far away from home, anyway; and +I think we'll have to leave the bass that live in that pond to +the ghost of the haunted mill."</p> + +<p>A general laugh followed this declaration. The scouts +had recently been on a long tramp to the mill in question, +an abandoned place which was shunned by all the country +people for certain causes. But while they had met with +sundry adventures of considerable importance while there, +none of them could claim to have run across the ghost said +to be in charge of the old rookery.</p> + +<p>This had been a subject of great disappointment to Chatz +Maxfield in particular, for he secretly cherished more or +less of a belief in ghosts, having probably been inoculated +with the weakness as a very small boy, when he had for +playmates ignorant and superstitious blacks, on the South +Carolina rice plantation that had been his home until recently.</p> + +<p>"Hey! what did Matt Tubbs have to say to you, +Elmer?" suddenly asked Lil Artha. "I saw him talking +like a Dutch uncle when I was waiting for you to come +along this noon."</p> + +<p>The boy in question was known as a bully. He lived in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +the neighboring town of Fairfield, which adjoined Cramertown, +so that the two might be reckoned one continuous +settlement. And strangely enough, Matt's house was said +to be half in one place and half in the other.</p> + +<p>Matt Tubbs had given the boys of Hickory Ridge more +or less trouble in years past. He was a natural leader, +and rather a tough character as well, ruling the fellows in +Fairfield and Cramertown with a rod of iron.</p> + +<p>Frequently the Hickory Ridge boys had been influenced +to engage in friendly rivalry with those of the neighboring +place, but it happened that as a rule these contests broke +up in a row, and more than one pitched battle had resulted.</p> + +<p>For more than a year, now, Elmer and his chums had +positively refused to have anything to do with the Fairfield +boys. They had even turned down several invitations +to bridge the chasm and start on a new deal, because they +believed that so long as Matt Tubbs was in control, just so +long would rough-house tactics be brought into play whenever +the game went against the Fairfield players.</p> + +<p>But lately Matt Tubbs had seen a new light. The organizing +of the Hickory Ridge Troop of Boy Scouts had +inspired him with a desire to follow suit. But while he +could find plenty of material in the two towns, the great +difficulty seemed to be in subscribing to the twelve cardinal +principles which every candidate has to profess before he +can become even a tenderfoot scout.</p> + +<p>Matt had in secret hovered around the meeting places of +the Hickory Ridge fellows. In this way he had heard +things that simply amazed him, and set him to thinking +deeply. Then he had chanced to have an experience with +Elmer and his followers at a time when the scouts were +called on to find a little boy who had been <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'kidnaped'">kidnapped</ins> by his +step-father, an ignorant and drink-crazed rascal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>Matt Tubbs had been fascinated by the many things he +had seen Elmer do in the line of woodcraft, and then and +there he had declared that he was going to subscribe to the +entire list of regulations as set forth in the manual of +the scouts.</p> + +<p>And Elmer had given him his hand at the time, promising +to do all he could to assist him get his troop started.</p> + +<p>The leader of the Wolf Patrol laughed softly when Lil +Artha put this question at him so directly.</p> + +<p>"I really meant to tell you all about it," he said, "but +somehow it just seemed to slip my mind, we've been having +such a jolly afternoon. Fact is, Matt being over in the +Ridge on some business for his father, jumped off his wheel +at seeing me, because he had some important news."</p> + +<p>"Has he got his troop organized, then?" asked Lil +Artha.</p> + +<p>"That's just what he has; seventeen fellows have already +signed the roll, with a promise of several more. That makes +two complete patrols, and then some. Matt says they're +wild over it in his town. The people are going to let them +have a room in the old Baptist church, and everybody +promises to help along. I reckon the good people of Fairfield +understand that the coming of the Boy Scouts will +mean a moral awakening in their place."</p> + +<p>"And they need it, all right," declared Chatz, positively. +"Why, suh, I'm told that during the last seven yeahs Fairfield, +that used to be a model town, has become the toughest +place in this part of the state. And the way Matt Tubbs +led his gang has been the main cause. It was a rule or +ruin policy. If they couldn't win a baseball game squarely +they'd start a little riot, and have the umpire give it to 'em, +nine to nothing."</p> + +<p>"Well, I rather think that's all in the past," said Elmer. +"If Matt does half he declares he means to do, it's going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +to be the biggest thing that ever happened for the boys of +Fairfield and Cramertown. And something more, fellows. +I just rather guess we'd better be brushing up all we know +of the great American national game of baseball. For Matt +says he and his team are going to challenge the Hickory +Ridge scouts to a big game."</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear!" shouted Lil Artha, executing a regular +hoedown to prove how joyful the news made him. "Why, +fellows, d'ye know I'm just wild to get in the game again +against a club that really counts. All we've done this +summer has been to mow down the little chaps around the +Ridge, and it was too easy. Matt will put a team in the +field worth beating, and we all know what a player he is +himself when he wants to do the right thing. So I say +bully, bully all around!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think his turning over a new leaf will hold +good," asked Chatz; "or is he apt to drop back into his +old ways if we happen to get a good lead, and bully the +umpire into giving his side all the chances?"</p> + +<p>"Well, of course I couldn't say for sure," replied +Elmer, "but Matt seems dead set on cutting a straight +swathe from now on, and there's the best chance of his +doing it that ever happened, because he has simply got to +choose between doing the square thing to others or getting +out of the scout movement. No crooked work will go when +a fellow has faithfully promised to be trustworthy, loyal, +helpful to others, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient to his +superiors, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."</p> + +<p>"You're right, it won't, Elmer," assented Mark, positively. +"And yet if Matt has changed right-about face, +so that he can live up to that agreement I'm ready to believe +the world is coming to an end."</p> + +<p>"Me, too!" echoed Lil Artha, who had had several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +personal conflicts with the bully of Fairfield, and distrusted +him exceedingly.</p> + +<p>"Just wait and see," said Elmer; and the subject was +dropped as they hurried on toward the lights of Hickory +Ridge that began to appear near by.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A STARTLING ACCUSATION.</div> + + +<p>"Now, what d'ye suppose that fellow in the carriage is +beckoning to us for, Elmer?" asked Mark Cummings, +as he and his particular chum were walking along the main +street of Hickory Ridge on the morning after the fishing +trip.</p> + +<p>They had been looking up a few things in one of the +stores, for Mark chanced to be the grandson of a noted +artist, and had himself developed a touch of genius along +the line of caricature work. Often when he and his chums +were together, he would pull out pencil and paper and dash +off some telling and humorous drawing. If a pencil were +not handy Mark could use a crayon, a bit of chalk or +charcoal, and even a piece of fresh birch bark in case paper +were lacking.</p> + +<p>And so he had been picking up a few things in his line, +while Elmer interested himself advising Lil Artha, who was +selecting some plates for his new camera, as well as developing +fluid, prepared paper, and several other necessities +required by the amateur photographer devoted to his +work.</p> + +<p>The two boys had started home together, and were in +the midst of an animated conversation connected with the +chances for that baseball game before the summer vacation +ended, when Mark chanced to hear some one calling.</p> + +<p>"Why, it looks to me like Colonel Hitchins's rig," remarked +Elmer, who possibly knew the vehicle in question<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +better than his chum. "Yes, I know it is now, and the +negro driver is Sam White, his coachman. He seems to +be beckoning to us, as sure as anything. I wonder what +he wants, and if it has anything to do with Diablo, the +educated monkey we had all that fun with when we were +in camp up on Jupiter Lake?"</p> + +<p>"That's so, Elmer; will I ever forget what happened +there, and how glad Colonel Hitchins was to get his tricky +pet back, after he had robbed us of a lot of our good grub. +But Sam White has started his horses this way. Let's +wait here and see what he's got to say."</p> + +<p>Colonel Hitchins was an eccentric and wealthy man who +lived beyond the environments of Hickory Ridge. He +had once been a great traveler, and his big house was filled +with trophies from every land. It was a treat for Elmer +to examine some of the almost numberless things the collector +had gathered around him. And as a rule the colonel +was favorably disposed toward the boys of Hickory Ridge, +though there were times when some of the more malicious +chaps annoyed him greatly in various ways.</p> + +<p>Presently Sam White pulled the two prancing horses in +close to the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Whoa, dar, youse high falutin' thoroughbr'ds from +Kentucky! I reckons you dun gits too much oats, dat's +what; an' hit makes yuh too frisky. You am de boy belongin' +tuh de Cummings fambly, ain't yuh, an' yuh name +am Mark, I spect?" was the way the colored driver proclaimed +his advent on the scene.</p> + +<p>"Sure, I'm Mark Cummings, and you know it as well +as you do your own name, Sam. What's doing now?" +remarked the boy, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Why, yuh see, de kunnel he sez tuh me, sez he: 'Sam, +ef so be yuh sot yuh eyes on dat Mark Cummings, I'd like +yuh tuh ask him tuh come up hyah right away, 'case I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +wants tuh see him!' Dat's wat de kunnel say tuh me," +the driver explained.</p> + +<p>Mark glanced at his chum with raised eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye suppose it means, Elmer?" he asked, in +bewilderment.</p> + +<p>The other shook his head in the negative, as though unable +to hazard a guess.</p> + +<p>"It might stand for any one of a dozen things," he +observed. "You know the colonel takes a heap of interest +in the boys of the Ridge. Perhaps he wants to make some +offer to them that will be to their interest. Perhaps he +may even intend to ask the scouts over to his house some +night, and give them a great time. It would be just like +him, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Mark, smiling, "but in that case why +send for me? You're the assistant scout master, and Mr. +Garrabrant is in town right now, so he ought to be the +one consulted. But I suppose I'd better jump in and go +along. Say, what's to hinder you coming with me, +Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing that I know of," replied his chum. "And +I don't suppose Sam here would have any objections to +my taking a ride with you. He knows I've been to see the +colonel heaps of times."</p> + +<p>Sam scratched his woolly pate, as if bewildered, and +looked dubious.</p> + +<p>"De kunnel he sez dat Mark Cummings boy, sah, but +seein' as it's you, I reckon it'd be all right. So jes' step in +kindly, as de hosses am a bit peeved dis yar mawnin', an' +wants tuh run dey haids off."</p> + +<p>Accordingly the two chums entered the big open carriage, +Mark laying his several packages down beside him. +And in another minute they were being carried at a +spanking pace toward the fine estate of Colonel Hitchins.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the way they speculated along other lines as to +what the gentleman wished to see Mark about, but without +being able to come to any conclusion. But never suspecting +that it could be anything serious they presently allowed +the subject to drop.</p> + +<p>Turning in at the entrance to the grounds they passed +along a drive where one could see the fancy fruit trees of +which the owner was so proud.</p> + +<p>"Looks like they were picking those splendid peaches, +from the way the leaves lie on the ground," <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'remarkd'">remarked</ins> +Elmer, as he pointed to a couple of trees on which there +still remained a few splendidly colored and wonderfully +large specimens of the delicious fruit.</p> + +<p>"Um! makes a fellow's mouth water just to see 'em," +declared Mark. "And there's Bruno chained up to his +kennel back by the barns. What a big dog he is—a Siberian +wolf hound the colonel calls him. I don't believe +I'd like to meet Bruno on a dark night, and running +loose."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he isn't a bad kind at all," remarked Elmer. +"I've patted him on the head often, of course when the +colonel was along. He gets loose once in a while, too, but +was never known to attack anybody, though if a thief +tried to enter, and he was free at the time, he might jump +on him and hold him. That happened once, so the colonel +told me, when he lived outside of New York City."</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are at the house," observed Mark. +"Come along with me, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"Think I'd better, when he only wanted to see you?" +asked his chum, dubiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, come along," Mark insisted. "I don't know +how it is, but I've just got a hunch that I'd like to have +you with me. And the colonel is so fond of you he'll be +glad you've come."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus urged Elmer also jumped from the vehicle.</p> + +<p>"Jes' leab dem packages dar, 'case I 'spect tuh dribe +yuh bofe back tuh town agin arter yuh done seein' de +kunnel," said Sam. "An' sense de door am open, p'raps +yuh bettah jes' go long tuh de library, whar de kunnel +am asittin'."</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket; come along, Elmer."</p> + +<p>In this spirit, then, the two boys quickly reached the door +of the library, a room which Elmer knew very well, as he +had spent many a pleasant evening there. Mark knocked +lightly on the door.</p> + +<p>"Enter!" said a voice, which they knew belonged to +the master of the mansion.</p> + +<p>At seeing two lads the colonel's eyebrows went up, and +he glanced sharply from one to the other in a questioning +way. So Elmer thought it only right that he should +explain.</p> + +<p>"We were walking home together when Sam gave your +message, colonel," he said, "and so I took the liberty of +coming with my chum Mark."</p> + +<p>The elderly gentleman smiled. Elmer was a favorite +of his, and he had taken a great interest in many of the +lad's schemes and plans that had to do with the affairs +of the troop of Boy Scouts of Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>"Say nothing more about it, Elmer; I'm always glad +to see you"; and yet Elmer noticed to his surprise that +the colonel did not offer him his hand as usual.</p> + +<p>He asked them to be seated, and all the while his keen +eyes seemed to be roving uneasily toward Mark; and several +times Elmer saw him shake his head slightly.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes they talked of various things. Elmer +asked how the monkey was getting on, and the gentleman +told them that Diablo had grown so vicious that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +been compelled to send him away to the Central Park +collection of animals in New York City.</p> + +<p>"I hated to part from the brute very much, too, but +it seemed as though all the bad in his nature was coming +to the surface, and he lost much of the charm he used to +have for me." Then to the surprise of the boys the colonel +leaned forward, adding: "Let me take your caps, boys."</p> + +<p>"But we can only stay a short time, sir; I promised +my mother to be home at eleven, because she wants me to +go somewhere with her," Mark said, although he could +not very well refuse to let the persistent gentleman take +his cap.</p> + +<p>Elmer stared when he saw the colonel actually examine +the head gear of his chum. Nor was his astonishment at +all lessened when he heard what he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will not detain you more than five or ten minutes +at the most, I promise you, boys. By the way, I see +that both of you have the habit of fastening your initials +inside your caps. I suppose most boys do that because +they are apt to get their head gear mixed when they +wrestle and knock around; isn't that so, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, sir, I guess that's the main reason they +put the initials there," replied the one addressed, his eyes +opening wide with surprise at the peculiar turn given to +the conversation by the colonel.</p> + +<p>"I suppose, now, you've always done it, Mark?" continued +the gentleman, watching the boy's face.</p> + +<p>"For several years, yes, sir. I've had as many as five +sets of initials in that time. And the habit has saved me +a lot of caps, too. If a fellow claims mine, all I have to +do is to point at the three initials inside, and he gives up."</p> + +<p>"H'm! like this, for instance," remarked the colonel, +picking something up from behind a pile of books on his +table and holding it out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a fairly well-worn cap, and had evidently belonged +to a boy. Elmer immediately sat up and began to take +notice. He realized that the colonel must indeed have an +object in asking Mark to drop in and see him.</p> + +<p>For unless he was very much mistaken Elmer had seen +that same cap before, many times, and on the head of +his chum!</p> + +<p>As for Mark, his eyes had opened very wide as they +fastened on the article the gentleman was holding out before +him.</p> + +<p>"Will you kindly take this cap in your hands, my +boy?" said the colonel, and almost mechanically Mark +did so, for as yet he could not find his voice to express +his mingled feelings.</p> + +<p>"Please examine it, now, and tell me if you have ever +seen it before," continued the colonel, whose heavy brows +were lowered, as though under their shelter he were trying +to analyze the emotions that chased each other across +the face of the boy.</p> + +<p>Mark made a pretense of looking inside and out, but it +was not necessary, for the fellow who cannot instantly +recognize a cap he has worn for some months must be +pretty dense indeed.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said the gentleman, with an interrogation +point in the one word.</p> + +<p>"I know it is mine, sir, because—well, every little mark +about it is familiar, even to this little triangular tear. +Besides, here are my initials inside—just as they are in +this other cap I own—M. A. C., which stand for Mark +Anthony Cummings."</p> + +<p>The gentleman moved uneasily. It seemed as though +he might be both surprised and annoyed because of this +frank acceptance of the ownership of the cap.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're quite positive there can be no mistake—that +some other boy may not have the same initials?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know of a single one, do you, Elmer?" replied +Mark, steadily.</p> + +<p>"Not that I can recall just now; and besides, Mark, I +ought to know that cap as well as you, and I'm ready to +declare it's your property. I'm only wondering how it +happens to be in the possession of Colonel Hitchins after +you lost it," Elmer remarked, watching the face of the +gentleman and wondering why he looked so downcast over +such a little thing.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to hear you say it belongs to you, Mark, because +you are one of the last boys I'd dream of accusing +of such a thing as robbery."</p> + +<p>"Robbery!" gasped Mark, his face turning a trifle white +with the shock.</p> + +<p>"It is just that, for my premises were invaded last night +by some bold thieves, who raided my choice peach trees, +and almost cleaned them of the prize fruit that I would +not have taken its weight in silver for. And I regret to +say that this morning I found this self-same cap under +those trees, where it would appear it had been accidentally +dropped by one of the fruit thieves."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>WHEN THE CHALLENGE CAME.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A silence</span> so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it +could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel +made his astonishing declaration.</p> + +<p>The two boys stared at each other in dismay. Then +Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his +hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order +to indignantly deny the accusation. Twice he opened his +mouth to say something, but no sound followed.</p> + +<p>"Please remember, Mark, that I am not accusing you +of having done this miserable thing," continued the gentleman +in a softer tone; "I cannot find it in my heart +to believe that you would be guilty of doing an old friend +such an unkindness. But I found the cap just where I +stated; it bore those initials, and I sent for you to see +if you claimed it. And now, could you tell me how +it chanced to come there under my prize peach trees that +were robbed last night?"</p> + +<p>Mark shook his head slowly.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I can't do that, sir, because I don't know," +he said.</p> + +<p>Elmer opened his mouth to explain under what circumstances +the cap had been lost at twilight on the preceding +evening, then he thought better of it and held his +tongue. It might be as well for the gentleman to conduct +the examination after his own fashion. The truth was +bound to come out shortly, at any rate.</p> + +<p>"Since you admit that the cap is yours, Mark, will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +you please tell me when you saw it last, for if I am right +in judging what Elmer just said, you claim to have lost +it?" Colonel Hitchins continued.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, sir, I wore it yesterday afternoon when a +party of us went fishing away over to the old hole where +the Sunflower runs into the Sweetwater," Mark began.</p> + +<p>"Don't I know it as well as any lad," remarked the old +gentleman, with a faint smile. "I was brought up here, +and came back home after many years' wandering, partly +on account of those recollections of my boyhood days. Well, +you did your fishing in the afternoon, you say. And if +those bass act just the same now as they used to many +years ago, they began biting just when you thought of +starting back home—how about that, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"Just what they did, sir; and we caught nearly all we +had, a good string apiece, from that time up to after six. +Then we couldn't stay any longer and started home. On +the road, when we were about a mile or so away, and just +going to leave the little Sunflower stream, Lil Artha got +to cutting up with me, and I lost my cap."</p> + +<p>"Just so, as I have done many a time in the long ago. +That Sunflower River has memories for me I can never forget," +declared the colonel, sighing.</p> + +<p>"I stopped to hunt for it, sir," Mark continued, "but +the evening was on, and there were more or less bushes +around. Besides, the fellows were drawing farther away +all the time, and I didn't care much for the cap after all. +So I began to think it might have just fallen into the +river, and I gave it up, chasing after the rest of the +bunch."</p> + +<p>"Was that the last you thought of the cap?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, sir," Mark went on. "This morning I ran +over there on my wheel and gave another hunt, but it was +no use. That made me all the more sure it must have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +gone sailing down the river. And you can imagine my surprise +when you hauled it out just now."</p> + +<p>"Strange how it came to be under my peach tree, isn't +it?" asked Colonel Hitchins.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps some fellow found it, sir, and wore it last +night," suggested Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I had quite forgotten about you, Elmer," remarked +the other. "I suppose, now, you were along with your +friend last evening, and knew about him losing his cap?"</p> + +<p>"I was, sir, and besides there were three others—Landy +Smith, Arthur Stansbury, and Chatz Maxfield. And more +than that, colonel, I went over to Mark's house after +supper, and we sat up till nearly eleven o'clock, arranging +things about our scouts' baseball club; for you see we +expect a challenge from Fairfield troop any day now."</p> + +<p>The look of distress left the bearded face of the colonel. +He thrust out a hand in his customary hearty manner.</p> + +<p>"I want you each to shake hands with me," he said; +"and Mark, I hope you will not feel badly because with +suspicion pointing so strongly toward you, I wanted to +ask you a few questions about this cap. As Elmer said, +no doubt some boy picked it up and left it under the tree, +either accidentally or in the hope of turning suspicion +toward you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not that!" said Mark, who could not believe +in his heart that any boy in all Hickory Ridge could be +so mean and tricky as to want to get one of his schoolmates +in trouble.</p> + +<p>"No matter, I am now absolutely sure it could not have +been you, and I shall not give the matter another thought. +I would advise you to forget it also, if you can, my boy," +and he laid a hand caressingly on Mark's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I'll certainly try to, sir," returned the boy, looking up +with a smile and meeting the eyes of the gentleman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +squarely, as was always his wont, "but sometimes it's hard +to forget things like this. I suppose I'll just bother my +head about how my cap got under your tree when I lost +it a mile away, up to the end of the chapter. And I reckon +it will never be cleared up."</p> + +<p>"As your ten minutes are about up, Mark, I won't detain +you any longer," said the old traveler, "but promise +me that you will come over with Elmer next Saturday +night, and look over some of my curios. I like to have +boys around me, and there's an interesting story connected +with some of the strange things I've rounded up in various +unfrequented quarters of this old world. You'll come, +won't you, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"I sure will, colonel, and be mighty glad of the chance. +Shall I take my old cap away with me, or do you want +to place it among your curios as an unsolved mystery?" +and Mark laughed as he said this.</p> + +<p>"I think you had better carry it off, Mark," replied +the gentleman. "But unless I am lucky enough to catch +the rascals who robbed me of my prize peaches last night, +I'm afraid the truth will never be known. What puzzles +me most of all is the fact that Bruno was loose last night +and never gave the alarm. He must have been off roaming, +as he does whenever he manages to slip his collar and +chain."</p> + +<p>He shook hands with both of them again, and when Mark +felt the pressure of the old gentleman's fingers, as well +as saw the kindly look on his face, he felt positive that +Colonel Hitchins had eradicated all suspicion of his guilt +from his mind.</p> + +<p>Sam was waiting for them, scolding his restless horses +the while. And no sooner did the two boys jump into the +carriage before the driver gave the word, and they were +being carried out of the grounds in great style.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the way they met Lil Artha returning home. The +tall fellow stared at seeing his two chums seated so delightfully +in the elegant carriage which he, of course, recognized +as belonging to Colonel Hitchins. He shouted something +after them, but Elmer only waved his hand out of the +vehicle as they went on.</p> + +<p>"How about it, Mark?" he asked; "Lil Artha will +never rest until he tries to pump it all out of you. Will +you tell him about the cap, and how it was found?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" demanded Mark, instantly. "I haven't +anything I want to hide that I know of. And perhaps, if +all the fellows learn about it some one may be able to give +me a pointer about who could have taken this cap that I +lost on the bank of the Sunflower last night, and left it +where the colonel found it this morning."</p> + +<p>"I see by the way you talk that there's small danger of +you not bothering your brain about that mystery," laughed +Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, who wouldn't, just tell me that? I'll never feel +easy till I'm able to patch up some sort of an explanation, +Elmer. If some fellow picked my cap up, did he leave +it there on purpose to get me in trouble, or was it only +an accident? That's the point, you see."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I hope you find out sooner or later," remarked +Elmer, who knew from previous experience how such little +things worried his chum, and would have liked very well +to have influenced Mark to cross it off entirely. "Now, let's +talk about other things—that coming great game with +Fairfield, for instance, and what chances we have with our +poor pitching staff."</p> + +<p>"Rats!" cried Mark. "When everyone believes that +you're stronger than ever this year, and that break of +yours works like a charm. I tell you Fairfield will have +her hands full trying to hit some of those Christy Matthewson<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +slow floaters you can waft up to the rubber. +They'll nearly break their necks trying, and it's going to +be the greatest fun watching 'em."</p> + +<p>Talking in this vein they were soon dropped in front +of Elmer's home. As Mark lived close by he chose to +leave the vehicle at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Why, whatever do you suppose my folks would +think?" he declared, "if they saw the Cummings hope +and heir driving up with a carriage and pair? Not that +I don't expect to tell all about this cap racket, for I've +always been in the habit of letting my mother know all I +do, and many the time she's advised me as no other person +could."</p> + +<p>Elmer sighed. He had no mother himself, and always +envied this chum who was lucky enough to be possessed +of such an adviser. And fortunate indeed is the boy who +can go to his mother, or father, either, for that matter, to +seek advice in some of the puzzling little problems that are +apt to arise in the life of a lad.</p> + +<p>So the two chums separated for the time being.</p> + +<p>"See you this afternoon, then, Mark?" called Elmer, +as the other started to hurry away, for it was very near +the time he had promised to be home; and one of Mark's +strong points was a scrupulous regard for his word, no +matter to whom given.</p> + +<p>"That's right, Elmer; call for me, and we'll go down +for a practice game. Most of the fellows are going to come +out, and perhaps we can get a scrub team to bat against +us," and waving his hand once more Mark hurried off.</p> + +<p>Elmer looked after him. There was the light of a sincere +affection in his eyes, as he shook his head while muttering +to himself:</p> + +<p>"No wonder Colonel Hitchins knew that cap was no +indication of guilt, once he looked in the face of my chum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +There isn't the faintest streak of double dealing about +Mark Cummings, and his face shows it. Even if things +looked ten times blacker than they do, and he said he +didn't do it, everybody would just have to believe his +simple word. I'd sooner take it than lots of people's bond, +that's what"; and with this eloquent tribute to the honesty +and fair-play qualities of his friend, Elmer turned +into his own place.</p> + +<p>About two o'clock Elmer dropped in at Mark's home. +He always liked being there, for Mrs. Cummings was +very fond of the motherless boy and made much of him. +Indeed, she never ceased being thankful that Mark had +found a chum with such high principles; for while Elmer +was a boy all over, full of fun and ready to take a joke +with the rest, he had drawn a line for himself, beyond +which nothing could ever tempt him to pass.</p> + +<p>"Ready?" he asked, upon bursting into Mark's den, +where he found the other engaged in some sort of sketching.</p> + +<p>He immediately threw everything aside. With the call +of the diamond in the air what boy, who loved baseball, +could resist or allow any other pursuit to hold him in +check?</p> + +<p>So together they presently went out, Mark having hastily +donned his baseball suit. It was the regulation Hickory +Ridge uniform, and had been carried by the players of the +town for years past, long before such a thing as Boy Scouts +had ever been thought of.</p> + +<p>Possibly the only real mark that distinguished the members +of the troop when on the diamond was, first their +badge with the significant words: "Be prepared," such as +all scouts in good standing are entitled to wear; and second +the little totem telling that they were members of +the Wolf, the Eagle, or the Beaver Patrol.</p> + +<p>Once they reached the field where the games were held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +they found fully fifty of the town fellows on hand, some +tossing the ball, others batting flies for a host of catchers.</p> + +<p>It was soon arranged. Among the fellows who did not, +for various reasons, belong to the scouts there happened +to be some pretty good timber for the several positions +on the field. And Johnny Kline was the one to act as +captain. Johnny was a good player, but addicted so much +to strong slang that he despaired of ever being able to make +good in the troop, and kept putting off the day when his +application for membership would go in.</p> + +<p>"Now we're all ready, Elmer," said Mark, who caught +for the regular team.</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's get down to business," remarked Lil Artha, +who, besides being a cracking good first baseman, was also +a field captain.</p> + +<p>"Just wait a minute, please," said little Jasper Merriweather, +"for here comes Mr. Garrabrant, and he looks +like he might be bringing us some great news."</p> + +<p>"Hey! bet you that old challenge has arrived!" shouted +Red Huggins.</p> + +<p>"And you win, hands down, Red," declared the fine-looking +young man who gave more or less of his time to +the affairs of the troop, on account of the deep interest +he had in boys in general, "because you see that is just +what I am holding in my hand. So close in and listen +while I read it to you!"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! now will you be good, Fairfield?" shouted +Lil Artha, waving his cap.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE PRACTICE GAME WITH THE SCRUB TEAM.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I received</span> this by special messenger not more than +half an hour ago," remarked the scout master of the Hickory +Ridge Troop.</p> + +<p>"Was it Felix Wagner, the second baseman of Fairfield, +who brought it?" asked Lil Artha; "because I saw +him on his wheel pass our house just before I came out."</p> + +<p>"I believe he did say that was his name," replied +Mr. Garrabrant, "though I didn't bother asking him, and +might not even have remembered it only for your mentioning +the same. Hurry along, Landy, if you want to hear +the challenge read."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do now, the worst kind, even if I ain't on the +regular team," replied the fat boy. "Something might +happen to one of our fellows, and then perhaps they'd +give me a show. I know I'm a little clumsy, but I'm improving +all the time and can run half a mile now without +breathing <i>very</i> hard."</p> + +<p>"Hold your horses, Landy, and give Mr. Garrabrant a +show!" called one.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we want to hear about the challenge; we can +listen to your talk any old time, Landy. You'll be with +us some time yet," added another.</p> + +<p>The scout master held up his finger, and instantly every +sound ceased. Even the boys present who did not belong +to the regular scouts understood that Mr. Garrabrant enforced +obedience, and were ready to yield it with the rest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +Besides, even if they did not play on the team, they belonged +in good old Hickory Ridge, and the interests of +the town were dear to their boyish hearts.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +"<span class="smcap">Mr. Roderic Garrabrant, Scout Master</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"Boy Scouts Troop of Hickory Ridge.</span><br /> + + +<p>"We, the newly organized Boy Scouts of Fairfield and +Cramertown, having made up a team composed wholly of +the members of our organization, do hereby challenge you +to a game of ball on the afternoon of Monday the twentieth +of August, to settle the question of championship on the +diamond between our different organizations. No one not +a scout in good standing to participate in this match game. +Please settle this matter at your earliest convenience, and +send us a reply, so that the game may be advertised. It +will be played at three o'clock upon the neutral field of +Basking Ridge, the home nine there having disbanded.</p> + +<div class='sig'> +<span style="margin-right: 6em;">"Signed by the Committee,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"<span class="smcap">Felix Wagner</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Adrian Cook</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 1em;">"<span class="smcap">John Bastian</span>,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">Matthew Tubbs</span>, <i>Chairman</i>."<br /> +</div></div> + +<p>No sooner had Mr. Garrabrant finished reading this communication +than a great uproar broke out. Two dozen +tongues wagged at the same time. Everybody seemed to +have something to say on the subject, and while most of +them applauded the tone of the challenge, there were numerous +suggestions in the air.</p> + +<p>Again did the scout master hold up his hand.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" hissed Lil Artha, with both hands motioning +at the same time.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Garrabrant says be still, fellows!" called another.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>When it was so quiet they could almost have heard a pin +drop, the scout master once more addressed the fifty-odd +boys around him.</p> + +<p>"Please remember," he said, pointedly, "this is a matter +that concerns only the Boy Scouts. I expect every +other fellow to keep the utmost silence while we talk it +over. You are being handsomely treated in being allowed +the privilege of staying here and listening to what we +have to say. Now, scouts, what is your pleasure about this +courteous challenge?"</p> + +<p>"I move that it be immediately accepted, and the time +be set as Monday next at three in the afternoon, and the +game to come off on the Basking Ridge diamond," suggested +Mark.</p> + +<p>"Second the motion!" followed Lil Artha, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Any remarks before the motion is put?" asked Mr. +Garrabrant, smiling as he looked at the eager faces by which +he was surrounded.</p> + +<p>"Are we to take it for granted that the Basking Ridge +people would allow us to come over and use their diamond, +sir?" asked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"That is a point well taken," replied Mr. Garrabrant, +"and I will say for the general information that I asked +the messenger about that very thing. He assured me that +the Fairfield people have the written consent of the owner +of the ground at Basking Ridge. And the people of the +town are just wild for the game to come off there. They +are starved for good baseball, since their club broke up +early in the season. So that point is disposed of. Any +other question, boys?"</p> + +<p>"There is only to be this one game, I understand it, +suh?" queried Chatz.</p> + +<p>"Only this one game," replied the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"And the club that wins will be known as the champion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +team of the Boy Scouts league in this part of the +state—is that it, suh?" the Southern boy went on.</p> + +<p>"I so understand it," Mr. Garrabrant answered.</p> + +<p>"There isn't anything said about umpires, suh; and +we've found in the past that if we want to have a square +deal the umpire should never come from either of the towns +playing in the game," Chatz declared, positively.</p> + +<p>"I took the pains to ask the messenger about that," said +Mr. Garrabrant, smiling, "for I realized that half of our +trouble in the past has come from having a partisan umpire. +But the messenger who carried the challenge said +that Home-run Joe Mallon, who belongs to the Tri-State +League, is home in Basking Ridge, waiting for a broken +arm to heal, and that he'd gladly do the umpiring. You +know he used to be an umpire long before he got to playing +ball. So that question is fixed, too. Any more?"</p> + +<p>"Question! Question!" shouted a number of the scouts, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>When the motion, to the effect that the challenge of the +Fairfield nine be unanimously accepted, was put, it met +with not a single dissenting vote, and Mr. Garrabrant called +it settled.</p> + +<p>"The committee will go with me immediately following +the game to-day, and after we have drafted our answer +we'll get it over to Fairfield to-night, if I have to borrow +somebody's car to do it," declared the scout master.</p> + +<p>Then the cheers broke out in earnest. Every boy in all +Hickory Ridge would be circulating the great news before +night. Little need there would be to go to any expense +in getting out posters when there was such a splendid circulating +medium close at hand.</p> + +<p>"Now let's start play!" called Chatz, impatient to see +whether Elmer would put in that tantalizing slow ball +such as always proved such a tempting bait to the ordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +batter, causing him to swipe the air fiercely, besides losing +confidence in himself meanwhile.</p> + +<p>In a short time the scrub game began. Johnny Kline +was on the firing line for the scrub, and he certainly had +some speed along with him that day, for he sent them in +"scorching hot," as Lil Artha declared.</p> + +<p>However, it seemed as though Elmer and his chums just +lived on speed, for they nearly every one fattened their +average of batted balls that eluded the vigilant fielders.</p> + +<p>Of course, with everything favoring the regular team, +they soon began to pile up runs, while sensational fielding +on their part cut the hard-working scrub team out of +several tallies.</p> + +<p>After the game had run through seven innings it was +called because the hour was getting on toward six.</p> + +<p>"And we have a meeting to-night at which the committee +will report," said Mr. Garrabrant.</p> + +<p>"How does the score stand now?" asked an outsider +who had been away most of the time after the fourth inning, +and only just returned when they came in off the +field.</p> + +<p>"Seven to one, in favor of the scouts," some one replied.</p> + +<p>"It would have been a shut out only for Ty Collins out +in center letting that swift fly pass him, that Johnny Kline +made his home run on," replied another.</p> + +<p>"All the same it was a hard-fought game, fellows," remarked +the genial scout master, who knew the outsiders +felt very sore over their inability to hit Elmer, and whose +nature it was to soften hard blows for the under dog.</p> + +<p>"If it had been any other pitcher we'd have knocked the +stuffing out of him, and that's no lie," asserted the captain +of the scrub nine, defiantly. "My team had their +batting eyes along, but that balloon ball fooled us every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +time. It's sure the finest ever, and I see poor old Fairfield's +finish if ever she gets up against Elmer this year."</p> + +<p>"I see you found your old mouse-colored cap again, +Mark," remarked Lil Artha. "Glad you went back after +it this morning. Was beginning to be afraid you might +put in a claim against me for a new lid, because I was the +cause of your losing that one."</p> + +<p>Several others heard what was said, and, of course, boy-like +demanded to know what Lil Artha meant; so he simply +said Mark lost his cap while scuffling near the bank of +the Sunflower River, while they were on their way home +from fishing on the preceding evening at dusk.</p> + +<p>Both Mark and Elmer had arranged it between them to +keep on the watch and see if anyone appeared to be any +ways surprised at Mark wearing the familiar gray cap. +But so far as they were able to notice the matter caused +only a slight passing ripple, and was then apparently forgotten.</p> + +<p>If the party who had found the cap, and later on deliberately +left it under the prize peach trees of Colonel +Hitchins, in order to get Mark in bad odor with that gentleman, +were present, he had the shrewdness to avoid showing +any feeling of astonishment that would naturally come +to him on seeing the owner of the cap wearing it again, +with the utmost indifference.</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing, Elmer," whispered Mark to his chum, +in rather a disgusted tone, when they found themselves +apart from the rest of the homeward-bound players and +spectators.</p> + +<p>"If you mean with regard to finding out who had your +cap, I guess you hit the nail on the head," chuckled the +other. "Either the fellow wasn't there, or else he was +smart enough to keep a straight face, and take no interest +in your old cap."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I don't wear it again, I tell you," remarked +the other. "It's pretty punk anyhow, and whoever had +it, started to tear the lining out. Just see how it's torn, +would you?"</p> + +<p>Elmer took the cap and glanced at the badly used interior.</p> + +<p>"It is, for a fact," he remarked, as a look of intelligence +flashed across his face, only to vanish again. "Looks +like it had been through the war. Are you sure the lining +wasn't torn that way when you lost it, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"Not one bit, I give you my word. But enough of that. +The thing haunts me if I happen to wake up in the night. +D'ye know I just see before me that one question: 'Who +found Mark Cummings's cap?' But never an answer +comes, and I keep groping in the dark. Perhaps some day +I may happen on the answer, Elmer, or you may, for +you're always so smart at solving riddles."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I may, Mark, and if I do you can just bank +on it I'll be telling you the first thing," laughed the other.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should guess you would," declared Mark.</p> + +<p>Then others joined them, and the conversation became +general; of course, pretty much all of the talk being in +connection with the coming battle with the strong Fairfield +team that had given them so hard a tussle two years ago.</p> + +<p>"But we're twice as strong now as then, boys," said +Mark. "We didn't have our prize pitcher then, and some +of us have improved a heap in that time."</p> + +<p>"So has Matt Tubbs and several of his nine," declared +Ty Collins, who played center. "They beat the Rochesters +early in the season, when the regulars were practicing. +Don't you believe for one minute we're going to have a +walkover. The Fairfield team's a hustling lot, they tell me, +and always working for runs. They're bigger than our +men every way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They can be as tall as the housetops," chuckled Lil +Artha, "and that won't help one bit to meet up against +Elmer's benders, or engage that balloon ball he has learned +to throw just as good as Christy Matthewson ever did."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what rotten stuff!" mocked Elmer, though of +course he could not help feeling satisfied with the confidence +which his teammates seemed to repose in him.</p> + +<p>A short time later they reached the borders of the town, +where they divided up in smaller groups, according to +where their homes chanced to lie.</p> + +<p>"Remember the meeting to-night, boys!" had been the +last words of Mr. Garrabrant, and a number who did not +belong to the scouts wished they had the nerve to put in +an application right away, for they did seem to have such +glorious times.</p> + +<p>When Elmer parted from his chum, and walked on to his +own home, he was nodding and muttering to himself somewhat +in this style:</p> + +<p>"Yes, perhaps I <i>may</i> have some news for Mark about +that blessed old cap before a great while goes by, because +I've got my suspicions. But now it's mum as an oyster +for me."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the following morning about ten o'clock Elmer was +passing along the road a short distance from his house, +carrying quite a good-sized package, when he heard his +name called from the rear.</p> + +<p>Turning around, he discovered the tall, angular form of +Lil Artha hurrying after him and making motions as +though he wanted to overtake him.</p> + +<p>"Hello! were you looking for anyone?" laughed Elmer, +as the long-legged chap covered the intervening ground at +a great rate and joined him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I was just on my way to your house to ask you +something when I glimpsed you turning the bend. So I +put on a little steam, and here I am," replied the one who +was considered by all odds the best walker among the +scouts, barring none.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I'm on my way over to Mr. Bailey's with +something he wants, and which my father has just run +across. Thought I'd take the short cut through his patch +of woods, as it cuts down the distance a third. If you +haven't anything else on hand just now, what's to hinder +you going along, Lil Artha?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing that I can see," replied the party who received +the invitation, falling into step at Elmer's side. "And +if you feel tired carrying that big package just heave it +over to me; I'll spell you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it looks heavier than it really <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'us'">is</ins>, but I'll take you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +at your word if I feel that way. Now, what was it you +wanted to see me about?"</p> + +<p>It proved that the long-legged first baseman had been +doing considerable thinking in connection with the coming +game of baseball. He believed he had discovered a way +where a few little changes in the batting order and such +things would add materially to the strength of the team.</p> + +<p>This was a subject very close to Elmer's own heart, and +he was ready and willing to talk about it in and out of +season.</p> + +<p>So the two boys walked along the road debating the matter +seriously. Lil Artha had prepared himself to back up +his claims with all the shrewdness of a lawyer advancing +his ease before a jury, and knowing how enthusiastic the +other was when he had a subject in his mind Elmer was +very careful not to allow himself to be carried off his +feet by such eloquence.</p> + +<p>Such a little thing as the arrangement of the batting +order has won and lost innumerable games of baseball. +Some fellows, once they manage to reach first base, are +almost certain to get around, if one or two sure pinch hitters +follow. And since Lil Artha knew the peculiarities of +the Hickory Ridge fellows much better than Elmer did, +because the latter was a comparative newcomer, he was in +a position to give advice.</p> + +<p>Of course, as field captain, Lil Artha had the right to +make changes himself, but he wanted advice from the +pitcher, with whom he worked in common for the good of +the team.</p> + +<p>When they came to the spot where the short cut through +the woods began Elmer turned into the path. Lil Artha +had insisted on taking over the package that was going to +Mr. Bailey, and as the trail was exceedingly narrow in +places Elmer was compelled to step ahead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>He kept turning his head as he listened to the arguments +advanced by his comrade, and occasionally made a reply.</p> + +<p>They were now in the midst of the Bailey woods, known +all over the region as the finest and most extensive grove +within some miles of town. On this warm August morning +it was cool under those big trees, and one of Elmer's reasons +for taking the short cut now became apparent, since +the dusty road promised a hot walk as well as a much longer +one.</p> + +<p>Squirrels barked as they played among the branches +above; birds whistled, crows flapped their wings and cawed +solemnly at being disturbed in their caucus; a timid rabbit +darted out of a patch of brush, stopped to observe the +intruders, and then bounded away as though not very much +frightened; for this being close season the report of a gun +was as yet an unheard thing in Bailey's woods.</p> + +<p>All at once Elmer came to a sudden stop, so that Lil +Artha, intent on the point he happened to be arguing at +the time, almost ran into his comrade.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter—stub your toe, or get a bug in your +eye?" he asked, as he clutched the package tighter to prevent +its dropping to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," replied Elmer; "but what in the +world do you suppose that queer sound can be?"</p> + +<p>Now that his attention was called to it, Lil Artha also +detected the noise which had attracted his chum's notice.</p> + +<p>"What d'ye think it could be, now?" he asked, turning +a look of wonder on Elmer.</p> + +<p>The other shook his head as though puzzled.</p> + +<p>"I thought I knew every animal you could find in these +woods, and the sound of his grunt or squeal, but that's a +new one on me," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"I tell you," said Lil Artha, after listening again intently; +"it must be a pig, that's what. There, didn't that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +sound just like a big grunt, and wasn't it followed by a +squeal? One of Bailey's hogs had sneaked out of its pen +and is rooting around. Perhaps it's got into trouble. We'd +better investigate this thing a little, don't you think, +Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"I think so a heap," replied the young scout leader; +"because that last grunt didn't have a piggy sound at all +to me, and I give it to you straight."</p> + +<p>"Then what do you reckon it was?" demanded Lil Artha, +with added interest.</p> + +<p>"More like a groan," remarked Elmer, starting on again.</p> + +<p>"A groan—you mean a real human groan?" exclaimed +the tall boy. "Say, now, that would mean somebody might +be hurt over there."</p> + +<p>"Then the sooner we find out the better." Elmer answered +over his <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'shouler'">shoulder</ins>.</p> + +<p>They had little difficulty in tracing the course of the +sounds. And the further they advanced to the left of +the path the louder the singular combination of sighs, +groans, and grunts became.</p> + +<p>"I know this place, all right," whispered Lil Artha, +presently. "I've been here more'n a few times, Elmer. +There's the queerest hill just beyond you ever saw. It's +got one face shaved off just like it had been split, and half +of it carried away. Us boys call it Echo Cliff. I've been +up on it lots of times. Gee, it's sure a jump down to the +tree tops below!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Elmer remarked, "I remember hearing about it +now, though I've never been up on it, Perhaps some poor +fellow has tumbled over the edge, and is lying with broken +bones among the trees."</p> + +<p>"Ugh, you give me a cold shiver!" Lil Artha said. +"But p'raps he didn't fall all the way down, Elmer, because,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +seems to me those awful sounds come right out +of the air up yonder."</p> + +<p>"That's just what they do," muttered the other boy, in +a puzzled tone; "but come on, and we'll soon find out the +worst."</p> + +<p>Resolutely he led the way and Lil Artha followed. No +matter what dreadful thing might suddenly meet their +sight, Elmer would not be deterred now.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" whispered Lil Artha, as he gripped the shoulder +of his comrade; "he's talking to himself, Elmer. +Where under the sun d'ye suppose he can be? It don't +stand to reason that he's up on the top of Echo Cliff, +because that's farther off."</p> + +<p>Elmer gave a chuckle, and when he turned his face +around his companion saw that he seemed to be shaking +with laughter.</p> + +<p>"I think I've got on to it, all right!" said Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, let me in, won't you?" pleaded Lil Artha. +"You look like you wanted to burst out laughing, and just +didn't dare. If a human life is in danger I don't see what +there is funny about it."</p> + +<p>"Tell me first, is there an open place just below this +Echo Cliff you talk about?" asked the other, in the same +low, cautious voice.</p> + +<p>"That's just what there is," Lil Artha replied, readily +enough. "Many a time I've dropped chunks of rock +down, just to see 'em smash on the ground below."</p> + +<p>"That settles it, then; he was trying it out," remarked +Elmer, nodding.</p> + +<p>"Hey, what d'ye mean?" demanded Lil Artha. "Trying +what out? And who d'ye think it is? tell me that, +Elmer."</p> + +<p>"Come here with me; I believe I see him, all right," remarked +the other. "Follow my finger now; notice that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +thing moving up yonder in that little old tree? Now it +kicks like all get out. You'd think a fellow had gone up +there to take lessons in swimming. Well, that's <i>him</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Who?" demanded the other, imperatively.</p> + +<p>"A fellow by the name of Tobias Ellsworth Jones, +known among the boys by the more familiar name of just +plain Toby," chuckled Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Wow, now I'm beginning to get on, Elmer!" exclaimed +the tall boy, excitedly.</p> + +<p>"You remember Toby is just crazy to fly like the +Wrights and all the other bird men who sail through the +air in their aeroplanes?"</p> + +<p>"Sure he is," commented Lil Artha; "haven't I heard +him tell about what wonderful things he was goin' to do +some day, to make the name of Jones famous? Say, honest, +now, I believe you've hit her right, Elmer. Toby <i>has</i> +been trying it out! And that big flapping thing up yonder +in the tree top must be his wonderful parachute he's been +talking about this long while. Say, I believe the silly must +have dropped off Echo Cliff!"</p> + +<p>"That's what he did," remarked Elmer, "and instead +of lighting in that nice little open place, as he meant to, +the wind just carried him into the top of a tree!"</p> + +<p>"And he's caught up there right now—caught by his +trousers seat mebbe, and kicking to beat the band. I don't +wonder he grunts and groans and talks to himself. Now +what d'ye think of that for a loon? Why, he might have +broken his leg if he had fallen on those stones! What're +we going to do about it, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>As usual Lil Artha was only too willing to have his +companion take the lead in suggesting action. Some boys +seem to be just fitted to occupy the position of guide, and +their mates soon come to rely on them exclusively. Elmer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +occupied that position, and so Lil Artha looked to him in +this emergency.</p> + +<p>"Why, we've got to get him down out of there, that's +flat," returned Elmer. "He's our comrade; and scouts +must always help their fellows, or anybody else, for that +matter, when in distress. Let's move on a little farther and +give him the high sign."</p> + +<p>All this talking had been carried on in such low tones +that the sound of their voices could hardly have reached +the ears of the ambitious aviator, who was caught in the +tree, fully thirty feet from the ground, unable to break +away, and confronted by a nasty drop if he did succeed +in separating his garments from the branch that had +gripped him.</p> + +<p>They could now see that what Elmer had suggested was +indeed the truth. A boy was flapping at a great rate, +his arms and legs going at the same time, as he tried his +best to squirm around so as to get at the seat of the trouble, +but apparently without success.</p> + +<p>After each tiresome struggle he would give vent to a new +series of those queer grunts and sighs, and then do some +more talking to himself.</p> + +<p>Above him, and just barely caught on the tree top, was a +strange affair that had somewhat the appearance of a big +umbrella, made out of canvas or muslin. A number of +holes had been punched through the parachute by its descent +through the branches, so that taken altogether, the +brave would-be aviator and his apparatus seemed just +then to be in a state of collapse.</p> + +<p>Elmer waited until the squirming had ceased, with one +last groan as of despair. Then he gave the signal of the +Wolf Patrol, as only one who had actually heard the long-drawn +howl of the timber wolf in the darkness of a Canadian +Northwest night could imitate it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Evidently the sound stirred Toby to new life, for his +movements began again. He tried to make an answering +signal, but the sound was more like the bleat of a lost +calf than anything else. However, it answered its purpose, +which was to let the comrade below, who had come to +the rescue, understand that his presence was known.</p> + +<p>"Hello! up there, what are you doing to that tree?" +called Lil Artha, who could not keep from trying to extract +some fun out of the situation for all its gravity.</p> + +<p>"Better ask the tree what it's adoin' to me!" wailed +Toby, who had managed to whip himself around so that +he could now catch a glimpse of the boys below. "Hey, +Elmer, and you, Lil Artha, get me down out of this first +and have your fun afterward! I'm as dizzy as an owl in +daytime, and if my pants give way I'm going to squash +flat! Come up here and grab me, can't you? Tell you +all about it later on. What I want now is sympathy and +brotherly kindness, don't you see?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A QUESTION OF A SCOUT'S DUTY.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">He's</span> right," said Elmer, energetically, as he prepared +to climb the particular tree that bore such strange fruit. +"Toby's hung there so long that all the blood's just +going to his head. Come along, Lil Artha; drop that pack +and follow me up there. We can rescue him, all right, +if we're smart."</p> + +<p>They went up among the branches like a couple of +monkeys, both being good climbers. And presently they +were close to where poor Toby was dangling, watching +their movements feverishly. His face was very red, and +he did not look very comfortable as he swung there, without +any hold above or below.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha was immediately reminded of the stirring +piece which he had himself recited in school more than +once—about the captain's little boy on board a ship in a +harbor, who daringly climbed to the very top of the mainmast +and stood up on the main truck—"no hold had he +above, below; no aid could reach him there!"</p> + +<p>In that case the captain had shouted to the boy to jump +far out, so that he might strike the water, and they would +pick him up, which in the end the little fellow did, and +was saved; but the same advice would not apply with +regard to poor Toby, for he could not jump no matter +how much he wished to, and it was hard ground below and +not soft water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Elmer sized the situation up as soon as he arrived. +He saw that by good luck the branch that held Toby up +was a solid one, and would bear considerable weight, so +that it was safe to crawl out on it.</p> + +<p>"I'll go and get within reach of him," he said, quickly. +"You brace yourself, and be ready to pull him in when he +drops. And Toby, make a grab for that branch just below +when you feel yourself going, understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," groaned the other, "I guess I can make it all +right, Elmer. But say, what you goin' to do now?" as +he saw the other taking out his pocket knife, opening the +largest blade, and then gripping the tool between his teeth +so that he might have the free use of both hands.</p> + +<p>"I've got to cut you loose, you know; don't worry, +Toby," replied the other, with such assurance in his steady +voice that he unconsciously gave the dangling boy new +courage. "We're going to bring you down; only try to +help yourself by getting hold of that branch, see?"</p> + +<p>"I will, Elmer, you just bet I will!" Toby answered.</p> + +<p>A minute later and Elmer was bending down above +Toby. He had to brace himself against a sudden shock, +for he knew what the result must be, once Toby's weight +was cast loose so that the limb could spring back.</p> + +<p>"Ready everybody?" Elmer sang out.</p> + +<p>"Sure!" answered Lil Artha, taking a new clutch on +the garments of Toby, with one of his legs twined about +the tree trunk so as to better hold his own when the +shock came.</p> + +<p>"Ready, Elmer; let her go!" said Toby, weakly but +gamely.</p> + +<p>Fortunately that knife blade was as keen as a razor. +Elmer always made it a point to keep his knife in the best +condition possible at all times, and this was one of the +occasions where he felt amply repaid for his foresight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>One circular sweep, and the thing was done.</p> + +<p>Toby dropped like a plummet. His hands were outstretched +and, as he had planned, he gripped the branch just +below; but had it depended wholly on Toby's ability to +maintain his hold, he must have gone plunging down, +banging against the various projections until he finally +brought up on the ground, lucky if he escaped broken ribs +or collar bone.</p> + +<p>But Lil Artha was there like a young Gibraltar. He +could not be moved, since his left leg was twined around +the tree trunk. So he swung Toby inward and gave him +a chance to get his breath, while Elmer was hurrying down +to assist.</p> + +<p>Between them they managed to right Toby, who was +soon panting as he squatted in a friendly fork of the tree.</p> + +<p>"Now let's get down to the ground," said Elmer, who +did not seem to think that he had done anything very +much out of the common in rescuing the ambitious would-be +aviator.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elmer, just wait a minute!" exclaimed Toby, +entreatingly.</p> + +<p>"What ails you now?" demanded Lil Artha. "Can't +you get your nerve back yet? Say, we'll give you a hand +down, Toby, all right. Just depend on your fellow scouts."</p> + +<p>"It ain't that, Lil Artha," declared Toby; "but while +you're about it, why won't you make a clean sweep of the +thing, a double rescue so to speak?"</p> + +<p>"Well, now, did you ever hear the beat of that?" +laughed the tall boy. "He wants us to risk our precious +lives cutting his old umbrella machine loose above there, +so he can just take chances again. That's nervy, all right."</p> + +<p>"But Lil Artha," continued the other, persuasively, laying +a hand on the sleeve of the tall scout, "don't you +see that it's only held slightly? If you could cut that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +rope, and break that small branch off, I believe the whole +outfit would have to fall to the ground. Elmer, ain't that +so?"</p> + +<p>Of course Elmer was compelled to admit the fact, for +the parachute was only lightly held, after its adventurous +passage through the tree tops. So Lil Artha, grumbling +somewhat, though obliging, proceeded forthwith to climb +farther aloft until he could use his knife on the cord that +seemed to be helping to retard the downward progress of +the parachute.</p> + +<p>"Now break that branch, and she's just bound to drop, +Lil Artha!" cried Toby, who was keenly alive to the +fate of his beloved airship. "There she goes, fellows! +What did I tell you? Whoop! Sailed down as soft as a +thistle ball! That's the ticket. Bully boy, Lil Artha! +I will never forget this of both of you. Some day mebbe +I'll have a chance to take you up with me in my balloon!"</p> + +<p>"Nixy, never, not me!" declared the tall boy, as he +came scrambling down from his elevated perch. "The +ground's good enough for this chicken. If I ever dropped +from this height, whatever would happen to my bones, tell +me that? Now, let's see if you can climb down, Toby."</p> + +<p>Toby proved to be all right again, now that he had regained +an upright position, and the blood ceased to gather +in his head. He made a decent job of it, dropping down +the tree. Lil Artha kept close beside him, to guard against +any accident, for, as he said, he "didn't want to have his +work all for nothing, and let Toby get a broken leg after +he had once been safely rescued."</p> + +<p>They all arrived on the ground under the tree about +the same time. Toby's first thought seemed to be in connection +with his beloved parachute, and, of course, +he started for the spot where the broken umbrella-like +apparatus lay, upside down; as Lil Artha declared, "for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +all the world like a duck that, being shot in the air, had +fallen on its back."</p> + +<p>Hardly had the unfortunate Toby taken half a dozen +steps away than Lil Artha suddenly burst out into shrieks +of laughter that caused the other to whirl around in his +tracks and look at him in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What ails you, now, I'd just like to know, Lil Artha?" +he demanded. "You sure act like you'd gone bug-house. +Say, Elmer, is he crazy, or can it be the reaction set in +after his daring feat in grabbing me?"</p> + +<p>"Turn around!" yelled Lil Artha. "Let Elmer see +the air hole he made. Oh, my! Oh, me! but don't you feel +cold? Ain't you afraid of a draught, Toby?"</p> + +<p>Toby apparently suddenly began to understand, and as +his hand went back of him a grin broke over his face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, murder!" he ejaculated, "he cut out the whole +seat, and these are my newest trousers, too! Won't I get +it, though, when mom sees what's happened? And I don't +dare tell her how it was done, because she wouldn't let me +keep on studying about aeroplanes and such. Whatever +am I going to do now!"</p> + +<p>"I'd advise you to get an awning before you show yourself +in town," jeered Lil Artha. "If any of the scouts +see you, Toby, they'll sure think you're flying a flag of +truce. But don't you blame Elmer for your troubles, +hear? He did the only thing there was open to him. And +if he hadn't happened to have that sharp knife along, +you might be hanging up there yet and for some time to +come; get that?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, and I'm making no kick," replied Toby, with +a grimace. "Reckon I pulled out of a bad scrape lucky +enough. Wow! Thought at one time my goose was cooked! +But it's all right now, it's all right, boys!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," sang Lil Artha, "everything is lovely, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +goose hangs high, or he did up to the time his chums +happened along and yanked him down. But it was a good +thing for you, Toby, Elmer here happened to be sent +over to Mr. Bailey's house, and concluded to take the +short cut through the woods."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Toby, philosophically, and boy fashion, +"I always heard it was better to be born lucky than +rich, and now I believe it."</p> + +<p>"Come along, Lil Artha," said Elmer; "we've got +business on hand, you remember, and can't waste any +more time here. But I hope Toby won't think of trying +to drop down from the top of Echo Cliff again."</p> + +<p>"Not if he knows it," returned the other, whose face +was scratched in several places from contact with twigs +during his crash into the tree. "Next time I try out any +of my inventions I'll make sure to pick a place where there +ain't any plagued trees. Perhaps I might try a jump from +the old church tower some fine day. That would make the +people of sleepy old Hickory Ridge stare some, hey?"</p> + +<p>"I sure think it would," returned Lil Artha, as he +stepped off after Elmer; "and your folks in particular. +I see you're in for a heap of trouble, Toby, with these +fool notions of yours. It'll be a good thing if you get +cured before you're killed."</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," called out Toby, with one of his grins; +"because it wouldn't be much use after that same thing +happened, hey?"</p> + +<p>Elmer was chuckling as he walked along.</p> + +<p>"Never will forget how Toby looked as he kicked, and +pawed, and tried to get hold of something," he remarked +to his companion.</p> + +<p>"Same here, Elmer," replied the other, shaking with +merriment.</p> + +<p>"But all the same it was a ticklish thing for Toby, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +what you might call a close shave," declared Elmer, +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Whew, I wouldn't like to take the chances of a thirty-foot +drop like that, if the branch broke or his trousers +tore!" Lil Artha remarked. "And after all Toby ought +to be thankful that they were new goods and not rotten +stuff."</p> + +<p>"Think of his nerve in jumping off that high cliff," +said Elmer, shaking his head, as though the idea appalled +him. "That fellow is getting too daring. I wouldn't be +much surprised if he did try to drop down from the church +tower some fine day if this thing isn't nipped in the +bud."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps we ought to tell, Elmer?" suggested +Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"You mean, let his folks know about the narrow call +he had here to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yep. Seems to me it's kind of our duty to inform his +dad. Another time, perhaps, Toby won't be just so lucky. +And Elmer, if he got smashed or had his legs broken, you +and me would feel like we was guilty, ain't that so?"</p> + +<p>"I'll think it over, Lil Artha," replied the other. "I +hate to tell on a chum, but this is something out of the +ordinary. It may mean Toby's life, for all we can tell. +And on the whole I think his folks ought to know."</p> + +<p>"He won't blab on himself, that's dead sure," remarked +the tall scout.</p> + +<p>"Sounded like he didn't mean to, for a fact," Elmer +continued.</p> + +<p>"Tell you what, I'd have given a heap to have been +around just then, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"You mean when he took the jump? It must have +been a bit thrilling for a fellow to deliberately drop off +such a high place. But Toby's got the nerve, only sometimes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +it seems to me he's reckless. And that's a bad +thing in anyone who wants to sail around through the +air regions."</p> + +<p>They went on exchanging opinions, and in due time +arrived at the Bailey house, where Elmer delivered his +charge to the owner of the big woods.</p> + +<p>On the way back they neither saw nor heard anything +of Toby, though they could easily imagine him hard at +work trying to get his broken parachute in shape, so that +it might <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'he'">be</ins> transported back to town, and fixed up for +another exploit.</p> + +<p>It would not be in boy nature to keep such a remarkable +story secret, and before night it had likely traveled from +one end of Hickory Ridge to the other in about a dozen +different shapes. Some even had it that Toby had flown +a mile before being caught in a tree, while others had him +a wreck, with all the doctors in town trying to patch him +up. But Elmer went straight to Mr. Jones, and gave him +the true version, so that he might not be alarmed at anything +he heard.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>MORE WORK ON THE DIAMOND.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Lil Artha showed up on the field that afternoon, +clad in his old baseball suit that showed the wear and +tear of many a battle, he had his camera slung over his +shoulder with a strap.</p> + +<p>"Want to take the nine in action?" asked Elmer, as +he noted this fact, and paused in his delivery of the ball to +the catcher, Mark Cummings.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I might, if the signs were right, and they showed +that they deserved all that sort of attention," replied the +tall scout, "but I've made up my mind about one thing, +Elmer."</p> + +<p>"What might that be?" asked the other, smiling at +his friend's seriousness.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to carry this little box around with me day +and night, that's what. Just the time you want it most +you haven't got it along," declared Lil Artha, with a look +of sheer disgust.</p> + +<p>"Well, I always heard that a fellow could see all sorts +of game when he didn't happen to have a gun," laughed +Elmer; "and I suppose the same thing goes with a camera. +But I can guess what's ailing you now, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Of course you can," grinned the other. "Say, just +think what it would mean to you and me if we only had +a picture of Toby Jones kicking the air up in that old +tree, and learning to swim! Wow, no chance of us ever +getting the blues while we had that to look at! It would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +have been the funniest ever. And to think it's all lost to +us, just because I was silly enough to leave my box at +home. Shucks!"</p> + +<p>"Don't suppose Toby would pose it over again, do +you?" suggested Larry Billings, who was passing a ball +with Matty Eggleston, the leader of the Beaver Patrol, and +one of the reliables in the nine.</p> + +<p>"Well, hardly," Lil Artha replied. "I reckon Toby +got enough of hanging that time to last him right along. +Is he here this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Sure he is, and as chipper as ever. Only grins when +anybody tries to josh him about flying. Nothing ever +feases that feller. He comes up again after every knockdown, +as fresh as a daisy. Says he's going to give the old +town a sensation some day before long. And he means +it, too," remarked one of the other boys near by.</p> + +<p>Elmer and Lil Artha exchanged meaning glances, and +presently the latter managed to whisper to his companion +of the morning:</p> + +<p>"Did you do it, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"I asked my father what I ought to do, and he sent +me over to tell Mr. Jones the whole story, because all +sorts of yarns were going around, and he said Toby's +mother might hear something awful had happened, and be +frightened."</p> + +<p>"And what did Mr. Jones say?" continued Lil Artha.</p> + +<p>"He laughed a little," replied Elmer, then looked serious +like. "I rather expect he'll put a crimp in Toby's +flying business after this, though up to now he's rather +encouraged the boy, thinking it was smart in him. Now +he sees the danger. But get out in the field, and throw +in a few from first, old fellow."</p> + +<p>The scene was an animated one, with boys in uniform +and without, banging out high flies, passing balls, and exercising<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +generally. It really seemed as though every one +in the town who could get off must be there that afternoon +to see how the Hickory Ridge team gave promise +of playing when up against the strong Fairfield nine.</p> + +<p>Girls had come down in flocks, and not a few men were +present, among whom Elmer noticed his old friend, Colonel +Hitchins.</p> + +<p>This fact caused him to remember something, and the +sight of his catcher, Mark Cummings, fitted right in with +his thoughts. Apparently Mark had also noticed the presence +of the Colonel, for after throwing up his hand as a +signal that he had had enough of practice for the time being, +he advanced toward Elmer, and was presently speaking in +a low tone to him.</p> + +<p>"See who's here, Elmer?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, I notice a lot of mighty pretty girls for one +thing," smiled the other.</p> + +<p>"You know I don't mean them, or any particular girl," +replied the catcher, who was a singularly modest lad as +well as a handsome one. "Over yonder in that bunch—the +old colonel!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I noticed him a bit ago," remarked Elmer. +"But that isn't surprising. He's always taken a heap +of interest in boys' sports, and used to play baseball many +years ago, he says, when it was a new game. He told me +he was in a nine that played the old Cincinnati Reds the +first year they ever had a league. And that was a long +time ago, Mark."</p> + +<p>"You're right, it was, Elmer; but when I saw the colonel +it reminded me that so far I haven't done anything +about finding out how that lost cap of mine happened +to be picked up under his peach trees, when I dropped it +a mile away, over on the bank of the Sunflower."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I heard that two men had been arrested, charged with +stealing those peaches," Elmer remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so, for they were silly enough to sell the +fruit to Phil Dongari, the man who keeps the biggest fruit +store in town. Colonel Hitchins could tell his prize peaches +anywhere, so he went and bought them back again; and +getting a line on the men, had them put in the town cooler, +where they are yet."</p> + +<p>"Just so, Mark; that's ancient history," smiled Elmer; +"but as you say it doesn't do the first thing along the +line of explaining how your cap got under those same +trees, does it?"</p> + +<p>"But, Elmer, I'm relying on you to get a move on and +find out something before the trail gets cold," argued +Mark.</p> + +<p>"That sounds pretty fine, my boy," observed Elmer; +"but what makes you believe I can do anything to help +out? You've got all the advantages I have."</p> + +<p>"That's so," admitted Mark; "only I'm a greenhorn +about following a trail, and you know heaps. Besides, +something in your manner seems to tell me you've already +got a hunch on about this thing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's the way you look at it, eh?" mocked Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I haven't been going with you all this time not +to know how to read your face and actions," replied Mark, +boldly. "And it's my honest opinion right now that if +you chose you could put your finger on the culprit."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for your confidence, my boy; but I'm not +quite so dead sure as you make out," returned Elmer.</p> + +<p>"But you <i>think</i> you know?" protested Mark.</p> + +<p>"I believe I've got a good clew; I admit that, Mark."</p> + +<p>"Were you over there again?" demanded the other.</p> + +<p>"Now you're referring to where you lost your old cap, +I take it?" Elmer said in a noncommittal way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's just what I mean—over on the bank of the +Sunflower, where Lil Artha began kidding me, and in consequence +my cap fell off. You rode over on your wheel, +didn't you, Elmer?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, I did," the other admitted; "but not like +you, to look for the cap, because at the time I went I happened +to know it had been found, and you had it at home."</p> + +<p>"Then why should you bother going all that way over a +rough path? Hold on, let me change that question, because +I see why you wanted to look over the ground. Did +you find anything there to tell you who picked that cap +up?" and Mark looked directly in the face of his chum.</p> + +<p>"If I did you needn't expect that I'm going to tell you +about it till I'm good and ready," laughed Elmer. "And +that will be inside of twenty-four hours, perhaps. This is +Saturday, and by Monday night I hope I'll be in a position +to show you something interesting. Just bottle up till +then, my boy. And now there's the scrub team going out, +so we have lost the toss and must take our first turn at bat."</p> + +<p>Mark knew that it would be useless trying to urge his +chum to relent. Elmer no doubt had some good reason +for holding off longer. So, although he was very anxious +to learn the solution of the mystery connected with his +cap, Mark put the matter out of his mind for the time +being and prepared to play ball.</p> + +<p>The game was, as before, hotly contested.</p> + +<p>Johnny Kline, as captain of the scrub, bent every energy +to beating the regulars, and pitched as he had never done +before. But Elmer was also in fine fettle on this bright +Saturday afternoon. His speed was better than ever; and +when in pinches he floated the ball up in one of those tantalizing +drops, he had the heaviest slugger guessing and +beating the air in a vain attempt to connect.</p> + +<p>The crowd numbered several hundreds, and they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +as ready to applaud any clever work on the part of the +scrub players as Lil Artha's team. And with such a host +of pretty high-school girls present every fellow strove to +do his best in order to merit the hand clapping that followed +every bit of fine play.</p> + +<p>For five innings the score stood at nothing to nothing. +Elmer was equal to each and every crisis, and somehow +the boys back of him did not seem able to solve the puzzling +delivery of Johnny Kline any better than the scrub +team did that of the scout pitcher.</p> + +<p>In the sixth there came a break. Lil Artha led off with +a rousing two bagger, and the next man up, who happened +to be Chatz Maxfield, sent him to third with a clever sacrifice, +for which he was noted.</p> + +<p>Then along came Red, who was equal to the emergency, +and whipped out a tremendous fly which the fielder caught +handsomely, but tumbled all over himself in so doing; and +of course the long-legged first baseman had no difficulty +in getting home before the ball could be returned to the +diamond. Indeed, Lil Artha was such a remarkable runner +that once he got his base his club counted on a tally three +times out of four.</p> + +<p>That broke the ice, and in the innings that followed the +boys took sweet revenge on Johnny's benders, smashing +them to all parts of the field until the spectators were roaring +with laughter and a halt had to be called to let the +overworked fellow in center come in to get a reviving drink +of water.</p> + +<p>The result of the game was a score of eleven to two, and +neither of these runs for the scrub were earned, but presented +to them on errors in the field.</p> + +<p>"It looks good to me," remarked Red Huggins, as he +and several others of the scouts plodded homeward after +the conclusion of the game. "If we can do as clever work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +on Monday as we did this afternoon, those Fairfield giants +won't have a show for their money."</p> + +<p>"And that's what we're going to do, just you make +your mind up to it," declared Lil Artha. "And to think +what a great catch our Toby made when he had to run and +jump into the air for that liner. Shows he's all to the good, +no matter if he did get such a bounce this morning. We'd +miss him if he took a notion to fly away between now and +Monday <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>," and the speaker cast a side glance toward +the right fielder, who was limping along, talking over the +game with Ty Collins.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there are several good fellows just waiting for +a chance to break in!" declared Red; "Larry Billings, for +instance, who can hit 'em some; Jack Armitage, who is +nearly as swift as Lil Artha on the bases; and George Robbins, +who knows how to rattle a pitcher to beat the band. +I guess we don't need to worry, since we've got plenty of +good material handy in case of accidents."</p> + +<p>"But Toby isn't going to fail us," asserted Elmer. +"He's too good a scout not to know his duty in this crisis. +For we've just got to beat that Fairfield crowd this time, +or we'll never hear the end of it."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, fellows; if we play like we did to-day +we'll have their number, all right. Wait till you see how +Elmer teases their heavy batters with that drop of his! +There'll be need of a lot of dope after the game, for the +arms that swing nearly out of joint swiping the air. Wow, +don't I wish to-morrow was Monday, though!" and Lil +Artha gave further emphasis to his wrought-up feelings by +a certain gesture that was one of his peculiarities.</p> + +<p>"I've heard lots of people say Hickory Ridge never +had so fast a nine before," remarked Matty.</p> + +<p>"Thspare our blushes, pleath!" laughed Ted Burgoyne, +who could never conquer that hissing habit that caused him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +to lisp, though no one ever heard him admit the fact, which +he always vigorously denied.</p> + +<p>It was a jolly and well-satisfied party of athletes that +journeyed back to town from the field where the game was +played. Even the members of the badly beaten scrub +could not but feel a certain pride in the work of the regulars, +and declared that if the boys could only do as well +in the game with Fairfield there need be no fear of the +result.</p> + +<p>And luckily Sunday would come as a day of rest before +the match game at Basking Ridge was to take place.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE PUNCTURED TIRE.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was Saturday night.</p> + +<p>Elmer Chenowith had put in rather a strenuous day, +all told, what with that morning walk, the rescue of poor +Toby from the tree top, and then nine full innings of warm +work pitching during the afternoon hours.</p> + +<p>But he fancied he did not feel half so used up as Toby, +for instance, after his fall into the branches and vain struggles +for release.</p> + +<p>It was about eight o'clock when the telephone bell rang, +and as he was alone in the library at the time, Elmer answered +the call. To his surprise he recognized the voice at +the other end of the wire as belonging to Colonel Hitchins, +for once heard those smooth, even tones could never be +mistaken.</p> + +<p>"Is Elmer at home?" asked the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, this is Elmer talking with you," replied the +boy, wondering immediately what could be wanted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that so? How do you feel, Elmer, after your +hard afternoon's work? I was much pleased with your +pitching, and meant to tell you so, only I found myself +called to town by a message from the head of the police; +for it seems that by some bad management they let those +two rascals slip through their fingers—the fellows who took +my fruit, I mean. Are you dead tired, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not at all, sir. I took a bath as soon as I got home,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +and feel first-rate right now. Did you want me for anything +in particular, colonel?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm afraid you'll think me as impatient as any +boy," laughed the gentleman, "but the fact is, that box +I mentioned to you as coming from India has just arrived +this evening, and I'm going to unpack it. I had an idea +that if you weren't too tired, possibly you might like to +jump on your wheel and come over to give me a little +help."</p> + +<p>"Of course I will, sir, and only too glad!" declared +Elmer, for he knew about what that marvelous box was +supposed to hold, and fairly itched to be on hand when +its contents were exposed.</p> + +<p>"But are you sure you are not worn out after that hard +game?" persisted the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Well, I could ride twenty miles without much trouble +if I had an object back of it; and I certainly do want to +see what you told me was in that box of curios, colonel. +My father will be in at any minute now. I'll tell him where +I'm going, and I'm sure he won't object, for he likes me +to be with you. Then I'll jump on my wheel and run +across. I've got a good lantern, you know, and there's +a fairly decent road most all the way."</p> + +<p>"Good! I shall expect to see you soon, then, Elmer," +said the gentleman, who had taken a deep interest in the +boy.</p> + +<p>"I ought to be there inside of twenty minutes, I expect, +sir"; and Elmer cut off communication, because he heard +his father's step in the hall.</p> + +<p>When he communicated the message of Colonel Hitchins +to Mr. Chenowith there was not the slightest objection +raised to his going. Well did that father know he could +trust his boy anywhere, and at any hour, without feeling +anxiety as to what sort of company he was in. And the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +father who has this confidence in his son is to be envied +indeed.</p> + +<p>So Elmer got his wheel from the back hall where he +usually kept it and, passing out, was quickly on the way. +His lantern lighted the road in front of him fairly well, +and since he was not apt to meet with many vehicles at +this hour he could make pretty good time.</p> + +<p>Just as he arrived close to the gate leading into the +large property belonging to Colonel Hitchins, he heard +the well-known hiss of escaping air that told of a puncture.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, wouldn't that just jar you!" he exclaimed +in disgust, never dreaming at the time what a tremendous +influence that very same incident was destined to have +upon his fortunes. "Now I've either got to ask the colonel +to give me a lift home, which I certainly won't do, or else +trudge all the way back on foot, trundling my old wheel, +for of course I couldn't expect to put a plug in without +daylight to work by. Oh, well, it's all in the game. Let +it go at that."</p> + +<p>In this manner, then, free from care and ready to take +the hard with the easy, Elmer pushed his useless machine +ahead of him as he walked along the drive leading to the +house, far removed from the country road.</p> + +<p>As he passed the peach trees that had been shorn of +their prize contents Elmer was, of course, reminded of the +lost cap; but whatever he thought, he said nothing aloud +to indicate that he had solved the mystery.</p> + +<p>"There's old Bruno giving tongue," he presently remarked. +"What a deep bark he has! Wonder what he +would do if he broke loose right now? But he ought to +know me well enough. Still, I hope the chain holds him. +And here I am at the house."</p> + +<p>Once again did he enter and pass along to the library +where the colonel spent most of his time when at home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +Elmer remembered that the last occasion of his entering +that room was when he accompanied Mark there, as the +other was responding to the request of the colonel that +he would call and see him.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Elmer; and this is nice of you, humoring +a cranky old fellow like me when you deserved your +rest to-night," was the way the gentleman met him as +he entered.</p> + +<p>"I rather guess, sir, that I'm the one to feel grateful, +because of your letting me be with you when you open that +big box"; and he eyed the case with the foreign markings, +knowing that it held many almost priceless objects, which +the other had secured when last in India and left there until +he chose to send for them.</p> + +<p>A servant came in with a pitcher of iced grape juice and +some cake.</p> + +<p>"Before we get to work, suppose we sample this, my +son," remarked the gentleman, smilingly; for Colonel +Hitchins knew boys from the ground up, even though he +had never had any of his own.</p> + +<p>A little later the lid of the case, which had been loosened +previously by one of the servants probably, was lifted off, +and the colonel began to take out the costly little articles +that were so snugly packed in nests of paper and cloth.</p> + +<p>These he placed upon the table as he brought them forth. +They were of ebony, copper, brass, and ivory. Elmer had +never before looked upon such a queer assortment of +curios. And the best of it was that nearly every one represented +some sort of adventure in which the present owner +had taken part.</p> + +<p>He related the story of each as he placed it there on the +table and fingered it, while allowing memory to once more +recall the lively incidents.</p> + +<p>Elmer never passed a more enjoyable evening in all his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +life. Why, it seemed to him that Colonel Hitchins must +be one of those wonderful story-tellers he had read about +in the <i>Arabian Nights Entertainment</i>. And yet, strange +though many of these narratives might be, he knew they +were absolutely true, which made them seem all the more +remarkable.</p> + +<p>So deeply interested had the boy become that he hardly +noted the flight of time. When a clock struck eleven he +drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I must be going, sir," he said, rising regretfully. +"I promised my father not to stay longer than +eleven, but I was surprised when I counted the cuckoo +notes, for I thought it was only ten o'clock!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Elmer," said the other, as though greatly +pleased. "That was as delicate and yet positive a compliment +for my powers of entertainment as I have ever received. +I will not try to detain you, because I appreciate +the confidence your father puts in you. Give him my best +regards. I expect to have him over next week with a couple +of other friends, for a hand of whist, and they will then +see what you have helped me unpack to-night."</p> + +<p>True to his resolve, Elmer had not mentioned the fact +that his tire being flat, he would either have to push his +wheel all the way home or leave it there and come on +Monday, when in daylight he could render it serviceable +again. For he knew the genial colonel would insist on +getting the colored driver out, have him hitch up the +horses, and take his guest home; something Elmer did not +care to have happen.</p> + +<p>Having shaken hands with the old gentleman again, Elmer +made his way to the front door and passed out. By this +time he knew more or less about the arrangements of both +house and grounds, and when the idea came to stow his +wheel away until he chose to return for it, he remembered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +that there was an outhouse where some garden tools were +kept, just around the main building.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll see if it's unfastened, and if so I'll leave +my old wheel there. It'll be safe in case of rain, too. +Wonder if Bruno will act half crazy when he hears me +moving around."</p> + +<p>While thinking after this strain, Elmer was softly trundling +his wheel around to that side of the mansion where he +remembered seeing the tool house he spoke of. Not wishing +to make any noise that might excite the chained hound, +or be heard in the house, he kept to the turf as he walked.</p> + +<p>"Now that's queer," he said to himself, as he stopped +to listen. "Just when I expected to hear Bruno carry on +wild, he's as still as a clam. And yet a while ago he was +barking fiercely, too. Must have tired himself out and gone +to sleep; or else he's broken loose again, and is taking a run +over the country, as the colonel says he always does when he +slips his collar."</p> + +<p>However, he was not at all sorry for this silence. Had +the hound, hearing his suspicious and stealthy movements, +started to baying and yelping, he might have drawn the +attention of some servant, who would be apt to give him +trouble.</p> + +<p>And so Elmer presently discovered some dark object +looming up alongside him; which on closer inspection +proved to be the very tool house of which he was in search.</p> + +<p>And better still, the door turned out to be unfastened by +any lock, a staple and a wooden pin doing the holding act.</p> + +<p>Groping around until he found a way to open the door, +Elmer carefully pushed his useless wheel inside. Then he +as quietly closed the door again.</p> + +<p>"I suppose somebody will be surprised to find a bicycle +inside of a tool house," he chuckled, as he began to fasten +the door again just as he had found it; "but if the fact is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +brought to the colonel's attention, trust him for understanding +how it got there, and why."</p> + +<p>Turning once more, he started to retrace his steps, intending +to pass around the house and out at the gate +that lay some distance away. A mile was not so very far +to go, even for a tired boy. And as he had said, that cold +bath had worked wonders for his muscles.</p> + +<p>Elmer had gone possibly one half of the distance to the +gate, when he believed he detected something moving ahead +of him. The first thought that flashed across his mind was +that it must be Bruno, who was in the act of returning home +after a little run about the country.</p> + +<p>He hoped the big dog would recognize him as a friend +before attempting to jump at him; for Elmer knew that +Siberian wolf hounds are not the easiest animals in the +world to handle when met in the dark.</p> + +<p>So the boy prepared to speak, in the hope that Bruno +would recognize his voice. Better after all to arouse the +house, than have the dog attack him under the impression +that he was a thief.</p> + +<p>Again he detected that movement as he stood perfectly +still alongside the bush. This time, however, it struck him +that it did not seem so much like a dog; and while he was +trying to figure this out, another sound came faintly to his +ears. Whispers! That meant human beings, and at least +two, or they would not be exchanging remarks!</p> + +<p>Could it be any of the servants belonging to the house? +Their actions would not warrant such an idea, for Elmer +could now see that the two dusky figures were creeping +along, bending low, and behaving in the most suspicious +manner possible.</p> + +<p>A sudden thought struck him so forcibly that it sent a +shiver through his whole body. What was that the colonel +had said over the wire about the two men whom he had had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +arrested on a charge of stealing his prize fruit, getting away +from the poorly guarded lock up in town?</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that these shadowy figures were those +same rascals; and had they come to the home of Colonel +Hitchins, determined after their lawless way, to get even +with him for having caused them to suffer a short time in +the jail?</p> + +<p>Elmer could feel his heart beating like mad as he watched +them drawing nearer and nearer.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring +in whispers.</p> + +<p>If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their +evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence. Honest men +do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an +hour of the night, and put their heads close together.</p> + +<p>He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped +like a stone, though without the least noise.</p> + +<p>"How lucky that I happened to come along this way!" +was the thought that seemed uppermost in the mind of the +scout as he crouched there, waiting. "If my wheel had +stayed all right I would have been far away right now, and +never known a thing about this. And it was that tool house +that made me go around to the back."</p> + +<p>He even grew bolder, and began to speculate as to how +he might creep closer to the pair. If he could only overhear +what they were saying, it might help more than a little. +And, somehow, his desire to be of some assistance to his +good friend the colonel, urged him to make the attempt.</p> + +<p>To an ordinary lad it might have seemed an impossible +task, for in his clumsiness he must certainly have made some +sort of sounds calculated to arouse the suspicions of the men.</p> + +<p>Elmer's experiences in the Canadian Northwest had +proven of great value to him ever since he joined the Boy +Scouts. And when he started to creep forward, it was with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +some of the stealth of the cat gliding toward a coveted dinner +in the shape of a feeding sparrow.</p> + +<p>As he covered several yards of territory, Elmer noticed +that he quickly began to catch the sound of conversation. +The men were talking low, but one of them had a harsh +voice, and while this had come to Elmer at first as an +indistinct murmur, presently he began to catch distinct +words.</p> + +<p>Having attained a place behind another bush, where he +could have tossed a pebble and touched the two fellows, had +he been of a mind, he strained his ears to catch the tenor +of their earnest talk.</p> + +<p>The man with the husky voice seemed to be scolding his +companion, and accusing him of being either timid or over-particular.</p> + +<p>"But ye was jest as dead set on doin' it as I was, Con +Stebbins; an' now that we got the chanct ye show signs o' +the white feather. Brace up, an' lets git busy!" he was +growling.</p> + +<p>"Aw! what's eatin' ye, Phil?" the other remarked, +with a whine. "I'd like tuh do the job jest as much as yerself; +but what if we got ketched? It'd mean a long time +in the pen, Phil."</p> + +<p>"I tell you we ain't agoin' to be caught," declared the +heavier of the two, in an angry tone. "Ain't I aknowin' +the ropes here; didn't I uster work for the kunnel as a +gardener? That's what made me so crazy mad when he +had me locked up, jest because we went and took some +o' his ole peaches, an' sold 'em so's to get the hard stuff."</p> + +<p>"But how d'ye know the dorg ain't goin' tuh git back +an' tackle us while we're adoin' the job?" demanded the +whining Con.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell ye that Bruno knows me, an' that when I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +kim hyar an hour back I let him loose?" declared the +heavy-set man, warmly.</p> + +<p>"But he might come back any ole time," protested the +other.</p> + +<p>"He ain't goin' tuh," declared Phil. "I orter know his +ways right well. Every time he breaks loose he stays away +the hull blessed night. It's a picnic fur the dorg. Reckon +he's got some friends he visits, an' has a few scraps. Jest ye +forgit there is sech a thing as a dorg, and leave it tuh me +to fix the game like we wants it."</p> + +<p>"Huh! ye sed as how ye knowed jest how the game cud +be worked, didn't ye, Phil?" went on the taller man, nervously.</p> + +<p>"Sure I did. All ye got tuh do is to foller me. I'm +willin' tuh take the lead. Yuh sed as how yuh had +matches along, didn't yuh, Con?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty of 'em, Phil," mumbled the other.</p> + +<p>"That's good. All yuh has tuh do is to strike a match, +<i>and then drop it</i>! I wants tuh make sure both of us has +a hand in it, that's all. Now, are yuh ready to move along, +Con?" asked the shorter scoundrel.</p> + +<p>The other seemed to want to take one more nervous look +around before consenting. Undoubtedly his nerve had +failed him in the critical test, and he was now being actually +dragged into the thing by his more determined and vindictive +partner.</p> + +<p>Elmer had been thrilled by what he heard. When he +caught the significant word "matches" the terrible truth +flashed upon him, and he realized that these rascals, bent +on revenge on the colonel because of their recent arrest, +meant to set fire to either the stables or the mansion itself.</p> + +<p>In either event it was a dreadful thing. No wonder the +boy grew cold, and then hot alternately. But he did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +flinch. Elmer was made of good stuff, and such an emergency +as this called it out.</p> + +<p>He shut his teeth so hard together that he could hear +the gritting sound, and so excited was he at the moment, +that he wondered whether either of the men could have +sharp enough hearing to have detected the noise which to +his aroused fancy appeared like the creaking of a seldom-used +door.</p> + +<p>But they gave no sign of any suspicion. Con seemed +to have recovered a little of his lost grit, and was allowing +the ex-employee of Colonel Hitchins to draw him along +again. They made progress slowly, stealthily keeping in +the densest shadows, and at times almost creeping on their +knees.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?"</p> + +<p>That was the thought that flashed through the mind of +the boy as he watched the pair of intended incendiaries +moving off. He could shout, and thus arouse the house; +or after they had gone it was within his power to hasten +back to the door, and demand admittance.</p> + +<p>Doubtless the colonel would still be in his library, for +he seldom retired before midnight, Elmer knew. And once +he found a chance to communicate the terrible news to the +owner of the place, prompt means could easily be taken +for preventing the incendiary fire.</p> + +<p>Then, while he was trying to decide which of these +courses might prove best, a sudden inspiration assailed +the boy. It was, of course, born of his former experiences +among the "men who do things" on the broad plains. +Another lad would never had dreamed of such a bold +course; or even had it appealed to him, he must have +quickly decided against undertaking so hazardous an attempt +to balk the wicked designs of these rascals.</p> + +<p>But to Elmer it appealed irresistibly. He believed he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +could do it, given half a chance. And, unable to resist the +temptation, he began to creep after the two shadowy figures, +now almost beyond range of his vision.</p> + +<p>He noticed that they were passing around the house. +This would indicate that they expected making their attack +from the rear. Phil had worked on these grounds, +and apparently knew every foot of the estate. Possibly +he may, as he said, have been a gardener to Colonel Hitchins; +Elmer faintly remembered some man of about his +squatty figure, whom he had seen trimming hedges, and +working among the flowers early in the spring.</p> + +<p>All at once the boy had a new thrill. They were certainly +headed straight for the very tool house where he +had left his wheel! Doubtless there must be some particular +object in this action on the part of Phil. Did he +wish to secure some sort of tool to be used in furthering +his evil designs?</p> + +<p>"Oh!"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was forced from Elmer's lips when +he suddenly remembered something; but fortunately it +was hushed to a whisper.</p> + +<p>"That was kerosene I smelled when I was putting my +wheel away," he said to himself. "Perhaps there is a +barrel of it kept in that place for use about the house, +or making an emulsion to kill insects on the trees and rose +bushes! And Phil knows all about it if he used to be the +gardener here. He also knows that the door of the tool +house is never locked, but just fastened by a staple, a +hasp, and that big nail held by a cord."</p> + +<p>If, as seemed probable, the two men were bent on starting +a fire that would, according to their evil way of thinking, +pay the colonel back for their recent arrest, one of +the first agencies for making a fierce blaze that Phil would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +be apt to think of must be that kerosene. It seems to appeal +to every rogue who means to become an incendiary.</p> + +<p>Elmer did not halt his footsteps. The terrible truth +had thrilled, but not dismayed him. He was, in fact, more +determined than ever to balk these villains in their intended +work; though just why he kept on after them, when +by rights he should have made direct for the front door +of the house, Elmer was never able to explain to his own +satisfaction. Some subtle power seemed to just pull him +along as though he were being drawn by a powerful magnet +which he could not successfully resist.</p> + +<p>Yes, there could not be the slightest doubt now but that +his guess was the true one; for just ahead he could see +looming up the dark outlines of a building which he knew +full well must be the tool house.</p> + +<p>Again the men were whispering together, and the harsher +tones of Phil seemed to breathe threatenings of some sort. +Evidently the more timid Con was weakening once more, +and had to be pulled on. His desire for revenge was doubtless +quite as strong as that of his companion; but he lacked +the bull-dog courage to put his evil designs into execution.</p> + +<p>"Oh! if they would only <i>both</i> go inside that tool house!" +Elmer was saying to himself exultantly, as a wonderful +possibility flashed before his mind.</p> + +<p>Phil evidently wanted to fully incriminate his companion. +It was his desire to make the weaker rascal appear equally +guilty with himself. His expressed intention of having the +taller fellow strike the match that was to start things going, +was ample proof of this.</p> + +<p>Would he himself enter the tool house to secure the +kerosene? That would leave the timid one outside; and +possibly he might seize upon such a golden opportunity to +flee.</p> + +<p>If Phil suspected him of harboring such an intention,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +then it was hardly likely that he would allow the other +a chance to remain alone. On the contrary, his plan would +be to insist upon Con accompanying him in. And that was +just what Elmer was hoping would occur; for he had a +little plan of his own, which had come into his active mind +almost like an inspiration, and which he would then be +able to put into practice.</p> + +<p>Now they were at the door of the tool house. Elmer was +trying to remember just what it looked like. It had a +small window, to be sure, but, unless he was mistaken, this +had been protected by several stout iron bars, apparently +with a view of preventing thieves from entering at some +time in the past, when valuable things may have been kept +there by the gentleman owning the estate before its purchase +by the present occupant.</p> + +<p>Yes, Elmer decided in his mind, it was worth a trial. At +the worst a failure might only mean the escape of the rascals; +and their vicious plot would have been frustrated +at least.</p> + +<p>He crept closer, still snaking his way along the ground +in a fashion that some of his former cowboy friends on the +ranch farm three thousand miles away might have recognized +as familiar, since they had taught him how to do it.</p> + +<p>Con was trying to beg off about entering the tool house, +but Phil had overruled his scruples, meeting every objection +that was raised.</p> + +<p>"Yuh jest <i>got</i> tuh do it, I tell yuh, Con," he finished, +angrily. "The thing's in our hands right now, an' yuh +promised tuh stick by me. So quit yer hangin' back, an' +come along in. I know jest where tuh lay hands on the +five-gallon can, an' we kin be out agin in a jiffy. Yuh +ain't skeered, be yuh, Con?"</p> + +<p>"Aw! course I ain't," whimpered the other, trying to +steady his quivering voice, and probably bracing himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +up under this accusation which stirred his last drop of +courage into life. "Lead off, Phil, an' I'm with ye."</p> + +<p>"I'm agoin' tuh make dead sure o' that, Con; that's +why I got this grip on your arm. Come right along, the +door's open, and nawthin' tuh hinder, see!"</p> + +<p>The two shadows passed from Elmer's range of vision. +Instantly the boy arose, and darted silently forward. A +dozen, yes hardly more than half as many steps, carried him +to the tool house. Then, quick as a flash, he prepared to +close the heavy door, and fasten it with what means were +at hand!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>GIVING HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hey!</span> what was that, Con!" Elmer heard the shorter +man say, inside the place.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we're found out! It's all over, Phil!" gasped +the other fellow, in a sudden panic.</p> + +<p>"Shut up, yuh fool! Reckon as how 'twar only the night +wind. Here's the can; take hold and we'll kerry her out! +I jest gotter do it, now!"</p> + +<p>That was enough for the boy outside. He understood +that they must be at the farther end of the little house, +and evidently bending over the object of their solicitude. +His chance had come!</p> + +<p>Elmer had already taken hold of the door, and laid out +his plan of campaign. He expected every act to dovetail +with the others, so as to form a complete whole. And not +more than two seconds must elapse after he once started +to move, before he finished his work.</p> + +<p>Slam went the door shut. A low cry from within told +how the nervous Con had given expression to his alarm. +Utterly regardless of consequences, now that he had made +a start, Elmer slapped the hasp over the stout staple, and +then feeling for the hanging nail proceeded to drop it into +its place.</p> + +<p>Things worked like a charm. The nail was shot into +place in even less time than Elmer had anticipated. He +only hoped that the staples at either end of the hasp were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +clinched. Then, if the imprisoned men threw their weight +against the door, it was not so apt to give.</p> + +<p>Elmer did not wait to hear what happened after he had +shot his bolt. He expected a great commotion would begin +immediately, and the determined Phil start to using +any tool upon which his groping hands might alight in +the endeavor to batter his way to freedom.</p> + +<p>"Now for the house and the colonel!" was what Elmer +thought, as, turning, he made a bee line for the front +door, out of which he had passed not more than fifteen +minutes before.</p> + +<p>The first thing he knew he was pounding at the panel, +after having pressed the electric button. On either side +of the door were long panes of stained glass; and while the +boy could not have recognized anyone coming in answer +to his summons, he did discover that there was a light +within the broad hall. This would tend to prove that the +colonel could not have gone up to his room.</p> + +<p>Yes, now he could see some one issue from the library, +and advance toward the door. Oh, if he would only hurry! +From the direction of the tool house came sounds of +heavy pounding. Doubtless the imprisoned rascals, fearing +that they had been caught in a trap, were trying to +smash their way out. What if they should strike a light, +and that oil catch on fire! Perhaps there was gasoline +stored in the place as well as kerosene!</p> + +<p>Now the colonel was unlocking the door. It was something +unusual to have such a loud summons beaten upon +the panels of his front door; but while some men might +have shown signs of timidity, this old traveler, seasoned to +adventure, was opening up without the first symptom of +alarm.</p> + +<p>As the door flew open he looked keenly at the figure +before him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What, you, Elmer, my boy!" he exclaimed. "Why, +what has happened? I hope you did not take a nasty +header off your wheel?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, sir, it wasn't that!" cried the scout, hardly +knowing what to say first, so as to impress the gentleman +with the seriousness of the occasion. "Some men—they +mean to burn your house—the two who escaped from the +lock-up, Phil Lally and Con!"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" exclaimed the colonel, stiffening up +instantly and showing all the signs that mark the conduct +of an old war horse at scenting battle smoke. "How do +you know this, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"I heard them talking—my wheel was punctured, and +I put it in the tool house. Then I followed them. They +were going to get kerosene to use. They stepped into the +tool house, and I slammed the door shut on them, and +fastened it! Listen, sir, that pounding you hear is them +trying to get out!"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, did I ever!" ejaculated the astonished +gentleman. "Wait here just a minute till I can get something."</p> + +<p>He turned and ran into his library as though he were +nearer thirty years of age than seventy. In the excitement +of the moment he had forgotten that time had silvered his +head and given him twitches of rheumatism. The colonel +was young again, and ready to respond to the call of +duty.</p> + +<p>Elmer listened. He could hear that terrible pounding +keeping up from the back of the house, and understood +what it meant. Oh, how he hoped that in the darkness +Phil could not see to wield his ax effectively, and might +thus fail to cut a way out! For it seemed as though part +of the victory would be lost if those two rascals secured +their freedom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>Perhaps the colonel was gone a full minute. It seemed +ten to the waiting boy, who was wrongly figuring time by +the rapid pulsations of his heart.</p> + +<p>Then he became aware of the fact that once more the +gentleman had joined him, and that he was busily engaged +pushing some cartridges into a shotgun he carried.</p> + +<p>"Here, Elmer, take this!" he exclaimed, thrusting the +weapon into the hands of the scout. "I know you are +used to handling firearms, or I wouldn't ask you to do it. +Now, come with me, please, and we'll see if we can't influence +those two fire-makers to be good!"</p> + +<p>Down the steps he ran, so that Elmer was even put to it +to keep at his heels. At least the prisoners of the tool house +could not have as yet managed to effect their escape, for +the battering sounds still continued, accompanied by loud +excited cries.</p> + +<p>Quickly the two hurried along, until they arrived on +the scene of action.</p> + +<p>"Look, sir, there's another of them coming!" cried Elmer, +pointing to a skulking figure among the bushes, indistinctly +seen.</p> + +<p>"Here, you, come out of that; we've got you covered, +and you can't escape!" exclaimed the colonel, who was +gripping something that shone like steel in his right hand, +and which Elmer guessed must be a pistol of some sort.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot, kunnel!" cried a quivering voice; "'deed, +an' I surrenders, suh! I reckon I's pow'ful glad yuh +kim. I's Sam, suh, yuh man Sam! Please don' pull de +triggah ob dat gun, Mars Kunnel!"</p> + +<p>It was the coachman who had driven Elmer and Mark +on the occasion of the latter's being summoned to an interview +with the old traveler.</p> + +<p>"Here, go and get a lantern at once, Sam, and run for +all you're worth!" called the old gentleman. "Meanwhile,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +the rest of us will surround the tool house, and be +ready to give them a volley if they succeed in breaking +out!"</p> + +<p>Sam had already turned and hurried away toward the +stables, where he must have been sitting in his room at +the time the row broke out, that drew him toward the scene +of the disturbance.</p> + +<p>Of course, the last remark of the colonel's had been +made with the intention of its being overheard by the men +who were fastened inside the outhouse. The sounds of +pounding had suddenly ceased as the colored man started +to answer the command of the colonel, and those within +could easily hear every word uttered.</p> + +<p>A silence followed that was only broken by low groans +within. Doubtless the more timid rascal was repenting +of having been led into this dangerous game of seeking +revenge. The dreadful penalty meted out to house burners +loomed up before his horrified eyes. The only pity was +that he had not allowed himself to see this earlier, and +resisted temptation.</p> + +<p>"Hello!"</p> + +<p>That was Phil calling. His heavy voice seemed to express +all the signs of acknowledged defeat. Elmer waited +to see what the colonel would do, nor was he kept long in +suspense.</p> + +<p>"This time you're caught in a trap like a rat, Phil +Lally," remarked the old gentleman. "I'm sorry for you, +more than sorry for your poor old mother; but since you +took to drink this was bound to be your end. It came +quicker than I thought, I admit, but you've got nobody to +blame save yourself."</p> + +<p>An intense silence followed, broken only by occasional +low whines from the weaker rascal. Then Phil called out +again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon yuh speaks only the truth, kunnel. I +allers had a job up tuh the time I took tuh drinkin'. Sense +then hard luck has follered clost tuh my heels. An' now +I sure knows it's got me. I'd like one more chanct tuh +try an' do better; but I reckon it's too late, an' I'll have +tuh grin an' bear it."</p> + +<p>Elmer heard him give a big sigh. Somehow the sound +affected the boy more than he would have believed possible. +He had supposed that Phil must be just naturally +a bad man, wicked all the way through. Now he realized +that it all came through his one weakness, a love for strong +drink.</p> + +<p>The colonel moved up a step closer to the door. Elmer +wondered whether he meant to throw open the barrier +and hold the two scoundrels up as they came forth. But +he mistook the action of the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Phil!" he said, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered the gruff tones from within, but +no longer filled with a savage brutality, for Elmer could +detect a quaver as of strong emotion. Perhaps it may have +been the mention of that old mother whose heart would +be broken when her boy was sent to prison for a long term. +And somehow Elmer found himself hanging on the next +words of the gentleman with an eagerness which he could +hardly understand—for it seemed to him that a human +soul was trembling in the balance.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Phil," continued the colonel. "What +if I gave you one more chance to make good; do you think +you could keep your pledge, if you gave it to me, never +to take a single drop again as long as you live? Are you +strong enough to do this for the sake of that old mother +of yours?"</p> + +<p>There was an inarticulate sound from within. It might +have been Phil talking to himself; but Elmer was more inclined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +to believe something else—that the strong man +was almost overwhelmed by the magnanimity of the gentleman +whom he had once served, and whose kindness of +the past he had returned so meanly.</p> + +<p>"How about it, Phil?" continued the colonel. "Shall +I 'phone in to town and have the police come out here to +take you into custody, or are you ready to put your signature +to a pledge for me to hold?"</p> + +<p>"I'll do it, kunnel, I'll do it, and thank yuh a thousand +times for the chanct!" broke out the man. "Oh, what a +crazy fool I was to go agin the best friend I ever had! I'll +sign anything yuh arsks me tuh, an' I'll keep it, too, or +die atryin'!"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear you say that, Phil," went on the +colonel, with a low laugh. "You were a good gardener +up to the time you began to booze and neglect your work +My new man proved a failure, and I've let him go. The +job's open, Phil!"</p> + +<p>"For me?" cried the man, as though utterly unable to +believe his ears. "D'ye mean, kunnel, yu'd dar take me +back agin, arter the way I been actin'?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll try and forget all that, Phil. It wasn't you, +but the devil you took inside, that made you act that way. +And since you're never going to give way to the tempter +again I guess I'll risk the chances."</p> + +<p>He raised his hand and removed the big nail, just as +Sam came running up, bearing a lighted lantern in his +ebony grip. As the door opened a figure issued forth. +It was the short man, and his head was bowed on his chest, +which seemed to be heaving convulsively, either because of +his recent exertions with the ax, or through some emotion.</p> + +<p>"Is that straight, kunnel, an' do yuh mean to fergive +me?" he asked, humbly, as he stood there before the old +gentleman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"For the sake of your old mother, yes, I'm going to +give you another chance, Phil. And let's hope you can +make good. I'm not one bit afraid, if only you stick to +your word. And to prove it, here's my hand!"</p> + +<p>The man seized it eagerly. He was shaking with emotion +now, and somehow Elmer felt his own eyes grow moist; +for he realized that he was looking on one of the tragedies +of life right then and there; and the thought that he had +had a hand in bringing this finish about, and making the +repentance of Phil possible, thrilled the Boy Scout +strangely.</p> + +<p>No one paid any attention to the skulking figure that +slipped out from the open door of the tool house, and ran +hastily off. Of course it was Phil's confederate, the timid +Con Stebbins, who, seeing an opening for escape, had +hastened to avail himself of it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>READY FOR THE BATTLE OF THE BATS.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Good night</span> again, colonel," said Elmer, thinking to +start for home once more.</p> + +<p>"Ah, are you there, my boy?" said the old gentleman, +turning around. "Well, perhaps you wouldn't mind waiting +over a little, and acting as witness at a little business +ceremony that Phil and myself want to carry through?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, sir," replied the boy; "only I was +thinking that, since my wheel is out of the running, I +will be very late in getting home, and I promised father to +leave at eleven, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's easily fixed, Elmer! I'll just call him on +the phone, if you think he's up still, and explain matters. +And Sam here, will hitch up the team, and take you home +presently. Now, please don't object, for you know I like +to have my way. Both of you come with me into the +house."</p> + +<p>Once in the library, Elmer saw that the man Phil was not +such a desperate looking scoundrel as he had imagined +from hearing him mutter and threaten. Indeed, he had a +very decent face, which was now red with the confusion +and shame that overwhelmed him because of his recent +miserable action.</p> + +<p>Readily he put his signature to a paper the gentleman +wrote out, and Elmer signed his name as a witness. He +knew that it all depended upon the ability of the repentant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +man to make good. If he could show himself worthy of +trust, his future was safe in the hands of that fine old +gentleman.</p> + +<p>"I'll never forget this, kunnel," he said, brokenly, as +he stood there and looked his employer in the face firmly. +"You're goin' tuh make a man uh me. I don't deserve +it a bit, either; for if I got what I deserved——"</p> + +<p>"There, that will do, Phil," interrupted the colonel. +"If we all got what we deserved there'd be few of us +walking down the street to-morrow, I'm afraid. But, see +here, don't you think you owe some thanks to this bright +young chap for what happened? If he hadn't just happened +to overhear you talking to your friend, and crept +after you, to shut you in the tool house, possibly you might +have found a chance to carry out your harebrained scheme, +and then there could be no turning back. In my mind you +owe a great deal to Elmer Chenowith here."</p> + +<p>"I jest reckons I do, sir. It was mighty plucky for +him tuh foller us, and tuh do that clever trick. I'd like +to shake hands with the boy, and thank him, if so be he's +your friend, kunnel," said the former gardener.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman had before this succeeded in catching +Mr. Chenowith over the wire, and assured him that circumstances +had arisen to keep Elmer beyond the time +he had promised; but that he would send him home presently +in his vehicle.</p> + +<p>"And you've reason to be proud of that lad of yours, +Chenowith," he had added. "To-morrow I hope to see you, +and tell you something that's happened here, in which he +bore a part manfully. Good night, now!"</p> + +<p>He chuckled as he turned away from the phone, knowing +that Elmer's father would now be eager to ask questions +when the boy reached home.</p> + +<p>As the carriage lights could be seen just below on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +drive showing that Sam had hitched up as he was ordered, +and there was really no cause for further delay, Elmer +shook hands with the colonel again and went out.</p> + +<p>"I'll be after my wheel on Monday morning, sir," he +said at parting; "when I can see to put a plug in that +tire. I hope Phil didn't smash the whole thing when he +got working with that ax."</p> + +<p>"If he did I'll see that you have a new wheel, my boy; +and, indeed, I think that I'm deeply in your debt as it is," +replied the gentleman, smiling. "Just think what a big +difference it would have made, to myself and Phil Lally +here, if you hadn't had that puncture. I'm not the man +to forget, Elmer. Good night, and God bless you!"</p> + +<p>As Elmer lay back in the comfortable carriage, and was +drawn homeward by the spirited bays, he chuckled more +than once at the idea of a healthy lad like himself being +thus treated, as though he were an invalid.</p> + +<p>"Only that the colonel seemed determined, and he does +not like anyone to oppose him, I sure would have declined +this lift," he said to himself.</p> + +<p>But on the whole, he could not say that he would have +had anything different from the way events had come to +pass, even though he had the making of the chart. And +he was inclined to agree with the colonel in declaring that +if any misfortune could ever be looked upon in the light +of a lucky accident, that puncture which he had given his +tire just as he reached the place he was heading for was +such.</p> + +<p>When he arrived home he found his father waiting for +him. And since the gentleman's curiosity had been stirred +by those words of the colonel, he was bent on asking questions +until he learned the whole facts.</p> + +<p>Elmer was not a boaster, and he made no attempt to +show himself up in the light of a hero. But reading between<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +the lines of his story, his father saw that there +might be still more to hear when he met the colonel in the +morning, as he was now fully determined to do.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, after such an exciting experience, the boy did +not sleep as soundly as he might have done under ordinary +conditions. But the event had made a powerful impression +on his mind, and the generous conduct of his old +friend toward his erring servant had served to teach Elmer +one more lesson that might at some future day bring forth +good fruit.</p> + +<p>He did not mention the matter save to his best chum, +Mark; and even he was placed under bonds never to reveal +it. The colonel had asked this as a favor, for he did not +want the story to get to the ears of Phil Lally's old +mother.</p> + +<p>Of course, it would soon be known that he had taken +Phil back again as his head gardener, and that all matters +against the young man had been quashed; but that was +nobody's business save the two involved.</p> + +<p>Monday came, and about every boy in and around +Hickory Ridge, upon getting out of bed that morning, +made a bee line for the window and consulted the +signs of the weather. For it was certainly going to be a +famous day for those who were fond of the great national +game, since the Boy Scouts of the neighboring town of +Fairfield were due to meet their nine in a struggle for +victory.</p> + +<p>And not only Hickory Ridge and Fairfield, but Basking +Ridge, where the game was to be played on neutral territory, +seemed baseball mad.</p> + +<p>Elmer himself had hardly gotten downstairs before he +heard the phone bell ring, and, as no one else was around, +he answered it. Just as he surmised, it proved to be one +of his chums, Red Huggins, after him for information.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How about this weather business, Elmer?" demanded +the other, as soon as he learned that he was in touch with +the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>"Well, what about it?" returned Elmer, chuckling. +"I hope none of you think to hold me responsible for +whatever comes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks! you know better than that," retorted Red, +eagerly; "but we've heard you explain just how they +know what sort of a day it's going to be, away up there +in the Canadian wilderness, and we want your opinion +right now. Ted and Toby are over at my house and I'm +commissioned to hold you up and get an answer, so's to +know what to expect. See?"</p> + +<p>"But see here, why d'ye want to know how the weather +away up in the Northwest is going to be to-day? Have +you got any wheat planted; or do you mean to put the +steam plow into that quarter section, if the signs are favorable?" +demanded Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Aw, let up on a feller, Elmer, can't you?" went on +the other, in what was meant to be a wheedling tone. "We +want you to make use of the knowledge you picked up +away off yonder, to tell us what sort of afternoon it's going +to be. Get that, now? Is there any rain storm in +sight? Will it be as hot as the dickens; or are we in for a +cold wave? We want to know, and we depend on you to +tell us. Open up now, won't you, and be good?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that all you want?" laughed Elmer. "Why, +if I could tell you what's sure going to happen eight hours +ahead I'd hire out to the government as Old Probs."</p> + +<p>"But you can hit it pretty fair, Elmer," persisted Red. +"Come on, now, and tell us. We've seen you do it lots +of times, and nearly every shot came true. Now, some +of us think we're due for a rain, because the sky was a +little red this morning. And you know that old saying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +'Red in the morning is the sailor's warning.' What do +you think? Give us a drive now. Elmer."</p> + +<p>"Well, I took a squint around from my window, and so +far as I could see——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; but go on, Elmer," broke in the impatient +Red, nervously.</p> + +<p>"It was a beautiful morning."</p> + +<p>"Oh, rats! We all know that much, Elmer; but the +signs, what do they say? If it pours down rain the game's +all off, and that means bad luck to our fellows," Red went +on, being addicted to a belief in all sorts of signs and +tokens; just as the boy from South Carolina, Chatz Maxfield, +was a believer in ghosts, and charms, and the hind +foot of a rabbit killed in a graveyard at midnight by the +light of the full moon.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Red," Elmer went on, purposely holding +back the desired information, since he owed this comrade +more than one long-standing debt because of tricks +practiced by the prank-loving Red.</p> + +<p>"Then the signs <i>are</i> favorable; do you mean that, Elmer?" +begged the other.</p> + +<p>"The sky looks good to me. The little color you saw +was only the rosy flush of a summer dawn. And the breeze +seems to be coming from the right quarter, Red. I don't +think it's going to be a roasting day for August."</p> + +<p>"That sounds all right to me, Elmer. On the whole, +then, you predict that we'll have a decent afternoon; just +the kind to spur every fellow on to doing his best licks?" +continued the boy at the other end of the wire, with joy +permeating his tones.</p> + +<p>"I never predict, and you know it," laughed Elmer. +"All I can say is that just now things look good. If the +clouds don't come up, and it stays as clear as it is right +now, the chances are we'll not get wet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, rats! but you've said enough to tell me what you +think, and that's the main thing. Do we practice any this +morning, Elmer?" asked Red.</p> + +<p>"The last thing I heard from Captain Lil Artha, he +said he didn't want a stale team on his hands this afternoon, +so there'll be no regular practice this <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> I expect +to toss a few over with Mark, just to make sure I've got +control; but as the game promises to be a pretty warm +affair, it's best everybody keeps rested up until we get in +practice half an hour before the umpire calls on us to +play. Anything more, Red?"</p> + +<p>"No, nothing; only the boys here want me to ask you +how your arm feels."</p> + +<p>"Fine and dandy," laughed Elmer. "Couldn't be in +better shape. If those swatters from Fairfield straighten +out my curves this afternoon, it'll only be my own fault. +You won't hear me complaining I wasn't in condition, for +I am."</p> + +<p>"Bully boy! We all know what that means when you're +feeling right. I'm sorry for Matt Tubbs and his crowd, +that's all," Red said over the wire; whereupon Elmer, unable +to stand for any more of this palaver, cut him short +by hooking up the receiver.</p> + +<p>When later on he went out with Mark to do a little preliminary +pitching, every boy they met seemed to fall in +behind, until there was quite an imposing procession heading +for the field where Hickory Ridge athletic contests +were always pulled off.</p> + +<p>They understood that everything depended on the ability +of the pitcher of the Hickory Ridge Boy Scout nine to baffle +these heavy hitters from Fairfield; and hence, everyone +wanted to see for himself just what Elmer could do on the +eve of the great and important battle with the bats.</p> + +<p>Elmer would much rather have found a chance to do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +his practicing in secret; but at the same time he sympathized +with these kids who were baseball mad. So for half +an hour he and Mark worked their many little games, and +exchanged signals that were supposed to be known only +to themselves, while groups of fellows lounged under the +neighboring trees and kept tabs on their actions, commenting +favorably on every play that struck them as cleverly +done.</p> + +<p>Later on Elmer, having donned his sweater because of +his heated condition, was waiting for Mark to join him, +the latter having gone off to speak to a girl who was +passing in a little pony cart, when he was suddenly startled +to have a hand laid on his arm and hear little Jasper Merriweather +say in a thrilling tone:</p> + +<p>"It's all off, Elmer; they've got you marked for the +slaughter. If you pitch this afternoon, those sluggers from +Fairfield are going to just knock you out of the box. It's +a mean shame, that's what it is, now!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>STEALING THE SIGNALS.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What's</span> that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded +the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, +whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and +made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.</p> + +<p>Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule. His chums +were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, +to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and +that in consequence he had a heap to pick up. But Jasper +took these things in good part, because he knew his failings +even though trying the best he could to overcome +them.</p> + +<p>He was looking very much worried when Elmer turned +on him. The hand that had been gripping the sleeve of +the pitcher's sweater fell to his side again. Elmer noticed +that the boy shot a quick glance toward a group of fellows +who, seeing practice was over for the day, seemed to be +getting their wheels out, as if intending to ride away.</p> + +<p>"Why, I'm afraid it's all over but the shouting for +Fairfield, Elmer!" replied the small scout, in answer to +the question Elmer fired straight at him.</p> + +<p>"You don't say?" retorted the other, laughing. +"Well, my work must be pretty bad, if even Jasper Merriweather +calls it rotten. Whew! the boys had better be +trotting out their other pitcher, if I'm going to be sent to +the stable so easy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it ain't that, Elmer, sure it ain't, because don't I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +believe you're the best pitcher in the whole world?" +pleaded Jasper, looking pained that his fidelity was being +doubted in the least.</p> + +<p>"Then whatever ails you, Jasper?" continued the other, +realizing all of a sudden that perhaps there <i>might</i> be something +worth noticing in this strange conduct of the scout +belonging to the Beaver Patrol.</p> + +<p>"It's the signals, Elmer; the signals you and Mark have +been practicing, don't you see?" Jasper cried.</p> + +<p>"Hello! so that's what troubles you, is it?" remarked +Elmer, seriously. "What's wrong with my signals, tell +me, Jasper? I don't suppose you could understand what +we were doing most of the time; and even if you did, a +Hickory Ridge Scout would never think of betraying a +secret belonging to his troop. What about my signals?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see him?" asked Jasper, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, I have seen a few dozen fellows this same +morning, so I don't know which one you mean," replied +Elmer, shaking his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"Lon Braddock!" almost whispered Jasper, looking +after the group of fellows just starting away on their +wheels.</p> + +<p>Elmer shook his head and smiled.</p> + +<p>"You've got me this time, Jasper," he remarked; "because, +you see, I don't know that I ever heard that name +before. Is he a new boy in Hickory Ridge; and does he +say my work is off color?"</p> + +<p>"But—he don't live in Hickory Ridge at all, Elmer," +expostulated the other; "that's the trouble, you see."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it? Well, I don't see, and you'll sure have to +explain what you mean. If he doesn't live in our town, +perhaps he's visiting here"; and Elmer waited to see how +Jasper took this.</p> + +<p>"I think he came over to see Bob Harris, because they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +were together pretty much all the time," Jasper went on, +nodding his head with almost every word in his eagerness +to be emphatic. "You see, he is a Fairfield fellow, +Elmer!"</p> + +<p>"What?" exclaimed the other, suddenly stiffening up, +as a consciousness of what tremendous possibilities there +might be in this morning visit of a Fairfield boy dawned +upon his mind.</p> + +<p>"And when I was over there a few days ago I heard +Felix Wagner, the second baseman of the Fairfield team, +say that they had made a good find in Lon Braddock, who +promised to be an even better pitcher than Matt himself."</p> + +<p>Elmer was showing considerable eagerness now.</p> + +<p>"Hold on there, Jasper," he said, in his quiet, but impressive, +way; "go slow, boy, and let me understand just +what you mean. This fellow is named Lon Braddock, you +tell me; and he's a newcomer at Fairfield. That accounts +for the fact that none of our fellows recognized him as +he sat there watching me. And now, more than that, you +say he's an extra pitcher of the Fairfield Scout team. Have +I got that all O. K., Jasper?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all to the good, Elmer," declared the +smaller lad, earnestly. "And honest, now, I believe that +fellow came over here this morning just on purpose to get +some points about your pitching. He knows what signal +work does in a game, and he wants to knock you out. Why, +Elmer, I tell you, before three hours every fellow on the +Fairfield team will know that code of signals you and Mark +have been practicing."</p> + +<p>"Now you're not just guessing, are you, Jasper? Because +I'm the last one in the wide world to want to condemn +a fellow on general principles. He might have had +a genuine errand over here, and just dropped around to +take my size."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps he did, Elmer, perhaps he did; but was there +any need for him to put it all down in a little notebook +he carried, and waiting till he thought nobody was watching +him?" demanded Jasper.</p> + +<p>"Say, did you see him do that?" asked the other, +sternly.</p> + +<p>"At least three times, Elmer," came the quick reply. +"And every time after he had made some note he'd nod +his head and grin like he was just tickled to death over +something."</p> + +<p>Elmer whistled, and Mark, turning, saw him wave a +hand. Apparently the catcher must have said a hasty good-by +to the pretty little miss in the pony cart, for she whipped +up her steed and Mark started toward his chum.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what can you do, Elmer?" exclaimed Jasper. +"He's gone off now with Bob Harris, and pretty soon it'll +be too late."</p> + +<p>"Too late for what, Jasper?" asked the pitcher.</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought, you see, that perhaps a lot of us +might get hold of him and make him give up that notebook," +explained Jasper.</p> + +<p>"You don't say!" laughed Elmer. "What particular +good would that do us, tell me, when he's sure got +everything down pat in his mind, just the same? And we +can't lock a Fairfield fellow up, even for stealing signs."</p> + +<p>"Then he'll get away with it!" burst forth Jasper, +with almost a wail.</p> + +<p>"I reckon he will, my boy; but that isn't saying the +knowledge he's stolen will do him, or any of his mates, any +good," chuckled Elmer.</p> + +<p>"But how can you help it?" demanded the smaller boy, +dubiously observing the face of his comrade and wondering +why he did not seem to detect any uneasiness there.</p> + +<p>"How? Oh, by switching the signals, I suppose. I'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +put it up to Mark, here. We can mix things around so +that every sign stands for something different than it did +just now. And if the Fairfield fellows expect to gain anything +from thinking they're onto our signals, they're going +to be badly surprised. You'll see some bally old +batting until they understand that fact."</p> + +<p>"What's all this row about?" asked Mark, coming up +just then in time to overhear Elmer's last few words, +which, of course, mystified him considerably.</p> + +<p>"Why, we've just learned that all the time you and I +were practicing our signals a spy from Fairfield was watching +us," said Elmer.</p> + +<p>"Is that straight, or are you just kidding me?" demanded +the catcher of the nine.</p> + +<p>"Which his name is Lon Braddock; and he's a newcomer, +who can pitch as well as Matt Tubbs himself. Of +course, he must be a scout, or else he couldn't play in this +match game; but how a fellow can be a scout and do +such a ratty thing as that, beats me all hollow," Elmer +went on.</p> + +<p>"Tell me the whole story, that's a good fellow," remarked +the other. "Where did you get it—from Jasper, +here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've been watching him," replied the smallest +scout, nodding. "I heard of him over in Fairfield, and +he was pointed out to me as the man Matt depended on to +fool the Hickory Ridge nine in case he got knocked out +of the box himself. Besides, I saw him write something +down in a notebook as many as three or four times, and +always chuckling to himself to beat the band."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a nice surprise to have thrown at your +head just after we were saying we had those signs all +down pat. This means another turn at it"; and Mark +threw his coat on the grass with an expression of disgust.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold on till that bunch of fellows gets out of sight, +Mark, which will be in a few minutes," remarked Elmer, +who failed to look at the thing with the same shade of annoyance +that marked the countenance of his friend; "but +in the end this may turn out to be in our favor, you know."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it may," replied the catcher; "but it's a nuisance, +all the same. Now we've just got to go and unlearn +all we fixed up."</p> + +<p>"Easy job, Mark; just push 'em ahead one point and +everything's altered. Makes me laugh to think how those +fellows will tumble into the trap. Why, I can see one or +two strike-outs every inning till they get wise. And say, +perhaps our new pitcher, Lon Braddock, will feel like kicking +himself because he was such a fool as to believe all +he saw."</p> + +<p>"Now they're around the bend of the road, Elmer, with +that strange boy alongside Bob Harris, plying him with +questions by the dozen, I reckon. Luckily, Bob doesn't +know very much about our nine, for his application to +be a scout was turned down, you remember, Elmer."</p> + +<p>"So it was," mused the pitcher; "which makes me suspect +that perhaps Bob knew why the man from Fairfield +was over here. It's pretty hard to find that there are +traitors in your own camp. But let them keep it up; we're +going to take their number to-day, as sure as you're born, +Mark. I just feel it in my bones. I only hope Matt Tubbs +didn't know about this trick. I'd hate to think he had +a hand in it; and after seeing what a change has come over +the former bully of Fairfield and Cramertown I won't believe +it, either."</p> + +<p>So they once more started in, passing the ball. A few of +the small boys had remained to continue their scrub ball +game. They wondered what the battery of the regular +nine could be doing and stopped playing to watch; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +as Jasper had been particularly cautioned not to breathe +a word of the valuable discovery he had made, they were +none the wiser for their survey and soon went back to their +happy-go-lucky game.</p> + +<p>It did not take the two boys long to get familiar with +the new version of the sign code. Even Mark allowed that +he had it down just as pat as the older style.</p> + +<p>"And just as you said, Elmer," he admitted, "if those +fellows over at Fairfield believe they're onto our signs, +they're going to make a heap of trouble for themselves, +believe me. I can see a fellow whacking away at a wide +bender that he expects is going to be a swift one over +the rubber. The only trouble will be for me to keep a +straight face through the circus."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it won't last long," replied the other. "When a +few of them have made a show of themselves they'll talk +it over and conclude the spy got the signals mixed. But +by that time the mischief may have been done. Remember, +Mark, we owe a lot to little wide-awake Jasper, here. +He's always on the watch for chances to build up the credit +of Hickory Ridge troop."</p> + +<p>Each of them gravely shook hands with Jasper, who +turned very rosy in the face at hearing himself spoken +of in terms of praise, for there had been times when the +boy had begun to despair of ever accomplishing anything +worth while in the organization, his size seeming to be so +much of a handicap against him.</p> + +<p>But now hope was taking on new life within him, for +he had found that size really counts for little in many +of the things a scout may do to bring credit on himself and +honor to his troop.</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon when Elmer and Mark turned their +faces homeward. Earlier in the day the former had walked +over to Colonel Hitchins's to get his wheel and ride it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +home, after putting a plug in the puncture. He was considerably +surprised, and pleased as well, to see Phil Lally +working in the garden as he passed.</p> + +<p>The man looked up and waved a hand cheerily, and it +gave Elmer a queer little sensation, altogether pleasant, in +the region of his boyish heart to realize that that young +fellow was laboring honorably there that bright morning, +instead of languishing in jail with a forlorn outlook before +him, thanks to the kind heart and generous impulse +of the man who owned the estate. And it also pleased +Elmer to feel that he, too, had had something of a share +in what seemed like the reformation of Phil Lally.</p> + +<p>And when noon came around the skies still smiled, guiltless +of clouds; while a delightful breeze gave promise of a +grand afternoon for the great game.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>READY FOR THE GREAT GAME.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What's</span> the matter with this for a corker?"</p> + +<p>Lil Artha, the long-legged first baseman of the Hickory +Ridge nine, put this question to his mates as the big carry-all +containing the team, with several substitutes, came in +view of the fine field at Basking Ridge on the afternoon +when the great game was to be decided.</p> + +<p>No one tried to answer.</p> + +<p>The reason was plain, for they were utterly overwhelmed +by the magnitude of the immense crowd that had assembled +to see the anticipated spirited contest between the +rival teams of Boy Scouts.</p> + +<p>In every direction were great masses of people, all +decked out in their holiday attire. Girls in white and +every color of the rainbow waved parasols, gay handkerchiefs, +and little flags on which the name of their favorite +team had been emblazoned.</p> + +<p>"Why," gasped Ted, when he could catch his breath, +which had been actually snatched away from him by his +amazement, "there must be a thousand of them here!"</p> + +<p>"Better say millions and be done with it," laughed Red, +eager for the fray.</p> + +<p>"The whole county has turned out to do us honor, it +seems," remarked Matty.</p> + +<p>"And because of that, fellows," put in Elmer, "every +Hickory Ridge scout ought to shut his teeth hard and make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +up his mind to win out; never to give up; and if he makes +an error, do something right afterward to atone for it."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, my boy," remarked Mr. Garrabrant, +the efficient scout master, who fortunately was enabled to +accompany the boys on this trip. "I was just going to say +something along those same lines myself when you took +the words out of my mouth. Hickory Ridge is watching +you to-day, fellows; and Hickory Ridge expects every one +of her sons to do his duty. Nobody can do more."</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are, safe and sound," remarked Ty, +as the vehicles came to a stop in the midst of the tremendous +throng.</p> + +<p>"Wow! listen to that, would you?" said Toby, as +cheers started that seemed to rock the very earth.</p> + +<p>The team from Fairfield had arrived some time before. +They were busily engaged in building up their batting +abilities by sending out hot ones that a number of local +baseball enthusiasts caught in the field.</p> + +<p>"Say, they're a lot of hustlers, now, let me tell you," +declared Red, as he stood for a minute watching the actions +of the others.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they're big enough," remarked Lil Artha, indifferently; +"but since when did size count for everything +in baseball? You'll see the smallest fellow step up and +knock out a homer, where a big stiff like me swings at three +wide ones and sits down on the mourners' bench."</p> + +<p>"Like anything you will," said Red, disdainfully.</p> + +<p>"The pitcher who strikes you out has got to get up early +in the morning, that's what"; since the gaunt first baseman +was noted for his keen batting eye and could pick out +a "good one" as well as any in the business.</p> + +<p>"Come on, fellows, let's get busy," called Elmer, as he +passed a ball to one of the others, and in almost a twinkling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +the whole bunch was tossing back and forth, gradually +widening out.</p> + +<p>Then a few of them fraternized with their opponents, +as they happened to know most of the Fairfield fellows, +and in this way a number of Elmer's team found a chance +to take a turn at bat.</p> + +<p>It was a sight that would not soon be forgotten in Basking +Ridge. They certainly did have a splendid field for +the sport; and the grand stand was a little gem in its way, +but on such an occasion it did not begin to hold one fifth +of the spectators who would have been glad of a chance to +use it.</p> + +<p>"Ground rules to-day, that's sure, Elmer," remarked +the field captain of the Hickory Ridge team, as he stood +alongside the pitcher, receiving the ball at intervals and +returning it.</p> + +<p>"That goes, without a doubt," replied Elmer, as he +surveyed the mass of people packed around the diamond +and the field. "And if I were you, I'd look up Matt +Tubbs right away, so as to have that matter settled."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Lil Artha. "And I reckon that a hit into +the crowd will stand for two bases and no more."</p> + +<p>"As near as I can see, there's only <i>one place</i> anybody +can hit to-day for a homer," declared Elmer, again surveying +the field.</p> + +<p>"Tell me where that is," remarked Lil Artha, "because +I want to know. As field captain, it's my business +to know; and as an humble batter, I might want to look +that way before the game grows cold."</p> + +<p>"You'll notice that none of the crowd seem to want to +pack upon the right of the center field," Elmer went +on in a low tone. "If a batter could send one out there +like hot shot, that managed to escape the fielder, it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +never stop on that little down grade till he'd made the +rounds."</p> + +<p>"Aw, thanks!" replied Lil Artha, dryly. "I'm sorry +that my specialty happens to lie off there in left; but I'm +going to twist around a little and keep that down grade +in mind. Perhaps, who knows?" and he winked at Elmer +in his comical way as he hurried off to confer with Matt +Tubbs.</p> + +<p>Home Run Joe Mallon, the professional ball player who +was home at Basking Ridge nursing a broken arm, was +on the spot, ready to serve as umpire. He had been well +known in this capacity before he broke into the big league, +and people used to say that he seldom erred in his decisions. +They called him "Honest Joe" at the time he +umpired, and few ever disputed his decisions. He might +make a slight slip, but everyone knew he decided plays +just as he saw them and the rabble of the bleachers never +had any weight with him.</p> + +<p>Elmer and Mark found a chance to get together and confer +where they could speak their minds without others +hearing.</p> + +<p>Later on they expected to warm up for business, but it +was too soon, as yet. After the rest of the team had +started in on their fifteen minutes of practice it would be +time enough for Elmer to try out a few of his curves and +drops.</p> + +<p>"I had Jasper Merriweather show me the fellow," +Elmer remarked.</p> + +<p>"Meaning our slick friend, Lon Braddock?" questioned +the catcher.</p> + +<p>"Yes. That's Lon talking to Henry Cobb, who plays +third base for the Fairfield nine. And Mark, between you +and me, I don't just like his face or manner."</p> + +<p>"Same here, Elmer," declared the other quickly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He's got a tricky way about him, and I warrant you +that fellow is going to give Matt Tubbs more trouble than +all the rest of his team combined. Look at him chuckling +now. Ten to one he's telling Cobb how he's got the Injun +sign on our signals, and what great stunts the Fairfield +batters are going to do with your curves and slants."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know the old saying to the effect that the +fellow laughs hardest who laughs last; and Mark, believe +me, we're going to have that privilege. But I hope you +won't give it away by jeering the unlucky batter when he +nearly kills the air swiping at one that is away beyond +the end of his stick."</p> + +<p>"I'll try and keep a straight face, Elmer," chuckled +Mark. "Got a piece of alum in my pocket right now, and +before the game begins I mean to rub it over the side of +my mouth, so as not to be able to crack a smile. There +go our boys out in the field for practice."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps we'd better get a move on, then, and +pass a few, though after our morning work I don't feel +much in need of it, Mark."</p> + +<p>As Fairfield had already taken the field, and there was +now only fifteen minutes left before game would be called, +the battery of the rival team was also hard at work when +Elmer and Mark started in.</p> + +<p>Of course, neither pitcher tried his best in that preliminary +bout. Well did they know that eager eyes were +watching them for points connected with their delivery, +and that these would be quickly seized upon for an advantage. +Hence they contented themselves, as a rule, in sending +in swift, straight balls simply to warm up.</p> + +<p>Hickory Ridge had batted against Matt Tubbs for several +seasons, and yet never had a game been actually finished. +Up to the present they had always broken up in +a beautiful row, in which both sides claimed victory.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elmer had pitched part of a game the preceding summer. +At the time he had proven so much of a mystery +to his opponents that, seeing prospective defeat staring his +team in the face, Matt Tubbs had found some pretext for +disputing a decision of the umpire to end the battle.</p> + +<p>But since that time the Fairfield team had been greatly +strengthened, and in all their games thus far this season +they had beaten their opponents easily.</p> + +<p>On a neutral field, with a firm umpire directing matters +and with all the participants members of the Boy Scouts, +it was believed that for once a game between these old +rivals might be threshed out to a conclusion.</p> + +<p>Many shook their heads, remembering the Matt Tubbs +of old and prophesying all manner of evil things that +might spring from this bitterly contested game. Others, +who knew something of the principles governing true +scouts, tried to take heart of hope and believe that there +must have been a great awakening in the former bully. +But even they admitted that "the proof of the pudding +lay in the eating of it," and that they would be better satisfied +when the end came without a riotous demonstration +on the part of Fairfield and Cramertown.</p> + +<p>The Hickory Ridge boys seemed to acquit themselves +very well in practice. Numerous dazzling pick-ups were +made by the infield that brought out roars of applause +from the big crowd; while those tending the outer gardens +had to make rapid speed and do some air-jumping in order +to drag down the flies that were sent out in their direction.</p> + +<p>Having seen both teams at work, the crowd hardly knew +which looked the better. And, as in most cases, it ended +in a strictly partisan division, each town standing loyally +by its athletes, with Basking Ridge about equally divided.</p> + +<p>Finally the Hickory Ridge fellows were called in from +the field. The time for practice had expired, and presently,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +when a few little details were gone through with, +real business would begin.</p> + +<p>The two teams lined up for the fray in this order:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Team rosters"> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">Hickory Ridge Scouts.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ted Burgoyne</td><td align='left'>Third Base</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Toby Jones</td><td align='left'>Right</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lil Artha</td><td align='left'>First Base</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chatz Maxfield</td><td align='left'>Left</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Red Huggins</td><td align='left'>Short Stop</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ty Collins</td><td align='left'>Center</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Matty Eggleston</td><td align='left'>Second Base</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Elmer Chenowith </td><td align='left'>Pitcher</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mark Cummings</td><td align='left'>Catcher</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Fairfield Scouts.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Felix Wagner</td><td align='left'>Second Base</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Adrian Cook</td><td align='left'>Left</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>John Bastian</td><td align='left'>Right</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Henry Cobb</td><td align='left'>Third Base</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Christy Poole</td><td align='left'>First Base</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Angus McDowd</td><td align='left'>Center</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>John Mulligan</td><td align='left'>Short Stop</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tom Ballinger</td><td align='left'>Catcher</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Matt Tubbs</td><td align='left'>Pitcher</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>There was a wave of talk passing over the throng as the +two captains conferred. It was understood that they were +deciding finally on the ground rules that must prevail, on +account of the mass of spectators pushing in on the lines. +All Basking Ridge's local police force was on the spot, but +half a dozen good-natured officers are next to useless when +up against thousands; in contests of this sort dependence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +must be placed on the spirit of fair play that is generally +a part of baseball crowds, especially in smaller towns, +where the players are known.</p> + +<p>"The game is called; now for it!" yelled the nearest +spectators, as they saw the umpire pick up his mask and +step forward to announce the batteries, while the Hickory +Ridge players started for their positions.</p> + +<p>"And we have the last look-in, as we take the field first!" +howled an enthusiastic follower of the team that looked +to Elmer as the keystone of their arch.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HOW THE FIGHT WENT ON.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">The</span> batteries for to-day's game will be: Chenowith +and Cummings for Hickory' Ridge; Tubbs and Ballinger +for Fairfield!"</p> + +<p>The last word of the umpire was drowned in a roar, and +the air seemed filled with waving hats, parasols of gaudy +hues, handkerchiefs, and anything else that could be utilized +for the occasion.</p> + +<p>Then came a dead silence. Every eye, doubtless, was +at that moment riveted on the young pitcher of the nine +in the field as he sent in a few straight ones to his catcher, +just to find the plate.</p> + +<p>"They say he's got speed to burn," remarked one Basking +Ridge spectator who had never before seen Elmer +pitch.</p> + +<p>"But the best thing he's got is a nasty little slow drop +that's running Christy Matthewson a close race," commented +a second one.</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks!" laughed a Fairfield boy close by; "wait +till you see how our fellows fatten their averages on those +nice little drop balloons. We've heard a heap about 'em, +and have been practicing at hitting all such. Why, mark +my words, before the end of the fifth inning this wonderful +Elmer will be so tame he'll be eating out of the Fairfield +players' hands."</p> + +<p>"Wait and see. The game is young," called another +fellow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should say it was, when the first ball hasn't been +sent over the rubber yet," declared still a fourth spectator.</p> + +<p>"Play ball!" shouted the umpire, as he settled himself +back of the pitcher.</p> + +<p>Again came silence as Elmer, receiving the ball from +first base, rubbed it on the leg of his trousers preparatory +to shooting the first one over.</p> + +<p>A shout went up. Wagner, the stout second baseman, +had failed to judge correctly and "one strike" was recorded +against him.</p> + +<p>"But did you hear the swish of his bat?" demanded +the Fairfield enthusiast. "Say, if ever he leans up against +one of those curves, good-by to the ball, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Sure! Only let him lean; that's what we say. He +just can't do it on Elmer," answered a devoted Hickory +Ridge lad near by.</p> + +<p>Then came a second strike, followed by a foul. Wagner +looked puzzled. Evidently he was watching the pitcher +closely and going by his signals to the catcher, but as these +had been turned almost completely about, he mistook every +one of them and was letting himself out at what would +easily have been called balls.</p> + +<p>When for the third time he had a strike called on him +the batter retired amid a storm of mingled cheers and catcalls. +He had allowed a good ball to pass by him without +making an effort to strike, believing from the gestures of +Elmer that it was meant to be a wide one.</p> + +<p>Wagner went off, shaking his head. He was evidently +mystified, and the Fairfield crowd began to sit up and take +notice.</p> + +<p>"That's a funny thing for Felix to do," they commented. +"He's the most reliable batter in our bunch, and +yet he acts as though he didn't know a good one from a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +wide curve a foot from the plate. Say, that pitcher must +have him locoed."</p> + +<p>Next came Adrian Cook. He, too, was known as a hitter, +and when he stepped to the batter's line the fielders +were accustomed to backing off, ready for a terrific drive.</p> + +<p>But it began to look as though Adrian must have forgotten +to bring his batting clothes along with him, judging +by the way he swiped at the empty air twice, and then +managed to pop up a measly little foul that Mark easily +smothered in his big catcher's mitt.</p> + +<p>"What are we up against?" the Fairfield crowd began +to say.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's nothing," others put in, more confident. +"The boys will wake up after a little. You wait and see +them take his number. Once they begin, the air will be +full of balls and those fielders' tongues will hang out of +their mouths from chasing them!"</p> + +<p>So they talked, as all partisan crowds do, while Bastian +toed the mark. He looked particularly dangerous as he +half crouched there watching Elmer like a cat might a +mouse he expected to devour.</p> + +<p>But Bastian was no better than the others who had preceded +him. He had two strikes called on him by the +umpire without having even made a motion.</p> + +<p>"Hey, wake up! Get out of that trance. Jack! He's +feeding you good ones and you don't know it! Now, altogether, +and send one out in center for a homer!"</p> + +<p>Jack did his best, just as Elmer knew he was bound to. +He believed he saw the pitcher signal that he meant to cut +the middle of the plate with the next; when in reality it was +intended to be a wide one. And so he too perished, amid +the cheers of Hickory Ridge, and the groans of Fairfield.</p> + +<p>By the time another chance at bat came for Matt Tubbs's +band, there would be excited conferences going on. These<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +heavy batters would soon awaken to the fact that the signals +given to them by Lon Braddock were all wrong; and that +by trying to take a mean advantage of Elmer they were +only digging their own graves.</p> + +<p>Matt Tubbs was certainly at his best that day; and he had +always been known as a clever pitcher. Ted followed the +fate of the three Fairfield batters, and along the same road, +for he struck out.</p> + +<p>Toby lifted a great fly that soared away up in the air. +He was making for second under full steam, believing that +McDowd out in center field could never get under the ball, +when the cheers that broke forth announced a clever catch. +And Toby was compelled to walk back to the bench, resolving +that another time he would try to put it far over +McDowd's head.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha succeeded in placing a corking one that landed +him on first, to the accompaniment of riotous cheers; but +he died there; for Chatz was able only to connect with the +ball after he had had two strikes called on him, and put up +one of those miserable pop fouls that make a batter rave.</p> + +<p>So the second inning began.</p> + +<p>When Cobb had also fanned at most unreasonable balls, +that could never have been hit, his comrades stared at each +other. There was a hasty conference. Then Matt Tubbs +was observed to say something to the next batter, Poole.</p> + +<p>Elmer smiled broadly at Mark, and nodded. It was just +as though he had remarked the words: "It's all off, Mark, +they've finally caught on to the fact that we've switched +our signals. And now to play a different brand of ball!"</p> + +<p>That was exactly what the Fairfield players had decided. +When such batters made guys of themselves trying to meet +balls that never came where they expected to find them, the +truth could not long remain hidden. And now Tubbs had +told his players to forget entirely everything they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +learned from Lon Braddock. They must depend on their +own judgment of balls, and nothing else.</p> + +<p>Poole struck a vicious one, but it fell foul clearly enough, +so that there was no chance for any disputing the umpire's +decision.</p> + +<p>"See that!" exclaimed a spectator; "they're getting +his size already. If that had only landed fair it would have +been a two-bagger."</p> + +<p>Elmer realized that the time had already come to play +the game. The next one he sent in was with exactly the +same movement that he used to shoot a cannon-ball express +over the rubber; yet it hung there in the air in the most +exasperating manner, passing over the plate long after +Poole had struck.</p> + +<p>Then arose a tremendous shout as the crowd became +aware of the fact that Elmer had disclosed his long suit—that +tantalizing floating drop by which Matthewson long +ago won his fame on the diamond.</p> + +<p>"Get that, did you, partner!" laughed the Hickory +Ridge backer, turning to the adherent of the rival nine. +"Now you'll see who's going to do the eating out of hand +business. Before the ninth inning comes he'll have your +fellows breaking their poor old backs trying to connect with +that dead one. Just wait, and see the fun!"</p> + +<p>Poole did not get on base, but perished on a feeble little +infield hit that Lil Artha gobbled close to the bag, prancing +back with ease.</p> + +<p>"Gee, look at that daddy-long-legs, will you!" shouted +an amazed Fairfield rooter, as he stared at the way Lil +Artha got over the ground. "Hey, if he ever gets his +base he c'n just <i>step</i> down to second! No cutting him off +by a throw."</p> + +<p>McDowd, the center fielder, generally a reliable batter, +did succeed in making a hit, the ball just eluding the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +fingers of Red at short, as he jumped up in the air, hoping +to make a dazzling stop.</p> + +<p>But it did him no good. Elmer just toyed with Mulligan, +and after feeding him two swift curves with which he +could not connect, he gave him one of those lovely slow +balls. Now Mulligan was a crafty chap, and he saw what +was coming. Thinking to have the laugh on Elmer, he +declined to strike; and was already grinning with joy over +his smartness, when the ball seemed to receive a new impetus +somehow, and went jumping by.</p> + +<p>"Batter's out!" declared the umpire; at which Mulligan +dashed his bat down, and walked away, also shaking +his head.</p> + +<p>The crowd yelled like mad. This was work well worth +coming miles to see.</p> + +<p>"He's got them all guessing," shouted Larry Billings, +who was also in uniform as a substitute. "If they strike +at it, they fan the air; and if they hold off the umpire says +'get out!' It's a cold, cruel world, Fairfield!"</p> + +<p>Red was first to face Tubbs in their half of the second. +He waited until he had two strikes and three balls called; +and then, knowing that the pitcher in nine cases out of ten +tries to put one straight over, Red lined it out for a single.</p> + +<p>Ty stepped up with a firm manner, and gripped his bat +as though he meant business. He spoiled several good ones +by knocking long fouls, and finally walked. As two were +now on bases with nobody out, the chances for a tally looked +good to the Hickory Ridge fellows.</p> + +<p>Amid a chorus of shouts Matty stepped up and, hitting +the first ball a tremendous swipe, sent it speeding through +the air. Everybody jumped up to see where it went.</p> + +<p>They saw the agile Felix Wagner near second make a +leap upward. As he came down he whirled, and sent the +ball into second; and Mulligan, who had darted thither was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +just like lightning in getting it down to first. Red and Ty +were thus caught between bases and a most brilliant triple +play had been accomplished.</p> + +<p>"Why, he caught it!" gasped the Hickory Ridge enthusiast, +as though unable to believe the evidence of his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"You just bet he did," mocked the other fellow. "And +the whole side's out in two shakes of the lamb's tail. Zip, +bang, splash; and it's all over! That's the way we do it."</p> + +<p>The crowd went fairly wild, even the people from Hickory +Ridge joining in the applause that greeted this clever play.</p> + +<p>And so the game went on, both sides struggling like +giants for an opening; yet the third, fourth and fifth +innings passed with no one getting past that fatal second.</p> + +<p>The first half of the sixth opened with Fairfield looking +dangerous. Elmer had passed Wagner, it being the first +time he had given anyone transportation on four balls. +Cook went out on three strikes, being led to bite at a slow +one in the critical moment. Bastian hit for a single, and by +clever running Wagner managed to reach third.</p> + +<p>The crowd sat up and began to figure on a run, as there +was only one man out, and almost any kind of a fly would +allow Wagner to come in.</p> + +<p>But they counted without their host. Cobb failed to do +anything, also going out on the three-strike route. And +Poole shot one straight for Red at short, who gathered it +up in fine shape, getting the ball to first ahead of the +runner.</p> + +<p>A sigh went up from the great crowd. With the Fairfield +rooters it signified despair; while those who were backing +the other team expressed their relief that Elmer had +managed to get out of a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'whole'">hole</ins> successfully.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, it's time we did something," remarked +Lil Artha, as the boys settled down on the ground, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +Toby was selecting his bat, it being his turn to toe the +rubber.</p> + +<p>"Right you are, old hoss," remarked that worthy, grimly. +"We've tried Matt Tubbs out, and got his wrinkles down +pat. Just keep your eyes on me, and see if I don't flatten +out one of his benders for keeps!"</p> + +<p>"More power to your elbow, Toby," said Lil Artha. +"Just get your base somehow, and depend on me to chase +you in."</p> + +<p>"And he can do it, Toby," declared Chatz, as the batter +passed him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've just got to, boys," chuckled the tall captain, +as his eye roved out toward that particular place where +Elmer had told him to aim; just as though he might be +picking a good spot to land his ball.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>LIL ARTHA PLANTS HIS GARDEN IN DEEP CENTER.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Crack!</span>"</p> + +<p>"He did it!" yelled the Hickory Ridge fellows, as Toby +started on a run for the first sack, while Bastian was chasing +the ball in short right.</p> + +<p>"Bully boy, Toby! You're IT!" shrieked an excited +rooter, jumping up and down as he swung his hat, and ending +by dancing a hornpipe, to the amusement of some of +the crowd, though a disgusted Cramertown fellow loudly +advised him to "hire a hall."</p> + +<p>"Now Lil Artha, you know what to do!" called a fellow +near by.</p> + +<p>"Does he!" echoed Larry Billings, waving his hand at +the speaker. "Well, just keep your eye on him, that's all. +Oh, it's good-by to that ball. It's going over into the next +county!"</p> + +<p>The tall captain of the Hickory Ridge nine stood at the +plate in what some people considered a careless attitude.</p> + +<p>"Why, he doesn't seem to care whether he hits the ball or +not," they declared. "I think Matt Tubbs ought to have a +snap with that bean pole!"</p> + +<p>But every batter has his favorite way of waiting for the +ball. Some swing their bats nervously, and often fail to +recover in time; others stand there like statues, with +every nerve contracted, and their eyes fixed on the pitcher.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha did neither. He chopped at the tuft of short +grass near the rubber, nodded at Tubbs, and then slouched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +there in his ungainly attitude. But Matt Tubbs was not +deceived in the least. He knew that in Lil Artha he had +the most dangerous batter in the entire nine to contend with. +His movements were like lightning, once he started.</p> + +<p>One, two, three balls followed in rapid succession.</p> + +<p>"Hey, he's afraid of Lil Artha! he's goin' to give him +his base!" arose the shout.</p> + +<p>It looked very much that way, and Lil Artha himself +feared that he was about to be cheated out of his chance for +that little garden beyond right center. Those agile Fairfield +fellows must be thinking that triple plays grow on bushes; +and the pitcher was hoping to have another pulled off.</p> + +<p>"Smash!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a hit!"</p> + +<p>"He leaned way out, and took a wide curve right on the +nose!"</p> + +<p>"Look at her go, would you!"</p> + +<p>"A home run hit, fellows; bully for Lil Artha! He's +all to the good!"</p> + +<p>"What would he do if he was twice as tall, hey, tell me +that?" demanded a disgusted Fairfield backer, as he +watched the two figures careering around the circuit.</p> + +<p>"Watch him run, boys! Why, he could get home ahead +of Toby. There they come in, neck and neck!"</p> + +<p>"But where's the ball?" demanded one fellow.</p> + +<p>"McDowd is chasing it yet. He'll get it after a while. +There never was such a long hit made on these grounds, +that's dead sure. It was a peach!"</p> + +<p>Two runs looked pretty big in such a bitterly contested +game.</p> + +<p>"Even if we don't get another, that ought to win, if +Elmer can keep up his fine work," Mr. Garrabrant declared, +as he sat in the midst of his boys, and shook hands +with the tall panting first baseman as he dropped down.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then we've just got to work to hold them, see?" said +Red, who was picking out a hat, as Chatz had stepped cut +to the rubber.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't got that notion in your heads, boys," laughed +Elmer. "Perhaps we can add a few more for good +measure. Matt may be rattled after those two screamers. +Try and hit her out, Red."</p> + +<p>But Matt Tubbs instead of being upset by his misfortunes +seemed better than ever. He easily disposed of Chatz; and +while Red did get on first through an error of the shortstop, +who threw wide, he died there. Ty shot up a zigzag +foul that Ballinger managed to just grasp, after staggering +back and forth like a drunken man in the effort to judge its +eccentric motions; and Matty's offering was taken by Cook +in left field.</p> + +<p>So the seventh began. The Fairfield rooters, faithful to +their team, began to call out encouraging words, such as the +"lucky seventh."</p> + +<p>McDowd started out well. He drew a pass by refusing to +try to take the slow one that just failed to cross over the +rubber. Then he stole second, though Mark got the ball +down to Red in good style; but a great slide saved the runner, +according to the umpire, who was on the spot. There +was no protest against the decision, even though most of +the Hickory Ridge players thought the man was fairly out. +They were much too game to show that they could not take +their medicine when the decision went against their side.</p> + +<p>Elmer put on a little more speed.</p> + +<p>"Hey!" called out Mulligan as he stood there and heard +a strike called: "what're ye thryin' to do wid me, Elmer? +Sure that wan had whiskers on it: I heard 'em brush past me +leg. Thry it again, me honey, and see what I do."</p> + +<p>He tried to bunt the next one, but made a failure of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +job; for Elmer had readily guessed that such must be his +orders, with that man on second.</p> + +<p>So Mulligan passed away, being fed one of the teasers +that he tried to meet by stepping forward, but without the +slightest success.</p> + +<p>Next came Ballinger, the catcher. Like most men behind +the bat, accustomed to seeing all manner of balls coming +toward men throughout the whole game, Ballinger was +a fairly good man with the stick. He believed he could +pick out a good one, and do something worth while.</p> + +<p>His best was a high fly that Ty gathered in away out in +deep center; but after the ball settled in his hands McDowd +managed to make third, again by a slide, at which he +seemed particularly clever.</p> + +<p>It was now up to Matt Tubbs. Adopting the tactics of his +rival when Lil Artha was at bat, Elmer sought to pass the +hard-hitting pitcher of the Fairfields. He had given two +balls when Matt reached out, and took one that was intended +as a wide curve.</p> + +<p>It shot past Matty near second, and went buzzing out into +the field. Even then it was tagged with so much speed that +before it could be sent in home McDowd had scored, and +Tubbs was nestled on the second bag.</p> + +<p>Then arose a fearful roar. If only Wagner had found +his batting eye he would surely send his captain home with +the tying run.</p> + +<p>"Lucky seven, Felix! You know what we want! Everybody +holler!"</p> + +<p>Such a terrible racket as ensued. Of course part of this +came from excitement; but there was also a desire to put +heart in the Fairfield players, as well as to rattle Elmer.</p> + +<p>He showed no sign of going to pieces. His manner would +indicate that he was as cool as a cucumber. Wagner was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +dancing around the home plate, trying to tantalize the opposing +pitcher.</p> + +<p>"Strike one!" called the umpire, as a good one whizzed +past.</p> + +<p>"Get up against it, Felix. Quit your kiddin', and do +business. It only takes one to bring Matt in!" shouted a +player.</p> + +<p>Wagner now toed the mark, and prepared to strike. The +shouts died away as quickly as they had sprung into +existence. All eyes were on the pitcher, and the lad who +stood there, lazily swinging his bat forward and back in +regular rhythm, as he endeavored to gauge the coming delivery +of the ball.</p> + +<p>Judgment at such a critical time has to come with the +rapidity of lightning. In the flash of an eye the batter has +to decide whether it is a drop, an out curve, an inward +shoot, a straight, swift one over the rubber, or a teaser +that will apparently start out well, only to hold up in mid-air, +and leave him to strike long before the ball gets within +reaching distance.</p> + +<p>Wagner waited and struck at a slow drop. What was +more, he hit it, too, a vicious tap that electrified the entire +crowd. Again those who were sitting down jumped up to +see what had happened. They evidently expected to see one of +the fielders running like mad after the ball. Nothing of the +sort.</p> + +<p>Red simply threw out, and touched Matt Tubbs as he +tried to get back to second in great haste, after realizing +that the ball had been shot straight into the hands of short.</p> + +<p>It was, of course, a double play, unassisted. And tumultuous +cheers followed as the Hickory Ridge boys came trotting +in from the field. Nothing would do but that Red must +take off his cap, and thus acknowledge the fact that the +fickle populace wished to do him honor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>In their half of the seventh the Hickory Ridge fellows +made another hard bid for a run. Elmer, the first man up, +drove the first ball pitched out in right for a single. Mark +duplicated the performance, only he seemed rather to fancy +the left garden for his planting.</p> + +<p>Two on bases, and none out! Catcalls and groans marked +the disgust of the rooters who wanted to see Fairfield win, +while loud cheers told the club at bat that their friends +expected them to add to the score this inning.</p> + +<p>But that wizard Tubbs was at it again. He mowed Ted +down without mercy. The batter afterward declared that +the ball went past him with wings on it; and that he couldn't +make sure whether it passed over the rubber or two feet +outside.</p> + +<p>Toby had been fairly lucky in meeting the offerings of +Matt; but he, too, fell a victim. Meanwhile the fellows on +bases, much as they wanted to engineer a double steal, found +not the slightest chance to do so, with this clockwork going +on between the pitcher and catcher.</p> + +<p>Lil Artha was up again.</p> + +<p>Would he duplicate his previous performance, and send +out a homer? McDowd evidently feared as much, to judge +from the way he went back. But Lil Artha fooled them all, +for he dropped a little one between first and second, and +while nobody got home on the hit, he managed to gain first +through the fumble.</p> + +<p>Chatz had a glorious opportunity presented to him. A +hit would mean two more tallies. Chatz tried his best, and +connected with a good one. With the crack of the bat the +crowd uttered a thrilling shout. Then they saw Poole, playing +just off first, gather the ball in with astonishing cleverness, +and leap for his bag.</p> + +<p>In the eighth it was just one, two, three for Fairfield. +Elmer bad them guessing all the time with his curves, his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +change to a swift one, and then that terrible teaser that +only one fellow had as yet managed to connect with, and +that to his side's undoing.</p> + +<p>Nor were the Hickory Ridge boys able to add more runs +in their half, four batters only facing Tubbs.</p> + +<p>The ninth opened. Unless Fairfield could score one run +to tie, the game would end then and there, the Hickory +Ridge fellows having no need to go in again.</p> + +<p>It was a tense situation when, with one man on second, +and but a single fellow out, Elmer stood up to his work, +smiling, cool and satisfied that he could do it, with the fine +assistance he was receiving from his backing.</p> + +<p>In vain did the next batter try to connect. One little foul +was the best he was able to do. That brought it to the last +one, who chanced to be the hard-hitting catcher, Ballinger.</p> + +<p>A dead silence fell upon the crowd as Elmer began to feed +him slow ones. Once Ballinger struck, and was greeted by +a whoop from the excited Hickory Ridge rooters, anxiously +watching every move. The next one he declined to touch; +and lo, it went over the plate for a second strike. Rendered +desperate finally, and seeing still a third floater coming +sailing wabblingly along, Ballinger stepped forward and +made a vicious swing for it, only to have his bat pass through +thin air.</p> + +<p>Then arose a tumultuous whoop. The game was over, and +the score stood two to one in favor of Hickory Ridge.</p> + +<p>While the shouts of the multitude were still ringing out, +Elmer made straight for the rival pitcher, and thrust out his +hand.</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, Matt," he said. "It was so even that +one little thing settled it—that home run hit. And if you +haven't won this game, Matt, it's plain to be seen you've +won another that counts for much more. I say good luck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +to the scouts of Fairfield. They're going to make things +hum around here, I guess."</p> + +<p>"That's nice of you, Elmer," returned Matt, quietly, yet +with a gleam of satisfaction in his eye. "Somebody's got +to lose, and next time it may be you fellers. But I reckon +as how Fairfield people knows by now that things has +changed some since these here games used to break up in a +row. Never again. We're in this scout business for keeps +now, and you got to look out, Elmer, if you don't want us +to beat you when the two troops get together for tests."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE MYSTERY SOLVED.</div> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I want</span> you to go over with me to Colonel Hitchins, +Mark," said Elmer, on the morning after the great victory +over the Fairfield scout nine.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see here, has it anything to do with that mystery +connected with my cap being found under those peach +trees that were robbed?" demanded Mark, jumping up; +for his chum had found him in his den, busily engaged.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," smiled the other. "And oh, by the way, +Mark, perhaps you'd better be sure and wear the very cap +that was found. I might want to show it to the colonel +again for a purpose."</p> + +<p>He declined to say anything more, even though Mark +teased him as he got his own wheel out, and the two started +forth.</p> + +<p>"Just you hold your horses," he said, shaking his head +stubbornly. "Sometimes it seems like a long night, but +daylight always comes in the end."</p> + +<p>"I take that to mean you've made some sort of discovery, +then," declared Mark; "and honest, now, Elmer, I'll be +mighty glad to know the truth. That thing has puzzled me +a heap, I admit. Perhaps Phil Lally has confessed that he +found my cap, and left it there when he robbed the trees, +meaning to have me looked on as the thief."</p> + +<p>"Shucks, Phil Lally never saw your cap; and even if he +did he wouldn't know it from mine or some other fellow's.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wait, and don't get so impatient. Unless I miss my guess, +it'll soon be old history," and Elmer led the way along the +road at a hot pace.</p> + +<p>They soon arrived at the place of Colonel Hitchins.</p> + +<p>"There's Phil Lally working in the garden, and he looks +satisfied with the way things have come out," remarked +Elmer, as they passed toward the mansion.</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't he be?" argued Mark. "If Phil had +his deserts, he'd be on the way to a ten-year sentence at the +penitentiary right now. But the old gentleman knew what +he was doing when he gave him this last chance; and I +really believe the fellow will make good now."</p> + +<p>"I'm dead sure of it," Elmer added. "He's had his +eyes opened, and the thought of his old and fond mother is +going to keep him on the narrow path. But say, turn aside +here, and let's take a peep at the tool house, where I had +that little rumpus Saturday night."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see it," remarked the other, eagerly; for by +this time he knew all the particulars of his chum's exciting +adventure, and was deeply interested in everything that pertained +to it.</p> + +<p>So they walked around the tool house, and even stepped +inside, while Elmer proceeded to once more relate how he +had managed to fasten the two men in, after they had +entered in search of kerosene.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" remarked Elmer, finally, "there's Bruno +wagging his tail at us; he knows me by now, and we are +pretty good friends; but, all the same, I don't mean to get +too close to him when his master isn't around."</p> + +<p>"He's a fine looking dog, as sure as anything," observed +Mark.</p> + +<p>"He sure is," Elmer went on, and then added: "see him +shake that old shoe he has in his mouth! Just imagine it to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +be some other dog that Bruno is fighting with. I'd hate to +have those teeth set in my leg, wouldn't you, Mark?"</p> + +<p>"Well, rather," came the ready reply. "But look there, +do they give him old shoes and such things to play with; +I can count three close by his kennel right now? Perhaps +it's the right thing for a dog's teeth, to chew on old leather."</p> + +<p>Elmer laughed out loud at the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"That's a new one on me," he declared; "but here comes +Phil Lally from the garden. Let's put it up to him. +He's been with the Colonel some time, and ought to be on +to some of the tricks of Bruno."</p> + +<p>Phil Lally smiled at seeing Elmer. He had taken a great +liking to the boy; and no doubt had heard some things in +connection with him from his employer at the time they +talked matters over.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see yuh here this fine morning, Elmer," he remarked. +"And they tell me yuh knocked the Fairfield +team out yesterday, good and hard. The kunnel says it +was the best game he ever saw, barring none, and he's an +old hand, yuh know."</p> + +<p>"We all thought it a dandy," laughed Elmer; "and +every fellow deserved a share of the glory. I pitched my +best; but where would we have been if it hadn't happened +that Lil Artha drove out that homer, fetching a run in +ahead of him? But Mark here was wondering if you fed +Bruno on old shoes; or gave them to him to keep his teeth in +good condition, because there are just three around here. +We don't happen to be from Missouri, Phil, but we want to +know."</p> + +<p>The man laughed loudly.</p> + +<p>"Well, after all, it looks that ways, Elmer," he said. +"But the fact is, nobody wants to make Bruno mad by +takin' away his playthings. I tried it once, and would yuh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +believe it, the critter made a jump for me, and growled so +ugly that after that I jest vowed he could keep piling 'em +up, for all of me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see; then you don't toss them to him?" said +Mark, while his chum smiled, as though fairly well satisfied +with the way the conversation had turned.</p> + +<p>"Who, me, give Bruno them old shoes?" ejaculated Phil +Lally. "Well, I guess not. He gets 'em all hisself. It's +an old trick of Bruno's. There have been times when he's +had as much as seven old shoes layin' around here at one +time. When I gets a chanct I sneaks 'em away an' buries +the same. Got a regular cemetery fur old shoes back o' the +stable."</p> + +<p>"But where does he get them, if he's chained up here +all the time?" asked Mark.</p> + +<p>"What, him?" echoed the gardener. "Oh, nobody +don't seem able to keep that slick customer chained up no +great time at a stretch. Sometimes I've knowed him to slip +his collar as many as four nights a week."</p> + +<p>"You mean he gets away?" asked Elmer, helping things +along; for he began to see Mark casting eyes at him suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Always that. Bruno, he's a wanderer. He's got the +habit bad; and as soon as he gets loose it's hike for him. +But I will say he always knows when to come home, and +in the morning we find him in his kennel, tuckered out +mebbe, but happy."</p> + +<p>"But do you mean he brings one of those old shoes home +with him every time?" demanded Mark.</p> + +<p>"He jest wont come home without <i>something</i> like that in +his mouth," continued the gardener. "I've seen him +adoin' of the same, and had to laugh at the critter. Once it +was a lady's hat. We reckoned that it must a' blew off when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +she was goin' past in a car at a fast clip, and they couldn't +find it. But Bruno lighted on it, easy like."</p> + +<p>"A lady's hat!" muttered Mark, and then he faced his +chum, adding: "Look here now, Elmer, you didn't come +back to see Bruno just by accident. You had a reason for +doing it? Own up now!"</p> + +<p>Elmer nodded his head and snickered.</p> + +<p>"Let me take that cap of yours, Mark," he said, and the +article in question was eagerly handed over to him. "Look +here, Phil, this cap was found under those peach trees +you've heard about, and on the morning the colonel discovered +they had been raided. Luckily my chum was able +to prove that he couldn't have been here; and a lot of us +knew that he had lost this cap a mile away on the bank of +the Sunflower, just as evening set in. But it's been a dark +mystery how it got here."</p> + +<p>Phil had turned red at mention of the peach trees. Then +his glance went past Elmer to the big Siberian wolf hound.</p> + +<p>"I reckon it must be up to Bruno, then," he remarked. +"Let's see—yes, he was off that night, else I'd never dared +do what I did."</p> + +<p>"And if you examine the inside of the cap," Elmer went +on, steadily, "you'll find the lining all torn, as if he had +been shaking it like he did that old shoe just now. The +marks look to me like teeth had torn the lining. And when +the colonel handed it to me, I could feel that it seemed to +be more or less wet inside."</p> + +<p>"Proven beyond the least doubt!" cried Mark, smiling +broadly. "Bruno came on my cap while he was scouring +the country. He fetched it home, as he does other things +that have belonged to people. And when he was going +past those peach trees he got scent of the fact that some +one had been there during his absence. So perhaps he laid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +the cap down, to nose all around, and forgot to pick it up +again!"</p> + +<p>"That's just my theory to a dot," laughed Elmer; "so +on the whole, I guess, Mark, you'd better call it solved, and +let the matter drop."</p> + +<p>"I'm only too willing," replied the other, nodding. +"But don't you think we owe it to the colonel to take him +into the secret?"</p> + +<p>"I sure do," replied Elmer; "because he was puzzled +as much as we were. Still, you remember he was ready to +own up that he couldn't believe you guilty; no matter if a +dozen caps bearing your initials were found under his +trees."</p> + +<p>"That shows what it means tuh have a good reputation," +remarked Phil Lally between his set teeth. "But, boys, +never again for me. I've seen what a fool road I was +trampin' with that habit of mine, and I've changed my +course. I'm goin' tuh make good this time, or bust a b'iler +tryin'."</p> + +<p>"You'll make it, never fear, Phil, with such a good friend +to help you as the gentleman you work for. I believe in +you," said Elmer, thrusting out his hand; for something +told him that the young fellow needed all the encouragement +possible at this critical stage in his uplifting.</p> + +<p>So they did go in to see the colonel, who was deeply interested +in the theory. Elmer had to explain how his chum's +cap chanced to be found that morning under the raided +trees, when it was lost the evening previous away over on +the bank of the little Sunflower River.</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it, Elmer," he declared immediately. +"You've proved it beyond the shadow of a doubt. If Bruno +had put his visiting card inside the lining he couldn't have +done more when he made these tears with his sharp teeth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +Seems to me as if I can see where every tooth went in. But +let's forget all about that matter now, and talk about your +magnificent victory of yesterday."</p> + +<p>"We may have beaten the Fairfield team by the narrow +margin of one run, sir," remarked Elmer, "but there was +one fellow against us who did a heap more than that, I give +it to you straight."</p> + +<p>"Who was that, Elmer, and what did he do that was so +great? I'm sure, after seeing the game I fail to catch your +meaning," remarked the gentleman.</p> + +<p>"It was Matt Tubbs, sir; and he won a victory over himself +which I take it counts for more than just a single +little tally in a baseball game. If that had been the same +old Matt Tubbs of old, we'd never have finished that game, +for he'd have ended it in a row. As it was, he shook hands +with every Hickory Ridge player, and complimented them +on the fierce fight they put up. It was just fine! And they +used to say Matt Tubbs was a rowdy who could never be +made to see how he was wronging his family, all Fairfield, +and himself worst of all, by his ugly ways. Don't tell me, +anybody, that this Boy Scout movement isn't working +wonders in lots of cases."</p> + +<p>"I believe you, Elmer," replied the colonel, softly. "I +have been pretty much a gruff old soldier myself, and often +scorned such an idea as gaining anything worth while without +a fight for it; but I'm beginning to look at things in +another light, boys, another light. Peace has its victories +as well as war; and they count most in the long run, I +reckon. I'm going to take more interest in these boys than +ever I did before, because I'm learning something in my old +age."</p> + +<p>But the great victory over Fairfield was not the only event<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +that marked the closing days of that summer vacation, and +in another volume we shall have something to say about an +occurrence which the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts were inclined +to set down in their troop log-book as a matter of history +never to be forgotten.</p> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +THE END.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2>ADDENDA</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>———————<br />BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<h2>BOY SCOUT NATURE LORE TO BE FOUND IN THE<br /> +HICKORY RIDGE BOY SCOUT SERIES.</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Lore books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Animals of the United States</td><td align='left' rowspan='2'><span class='huge'>}</span></td><td align='left' rowspan='2'> in Number I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tracking</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Woodcraft, or How a Patrol Leader Made Good.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Reptiles of the United States in Number III.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Pathfinder, or the Missing Tenderfoot.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Fishes of the United States in Number IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Fast Nine, or a Challenge from Fairfield.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Insects of the United States in Number V.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Great Hike, or the Pride of the Khaki Troop.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'>Birds of the United States in Number VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='3'><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Endurance Test, or How Clear Grit Won the Day.</span></span><br /><br /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> +<h2>FISHES OF THE UNITED STATES</h2> + + +<p>Fish are vertebrate animals living in water and having, +instead of legs, fins which are adapted to rapid movement +in the water. They breathe through gills instead of +lungs.</p> + +<p>The principal order of fish is known as the Teleostei or +bony fishes. Other orders are the Elasmobranchii or fishes +without a bony skeleton, Ganoidei, and a small order called +the Holocephali. Fishing since the earliest recorded times +has always been an industry as well as a sport with mankind. +Great commercial seaports have developed from beginnings +as small fishing towns, and fishing privileges are +often incorporated in international treaties. The most important +of the American fisheries are the cod, herring, +mackerel, menhaden, halibut, salmon and whitefish fisheries.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE ELASMOBRANCHII.</div> + +<p>These are fishes which have no bony skeleton. In place +of bone they have an elastic tissue or gristle. There are +two sub-orders—those having round bodies, like the sharks +and dog-fish, and those having flat bodies, like the rays +and skates.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Sharks.</span></div> + +<p>Shark is a general name applied to all the larger round-bodied +elasmobranchii. They are powerful and rapid +swimmers and many of the larger forms are found in mid-ocean.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +The smaller ones keep closer to the shore. Although +a few are found in Arctic regions, they do not +attain the great size there that they do in warmer waters. +They are carnivorous, that is, they feed on animal matter, +and most of them have strong teeth. The Chinese consider +shark fins a great delicacy and many are exported +from California to the East. The fins are also a source +of gelatine.</p> + +<p>The Tope is a small shark found in tropical and temperate +seas. It averages about six feet in length. Its +habit of making away with bait and scaring off other fish +makes it unpopular with fishermen. The color of the tope +is gray above and whitish gray beneath. It swims along +the bottom of the water, feeding upon fish, crustaceans, +etc. This fish is not common in American waters.</p> + +<p>The Hammer-head Shark. The characteristic peculiarity +of this shark is its broad, flat head, which accounts for its +name. Its eyes are set on projections from the side of the +head. They have been known to reach a length of fifteen +feet. Sometimes they are seen in the North Atlantic. +They are formidable and greedy. The topes and hammerheads +belong to the same shark family.</p> + +<p>The Porbeagle is a shark that is found in the North +Atlantic and is known to fishermen as the Mackerel Shark. +It feeds principally upon fish. A length of ten feet is +attained. It bolts its food, the teeth being adapted to hold +its slippery prey.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a> +<img src="images/hickory001.png" width="600" height="349" alt="HAMMER-HEAD SHARK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HAMMER-HEAD SHARK.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Thresher, Thrasher or Fox Shark is a cousin of the +porbeagle. Its peculiar characteristic is its long tail. +Both the Atlantic and Pacific contain these fish. A length +of fifteen feet is often reached. It will not attack man, +but preys on small fishes. Swimming suddenly into schools +of these, it flaps its tail rapidly, killing and devouring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +them in large numbers. These sharks are often found in +companies attacking large whales.</p> + +<p>The Basking Shark derives its name from its habit of +lying at the top of the water with its upper back above +the water line. This is the largest shark found in the +Atlantic. It reaches a length of over thirty feet. The oil +which its liver yields is valued and it is hunted on this +account. It will not attack man.</p> + +<p>Dog-fish is the general name for sharks of the families +Scyllidæ and Spinacidæ. Dog-fish are the smaller types +of sharks. They are sometimes eaten by fishermen on the +Orkney Islands, a group of islands off the northern coast +of Scotland, where they are dried for winter use. Their +rough skins are used for polishing wood and is called +shagreen. The dog-fishes reach a length of three or four +feet. They frequently carry off the fishermen's captures +from the lines.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Skates and Rays.</span></div> + +<p>These are flat-bodied elasmobranchii. Skate is the common +name applied to any one of the numerous species of +flat elasmobranchii whose large, broad fins give it a somewhat +diamond-shaped form. The commonest and smallest +skate of the Eastern coast of the United States is the +"Tobacco Box." The "Barn Door" Skate sometimes +reaches a length of four feet, and the great Pacific Coast +Skate is sometimes six feet long.</p> + +<p>The Sting Ray bears on its tail a toothed spine some +eight inches long and capable of inflicting a painful wound. +Its tail is long and slim. As a rule they are confined to +warm seas, but at least one species extends throughout +the Atlantic and Pacific.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Devil-fish or Eagle Ray is a member of the family +of Millstone Rays, so called because of their peculiar teeth, +which are adapted to crush the shells of the mollusks on +which they prey. The tail is long and slim. Some devil-fish +occasionally measure from fifteen to eighteen feet +across. Pearl and sponge divers greatly fear these ugly +creatures.</p> + +<p>The name devil-fish is also given to the Octopus and to +the Goosefish or Angler.</p> + +<p>The Torpedo or Electric Ray is a name given to any one +of the numerous rays having the power of giving electrical +shocks. They thus stun the fish upon which they +feed. They also use this power in self-defense. The large +torpedoes can stun a man.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory002.png" width="500" height="79" alt="SAWFISH—FROM BELOW." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SAWFISH—FROM BELOW.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Sawfish is a ray in which the snout is elongated +and edged with strong teeth. These sawlike edges have +given the fish its name. It strikes with this weapon and +slashes open the bodies of its prey.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE HOLOCEPHALI.</div> + +<p>This is not a large order. The name is made up of +two Greek words, meaning "all head." A few peculiar +forms belong here, principally the Chimera, popularly +known as the Sea Cat.</p> + +<p>These fish resemble sharks. They are found in the colder +sea water. Their tail is long and thread like. The head is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +large and the fish's remarkable appearance has given it the +name Chimera, after the legendary animal that Homer describes +as shaped like a lion in the fore part, a dragon in +the hind part and a goat in the middle.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE GANOIDS.</div> + +<p>There are seven living kinds of ganoid fish and all are +found in fresh water. Only six of these are found in +waters of the United States. All of them have skin with +bony scales which shine as though enameled.</p> + +<p>The Sturgeon inhabit waters of the temperate zone of +the Northern Hemisphere. They reach a length of over +ten feet and feed upon worms and shell fish, which they pry +out of the sandy or muddy bottoms with their sharp snout. +They have five rows of bony scales. Their eggs form an +article of commerce, caviar being prepared from them. +The material known as isinglass is made from the air +bladders of the sturgeon. They are found in the Great +Lakes and the larger rivers. The type most commonly +found in the Mississippi is called the Shovel-nose Sturgeon. +The Columbian Sturgeon of the Pacific coast states +is a large species.</p> + +<p>The Bow-fin or Mud-fish is a fish found in the still +waters of the United States. It is known by many names. +The flesh, while eatable, is not good. In length it does +not exceed a couple of feet.</p> + +<p>The Gar-pike, Bony-pike, or Bill-fish. The body of this +fish is covered with bony scales. It has a peculiar snout +containing sharp teeth. In the lower Mississippi occurs +a large type known as the Alligator Gar or Manjuari.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a> +<img src="images/hickory003.png" width="600" height="255" alt="STURGEON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">STURGEON.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Paddle-fish is peculiarly characterized by its broad, +thin, oarlike snout. Many popular names have been given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +to it, such as Spadebill, Spoonbill, Duckbill. It is found +in the rivers of the Mississippi Valley and reaches a length +of about five feet.</p> + +<p>The Shovel-nose Sturgeon, or White Sturgeon, is confined +to the Mississippi and its tributaries, and is quite +common in certain localities. It has a slender body, especially +so behind the fins, and its peculiarly shaped snout +has given it the name it bears.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE BONY FISHES OR TELEOSTEANS.</div> + +<p>By far the largest and the most important order of fishes, +containing the large majority of living types. They differ +from the ganoid fishes by having soft scales and a complete +bony skeleton.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Yellow Perch.</span></div> + +<p>The Yellow Perch is found in all the waters of the +Atlantic slope. It does not occur in the lower Mississippi +valley. It frequents quiet pools of meadow brooks, creeks, +etc., preferring the stream's sides or the sandy, pebbly +bottom. The larger specimens come from rivers and +creeks. Perch seldom weigh more than one or two pounds. +They feed on grubs, worms, insects, and small fishes. +They are graceful in movement and the coloration is beautiful. +The sides are streaked with dusky bands and the +fins are ruddy.</p> + +<p>One way to catch perch is with a pole, stout line, large +float, and heavy sinker, using a worm or minnow for bait. +This will do when the water is muddied and the fish are +hungry. In clear water, use a finer line and reel, a small +float and a sinker only heavy enough to keep the float<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +steady. The bait should be suspended about a foot from +the bottom.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Striped Bass.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory004.png" width="500" height="371" alt="STRIPED BASS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">STRIPED BASS.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Striped Bass in the South is known as the Rock +Fish, or the Rock. This fish is particularly common in +the open stretches of large rivers. It is a popular food +fish and it is estimated that over 200,000 pounds of Striped +Bass are eaten each year in the United States. They are +voracious feeders and when in the rivers they prey upon +small fishes. They frequent the surf of ocean beaches and +rocky shores. The fisherman holds this fish in deservedly +high esteem. They are caught in creeks, using shrimps +or clams for bait. When fishing for these in the swift<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +tideways, menhaden bait is used. Scott, in his "Fishing +in American Waters," says: "Casting menhaden bait for +striped bass from the rocky shores of the bays, estuaries, +and islands along the Atlantic coasts constitutes the highest +branch of American angling. It is, indeed, questionable—when +considering all the elements which contribute +to the sum-total of sport in angling—whether this method +of striped bass fishing is not superior to fly-fishing for +salmon, and if so, it outranks any angling in the world." +The rod to use in this style of fishing should not be +longer than nine feet and should be very light, the lines +about two or three hundred yards long. The bass are +attracted by casting chopped menhaden upon the water. +An oil gathers upon the surface of the water and the +fish swim toward the fishermen.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The White Bass.</span></div> + +<p>The White Bass, or Striped Lake Bass, is often mistaken +for the Striped Bass. It is common in the Great +Lakes region and especially the Ohio. It is found chiefly +in lakes, ponds, and deeper parts of rivers. It feeds upon +small fish. As food it is highly prized.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Yellow Bass.</span></div> + +<p>The Yellow Bass is sometimes called the Bar-fish. It +frequents the lower Mississippi, where the water is deep +and sluggish. The color is yellow and the black stripes are +prominent.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The White Perch.</span></div> + +<p>The White Perch is found in the waters at the mouths +of rivers. Its average length is eight or nine inches. Fish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +for them off a deep-sunk pier or a bridge, baiting with a +live minnow.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Sea Bass.</span></div> + +<p>The Sea Bass exists in a great many varieties and has +been given many names, such as Black-fish, Rock Bass, +Black Will, Black Bass, etc. The favorite haunts of Sea +Bass are the rocky bays and sounds of the Atlantic coasts. +It feeds at the bottom and rarely comes to the surface, +being fond of lying under loose stones and in rock cavities. +Its food is made up of crabs, squids, small fish, etc. On +account of the toughness of its mouth this fish, when +once hooked, is not easily lost. The best time to catch +them is between tides. In New England they average about +a pound and a half. The flesh of the Sea Bass is firm +and sweet. The fishing banks off Sandy Hook and Long +Branch yield thousands of these fish annually. The bait +most often used is clams.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Groupers.</span></div> + +<p>The Red Grouper, or Groper, is a large fish, reaching +an occasional weight of forty or fifty pounds, but is not +common on our coasts, except in the far South. It is +voracious in feeding. In the Gulf of Mexico it is abundant. +It feeds on crustaceans and small fish, and even +large crabs. As a food fish it is considered excellent.</p> + +<p>The Black Grouper is called the "Jew-fish." It is a +common fish along the Gulf coast. The Jew-fish attains a +large size and will swallow a hooked fish, hooks, lead, line +and all.</p> + +<p>The Pacific Jew-fish is sometimes called the Black Sea +Bass and is the largest food fish of this coast, reaching a +weight of five hundred pounds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Black Bass.</span></div> + +<p>Black Bass are found widely distributed over the Atlantic +slope. They are not particular in their diet, eating +many kinds of food—fish, crawfish, moths, flies, frogs, and +even rats and snakes. They can leap powerfully. It is +said that the best time to take them is at night, or when +rivers are high and muddy. There are two types, the +large-mouth and the small-mouth. Bass may be caught +by using artificial flies or minnows, or live minnows, small +frogs, grasshoppers, or by the use of trolling spoon.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Sun-fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Sun-fish is the "Sunny" or "Pumpkin-seed" of +New York and New England brooks. It is common, too, +in the Great Lakes region and the coast streams as far +south as Georgia. It prefers clear, still water.</p> + +<p>The Red Breast is a Sun-fish which is known also by +such names as the "Brim," "Pearch," "Red-headed +Bream," "Sun Perch," "Red-bellied Bream," and "Red-bellied +Pearch."</p> + +<p>The Blue Sun-fish is the most widely distributed of the +Sun-fishes. It is also called "The Blue Bream," "Copper-nosed +Bream," and "Dollardee."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Strawberry Bass.</span></div> + +<p>The Strawberry Bass is another fish abounding in names. +It is called "The Strawberry Perch," "Grass Bass," +"Bitter Head Perch," "Lamplighter," "Razor Back," +"Chinquapin Perch," "Silver Bass," "Big Fin Bass," +"Calico Bass," "Goggle Eye." It resorts to deep, sluggish +waters. As a pan fish it is surpassed by few other +fresh-water fishes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Crappie or Croppie is closely related to the Strawberry +Bass.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Snappers and Grunts.</span></div> + +<p>The Snappers and Grunts are the brightly colored fishes +of the coral reefs. The Red Snapper is bright crimson +and is abundant in the Gulf of Mexico and about the +Florida reefs, living in holes and gullies. It feeds upon +small fish, crabs, and prawns. Snappers are always boiled +or cooked in a chowder. They are caught with a bottom +bait of fish.</p> + +<p>The Gray Snapper lacks the brilliant color of the Red +Snapper. It is also known as the Black Snapper and +Sea Lawyer.</p> + +<p>The Red Mouths or Grunts are small fish found in the +inshore waters of the Gulf and South Atlantic states. +They resemble the Snappers and are characterized by the +red color of the inside of mouth and throat. On account +of this peculiarity they are sometimes called Flannel-mouths. +When taken they utter a peculiar sound, hence +the name "grunts," "pig-fish," and "squirrel-fish."</p> + +<p>The Black Grunt is brownish in color. It is found as +far north as Charleston. The Norfolk Hog-fish is brown, +spotted with orange and yellow.</p> + +<p>The Sheepheads have large heads, strong jaws and teeth. +They are sluggish in movement, feeding among the rocks +close to the bottom. They derive their name from their +resemblance in profile to the sheep. They are known by +this name wherever found. In New York Harbor, Jersey, +and Long Island coasts they are common. Barnacles +and crustaceans form an important part of their diet and +frequent old wrecks to which their food adhered. Their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +teeth are fitted to crush their food. They are shy and +will take the bait more confidently if it is allowed to lie +at the bottom. When they bite, give a short, quick, but +not too violent jerk. The average weight of this fish is +about six pounds. They are one of the finest food fish.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Porgy.</span></div> + +<p>The Scuppaug, or Mishcuppauog, is a name of Indian +origin. In some parts it is abbreviated into the "scup," +and in others the second syllable is used, paugy or porgy, +notwithstanding that the true porgy is an English fish of +an entirely different kind. The Southern Scup is called +the "Fair Maid." The food of these fishes consists of +worms, mollusks, etc. It is largely used as a pan fish.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Weak-fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Weak-fish about the Cape Cod section are called +"Drummers." Further south they are known as "Yellow +Fins" and "Sea Trout." Along the shore from +Norfolk to Nantucket they are abundant, arriving in late +May and departing early in the autumn. August is the +best month for Weak-fish. They feed on small fish. +Catching the Weak-fish is considered great sport because +so many can be taken in a short time. They swim near +the surface and require a line little leaded. Clams, soft +crabs, or pieces of fish may be used as bait, which they +snap at. On account of the tenderness of their mouths, +care must be taken in hauling them in. At flood tide they +will be found in the channel, but at ebb they seek some +deep hole. The Indian name for this fish was the Squeteague.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Hake.</span></div> + +<p>The Hake, known also as the King-fish, Barb, Tom Cod, +Black Mullet, Sea Mink, and Whiting. Mr. A. N. Cheney +tells us that in fishing for this fish, "A light rod and +multiplying reel, a strong and very light line, a swivel +sinker, and two rather small hooks are what is required +in the way of tackle, much the same rig as is used in +weak-fishing. The bait is either shredded crab or sand-worm. +The King-fish is thoroughly game; he seizes the +bait eagerly and then goes to the bottom, following up +this movement with long runs from right to left; it is +really remarkable what a determined resistance the little +King-fish will make. In size he varies from one to six +pounds, the average being two or three pounds. The +time to fish for them is when the tide is running in. +King-fish can be caught along the south side of Long +Island, off the Jersey coast at Atlantic City, Long Branch, +and Barnegat Inlet, and further south they are very +common."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Whitings.</span></div> + +<p>The Whitings are food fishes of the southern coast. +They are abundant in the spring and summer near Charleston, +taking the bait readily. The bait which seems best +is pieces of drum. Deep running water is their favorite +haunt.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Drum.</span></div> + +<p>The Drum is another large food fish. It is found most +abundantly in the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic +states. The name is derived from the noise it is capable +of making, which is similar to drumming. It swims +slowly along the bottom, where it feeds on shell-fish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fresh-water Drum is called "Sheepshead" in the +Great Lakes. In other places the "White Perch," "Gray +Perch," "Crocus," "Thunder-pumper."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Cobia.</span></div> + +<p>The Cobia prefers clear, deep water. One writer says +of this fish that "he looks as if harnessed with a pair of +traces and his behavior on a fly-rod is that of a wild horse." +This appearance is due to the straight stripes of brown +and gray on its sides which has given it the name "Sergeant-fish" +in certain districts.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Blue-Fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Blue-fish is known in different localities as the +"Horse-Mackerel," "Skipjack," "Green-fish." It is a +widely distributed fish, but its favorite haunts in the +summer are the waters of the middle Atlantic states. It +feeds entirely upon other fish. Professor Baird says: +"There is no parallel in point of destructiveness to the +Blue-fish among the marine species on our coast, whatever +may be the case among some of the carnivorous fish +of the South American waters. The Blue-fish has been +well likened to an animated chopping machine, the business +of which is to cut to pieces and otherwise destroy as +many fish as possible in a given space of time. Going in +large schools in pursuit of fish not much inferior to themselves +in size, they move along like a pack of hungry +wolves, destroying everything before them. Their trail is +marked by fragments of fish and by the stain of blood +in the sea."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Mackerel.</span></div> + +<p>The Common Mackerel is found in the north Atlantic. +They swim near the surface and often at a great distance +from land. Their movements can be easily followed. +They are great wanderers and are abundant sometimes in +one section, sometimes in another. The food of these +fishes consists largely of small crustaceans. The different +kinds of invertebrates upon which the mackerel feed are +known as "Cayenne" and "red-seed." When full-grown +they average about eighteen inches in length. Sea +birds will gather over a school of mackerel and indicate +its presence. Porpoises, sharks, blue-fish, and cod also +prey upon them.</p> + +<p>The Spanish Mackerel is a midsummer fish, disappearing +in the autumn. In habit they are very much like the +blue-fish, and fond of leaping from the water, living +mostly at the surface.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Pompano.</span></div> + +<p>The Pompano is highly esteemed as a food fish. It is +widely distributed through the warmer Atlantic. It feeds +upon mollusks, crustaceans, and young fish. It is caught +in nets; quantities are caught in the Gulf of Mexico.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Bonito.</span></div> + +<p>The Bonito is in habits similar to the blue-fish. It preys, +as do the latter, upon menhaden and mackerel. The tail +is crescent-shaped and is a great aid to it in swimming. +It is capable of very swift motion, hunting in schools, +which are accompanied by flocks of sea gulls and other +sea birds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Sword-fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Sword-fish derives its name from its long, sword-like +snout. They are most abundant on shoals and banks +near the shore. They are very pugnacious in their habits, +using their sword as a weapon of offense and defense, and +do not hesitate to attack sharks and whales.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Rose-fish.</span></div> + +<p>This fish on the Pacific coast is known as the Rock-Cod +or Rock-fish. They are found in great abundance on the +southern coast of California.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Tree-fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Tree-fish is also found on the coast of California +and is beautifully colored and marked.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Pike and Muskellunge.</span></div> + +<p>The Pike is a fish of the North; it is abundant, however, +as far south as Ohio.</p> + +<p>The Muskellunge is found in the Great Lakes region +and St. Lawrence River. It is similar to the Pike.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Pickerel.</span></div> + +<p>The Pickerels, another group of this family, are much +smaller fishes. The Chain Pickerel, so called on account +of the peculiar chain-like markings on its sides, is found +in streams along the Atlantic coast. The Brook Pickerel +is of a similar variety. This variety of fish are not particular +as to their diet; they will eat nearly all other kinds +of fish, frogs, rats, mice, and even young ducks. They +lay in wait for their prey and take it with a spring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/hickory005.png" width="600" height="258" alt="MUSKELLUNGE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MUSKELLUNGE.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Sea Robins.</span></div> + +<p>The Sea Robins are a nuisance to fishermen, stealing +their bait. They are also known as sculpins, grub, bullhead, +seatoad, pig-fish. They feed upon the animal life +at the bottom of the water. Owing to their ugly appearance +their spines are rumored to give a poisonous wound. +They are capable of inflicting a painful injury, but not a +poisonous one.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Halibut.</span></div> + +<p>The Halibut is a cold-water fish. These fish at times +reach an enormous size and there are traditions of fish +having been caught that weigh over 600 pounds. They +lie upon the bottom, and because of their flat body, which +is similar in color to that of the sand, they are able to +ambush their prey.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Flounder.</span></div> + +<p>The Plaise, Summer Flounder, or Turbot Flounder. +This is a fish abundant upon the eastern coast of the +United States. They feed upon small fish, crabs, squids, +sand-eels, etc. Large quantities of these fish are sold in +the markets of New York.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a> +<img src="images/hickory006.png" width="600" height="304" alt="FLOUNDER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">FLOUNDER.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Cod-fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Cod-fish; the waters off the coast of New England +formerly abounded in this fish, but now only stragglers +are to be caught. From the stomachs of Cod-fish shells +of all kinds have been taken, as well as many miscellaneous +objects, such as rings, scissors, corn-cobs, oil cans,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +and other incongruous things of this kind. The Tom-Cod +is a small cod-fish seldom a foot in length.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory007.png" width="500" height="367" alt="COD-FISH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">COD-FISH.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Haddock.</span></div> + +<p>The Haddock also has a habit of feeding on shells. +Both the Haddock and the cod will take stale clams as +food, these seeming to be more attractive than fresh ones. +As food fish the Scotch smoke Haddock, and they are then +known as "Finnan Haddies."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Mullets.</span></div> + +<p>The Mullets are widely distributed; it is a very popular +fish in the southern sea-coast states. It prefers still, shoal +water with sandy and grassy bottom. It does not take +the hook well, but is sometimes caught with bait manufactured +from cotton and flour or banana.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Cat-fish.</span></div> + +<p>The Cat-fish is very popular with the colored people in +the South.</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Don't talk to me o' bacon and fat,<br /> +O' taters, 'coon or 'possum,<br /> +Fo' when I'se hooked a yellar cat<br /> +I'se got a meal to boss 'em."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Its spines are capable of inflicting painful wounds. Salt +mackerel, worms, or live minnows are good bait. Another +thing it is well to remember is that the cat-fish never bite +when an east wind is blowing. Professor Jordan, of +Indianapolis University, says: "Cat-fishes are vivacious +and indiscriminate feeders, any of the animal substances, +living or dead, being greedily swallowed by them. They +are also extremely tenacious of life, living for a long time +out of water and being able to resist impurities in the +water better than any other of our food fishes."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Herrings.</span></div> + +<p>The Herring is an important food fish. Hundreds of +millions of pounds of these fish are taken yearly, and yet +their numbers do not seem to be in any wise lessened. +Herrings are smoked, dried, and salted.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Menhaden.</span></div> + +<p>The Menhaden make their appearance in the spring +with the arrival of the shad, alewife, blue-fish, and weak-fish. +They swim in schools close to the surface and crowd +together, but if alarmed sink to the bottom. They are +phosphorescent at night, fond of inlets and bays and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +shoal waters protected from wind. Their food seems to +consist of organic matter and vegetation contained in +stagnant water. They have many enemies; whales, sharks, +sword-fish, bass, cod, weak-fish, blue-fish, bonito, dolphins +destroy them in vast quantities. They are largely used +as fertilizers by the coast farmers. They are also a source +of fish oil.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Alewife.</span></div> + +<p>The Alewife is an abundant river fish throughout the +South. They are also found where shad run.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Shad.</span></div> + +<p>Shad is found along the Atlantic coast of the United +States. The larger part of the shad's life is spent in salt +water, coming into the rivers in the spring.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Tarpon.</span></div> + +<p>Tarpon, Tarpum, Silverfish, or Grande Ecaille, is common +on the Gulf coast. It will take a baited hook, but is +difficult to handle, and is seldom landed. Persons have +been known to be killed or injured severely by its leaping +against them from the net in which it had been caught. +Its scales are prized and are sold in the Florida shops.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a> +<img src="images/hickory008.png" width="600" height="298" alt="SALMON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SALMON.</span> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Salmon.</span></div> + +<p>The Salmon—one remarkable characteristic is its marvelous +leaping ability. One writer, describing from observation +this feat, says: "I watched the fish with a race-glass +for some ten minutes before disturbing them. There +is a very deep pool at the point where the waterfall joins +the lower level of the water. The fish come out of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +pool with the velocity of an arrow. They give no warning +of their intentions, but up they come and dart out of +the surface of the water with a sudden rush, like rockets +let loose from the darkness of the night into the space +above. When they first appeared their tails were going +with the velocity of a watch spring just broken, and the +whole body sparkling as though they had been enameled, +quivering so with the exertion."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">The Trout.</span></div> + +<p>The Rainbow Trout, also known as Brook Trout, Mountain +Trout, Speckled Trout, Golden Trout, is found in +the streams west of the Sierra Nevada; it feeds on worms, +grubs, etc. The Black Spotted Trout is found throughout +the Rocky Mountain region. The above are Salmon Trout +and are considered inferior as game fishes to the Red +Spotted Trout. The Lake Trout reaches a large size. The +Lake Superior Trout are caught usually in the fall months +in nets.</p> + +<p>The Brook Trouts belong to the Salmon family. They +show marked variations in color.</p> + +<p>The Speckled Trout is found in the lakes and streams +of the eastern part of the United States. In midsummer +they haunt the bottoms of lakes, deep pools, among rocks +and roots. As the cold weather comes on in the autumn +they frequent the clear water of streams. They seldom +exceed two or three pounds in weight. They feed daintily, +taking their prey from the surface—flies, water bugs, and +little fishes. They are favorites with the fishermen; the +most successful angler is the one who baits his hook with +the prey, or imitation thereof, which at that time particularly +hits their fancy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a> +<img src="images/hickory009.png" width="600" height="286" alt="BROOK TROUT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">BROOK TROUT.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Malma Trout is known as the Lake Trout, Bull<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +Trout, Red Spotted Trout, and in some places the Dolly +Varden.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Smelts.</span></div> + +<p>The Smelts are remarkable for an odor which they emit +and which accounts for their name. They are a small fish +and are sold in large quantities in all fish markets.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Eels.</span></div> + +<p>Eels: there is a much larger demand for the eel as a +food in Europe than in America, many in this country +being prejudiced against it because of its snake-like form.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/hickory010.png" width="500" height="356" alt="EELS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">EELS.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Moray. Two species of these eels are found along +the coast of the United States, the Spotted Moray in +Florida and the Reticulated Moray off the coast of South +Carolina.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> + + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;"><span class='small'>PAGE</span></span><br /> +<br /> +Alewife, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Angler-fish, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Barb, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Barn Door, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Basking Shark, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Bass, Big-fin, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black Sea, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Calico, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake Striped, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rock, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sea, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Silver, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Strawberry, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Striped, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Striped Lake, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Big-fin Bass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Bill-fish, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Black Bass, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grouper, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grunt, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mullet, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sea Bass, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Snapper, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Black-fish, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Blue Bream, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sun-fish, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Blue-fish, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Bonito, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<br /> +Bony Pike, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Bow-fin, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Bream, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blue, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Copper Nose, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red-bellied, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red-headed, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Brook Pickerel, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Bull Trout, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Calico Bass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Cat-fish, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Chain Pickerel, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +Chimera, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Chinquapin Perch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Cobia, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Cod-fish, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Cod, Rock, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tom, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Columbian Sturgeon, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Common Mackerel, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<br /> +Copper-nose Bream, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Crappie, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Crocus, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Croppie, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Devil-fish, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Dog-fish, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Dollardee, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Dolly Varden, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Drum, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>Duckbill, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Eagle Ray, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Eels, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Moray, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spotted Moray, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Elasmobranchii, <a href="#Page_147">147</a><br /> +<br /> +Electric Ray, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Fair Maid, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Finnan Haddie, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Flannel Mouth, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Flounder, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Summer, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Turbot, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Fox Shark, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ganoidei, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Gar Pike, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Goggle-eye, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Golden Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Goosefish, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Grande Ecaille, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Grass Bass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Gray Perch, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Gray Snapper, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Green-fish, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Groper (see Grouper), <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Grouper, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Grunt, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Haddock, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Hake, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Halibut, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Hammer-head Shark, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a><br /> +<br /> +Herring, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Hog-fish, Norfolk, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Holocephali, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Horse Mackerel, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jew-fish, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pacific, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +King-fish, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lake Bass, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Superior Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Lamplighter, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Mackerel, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Common, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Horse, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spanish, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Mackerel Shark, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +Malma Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Manjuari, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Menhaden, <a href="#Page_169">169</a><br /> +<br /> +Millstone Ray, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Mishcuppauog, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Moray Eels, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Reticulated, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spotted, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Mountain Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Mud-fish, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Mullets, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Muskellunge, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Norfolk Hog-fish, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Octopus, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Pacific Jew-fish, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>Paddle-fish, <a href="#Page_152">152</a><br /> +<br /> +Paugy, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Perch, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bitterhead, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chinquapin, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gray, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Strawberry, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yellow, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Pickerel, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brook, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Chain, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Pig-fish, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Pike, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bony, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gar, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Plaise, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Pompano, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<br /> +Porbeagle, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +Porgy, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Rainbow Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Rays, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eagle, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Electric, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Millstone, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sting, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Torpedo, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Red-bellied Bream, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Breast, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Grouper, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Headed Bream, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mouths, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Snapper, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Spotted Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Reticulated Moray, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Rock Bass, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<br /> +Rock Cod, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fish, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Rose-fish, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Salmon, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sawfish, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Sculpin, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Scup, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Scuppaug, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Scyllidæ, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Sea Bass, <a href="#Page_157">157</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cat, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lawyer, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mink, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Robin, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Toad, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Trout, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sergeant-fish, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Shad, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Shark, <a href="#Page_147">147</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Basking, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fox, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hammer-head, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mackerel, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thrasher, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thresher, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sheepshead, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Shovel-nose Sturgeon, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +Silver Bass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fish, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Skates, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Skipjack, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Smelts, <a href="#Page_174">174</a><br /> +<br /> +Snapper, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gray, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Spadebill, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +Spanish Mackerel, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<br /> +Speckled Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Spinacidæ, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>Spoonbill, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +Squeteague, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Squirrel-fish, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Sting Ray, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Strawberry Bass, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Perch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Striped Bass, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake Bass, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sturgeon, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Columbian, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shovel-nose, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">White, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Summer Flounder, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +Sun-fish, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blue, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sun Perch, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Sunny, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Sword-fish, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Tarpon, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Teleostei, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +Thrasher Shark, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +Thresher Shark, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +Thunder-pumper, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Tobacco Box, <a href="#Page_150">150</a><br /> +<br /> +Tom Cod, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a><br /> +<br /> +Tope, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +Torpedo, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Tree-fish, <a href="#Page_164">164</a><br /> +<br /> +Trout, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Black-spotted, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brook, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Golden, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lake Superior, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Malma, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mountain, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rainbow, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Red-spotted, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Salmon, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sea, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Speckled, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Turbot Flounder, <a href="#Page_166">166</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Weak-fish, <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +White Bass, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Perch, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sturgeon, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Whiting, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Yellow Bass, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fins, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Perch, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox2'><div class='adtitle2'><span class='small'>THE</span><br /> +Campfire and Trail Series</div></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="camp and trail books"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. In Camp on the Big Sunflower.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. The Rivals of the Trail.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. Caught in a Forest Fire.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>By LAWRENCE J. LESLIE</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='blockquot2'>A series of wholesome stories for boys told +in an interesting way and appealing to their +love of the open.</div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<span class='u'><i>Each, 12mo.</i> <i>Cloth.</i> <i>40 cents per volume</i></span><br /> + + + +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'><b>THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT" BOOKS</b><br /> +——————</div> + + +<div class='adtitle2'><span class="smcap">Carpentry for Boys</span></div> + +<p>A book which treats, in a most practical and fascinating manner +all subjects pertaining to the "King of Trades"; showing the care +and use of tools; drawing; designing, and the laying out of work; +the principles involved in the building of various kinds of structures, +and the rudiments of architecture. It contains over two +hundred and fifty illustrations made especially for this work, and +includes also a complete glossary of the technical terms used in the +art. The most comprehensive volume on this subject ever published +for boys.</p> + + +<div class='adtitle2'><br /><span class="smcap">Electricity for Boys</span></div> + +<p>The author has adopted the unique plan of setting forth the fundamental +principles in each phase of the science, and practically +applying the work in the successive stages. It shows how the +knowledge has been developed, and the reasons for the various +phenomena, without using technical words so as to bring it within +the compass of every boy. It has a complete glossary of terms, and +is illustrated with two hundred original drawings.</p> + + +<div class='adtitle2'><br /><span class="smcap">Practical Mechanics for Boys</span></div> + +<p>This book takes the beginner through a comprehensive series of +practical shop work, in which the uses of tools, and the structure +and handling of shop machinery are set forth; how they are utilized +to perform the work, and the manner in which all dimensional work +is carried out. Every subject is illustrated, and model building +explained. It contains a glossary which comprises a new system of +cross references, a feature that will prove a welcome departure in +explaining subjects. Fully illustrated.</p> + +<div class='center'><br />——————<br /> +<i>Price 60 cents per volume</i><br /> +——————<br /> + +<br /> +<span class='big'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">147 Fourth Avenue</span> <span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS</div> + +<div class='chaptertitle'><span class="smcap">By ROGER T. FINLAY</span></div> + + +<div class='blockquot2'>Thrilling adventures by sea and land of two boys and +an aged Professor who are cast away on an island with +absolutely nothing but their clothing. By gradual and +natural stages they succeed in constructing all forms of +devices used in the mechanical arts and learn the +scientific theories involved in every walk of life. These +subjects are all treated in an incidental and natural way +in the progress of events, from the most fundamental +standpoint without technicalities, and include every +department of knowledge. Numerous illustrations +accompany the text.</div> + +<div class="center"><br /><b>Two Thousand things every boy ought to know. Every page +a romance. Every line a fact.</b><br /> +——————<br /> +<i>Six titles—60 cents per volume</i><br /> +——————<br /> + +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +The Castaways<br /> +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +Exploring the Island<br /> +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +The Mysteries of the Caverns<br /> +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +The Tribesmen<br /> +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +The Capture and Pursuit<br /> +<br /> +THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS<br /> +The Conquest of the Savages<br /> +<br /><br /> + + +<span class='small'>PUBLISHED BY</span><br /> + +<span class='big'>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">147 Fourth Avenue</span> <span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<div class='adtitle2'>Christy Mathewson's Book</div> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book image and start of ad"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/ad_2.png" width="154" height="250" alt="Won in the Ninth" title="" /> +</td><td align='center'><b><i>A Ripping Good<br /> +Baseball Story<br /> +by One Who<br /> +Knows the Game</i></b></td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 154px;"> +</div> + + + +<div class='blockquot2'> +<p>This book has attained a +larger sale than any baseball +story ever published.</p> + +<p>The narrative deals with the +students of a large university +and their baseball team, the members of which +have names which enable the reader to recognize them +as some of the foremost baseball stars of the day before +their entrance into the major leagues.</p> + +<p>One gains a very clear idea of "inside baseball" +stripped of wearisome technicalities. The book is profusely +illustrated throughout and contains also a number +of plates showing the manner in which Mathewson +throws his deceptive curves, together with brief description +of each.</p> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth bound 5<span class='small'><sup>1</sup>/<sub>2</sub></span> × 7<span class='small'><sup>5</sup>/<sub>8</sub></span></i> <i>Price 60c. per volume</i></span><br /> + + +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox2'><div class='adtitle2'>Mrs. Meade's Books for Girls</div><br /><div class='center'><b>Primrose Edition</b></div></div> + + + +<div class='center'><br />Printed on fine quality book paper. Separate cover designs in colors.</div> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Meade books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Daddy's Girl.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Girl from America.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sue, a Little Heroine.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The School Queens.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Wild Kitty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A World of Girls.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Polly—A New-Fashioned Girl.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'> +<br />——————————<br /> +<i>Each, 12 mo.</i> <i>Cloth.</i> <i>40 cents per volume</i><br /> + +——————————<br /> +Mrs. Meade's girls' books never<br /> +lose their popularity.<br /> +——————————<br /> +<br /> +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<div class='adtitle2'><i><span class="u">ECONOMICAL</span> <span class="u">COOKING</span></i></div> +<div class='center'><i><b>Primrose Edition</b></i></div> + +<div class='center'><span class='big'><i>Planned for Two or More Persons</i></span><br /> + +<br />By<br /> +MISS WINIFRED S. GIBBS<br /> + +<span class='small'>Dietitian and Teacher of Cooking for the New York</span><br /> +<span class='small'>Association for Improving the Conditions of the Poor</span><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>MANY Cook Books have been published, from time +to time, to meet various requirements, or to elucidate +certain theories, but very few have been written to +meet the needs of the large proportion of our population +who are acutely affected by the constantly increasing +cost of food products. Notwithstanding that by its +valuable suggestions this book helps to reduce the expense +of supplying the table, the recipes are so planned that +the economies effected thereby are not offset by any +lessening in the attractiveness, variety or palatability of +the dishes.</div> + +<p>Of equal importance are the sections of this work +which deal with food values, the treatment of infants and +invalids and the proper service of various dishes.</p> + +<p>The recipes are planned for two persons, but may +readily be adapted for a large number. The book is +replete with illustrations and tables of food compositions—the +latter taken from the latest Government statistics.</p> + +<div class='center'> +<span class='u'><i>Cloth Binding</i> <i>Illustrated</i> <i>40c. per volume</i> +</span></div> +<div class='center'><br /> +<b>THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY</b><br /> +<b><span class='small'>147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK</span></b><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">CUT-OUT and PAINT BOOKS</span></h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book image and description"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/ad_4.png" width="164" height="200" alt="Scissors Book" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><p>An original line of art +studies printed in full rich +colors on high grade paper. +This series introduces many +novel features of interest, and +as the subject matters have +been selected with unusual +care, the books make a strong +appeal not only to the little ones but even to those of +riper years.</p></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<p> <br /></p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Cut books"> +<tr><td align='left'>Post Cards</td><td align='left'><i>Painting Book</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dolls of all Nations</td><td align='left'><i>Scissors Book</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Our Army</td><td align='left'><i>Scissors Book</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Children's Pets </td><td align='left'><i>Puzzle Book</i></td></tr> +</table> + + + +<br /><br /><i>Size 8¼ × 10¼ inches</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>Price 15c. per copy</b><br /> +<br /> +<span class='u'>Send for sample and trade discount</span><br /> + + + + +THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY<br /> +147 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fast Nine, by Alan Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAST NINE *** + +***** This file should be named 37493-h.htm or 37493-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/9/37493/ + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, +Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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